I do not own Gakuen Alice, so I disclaim.

O. Chapter Seven .O

x. Mikan-chan .x

Monchu's Bar Club was really just… the bar.

I mean, with the disco ball, strode lights, groovy music, sound systems, billiards, karaoke, poles, booths and everything.

It was crowded and with that it was packed up, no place for oxygen. Believe me, I am not being sarcastic.

Sumire and I had to dance on the floor with the crowd, if we don't want to get our sorry asses bumped painfully out the exit, just to cross over to the liquor counter.

We both sighed heavily as we rested our arms on the surface. Hearing a familiar snicker on our backs we turned our heads.

"Having fun, ladies?" Mochiage called, walking over to us, wearing a dark polo, jeans and sneakers.

"Glad you could join us." He smiled pleasantly looking at me.

I grinned. "Glad I could." I scanned around the area. "Woah. If these dudes and dudettes were really paying, you could be a gazillionaire." I commended.

He smirked and rolled his eyes. "As if. C'mon let's go. The gang's waiting."

Sumire giggled as Monchu grabbed her waist, carrying her down the stool that she was sitting on.

"Guys, get a room will you?" I complained teasingly, making Sumire blush hard.

"Later." Monchu turned to wink at me.

I pulled my tongue out at him as he cackled.

-boo-boo-bee-bap .x

We walked towards the rounded booth in the middle of the vestibule, VIP section, I presume.

"Hey guys! The tardiness is here!" Monchu called as we were near hearing distance.

Heads turned around, gawking of course, one choked off his drink, stood up and then walked away.

"Guys, I would like you all to meet…" He turned to Sumire and pecked her cheek "…my girl, Shouda Sumire and…" he pinched mine. "The ever so-cute, yet tonight looked a little mature, Shouda's best friend, Yukihara Mikan…" he trailed off and beamed on the sitting crowd. "Take note: She's Single and ready to mingle." I pouted and mock-punched Monchu as they all muttered sweet 'hellos' in unison.

Monchu pushed me between Ruka and a guy who I think is a college-dude, 'cause of his obvious star-tattoo.

Mochiage and Sumire sat on the edge snuggling each other. I grimaced at their direction.

"Uhm…" I turned to look at the uhm-mer. "Hi…" He coughed, trying to carefully choose his words.

"…I'm Tsubasa Andou, but you can call me Andou or the like." He smiled shyly, stretching his arm.

I beamed. "Hi. Name's Mikan." I said, taking his hand and shaking it.

Sparks flew like electricity as our skin touched; I bet he felt it too as he withdrew his hand the same time with me.

He snorted at his sudden prosecution as I inhaled a breath. Ruka made a weird sound with his throat that made me turn around and glare at him.

"What is it?" I said through gritted teeth.

"Nothing much." He smiled smugly and traced the planes of my face gently.

Feeling a little awkward if I slap it off, I balled my fist and hissed at him silently, so that only the two of us can hear. "Stop it!"

He put his hand down and grinned over my shoulders. A naturally annoying voice strikes, making Ruka snap his head around. "Ah. Yes."

He turned his attention back to me. "Mikan, meet my distant relative. From the city of love, Luna."

I shook her hand lightly, and the smell of Eau de toilette crawled invisibly on my fingers to my wrist, I let go instantly. Making them look at me confusingly.

"And what is she in your life?" She asked curiously.

"She's my former girlfriend from years ago." He smiled assuring. I rolled my eyes at how he flirted at her.

"Don't be so rude, Ruka. Don't talk like I'm not here." I spat.

"You're the one rude, feminine. We are talking. You can't just butt in to somebody else's business. Mind your manners." She replied back.

I scoffed. "Our introduction hasn't been put to closure yet, so I am not butting in."

"Are you challenging me?" She said, narrowing her eyes.

"Do I have to explain everything to you now?" I said triumphantly, standing up as she did the same.

"Bring it on." She said, whispering it to my ear.

"Oh. I will bring it." I said stepping closer to her, we're an inch far from each other now.

She smiled sweetly and shouted over my shoulders. "Hey! Shake in some Jack!"

Tsubasa cracked his head up and swooped in to the counter. "I thought you'd never ask."

"You'll regret this, Missy." She murmured.

"And why should I?" I feel so tough now.

"You'll see." She then turned and swayed her freaking ass out of the booth.

Did I say I'm short-tempered? Cause I am not.

What? you won't believe me? Well, you really don't know me yet.

Why I started this? I really don't know, something just snapped at my system after I shook my hands with her. Something is not right, I can feel it.

"Hey, Mikan." Sumire patted my shoulder and clasped my hand. "What was that all about? Is she bitching you off?" She asked, cocking her head to the side.

"No." I said simply and smiled. "What's up?"

She beamed and lead me to a secluded bar guest room. She sat ladylike on a studio couch, tapping the seat beside her, gesturing for me to sit.

"Again, what's up?" I snooped.

"Me and Monchu are gonna do it here!" She said dreamily taking in the place. "Isn't it wonderful?"

I looked at her dumbfounded.

"What? Don't you have anything to say? Something encouraging, okay?"

I shook my head. "Look, Sumire…"

"Mikan, no. I don't want to hear it. I made up my mind." She said cupping her ears.

I sighed disappointedly. "If you don't want to listen, just hear me out, okay? It's your choice anyway."

She looked at me angrily. "If it's my choice. Why do I have to listen to you discouraging me to do this?"

"Because, I am your best friend, Sumire."

She shook her head, sobbing. "Just hear me say." I said, pulling her hands down and holding it tight.

"Doing this is a big thing. And I know you know that, right?"

She nodded.

I sighed. "And you, doing this now, is a little too fast. I hope you understand that I disagree with you doing this."

She shook her head.

I squeezed her hand as a tear fell off her eye. "Ruka and I had been hooking up secretly since the first year of high school, we just became official after he joined football and I did the cheerleading."

She sucked in air. "I'm sorry. I-I didn't know…"

"But you still made out with him didn't you?"

She nodded solemnly.

"What you did was a rash decision. It almost broke our friendship, And you really did smashed my relationship with Ruka. Only, it was falling apart, you just made it legitimate." I said, tearing up.

I continued. "And this thing you are deciding on is worth a life time to ponder about."

She nodded again.

"Sumire. I want to hear you too."

She nodded and sobbed again. "I love him."

I nodded. "Go on…"

"I don't want to lose him."

I nodded. "Carry on…"

"He's the one." She tore up.

"Sumire…" I said softly. "Ruka and I had been in a relationship for about 2 years before we broke up."

She nodded.

"I also thought he was the one." I said, nostalgia taking over.

"I never kissed him." I smiled at the thought. "And we still lasted that long."

She nodded.

"I didn't do it with him nor give him a 20-minute head." I coughed.

She nodded again.

"But he still waited for me. I mean, he tried, he really did. I could see his patience."

She nodded once again.

"But, we are not meant for each other, Sumire." I looked at her sadly.

She nodded.

"And you had just started dating Monchu. SO, we can't be so sure. I am not saying he's a bad guy. Cause he is not."

She nodded.

"And I am not saying he is like Ruka, because he really isn't." I smiled.

She smiled back and hugged me tight.

"I'll tell him, I am not yet ready." She whispered.

"Yes. Tell him that." I patted her back.

"I love you, Mikan." She muttered.

"I love you too, Sumire." I smiled.

"See." I said, pulling her to look at me. "Love doesn't revolve around sexual intercourse."

We laughed hysterically and I broke it off as the music changes its beat.

"C'mon it's no party without us." I said pulling her with me to the dance floor.

We danced to the beat. A little later the music turned slow and everybody was swinging with it leisurely.

Monchu asked Sumire's hand to dance and I will give it to him anyway even if he didn't. They need to talk about it.

I slid back to the VIP booth and sat beside Ruka, who was a glass or two near being intoxicated.

He was about to sip his glass when I snatched it from him and slapped it on the glass table.

"Mik…hi…k…cup..an.!" He slurred.

"Gosh, Ruka. You're tipsy." I said as he bends closer to me, making me smell his breath reeking with beer.

"You're so low standard, Mikan." Luna mentioned, walking over.

A guy spoke beside her.

Who the hell would go out with a bitch like her? I looked up to criticize, but end up gawping.

I knew something is going to happen, I really felt it, but this one is indescribable.

x. Natsume-kun .x

She's beautiful, much much more beautiful than ever. No, she's gorgeous.

I can't control myself any longer. Choking deliberately on my tequila, I excused myself to the men's room from my so-called date. I was sitting between Luna and a guy, who is somehow her distant relative, but after I got up he scotched over near her.

Just as the newcomers were introduced, I was halfway to the wash room, but decided to breathe in fresh air, and contact Boss. It was after 3 rings before he picked up his phone.

"Yes?" He answered.

"I'm at Monchu's Bar Club right now. Coincidence, maybe."

"Coincidence, I think not. I believe it is either plotted or simply a wheel of fate."

"Sire, your daughter's on location. Should I abort this mission?"

"Natsume, this is business. Nothing personal."

"But, sir…" I started to protest.

"OK, fine. Just…find a way not to get on her tracks, alright?"

"Yes, sir."

He hung up.

I slipped my phone back on my pants' pocket, sat on the Bar Club's step and had my hands covering my face.

"This is tough." I muttered to myself.

"Natiro! There you are." She called behind the shadows. "I've been searching for you."

I stood up and smiled. "Just breathing air. It requires a lot of oxygen to survive that party."

"Well, that's how parties are." She giggled, tugging my arm. "C'mon now. The songs are so cool! Dance with me." She giggled some more, dragging me inside to the dance floor.

After half an hour, the music clambered slowly.

"I really don't like this melody." I excused.

"Really? I don't like it either." Her face fell, putting her arm through mine, walking the two of us to the VIP booth.

She muttered French curses as we neared the area.

x. Mikan-chan .x

I was choked up by my own air and had my eyes boring to his rubies. Ruka leaned his head on my shoulder, making me cough a little.

"It's rude to stare." Luna noted and grimaced as she sniffed the atmosphere.

Her usher cleared his throat, pulling his collar uncomfortably. "Ah…" he unscrewed his arm from Luna's grip, having an excuse to look at his watch.

"L-Luna-chan." He stammered, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's getting really late… and before these inebriated guys' starts to smoke joints, we should be going now."

Luna pouted again, playing with the tips of her curls. "But-but, the party's just getting started. C'mon let's have a shot of whiskey." She said then sat in front of me.

"I thought you wanted Jack Daniel's?" I asked, carefully laying Ruka's head on the couch.

"I changed my mind." She said simply. "Anyway, the boys already emptied the fresh bottles."She smiled sweetly, patting the seat beside her for Natsume.

"Natiro, pour me some, will you?" She smiled.

Natiro? , I thought. Oh, some other guy.

"Sure." He said, then reluctantly glanced at me, swiping the sealed whiskey from the glass table.

I got Ruka's half-full glass of Jack and chugged it down in one shot.

Oof, I'm dizzy.

I banged it on the table. "Hit me!" I hissed.

Natiro just looked at me. "Aren't you drunk already?" He accused.

"No! I am not!" I griped. "Why are you shifting so fast from side to side? Are you playing tricks on me?" I hitched.

"Ooops." I murmured, cupping my mouth. "Hit me!" I wailed.

"But—" He started to say, but Luna cut him off.

"Mikan. Let's have a bet. The one who gets drunk first will dance on the atrium pole and will be video-ed." She smiled mischievously.

"Hit me!" growled.

x. beep-boo-boo-bee-bap .x

O. End of Chapter Seven .O

Oh. Poof!

I sincerely apologize for breaking my promise about "not leaving this story drooping for long", I was busy again. I've got to admit I freaked out about being a playwright and directing my so-called actors and actresses that I was too tired to update. Gomennasai. But before that, I had my Item defense, I was the MC for our Sports Fest Pageant, we have practices for our United Nations Celebration, stuffs and stuffs.

By the way, my script was well-commended. I am so proud, right? ( I am not boasting, I am plainly counting my blessings)

PS. I am really, super duper sorry for updating late, please don't get discourage, just continue on reviewing, subscribe and matters like those.

PPS. Thank you for my subscriptions and reviews, I am truly grateful.

PPPS. I'm just late on updating but my stories are still on the go and progressing, okay?

xoxo