Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
For the hundredth time that day, I slammed my head against the rough bark of the sakura tree. GOD. I swear there would be bruises the size of plums on my head after I'm done.
Oh Kamisama what did I do exactly to deserve this. Why of all people am I falling in love with that obnoxious, air-headed jerk?
His brilliant crimson eyes, BANG. His silky raven locks, BANG. His smile,BANG.
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.
What am I thinking. I can't have fallen for that obnoxious kuro neko. I COULDN'T HAVE.
He's been burning my hair for five years now. Not only that, he's also been calling me names, making me risk my life just to save him, looking at my underwear AND calling me ugly all the time.
As long as a list I can find on what wrongs he has, there is, sadly, a plus side to it all too.
He has saved my butt from countless dangerous situations, is always there for me when I need him, has always helped me and given in to me AND he's always helped me remember who I am. He's always made me smile, even when the situation doesn't call for it.
Plus all the countless times I'd saved him, all the trouble I spend just trying to help him and going to him for every single problem I have, rumors have started around the school. That's when I realized that I was falling in love with him. Which explained the quickened heart beat, the blush and the butterflies.
URGH. Snap out of it Mikan! BANG!
"Hey ugly, what are you doing?"
I know that voice all too well. Speak of the devil. Seriously. What did I do to deserve this.
"What do you want Natsume."
"I want to know why the hell are you slamming you're head against that tree."
I turned to face him. A girl clung from his arm, glaring arrows at me. To hell with them. He's mine. The green-eyed monster named jealously just got woken up by the bitch. Oh he'll be on a killing spree alright and the first victim would be her.
"None of you're business."
With that, I stormed off in a huff, tripping head first over a pebble.
"Itai." I rubbed the new bruise on my head. That's gonna hurt bad.
"strawberry print today, eh ichigo-kara?"
"huh?"
Then it hit me. He'd seen my underwear again.
"NATSUME HYUUGA!YOU PERVERT!"
I stormed off. He smirked at my reaction. Damn him. If it'd be the last thing I'd do I will kill him.
I sometimes imagine how it'd be like if we were a couple. Though I've never been able to. Somehow, I was sure it would never work. Dang it. Why'd I have to fall in love with him! Why not Ruka?!
I walked into the northern forest in no time, making my way towards that clearing I'd found the other day. I lay in the lush green meadow, watching the clouds float by. Soon, without realizing it, I fell asleep.
Dreams were something people have when they can't get whatever it is they want in real life. It's the safe heaven of those whose lives are miserable, the place where people can be themselves without any comment whatsoever from anyone else. Or at least that's what I think.
Well you could probably guess what my dream was about. Yep. I was dreaming of being Natsume's girl. Somehow, I don't think that'll ever happen.
I woke up near nightfall. The stars were all out. A shooting star shot out of the sky. I stared in awe, almost forgetting to make a wish.
*
I didn't see him for the rest of the day. So when dinner came, I scoured the dining hall for him, desperate to see him, to talk to him. He was like my personal drug, my brand of heroin. I was desperate, to the point where I was about to take extreme measures.
"Hey idiot, what are you looking for? aren't you going to eat your dinner?"
"Oh someone's just looking for her boyfriend."
I spinned around. Koko had just told on me!
" No! Its not like that! I just need to work on that project with Natsume, that's all. It's due tomorrow right?"
Yeah. That's a good excuse. I do need to get started on that. Hotaru's eyes narrowed. She knows something's up. Apparently I just can't seem to hide anything from the likes of her.
"I'm heading back first. See you later Hotaru."
I'd lost my appetite. Apparently, my gut just tells me that I shouldn't be in the same room anymore. Lest I'd risk being interrogated.
I trodded my way back to my room. Unconsciously, I ended up outside Natsume's room. GOSH. WHAT IS MY PROBLEM?!
Since I was already there, I decided to confront Natsume. We DID have a project to work on. Plus, we're WAY beyond time. Thus, I knocked on the door.
There I stood. For five whole minutes. Damn you Natsume Hyuuga. I tiptoed up to reach the spare key he'd put on top of the door frame. As I held it in the palm of my hand, I stared in shock.
I'm surprised I know so much about Natsume. Where he keeps his keys, what he feels about Mr. Narumi and so much more.
Darn you Kami. I NEVER ASKED TO FALL IN LOVE WITH NATSUME YA KNOW?!
I let myself in, knowing he wouldn't mind anyway. His room was enormous. It was so much bigger than my own single star room. It had a personal library in it too. Shelves and shelves of books towered over me. Wow. I never knew Natsume was so into books. Figures why he's so smart.
I ran my fingers across the titles: fact books, Shakespeare, encyclopedias- it really was like a miniature library. One of the books really caught my attention. 'to touch a heart' was the title of the velvet red book. I pulled it out of the shelf. The cover was made of velvet; not very surprising.
I opened the book, not noticing the fact that someone was standing directly behind me until a set of arms went around my waist and whispered into my ear.
"Don't touch that book, ichigo-kara."
I spinned around in shock.
"Natsume!" I pushed myself out of his arms. His touch sent electric shocks across my skin. It frightened me to know such a thing was possible.
"First of all, don't touch me you pervert. Secondly, I didn't mean to intrude and all. So I'm sorry bout the intruding part. Where were you today?" and who was that bitch this morning?
He reached out and took the book out of my hands, his fingers brushing against my hands as he did so. Another jolt of electricity shot up my nerves. This time I was sure he realized it too. He kept his polker-face on though his eyes clearly showed his bewilderedness.
"I was on a mission, what's wrong?" He said as he placed the book back on the shelf. " and if you're wondering how I am, I didn't get hurt in anyway. Now," he turned to face me as he leaned on the bookshelf. His biceps flexed as he folded his arms, which made me catch my breath. " why are you in my room?"
My chest felt so constricted. I couldn't think of what to say. I stood there, gaping like an idiot as I pondered on what I should say. Worst of all was the fact that I could only think of how extremely hot he looked like in that shirt that clung to his body.
It emphasized his six-pack and muscular body so well. I shook my head, trying to get those unwanted thoughts out of my head. This time I knew he was staring at me, thinking I was a freak.
" Well, I was looking for you. We've got that project due tomorrow that we need to work on." I hung my head, too embarrassed to look into his face.
"whatever."
I looked up. He gathered the materials we needed as I sat down at the table. I think I look presentable. I wore a pink turtle necked sweater with a black mini skirt. It was getting colder as winter approached.
He sat down opposite me and we started on the project. By the time we finished, It was around nine.
"Hey, ichigo-kara, let's go to central town. I'm hungry."
I looked up from our almost completed work. He wanted to go to central town? with me? and at a time like this? am I dreaming?
"huh?"
"Do. You. Want. To. Come. To. Central. Town. With. Me. For. Supper." he spoke as though he was communicating with an illiterate person.
"Why are you asking me?" I asked in wonder, pondering over why he asked me instead of going to get Ruka to go along.
"Because."
"Because?" I prompted.
"I'm hungry."
"Fine." I was kind of hungry too. Studying doesn't go too well with me. It always made me hungry. " Let me go get my wallet and stuff first."
"I'm paying." and he got up and took my hand and dragged me to the bus stop that goes to central town.
The sparks were unnerving. It scared me because I didn't know why they occurred. Guys don't normally shock you when you touch them. All except for Takuma and jin-jin though. They have the alice of electricity. That was different.
The bus stop was deserted, not a soul to be seen in a hundred mile radius. We sat on the bench and waited for the bus. The whole time, not once did Natsume let go of my hand.
Not when the bus came, nor when we were on the bus. He held it throughout.
We went into a café. It smelled so strongly of cake and sweets there. By sweets, I mean the sweet stuff like pudding and jellies and such. We sat at the table near a display window, where occasionally, little kids would peep into.
The waitress who attended to us was trying to flirt with Natsume half the time. She'd flick her hair and use a seductive voice when she asked him for his order. Thankfully, Natsume didn't even look at her, which was why I couldn't help but giggle when she left.
"what are you laughing at polka?"
"you mean you didn't notice?" He looked at me questionably. " That waitress was flirting with you and you didn't notice?"
He shrugged and smirked. I smiled.
"why didn't you?"
I was curious. He raised an eyebrow and looked at me with a strange look that seemed to say it all.
"I wasn't interested. Further questions will not be entertained cause that would be for me to know and you to find never find out."
This was when I realized our faces were almost touching each other. We both leaned back at the same time. He folded his arms across his chest, seemingly annoyed at something.
I was blushing five shades of red as a silence hung between. He broke the silence first.
" So, aren't you going to tell me why you were knocking you're head against the tree this morning?"
My head jerked up and I looked into his eyes. A mischievous gleam shone in them.
"I…"