Color My World (Ouran High School Host Club)

Chapter 4- A Visit Gone Terribly Wrong

I yawned and slumped back into the chair, finally having completed tonight's homework assignments. However, just as soon as I was ready to flop into the inviting embrace of my pillows, I was halted by a sharp knock on my door.

I hesitated for a moment. It definitely wasn't my father; he usually came home later. Could it just be some goofball playing his/her idea of a hilarious prank? Or was a burglar, a stalker, or even worse, a child molester?

Gritting my teeth and stumbling clumsily towards the door, I sucked in a breath and pressed a squinting eye to the peephole. Much to relief, I glimpsed a familiar head of chocolate brown hair and proceeded to yank the door open.

"Haruhi?" I inquired, observing that she appeared to have been attacked by a leaf blower; her short cropped hair was sticking up in all directions. "Did something happen? What are you doing here?"

"Nakamura-chan!" a familiar blonde called out from behind her, waving jovially.

I bit back a sharp cry of protest. Why did they have to come now?

Glancing down at my battered watch, I winced, realizing that it was only a matter of time before my father came home. What if they found out?

I began to panic inwardly, unsure of whether to be polite and invite them in, or to make up some lame excuse and somehow force them to leave. But could I really say 'no' to them? Somehow, even though they often managed to infuriate me in ways I didn't even know were possible, I had to admit that, against my better judgment, I wanted them to know. After all, didn't they deserve the truth?

But in the end, I was just a coward.

Tamaki cocked his head to the side. "Hmm? Nakamura-chan, are you alright?"

I shook my head slightly and beckoned them forward, managing a small smile. "Sorry, just kind of tired right now. Why don't you come in?"

I attempted to keep my voice calm and even, trying to conceal the panic that welled up in my chest. Was I that much of a coward to be able to run away from the truth? But this was my one fear, wasn't it?

The Host Club. Despite the fact that 99% of the time they were irritating stalkers that wouldn't get off my case, they had accepted me and allowed me to become a part of them. But what would they do if they found out what I had been hiding all of this time? Would they pity me? Stay with me? Or, in the worst case, run away? I was, after all, the artsy loser with a sharp tongue and short temper and no friends. Why should my label be any different at Ouran Academy?

Attempting a winning hostess smile, I motioned to our battered sofa. "Please, take a seat.

I glanced several times around the room, with a slight hint of satisfaction and pride. I tried my hardest to make my house appear presentable. However, that was easier said than done, what with juggling school and a part-time job, and now Host Club activities. I swept the floors, cooked my own meals (which had consisted of peanut-butter jelly sandwiches until I trusted myself enough to use the stove), attempted to rid my apartment of beer cans and scraps of canned food, scrubbed the floors with a dirty, old rag, scrubbed away the dust on the sofa away.

But I wasn't stupid. No matter how much I tidied up my dingy quarters, there was no way in hell that I was going to make it look anywhere near presentable to the Host Club.

"Alright." Tamaki and twins had their little heads pressed together, trying to whisper but failing epically. "We can't say or do anything to offend Nakamura, remember, she was courteous enough to invite us in here, and we most certainly will not make any remarks about the quality of this room."

The twins nodded enthusiastically, captivated by his speech. "Yes, boss."

"Too late," I grumbled under my breath.