"Tamaki, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the Club?" Maria asked, walking out of the classroom. Tamaki blushed and looked away. 

"Well, I was waiting for you, princess." Tamaki blushed harder. Maria blushed in place, then quickly smiled. 

Chapter 12

Cold Water, Cold Night

"Well, let's go then." Maria walked, Tamaki quickly by her side. 

"Maria, did you opt out of gym?" Tamaki asked. Maria shook her head. 

"No, I need the exercise. Plus, it can be fun at times." Maria smiled. As an elective course, Tamaki took music. Maria had gym, and Kyoya had advanced math. They all are in separate classes 3rd period, but every other class they all have the same ones. 

"Well, I guess I'm still new to COPD. Maybe it'll take some time until I get used to it." For Tamaki, it was hard to except the fact that the love of his life is sick with an incurable disease, that can be fatal. Maria frowned. She stopped and turned towards Tamaki. Tamaki stopped too, and looked at her. 

"Tamaki, I'm still me. Maria, the girl you met on the rooftop during lunch." Maria frowned more. 

"Don't think abut that princess, I still see you as you, that will never change." But Tamaki saw Maria in a new light since last night. She shined brighter, and she looked more beautiful. Tamaki found love in her, and cherished her more than ever. Tamaki would do anything for her, and that was that. He loved her.

Maria opened the doors to the Club room and Huni greeted her instantly. "Maria!" He giggled. "Let's go have some cake! We got French vanilla too!" Huni giggled. Maria's eyes shined and the two walked off towards the cake. 

"Tono," An arm wrapped around him.

"You're face is red." Another arm wrapped around him. 

"You shady twins! Stop harassing me!" Tamaki cried. "And it is not!" Tamaki rubbed his cheeks, trying to shove the visible emotions off. The twins rubbed their cheeks on Tamaki's, cooing at how he was so cute. "Tono's in love!" They teased. 

"Am not!" Tamaki cried. 

Maria sat across from Huni, chewing on the piece of cake that made her feel warm inside. It was a wonderful dessert, even if she knew afterwards she'll need to burn off the fat later. A jog around the lake will do. Maria nodded her head at her thoughts, then looked over at Takashi. He was watching Huni eat his sweets, then bent over and wiped a crum off his cheek. Maria smiled, closing her eyes to soak in the moment. 

Maria walked into the Host Club, adjusting her messenger bag on her shoulder. Maria paused herself, unable to say the greeting she usually does. Instead, she stood at the open doors, staring at a bunch of manikins wearing different kinds of swim suits. It looked like a herd of fake beach models. 

"Oh! Maria! You're just in time!" The twins greeted, grabbing Maria's hands. They lead her to the group of swim suits. "Pick one!" They said, they're arms wide open to the varieties. 

Maria looked over at Haruhi, who was staring at Tamaki. So she looked over and he was.. hugging one of the manikins with... the style of Maria's hair. "Tamaki?" Her words broke Tamaki's theater of thoughts, and he immediately dropped it. "What are you doing to..." Her words trailed off as she put on a disturbed look. Tamaki was to be found in the corner, moping over his slip up. The twins gave that to him, knowing he wanted to see Maria in a swim suit again. "Never mind." Maria whistled, then turned around to see Takashi looking at a seashell swim suit. 

"Mori likes seashells." He mumbled. 

Maria blushed, looking away. The scene was too adorable. 

"So? What do you pick?" The twins asked. 

"Ano.. I don't really know." Maria was confused. There was such a variety. 

In the end, Maria chose a bikini top that was black, and had purple stars on the side, and light grey short shorts. Maria wasn't planning on swimming, anyways. 

Maria found herself sitting under the shade next to Haruhi. Haruhi smiled at a group of girls who walked up to them. The hosts brought the clients here, so it was a work day technically. Maria got up, not to disturb Haruhi and her unintentional flirting, and walked over to a shady spot next to Kyoya, who wasn't hosting. 

"Enjoying yourself?" Kyoya asked, typing away on his laptop.

"Hai, the beach is enjoyable. Even if you're not the one having fun." Maria smiled, then laid back on the chair. Kyoya glanced over at Maria and smiled a little, before going back to typing. 

Maria sat in the shade, watching the twins have their moment chasing the beach ball. Maria closed her eyes, then crossed her legs 'Indian style'. She sat up and pushed her hair strands behind her ear. 

"Maria?" A group of girls walked over to her. 

"Yes?" Maria asked, opening her eyes. 

"How are you?" One asked, smiling. Maria smiled back, a wonderful smile that the girls blushed at. 

"Kawaii.." They whispered. 

"I'm perfect, now that I have company. Why aren't you with the Hosts?" Maria asked. 

"We're waiting for our turn." They simply answered. "We get hosted at the same time, even if it's with different hosts." They smiled. 

"You guys must be good friends." Maria's smile softened. 

They all nodded happily. "We all met in kindergarten!" One girl cheered. 

Maria looked down, still smiling. "What a treasure-able friendship. I never had friends, the Host Club was my first friendship." Maria looked up and smiled. "Treat your gift well." Maria seemed to sparkle. 

"We can be your friends!" The girls blushed heavily. 

"Really? You will?" Maria's eyes shined brightly. The girls nearly fainted. 

"Kawaii!" They squealed. Suddenly they noticed the time on one of their watches, and quickly bid a bye. It was time for their turn.

"You seem popular with the girls, Maria." Kyoya stated, looking up at her. 

"Really? No one ever talks to me during or after school other than the Hosts and you." Maria tilted her head. "Maybe they finally got used to me?" Maria asked. 

"The ladies were doubtful about you, since you were always a welcomed guest who didn't have to pay. You were the reason Tamaki would sometimes ditch his clients and 'host' you. I guess they seem to like you now." Kyoya explained. 

"I was no threat to them.. if they just told me I would of backed off or said something.." Maria looked down at her palms. 

Suddenly a scream was heard, it sounded like bloody murder. Maria bounced to her feet and ran towards it in a heart beat, leaving Kyoya to stand up and causally walk in her direction. 

"Centipede!" A girl screamed. Maria came sliding in, dust collecting as the sand moved from the friction of her feet. 

Maria quickly picked up the centipede and threw it in the ocean. 

"Wow, nice aim." The twins came from beside Maria. "But you could've been more gentle." Hikaru added. 

"Oh, was I too harsh on it?" Maria questioned, tilting her head. 

"Wow Maria, you're so brave!" One girl said in awe. 

"Yeah! I could never of done that!" Another girl said. 

Haruhi walked over to Maria and patted her head. "We share many things in common Maria." Haruhi smiled. 

Tamaki then came rushing in, then gripped Maria's shoulders. "Are you okay!?" Tamaki wheezed. He must of ran at full speed over here. Maria smiled and nodded. 

"Thank god." Tamaki sighed.

A couple of talks later the Hosts decided to play a little game. 

"I will not play!" Tamaki pouted. 

"Even if... the player wins these?" Kyoya held up pictures of Haruhi in middle school, and Maria in 4th grade. 

(Instead of brown eyes it's purple.)

Tamaki perked up. Haruhi sighed. "How did you get those pictures?" Haruhi asked, already knowing the answer. 

"I got my sources." Haruhi snorted. 

"Whoever finds Haruhi's and Maria's fear wins!" The twins cheered. 

Maria and Haruhi walked along side the guests and the twins, who were all in a cave with them. They began talking about the curse, and suddenly a hand landed on each of the girl's shoulder. Maria grabbed the hand and pulled it over her shoulder, causing Hikaru fly over her shoulder and slam into the wall. 

"Kaoru? What are you doing?" Haruhi asked. 

"Oh! I'm so sorry, Hikaru!" Maria ran over and caressed his head, petting his hair. Hikaru slowly brought up a thumbs up at Kaoru with a cheeky bruised smile. Kaoru and Haruhi clapped. 

After many attempts, including facing Huni's fear of dark spaces and Tamaki's not smart choice of poisonous snakes, it was time to head back. But before then, Haruhi accompanied a group of girls to watch the sunset from the view on the cliff. 

"Wow, how beautiful." Haruhi awed. 

Maria was with Kyoya, helping him pack up the umbrellas. That's when a girl came running towards the two, and shouted something frantically. But Maria froze at her words. 

"H-Haruhi, boys, molesters, t-trespassers! Cliff!" Maria ran at full speed, which was surprisingly fast, towards the cliff. Maria came, finding Haruhi being held by one of the guys. Maria slammed her foot upwards in between the guy's legs, ramming it into his crotch. "Haruhi! Run!" Maria told Haruhi, and she quickly obeyed. 

The guy fell to his knees, choking in surprise. The other guys shouted at Maria. 

"Oi! What do you think you're doing, brat?!" One guy shouted. 

Maria looked at him with a scary glare, her eyes twinkling. "I'm about to beat your ass." She growled. 

She kicked a guy in the chest, and flipped him with her leg and arm, causing him to land on his back unconscious. Finally, the last dude. Maria was about to punch him, but suddenly she tripped on a rock behind her foot as she backed up. She tripped, and the guy found his chance. He shoved her further, and she fell off the cliff. 

"Oh hell no!" Maria screamed, catching herself. Her fingers clung to the edge of the rock. She tried pulling herself up, but the guy stood above her. Plus only one hand can't pull herself up.

"Just give up." He spitted in her face. Maria squinted her eyes in disgust. 

"No, I never had, and never will!" Maria grunted, trying to pull herself up. 

That's when he stomped his foot onto her fingers. Maria winced in pain and let go. She couldn't hold on any longer. 

"Is this it, mom?" Maria whispered, her eyes tearing up due to the wind. She squinted her eyes, thinking about her life choices. That's when her eyes snapped wide open, and she grinned. "It's not over yet, world! I still gotta shine!" Maria shouted, bracing herself for impact. 

The cold water slapped Maria unconscious.