Keep It Together (OHSHC/Hikaru Love Story)

Chapter 18

With a lot of practice, Tamaki and I had taught Shiro the song well enough for him to play it with Hina. We were lucky he was a fairly quick learner. We deemed him ready only two days before Hina was going to move away.

We had Shiro send Hina an invitation to go to the Host Club for a private recital. We were opening late because of it, and we all worked hard to prepare for the event. We even dressed up for it! We wore white blazers, button-down shirts, brown vests, red and yellow striped ties, and black dress shoes. The Hosts wore brown dress pants, but I had been given a brown pencil skirt instead. When the time finally came, we were all ready.

We stood lined up on either side of the double doors. When the doors opened, we said, "Welcome, princess. We've been waiting." The girl looked completely stunned.

Tamaki put a hand over his heart as he bowed, "I present to you Shiro Takaoji's piano recital." He motioned to the two black grand pianos behind us, one that Shiro sat at. "If you please, princess." As Hina blushed, Tamaki walked over to the lonely piano and pulled out her chair for her.

Shiro looked at her and smiled, "Let's play together, Hina."

Hina agreed, "Okay!" She sat down in the chair, and Tamaki pushed her in. When she was ready, she nodded to Shiro. They began to play.

We all stood around and watched the two. My smile widened in pride as I saw them playing so well together. They looked just as happy as they did in that picture. Not only that, but they looked like Tamaki and I when we were young.

Tamaki said, "We did a good thing."

"He loves with all his heart. So, I guess that's one more way Shiro takes after you, huh, Tamaki?" Haruhi asked.

My brother glanced over at me before answering, "Why, yes. I'd say so."

Hikaru, who I stood next to, whispered, "You two look closer lately."

I nodded, "Music has always brought us together. Like I told you before, it's something from our childhood."

"I'm glad. Siblings shouldn't be distant, especially twins. They're supposed to be friends."

"That's how it is for Kaoru and you. That isn't exactly true for us," I doubted. "One activity we enjoy won't make us like that."

"I don't know about that. I saw you crying over watching Tamaki play the other day. That was the first time you heard him play since you came back, wasn't it?" he randomly asked me.

I confirmed, "Yeah, so?"

Hikaru smirked a bit, "You're not all that different from Kaoru and I."

I started to think about that when my phone began to vibrate. I took it out of my pocket and read the lit-up screen. "It's Eric. I need to take this," I whispered. I ignored the sour face Hikaru made and rushed out into the hall, closing the doors quietly behind me. I took the call and said in French, "Hello?"

"Hey, Amarante! How are you?" Eric's voice greeted me, but he was caught mid-yawn when he answered me.

I laughed a bit, leaning my back against the wall behind me, "I'm doing fine, thank you. You sound tired. What are you calling me so early for? Isn't it eight in the morning there?"

He confirmed, "It is, but sometimes I have a hard time getting through to you when you get home."

I asked, "What's so important?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were still coming to see me the weekend after this one coming up," Eric told me.

I gasped, "My trip is then?"

"Yeah, remember? We planned them all out before you left." I sighed, and shook my head to myself. "What's wrong?"

"I promised the Hosts I would go along with them on a club trip they're taking. We're going to Kyoya's family's private beach in Okinawa. I completely forgot that I was supposed to go see you that day. I'm so sorry," I apologized. I felt terribly guilty for forgetting something that important. "Can't I come see you the weekend after?"

I was grateful for him being so easy to compromise with, "Yeah, of course, Amarante. Don't worry about it. I'm glad you're starting to get to know them so much better now." It was one of those times he acted more like a friend than fiancé to me.

I let out a breath of relief, "Thank you so much, Eric. You're the best."

"I know. I hope you have fun. And don't forget to bring your allergy medicine and EpiPen," he reminded me.

"I always carry them, and you know my allergy isn't bad enough to have to ever use the EpiPen. You shouldn't fret over it so much," I dismissed the notion.

Eric said, "It's better to be safe than sorry. You never know what might happen, especially since you'll be at the beach. I've got to get to school now, but I'll talk to you soon, alright?"

I responded, "Okay. I'll try to call you during your lunch so we have a bit more time." Don't terminez it the way you always do. Please, don't. I don't want to feel even worse, I begged him silently.

"I'll be looking forward to it. I love you, Amarante." Of course, he did it.

"I love you, too, Eric. Goodbye," I said before hanging up. No matter how many times I said it, I could never get used to telling him that I loved him. I had to, though. I was going to be married to him eventually. I just found it harder and harder the less time I spent with him and more with the Host Club.