IMPORTANT NOTE:

I heard some shocking news today that stories in this site were being plagiarized and posted on malicious sites that copied the layout of the site, which leads some who do not have on their favorites confused. Some of my writer friends have been pulling out their stories and posting them on Ao3, Wattpad etc. I am going to set up an AO3 account, waiting for an invite to get an account and I already have Wattpad but haven't posted anything on there yet. You can find me by my pen name Lexi_1989 on Wattpad. Maybe by this weekend my stories will be up on there too. If I have the time to upload I will, but I'd rather just work on my existing ones . LoL .

On a more serious note, I have written to support and I encourage you all to do so too. We've all worked hard on our stories and don't deserve to be plagiarized/copied.

I won't be taking down my stories. Not yet anyway. But I already have them backed up on my computer just in case.

So yeah, I hope the issue is resolved soon so that all the authors come back to ff.

xoxo Lexi1989

Previously:

The elites would normally ignore and want nothing to do with the pranksters/class ditchers but the latter group's behavior would prompt the former to instill punishment. With the members of the elite holding high positions in the Student Council, tensions would rise high and hatred would be a soft word to describe what each group felt towards each other. It was how the norm was in Alice High School all throughout their first three years in high school. Now that they were seniors, a simple scam was all it would take for everything to change.

CHAPTER 2: THE TARGETS

The crowd cheered as Alice High School's three time national champion basketball team entered the gym. They were at their opponent's school for the regional play-offs. The elites were seated in the front row of their side of the gym, complete with the marching band. The cheerleaders, who were led by Misaki and Anna were courtside with the team and the basketball coach.

"So, Mikan. Has Reo asked you out yet?" Sumire wasted no time when it came to Mikan's lovelife, or anybody else's for that matter. She was always updated on the scoop.

"Not yet. There's a process Sumi. I can't just be too easy to get you know." Mikan responded as she took a sip of her diet coke.

"He was looking at you just now." Both girls turned their heads in the direction of the subject of their conversation.

It couldn't be denied that most of the girls in attendance at the game couldn't keep their eyes off of the redheaded basketball MVP of Alice High. He was buoyant and stylish, unlike most jocks who were sweaty and brutish. And the students of Alice High could attest to being dazzled everytime he spoke. His violet eyes were filled with mischief yet dazzling. And that was why Mikan was so enamored by him. Dating Reo Mori would be the epitome of her senior year. She would make sure nothing would stand between her and Reo.

The redhead turned towards the sidelines and spotted the elite crowd. He looked directly at Mikan and Sumire before giving them a handsome smile. He then called on Koko Yome, who was the basketball team's assistant coach and the two guys spoke in hushed tones while being watched by the two girls on the bleachers.

Not long before that, the game started and Alice High was in the lead. They were going against one of the local schools in town that was pretty easy to beat. Halftime was approaching when Koko suddenly appeared next to Mikan and Sumire.

"Sumire, I have a message for you from Reo." He said.

Mikan arched her eyebrow at her friend, confused. Why would Reo send a message to Sumire and not to her? Sumire merely shrugged and followed Koko to the canteen where they could talk properly. They came back after thirty minutes and once Koko was out of earshot, Mikan pounced on Sumire like a tiger on its prey.

"What did he say? Did Reo just ask you out?" She asked before Sumire could sit down.

"Chill drama queen. Koko was merely a messenger."

"So? What did he want?"

"He told me that Reo wanted to spend the evening after the game with us."

"I need specifics Sumire. A guy like Reo Mori does not simply ask to hang out with us."

"Well it was specifically you. And if I thought you would say yes."

"Aaaand?" Mikan could barely contain her excitement.

"I told him to tell Reo to not be a coward and to ask you out himself."

"WHAAAAT?" If the crowd wasn't too noisy, Mikan's scream would pretty much be heard throughout the gym.

"Hey, it's all part of your grand scheme of things, remember? You told me yourself you're not supposed to be easy to get. Just keep it up for the next few times he asks and he's yours." Sumire gave her a wink and sat down as the 2nd half of the game was now starting.

On the other side of town, Natsume, Ruka, and Tsubasa were hanging out at one of the local cafés. They were waiting for Luna, and her friends. They were all decked out in their regular garb. Natsume in his standard black shirt, ripped jeans and converse, Ruka in a plain tee and jeans with sneakers, and Tsubasa in his worn cotton sweatshirt, beanie hat, skate shorts and skate shoes. He had his trusty skateboard propped on the floor next to his bag.

Tsubasa and Ruka were discussing who to invite to the Gold Homecoming ceremony. Tsubasa had his sights set on Misaki from the cheerleading squad since she had just recently broke up with one of the basketball team's power forward Mochiage, and was currently single. It was mandatory for Ruka to attend since he ditched tonight's play-off games, he was put in the team from the AV club that would document the whole homecoming dance on video. He was planning to ask one of the girls from the AV club to be his date when they suddenly thought of the silent member of their trio.

"How about you Natsume?" Tsubasa asked the bored looking guy sitting to the side with his nose stuck in his manga.

"Not interested."

"Why not?"

"Do you really think I'd get all decked up just to attend some dance?" Natsume cocked a brow at the two who suddenly looked apprehensive.

"Besides, Luna doesn't like attending school functions that have no purpose except for our dumb schoolmates getting all rowdy and feeling each other up." And with that statement, he turned his attention back to his manga.

"Jeez Natsume, all you think about is Luna. Why not have a boys night out like we used to before you hooked up with her." Tsubasa whined.

"You have been spending too much time with her man." Ruka added.

"Why are you two acting so sappy?" The irritation was clear in his voice.

"We're graduating in a few months Nat! This should be the time of our lives. Imagine all the pranks we can do at the dance! We could spike the punch and all that shit!" Tsubasa clapped his hand on Natsume's shoulder with an excited expression on his face.

"Tch."

"Finals come in after the dance. We'll be cramming by then, we won't have time to enjoy it if we want to go to the universities we want to attend. Have you figured out where you want to go?" Ruka asked them both.

Tsubasa said he wanted to go to UCLA, and Natsume just shrugged.

"I'll go where Luna goes." His response was greeted by groans from his two best buds. It was cut short when the door to the café opened and Luna walked in. Surprisingly, she was alone and she headed towards them with a serious expression on her face.

"Hey Luna." No acknowledgement was given as her eyes were set on Natsume.

"Natsume. We need to talk."

Mikan stood and screamed along with the crowd as Reo scored another three pointer for Alice High. Sumire gave her a weary look as she sat back down with a huge grin on her face.

The game was in full swing. Alice High was leading 32-22 during the fourth quarter. Mochiage had just gotten a rebound and the team was running from the opponent's side of the court towards their own. Mochiage passed the ball to Reo, who was on standby just outside the three point line. Reo easily caught the ball and jumped to shoot when a member from the other team bumped into him knocking him over. Reo stumbled near the sidelines and fell over when he bumped into a cheerleader of the opposite team.

Everybody gasped as he wrapped his arms around her and turned, ending up with his back on the floor rather than hers. Applause rang from the spectators. Mikan stood near the rail and observed the scene with a sense of foreboding. She was worried that Reo was hurt and she also didn't like the way the cheerleader smiled at Reo. What was worse was that Reo seemed genuinely worried about the girl and smiled at her too. And it wasn't just any normal smile. It was his 'I'm interested in you' smile.

Mikan brushed it off as her imagination. She knew that Reo was going to ask her out. They'd been at this flirting game since their third year of high school. And there were rules. Social norms. They were part of the elite. She knew they belonged together.

FIVE HOURS LATER

"What do you mean you're breaking up with me?" Natsume's face was that of bewilderment as he looked at his girlfriend in the front seat of his car.

"I meant that it's over."

"I heard you the first time." He gritted his teeth in annoyance at her nonchalance on the situation.

"Why?"

"I just feel like we're going different directions Nat." She said, unable to look at him.

"I dedicated my life to you Luna. Since we were freshmen. I did everything you wanted me to. Where is this coming from? What am I missing here?"

"It's not you…" He interrupted before she could finish.

"Don't give me that 'it's not you, it's me' bullshit. And tell me the fucking truth." He growled angrily.

"It's just that, I want someone who can lead, not someone who follows me around. You've changed, I changed. I want something different now." She pecked his cheek and got out of the car.

She walked to her house without ever turning back to look in his direction. And the moment she slammed the front door behind her, Natsume revved his engine and sped away in the early hours of dawn.

THE NEXT DAY

Mikan groaned as her phone rang. She checked her bedside clock. It was six 'freaking' thirty on a Saturday. Saturday meant no classes. Meaning she didn't have to get up so early like she did during the weekday to get ready. Her only itinerary was to have her nails done at the small nail spa in the mall this afternoon before getting ready for the basketball team's victory party tonight at one of the team player's houses.

She was tempted not to answer but the persistent ringing was enough to knock the sleepiness out of her.

"WHAT?" She hissed into the phone.

"I've got some bad news." Sumire's voice cut through the silence and immediately, Mikan snapped to attention.

"What happened? What is it?"

"Remember the cheerleader?"

"Cheerleader? Who? Misaki?" She asked, momentarily confused.

"No, dummy. The cheerleader from the rival school that Reo bumped into?"

"Oh, yeah that girl. She was… not so memorable. A plain Jane. Why?"

"Yeah well, trusted sources say that Little Miss Plain Jane cheerleader was spotted being driven home by none other than our campus heartthrob." Mikan paled upon hearing the last few words.

"Wait.. when you say campus heartthrob, you're not saying that it's…"

"None other than Reo Mori himself." Sumi finished the sentence and was greeted by silence on the other end.

"Mikan? You there?" She asked after a few minutes.

"That can't be true." Mikan's voice was barely a whisper.

"We'll know tonight."

"How?"

"They say she's going to be his date to the victory party and the Gold Homecoming Ceremony."

END OF CHAPTER 2

Uh-oh.. trouble on the love front for both Mikan and Natsume. So how will they get together?

Stay tuned to find out!

KitsuneSenpai18 – it's so sad to see you pulling out your stories (temporarily i hope) from ff. I hope you stay on and come back to post soon.

Anilissa – They will get together. The reveal will be in the next chapters.. :D and yeah, I love my mom, but I get annoyed when she doesn't return stuff she borrowed lol..

newroz – Thank you! And by request, Koko makes an appearance and will be part of the story. He just wasn't part of either the elites or the class ditchers.

suenethakchan – hey buddy! Thank you so much! And yeah Yikes on that but they broke up! Haha

Katherine Kalissa Amara – Thank you for your concern Kath-chan! And thank you for loving this story!

STORY CYCLE UPDATE:

UP NEXT: SECRETS followed by KARAOKE NIGHTS

Then we go back to The Guy Next Door and Delicious Taboo

How was it? Lemme know what you think?

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Ja Ne!

xoxo Lexi1989