Strings Attached [Tamaki x Reader]

Chapter 2 ~ The Roses

     After what felt like eternity, but what was in reality only a couple of seconds, I took a step back. Okay. Good. Now leave. But it wouldn't be that easy. Almost instantly the blonde was right in front of me holding one of the roses from a tea table. Seriously, it was as if he'd teleported, I didn't even see him walk toward me.

"While we weren't supposed to have any guests until later, I'm thrilled to see you here." He said dramatically, emphasizing the syllables in the last half of his sentence. It was clear he was the leader of the club, the confidence with which he spoke was not only annoyingly arrogant, but also a dead giveaway that he was responsible for the existence of such a strange club. He continued,

"My name is Tamaki Suoh, welcome to the Ouran Host Club!" his tone was consistent, I wondered if he always spoke in such an exaggerated manner or if it was all an act.

     Suoh held the rose out for me to take, sort of bowing down, his purple-ish eyes looking up at me. I didn't take it. I felt myself snap back into reality and become aware of my situation; I was in the Host Club room, and they now thought I was interested in spending time with them. Nope. Not happening. I had to diffuse this conversation before it even had a chance to start.

"I have the wrong room," I replied matter-of-factly. His eyes widened as I started to turn around, but just then a pair of twins appeared in the doorway, blocking my only exit. 

"Well well well..." one of them purred.

"Look what we have here," the other one added.

"A girl who doesn't swoon over the boss's antics!" they both pointed and laughed at Suoh.

"Priceless!" they said in unison.

     I turned to Suoh, I have to admit, I was intrigued to see how he would respond. These in-sync twins weren't wrong; I certainly wasn't going to swoon over a teenage boy who acted as if he was a part of a monarchy. Not to mention how Suoh's dramatic behaviour would definitely lead to quite the show for me to watch as he coped with my rejection- maybe the first rejection he'd ever encountered.

"Don't laugh at her!" he exclaimed.

"I don't think they're laughing at me, Suoh." I raised my eyebrows, my lips curling as I tried not to laugh at him. How could he be so bad at reading the social cues of his friends? They were literally pointing at him. The anger in his face fell into a blank stare toward the twins, who were still snickering. He quickly returned to his princely persona and wrapped his arm around my shoulder,

"Well, be that so, there are still plenty of other options for this girl!" He gestured to the other boys from the table, who were now each holding a rose and standing in front of us.

"Perhaps she's more into the silent type" he said, as the tall one came forward to offer me his rose. He spoke in a deep monotone voice and introduced himself as Takashi Morinozuka.

"Oh, no need to be so formal with our new friend! You can call him Mori," Suoh smiled, gesturing for me to take Mori's rose. As he called me his friend I felt my body shudder. No, thanks. I stared at the rose then looked up at Mori. He didn't seem to have any interest in me whatsoever. Maybe this whole rose ritual was just a greeting every newcomer received, and Mori must've been over it.

"It's nice to meet you," I said, trying my hardest to be polite.

     Mori must've sensed how uncomfortable I was. He gave me a small smile and shrugged, then took his rose with him to his original spot; standing behind a short boy who looked like he might've been someone's younger brother. Suoh's arm was still lightly wrapped around my shoulder as he continued to guide me through the Host Club experience.