Chapter 2: Next Steps

A/N: Sorry the last chapter was short, but I felt like I needed to end it there. It just felt right, you know what I mean? Yup. So everything's just a continuation. I am experiencing some writer's block, so please, if the story is on the short side, excuse it. And I also have no idea where this story is going. Thanks for the review! Enjoy!

In the beginning, everything is a little bit more difficult. You don't know who you should talk to, who you should open up to, who will become your friends, and who will become your enemies. But you have to do new things and meet new people, or else you never know what will come out of it. Those are the next few steps you must take.

"When you're fifteen, and somebody tells you they love you, you're gonna believe them."

~"Fifteen" by Taylor Swift

Recap:

"This is my Baka Gun 2.0. Used to make idiots shut up." Hotaru got up and started to walk out the door. "Mikan, follow me," she said, and left the classroom. I slowly got up wondering why she suddenly wanted to talk to me alone.

When I got outside of the classroom Hotaru was leaning against the wall.

"Yes, Hotaru?" I asked.

"I heard you when you introduced yourself. You were about to say Yukihara, weren't you?" she asked. I gulped. There was a calm in he voice that gave me the shivers.

"Um… Uh… Yeah…" I couldn't lie to Hotaru, plus she heard it herself. She stood up straight and walked toward me.

"You're parents made you change it because of that, right?" she questioned. Darnit… Why did her voice have to be so calm all the time.

I didn't answer, but she took it as a yes.

"You've got to be more careful Mikan Sakura," she barely whispered.

"I know…" I muttered. I looked at my feet. I couldn't look at her in the eye. I just couldn't. She sighed.

"I'm just not used to it yet. It's only been a week since the incident," I said quietly.

"And what? Five years since the first? Two years since the second? And now? A week ago you could have been…" She dropped her voice. I didn't need to hear the rest of that sentence. I knew what the last word was.

"I know. I swear, I'll live by the name Mikan Sakura until this whole thing is over." I knew the situation would only worsen. My parents only sent me here because of the high level security. Plus, it is a pretty good school.

"Good. And again, I know you've been told a million times, but you cannot, must not, should not tell anyone. Unless they somehow find out themselves. Understand? And if they do find out. You must and should make them swear on their life that they will not tell a soul." I gulped again. Hotaru usually never, and I mean never, talked this much.

"I know." As quick as a wink, I felt arms around me, and she whispered, "Don't worry. We'll get through this. You'll get through this." She let go, and gave me a small smile. I couldn't help but smile too.

"I'm going to take a walk, I want some fresh air," I excused myself. Hotaru shot me a look, but didn't say anything and went back in the classroom.

I wanted time to think. I wanted to be alone. I wanted my parents… I walked down the hallway out into the yard surrounding the school. I don't know where I was going, or where I wanted to go. My feet just took wherever. I passed a fountain and beautiful rose garden. I walked into a forest-like area and when I stopped, I found myself in front of a magnificent Sakura tree. My hand reached out and pressed itself against the trunk. The next thing I knew, I was climbing the tree. I sat down on one of the branches.

"What are you doing here?" A voice asked. I looked to see Natsume staring at me.

"What? I can't be here, Hyuuga?" I asked back.

"You didn't answer my question. What are you doing here?" he repeated.

"Answer my question first," I retorted.

"No. I asked first. You answer then I'll answer."

"Fine. I'm sitting here, that's what I'm doing here." That was obviously the answer he didn't want, but he's going to have to take it.

"That didn't answer my question," he said with irritation in his voice.

"Yes it did. You asked what I was doing here, and I said I was sitting here. That's what I was doing." Annoyance started to creep into my voice, "That's my answer, take it or leave it."

"Fine. And no you can't be here, because it's MY tree."

"It's not YOUR tree. It's the school's tree. It's not like it has your name on it or anything." He pointed to something over my head on the trunk. Inscribed into the trunk it said, "Natsume Hyuuga."

"Oh…" I mumbled.

"You can leave now."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"YES."

"NO."

"YES."

"YES." I smirked this always worked.

"NO."

"YES."

"NO," he stated. I smiled.

"Okay, then have your way, I'm staying," I said triumphantly.

"What? Wait…" I started to laugh.

"Oh. That's a classic! I can't believe you fell for that!"

"Fine then. You can stay, Polka Dots." Oh. No. He. Didn't.

"YOU PERVERTED FREAK!" I screamed. Oh does he make my blood boil! He smirked.

"Shut up. You're so loud." I punched him in the arm.

"I can be loud when I want to." The bell rang. Signaling the first period was over. I started to climb down, but Hyuuga wasn't coming.

"Aren't you going to class?" I asked.

"No. I'm ditching." What? Ditching class? That's absurd. I grabbed his arm.

"Oh no you're not. You're going to class."

"What are you? My mom? I'm skipping." I pulled him down, but he grabbed onto a branch.

"Come on! Please?" I gave him my puppy dog eyes. He sighed, and I smiled.

"Fine…" I climbed down and he followed me. I felt like I was missing something…

"My bag!" I cried. Oh where was my bag? I could've left it in the classroom…

"Sakura!" Ruka was running towards us with something in his hand.

"Yes, Ruka?"

"You left your bag in the classroom." He handed me my bag.

"Thanks so much Ruka. I was wondering where I left it."

"Idiot." I turned to Hyuuga.

"What did you call me?"

"Idiot. You're a big fat idiot," he replied flatly.

"Well! You're a big annoying pervert!"

"Flat-chested idiot."

"Annoying jerk."

"Lunatic idiot."

"STOP IT! WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE FOR CLASS!" I had never heard Ruka yell so loud.

"Omygosh! You're right!" I grabbed Hyuuga's arm and dragged him to class.

I opened the door to the classroom, but unfortunately the teacher was there.

"I'm glad you decided to join us Mikan Sakura. I am Jinno, your math teacher." He welcomed us, but it was a scary cold welcome.

"I'm sorry we're late," I apologized. He glared.

"Fine. That's all well. Just take your seats." I walked towards my seat in the back. A foot shot out hoping to trip me, but I noticed and avoided it. I sat down, and paid attention the Jinno.

"Ms. Sakura. Please come up and answer this question on the board," he called. Assuming from the gasps, it was a hard problem. I stoop up and when I got to the board, I smiled and picked up the chalk. The answer was simple. I wrote it on the board.

"1. The answer is 1," I told him and went back to my seat.

"That is… correct." Everyone immediately whispered as if I came from another planet or something. Math was finally over and it was LUNCH TIME! My favorite time of day! I got my food and sat at the table Hotaru was at. I was about to sit when her hand shot out.

"50 rabbits to sit with me. I'll give you a discount because you're my friend."

"Rabbits? What are those?" I asked her.

"Rabbits are the money we use to buy things in this school. Since you're a special star, you receive 300 rabbits per month. No stars get 5 rabbits, single stars get 30 rabbits, double stars get 50 rabbits, and triple stars, like me, get 100 rabbits. So 50 rabbits, hand it over."

"But I haven't received my allowance-" Yuu walked over to us and handed me an envelope.

"Here's your monthly allowance, Mikan. Also, the principle asked to see you after school," he explained.

"Thanks, Pres!" I said cheerfully, and I turned to Hotaru. I sighed and fished out 50 rabbits. "Here Hotaru, now can I sit?"

"Yes, yes you can," she replied happily, and counted the rabbits I had just handed her. I sat down next to her and started to eat my food.

"Mikan Sakura!" I slowly turned my head. I really didn't want to be interrupted from eating.

"What." I glared at the interruption. That's right. The interruption, not who caused the interruption, but THE interruption. A slutty girl was standing behind me. Three buttons were undone to show cleavage, and her skirt was the shortest I had seen all day.

"You know what," she hissed.

"Um… Who exactly are you? And no, I don't know what, please enlighten me." I rested my elbow on the table and my head on my hand.

"I am Luna Koizumi, and how dare you call Natsume-sama a pervert in class!" I looked at her in eye.

"Oh, I dare Koizumi, but I didn't know Hyuuga had servants."

"Gasp! I am NOT Natsume-sama's servant. I am his girlfriend."

"Oh really. Tell me more." My tone stated I was uninterested, but I guess she couldn't take a hint. Who actually says the word, "gasp?" A gasp is an action to be done, not something to be said.

"Well, he has kissed me multiple times." I couldn't take it anymore. I had lost my appetite thanks to this girl. I stood up with my tray of food and walked towards the nearest garbage can. I threw the rest of the food away and walked towards the exit.

"Wait! Sakura! I'm not done talking about my relationship!" I turned to face her and glared.

"If you didn't get the hint Koizumi. I don't care about your stupid relationship with Hyuuga. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm leaving." I opened the door and came face to face with, who else? Natsume Hyuuga. He smirked and stood in my way. I glared at him.

"Move," I said menacingly.

"No." His smirk grew larger, if that was possible. I moved to the left, but he moved to block my way. I stepped to the right, but he still blocked. I faked left, but moved right, and he still blocked my way.

"Move now, or you're going to regret it Hyuuga," I hissed. I was pissed off already, and I wasn't in the mood to be bothered by him.

"Oh really? What are you going to do?" he asked mockingly. I wanted to vomit.

"Please," And I did the unthinkable and kicked him in the crotch. While he was on the floor with his face twisted in pain I put my hands in my blazer pockets and walked away. I let my feet take me wherever they wanted to go, and that happened to be the Sakura tree.

"When I get my hands on that bitch, I'll kill her myself!" I recognized the voice of Koizumi and climbed up the tree. Once I got to one of the higher branches, I was able to catch my breath. I heard cracking, and I looked at the branch I was sitting on. It was starting to break!

"Just your luck Mikan," I muttered. I tried in vain to get to another branch, but the crack became bigger. The branch started to dangerously bounce. I gulped. It broke. I closed my eyes and braced myself to hit the ground, but instead I felt arms supporting me. And who did it just happen to be?

I had no idea...

A/N: Haha! I bet you thought it was Natsume who caught her, right? Well, sorry, but I didn't want Natsume to catch her. I want this story to be a bit... Different. Remember to review! But please don't say anything really mean or else it might hurt someone's feelings! Thanks! :)