Disclaimer: Gakuen Alice is not miiine.

And when I get there
It won't be far enough
I'm a renegade
It's in my blood
-Paramore

Chapter 3: Partners
Natsume Hyuuga

"What did you do to that girl?"

Two weeks had passed since my little encounter with Brownies and her 'forgetting-her-bag-in-the-bus' stunt and it seemed like the gods weren't near finished with making my life miserable, as if it wasn't miserable enough. It was lunch period and I was in the dining hall with Ruka, Koko, Kitsuneme, Mochu, and Yuu at our usual table.

I took a bite from the sandwich that I bought and gazed at the brunette who was 'suffering' a couple of tables away from ours.

Brownies.

Mikan Sakura.

My partner for the rest of the fucking semester.

"I didn't do anything, Ruka. Blame Narumi for this."

Alice Academy, being one of the most prestigious schools in the world, only accepted the best of the best, the number ones. You're like a celebrity if you walk around Japan wearing the school uniform but unfortunately you can't. Once inside, once the school year starts you couldn't get out. You're stuck here, but they do set out schedules for students to go home every other weekend to visit their families. It wasn't always like this. When I was about eight the only way for you to visit your parents is when you are a top student. The school changed the rules three years ago.

Others simply adored this school, but I couldn't wait to get out of it.

I'm not known being a talker, I rarely hang out with the people in my year. The friends that I have now are the same as my friends back in elementary. I learned through the years that you should not give your trust just to anybody. Trust should be earned; it shouldn't be given away. But that girl. That give me my laptop girl was completely vexing.

I was reading my manga in class during first period, our homeroom teacher went in. He was once our adviser in elementary but this year he got transferred to the high school division. He's one of the reasons why I skipped classes that morning.

The other reason was the brunette.

So Narumi introduced her. Yadda yadda yadda. Mikan Sakura. Yadda yadda yadda. From Australia. Yadda yadda yadda.

The class kept on asking her ridiculous questions like, "Do you have an Australian accent?", "Did you have a kangaroo as a pet?", and "Are koalas bears?"

"You would need a partner." I heard Narumi say after the class's excitement died down.

Ruka, who was sitting beside me, said. "Isn't that the girl from Star Alices? The one you bumped into?"

I flipped a page and pretended to look at the transfer student. "She bumped into me," I corrected. "And I don't know. I forgot what she looked like." I lied.

Ruka leaned back, arms crossed but with an amused look on his face. "Hm."

"How about that guy at the back?" Narumi said. I gripped my manga tighter, I knew exactly who that 'guy at the back' is. "Is that okay with you, Natsume?"

I looked up at Narumi, glaring as I did so. By now the class had grown quiet. I've known most of my classmates since kindergarten and vice versa. Which was why they're reacting this way. I'm not known for being a talker but I am known for the fact that I get annoyed quite easily. And Narumi loved testing my patience.

I turned to Brownies, looking at her for the first time since she entered the room. The first thing I noticed about her was her uniform, she was wearing the Academy's gym clothes. I wondered why nobody pointed this out a while ago.

"No," I replied.

But I think this teacher heard the exact opposite because he said, "Great! Then it's settled, Mikan your partner for this semester is Natsume. He'll show you around the campus. You can sit right next to him." He clapped his hands and left not waiting for the new kid to complain.

I continued to my reading.

She sat next to me, cleared her throat and said, "My laptop."

I felt Ruka gave me a confused look. Surprised that the new girl was talking to me. That was then he realized that she actually was the girl from the café because I saw him grin and shake his head.

"I already gave it back," I said.

She sighed, "Don't joke around, Natsume. I want it back already." Her voice so loud that most of our classmates are looking at our direction.

"Listen," I snapped. "Don't call me by my first name as if we know each other. Because we don't."

Her eyes widened. "How dare you. You're the one who started this!"

I nudged Ruka, letting him know that I was going to cut class. She swore from under her breath when I stood to leave.

"I heard that," I said, not turning back.

She gave out a single laugh. "You were meant to, jackass."

Mikan Sakura

"You should have heard her call him a jackass in class though," Sumire asserted. "I expected Mr. Narumi to give her detention but he didn't."

Anna's eyes went wide. "What did Natsume do?"

"Nothing." Sumire shrugged. "He just walked out."

"Sumire, can we not talk about this?" I complained. "Please?"

"What?" Sumire cocked her head sideways, not getting my misery at all. "I'm cheering you on. I've never seen anyone bitch out like that. Especially to Natsume."

"I did not bitch out," I defended myself.

"Cheer up, Mikan." Anna patted my shoulder. "Enough with what happened in class. We should be celebrating! This is the first time we're hanging out where I'm not asking you if you want anything else besides a cappuccino!"

I smiled at that, but even so, it's my first day here at the Academy and I wanted it to be my last already.

"Anna's right. Here, have a French fry." Nonoko offered.

I shook my head. I am not in the mood for anything. This was the worst. I'd rather be homeschooled than this.

"What ever happened between you and Natsume anyway? You two seem to know each other. Rumors have been going around already. You're pretty popular now." Nonoko said, taking a bite of the fry she offered to me. "I'm not sure if I should be happy for you or not," she added.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"Natsume's... popular around the ladies," Nonoko explained.

"Really?"

"Are you really finding it that hard to believe?"

He was good looking, yes, I'd give him that. But there was more to a person that his looks. "But he's so mean."

The others, except Hotaru, laughed at my statement.

"He can be, I guess." Nonoko nudged me. "You didn't answer my question though."

"Oh," I said, trying to recall what she had asked. "He took my Mac and won't give it back."

First he took my laptop. Second he went through my files and was reading my story. And now he's my partner. Has the world gone mad?! I didn't like the feeling that somebody was reading what I wrote when it was still a work in progress. Especially without my fucking knowledge. It's utterly embarrassing to say the least. And God, that story's not even meant to be read by others!

Anna looked at me as if I was crazy, "Mac?" She puffed, "Then go buy a new one. We can go to Mcdonald's next weekend and stuff."

Not this again.

"Not a Big Mac!" I slammed by hands lightly on the table, "A Mac. Laptop. Apple Mac."

Sumire and Nonoko laughed hysterically. Anna blushed from embarrassment but started to join in too.

I rolled my eyes but seconds later I found myself laughing with them. It was pretty funny.

"It's kind of weird though. Why can't he just return your laptop? What's the catch? And for Mr. Narumi to appoint him as your partner. I don't know if I should be happy for you or not." Anna explained.

Nonoko nodded, "We've known him ever since. He's okay if you're his friend but if not…"

"You guys are friends with him?" I asked, completely bewildered.

"Sure, we've been classmates before in elementary. Like I said, he's okay once you get to know him."

I could only stare at Nonoko, "You're insane."

She shook her head. "Trust me, Mikan. I'm not."

I shook my head, this cannot be the same Natsume who wouldn't return my laptop.

"Hey, Mikan." Sumire started, "I think Natsume's looking at you." She eyed the table at the other side of the dining hall.

I bowed my head and dared to look at their table.

Wrong move. Sumire was right. He was looking at me, or at least at our table.

Even from here, you'd know that it's him. His eyes stood out like smirked and stuck his tongue out at me, his eyes as emotionless as ever. I clenched my fist.

What game is he trying to play here?

"He is so hot." Sumire sighed.

The other two agreed.

"Don't you have a boyfriend?" I asked Sumire.

"Oh, Koko knows I love him," she answered. And as if to prove her point she waved to where her boyfriend was seated. Koko waved and grinned in return. I liked Koko and Sumire's relationship. They weren't the showy clingy PDA type. Heck, they're not even sitting together during lunch! Nonoko told me that they've only been together for a year but were always bickering since they were in elementary. Nobody was surprised though when they started dating, it seemed like it was bound to happen.

Lucky them.

Sumire winked at me good-humoredly. "But I cannot deny the fact that Natsume Hyuuga is one yummy creation of the Lord."

"I think I just barfed inside my mouth," I said. I don't know what they see in that guy but I am glad that I am not on the same page with them.

"Ditto." Hotaru, who has been quiet since this morning, agreed with me. She is also the only one who isn't bothering me about this Natsume business.

Sumire rolled her eyes but was smiling. "Whatever. Next topic, so Mikan," she said. "Have you decided which club you'll be joining?"

We've been discussing this for weeks now. Apparently being a member in a club is a big deal here. I already knew the answer to that, "I'd like to be a staff in the school newspaper."

"I thought so," Anna said. "Hotaru's part of the Alice Times too. She's a photojournalist."

"Yeah, I know. I also heard that the Editor-in-Chief's an amazing writer. He'd won multiple awards and only joined a year ago."

Hotaru raised an eyebrow. "You've obviously done your research."

"Not really," I chuckled. "Ah, and I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me to the club room later after class? I'd like to sign up."

"Sure," Hotaru said.

"Who is the Editor-in-Chief anyway?" I asked.

"And that question confirms that your research wasn't enough," Hotaru stated, rather amused.

There was when I realized that the entire table was dead silent and all my friends were looking at me like I was better off not knowing.

Oh God.

I gulped.

Please tell me it's not-

"Natsume Hyuuga."