"So." Mikan grinned, pressing her elbow into Hotaru's ribs."What happened after I left yesterday, Hm?" She asked, waggling her eyebrows. Hotaru gave her a withering look.

"I don't know whats worse," She started, "You thinking that something would happen between me and Ruka or the fact that you just waggled your eyebrows at me. Never do that again."

"What?" Mikan said, grinning wider. "Waggling my eyebrows or leaving you alone with Ruka?"

Hotaru whacked her upside her head, "Both, idiot. The only good thing I got out of the little exchange yesterday was a free meal."

"And seeing me." Mikan added, copying down the notes from the board.

"Sure."

The two girls were currently in Biology, they only had Bio,Chem and English Lit. together so the lessons were normally full with the two talking the whole time, teachers didn't seem to mind as long as the work was done.

"You're not interested in either of them, then?" Mikan pressed

"Not particularly, why?"

"Oh, I was just wondering. Ruka's quite handsome isn't he?"

"I suppose, Natsume seems quiet."

"Oh Natsume." Mikan scoffed, as if his name was vile in her mouth. "Ugh, Natsume. He's just so…ugh."

Hotaru raised her eyebrows and Mikan continued, "It's like, one minute he's like 'I am senor jerk and i don't care about anyone else apart from me' and then he's all 'easy-to-get-along-with-and-fun-Natsume' It's like permanent PMS with him"

"You act like you've known him for years." Hotaru replied dryly, her eyes not leaving the whiteboard.

Immediately, Mikan blushed. "I don't." She said hurriedly, "It's just that's what he seems like. You know, for the past two days its been hot 'n' cold with him."

"Uh-huh." Hotaru replied, unconvinced. "Whatever, Mikan. He seems like bad news to me, so i'd stay away if I were you."

"I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole, Hotaru. Believe me, I have absolutely no desire to see Natsume at all!'

"So." Ruka started.

Natsume glanced at him, "So?"

"So…" Ruka trailed off.

They were in History. Ruka was on his left and he was seated next to the window, even though History was Natsume's favorite subject he was having trouble concentrating on it.

"Mikan, huh." Ruka said, digging his elbow into Natsume's ribs. "Thoughts on her?"

"Stupid." He replied bluntly. Ruka raised an eyebrow.

"I think she's pretty." He stated airily, Natsume said nothing. In all honesty he hadn't actually stopped thinking about her since he walked her home from the tube, It wasn't like he was 'stunned by her beauty' or anything cliche like that. She wasn't that stunning to him, She was very pretty, but not gorgeous. Although Natsume had to admit she had nice hair, it was long and wavy and smelt like green apples, But there wasn't anything special about her looks. Not really, anyway. She was quite small, but it was sort of cute. He didn't really know what he thought of her, He thought that he thought she was a rich ponce, who was too dense for her own good. But he wanted to see more of her, he didn't exactly know why. He just did.

"But…She's friends with" Natsume paused, "Luna."

Ruka shivered at the name, "Yeah. Cousin from hell, huh?" Natsume nodded in reply,

"Do you wanna go out tonight then, hit a bar or something?" Ruka asked, "Avoid the she-devil?"

"Yes." Natsume groaned, "Dinner last night was hell."

"She's still sore that you rejected her, poor girl."

"It's not my fault I don't feel the same as she feels for me, But really, she needs to move on."

"Oh you are such a heartbreaker, Natsume." Ruka swooned mockingly,

Natsume grinned at him, "Give over."

"Mikan!" Luna called, "Let's go home together." She was standing at the door of Mikan's sixth period class; Math.

"I can't." Mikan whined, "I have my job today."

Luna's brow furrowed, "Doesn't that start at like, seven?"

"Yeah, but i was going to go into Central and grab a bite, Plus i have to help Reo set up around five so…"

"Allright, whatever." Luna said, "I'll just go home with Anna or something, have fun at work" she waved a hand airily before walking out.

Mikan grabbed her bag and slung it over one shoulder, before setting off to Central Town. 'Reo' was her cousin, who owned a club in town. She helped out (despite being underage) in the bar on Fridays and some Saturdays.

She made her way to the bakery, the smell of freshly made bread roaming the air. She pushed open the door with a small 'chime' as the bell rung, A plump lady came out from behind the bench with an outstretched smile on her face.

"Mikan!" She chorused, walking around to give the girl a hug, "How are you, love? I haven't seen you in yonks!"

"Mrs. Hughes," Mikan addressed, a warm smile surfacing. "I'm good, thank you. And you?"

"Oh no need to be polite, Mikan." Mrs Hughes hushed, "I've known you for years! You can call me Carol."

"I prefer Mrs Hughes," Mikan replied, "It's nice."

"Whatever's good with you!" Mrs Hughes replied, walking round to the counter. "What will it be today then?"

"A plain bagel and an apple juice, please."

Mrs Hughes frowned, "You really need to eat more, Mikan. You're practically wasting away!" Mikan laughed.

"Oh all right then, throw a chocolate muffin in there too."

"Thats my girl." Mrs Hughes grinned, grabbing a pair of tongs and fetching the items from a glass cabinet displayed to the customers. She promptly put the items in a brown paper bag, rolling the top and passing it to Mikan. Mikan handed over the money and bid her farewell.

She made her way to Reo's club, munching on her bagel. She didn't really feel like eating the muffin and decided to give it to Reo. Reo was tall, with blazing red hair and brown eyes. At 27 years old he was very successful, his club 'Curious and Curiouser' was well-known and always popular. He was married to Midori Yamamoto, who was very goregous to say the least. They'd only been married for two, maybe three years now. She was 26 and had a pixie-like hair cut, which was the darkest of browns. Her cheekbones were very well defined, and her lips were full and plump. She had green eyes that we're very wide and pretty. She wasn't the friendliest of sorts, or perhaps it wasn't that she wasn't friendly, but more so that she had trust issues. She didn't know how to approach people very well, her social skills were all over the place. Midori and Mikan were pretty good friends, but it took time to build the friendship between the two.

She crossed the backstreet that lead her to stairs going underground, she tredded carefully down the stairs, as the steps were still wet from the crap weather.

She took off her coat and pushed open the door that led to a wooden floor and apart from two figures by the bar, the place was utterly empty.

"Mikan!" One of the figures boomed,

"Hi, Reo." Mikan smiled, before looking past him and nodding at Midori, "Hey, Midori."

"Hello." She replied, a small smile surfacing.

"Well." Reo puffed, "Time to get ready, we're opening early tonight, so there's a lot to do! Go on, get changed." Mikan raised her brow but continued to the staff bathroom anyway.

There was no real uniform for the club. But the bar attendants wore more or less the same thing. Mikan pulled on a pair of black, skinny jeans and a simple black corset. They were Midori's but since Mikan hadn't anything black in her wardrobe that would fit her place as bar attendant, she had been given this to wear for her shifts. Mikan was a B-cup, so there wasn't a large amount of cleavage to show, but the corset certainly left little to the imagination. She wriggled uncomfortably before leaving her bag in the locker. She pulled out her ponytail and ran her hand through her hair. Studying her refection, she put on a swipe of mascara and eyeliner and bit her lip.

"Mikan!" Reo thumped on the door. "Are you almost ready? We need to set up, people will be here in a bit!"

"I'll be right out!" Mikan replied, stuffing her make up in her bag and opening the door. "Okay, what do you need me to do?"

For the next hour or so, Mikan helped set up. She tested the lights, music, everything. Soon people were flooding in and the speakers were pumping with Innocence by Nero, sweaty bodies were dancing together and Mikan was behind the bar, serving people who had to scream their drink order over the loud music.

Mikan had just finished pouring a Long Island when she got the fright of her life.

"Mikan?"

Her head shot up, and her eyes locked with red ones. "Natsume?" She asked, hardly believing her eyes. Hardly anyone she knew came here. Natsume looked just over 18 so he would of gotten in anyway.

"Thats me, "He replied distractedly, he gave her a long look up and down. "You look…" He paused and gave a smirk, "Good."

"Pervert." She replied, "Here by yourself, then?"

"Nah." He jabbed a thumb towards the crowd, "Ruka's in there somewhere, dancing away."

"Of course." Mikan said, "So, What'll be?"

"Surprise me." Natsume said, leaning on the bench after perching himself on a stool. "Aren't you underage, Princess?"

"My cousin owns the club." She replied bluntly, she had no idea what she was making him. She was mixing random beverages together, hoping it would taste okay.

"Here." She said, placing the glass on the table, Natsume just looked at it.

"What is it?" He asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Try it, and find out." She replied.

He took a long sip and pulled a face, "It's a bit…Er" Natsume paused, "Strong."

"Oh?" Mikan looked smug and took the glass away, "I would of thought that a big, strong man like yourself, might have been able to handle this. Oh well, I guess i was wrong."

"Hey now." Natsume said, "Give it back here, Princess. I said it was strong not that I couldn't handle it."

"Can you?" She asked, putting the drink back on the bench.

"Yes." He said, before taking the drink and draining it.

"Don't do that, you imbecile. You'll be sick."

"Ugh." Natsume groaned, "Just get me a beer this time."

"Yeah, Yeah."

Natsume had had a few more beers as time went on, and Mikan had had a few too. Natsume was well past drunk, he was hammered.

"dance wiv meee." He groaned, "Pleeeeeease."

"I have to work." Mikan giggled, A wasted Natsume reminded her much of a spoilt kid.

"Screw work." Natsume grumbled, reaching across the bar to touch her, "I want youuuu."

"You." Mikan declared, "Are pissed, and any judgments or statements you make now will not be believed."

"I want you to dance with me!" He yelled, reaching towards her again. Mikan just laughed.

Reo approached Mikan from behind the bar, "Oh, Dance with the sod," He said, "I'll man the fort."

Mikan looked taken aback, "Are you sure-?"

"Mikaaaaaaaaaaaan." Natsume moaned, Mikan rolled her eyes.

"Allright, " She said, sitting up on the bench and over the otherside. "One dance."

The Flux Pavillion remix of Gold Dust was pumping through the speakers at full blast, Mikan threw her head back, getting lost in the crowd. She lovedthis song.

Natsume's hands found their way to her waist as he pulled her in, Automatically she threw her arms loosely around his neck, moving her upper torso to the beat and drops. Lights were flashing different colours and quickly. Mikan felt hypnotized, It'd been too long since she'd danced like this.

People were pushed up against her and the atmosphere was hot and sticky. The gap between her and Natsume was non-existent. She had closed her eyes and moved her hips in motion. Her head was swaying and her hair with it, She felt Natsume's breath on her ear and shivered.

"Mikan." He said as the song faded into I can't stop by Flux

Her eyes snapped open and realized just how close he was. She took a deep breath in, the way he said her name had given her goosebumps.

Maybe it was the exhilaration of dancing differently than how she was used to, but her heart was slamming against her ribcage.

His eyes were beautiful. They truly looked like rubies, she felt herself melting into his gaze. They had locked eyes for a while now. Mikan felt drunk and giddy, she leant forward and clumsily kissed Natsume, who was happy to comply with the situation. Their mouths followed eachothers actions, Mikans hands tightened around Natsume's neck and ran themselves through his hair, Which he seemed to like. He nibbled on her bottom lip, and she let out a barley audible moan. His lips trailed her jaw and up to her ear, she giggled lightly at the action and felt him smile against her lobe.

"Mikan" He kept whispering.

'God, It sounds so good when he says it.' She thought running her hands through his hair again.

"I can't stop." The voice from the music repeated. Mikan definitely felt out of it, she felt drunk on Natsume's lips. Scratch that, she just felt drunk.

Drunk and happy.

Perhaps it just took a while for those beers to take effect, she pondered. But her thoughts were quickly wiped as Natsume leaned in to kiss her again. They repeated the dance again, lips moving with each other, hands exploring each other's bodies. It was great. He started kissing her neck, leaving numerous hickeys.

"Natsume!" A voice screamed, Natsume lifted his head with a groan and Mikan showed a look of disdain and disappointment that he had stopped, they both turned to the figure who had spoken.

"Ruka." Natsume greeted calmly, well, as calmly as you could in a club.

Ruka hesitated before screaming again, "We need to get back! The Koizumi's are pissed."

"Great." Natsume groaned inwardly, he looked at Mikan. "See you later."

"Er…" Mikan stood there numbly, watching Natsume and Ruka retreat up the stairs. She had regained her senses as soon as Natsume left her side. She felt weird and confused.

What on earth had she just gotten herself into