Chapter Three here! I hope you have a good read! (:

RxR!

Recap:

"Well, I have a plan Ruka" Natsume proposed. "And it will surely get you the girl while I get my revenge".

"What is it?" Ruka asked out of curiosity.

"I make her look like a total idiot, not that she isn't one already, and then just break her" Natsume started.

"How is that suppose to make me end with her?" Ruka asked again.

"When I do, you should be there to get her back on her feet. Isn't that what stupid women always fall for?" Natsume said with a huge grin on his face.

"Well, Natsume…" Ruka hesitated.

"Trust me on this Ruka, its fool proof!" Natsume assured.

"Well, if you say so." Ruka sighed.

"It won't go wrong" Natsume repeated himself.

"But why are you this worked up Natsume? Are you sure you're not attracted to her as well?" Ruka questioned again.

"Don't be stupid" That was all Natsume said and then he went up the stairs to his own room.

-In Natsume's Room-

"Don't be stupid Ruka, this is pure revenge." Natsume said trying to convince no one. However, maybe he is convincing someone, himself perhaps?

CHAPTER THREE: LOVE AT FIRST DATE

"Why are you bringing me along again?" Hotaru asked as she was getting dragged around by Mikan.

"Well, you are my best friend and I'm actually scared, you know!" Mikan said, "What if this jerk will violate me all of a sudden? Who will protect me? Ne, Hotaru?"

BAKA BAKA BAKA!

"Why would he even think about that?" Hotaru asked with a chilly tone. Hotaru knew her best friend was beautiful. She saw how Mikan grew up over the years and she could be certain that as each year passed by, Mikan was turning prettier and prettier. Only a blind fool could mistake Mikan as an ugly duckling. Certainly, Mikan was a beautiful swan.

"Oh! Come on Hotaru! Please go with me! I'm sure that blonde guy would come too! So, if I bring you along, it would make it even!" Mikan said happily.

Hotaru looked away trying to hide her blush; she knew she found the blonde guy, Ruka, attractive. However, she doesn't want anyone to find out.

"Hotaru, what's wrong?" Mikan worriedly asked.

"Nothing" Hotaru quickly regained her composure.

"Okay! So, are you tagging along?" Mikan said as she made puppy dog eyes.

"Fine" Hotaru almost spit the words out.

"YAY! Thank you so much Hotaru!" Mikan yelled as she hugged her best friend. Together, they happily walked side by side.

Mikan and Hotaru finally came to the meeting place. The two parties have agreed that they would meet right in front of La Sienna Coffee Shop. And when Mikan and Hotaru came, they saw Natsume and Ruka wearing casual attires, leaning their back on the limousine that they must have ridden on.

"You're late" Natsume announced and then he took huge strides to get to where Mikan is and he swiftly caught her wrist, pulling her to the limousine. He opened the door and gestured Mikan to get in first. When Mikan resisted, Natsume pushed her in and he went in afterwards.

"Are you coming too?" Ruka glanced at Hotaru who had an expressionless face plastered on her face.

"I am" She replied and took a few steps toward the car they were riding. Ruka gestured her to go inside and so she did. Ruka followed suit.

-In the limousine-

"Where are we going?" Mikan asked.

"Hn" Was what Natsume replied as he continued staring at her.

"Will you stop that?" Mikan said irritated.

"Stop what?" Natsume said, his crimson orbs piercing through Mikan.

"THAT!" Mikan blurted out.

"What?" Natsume mocked.

"The staring! Stop it!" She yelled again.

"Hn" Natsume mumbled not obeying a thing she just said.

"Ah! Natsume!" Ruka interrupted catching Natsume's attention. "I think we're here".

Natsume jumped out of the limousine first, he then offered his hand to Mikan who hesitantly took it. Ruka on the other hand, looked away the whole time. He felt too pain-struck just by looking at them. When Natsume and Mikan were a few steps away, Ruka got out of the car and waited for Hotaru to get out too, only, he was looking at Natsume and Mikan's backs.

"You like her?" Hotaru asked out of nowhere.

"P-pardon?" Ruka stuttered, obviously taken aback by the question.

"You like Mikan, right?" Hotaru asked again.

"U-um…" Ruka looked away to hide his blush.

"I knew it. You look at her differently" Hotaru said again and walked away.

"N-no, it's not what you think!" Ruka denied.

"Then, what do you really feel aside from liking her?" Hotaru asked as she turned back at Ruka.

"I-I… I think I'm more attracted to her as far as 'liking' goes…"

"So, you love her?"

"I-I guess…"

"You avoid looking at them all the time; you show a pain-stricken face when you do see them and you always smile when you talk to her. It's kind of obvious." Hotaru pointed out.

"Am I that transparent? Does she know?" Ruka asked this time.

"She's an idiot, she can't figure it out unless you tell her" Hotaru said and then continued walking. She didn't wait for Ruka, she walked alone, briskly.

"Wait up!" Ruka called out, but she didn't slow her pace down.

"I said wait up!" Ruka said when he finally caught up with her. However, Ruka didn't see that the ice queen's expressionless face became sour. Hotaru was hurt by a reason she knew and she couldn't bring herself to hide it. "C-could you-…" Ruka said between his breaths.

"Could I what?" Hotaru asked impatiently.

"Could you tell me more about her?" Ruka asked with pleading eyes.

"Of who?" Hotaru acted as if she didn't know.

"Of your friend, Mikan" Ruka said with a huge smile on his face.

Hotaru didn't say any word; instead she just kept walking on and on. Meanwhile…

"WOW!~" Mikan said wide-eyed.

"Tch! You're so easy to figure out" Natsume said with a grin.

"A Theme Park! I've always wanted to visit one!" Mikan chirped happily. "Come on!" And then she dragged Natsume into the theme park, not even noticing that Ruka and Hotaru were gone.

"EHHHHHH!" Mikan wailed.

"What is it? Could you not shout all the time?" Natsume said as he rubbed his ear.

"I want to ride that! And that! And that! And that! And-…" Mikan said pointing to different rides that attracted her. She was only cut off when Natsume placed a hand on her mouth to cover it.

"Shut it. You're too young for your age, don't you think?" Natsume mockingly said.

"What's wrong? I don't think being eighteen is an excuse to not act like a child for once!" Mikan said as she stuck her tongue out at Natsume.

"Whatever" He grunted.

"Hey! A cotton candy!" Mikan happily announced when she saw the cotton candy cart. "Do you want one?" She asked Natsume as she handed him a cotton candy stick.

"No!" He refused and shoved it back at her.

"Fine, more for me then!" Mikan said as she paid for the cotton candy stick.

"Pig" Natsume mumbled.

"I heard that!" Mikan said as she gave Natsume a soft punch on the arm and then she giggled.

"What is it now?" Natsume said with a grin. How couldn't he when Mikan was looking so dazzling giggling all of a sudden? 'Wait, what are you thinking?' Natsume snapped at himself.

"Nothing, I just couldn't believe I punched you on the arm and got away with it!" Mikan giggled again.

"Who said you've gotten away with it?" Natsume turned cold again.

"Oh, come on, sour puss!" Mikan mocked jokingly at Natsume, not even detecting the change in his mood. "What would be my punishment then?" Mikan asked as she giggled.

Natsume looked around and then saw the perfect punishment.

"Let's go in there!" Natsume dared Mikan pointing at the horror coaster.

"That is my p-punishment?" Mikan asked.

"Yes" Natsume smirked. "Come on, scardey-cat!"

The horror coaster was a ride where you go into a tunnel full of horror monsters that are going to scare you. It is one of the scariest horror attractions in the Theme Park. As soon as Natsume and Mikan got seated in…

"Are you sure this is my punishment?" Mikan asked again.

"Hn" Was Natsume's reply. And so the ride started.

"NATSUMMEEEE!" Mikan screamed at the top of her lungs when a series of spooky and scary dolls, and people with costumes sprang out of nowhere. She clutched his shoulder tightly as she closed her eyes.

"Scardey-cat! Tch!" Natsume mocked as he had a huge grin plastered on his face.

"I HAAATTEE YOOUUU!" Mikan screamed again as she was now clutching a collar of his polo shirt when a mummy sprang out from her side of the ride.

Natsume couldn't resist himself this time. He slowly placed a hand around her shoulders and he tightened his grip on her when she screamed again. The rest of the ride was almost the same, Mikan clutching on to Natsume and Natsume taking advantage of the situation? When the ride was over, Mikan felt very relieved but Natsume was red all over.

"Natsume, what's wrong? Do you have a fever?" Mikan asked as she stuck her forehead to his.

Natsume drew back all of a sudden. "No, I don't. Move away pig!"

"Hmpf!" Mikan grunted. "OHH! Natsume, let's ride that one too!" Mikan pointed on the Ferris wheel, and so they did.

When they were about to reach the top of the Ferris wheel Mikan broke the silence.

"You know, ever since I was eight, I always dreamed of riding a Ferris wheel with my boyfriend because I saw this couple once, and they looked very good together, they were riding the Ferris wheel. They looked as if they seemed to be enjoying every second of the ride. But, I never had one, a boyfriend. Riding this with you…" She paused for a while. "Riding this with you, it makes me feel as if you are my boyfriend". Mikan smiled at Natsume as she blushed. "But don't get me wrong! I'm not saying you really are!" Mikan tried to laugh now. She then stopped and looked out of the window as she admired the setting of the sun.

All the while, Natsume was speechless. He didn't know why she was saying all these to him but he sure found her very beautiful as the tangerine sun stroked her face. He just stayed there and fell into a trance of admiring this pretty lady in front of him. His crimson eyes not leaving her face.

-In Natsume's study-

"She screamed in the horror coaster?" Ruka asked again.

"Hn" Natsume replied. "Why are you asking that again?"

"Well, because, Hotaru…"

"Hotaru?"

"Yes, Mikan's best friend. The girl with raven hair told me that well, Mikan isn't afraid of horror rides! In fact, she doesn't seem to be afraid of monsters or vamps or things like that!"

"But she did scream and cling to me."

"WHAT? SHE CLUNG TO YOU?"

"Hn"

"Why would she? She is more afraid of roaches and those sorts that of monsters!"

"Hn" Natsume grunted while Ruka had a devastated look on his face trying to figure out why Mikan did act that way. Natsume however drew a very faint smile on the corner of his lips.

'So, you weren't afraid? I wonder…' Natsume slyly thought.

-Mikan and Hotaru's apartment-

"You clung to him?" Hotaru asked.

"YUP!" Mikan cheerfully replied.

"And you screamed a lot too?"

"YUP!"

"You pretended?"

"Well, if you put it at that, YES!"

"And you're saying that he hugged you back during the ride?"

"YEAH!"

"Why? Do you like him now?"

"Hm… I don't know Hotaru. But whenever I'm with him, my heart races very fast and I can't stop it no matter how I try to calm down. I lose my temper easily and I laugh a lot too. Moreover, I say the stupidest things when I'm around him! Is that what they called love, Hotaru?"

"Maybe"

"Well then, I MAYBE in love with that freak!"

"Maybe"

"And I think he likes me too!"

"Really?"

"So, when he asked for a second date! I said, YES!"

"You're going out again?"

"Yes, but this time, just me and him!"

"Hm"

"How about you and that Ruka guy?" Mikan asked with a huge grin.

"…"

"Hey, Hotaru! Spill the beans!"

"…"

"Hotaru?" Mikan peeked at Hotaru. "Don't sleep on me now!" Mikan grumbled. Hotaru did sleep on her and so she decided to sleep as well.

"He was talking all about you idiot" Hotaru murmured when she was sure Mikan was asleep. "You're lucky, because he talks about you."

The end of Chapter Three! More NatsumexMikan romance on Chapter Four!

Read on! ;)

-'Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all. (Tennyson)

xoxo,

TheNoveler