Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice or any of its characters. They were all made by the amazing work of Tachibana Higuchi.
Note: Hey Everyone! This is my first attempt at trying to write fanfic so bare with me. If you like it, please let me know, if you hate it or have helpful suggestions, I'd love to hear it! Okay, ready? Here I go... Jaded Pixie
~oOo~
Chapter 1:
"HOTARU!" I shrieked excitedly from the top of my lungs as my best friend answered her phone.
"Mikan! Scream in my ear one more time and I'll be forced to hang up on you!" the girl on the other end replied sternly. "Where are you anyway? Are you still coming back tonight?"
"Sorry Hotaru! I just miss you and everyone. Yes, otosama and I are already packed and just finishing up our goodbyes to grandpa. We should be there soon. Want me to call you when I get there?"
"No, I already have the key to your new room and will already be there when you get in. If I'm sleeping though, don't wake me up..."
Before I could reply, she hung up. I shrugged my shoulders, put my phone in my bag and just smiled up at otosama.
"Are you ready to go Mikan-chan?" Do you have everything? I don't know when you'll be able to come back here again," Narumi asked as he smiled back at me. I gave him a questioning look trying to go through my checklist in my head. He ruffed up my hair and laughed, "Go check again!"
After running around the house a few more times and kissing and hugging grandpa to death, we were finally in the car and on our way back to the academy. I rested my head back against the seat and stared blankly out the window. I felt a mixture of so many feelings running through me. I was partially homesick and missing grandpa already but I hadn't seen my friends in 6 weeks. During the summer break, Narumi Sensei, or as I call him Otosama had gotten an approved trip home for me in order to help me train my alices. He wasn't the best considering he specializes in somatic types but with his knowledge and love for my mother he did his best. A few of the other teachers such as Nodacci, and Misaki came out as well so it wasn't a very fun summer. They all told me they wanted to prepare me for things that may come... whatever that meant. I already felt like I was in crisis! Tomorrow was my first day of middle school and I haven't even had time to get anything ready!
Otosama looked at me worriedly, patted my head gently and said, "What's wrong Mikan-chan? Aren't you excited to see all your friends?"
"Of course I am Otosama! But I'm also nervous because I start middle school and I feel like things are going to be different."
"Well Mikan-chan, I wouldn't worry about anything. Everything will pretty much be the same, just some new teachers and classes. You did well in your training and just remember everything we went over. You'll have all your friends with you and I'm sure they're excited to see you. If you're still nervous, I will always be here for you," he said with a reassuring smile, but then frowned. "Before I forget Mikan-chan... don't call me otosama in public, we have to keep it more formal at school, okay?"
"Okay otosama, I mean Narumi-sensei. I will do my best to remember" I replied already knowing I'd probably slip up at least once a day. He softly chuckled as he saw my expression then turned on the radio.
~oOo~
I felt a gentle tapping on my shoulder. "Wake up Mikan-chan, we're here," otosama said as he opened my door and helped me out. I slowly stood up then yawned and stretched. It was so dark and late, I hadn't even realized I had fallen asleep. He opened the trunk and got my suitcases out and handed me the smaller of the two. He wrapped his arm around me and guided me to the building. He nodded at the girls dormatory security robot and led me to my new room. When we finally stopped, he set my luggage down and turned me towards him for a tight hug.
"Don't be nervous Mikan-chan. It'll be a fun day tomorrow. You know where to find me if you need anything okay?" he asked as he handed me a key with a special star symbol on it. I looked up at him surprised and he just nodded and smiled. "Good night and sweet dreams little one."
I open the door and turned the key. I sleepily found the switch by the door and flipped it on to find a big "Welcome Back Mikan" banner taped up across the ceiling with a few balloons on both ends. I quickly brought in my luggage, closed the door and ran to a little table by a cute zebra printed sofa that had card on it. On the front of the card it said WE MISS YOU with shooting stars everywhere. On the inside there was a message from each one of my classmates. I read each and every one from Hotaru, Anna, Permy, Youichi, Ruka, Tobita, Koko and a few others but for the life of me, the one I was looking for, I could not find... my heart sank and my stomach turned.
"It's on the back, Baka," I heard from a groggy voice coming from the other side of the sofa. I quickly turned the card around to the back and saw a message in small, neat writing that said "Glad you're back Polka... Natsume." Immediately my spirits lifted and I smiled. I caught myself blushing as I saw Hotaru sit up from the couch out of the corner of my eye and shoot at me with her baka gun.
"Hey Hotaru! What's that for?" I squealed.
"That's for being a baka & finally realizing you have feelings for him..."
"Feelings for who?" I asked confused.
"Mikan! We're starting middle school tomorrow. Stop being so stupid! Just admit to yourself that you have a crush on Hyuuga so I can get back to sleep!"
"But I don..." I started to deny but then a sudden realization hit me. Was everything I felt towards him because I actually liked him more than a friend? Was he more than just my school partner and someone I worried about? Naw, I quickly shook my head and thought, how could I possibly like a stubborn, arrogant, insulting, pigheaded... yet protective and caring cute boy with perfect messy raven colored hair and unique crimson slanted eyes? Oh geez...I continued to think. This sure was going to be an interesting yr. As I turned off the light and headed towards my bed, I saw Hotaru staring at me with a knowing look and a satisfied smirk on her face.
"I'm not gonna say it Hotaru... stop smiling at me like that already! Good Night!" I quickly unpacked and put on my pjs and hopped into bed. I laid there a good while staring up at the ceiling, lost in thought, wondering if this new realization were true and how long Hotaru had known. I analyzed how much I had hated him when I first came to this school but how over the year our relationship had changed. From him challenging me in the Northern Forest, the Dodgeball Game, Reo kidnapping him and ending with the dance... As I closed my eyes, my last thought before sleep took me over was, "Wow, I think I'm in love with Natsume Hyuuga."
