Disclaimer: I have a confession to make, I am actually Tachibana Higuchi in disguise and I own Gakuen alice! ……………… Kidding! Hahaha. XD XD That would be insane. Oh and this plot is based on He's With Me by Tamara Summers. : )

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This chapter is dedicated to Maureenjade. Thanks, thanks, thanks a lot, really!! : ))

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For Now or For Real?

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Ch 3

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Moanday Morning

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'I hate Mondays.'

That was the first thought that came to my mind when I woke up on Moan—I mean Monday morning. I groaned. I wished it was raining hard. Very hard and pouring. A tornado would be real cool. Okay, fine, I won't be that harsh. Then maybe just a strong typhoon, perhaps? With thunder, lightning and everything? Pretty please? That way, I wouldn't have to go to that blasted summer program.

But when I drew out the curtains, my face immediately crumbled like a building in an 8-magnitude earthquake. You know why? Because it was sunny. Absolutely friggin' sunny. It was a real perfect day to spend outdoors. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and not a cloud can be seen in the clear blue sky.

Lovely.

Thinking darkly about Mother Nature, I dragged myself to the bathroom.

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"There's nothing good about the morning."

That was my snarky reply to my mother's greeting when I came down to the kitchen for breakfast.

My mom looked at me and raised one eyebrow. "Sweetie, what's wrong with you?"

"It's sunny," I stated unhappily as I slumped on a wooden chair. Mom then set a plate filled with juicy honey-cured bacons and sunny side-up eggs onto the table. Sigh. Too bad I'm not in the mood. They would have tasted so… mouth-watering any day but today.

Mom gave a snort-laugh. "Well, of course. It's summer. What do you expect?"

I rolled my eyes. "Apparently, I was expecting a hurricane, mom."

My mom, understanding the root of all this snarkiness since she eavesdropped (yup, you heard it right, my MOM actually eavesdropped. Can you believe it?!) on our little 'conversation' last night, gave out a small chuckle. "Aww, Mi-chan. It can't be all that bad."

"Actually, it can and it will, mom. You have no idea how bad no matter how super your eavesdropping powers may be," I snapped and began stabbing the bacon with my fork. Now, I'm not a mean daughter or something and I'm not being disrespectful to my mom. I know she's just cheering me up and I'm really thankful for that. But.. It's just that I can't really help but not NOT feel thrilled about this bloody summer program, day camp or whatever you call it. Fine, maybe I used to be hyper excited about it. As in, deliriously hyper. But that was way way way before the time of the dinosaurs! You know, before the great Lunannosaurus rex (long for L-rex or to be more elaborate, Luna, the T-rex) and her French-manicured claws came into being?

Mom didn't seem to have been hurt though. "Come on, sweetie. Don't say that." She grabbed a chair and sat down beside me. "You're just acting all cranky because you're nervous! But I know you're actually thrilled about the summer program."

Yeah, right.

Let me clear that up and say that I absolutely do not feel thrilled about the summer program! Um.. Nervous? Totally. Cranky? Maybe. But thrilled?! Give me a break. I'd much rather stay alone in my room all summer and rot there than have fun under the sun with everyone and risk being deep-fat-fried alive by the hag of the century and her robotic apprentices!

"Do I really have to do this?" I whined.

"Yes, sweetie. You already said yes to Natsu-kun," she replied. "Besides, it'll be fun! It's the same as having a role-play! You'll just have to act. It's going to be real easy. Unless…" She looks at me teasingly. "It's not like you're in love with him or something, unless you are… are you?" (A/N: these are Hotaru's exact words. See chapter 2)

I glared at her. "Way to go, eavesdropper."

She laughed. "I'm serious!" she said, still laughing. "You did the right thing, Mi-chan. You helped a friend in need."

Yeah, right. Natsume doesn't even look like he's in need.

I scowled and stabbed the bacons harder. Mom gave me a pat on the back. "Now stop playing with your food and eat." She stood up. "Your brother made that."

I gagged. "W-what?! Ruka made this?!"

"Uh-huh."

I snorted. "No wonder it tastes horrendous!! Are you sure he didn't mistake cyanide for cooking oil?"

Mom gave me the look and I smiled sheepishly. Hehe. Hmm. Speaking of Ruka, "Where is he, anyway?" I asked. I haven't seen the moron since I woke up.

"Oh, he went to the country club ahead with Hotaru-chan." Mom replied.

"NANI?!" I shrieked. "Why didn't he wait for me?!" How could he do this?! Unbelievable! Trying to abandon me now, eh? Don't tell me they're going to let me go to the summer program all alone and defenseless?!

Mom just shrugged.

Hmph.

What ever happened to 'that's what siblings are for'?

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DING DONG!

"I'll get it!" mom chirped as I downed my glass of milk. I heard the door creaking open and…

"Natsume's here!"

I gagged, throwing into coughing fit and spluttering the milk all over the dining table. "WHA-WHAT?!" I shrieked, my eyes nearly bulging out of its sockets. Did I just hear her say that Natsume's here?! Natsume?! Here?! No way. I must have heard it wrong or maybe I was just hallucinating things. Haha! Yeah! Of course! Stupid me. Natsume can't possibly be here! I was obviously just hallucinating!

"Mi-chan, Natsu-kun's waiting for you outside." mom's voice echoed into the house.

I gulped. Guess I wasn't.

"Are you alright?" a concerned-looking mom glided back into the kitchen

"H-hai mom. I'm fine. A-ano… just a bit... shocked, that's all," I replied, clutching my chest to calm my heart. Calm down, Mikan! Calm down!

"Well, hurry up then!" Mom smiled teasingly... again. "You wouldn't want your boyfriend to wait long now, do you?"

"MOM!"

She laughed. "Kidding, kidding." She handed me my duffel bag. "Now, go ahead, sweetie." then winked mischievously.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my duffel bag from her hands. "Whatev." Then, hurriedly wiping the trace of milk off my mouth with the back of my hand, I gave her a swift kiss on the cheek and muttered a hurried 'Ja ne!' before I bolted out the door to the porch.

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'So. Freakin'. Hot.

...And I'm not even sure if it's because of the weather,' I couldn't help but think as I froze on my spot, my breath getting lost somewhere between my lips and my throat as the door slowly closed behind me with a soft thud. He— Natsume, I mean— was sitting on our front steps, wearing this cool, black speedo board shorts, navy blue Abercrombie and Fitch shirt and a Nike baseball cap which is shadowing his eyes.

"Oi polka. Why are you looking all frozen over there when it's actually freaking hot?"

I jerked upon hearing the deep husky voice that had broken me from my train of thoughts. Uh-oh. Not cool. Not cool. Natsume caught me staring at him! If this keeps up, he might eventually find out about my secret crush on him and our friendship will be destroyed! NOOOOO! Must stop staring… Must stop staring… Must stop staring…

"Oh, hi Natsume!" I squeaked nervously after recovering from my 'frozen' state. "What are you doing here?" Must stop staring… Must stop staring… Must stop staring…

"Duh. I'm picking you up."

"P-picking me up?!" I asked in disbelief. "Why?!"

Natsume just shrugged and started to walk down the street. "I dunno. They say it's supposed to be what boyfriends do," he said.

"They say?" I made a snort-laugh and followed him down the street. "Why? Don't you do those things to your girlfriends before? Like them picking up or something?"

"Nope," he shrugged again, placing his hands on his pockets.

"You don't do those things at all? Even to Yumi?" I blurted out and Natsume immediately stopped walking.

My eyes widened upon realizing my mistake. "Oh god! Sorry sorry sorry!" I screamed, bringing up a hand to my mouth. Oh crap! What's wrong with me?! Why do I always have to bring Yumi up?! Why do I always have to ruin the moment?! Why do I always have to do stupid things that'll make Natsume hate me?!

"Sorry Natsume!" I squeaked again in a tiny, guilty voice.

"……" He shrugged and continued walking. He was walking ahead of me so all I could see was his back. And for what seemed to be an eternity, an uncomfortable silence enveloped us. Natsume just walked and walked and guilty old me just followed and followed.

"……"

"……"

"……"

"Oi, You still worried about the pretend thing?" He suddenly asked.

"Eh?!" I jumped, startled. "Oh. Um…yeah. Sorta," I said.

"Don't worry polka," I heard him say.

"Yeah, sure," I said sarcastically.

He snorted at my tone and turned to face me with a… gasp! a small smile?! "As long as I'm here, those old hags can't kill you…" He continued. I gaped at him, my cheeks burning up.

Don't worry polka. As long as I'm here, those old hags can't kill you.

His words. That smile. I think I'm feeling light-headed. Oh, Natsume. I really like you. I really do. I smiled at him warmly, not minding that he called me by that annoying nickname again. I think that's his way of saying thank you. The jerk has too big a pride to actually blurt out the word 'thanks'.

"...yet," he suddenly added, his handsome smile now replaced with an annoying smirk.

"WHAT?!" I fumed, my heart-warming smile now replaced by a heart-wrenching glare. "You jerk! What do you mean by yet?! Does that mean you intend to let those hags kill me later?!"

He shrugged, smirk widening. "Maybe, watermelons."

"The nerve of you— huh?! W-watermelons?!" I gasped, my face turning cherry red as my brain processed what just happened.

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"NO WAY!! Y-you saw?!"

Natsume's smirk got even wider. Huh?! How could he possibly see?! I'm wearing pants, for crying out loud! "You're the one who showed them to me, watermelons," he said as a matter-of-factly.

"Are you crazy?!" Ugh! The nerve of this guy! "I didn't, you unbelievable hentai!!"

"Oh, but you did, my dear girlfriend," he sniggered and broke into a run. I ran after him.

"Heeey! Natsumeeeee! Get back here you perverted jerk! You are sooo deeeeaaad!"

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HELP! I'm dying!

Okay, fine, I'm not really dying—well, at least not yetbut it's all in just a matter of time.

Now, chasing Natsume Hyuuga from our house all the way here to Pokey Oaks (A/N: Um.. I guess I've been watching too much Powerpuff Girls? Hahaha.) Country Club WAS NOT easy! Who knew that the bastard runs so fast?! Huff Huff Huff. Damn, I think my lungs are shriveled. Huff Huff Huff. Can someone—huff –please—huff puff –call the paramedics? Huff Huff huff. I moaned as I walked—more like limped —the few steps towards one of the benches and plopped down on it. Ow ow ow ow OW! My legs are aching!

"Tired already, polka?"

My head shot upwards and the first thing I saw was a smirk. Damn.

"Shut up ya twerp!" I snapped, giving him the evil eye.

"Awww. My girlfriend's mad at me," He teased in a mock-offended tone, feigning hurt. My glare intensified. He took the empty spot beside me on the bench. "Mind telling me why, watermelons?"

"Oh, don't you start!" I seethed. "And don't you dare tell me that running the good 2-kilometer distance non-stop is just so easy because I will personally strangle you!"

He grinned. "Idiot. How was I supposed to know that you had a hard time? Some people aren't as old as you, you know."

"Well, excuuuuse me!" I retorted. "But we could have taken the bus you know! Or we could have ridden a bike or one of your cars or the MRT or… or… Ugh! See?! There are far too numerous means of transportation! I don't see why the heck we had to waste precious energy by running such a long distance!!"

He cooly leaned back on the bench. "It's called exercise, polka, and its actually something old people, with weak and flabby bones, like you, need."

My nostrils flared at this and my whole body was quaking with anger. And upon seeing this, Natsume couldn't look more pleased. I cast him a murderous glare. He merely smirked.

I'm so going to murder him.

"Oh, there you are," someone suddenly interrupted just as I was about to strangle the life out of Natsume. Argh! Damnation! I was so close! So close!

Still holding Natsume's neck, I narrowed my eyes at the owner of the voice only to see that it was Hotaru with my traitorous brother along with her. "Oh! Hotaru, it's you!" I beamed, forgetting my anger and annoyance.

"Hello baka," Hotaru greeted impassively.

I frowned at the nickname but decided to dismiss it. I turned to my brother and glared at him. "You!" He gulped, tightening his hold on his pet rabbit which he had brought with him. "Why did you leave ahead of me?!"

He smiled at me sheepishly. "Um.. Sorry Mi-chan but I didn't have a choice," He said, rubbing the back of his head. "Besides, you needed to go with Natsume alone so that you'll seem more convincing."

"Hmph. Whatever, nii-chan!" I stuck my tongue out at him.

"HEY! I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT!!" he exclaimed.

I furrowed my eyebrows at his reaction. "Geez. What's the big deal anyway?"

Ruka stiffened. "A-ano.. I j-just don't want people to think that I'm older than you when in fact, we actually have the same age." Whoa. Talk about major mood swing. He's mad, and then the next I knew is that his serious face scaring the hell out of me. Freaky.

I raised my eyebrows. "That's your reason?! Geez, Ruka. You sound like girl! You're not gay, are you?!"

"W-WHAT?! Of course, I'm not!!" he exclaimed, blushing from embarrassment. "You're my twin! How could you even think that way?!"

"Hmmm.. Y-you sure?"

"OF COURSE I AM! What else do you think?!"

"Oh, ok. Whatever." I shrugged it off.

"Oi, baka, how long do you plan on holding my neck?"

My eyes widened and I realized that, indeed, I have been clutching Natsume's neck in mid-strangle this whole time! I let go of it immediately. "Sorry!" I said. How embarrassing!

"Anyway, where were you guys all this time? And why are you all sweaty?" Ruka asked.

"Well, sorry if we arrived late," I said. "It's just that, some people here--" I glared at Natsume's direction. "—had dark intentions to get me crippled for life."

Natsume shrugged. "Don't look at me. Some people here just lack the stamina. What a pity."

I glared at him. He smirked. Aargh!!

"Interesting," Hotaru said, giving the two of us a curious look.

Huh? What's with that look? It's like she knows something. And 'interesting'? What the heck did she mean by that? Before I could figure it out, a chorus of nasal laughter was heard. I turned my head and spotted Luna, hag of the century, strutting toward us and her posse which consists of Sumire, her sister, with whom she shares a brain with, Wakako Usami, the girl with dry looking black hair, Nobara Ibaragi, who looks too kind to be part of Luna's evil circle, and Yumi Hiragi, who is, yup, you guessed it right, Natsume's ex-girlfriend, follow behind her—all looking like sports magazine model wannabes.

"Uh-oh," I muttered.

"We'll go ahead," Hotaru said monotonously and dragged Ruka by the sleeve.

"W-wait! You guys! Don't leave us!" I whispered frantically.

'Good luck,' Ruka mouthed before he disappeared into a corner along with Hotaru.

I moaned and slumped back on the bench. How could they just leave me like this?!

"Just ignore her," Natsume said.

"Yeah, right," I rolled my eyes and looked at the fast-approaching monstrosity in her 2-inched white flip flops.

Luna is your typical high school mean girl-- Blond, pretty, popular, filthy rich and genuinely eeeviiil. She's the proud queen of Alice Academy perched on her throne on top of the social ladder and man, does she love to remind you of that. Guys want her and girls want to be like her. They would kill to be in her circle of friends because being in Luna's circle would mean instant popularity. Now, who wouldn't want that? well, I know this sounds like I'm jealous of her but seriously, she's terrible. I don't really see why some—or rather, most people actually like her. I mean, she is pretty and she knows it and she loves to rub it in your face while telling you how defective you are.

And as I stared at her approaching figure, I couldn't help but feel deflated. Compared to me and my boring, scruffy khaki shorts and faded green polo shirt, Luna looked much much better in her fitted white polo shirt and short dark blue velvet shorts. I frowned. I know I look plain. With my pale skin, auburn eyes that looks more like the color of mud and auburn tresses which are usually tied into a boring ponytail and my bangs, which I've been growing out, clipped back by a boring old grandmotherly clip; I've never really considered myself as pretty. And unlike them, I don't really live with the whole 'make-up is essential, fashion is my life' idea. Let's just say, I dress to be comfortable, not to impress. But even so, I couldn't help but think that, indeed, Luna looked good.

Luna slid her überglamorous big sunglasses up. "Hey Natsume!" she purred.

Ewww. Her voice is so over-sugarcoated; the mere sound of it gives me diabetes.

She winked at him seductively and pulled him up from the bench. Argh! I could feel my insides burning up. Stay away from my boyfriend you slutty hag!

Okay, maybe I'm getting a lil' carried away. I'm forgetting that this whole boyfriend-girlfriend thing isn't for real. But, whatever! She shouldn't go seducing other people's boyfriends may it be real or just pretend!

"Come on, hon! It's almost 8. Let's go grab our schedules!" she said, linking arms with him, making me fume with jealousy even more. Urgh! Seriously! Get off of him, will you?!

"I'm not sure if my girlfriend is okay with that," Natsume said casually, pushing her away before my jealousy could get the better of me.

"Girlfriend?!" she shrieked, all the sweetness drained from her voice.

"Yeah," Natsume said, sliding a hand around my waist. My face turned a furious shade of red. "This is Mikan, my girlfriend."

Ha! Take that, Luna!

"Her?!" she growled. She looked shocked to say the least. "I didn't know you guys were dating." She eyed me up and down, with one eyebrow arched, like I was some disease-carrying alien from another planet. "Mikan Sakura, right?" she said between clenched teeth. "The hot Ruka's twin sister?"

"Yup," Natsume smirked, pulling me even closer. Oh. my. He's so close to me, I could smell his scent. He smelled alluring, like summer and floral tones put together with a masculine base. Mmmmm.

"Oh," was all Luna could say. She was clearly seething mad and the look on her eyes screams bloody murder. I shuddered. "Well, how cute." She said, pulling herself together and forcing a fake smile on her face. "

Natsume smirked then turned to me. "So, Mikan, you wait here. I'll go get our schedules," he said and headed to the entrance desk, leaving me alone with Luna and her friends.

Luna turned to me and smiled sweetly. "Well, I'd love to stay and chat but some of us still have a summer program to attend to." She beckoned to her posse, "Come on girls." Then she turned to look back at me. "Oh, and Mikan." She smiled, leaned forward and whispered something in my ear.

I froze.

"See ya!" She smirked and walked away, her robotic friends following behind her but not before each one of them, except Nobara, had given me their laser beam death glares.

Oh Lordie.

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"Did you see the look on her face?" Natsume snorted when he came back moments later. "Looks like we got her, huh?"

"Um... yeah," I laughed nervously. I'm not quite sure about that.

Natsume smirked. "See, polka? I told you everything's going to be alright."

I nodded. "Y-yeah… I… I guess I was just being a scaredy-cat," I said. But I'm certainly not convinced that 'everything's going to be alright'. Humiliating the most popular and powerful girl in school isn't exactly 'alright'. I stole Luna Koizumi's supposed-to-be boyfriend right under her nose and she's none too happy about it. I felt myself shiver as her words washed over me again like cold water.

I could tell, this isn't the end.

Watch out tangerine girl. I'll be keeping an eye on you.

It's just the beginning.

God, Mikan. What have you gotten yourself into?

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Whew. That was quite long. hehe.

I deleted the replies and the author's notes above already. Anyway, thanks to those, who read, reviewed, favorited, and alerted this story. mwahugs to you all! : DD

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ja for now!

aW aw-chan : )