Ch. 1 –

My eyes wander as I walk up a grand staircase in search of a quiet room to study. This school is so beautiful; it's hard to concentrate on one thing. I play with loose thread on the too-long sleeve of my tan sweater when I arrive at the top of the staircase.

I look at the signs above the doors 'Infirmary Room 2' -nope. 'Library 1' okay, I walk in... And find a loud social hangout. Is all these students do is lounge around and socialize? I guess I can try to study in here... Never mind. Not possible, I walk back outside and see one more room, 'Music Room 3' I guess... I heard it was abandoned... I open the door on silent hinges, the scent of roses hits me, and when my eyes adjust to the bright lights and I hear the heavy oak door shut behind me, I find... The host club?

"Welcome," the smooth, charming voice came from a blond-haired boy wearing the blue-jacketed school uniform. He stood in the middle of a group of gorgeous boys.

"Um... I'm terribly sorry... I must have the wrong room..." I trail off and turn around to find the blond boy standing in front of the door bent over so we were at eye height.

"No, no. Please come in, - Oh! You must be Haruhi Fujioka, the honor student?" He smiled a disarming smile at me and I felt compelled to answer him.

"Yes, and who are you?" I ask as he ushers me into the room. The other boys gather around.

"I am Tamaki, the host club king, I'm pleased to meet your acquaintance," he murmured and gestured to the others. "This is Kyoya;" a tall boy with glasses. "Mori;" an even taller boy with a younger boy sitting on his shoulders. "Honey;" the blond young boy on Mori's shoulders. "Hikaru and Kaoru;" he said gesturing to two redheaded twins. "We are the Ouran Academy Host Club"

"H-host club?" my voice squeaks, I'm sure my face is burning; I feel the heat rising to my cheeks the longer they all stare at me.

"Oh dear, it seems he really is in the wrong room," I look over to find the owner of the cool, neutral voice is from none other than Kyoya Ootori, wow this school really does house the currently rich and future famous. Wait… he? I'm not a he… They must think… because of my uniform… The two twins with brilliant red hair are eyeing my sweater and wrinkled slacks with distaste.

"What's with your clothes anyway?" One of them asks, I'm not sure which. I look self-consciously down at myself and smooth out the front of my pants.

"Haruhi is here on scholarship and cannot afford our uniform," Kyoya spoke calmly, not at all as if this was not normal information. I bet he knows where I live… I'm tempted to ask…

" Haru-chan! You must be really smart!" Came a childish, but undeniably cute, voice from the grade school boy on Mori's shoulders… but why is he wearing the high school uniform…? I guess I can't judge, considering I'm about 4'9" and he's about 5 foot… this is sad… I'm shorter than a boy who should be in grade school…

"I guess, I mean school just comes easily to me," I blush more and look down. "Look, I really do have to be somewhere-"I am cut off as I turn, and run straight into a large ornamental vase on a pedestal. Shock and adrenaline pour through my veins, that thing has to cost more than my own life. I catch the lip of the opening… but my body is already falling as well, in a last-ditch effort I try to throw it back, but it ends up falling on me too, giving me some nasty cuts on my face and arms from the shattered glass.

"Crap," I mutter, more concerned about the vase then my profuse bleeding, that's a hemophiliac for you, I doubt this will ever stop bleeding…

"Awe! That cost 8 million yen!" One of the brothers said. I think it was Hikaru but I could definitely be wrong. Wait… 8 million? As in… 8 million? How am I supposed to pay that? I suppose I could find a second job…

"You know you're going to-" Kyoya started.

"Have to pay for it, I may be poor but I'm not stupid," I say angrily as I stand up. "How can I pay this back?" He glances at me icily over the rim of his glasses.

"Tamaki, being the King you may want to partake in this decision," Kyoya (obviously reluctantly) gave the power over to Tamaki. Tamaki grinned evilly, oh no. I am NOT going to like this. He came close to me again and pointed one long delicate finger in my face and bent down to eye-level again.

"You will be the Host Club dog, do our errands, etcetera, etcetera," he grinned again. I used two of my own fingers to push his off of my nose.

"Can't I just pay in money? And I do not appreciate you sticking your finger in my face," I say and fold my arms across my teeny chest.

"With what money?" The twins say in unison. I blush and look away, mumbling about figuring it out. But, I think everyone has agreed that I become the dog, whether I like it or not. Tamaki smiles a sweet smile at me and pulls his finger under my chin to bring me closer. What's with him? Is he bipolar? Or just a creep?

"I never would have expected a man like you to be so openly gay," Tamaki said with a smile. I look into his violet eyes and see my huge brown ones filled with shock reflected in them.

"A man like me? G-gay?" I sputter and pull out of his grip.

"Let's see what type of man you prefer," he winks and suddenly everyone is striking a pose… how did I get stuck in this mess? Tamaki points to Kyoya. "Do you like the cool type," I'm sure my face is etched with shock and horror. What alternate world am I in? He gestured to Mori. "Or perhaps the strong, silent type?" Ok I'm really freaking out here… Honey is hugging his pink bunny, Tamaki points to him. "Maybe the boy-Lolita?" The twins are leaning against each other with impish, evil grins, Tamaki point to them. "Possibly the little devil type?" He suddenly is right in front of me, tugging my chin up and staring into my eyes, I'm not sure but he's staring so hard I think he may believe he's seeing some soul in there, or maybe he's just crazy. He whispers softly: "Or the princely type, like me." I see Kyoya's head turn sharply towards us and stare at me. Weirdo.

"I-I need to go," I stutter as I stumble/run out of there. Jeez, what crazies.