A collaborated fic with my bittersweet ending, my dear co-producer! hope you enjoy it, and, no, we don't own gakuen alice!

"Get out of the way!" I screamed, madly pressing the bell of my rusty bicycle. My surroundings turned into a mere blur as I pedalled with all my might. While annoyed pedestrians leaped out of my way, creating a clear path for me, I ignored their actions and pushed harder. Insults and profanities filled the air but I couldn't care less; it only made me go faster. Then, after some serious carb burning exercise on my bike, I could finally see it - the impatient figures standing on the front step of the takeaway shop I work at.

*

"Safe!" I let out a huge sigh of relief, and pushed by bike to the empty metal rack at the back of the shop, with two people hot on my heels.

"Honestly Mikan!" Ogasawara Nonoko huffed at me, her midnight-hued eyes just narrow slits. She shook her long, silky gorgeous blue hair over her shoulder and pushed back her cute fringe. "Well?"

"Don't, Nonoko," Umenomiya Anna was a little sweeter towards me, but she was still, just like her friend, pissed. Her sugary pink curls bounced slightly as her head tilted and her oceany blue eyes seemed to hold a considerably larger amount concern than her best friend. She handed me my work outfit (black skirt and white blouse), apron, hat, a towel and a bottle of water.

"Thanks." I accepted the items, hastily changing, putting on the apron and hat, wiping my face with the towel and gratefully opening the water. After chugging about half the contents of the bottle down, I sighed, finally refreshed. I tossed the bottle away carelessly and grinned at them. This time, the reaction was not so pleasant. Two pairs of eyes glared heatedly at me.

"I'm sorry!" I cried. I couldn't stand it; if looks could kill, I really think I'd be dead. But at the same time, it was almost comical; two different people stood, hands on hips, eyes tiny slits and lips thinner than the cracks on the floorboards. They looked so funny, and I couldn't stop a bubble of laughter I'd been trying to hold in.

"Air," I gasped as I sucked in huge quantities of it, attempting to calm myself down. Soon enough, my face was its usual pale complexion again, and the only sign that was different was a slight tint of pink on my face.

"Explain."

The mere tone of that one word from Nonoko sent shivers down my back and I hurriedly started.

"Well you see, the manager of the restaurant said she would give me $10 an hour if I handed out some ads, and so I was really happy, because you know, she usually only pays me like $12 an hour for working in that hot, cramped little shop... So I handed out the ads for like 3 hours, and then she screamed that there was a mouse, and told me that she would give me $25 for catching it! But it was so fast and stuff and I really couldn't catch it until I thought of a brilliant idea- putting cheese on the ground and then I caught it…" I babbled about my day working until I was cut off. Apparently, I have a habit for talking too much.

"Mikan," Anna stopped me. Her eyes were, again, full of worry, although not for my working life, but for me. Nonoko was staring at me sadly as well, her air of frustration having vanished. This time, I really couldn't stand it.

"Why are you working so hard?" Anna asked me, sugary pink curls bouncing slightly again. She and Nonoko's faces bore similar expressions of genuine concern. I felt so touched and lucky to have such awesome and supportive friends. Not wanting them to be spending time worrying about my troubles, I swallowed.

"I'm saving up!" I tried to be cheerful, like usual. "You know, when we finally graduate, I can treat you guys to a trip around the world, a penthouse suite and New York; a full on shopping spree!" My voice slightly cracked, but I didn't think Anna or Nonoko noticed. They knew just as well as I did that there were problems at home, but they didn't bring it up.

"Come on sweeties!" I pulled their hands and semi-cuddled them. Then, I pushed both of them towards the door. I shuddered as I realized how short my skirt was getting and made a mental reminder to myself to get a new one. "Let's go to work!"

Being a 16 year old near graduate of Alice High School, this isn't exactly the best time to be working my ass off when in fact I should be studying. Of course my family, consisting of me, Mum and Dad coexist really well, which is great. They are really supportive and fantastic parents, and I would totally be happy if Dad didn't have to work in a dinky office somewhere, barely earning enough money. I suppose he's lucky enough to actually have a job, no matter how poor and unrewarding it is; heaps of people are unemployed now anyway… stuff the financial crisis. Mum...well, she just looks after the house and stuff. It's just too bad I have to supplement our income by working part-time. I know Anna and Nonoko, my besties, say I work too hard, but I don't think so. It's just them getting all worked up about the way I run my life...I know that Mum and Dad work twice as hard as I do to get me things I want. Really, other than having to juggle school working and social life I am normal and do not stand out in the least; my boring chestnut brown hair and equally mediocre brown eyes are almost ridiculously ordinary. I live life "happy go lucky", and there is little that can change that, trust me.

When I was little, I always liked to pretend I was a princess; it seemed so fun back then, being the prettiest and having the nicest dresses. A long time ago I also stopped believing in that kind of stuff, but even though they are no more than distant fantasies, every time I open up an old picture book the idea appeals to me. I wonder what it would be like to live a carefree life, where income pours straight into your bank account without you even having to work for it. Parents who don't need to save every cent to pay for the monthly bills. Stylish, designer clothes and parties every night. But best of all, a Prince Charming. One who has gorgeous features, is rich and caring, and loves me, just like I love him. The perfect life of a princess. Too bad I will never have one.

*

I wiped the sweat from my forehead, and plastered a smile on my face. I turned back to the cashier, and got ready for yet another customer.

"Next please!" I called. A relatively young-looking blonde man came up. His spiky hair and multiple piercings, clashing with clothes that were probably meant to be "cool" was a dead giveaway for a wannabe rebel. Inwardly shuddering, I tried to keep smiling.

"What do you want to order, sir?" I chirped.

"A burger and large fries, with coke," he answered in an unpleasant voice that sounded like the words had been forced out. His horribly reeking breath blew in my face and I struggled to keep my smile from twisting into a grimace.

"Just a moment," I replied as I pressed the keys on the cashier. "That would be $7.95, thanks."

He slid a wrinkled, dirty ten-dollar note towards me, and as I reached out for it, he grabbed my hand. He pressed his own filthy hand on mine, and began to stroke a blunt thumb on my palm. I felt myself go cold and stiff.

"You're a pretty one." The odour of his breath again washed over me, and I felt a wave of nausea sweeping through. "How about you tell me when you finish this job and we go to my apartment, yeah?"

"Please let go of me," my voice, unusually icy and detached, replied back. I twisted my hand out of his grasp as other customers and workers stared at me awkwardly. I snatched the note, left the change on the counter, and practically scrambled away to get his order so that I could escape that vile man. As soon as I finished putting the meal together, I pushed it towards him on the counter and did my best to avoid looking him in the eye. Despite this he tried to grab my hand again, but I spun around.

"Next please!" I called hastily, as I realized the growing line behind him. Soon, tired of me ignoring him his patience finally wore thin and he stormed out. I let out a sigh of relief, and re-focused again on serving the customers.

*

About an hour later, I was on a break with Anna and Nonoko, discussing the blonde. There were no customers to be served; the people in the shop were all eating their meals.

"I can't believe he tried to coerce me to his apartment!" I shuddered again, and faced my best friends.

"That was disgusting!" Anna quickly agreed. Nonoko shook her head in disapproval, an affirmative gesture. All three of us were perched on high stools, drinking iced water and chatting. We were in the middle of discussing what was the best movie, when the familiar ding of the bell on the front door was heard, signaling a customer. Immediately, gasps from what I was guessing the females in our room were heard. Anna, Nonoko and I looked at each other questioningly, until I offered to serve him.

"Be careful," they said in perfect unison, without bothering to say jinx (and a good thing too); if they did that every time they said something together, their pinkies would be linked 24/7. I smiled and nodded, and then walked to the counter. The first thing I noticed about him was his profile. His broad shoulders and at-least-180-cm height clearly stated "masculine". He wore a sleek, black suit that looked like something out of a magazine and had emitted an unmistakable aura of importance and royalty. Oddly, he managed to make his messy black hair look so, so perfect at the same time, but by far the most impressive feature was his face. Beautifully, chiselled, fine features made him look like a god in a business suit. The straight nose and the high cheekbones gave an angular touch to his face, yet his lips were full and pink, which although set in a slight grimace created contrast with its curved lines. To my slight annoyance, the most important part of the face (his eyes) were hidden behind a pair of dark shades. My face filled with colour when he coughed, and I sneaked an observing glance at his features again, only to find the guilt-inducing feeling that what was behind those shades was focused on me. Damn, he had caught me ogling him.

"What would you like to order, sir?" I asked, repeating the procedure I had done so many times before. The man looked at me, his lips curved in a slight smirk.

"You like what you see?" he mocked, downturned mouth morphing into an arrogant smirk. His voice was low, husky and utterly, utterly seductive. Unlike that creepy dude from back then. Snapping out of my brief, girly thought train about the sound of his voice, I frowned, eyebrows drawing together in a knot. That comment just killed what I now recognised as his illusion of perfection. The arrogant thing.

"No," I denied it heatedly and responded with a glare. The smirk only widened.

"Oh, I see we have a feisty little vixen here. Sure you won't drug my food to get the better of me?"

I almost gagged at his words. I wanted so badly to punch that pretty face of his...

"Sir, I am here to serve you, not take advantage. Your order?" I tried to control my voice, but my patience was wearing away fast. It was late, and I was crabby. No sane man messes with crabby, tired women...except for this one. He was so damn haughty!

"One cheeseburger with regular fries, and an espresso." He replied smoothly, like this was something he did regularly. What an odd combination. He then removed his wallet, and took out a Platinum American Black Express Card. I gaped. Didn't he know that it was only $6.95? Did he plan to show off, or was this just ignorance? Talk about the extremes of having no common sense. I huffed, and swiped it. After that, I hastily placed the card back on the counter and put his meal together. When I handed it to him he smirked once again. Grrrrr...I honestly wanted to wipe the look off his face with his burger, and flush it down the toilet. God, just because he was a little good looking and I was staring at him, doesn't mean he can act like that! Stupid...

"You must like me a lot. Sorry, but I don't like ugly girls." He took his order and turned around, getting ready to leave. But I was so pissed! He called me UGLY! I wasn't remarkable, but I still had pride, and my bomb was ticking on "nuclear mode". Preferring not to have to destroy the order booth when it detonated, I stormed out of the, running up to him, pulling his shoulder so that he would face me. I didn't care anymore about my job, my income, anything...I just wanted to break that fake nose.

"JUST...WHO...DO...YOU...THINK...YOU...ARE?!" I screamed as I tried to punch his face. Sadly, my coordination skills were never that great, my reflexes were slow, and I was about as flexible as the average tree trunk. Just to add to the dent in my ego, there was a fry conveniently positioned right where I was about to step, and guess what? Wallah, I slipped on it and lurched forward, waiting for the impact of the hard, tiled floor. But that never happened. Instead, that never happened. What did, though, was a lot worse.

"You must like me a lot to tackle me like this, Polka," a deep voice rang in my ear, and I hesitantly opened one eye, and found an ear. That was connected to ruffled, black hair. Realising who it was, I pushed him back, about to scream. But the scream didn't come. Stuck in the middle of my throat, the scream died away as I stood frozen, my line of vision locked with that of the all too familiar, intensely tantalizing crimson eyes that had just moments ago been covered by the dark shades lying askew on the ground beside him.

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ScarletInk314 and my bittersweet ending