Disclaimer
Higuchi Tachibana has the rights to Gakuen Alice and its characters, but I have the rights to the story plot.

Author's Note
This is my first attempt to write a story. All my other works are either poems or essays. Please be kind to me and tell me what you think. Thanks and Enjoy!

"Onii-chan, where are you?", I asked through gritted teeth. This would be the third call I'm making in just ten minutes. And this time, I'll make sure that my brother won't accidentally hang up on me because the line was choppy. Choppy my ass.

My patience was running thin as my brother was making gurgling noises at the end of the line. Stupid brother. Where the hell is he? He was supposed to pick me up at six after his shift at his part-time job, and that was freaking two hours ago!

"Uhm, Mikan? - Sshh-Kssh - Mikan, are you - Sshh-Kssh - still there?"

"Andou Tsubasa! Stop fooling around with me! It's freaking eight in the evening! Where the hell are you?", I yelled through the phone. I can imagine him taking his phone away from his ears. I always use that tone on him when he pisses me off. I know he's at a bar somewhere, or maybe just a café, with his friends from work. They do that most of the time and he seems to be too kind to decline their offer. Yeah, too kind for his own good. Or maybe he's just that stupid to forget that he was supposed to pick me up after his work, which happens most of the time. Lame, I tell you.

Tsubasa-nii is actually my step-brother. His dad died when he was eleven due to some illness he won't tell me. I didn't bother to ask him about it. His mom married my dad four years after that, when I was thirteen. As for my mom, well, she died on a plane crash when I was still very young. I'm not sure exactly how old I was when Mom died, but I never really cared. I mean, what change would it bring to my life when I know how old I was when my mom died, right?

People might think that our life story is tragic, but I say it's complicated. Putting that aside, that's just how life went for all of us.

"Gomen ne, Mi-chi. We just kinda want to unwind and -"

"Just tell me where you are, Onii-chan." Somehow, I can't seem to get mad at Onii-chan for that long. I looked out the window and it was really pouring. Just my luck. I didn't bring my umbrella today.

"We're here at Caffe Latte. I'll be there soon", he said, regret evident in his voice.

"Don't bother, Onii-chan. I'll go home by myself. Take care going home, okay?"

"Are you sure? I know you're mad, Mi-chi. I'm sorry, okay? I know I've been saying this a lot already and that you may -"

"Don't go crying on me now, Onii-chan. It's really fine, no worries. Besides, Youchi may be sulking at home already. I'll make sure he blames you for this", I giggled at what I said.

"You're so mean, Mi-chi."

"And stop calling me Mi-chi, Tsubasa!"

"Okay, okay! You take care, alright?"

"Yeah, right. Bye." Stupid brother. But, I was smiling as I hanged up my phone. My brother's antics lift my mood up so quickly. Maybe that's why I can't stay mad at him for too long.

o-o-o-o-o

I was still smiling when I noticed someone approaching the table I'm occupying. I was already packing my things but I can't forget my conversation with my brother. Sheesh. I think I'm getting cheesy. I shuddered at that thought. I looked up at the person, still smiling. "Yes?"

"… The library's closing. You're the last one here. You should head home", he said nonchalantly.

"O-kay?" My answer turned out to be a question. That was weird. I mean, he stood there for a minute or so, not talking. He could've stood there for eternity if I hadn't looked up and asked him his business. And even after that, he stared at me first before responding. Now, I've got goosebumps down my arms.

I just ignored what happened and exited the library. And as if reminding me that today's not my lucky day, a flash of lightning stretched out in the starless sky. Shoot. What now? I thought for a while. I could just go and run to the waiting shed outside, hail a cab, then go home. I'm already going home so getting wet shouldn't be a problem. Or, I could wait for who-knows-how-long until the rain stops, go and run to the waiting shed outside, hail a cab, then go home. I wouldn't be wet, but I could get stuck here until the day I die. Now, I'm exaggerating.

Sighing out loud, I tucked my bag close to my chest and readied myself to run the 20 meters or so that separates me from the waiting shed. As I was about to step out, a cold, emotionless voice stopped me from doing so.

"Unless you're opting to catch a cold, I wouldn't do that if I were you."

I turned around and my eyes laid on the weird guy earlier. I stared at him just like how he stared at me a while ago. I would say he's got the looks. Not the boy-next-door type, though, but he's handsome. If he could just remove that scowl on his face.

"I'm not a ghost", he said, matching my stare.

"What?", I asked scoffing. Maybe, I looked like I've seen a ghost. Ha! I find that hilarious.

"I said, unless you're opting to catch a cold, I wouldn't do that if I were you."

I smiled slightly, remembering what I was supposed to do before he popped out of nowhere. "I don't exactly have a choice."

"Suit yourself", he drawled. He walked to the school's exit and took out an umbrella from his bag. Sheesh, nice dude. You have an umbrella and didn't bother to offer. How gentleman of you. Not.

I followed after him while I was contemplating how to reach the waiting shed with me getting wet as little as possible. But he stopped at the freaking door, and I bumped my head on his broad back. I glared at him. For being freaking taller than I am. Sheesh, what is wrong with me? Must be the rain.

He slowly turned around, opened his umbrella while looking at me. I scoffed at him. Taunting me now, huh? Very mature. And then, he smirked. He freaking smirked at me! My world stopped spinning that instant, and thoughts came flying through my mind. Like, The hell he smirked at me!, or, I'm gonna burn you to death for taunting me, or, He's the most gorgeous being I've laid my eyes on. Scratch that.

I noticed that the distance between us is increasing. It must be an omen that we're not meant to be. Wait, what? But I realized that he's already leaving. The next thing I did, I have never done in my entire life. I took a deep breath and shouted with all my might.

"Waaaaait!"