I do not own Gakeun Alice. (:

If I did, it'll probably be the most watched uhm, anime ever.

*is apparently full of herself*

(: (: (:

At the apartment

It was if time had frozen for me. The only thing my mind was working on was Anna's words.

"What?" I whispered.

Hotaru and Anna exchanged quick looks.

"Well," Hotaru said. Really slowly. So that I couldn't pretend to not have heard. "You're in love with him."

My gaze slipped, from their faces to the full, uneaten plate before me. My gut was wrenching.

Because it was true. I'd never learned to stop loving Natsume Hyuuga.

"And," Anna added. "We know he loves you too."

This got my attention. My head jerked up and I stared in disbelief at my two supposed best friends in front of me.

"Are you out of your mind?" I demanded, flicking my hair out of my face. "After the way he just left me? Left me to...to-"

I was still bleeding from the wounds he'd inflicted when he'd left.

"He did it for you," Anna said. Her voice dipped. "He didn't want you to get hurt."

I let out a short bark of a laugh. "Oh sure, that's a laugh," I snapped. "I so didn't get hurt."

Hotaru scowled. "Look," she said. "We just don't want you to suffer anymore. I can see it in your eyes whenever we mention Natsume."

Anna nodded. "Pain, love, anger, hurt."

"What are you guys talking about?" I demanded. But I knew what they were talking about. I felt those emotions whenever his name got thrown around; felt it in my heart, deep in my stomach. I could never live without Natsume.

"We just want you to date him to stop you from suffering," said Hotaru. She looked a tad bit concerned.

But I didn't need that concern. I was healing. Bit by bit.

But I knew that I was lying to myself. I hadn't been healing. My wound has just gotten bigger, worse. It was healing now.

Because of his return. Because of my first love. Because of Natsume.

I stood up so suddenly, my chair fell backwards. Hotaru and Anna looked up at me, their expressions alarmed.

"I gotta go," I said blandly, in a tone best used for the loss of a relative. I walked towards the door and grabbed my coat off the hook.

"What?" Anna scrambled up, her face a mix of surprise, concern and alarm. "Where are you going?"

I didn't answer. I just snatched up my keys and left, the door slamming hard behind me and my best friends' words echoing in my head.

It was raining. Hard. I ducked into cover and went to get my car.

It was only when I was sitting in the bright red convertible my mum had given me for my sixteenth birthday, breathing in the rich, leather of the seats did I realize I had nowhere I wanted to go.

Then, I remembered Joshua's BBQ. I revved up the car and pulled the top over.

The rain drummed against the hard top as I pulled carefully into the road and swerved around.

As I began the long journey to Joshua's house, my mind spun over to Natsume's gorgeous smirk. Those beautiful eyes. And his lips.

I ran my tongue over my top lip. The taste of his mouth had lingered on mine; I recalled those eyes staring calmly into mine.

Without realizing where I was driving to, I turned left at a junction, staring with glassy eyes into the pouring rain outside.

The rain was so thick, I could barely see two feet in front of me. A row of houses loomed up on either side of me and I noticed the cars had noticeably lessened.

A feeling of familiarity rose up inside of me.

I squinted through the rain, my eyes raking the huge manors. They were all classy, tall, gorgeous. Huge black gates blocked the front yard from view.

Joshua was rich but not this rich. Where was I?

Then, I saw the huge, golden mansion raising up tall and proud before me, protected by a huge golden fence and hedges and knew.

I was at Natsume Hyuuga's house.

I had been here several times in the past, back when Natsume was still dating me and not jetting off to another country. I remembered the lush green, rolling lawns, the enormous property.

The car slowed down and I closed my eyes, praying that I had gotten it wrong.

But when I opened them again, my gaze fell on the huge, ornate 'H' on the golden gate and my mind spun to the Hyuuga corp.

So much for wrong house.

Before I knew what I was doing, I tapped the accelerator and jetted forward in a cascade of rainwater. It was only when I'd stopped directly in front of the huge golden gate did I realize what I was doing.

"Mikan!" I hissed angrily at myself. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Yes, can I help you?" A decidedly bored male voice asked. I jumped and looked wildly around for the source.

That was when I spotted the intercom on the side of the golden gate. A guy was on the screen, a beefy security type with dark sunglasses, matching suit and an ear piece.

"I - I'm Mikan Sakura but-"

With a long, exaggerated creak, the golden gates swung open.

"Go ahead," the bored security guard said. Before I could protest, the screen turned black.

Nervously, I pulled the car into the drive way and drove it. As I did, I glanced on either side of the car. Lush, green lawns, huge canopies to protect from rain, a porch, a deck.

I stopped behind the two sleek cars already parked by the door. I recognized one as Natsume's black sports car, the other was a silver Audi.

After making sure the car was locked, I walked to wards the front door, tugging nervously at my hair.

The door swung open easily when I twisted the handle and I stumbled into the huge hallway. Everything was as I remembered, topped off with Natsume's delicious smell. I inhaled before proceeding.

I walked into the glossy kitchen. A beautiful figure was sitting at the glass and antique wood table.

My heart twisted as his beautiful lips twisted into a smile.

"Mikan," Natsume Hyuuga purred. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

:) :) :)

Hope you enjoyed it and I'm sorry for leaving it off for so long. :/

Read and review, okay? (:

xShanaChan