The day was normal. Aaron had fallen into the routine of Sherwood Academy- if the life of a host club boy could be called routine. It was more like he came to expect the unexpected. Aaron was always ready for Kris to steal him away for 'homework', or for Harry to decide 'his hair wasn't quite right'. He was even prepared to join in Benji's pranks, everything from dumping ghost peppers into the lunch food, to removing screws from people's chairs. He didn't think the host boys could surprise him anymore- until the day Gerard Patterson walked into the host club.
***
"What is that?" Aaron asked.
Kris sighed, but he was used to Aaron's wary attitude; despite the boy's fondness for trying new things, he hadn't trusted them since the caviar. "It's mini quiche," he replied patiently. Aaron's raised brow said he wasn't falling for a pretty name, "Eggs and spinach or chicken inside a pastry shell.”
"Oh," Aaron said shortly. He had been searching for the pencil he dropped when he spotted the food, so his eyes were at level with the mysterious quiche. He surveyed them skeptically, the fish eggs they'd served him still fresh in his mind.
"Just try them," Roman said, exasperated; out of all the boys, he had the least patience for Aaron when it came to food.
Aaron, not sure if he should be offended, opened his mouth to reply- only to find it suddenly full of quiche. "Mugpher fupher," he swore through his mouthful of food.
Benji accepted Aaron's angry glare, grinning back with pride. His brother high-fived him in passing before continuing to set out platters.
Aaron, knowing it would only infuriate them if he spat it out, chewed slowly. It wasn't long before his eyes closed, a blissful smile replacing his scowl. "That was delicious!" he exclaimed when his mouth was clear, "Can I have them all?"
Harry laughed at Aaron's innocent smile. His honest enthusiasm had utterly charmed Harry, who was always sure to have an extra plate for him. Harry revealed that plate with a dramatic flourish and heart-melting smile, fixing Aaron with those butterfly-inducing green eyes. "You're lucky I like you," he teased as Aaron nearly bounced his way to the plate.
"You're the best," Aaron said warmly, his lips parting in a perfect smile.
Harry looked away quickly, clearing his throat. "Sure, until Roman brings out dessert."
Aaron considered the statement for a second, head cocked slightly sideways. "You're probably right," he admitted, cheerful and unashamed.
Harry shook his head and laughed as Aaron threw himself at one of the couches. The boy curled his legs up, balancing the plate on his knees. He ate slowly, savoring each bite, and watched the boys work.
It was an unspoken rule in the host club that Aaron wasn't allowed to help set up. It had started naturally, but after Kris visited the store where Aaron worked and found him asleep on the pallets of flour he was supposed to be moving, exhausted from long hours of work and study, Aaron hadn't even been allowed to plate cookies. He didn't mind as much, since he wasn't officially the host pet anymore. In fact, though he'd never admit it, he thoroughly enjoyed the chance to relax and watch his boys work together in perfect harmony.
There was almost half an hour before the host club officially opened when the door swung open. Aaron was on his feet in an instant, abandoning his remaining quiche to take his job as greeter. "Welcome to... the... host club?" the words lost their usual confidence, tailing off as he stared at the unexpected visitor.
A boy stood in the doorway. He was tall and skinny, with dark blonde hair shaved close to his head. A guitar was strapped to his back, and there were calluses on his hands. He looked at Aaron with a mixture of despair and hope in his midnight blue eyes, managing a tremulous smile. But despite his various physical features, which added up to the typically attractive Sherwood Academy student, Aaron didn't find any of that important. What was important was that the boy standing in front of Aaron was exactly that- a boy.
"Cat got your tongue, Aaron?" Kris asked, a smile in his voice as he stepped up behind the stunned host, putting a hand on his shoulder. His expression went slack with shock, but only for a second, because Kris was always quick to control himself. "Well, it's not often we have a male guest."
"I'm not a guest," the new boy was quick to say, holding his hands up like his verbal protest wasn't clear enough, "I'm into ports, not drives."
Kris and Aaron, who knew their way around computers, laughed. The rest of the boys looked puzzled. "What are you looking for then, Gerard?"
Aaron's eyes flickered surprise- for all of half a second. Then his honest brown eyes showed his silent self-chastisement. Of course they would all know each other by name. Sherwood catered to two hundred students at most, all from within driving distance, and they had four years together. And since it was situated in the center of one of the richest cities in the country, it only accepted children from the most elite California families; even if he thought it would be difficult to learn the names of all two hundred students at school, he would be stupid to think they didn't see each other outside of school. And Aaron wasn't stupid.
Gerard sucked in a deep breath, eyes fluttering down as he bolstered his courage. Aaron could see his hands clench into fists after he shoved them in his pocket, the indents in his bottom lip that showed he was biting it. Gerard's eyes came up again, searching the boys' eyes for something. He settled on Aaron, and must have found what he was looking for; he expelled his breath as an almost unintelligible rush of words. "I want to learn how to be a host."
"No. The response was immediate, short, and harsh. Aaron twisted to look at Kris, but it wasn't anything new. He'd known from the very first day that Kris was calculating and sometimes cold- and he loved his pet projects. Obviously this boy didn't have the qualifications to become one. But Aaron's understanding of Kris's nature didn't mean he understood why they couldn't help.
He wasn't the only one. Roman, who was actually surprised by his friend's coldness, spoke up. "But, Kris, I'm sure-"
"No," Kris repeated, firm and immovable.
Roman opened his mouth to argue, but Kris gave him a glare with those near-black eyes. Roman's mouth shut with an audible click of his teeth. Though Roman was the prince, and the official ruler of the club, there were moments that made it very clear where the power truly lay. Moments like those.
Aaron turned his eyes to Gerard, and was completely shocked again. Tears hovered in the boy's eyes, and he had his lips tightly pressed together to keep from losing control. "Please, you don't understand. I need to know," he said, voice quavering.
With Kris's stubborn refusal before them, the host boys wouldn't speak. They dropped their eyes, shuffled their feet, played with their hands. All except for Aaron. Though he wasn't new to the club anymore, he hadn't melted into them completely; he was still bold and independent enough to act out, if only a little. "I'm sorry, Gerard," he said sincerely, his voice as soft and warm as his eyes.
Where Kris's cold refusal had done nothing to convince Gerard, Aaron's kindness squashed all hope. A tear broke free, but Gerard was quick to dash it away. As was the fashion with most of the rich kids, he showed his anger in the formality of his words. "My apologies for wasting your time," he said, stiffly inclining his head before turning on one heel and marching away like he was headed to the gallows.
Aaron turned on Kris as soon as the door closed behind Gerard. Rare, honest fury danced like flames in his eyes, and even Kris was hard-pressed not to flinch. "Why couldn't we help him?" Aaron asked through gritted teeth, demanding answers, "You did it for me. Why couldn't you do it for him?"
Anger sparked in Kris's eyes, and his voice was cold when he spoke. "Sometimes," he said clearly and slowly, "I wonder how somebody as thick as you won a scholarship."
Aaron's mouth fell open before he went rigid, hands balled into fists and face aflame. He'd only been that furious, angry enough to hit somebody, once in his life- the summer he applied for the Sherwood scholarship. Marcus, who knew the feeling well, was surprised to see it in the club's sweet, harmless puppy. But he still had the time to dart to Aaron's side and hold him back when he tried to take a step toward Kris.
Kris looked at Aaron with disdain and hurt that wasn't hidden quite well enough to escape Aaron's notice. He turned away and wordlessly went back to setting out food. Marcus, once sure Aaron wasn't going to throw himself at the raven-haired boy, loosened his bruising grip just slightly. Instead of holding him in place, Marcus dragged him aside, shoving him into the dressing room and slamming the door behind them.
Aaron spun on him immediately. "What do you think you’re-?"
"Shut up," Marcus said simply, the calm in his voice deadly, "and listen.”
Aaron crossed his arms over his chest, mouth set in a scowl, but didn't say anything else. Marcus surveyed him, and then heaved out a sigh. His shoulders slumped, and Marcus seemed vulnerable. "You know he did that for you, right?"
Aaron opened his mouth to argue, but shut it immediately upon seeing Marcus's deadly glare.
Marcus, sure Aaron was going to be quiet for what might have been the first time, explained. His voice was hard as a rock, and cold as ice, clinically precise as he told Aaron what the boy had failed to see.
"Kris knows your secret, Aaron, and he's willing to sacrifice a lot to keep it for you. When he found out I knew, he threatened me. Me," Marcus said it with a small smile, "But if it was that easy for me to figure it out, Kris is afraid others will too. Your position in the host club would be forfeit if the truth came out, and Cara would use it to ruin you.
"It's already dangerous as it is. The twins might be able to handle it, and Kris would be able to swear Roman to secrecy. But if somebody on the outside found out? The entire school would know in minutes."
Understanding dawned on Aaron's face, but Marcus didn't stop, mercilessly pounding home his point. "Each person we let in here is dangerous. Even with just the clients, we risk exposing your secret. But if we added a new boy to the host club, and he was any smarter than Roman and the twins, he would figure it out, and we would lose you. We don't want that. Kris doesn't want that.
"Don't make him feel any worse about Gerard than he already does. He's doing his best to protect you, Aaron. So next time, don't act like a child."
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