Stuck in the Middle

Chapter One

Alex's POV:

Registering for school wouldn't happen for another couple of hours, but dad had to work so he dropped me off early. I walked the hallways looking for an empty room I could sit in and read my book until it was time to go fill out all the papers that would officially make me a student at the prestigious Ouran High School.

After I did that I would receive my uniform and the key to a dorm and father would bring my stuff tomorrow. I smiled happily as I walked along. Things finally seemed better. No more stupid school in New York, no more bullies, no more abusive mom. I sighed in content. Things were definitely better.

I finally found an empty room and checked the door. It was unlocked so I slipped inside. The room was large and it seemed to be a music room. The walls were white with brown beams jutting out every so often. The carpet was a sky blue and made the room seem brighter. I sat down in one of the empty desks and pulled my book out of my bag so that I could read.

Time slipped by as I became lost in my book, it was like my body was transported into the story and the music room faded away, until the door opened and a group of guys walked in. "Who are you?" the tall blonde boy leading them asked me in a silky voice. I stood up and put my book away before replying. "Alex, and I'm late to register."

I really was late. I was almost glad they had come, it had pulled me back into reality. I walked quickly toward the door, I had to hurry! On my way,, I tripped and stumbled, my bag bumped against something and I cringed when I heard the sound of something shattering. "I'm terribly sorry!" I said turning to see what I had done.

There was broken porcelain all over the carpet. The guys were watching me as I bent down and started to pick up the pieces. "I'll pay for it, I swear." I felt like crying. The blonde boy who had spoken earlier stepped up. "You're the new kid that just came here from the United States." he said, it wasn't a question, and laughed slightly, "Here on scholarship money, right?"

Word must travel fast around here if he already knew all that just from learning my name. "Yeah, but I'll get a job to pay for it." I said feeling panicky, "I'm so sorry," I stood up and carried the broken porcelain over to the trash as the blonde boy followed me. "Do you know how much that vase cost?" he asked. I looked at the clock as I shook my head no. I was so late! Hopefully I'd still be able to register. "That was a very expensive peice." he said smiling sympathetically, "Roughly eighty thousand US dollars." WHAT?!

Even if I got a job, I'd be paying on that vase for the next twenty years at least! "There has to be something I can do to make it up to you guys!" I pleaded, "But after I register, I'm running late as it is."

"It's taken care of already." Another boy spoke as he pushed his glasses up on his nose, "I just finished signing you up Alex Carter." All I could do was stare at him dumbfounded with my jaw hanging open. The blonde boy smiled at me. "Have you thought of joining any clubs?" he asked suddenly, "I believe the host club could use a dog....and you can pay off the vase by working for us."

"A dog?" I asked becoming offended. I had apologized for the vase more than once. Who did this guy think he was? "Someone to run errands." another boy spoke. "Someone to do what we want." This boy looked almost exactly like the last boy that spoke, twins I guess. "So, if I join this host club, what do I have to do?"

The blonde boy standing next to me put his arm around my shoulders and laughed joyfully. "You entertain the young ladies of Ouran High, of course!" he exclaimed throwing a hand into the air, "You would be the troubled boy, or perhaps the mysterious---The mysterious, troubled boy type! The ladies will adore your eye patch!"

I pulled away from him. "But I-I'm not a boy!" I shouted trying to get him to hear me over his babble, "I'm a girl." He dropped silent and stared at me for a long moment. "A girl?" he asked, "You?" I had hoped things would be different here, I had hoped people wouldn't mistake me for a boy anymore, but here I was not even technically my first day of school and already people thought I was a boy. "Tamaki?" One of the twins seemed to worry about the blonde boy who seemed to be frozen in place.