Fashion Club : Series

He was staring across the hallway, the same as he had every other day since that day. It was strangely amusing that he had only started staring at the other boy after the other boy had stopped staring at him. At the same time, though, it was slightly irritating. "President Preston," I said, snapping him out of his thoughts and causing his gaze to snap over to me, "What do you think of that plan for the school carnival?"

"…Um…would you mind explaining it one more time, Torte? I'm still having a bit of a hard time following your train of thought," he asked, not wanting to give away that he hadn't been paying attention. He thought that nobody noticed him staring across the hallway into the Sewing Club's room.

"Not at all, sir," I said, "Now, many clubs have been teaming up in preparation for the school carnival, for fear of the strength of the Drama-Fight Club pact. Among the various pacts being formed by the other clubs is the second most well-known of pact, the Date-Cooking Club pact. Now, in the past, during the school carnival the Date Club has simultaneously had a host club and helped the Sewing Club in the sale of their handmade garments." I was, of course, speaking more lengthily now than I had before, pretending that Preston really had been having trouble understanding my proposal.

"However, now having this pact with the Cooking Club, the Date Club will neither have a host club nor help the Sewing Club. That leaves the Sewing Club high and dry, having nobody to model their wares. Now, in our own club's history, for the school carnival we have always had a fashion show with free attendance, and then auctioned off replicas of the outfits we put together," I went on, "My proposal is that we offer a truce to the Sewing Club on the condition that we form a pact with them for this school carnival."

I would have spoken further, but he saw fit to interject. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on half a minute! You not only want to have a truce, but to collaborate with them?" he asked, looking absolutely aghast.

"Well, technically speaking, we already have a truce with them. So, actually, it would be less of a truce and more of a peace treaty in the interest of forming a temporary pact," I stated.

"The Fashion Club was founded because of an inability for those of our ilk to work with those of their ilk! It is a betrayal to those who seceded from the Sewing Club and founded this great club to even consider collaborating with them!" the presidential secretary declared.

"Do you think that I am unaware of that fact, PS Lantis? Need I remind you that it was my own dear older siblings whom founded the Fashion Club while they attended this school?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at her just slightly.

"That statement only adds further support to our side of the argument, VP Torte. While it does allow you bragging rights, it also calls into question your ability to make reasonable proposals," the vice-presidential secretary said.

"This is news to me. I don't recall you calling any of my past proposals unreasonable with such a reasoning, VPS Narcissus," I stated flatly, shifting my gaze to her.

"That is because none of your past proposals have been so unreasonable that they needed to be rejected," she replied lightly.

"Would you care to explain your reasoning?" I inquired, arching an eyebrow at her.

"It's simple, really. As the younger sibling to the founders of the Fashion Club, you most naturally should have taken over as president of the club upon your entry into this school. However, you neglected to join this or any club for your first six weeks. It was only upon being approached by our present president, Preston, that you joined the club," she said, specifically speaking in a grave manner so as to add more weight to her words.

"And once you did eventually join, even though our dear president was fully willing to relinquish his title to you, you instead opted to become vice-president, stating your reasoning as that Preston clearly had shown too much potential-far more potential than you ever would have, you said-as president for you to abruptly end his reign simply because of your relation to the club's founders," she finished explaining herself.

"That reasoning is not a reasonable reason to state that my proposal and, by effect, I myself am unreasonable. Being less capable than another person is not the same as being incapable. Even if I myself have made known that I doubt I have the capability to be as great a president as Preston, I have proven that I am a capable vice-president. For you to be suggesting that I am not with such flimsy reasoning is an absolute insult," I stated, working hard not to sound snappish.

"The point is, if President Preston rejects your proposal, that you have absolutely no right to argue," Lantis stated now.

"While he was questioning my proposal, I haven't yet heard him reject it. Now, if you two are done insulting and interrupting me, perhaps I may continue with my proposition," I snapped. So much for not sounding snappish. In my defense, though, it was hard not to take offense to what they were saying. They were calling my entire reputation into question, just because they did not wish to entertain the idea of a collaborative effort between our club and the club we branched off of.

"Actually, you needn't bother continuing on," Preston stated. Lantis and Narcissus immediately smirked, wearing rather smugly triumphant looks as they turned their attention to the president. "I have heard more than enough to make my decision," Preston stated, sliding off of the corner of the small stage he had been seated upon.

"Whatever your decision, I shall accept it gracefully, President Preston," I stated. It wasn't a lie. However, it wasn't entirely honest, either. Quite frankly, I would not only gracefully accept his choice, but I would gladly accept it. That was in part because I already knew exactly what he was going to choose-but also in part because I was madly in love with him.



"As interesting as that proposal of yours is, I am sorry to inform you that we must decline," the president of the Sewing Club, Sinthet, stated. Though he said he was sorry, neither he nor any of the other seven members of his club looked very sorry.

However, already anticipating the rejection, I had come prepared. Preston went to reply, and Lantis and Narcissus went to blurt out insults, but I spoke before any of them could utter a single syllable. "I am assuming that you are declining not due to some form of a personal grudge against our club or our president, but because of your pact with the Losers Club," I stated rather than asked.

Everyone else present looked shocked for their own reasons by my statement, the Fashion Club's members because they hadn't known that and the Sewing Club's members because they hadn't know I had known that. "Yes, I am fully aware of the arrangement you have with the Losers Club. That would actually be why I am assuming it is not a personal grudge that is causing you to reject us. After all, any grudge which the majority of your members might feel toward President Preston would also be felt toward his twin brother, Princeton, the presiding leader of the losers," I said.

Since everyone was still too shocked to speak, I continued on without interruption. "At any rate, as I clearly planned my proposition while fully aware of your current affiliation with the Losers Club, it must be obvious that I intended to further extend the presented peace treaty to include them, as they are vital to as of yet undisclosed details of my plan," I stated.

"Hey! Wait a minute! Torte, you never told me anything about including those goddamn losers!" Preston blurted out.

"What the Hell are you trying to pull, omitting something such as that when presenting your proposal to the president?!" Lantis demanded.

"Yet again your words seem to speak against you, showing that you are becoming absolutely unreasonable!" Narcissus exclaimed.

"If you three wouldn't mind stifling yourselves, I could explain myself," I stated flatly.

"How dare you speak to President Preston that way!" Lantis exclaimed, now purposely keeping me from explaining myself despite having previously demanded I do so.

"Lantis, can it," Preston snapped. Lantis gave the president a questioning look, but did not dare to verbally question him when she already had been told by him to shut up. "I think that we all would be quite interested in hearing Torte explain himself," the president added now.

"I must agree. I do believe the members of our club are all quite curious as to what it is you have in mind," Sinthet stated, sparing a glance to his six brothers and the sole Sewing Club member whom was not related to him. What I had in mind was actually not a what, but a who. And it was he, the only member of the Sewing Club who was unrelated to the rest yet had a relationship with them all, whom I had had in mind when I formed this plan of mine.

My gaze had followed Sinthet to that boy, and everyone else's gaze had followed mine, beginning to sense something of what was going on in my mind. "What I have in mind is….love," I stated softly, beginning what would be another lengthy explanation, "Not just one kind of love, though. It involves love between lovers, love between brothers, love between friends, a one-sided love, an eight-sided love, a love rivalry, a love triangle, love for another person, love for oneself, love for something inanimate, love of an ideal, love of a lifestyle."

"I am sure that it is no secret that Princeton proposed the pact between the Losers Club and the Sewing Club because he still has hopes of finally getting together with his ex-loser, Pual. It is also quite clear that President Preston allowed me to propose the pact between the Fashion Club and the Sewing Club because he still has hopes of getting back together with his ex-lover, whom is also Pual. And it is obvious that you Arbitore's only would be willing to agree to either or both of these pacts both because you want to test Pual to see if he will turn on you and because you already trust him not to," I went on.

"These are just the factors, though. One must also consider the facts. And it is a fact that the Drama Club and Fight Club teaming up for the upcoming school carnival makes them even more of a force to be reckoned with than usual. While many clubs-mostly the sports clubs-possess a strength from how widespread and common their interest is or how unique and individual their interest is, the fact is that the Sewing Club, the Fashion Club, and the Losers Club, while all having different approaches to their interest, all share the same general interest," I stated, my tone growing slightly grave.

"Because of this fact, none of us on our own will possibly be able to compete well in the school carnival. The worse we do in the carnival, the less funding our clubs will have, and the worse we will do in general. Therefore, in the interest of the interests which we all have in common, we must band together. I am not saying that it will be easy to work together or that we have to get along forever. Honestly, I don't expect my plan to be long-term. We just need to make it through this carnival," I said.

While I was not finished as I clearly had explained only the basis of my plan, I paused now for comments. Pual was the first one to speak up. "So, you want to use me as a sort of prize, or what?" he asked, seeming uncertain and also slightly upset.

"No. I want to use you as a sort of promise. While there is no promise that you will get together with either Preston or Princeton, there is the promise that they will get time together with you. As long as the presidents of the clubs consent to collaborating for the carnival, for whatever reasons they may have, their club's members will loyally agree. I know this as a fact about the Fashion Club, and I know that you know the same as a fact about the Losers Club," I answered without hesitation.

"How the fuck do you know all of this shit?" Sinead suddenly demanded.

I slid my gaze away from Pual only now, narrowing my eyes a touch as I looked at the sextuplet whom had just questioned me. "I did not just come up with this plan out of the blue. I have spent a lot of time studying the facts and forming a strategy. Ever since the first whisper of a rumor of the Drama-Fight pact, I have been racking my brain for a solution to the problem which I knew was eventually going to form," I stated.

"Are you sure this is your idea and not Preston's? It seems more like it would be the president's job to think of a way to preserve and persevere and all that stuff," Sinex said.

"As the vice-president, it is just as much my responsibility as it is his. The presidential secretary and vice-presidential secretary also partly share this duty. After all, the only sure-fire solution to a difficult problem is to approach it from all points of view before you actually attempt to solve it," I said.

"And just what solutions did these three offer up?" Singore asked. Obviously he doubted that they'd had any solutions to offer, which was a way of saying that he didn't believe the hierarchy our club operated under was an effective one.

"Since it was my proposal that won President Preston's favor, I do believe it does not matter what other plans were thought up and rejected on the conclusion that they were not proper solutions," I stated.

"Please continue with your explanation," Sinthet and Preston said simultaneously. I didn't immediately continue, being shocked by how they spoke at the same time and said the same thing for a brief moment, as was everyone else. It was only after they both cleared their throats-although not at the same time-that everyone recovered from their startle.

"…Ah, yes, well… At any rate, my plan is simple: we do what we always do, only we do it all together. Each of our threes clubs generally does the same thing every carnival: we create a line of clothing-whether we compile already existing clothes that compliment each other as an outfit or make each garment from scratch-and then model and sell said clothes," I said.

"How will doing the same old shit do any good?" Sinbad grunted.

"Please don't interrupt me," I stated flatly before continuing on, "The difference is, we shall be collaborating, to an extent, on all parts. The Sewing Club will work with both the Fashion Club and the Losers Club to design and create clothing. While the Fashion Club and Loser Club will have to keep their designs along the same line as far as the central theme-one which can be decided once all three clubs agree to this pact-they will, in fact, each have their own line of clothing."

"That is just phase one. While in and of itself it may not seem like it will spark much interest, it is crucial to getting the rest of the school talking about how the three clubs seem to be working together so that there will be a bit of a buzz by the time we get to phase two. Phase two is the modeling of the clothes. Now, the Fashion Club always uses traditional runway modeling, the Losers Club simply has their models wander about the school carnival and direct interested persons to their area, and the Sewing Club, whom normally has models from the Date Club, has their models simply remain in their sewing room, some wearing the already finished products and some wearing clothes that are works in progress," I explained.

"For such a simple plan, it sure it taking a lot of talking," Lantis whispered to Narcissus from the corner of her mouth. The other girl went to reply, but Preston slid her a look that shut her up before she even spoke.

"Again, we shall be doing just as we always do, only all together and minus the Date Club members as models. The Losers Club and Fashion Club members will all be the models, and they shall operate in pairs. Some pairs will strut side by side down the runway set up outside, some shall be at the base of operations-which shall be compromised of both the Sewing Club's and Fashion Club's rooms, as they are right across the hall from each other-and still some shall wander about the school and direct possible buyers to the base of operations and curious persons to the runway," I finally finished up my explanation.

There was momentary silence as everyone absorbed the last details of my plan, pieced it together in their heads, and then tried to imagine it playing out in a way that did not end in war. "…..You say it is simple; yet, while the plan is not complex, it will be difficult to pull off," Sinthet said softly.

"It will be," I agreed, "But, that variety of loves which I mentioned in the beginning….I'm sure that, with so much love being put into play and into this plan, we will succeed."



He was staring across the hallway, the same as he had earlier that day. However, unlike before, he turned his thoughts and gaze away from there without me having to snap him to attention. "Hey, Torte," he said softly.

"Yes, President Preston?" I asked.

"…You don't have to call me that when everyone else has already gone home," he said.

"Sorry. Force of habit," I said, "Yes, Preston?" He didn't say anything, staring at me for a beat. Without a word, he laid back on the runway extension of our stage that had been set up to allow the Losers Club members to practice proper runway etiquette. Yes. My proposal had been accepted on all sides. Our three clubs, two of which had been formed due to a dislike of one of the others, were going to collaborate on the school carnival this year. The only way it could be more astounding is if the pact also included the Military Club, which, much like the Losers Club, hated the Fashion Club.

"I really don't know why you would rather have your position than mine," Preston said suddenly. Not this again.

"I believe you will recall that the last time you brought this up, I made it quite evident that I did not desire to discuss such things. Unless you have another topic to talk about, please don't speak to me," I stated flatly.

"Why are you always so touchy about this? I'm just curious as to why you allow me to have the position that you are the rightful heir to! Especially when you are so much more fit for the job!" he exclaimed, abruptly sitting up as he gave me an annoyed look.

"You were here before I was," I said simply.

"That's no reason!" he snapped.

"Fine. They were here before I was," I said.

"Your siblings, you mean," he stated rather than asked. I didn't comment, but that was enough of a confirmation for him. "Of course they were here before you. They started this club. What does that have to do with anything?" he asked, frowning softly as his brow furrowed with confusion. He wouldn't be able to understand it even if I gave him a year to think about it. Not if I didn't explain it to him, that is.

I sighed, my gaze wandering off of him only now. It was a sign that, for the first time, I didn't feel disinclined to admitting the truth. Sensing that he was actually starting to break through my defenses, the other boy swiftly slid off the stage and then slowly started over toward me. "What is it, Torte? What are you so reluctant to speak about? What reasons are you hiding from others yet still hiding behind?" he asked.

"…You wouldn't understand. None of you would. Everyone else in the this club is an only child, except for you. But you can't understand, either, since your only sibling is your twin," I stated softly.

Having now reached me, he reached out and touched a finger to my chin, turning my head so I would look at him. "Try me," he said.

"When one has older siblings, or just even one older sibling, while you want so much to be like them because you admire them, you hate to have to follow in their footsteps because you know that you will inevitably be compared to them and measured against them. There will always be that little worry that you won't be as good as them and that little want to be better than them," I said softly.

"I came to this school because I wanted to see the amazing legacy they left when they formed the Fashion Club and become part of that legacy. It might not have been such a problem…except, with the massive twelve year age gap between them and me, that has more than provided enough time for their legacy to become legendary before I could come here. The Losers Club and the Military Club were both born only because the Fashion Club had been formed," I said.

"And that's just how the Fashion Club changed those outside of their own club. The affects on the actual members that had been part of the club over the years is even more amazing," I went on, unable to keep the awe out of my expression and tone now, "I…I knew I couldn't do it. As soon as I saw what had become of this club, I knew that I could not ever hope to become part of their legacy and that I didn't dare to become part of their club."

"But you did join the clu-" he started to state, but he trailed off as realization hit him, "….You… If I hadn't approached you, you never would have joined the club, would you?" I shook my head no softly, averting my gaze again only now. "….What club would you have joined, then, Torte?" he asked softly.

"…I wouldn't have joined a club. It actually isn't a requirement, you know. The only reason that everyone who comes to this school joins a club is because the entire reason they come here is to do so. You don't have to, though. You could go through every last one of your years here, from admission to graduation, without ever joining a club. It would be a isolated path to take, but you could do it," I said, my words a solemn and almost sorrowful murmur.

For a moment there was silence as he stared at me with disbelief. Then, out of nowhere, he suddenly exploded with rage. The finger that had previously been gently touching my chin now roughly gripped it as he jerked my head around to make me look at him again. "I can't believe you would consider not joining us for even a single, solitary second! The club needs you! I need you! Where in the world would we be without you as a vice-president?!" he shouted.

"You'd be in the same spot, most likely," I stated flatly, not even flinching at how he shouted in my face.

"Not likely! Don't lie! If we didn't have you, none of us would ever have thought up that plan you made to help the club prosper in the upcoming school carnival! We would've been knocked on our asses in the face of the Drama-Fight pact and the other pacts between clubs, and our funding would have been reduced big time! Your siblings may have founded this club, but you have saved it from devastation and even possible destruction!" he exclaimed.

"Not only that, but you are bringing the Fashion Club back together with the club it branched off of and one of the clubs that branched off of us! However temporary that togetherness might be, it is still an astounding feat! Whether you wanted to be or not, you are now part of the Fashion Club legacy! And I'll be damned if I'll stand here and just listen to you lie by saying that we could have reached this point without you!" he declared.

A colour that was a blending of shame and embarrassment came to my cheeks now, and finally I knocked Preston's hand away from my face so that I could again look away. "We don't even know if my plan is going to work out. There is a high chance of failure. There are countless things which could go wrong. Even one incident between any of the three clubs could cause this plan to fall to pieces. Not to mention we don't even know how well things will work out even if we make it to and through the school carnival altogether," I stated flatly.

"I have faith in your plan! I know it will succeed! You know I wouldn't agree to it unless I felt it would work, don't you?" he exclaimed. This time, he didn't try to make me face him again.

"I am aware," I answered flatly, "I am annoyed, as well. Might we change the subject now? I do believe we have discussed this topic for far too long as it is."

"Torte," he said, sounding deeply frustrated.

"Yes, President Preston?" I asked, sounding as though he had only just started trying to strike up a conversation with me.

"….Fine. Torte," he said, working hard not to sound frustrated now. He didn't want me acting all formal with him. I had figured that was the way to get him to give up. Honestly,  I thought I knew him too well sometimes.

"Yes, Preston?" I asked. My face no longer coated with colorful emotions, I glanced back at him now. Like me, he had wiped any emotions brought on by our previous conversation-which we were now pretending hadn't happened-from his expression.

"…I've never heard you talk about love before today, you know," he said softly.

That one threw me for a loop. I couldn't keep a bit of surprise from briefly flashing across my face. "…Well….Well, I've never had reason to bring anything relating to relationships and the like up in conversation before," I said.

He nodded his head softly in understanding, his gaze falling to the floor. "I suppose you haven't. There actually are a lot of things you've never had need to bring up before, now that I think about it," he said as he slowly turned away and headed back over to the runway. Instinctively I followed after him, being sure to keep at least twelve inches between us.

Rather than sitting at the end of the runway as he had been before, he went to where the runway extension connected to the stage, then hoisting himself up and turning himself around so that he was sitting on the corner. "Thinking back on the short history we have together, I actually have noticed that the only thing we ever talk about are things related to the club or things related to me. We never talk about anything else, about you," he went on now.

"Why would we need to talk about things other than that?" I asked.

"Well, I think it's important for me to know my vice-president, don't you? I know you sure seem to think it's important for you to know about me," he said.

"You're the president. It's important for everyone in the club to know about you," I replied simply. Despite my casual tone, it was taking quite a bit of effort not to blush again at that idle comment of his.

"That is true. Just as it is true that it is important for me as the president to know about all of my subordinates, even if not all about them. You are the only one who I don't know about beyond the activities of the club, despite the fact that I should know about you even more than the others, as you are my closest subordinate," he stated, "Therefore, I want you to tell me all about you. Right now."

"It would take quite awhile to tell you all about me. Maybe you can just state a few things you want to know?" I suggested weakly.

He didn't reply immediately, a thoughtful look coming to his face as he tried to figure out what he was most curious to know about me. "Hmmm…. Okay. What is your favorite colour? What is your favorite food? What is your favorite drink? What is your favorite seasoning? What is your favorite season? Have you ever been in love?" he rattled off a quick succession of questions.

"I'm rather fond of most any light shade of purple. It's a toss-up between celery with peanut butter and apple with peanut butter. Soda water. I actually like mustard powder the most. Winter or spring, either very late in the former or very early in the latter. And…um…" I said, answering his questions in the same speedy fashion in which he had asked them, faltering only at the final one, "…Why do you need to know that?"

"I need to know as much important information about you as possible. That is a very significant bit of information," he replied simply.

I stared at him for a beat, thinking very hard about this. And what was this? Well, it was a chance to confess that I had a crush on him. …No, rather, it was an opportunity to admit I loved him and ask if he felt anything for me. There would never be a better situation in which to do that than now. Except the fact that just earlier today I had brazenly stated that I was taking advantage of his feelings for another person to enact my plan for the school carnival.

It occurred to me now that there was again a blush on my face. I had no idea how long or short a time it had been there. Nevertheless, I swiftly looked away so as to hide it from Preston. "Listen, I'm going to leave now. I have to get home," I said, already making my escape. While I did hear him cursing lowly to himself at how I chose to run away, he didn't chase after me. I had expected he wouldn't.



The next day, come the club hours after school, all of the members of the Fashion Club, the Sewing Club, and the Losers Club were gathered in the Fashion Club's room. Despite the pact the three clubs had made, each group was keeping to their own. The Fashion Club members were all either sitting on or standing by the runway, the Sewing Club members had secluded themselves by the door of the walk-in closet-slash-changing room, and the Losers Club members had unstacked all of the desks and chairs in the corner so that they could sit on and around them.

Looking over all of those gathered inside of the room, I couldn't help but wonder…. "Why is everyone in here? The sewing room is supposed to be the central base of operation until the carnival. Until then, nobody who isn't in the Fashion Club should be in here, unless it's the losers who have to practice for walking on the runway," I stated. I slid a confused look over to Preston, as he was the one whom had told me during lunch earlier today to wait until ten minutes after my final class was finished before coming to the club room.

The small smile that had been on Preston's face as he watched me now grew as he looked away and to everyone else in the room. "Alright, everybody! He's here!" he declared, alerting everyone to my arrival only now, drawing all attention to us. What in the world was going on here that he had told me to come late, gathered everyone together, and then made them wait for me to arrive before proceeding?

"By now, all of you know of the plan our three clubs have agreed to, in order to survive through the carnival this year, most of you know that this idea originally was submitted by the Fashion Club, and a few of you know that it was Torte here that is the mastermind behind the whole thing. However, there are some very interesting things to know about this amazing person that only some or even none of you know," he stated, rather sounding like a know-it-all.

"Something some of you-mostly just the Fashion Club-know is that it was Torte's big brother and sister that founded the Fashion Club twelve long years ago. Something some of you know is that he himself is now the vice-president of said Fashion Club. Something some of you know is that he actually could have been the president, but that he respectfully rejected my offer to resign so that he could have that position," he stated, gesturing to me every now and again as he spoke.

"Something none of you know is that his favorite colour in the rainbow is purple. Something none of you know is that he can't decide whether he prefers celery or apple slices with his peanut butter more. Something none of you know is that he likes soda water over either soda or water. Something none of you know is that his favorite seasoning is not merely mustard, but powdered mustard. Something none of you know is that his favorite time of the year is late winter to early spring," he went on.

"However," he said, now turning to face me and fixing his gaze on my face, "something all of you know is that we are deeply indebted and grateful to him for working so hard to protect the interest which we all have in common with one another. While it can't be said that none of our clubs would have been able to survive the carnival without him, it can most definitely be said that we could not possibly have reached this point."

All at once Princeton and Sinthet stepped forward from their respective groups to speak. "Without a doubt, you, Torte Tabl, have aided us in adding an extremely influential point and important part to the history of our club," Preston, Princeton, and Sinthet simultaneously stated.

Now all of the other members of the three clubs swiftly stood up and stepped up. "Thank you, Torte Tabl, for making this addition to our club's legacy!" they chorused one and all.

I stared at them all, positively gaping in my shock. Then, without a word, I snapped my jaw tightly shut, pivoted on my heel, and swiftly walked out of the room. I got about three yards down the hallway before Preston caught up with me and caught me, grabbing me by the arm to keep me from going any farther. "Hey! Where are you going?!" he asked.

Immediately I whirled around to face him, getting right in his face. "What the fuck was that?! What in the fuck did you do?! Actually, you don't have to answer that! I mean, clearly you put them up to saying that shit! What I want to know is why?! What, did you think it would somehow make me happy!?! I confided in you, and you went an told all of them about it?!" I half hissed and half hollered.

He pulled back from me but didn't release my arm, just wanting me out of his face. "What? No! I didn't tell anyone anything or put any of them up to anything!" he exclaimed, "I just mentioned to my brother and Sinthet that I was very thankful to you, and they said they were, too. Then I said it might be nice if we all three took you aside to mention to you how grateful we are. Then Princeton said that it would be better if we got everyone in our clubs to express their gratitude to you all together, just like how we're supposed to work all together on this collaboration."

"Don't lie to me! I'm not a goddamn idiot, Preston! Nobody in any of the fucking clubs would think to say "thank you for adding to our legacy", except for you!" I snapped.

"Okay, I will admit that I was the one who suggested such a wording. But everyone agreed that it sounded like the most appropriate thing to say," he said.

I frowned now, staring at him with a mixture of mistrust, uncertainty, and embarrassment in my expression. "…What about all of those details about me you had in your speech? I only just told you that stuff just yesterday, and it was only because you asked," I said.

"Well, I had to come up with a good speech about you, and it was just such a perfect opportunity to make it look like I knew you better than anyone else," he said with a grin.

"Why would you want to make it look like that?" I asked, losing my mistrust and exchanging my uncertainty for confusion.

His immediate reply was to release my arm, grab my by the shoulders, and then simultaneously pull me around and shove me up against the wall as he kissed me. Shock joined my confusion and embarrassment, leaving me too torn between emotions to react. Seeming to know this, he broke off the kiss rather shortly, pulling back just enough to speak without his lips brushing mine. "Because the more it looks like I know more about you than anyone else, the more it looks like I like you, which I do," he answered now.

"B…But Pual-" I started to say, but he cut me off with a quick kiss.

The kiss lasted only long enough to shut me up before it ended so that he could speak. "He is still special, in that he was my first love. However, he is not my final love. Hopefully, though, you will be," he said softly, his lips brushing against mine with every word because he hadn't bothered to pull back this time.

"That-But-Just yesterday-" I again tried to speak, and again he stifled me with a swift kiss.

"Just yesterday, I acknowledged something I had already known but had been slow to accept. Then I accepted something I had already known but had been slow to acknowledge," he said softly, again speaking against my lips, "I accepted that what Pual and I once had no longer can be between us; and I acknowledged that what could be between you and me is what I want to have."

Now only one emotion was in my expression: embarrassment. "….Just once," I said softly and suddenly.

"….Just once?" he asked, confusion coming to his face.

"You asked me yesterday if I had ever been in love. That's the answer. Just once, and then never again, I fell in love," I said.

"May I ask who the lucky man is that he is your first and final?" he asked softly, now purposely brushing our lips together as he spoke.

"He's this self-centered jerk that took forever to get over his first love, get over himself, and get around to confessing to me," I stated.

He immediately pulled back from the not-quite-kisses, drawing his mouth into a tight line. "You are really killing the moment here, you know," he said, looking none too happy over how I had described him.

"Sorry. I'm still just a little jealous that I don't get to be your first," I chuckled, now being the one to engage a kiss. Though he remained miffed, he readily returned the kiss. While I had decided not to mention it, another reason why I had slightly maimed the moment was because we were being spied upon by every other member of the Fashion Club, as well as every member of the Losers Club and Sewing Club.

I suspect that, had I not done so, one (or several) of them would have felt the need to interrupt and interject, so as to keep the moment from being too sappy and happy. As it were, they took the hint and opted not to upset me by interrupting us. After all, if I was willing to verbally abuse the love of my life in the middle of such a loving moment, then there was no telling how I might physically harm them if they annoyed me.