Till There Was You
The Other Friends
Mikan and Natsume talked about how to tell Mikan's friends about their relationship. Mikan has not told anyone, whom she was dating, just that she was dating. Now, her friends were a bunch of cool people, but hiding a relationship from them was unfair.
Therefore, after a long discussion, they had decided they would invite them to Mikan's place to introduce Natsume. In all honesty, both of them were unsure about the whole thing because there was in fact a difference between Natsume's and Mikan's friends. The first knew how this worked – if you knew the celebrity, you were either his or hers friend or enemy. Moreover, friendship between celebrities requested discretion and keeping quiet about certain things. One also had to be prepared being stalked by paparazzi or denying the friendship for the better good. One had to make sacrifices, and that was something that came with experience.
Natsume knew that not asking about the partner in Mikan's relationship was a great deal for her friends and it was showing how much they trusted her. That is why it was him who requested the meeting.
He was nervous to meet them.
He knew what they might think of him.
Who lets his girlfriend hide their relationship for more than a year? It was just not normal to not talk about his beloved one in front of one's friends and Mikan had to do just that. They might look at him as a stuck up, rich bastard who took advantage of their sweet, beautiful friend. He would think the same.
Or another thing could happen. They might go all crazy once realizing whom he was and call the press and then everything would blow up – this little bubble he and Mikan had created, and he simply did not want to lose that.
Because it was a wonderful thing.
A wonderful relationship.
He had never clicked with anyone so much.
He and Mikan simply… connected… They both thought the same, had fantastic debates about things they did not agree with each other, and were able to compromise about anything.
They just… They were like best friends who happened to be madly in love with each other.
It was a relationship, Natsume had never experienced before. It made him happy. He wanted to shout out to the world and present them the girl who made him happy. It was not that easy of course that is why both, he and Mikan worked on their relationship to make it right – so they would be prepared when the time comes and they would be found out.
Still…
Just thinking that everything will be all right, did not help the poor guy to calm down.
He was walking around Mikan's flat, while the girl prepared snacks for her friends. She had invited them for a relaxing evening at her place to meet her boyfriend, and they friends jumped at the invitation. They were curious of who he was. Except for Sumire of course. She had known all along.
''Just calm down. They won't bite your head off or something.'' Mikan rolled her eyes over her shoulder while glancing at him every now and then. He was being ridiculous. He behaved as if this was his last day, and he was the one who suggested the whole thing.
''I am calm.'' He snapped, checking if the living room was clean.
''Of course you are. It was Mr Bear who made that hole around the table, eh?'' she joked, laughing when he glared at her. Mr Bear did not seem to mind them at all. He was lying on his back, all four apart, and his tongue hanging from his snout like he were dead. The snoring and occasional air running with his paws indicated that he might still be alive. And dreaming about running.
Natsume walked to Mikan and looked at what she was making. Dorayaki, Takoyaki, Yakitory, Dango, Onigiri and several types of vegetable dishes. He looked at her and blinked. ''Snacks?'' He smirked. ''And you're saying I'm nervous?''
Mikan blushed and nudged him. ''Hush you. Of course I'm nervous. It's going to be the first time they see you. I had to make the food grand… As an apology… Or something.''
Natsume laughed and pulled her into a strong hug, squeezing her like a teddy bear. Mikan giggled and leaned her head on his shoulder. ''We're going to get through this. It's not like they can lynch us.''
''True.'' Mikan smiled up at him and then they stared at each other again, just like it were the first time. Natsume kissed her and she responded immediately. Her hand went through his hair, while one of his hands held her around her hips and the other around her butt. His other hand soon travelled down too.
Mikan gasped, moaning, pressing herself at him. Natsume groaned, ravishing her mouth, and taking in her wonderful scent. He lifted her up and made her sit on the on the empty spot of the kitchen counter. Her legs hugged his hips and she pulled him closer, making him hotter and hotter for her.
The bell rung.
Mikan and Natsume jumped apart, hair dishevelled, lips swollen, and looked at each other in panic. Quickly they fixed themselves up, checking the hair and the clothes, and then Mikan rushed to get the door.
She opened it and smiled at the group in front of her.
''Hey! You guys are finally here!'' she hugged Sumire and the other girls, and was then pulled into a group hug by the boys. ''Come in guys. We were waiting.'' Mikan smiled and let them in, Sumire waiting with her. Mikan glanced at her, noticing the sly smirk. ''Had a nice time before we came, huh?''
Mikan blushed furiously, realizing that her best friend noticed her dishevelled state. ''Uh… I- we- no, actually-''
''Relax.'' Sumire calmed her down. ''You look beautiful.''
Mikan felt moved all of a sudden and blinked back tears, thankful for having a best friend like Sumire, who stayed with her in all times. She had to hug her one more time. ''Thank you.'' The two best friends soon separated and walked into the living room, where the others made themselves comfortable.
Mikan walked into the kitchen where Natsume was still hiding and smiled at him. ''You ready?''
Natsume nodded stiffly. ''Now I know how you felt.'' Mikan laughed and hugged him, successfully relaxing him a little. ''Come.'' She took his hand and pulled him behind her.
''Guys.'' Mikan started, gaining everyone's attention. ''This is Natsume, my boyfriend.'' The surprize was visible, but no one reacted dramatically. They all quickly took a hold on themselves, finally understanding the secrecy.
''Hey, Natsume. Nice to meet you.'' Greeted him Koko and shook his hand. The others followed soon, although Anna had a hard time to hold it together. She was quite a fan of RED and seeing the singer in front of her, casually dressed and holding Mikan's hand, did shock her.
''So, you're the lucky one.'' Sumire was the last one, holding his stare. It was like measuring who is going to win.
''Yes. That would be me.'' He half-smiled, not letting her win the staring contest. He knew who she was. And she had known for a long time who he was. And they both wanted the best for Mikan. Soon they decided they were equally strong.
''All right, Hyuuga.'' She smiled. ''I hope you know what you have.''
Natsume nodded. ''No worries. I'm aware.''
Mikan interrupted them. ''Oookey… Enough of that. I'll just bring the food.'' She gave them a pointed stare. ''Behave.''
The she started to bring those 'snacks', watching how the group interviewed Natsume about everything Mikan had to stay silent about.
''In the library? Seriously?''
Natsume shrugged. ''She had almost thrown me out for talking on my phone.''
The boys laughed, accepting him into the group.
''And how in the world did you two get together? With all that pressure from the press?''
Mikan and Natsume looked at each other. Natsume smirked proudly, and Mikan blushed. ''He uh… That concert last year on New Years, you know… That was-''
''For her. I used it to tell her…'' he continued and grinned at Mikan's shy expression.
The girls awww-ed and sighed, and the whole group started making fun of Mikan's shyness. Natsume threw his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer and kissing her front head. The group continued joking around and asking them embarrassing questions until they were not able to think anymore – Mikan made sure they were enough drunk to get confused.
And while Natsume had a hilarious conversation about football with Koko (who was already chatting nonsense, jumping from one subject to another without thinking) and Kitsuneme (who looked quite sober, but was in fact far away from that), Mikan chatted with the others, telling them things about Natsume and she that made them all laugh.
It went unsaid that everything said in here was to stay in here. They all understood.
Mikan glanced at Natsume here and there and realized he and her friends got along really well. The boys laughed and talked and drank as if they knew each other since forever. Mikan felt someone nudging her. She turned back to her friends who were grinning at her.
''Quite in love, eh?'' Misaki joked and Mikan blushed.
''Don't worry Mikan, you two seem very happy together. He is a nice guy, and he can be lucky to have you.'' Nonoko hugged her from the side, smiling. Mikan nodded. ''Yeah… He…'' she glanced back at Natsume. ''He's really… He's really great. I like him very much.'' She gazed at him dreamily and the girls laughed.
''She's seriously lost.''
''Look at her.''
''And that stare…''
They all joked, making fun of the poor girl, but creating a wonderful evening that both Mikan and Natsume did not forget. Their friends had accepted them both.
What more could they want?
AN: Dear readers, it was my Birthday on Friday, which is why I did not post anything for this story during the weekend – I'm sorry for that, I had a… wild weekend to put it like that, didn't sleep much, and I'm still feeling the consequences… Anyway, I wrote this today during my free time at work – I have to thank one of the people who gave me the idea in one of the reviews – really thanks – I wasn't sure how should the couple face Mikan's friends, so… :D