Update!! I'm a little quick with this one aren't I?Haha… but the poem for this chapter sucks! I know the storyline might be a little slow… I'm trying to pick up the pace. anyways, read and review. Criticize if you have too. I'm willing to accept any :)

Disclaimer; I do not own Gakuen Alice.

A friend's heart

'Hey, no star!! Did you bring my present?'

'I'm not a no star anymore perm… My grades are better than you remember?'

'You were just lucky…' Sumire said as she brushed Mikan off.

Geezes, although we've became a little more friendly, she's still as wicked as ever

'Ano sumire-chan, you shouldn't be rude to people… especially not tonight…' came a soft voice from behind them.

'Yuu!! You are MY boyfriend so don't back HER up!!' Inchou's face turn to an amazing red color as Sumire pointed out that he IS her boyfriend.

'Sumimasen but it destroys your beautiful make up… you wouldn't want to look improper in front of the guest right?' as usual, Sumire can't fight with Inchou's reasoning. He signaled Mikan to quickly leave.

'Ah!! It's true… what would Natsume-sama and Ruka-sama says' Inchou let out a relieved sigh. It would be difficult to handle Sumire if she burst.

They have been dating for two years now. Despite of her obsession towards some other cute guys, Sumire would always come back to him. Having her to come back to him is what makes him feel happy. She's devious no doubt, but she's the girl I fell in love with.

When Mikan finally out of Sumire's way, she observed the couple. Sumire's sudden mood swings and Inchou always trying to calm her down. Being patient with all her whim.

Poor guy… he's so nice but has a devil queen on his side… but still the opposites attracted I guess…

As she watched the couple, she saw Sumire at times laughing not to but with Inchou… she realized Sumire is happy… and so is Inchou.

Even Sumire look cute when she's with someone she loves. I'm starting to see her in a different light…

Its a little later she realized, Sumire's still talking about her 'Ruka-sama and Natsume-sama'. Mikan couldn't help but to sweat drop.

Though it wouldn't hurt if she stop obsessing about other guys. Oh dear, her present is still with me!! sigh guess I have to give it to her then…

'Here, Permy… your present.'

'It's about time you gave it to me…' Sumire looked around and failing to find the subject, with doubtful eyes, she looked at Mikan and ask, 'where's Natsume? You didn't stop him from coming did you?'

'Like I could.'

Sumire's face lit up like a kid receiving a candy and says, 'Right… even YOU don't have enough authority… hohoho' a laugh so crude it makes Mikan's stomach upset.

Yeah… I bet he doesn't even care about me…

'Hey Mikan, get the juice from the back store!' came Sumire's demanding voice disturbing Mikan's thought.

'I'm not your slave! Take it yourself!!' says Mikan annoyed.

'I'm the birthday girl REMEMBER?' Mikan was about to retort back when she saw Inchou's face that is almost pleading –just go, please…-

She thought, I'll just let it slide today, but I'll get her tomorrow!!

'Huhu… why do I always ends up doing this?' Mikan was mentally slapping herself when she heard someone enters the room. Great! The light is off. I should have just ignored Sumire… now I'm scared.

She mustered her courage and ask, 'Who's there?'

There was no response. Only silence. She heard someone breathing hard, so she squint her eyes and saw a shadow beside the window. Then, the figure move forward towards her and with the aid of the moonlight, she can finally see the other person…

'Na…Natsume… you scared me. What are you do…' her words was shut off as Natsume suddenly turned aggressive and pressed her against the wall. He was holding her hand so tight and was shaking badly.

He's trembling. He looks sick. Is he okay?

'Natsume… are you o…'

'Why are you smiling? Why aren't you ignoring me? How could you be nice and cold to one person at the same time?' he was talking so slow it was barely audible to Mikan.

He's breathing hard… I can't push him, he's still so strong…

'Natsume, it hurts… let go of me' she pushed him with all her might and sounded a little louder than she intended too. It snapped Natsume back to reality.

'Warre… ' Is all that he could say

'It's alright. Are you okay?' Mikan lost to her cautiousness towards Natsume.

'I'm fine… answer me' he was asking with such cold voice that Mikan was pulled back to her role.

Mikan smiled, to Natsume's eyes, it is like the smile she had on that rainy night. Don't smile like that it kills me…

'What are you talking about? Why would I be ignoring you? I only ignore people I hate… I don't hate you… I could never hate you.'

Natsume was about to say something when suddenly the door creaked open and Anna was in front of it.

'Aaah… there you are! Come inside, Sumire's cutting the cake' Anna said without actually noticing Natsume's presence.

.'Coming!!' Mikan answered as cheerful as she always had.

'Hey, help me with the juice!' she turned around expecting Natsume to be behind her.

'Ah… he's gone… I'm going to have to carry this by myself' coward!

After singing 'Happy Birthday' to Sumire, Mikan stepped outside. I guess pretending is very tiring… I should take a walk.

She was enjoying the view at the balcony when a monotonous voice ask her, 'Are you okay?'

'Ah! Hotaru! Of course I'm fine!!' Mikan answered, smiling.

'Then, why are you out here? I thought you like parties.' Still in her monotonous voice Hotaru tested Mikan.

'I'm just taking a little air. It's a beautiful night.' Taking a deep breathe of the air, she turned towards her friend, still smiling.

She's not going to admit it herself, I see. I'll be frank then.

'Baka!! Don't smile if u don't feel like it!!' Hotaru's voice although still monotonous and cold has a shake in it.

'What are you talking about?' Mikan says lying

Stubborn girl!! Hotaru shake her head and look directly at her friend.

'Since when did you turn into a liar? I'd rather you stay an idiot than being this deceitful…' the words struck through Mikan so hard that she lost her composure.

'Hotaru…'

'The idiot Mikan that I like so much has a smile much cuter than the ones you've been flaunting about. You should cry if you want to, and don't smile if you don't feel like it… it's so ugly that it gets on my nerves…' the look on Hotaru's eyes soften, although her voice is still the same.

'Hotaru… you truly are my best friend… nothing gets past you undetected I suppose' Mikan felt herself on the verge of tears.

'Now what's wrong?' Hotaru calmly ask her friend.

'…'

'Its Natsume is it? He's the only one seems capable enough to make you this miserable.'

Mikan nodded to this statement. She suddenly remembered the incident at the back store.

'That idiot! It is so obvious that he's sick but still he denies. I loved him so much… Why couldn't he see? Why won't he understand that I'll accept any sides of him? Be it good or bad… Why won't he let me tend to his wounds? Why won't he open up a bit?' Mikan's tears are falling harder. It would have soaked her dress if Hotaru didn't suddenly slapped Mikan's forehead. Mikan turns and look at her friend, surprised.

Hotaru sighed, 'When we were small, there was this boy who bullied you and caused you to hurt your elbow remember?'

Mikan simply nods

'But when jiichan asked what happen, what did you told him?' Hotaru looked at her friend, intensively.

'I said I was careless and slipped.' Came the straight honest answer.

'Why didn't you tell him what really happened?'

'Because he will worry!! I don't want him to worry… I can still handle it myself. We showed that bully didn't we?'

'Yes, we did…' Hotaru imagines the day they make that bully cries as they caused him to fall into a pig's den… With help from Hotaru invention of course. She can't help but smile at the thought of the memory.

'But that's besides the point. Do you think jiichan would've like it if he knows you kept something like that from him?'

'Of course not he'd be furious'

'Well, u knew that but you still kept it away from him. Why?'

'Because I love him. If told him he would do unnecessary things which will make things a lot worse and end up getting into… trouble.' Mikan's voice trailed off as a realization struck her.

'Do you understand what I'm trying to say?'

'Yes… but, its hard to bear with it… I can understand it, but I can't accept it.' Mikan looked even more misserable than before.

Seeing the look on her best friend's face, Hotaru said, 'Understanding is the first step. Next, u decide. Stop with that look, I'll allow you to cry it off and sleep with me tonight…'

'Really??' Mikan's face lit up to the suggestion.

She's back to herself. Honest and simple. Hotaru let a smile escape her lips.

'Only if you promise to be yourself tomorrow…'

'I promise!!!' Mikan can't help but to grin.She always loved to spent the night with Hotaru.

'Now go inside and enjoy the party. They'll get worry if you are gone too long.'

'Okay, what about you?'

There was a glint in Hotaru's eyes as she points towards a place, 'I'll be inside just in a moment. I saw something interesting… it would worth a lot of rabbits.'

Mikan followed her gaze and saw a blond hair moving towards the lake in the distant. I don't want to know…she's scarry... 'Alright then, be careful!!'

Mikan watched her best friend's back as she disappears into the night… with a smile on her face, a real smile she thought,

I'm glad I met you. Hotaru, I really do love you a lot. Thank you.

You were there to dry my tears

And through darkness you chased my fears

You accepted me despite my weakness

Without you, apart of me will always be amiss