Then You Fall So Hard

Twenty Years Ago

It didn't take much to see that the famous Opera singer, Fey Drew Angels from Nashville Tennessee and Jack Thomas Reeves, the famous late teen Hollywood actor, were in love. The young couple had met at the Hard Rock Café in Nashville. It wasn't love at first sight, but acquaintance, then they became friends, and as time went on the two became an item. Not long after, there was a marriage between the two. A year later they had their first two children, both male twins. A year later they had one child, a girl. They named her Nicollete, after Fey's Godmother. A year after Nicollete was born the couple had their final child, Drew.

That was the story on how my parents met, and had my siblings and myself, but it wasn't as simple as a magazine article to explain how we grew up. Being the first born female, and born into stardom you may think I had the good life, but I didn't. Jack and Tom always came first, for everything. First in their class, first in their sports teams, first scene on camera, first in line anywhere we went, first choice to choose where we want to eat. Then, as soon as I thought I'd be old enough to choose what I wanted, Drew came along. I was a quiet, shy, child. I didn't speak unless spoken to, I didn't ask for anything, I never threw tantrums, and I just plainly wasn't interested in anything. It was Jack and Tom, then Drew, never what Nicollete wanted, or anything along those lines. It was all fun and games for my brothers and sister, but not for me. I didn't want to act, I didn't want to sing, and I hated that if I showed even a little interest in anything I was shot down, or got something taken away. It didn't matter to me, I had always saw it coming. I never used to get excited about instruments, or music at all for that matter. All of that changed when my mother was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia. She had to quit the Opera, her passion. Drew was too young to understand what Sickle Cell actually was, but I understood fully. Drew would be outside playing, Jack and Tom would be working on movies, but I would stay with our mom. It made me angry, how could my own family just ignore the person who gave birth to them? Then have the nerve to mask their feelings with sweets and sugarcoated nothingness. It made me want to slap them, to yell at them, tell them that they were selfish, but I knew better. I decided that I wanted to make our mom feel better. I learned how to play any instrument I could get my hands up, just to make her smile while she was in bed. I'd lay with here, while showing her how far I got into reading a children's story book. I did it all just to make her smile. Before I knew it, I started loving the sounds I could produce. I practiced, and practiced every day to my moms opera skills, knowing that I'd never be as good as her. Jack being interested in acting, and Tom being interested in sports, we're more of the Daddy's Man type. Drew was the youngest of the family, she was really outgoing when she was little, and she was a Daddy's girl, but when mom stepped in the room, we all knew how strict she was, but we loved her none the less. When her Sickle Cell got worse, I took on the need of a mothers role. I cooked, cleaned, started to care about things, took care of my siblings when they were hurt, but I was still the middle child. It's true I got more attention from my mother, but that was it. Even if I excelled in anything, it was nothing compared to what Tom did on his History Test, Jack making a touchdown in football, or Drew drawing a picture of a cat. As I got older I started to bond more with my father, and become much more sociable. I couldn't help it, although I remained independent, my father became my best friend. When he went away, I'd perform for my mother when she was in bed. Singing with her was the best, she could make the most sour of notes turn into something sweet and magical. When I bonded with my father, I showed more of my true colors. He would always laugh at me and tell me I reminded him of our Grandma. When I met Hikaru and Kaoru, I was only ten years old. I knew we had branches of family from around the world, but I never would've guessed my aunt would be the famous designer. Hikaru and Kaoru were much different back then. I could tell them apart, but maybe it was just because I had twin older brothers. After meeting Hikaru and Kaoru, we started to become closer. Texting each other on our cell phones, calling each other whenever we got the chance, it was just as if I had found someone who I could finally talk to, someone who wasn't a parent, I wasn't even as close to Drew as I am now. But back to the subject of my father. I had plenty of time with him, doing things like showing him my artwork, homework, anything I could muster to show at least something off to him. He never seem satisfied, until one special conversation we had.

A tall man with black hair stood next to a thin looking preteen.

"Nicollete, I have to ask you something very serious, do you think you can handle it?," he asked the child.

"Of course I can, what is it?," she asked the middle aged man.

"If something were to happen to your mother, or myself, you would take on the responsibility, right? You'd be the strong one in the family, the one who patches everything together, so no one feels at fault or hurt, correct?," he asked. The girl stood their confused it took a moment for her brain to process what he was actually saying, and after a moment of silence she answered.

"Yes Dad, I would. I wouldn't want anyone feeling at fault, or hurt, because it'd be no ones fault, and everyone wants to be happy, right?," she replied. The middle aged man smiled.

"Right, now go inside and make us a nice hot cup of tea that I like," he joked and ruffled her hair. The girl smiled and laughed, running inside to make a tea party.

VVVV VVVV VVVV

I was woken up by my cell phone vibrating., it was Sunday. The day after our first concert at the Ouran Ball. I touched my cheek, apparently I had been crying in my sleep. I got out of bed, showered, got dressed and headed downstairs to the kitchen. I then felt the vibrating from my cell phone.

"Hello?," I asked.

"Hello, I'm sorry to be calling you this late m'am, but are you Nicollete Reeves?," the lady asked.

"Yes, that's me," I responded.

"I'm afraid we have some terribly upsetting news we must inform you about," she said. After a moment of silence I answered.

"Yes? What is it?," I was fully concerned. The only person who they could be calling about would be,… and then it hit me.

"I'm sorry to inform you that Thomas Reeves has passed away," she said. I stood in shock, frozen. My father, My companion, The man who raised me, who was as protective as a Papa Bear, My best friend, had died.

"Are you alright, Miss?," she asked. I took in a deep breathe and sighed.

"Yes I'm fine. Thank you for informing me," I responded.

"Thank you for your time, Goodbye," the lady hung up. I slowly brought my cell phone down and clicked the end button. I ran back upstairs to my room, slamming my door and landing on my bed. I took in a deep breathe and just started crying. Why? Why me? Why is everything great in life taken away from me? I heard my door open, but I refused to move from my spot.

TWO HOURS LATER

"So you heard the news, huh?," Drew asked as she sat down next to me. I nodded, still letting tears fall down my cheeks.

"You know we couldn't stop it Nic, we all know it couldn't be helped," Drew tried comforting me. I sighed and wiped the still falling tears from my eyes.

"I'm going to handle all the paperwork, and make sure he's buried next to Mom, but it's the stress of all the tabloids that have me worry," I said to Drew. I didn't like being sad, and I promised Dad I'd be the strong one. I'd hold everything together when things were falling apart, but what if I was the one falling apart? My whole life I've been living by an instruction manual. Things just always fell right into place, but at this stage I'm in, it feels like the Manual had a ripped out page with the most important instructions on it. I gave Drew a hug and sighed.

"I'm going to go shower, then I'm going to go to bed, I'm too exhausted to do anything," I told her.

"I'll have the maids send up some hot chocolate, and soup, and saltine crackers for you, alright?," Drew asked. I smiled and ruffled her hair, like our Dad did to us when we were little.

"Thank you, that's greatly appreciated," I said to her. She smiled and left my room. I grabbed another change of clothes, and towel preparing for my shower. Once I stepped in all I could think about was my father. I'd always imagine him being at my wedding to give me away, with his big ego and smiling away. None of my fairytale would come true, just like everything else I imagined. I stepped out of my pajamas, too tired to do anything, but I had to talk to someone. I plopped on my bed and flipped through my phone.

"Hikaru and Kaoru are right down the hall, as well as Drew, Jack, and Tom. I don't want to wake up Haruhi, she's probably studying anyway. Mori would be silent most of the time if I explained my situation, Hunny would probably cry. Tamaki, although he is my best friend, he'd probably try and get my mind off of things, but I don't want that. I want someone to cry with me. Not because I want their pity, that's the last thing I want actually. I just want someone to have a decent conversation with me, and that's when I realized who I was missing. He wouldn't be up at this hour, would he? I heaved a sigh.

"Might as well try," I mumbled. I clicked his name on my phone and pressed the call button.

"Hello Nicollete, I suppose something must be very important if your calling me," he said. Oh how I hate his smart ass mouth.

"Yes, actually. Something rather…tragic has happened," I told him carefully picking out my words.

"Really? And what would this tragedy be?," he asked. I could just hear that smirk in his voice.

"If you must know, my father has just passed away. Being the professional stalker that you are, if you actually keep tabs on everyone you collect information from. I believe you know my father owned his own private business. There's just one slight problem in that tiny bit of information," I explained.

"Go on," I heard Kyoya said. I couldn't tell if he was interested or not.

"He didn't choose an heir," I stated bluntly.

"You seem like you've had a rough day, go to bed. We'll discuss this at the Book Store after school tomorrow," he said. I smiled, Kyoya can read my emotions even if we're not in person.

"Thanks Kyoya, goodnight," I whispered. It was silent for a moment.

"Goodnight Nicollete," he whispered back.

"Hey Kyoya?," I asked.

"Hm?," was the reply.

"Call me Nic," I smiled.

"Alright then, Nic," he smiled to himself.

"Goodnight," I said.

"Goodnight," he replied. We hung up our cell phones and I laid down to sleep. Kyoya Ootori, you are truly the best friend a girl could ask for.