Author's Note: Chapter 4 is here :) Thank you to all those who reviewed the previous chapter! ^^ I plan to update this story every Saturday but I did it earlier this week since my mother is forcing me to go overseas with her. Torture, indeed. -.- I'll be back by Monday and I so look forward to it. Anyway, I don't know if I want to add more drama into this story or just end it quickly. Give me some opinions, pretty please? :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice or any of its characters. Do I look like Higuchi Tachibana to you? No.

Chapter 4: Confessions

POV- Aoi

My heart thumped as if a bullet train was about to collide into me. You-chan had just grabbed my arm and pulled me back. And what did he call me? Princess. I felt like maybe I'd died and gone to heaven right there and then. I turned around and glanced up into his greyish-green eyes.

"I've always liked you, Aoi..." You-chan said, his voice husky.

"R-really?" my eyes widened. He'd been so mean to me that I thought he hated me, that it was just a one-sided love. "M-me too... I... I like you too, You-chan..."

I blushed like nobody's business as he lifted my chin and leaned forward to kiss me. Just one more centimeter and our lips would be touching...

"BAM!" a loud crash brought me back down to earth. We sprang apart, guilty.

"Aoi," a familiar husky voice said. I would recognise that voice anywhere. It was, undoubtedly, my elder brother, Natsume Hyuuga. He was the one who had opened the door so forcefully, creating that loud bang. I could have strangled him!

He strode towards me and grabbed my arm. "That performance wasn't that bad. Good for you. We received an invitation from the school to come and watch your performance."

"Onii-ch―" I began to say, but he clapped a hand over my mouth.

"Aoi, the academy allows students to leave for the weekend, doesn't it? Let's go on a date, shall we? After all, you haven't seen me, your boyfriend, for such a long time. Don't you miss me at all?" Natsume-nii said flatly.

"What?" I gasped, but it came out sounding like 'Mmmf!'

I could register the shock that clouded You-chan's eyes. He looked at me in the eye and I could see clearly the emotions that scrolled through his face. Hurt. Anger. Suspicion. Shock. Disappointment.

"Go get changed now, Aoi. Let's catch a movie before heading out to your favourite restaurant for lunch," Natsume-nii continued. I dug my nails into his arm in a futile attempt to remove his hand from my mouth so I could explain to You-chan. What nonsense was my brother spouting? Girlfriend? I was his sister, for God's sake! And I knew that he already had a girlfriend, Mikan Sakura-neesan. She was a perfectly friendly and lovely girl.

"Oh, this is...?" Natsume-nii asked, looking at You-chan.

"Mmmmfff!" I spluttered against his hand. I glanced wildly at You-chan but he wasn't even looking at me. I felt as if someone had just shoved a knife into my heart.

"Pleasure to meet you, I'm Youichi Hijiri, Aoi Hyuuga-san's classmate and acquaintance," he replied coldly, looking directly at Natsume-nii. Acquaintance? Do acquaintances kiss each other and confess to each other? I felt like shouting, even though I knew I had no right to do that because of Natsume-nii's stupid lie.

"I'm Natsume. As you can see, I'm Aoi's boyfriend," Natsume-nii said just as coldly, being careful not to mention his last name since it would be too weird if we had the same last name. "Let's go, Aoi. I already bought tickets. You don't want to be late for the movie, now do you?"

Before I could do anything, he dragged me out of the room and to a silent hallway. He pulled away his hand from my mouth and it was like removing his hand from a leak in a water pipe; I started screaming at him.

"What was that for, onii-chan?" I shouted. "Girlfriend? What was that all about? And why the hell do I have to go out with you?"

"We haven't been together for a long time, have we? What's wrong with going to town with your brother once in a while? Now go get dressed. I'll be waiting for you at the main gate," he replied indifferently.

Before I could protest, he pushed me and I pouted, making my way to my dorm room. I bit my lip as I thought of You-chan's expression when Natsume-nii said that I was his girlfriend. I wanted to explain it all to him badly, but he looked as though he didn't want to see me anymore. Okay, fine, I admit. That was a lame excuse. It was just that I had absolutely no guts to face him anymore, after all those nice things he'd said to me. I entered my room and washed off all the makeup from my face. I removed the hair extentions and brushed out my shoulder-length hair. I managed to remove the flimsy dress and throw on a sweater dress, leggings and suede thigh high boots. I grabbed my bag and stormed out of the dorm to meet my stupid brother.

He was leaning against his black sports car at the gate. As usual, girls were crowding around him, giggling and flirting. I rolled my eyes as I approached him. The girls shot me death glares as they slunk away.

"Can we go now?" I asked impatiently.

"Just a minute," Natsume-nii replied. "That stupid Polka is getting drinks. She'll be back soon."

By 'Polka', he meant his girlfriend, Mikan-neesan. I had no idea why he called her that, anyway.

"Aoi-chan!" someone called out cheerfully.

"Speak of the devil," Natsume-nii muttered as Mikan-neesan approached us, waving with one hand and holding a plastic bag in the other.

"Mikan-neesan! Long time no see! How's it going?" I greeted as I wrapped her in a hug and released her.

"Of course, I'm fine. How about you, sweetie?" she replied as she opened the car door and gestured for me to enter.

I slipped into a backseat while Natsume-nii and Mikan-neesan occupied the front seats. I'd always wondered why such a kind and bubbly girl like Mikan-neesan would end up with my brother, a mean, indifferent and idiotic person.

"Well, I'm good, as well," I answered. "However, a certain someone really spoiled my mood today." I added, shooting daggers at the back of my brother's head.

"Oh God, Natsume. What did you do again?" Mikan-neesan groaned as she pulled on her seatbelt.

I gazed at her in wonder. Wow, she really did know my brother and me best. She knew that I was upset because of something he'd done.

"Don't ask, Polka," Natsume-nii snapped.

"I'll tell you later, Mikan-neesan," I leaned forward and whispered in her ear.

She winked and nodded, tossing back her long brown curls.

"Where are we going, anyway?" I asked.

"To the movies, duh," Natsume-nii answered.

When we arrived at the movie theatre, Mikan-neesan pulled me to her side and called to my brother, "Natsume, we're going into the hall first! Get some popcorn and drinks!"

"I'm not your maid, you know." Natsume-nii rolled his eyes but still stormed over to queue for popcorn. Mikan-neesan grinned and dragged me into the hall after showing the usher the tickets. We slid into our seats quietly. We sat in silence for a minute before Mikan-neesan blurted, "So, what did Natsume do?"

I twisted a sliver of hair between my fingers and said quietly, "Um, so You-chan, I mean Youichi, um, he's in my class. Er, so we were about to k-kiss when onii-chan barged in and told Youichi that he was my boyfriend and that we were going out on a date! Youichi looked so shocked and... and hurt..."

Mikan-neesan's huge brown eyes widened and flashed with anger and frustration. "That stupid twit!" she cried out.

"Shush," someone sitting behind us whispered. Mikan-neesan flashed him an embarrassed smile and whispered, "Sorry!"

"Actually," she said softly after a few seconds. "Your brother is doing this all for your sake. He doesn't want you to be toyed with by boys. You two have been together since you were small. You're his only kin. He doesn't want you to be hurt. It's just that he doesn't know how to protect you without hurting you. He's childish and weak in that sense, I guess." She smiled gently, and at that moment, she looked just like an, well, angel. I could see why Natsume-nii fell in love with her.

Natsume-nii came just at that moment and slumped into his seat, carrying a big pack of popcorn and three drinks.

"Although, sometimes he should really let his little sister fight her own battles and don't decide everything by himself," Mikan-neesan added in a louder voice, loud enough for Natsume-nii to hear.

Natsume-nii shot her a look but she just shrugged and smiled.

I love my hopefully-soon-to-be-sister-in-law.

"Bye, Aoi-chan," Mikan-neesan smiled as she hugged me quickly. "Good luck in explaining to Youichi! I'll see you soon! Call me!"

She pantomimed using a telephone as she got into Natsume-nii's car. They'd just dropped me off in front of the academy. I felt slightly better. Mikan-neesan has a way to cheer up depressed people. I made my way to the dining hall to see if there was any pastries left. I was starving.

It was already 9pm and the hallway was silent. A sudden movement in front of me almost made me jump out of my skin. I stopped dead in my tracks and found myself staring into a pair of greyish-green eyes. I felt my heart hammer wildly against my chest.

"Y-You-chan..." I began nervously. "About that..."

"What, Hyuuga? And please don't stand in my way," he said in an icy voice. I felt a sick feeling settle in the pit of my stomach. He used to call me 'Aoi', not 'Hyuuga'... And that cold voice... It was totally different from the usual You-chan... He used to speak to me in a such a cool, awkward, shy and gentle voice... And it was all my fault why he changed...

"I... I'm sorry," I blurted and jumped to one side.

He walked past me without even glancing at me. I felt tears prick my eyes but I bit my lower lip to keep them back. I didn't have the right to cry. It wasn't his fault... It was all mine. It was because I brought those stupid guys home to let my brother meet, the guys who were only after my money or my body. They made my brother more wary of the guys I date... They made him paranoid. But You-chan wasn't the type of person who only wanted my body or money. In fact, I didn't think he even knew that my brother was the CEO of a great company.

I slumped down and sat hugging my knees in the middle of the hallway. I didn't care that anyone would see me... I felt my optimistic mood drain away. How foolish had I been? Just because of Mikan-neesan's words, I thought that I could convince You-chan. I thought that I could make up with him. I guess I'd thought too highly of myself. You-chan made it clear that he didn't want to see me anymore, that he thought I was a two-timing bitch. I couldn't help but to put my head in my arms and let the tears flow.

To Be Continued...

Next chapter: Explanations and Excuses

Chapter 4 is finally done! :) I'm sorry if there are any errors in the story but I'm in a hurry now... I'm leaving to board the ship soon. I dread it, really. T_T Anyway, thanks for reading :) Reviews, please? :3 And I'm going to repeat this... Anyway, I don't know if I want to add more drama into this story or just end it quickly. Give me some opinions, pretty please? :) That is, if you want to give me opinions. See you soon! :D