A/N: It's been way too long and I'm sorry for that. Anyways, back to the story, what do you think is most important in love? Lust, passion, desire? There are many types of love out there and the one I'm writing is too innocent to have too much of the above. So no. The most important thing would be friendship. At least, in my story. And for friendship to build among our two characters, I need interaction and I've given them that. Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice.

So yeah, I did tell myself that I didn't care even if Luna hated me. Even if I hated her. That Natsume was my first priority. I wanted to be his friend first, then maybe, Luna's. But, that's easier said than done.

"Natsume I need you to—" Before I can even finish speaking, Luna links her arm through Natsume dragging him away, saying something about her costume. "Natsume, can you please—?"

Again, Luna's there to kidnap him from moi. I can do nothing but watch as she says "Mikan, I'm so sorry but can I borrow him for just a few minutes?" I smile at her as I don't want to come off as rude and am about to say, "Actually I—"

"Great, thanks!" She doesn't even let me finish that I need him too, literally hauling him away like I was some sort of infectious disease. "N-Natsume—" Luna doesn't even let me lay down my request as she falls on him by accident and sprains her leg badly. "Oww..."

"Are you okay?" I asked, kneeling down beside her, forgetting about my request as she winces in pain, her eyes tearing up. "We need to get her to the hospital." I said to Natsume who recoils, "Yeah, well, can you take her?" He asked and I shook my head. "She's injured, Natsume! Badly! You need to carry her..." I said although I felt myself get annoyed at the thought of it.

"I'm sure it's not that serious..." But just as Natsume says this, Luna begins to weep and clutches at her leg hard. I glared at him. "Okay, okay, fine." He said and picked her up in his arms. I wonder why, now that he in fact listened to me and picked her up, I want him to put her back down. I don't want him to touch her like that...

I feel ashamed at feeling the way I am. Luna's wincing in pain and here I am...

"H-How is she?" I asked Natsume as he came back. "I told you, it's not that grave. Even the nurse said so." He replied irritably. "I-I see. That's good." I smile thankful that she's not hurt that seriously.

"What were you going to ask me?" He asked suddenly. I stare up at him, "Sorry, I know Luna's been hogging me all this time... Trust me; I wanted to ask you that all morning." He replied sheepishly with a thin smile and I smiled back.

Shaking my head, I touch his arm unintentionally. "It's okay. I understand that she must be having all kinds of questions after being away for so long." I said and again, he frowns. "Can we NOT talk about Luna? She's been forcing herself on me all morning anyways; I don't want to waste whatever's left of my day, talking about HER." He said with repulsion in his voice and I nod, giggling, happy that he's talking to me...

"*Ahem* Hey, Hyuuga, can you let go of her hand already?! We have a scene to do! If you've forgot!" Hotaru yelled from across the stage and we both looked down at the same time to see that Natsume and I are holding hands.

Both our eyes widen and I let go of his hand hastily, blushing, my heart thumping loud as warmth creeps up my cheeks. Just as I shyly glance at Natsume, he looks at me too. We lock eyes for just a second before I glance away, overcome by shyness. And because of that, I overlook Natsume's playful smirk as he takes my hand in his again. My eyes widening again, I look up to see him smiling down at me.

I blink unable to act in response when he pulls me towards him, his fingers linking with mine, my chest pressed against his. "Excuse me? Can you not hear me?!" Hotaru shouts again, her tone coming out as mocking as I blush.

And just as I try to draw myself away from him he gripped my hand firmly, "We're practicing a scene." He shouts back impassively without emotion as I blink at him in bewilderment. "... Oh come on, You can lie better than that, Hyuuga!" Hotaru yelled back at him with a teasing look.

"It's the last scene, actually. Where Petruchio confesses he's always loved Katherine. I'm still working on it. We're playing it out right now." He said and again, my eyes grow wider. "...Hmm, Fine. But hurry it up!" Hotaru finally yelled back, winking at me.

After the coast is clear and Hotaru is back working on the set, I murmur, "W-Why did you lie? We're not acting out anything!" I said still trying in vain to free myself from his grip, blushing furiously, my heart beating crazily. "How do THEY know THAT?" He replied mischievously, winking. "W-Wha?! Let me go! Natsume!" I blush shyly whispering as he pulls me even closer.

"Hey, stand still," He whispered into my hair. "B-But—" Just as I start to protest, he takes my other hand in his. "Luna's gonna hog me again after she comes back again anyways. Let me hold you for now. Maybe it'll suffice for not being able to talk to you all day long..." I couldn't say anything to that.

We both stood still as we held hands. "Look at me." He demanded and I remained stubborn, "No." I replied, my gaze fixed on the ground. "Look at me." He demands again, although a lot more gentler, his tone happy and I know for a reason, he's smiling. I can sense it. I smile too, as I shake my head. "No. No. No." Replying playfully.

He smiles again, I'm sure, even though I'm still looking at the ground. "Hey... Look at me. Mikan, please?" He asked, his tone tender and loving and I feel so, so happy and well, still shy. He called me by my name again! I shook my head yet again. "No." I whisper in a melodic tune, my lips bursting with full blown smiles. "No, no, no..." I added, whispering playfully.

"Is your little love scene done yet?!" Hotaru's yelling brought us back to reality and I blushed abruptly, overcome by shyness as I tried to get away from him but he still refused to let me go. "Nope." He yelled. "This is the part where I say 'I love you'."

I could feel my mouth drop open in shock and my eyes shoot themselves up to look at him in disbelief. Everyone turns to look at me and Natsume, and he grins, triumph in making me look at him. Smirking, he turns to the audience, as if he was acting a part out, holding both my hands. His eyes sparkled, his lips a mischievous, devious, impish smirk.

"Don't torture me liketh this, mine own love. If it be true that I hast thee for myself, I'm nothing less of perfect. The world shall finally attain it's true meaning for thou art the only world I believeth in." He recited in watertight Shakespeare English as I blink unable to utter anything, bewildered and dumbfounded.

Although I'm unable to look away too. I can't. I just can't. Even though I'm dying of embarrassment. I felt myself blush and my lips part, my heart beating fast, afraid that he might be confessing for real... Well, not exactly afraid, just antsy and restless...

"So what if it be true thee hast faults? These imperfections maketh thee the mistress I hath fallen in love with... These imperfections maketh thee the mistress I consume over. These imperfections maketh thee perfect. If thee couldst only see through mine own lovesick eyes, thee'll know how quite beautiful thee truly art..."

I felt myself unable to say anything, gazing into his red, red eyes as I felt my pulse quicken, my breathing get ragged and my heart beat wilder than wild. And as he leaned in, his eyes ever so lightly closing, as his hand caressed my cheek, his lips inching closer to mine, I felt my heartbeat get more and more irregularly as I closed my eyes in a panic, not knowing what to do.

"And then we kiss and the show ends. The end." Natsume stated abruptly, his hands now tapping against the script. "I'm gonna have to alter the lines though... How corny..." He said seriously, as though nothing happened.

Suddenly, everybody clapped. "Damn. Natsume, dude, you're too good!" Koko and Kit came up to him and acknowledged him. He smiled lightly. "And you, Mikan!" Kit turned to me and I jumped at the sudden call of my name. "You too! I honestly though you two were confessing or something!" He said grinning.

I smiled clumsily although my heart is still beating fast. "*Ahem* you weren't actually gonna kiss her, were you?" Ruka asked comically his eyes trained on Natsume and I turned to look at him too, awaiting his reply.

"I was..." He replied. All of our eyes widened. "...In the actual play, that is... We're gonna have to do something about that. After all, I can't just kiss her for real..." His eyes lingered on me and I blushed looking away.

Even though except Ruka and possibly Imai, nobody suspected a thing— "Hey," She ignored me completely, frowning as she moved ahead with her tray of food. It was lunch break right now and I thought that maybe I should apologize or something, since she's been avoiding me all morning. "What are you so mad about?" I asked to get her to talk and it worked like a charm.

"Excuse me?!" She yelled and people around us stopped chatting and looked to us, expecting some petty gossip. I rolled my eyes as I grab her by the elbow "Come on, I know a place." I said and although she protested, I dragged her along.

Her mouth dropped open at the spectacle, "Pretty, right?" I asked and she smiled, "Wowww! I-It's amazing! Like being inside a dream..." She said as I smiled back in a genuine fashion. I liked this view too. Behind the school, hidden and only mine...

Well, only ours. A single Sakura tree in full bloom, beneath which is a single bench for student's use. I watched as she set the tray of food down and reached her hand out to touch the flower petals falling. Giggling, laughing, smiling, I watched as she twirled around in a circular motion, dancing with the blossoms playfully.

"Natsume it's so beautiful!" She exclaimed standing right in the middle of it all and I knew, I'd found a new favourite place. Being with her. Wherever it was. She held both her hands up collecting the petals in her palms.

Then, she came up to me and then threw the petals up again, and they fell down on both us again and she giggled, before repeating the same action. "Hey..." I whisper accusively not wanting to put a hold on her happiness. I loved seeing her like this.

I was in love with her happiness.

She turned and smiled at me, "Okay, enough. If you don't remember, lunch break is only for an hour." I reminded and she pouted briefly only to smile again. "Eating is the last thing on my mind right now..." She exclaimed and I shook my head.

"Well, sorry, but either you're gonna eat that on your own... or I'm gonna shove it down your throat AND drag you out of here." I threatened and she pouted. "No. No, I'll eat. I'll eat." She said hurriedly.

I smiled as she sat down on the bench. "Hey, Natsume, why'd you bring me here?!" She asked and I smirked. "Well, consider it my apology for embarrassing you." She pouted remembering suddenly, but then smiled. "Consider yourself forgiven." She said, her eyes drawn to the tree just like I was drawn to her.

The words tumbled out of my lips before I could stop them. I couldn't help it. The image of her closed eyes, her hands in mine as I leaned in to kiss her flashed before my eyes. It was eating away at me. "Did you think I was gonna kiss you?" She turned to me wide eyed and I turned away, cursing myself for having made things awkward again. "I-I did..."

I just couldn't help it; the question was caught in my head ever since she closed her eyes, willingly, as I leaned in to "Kiss" her. It was like, she wanted me to. "Relieved, I'm sure you are, that nothing happened." I asked, as an attempt for a joke but I was actually hurting inside.

"Yeah..." Even more now. Her answer hurts even more... I force on a smile though. "I-I'm sure you didn't want to do it either, did you? Y-You were only acting, right?" She asked, her tone was dull, though she wore a smile on her face.

There's a limit to how much I can take. "The contrary really. I actually wanted to." I confessed the truth, sorry, blurted it out before I realized it. Again, I turned and bit my lips, cursing myself as I saw the confusion and panic swirling in her eyes.

"Kidding. I know you freak out so, I promise I won't ever touch you even if you are on the brink of death, so, rest assured." I joked although I knew I would. I'd do it a hundred times even if it meant having her hate me if she ever was in a situation like that. She pouted cutely. Then, settled into an emotionless face. "Did you... Did you ever kiss Luna?" Her voice was so much of a whisper, I didn't hear her at all.

"Huh? Sorry, what?" I asked and she turned to look at me, her eyes strangely, well, I don't know how to put it, she looks... Sad and... Longing for something? "Uhm, did you... Did you ever bring Luna here?" She asked as I blinked in bewilderment. "Why would I bring HER here of all people?!" I asked perplexed as she blushed.

"It's just—She seems so close to you and I heard that you both were together so," I groaned. Oh, come on! "Yeah, we dated. It's not something I'm proud of, and I don't what you've heard, but we only dated for 3 weeks, half of which I exhausted in DS. We didn't work out. I liked that she was passionate about acting and was earnest in her work but let's just say, my impression of her was far from the mark. So, we broke up. And I want nothing to do with her anymore... Even if I can't really say the same for her..."

Her eyes widened as I confessed the truth. "Oh... I-I thought that maybe you might still want to be with her..." She said, stammering in her usual self but why do I get the feeling that she's... Happy? Her voice is soft and mellow as always but there's a strange relief... Sort of distant delight in it. "No, I don't. I'm not interested in her at all."

There. Again... With that smile. It just screams that she's glad for some reason. "So... Change of topic. Why do YOU seem so cherry?" I asked and she just shrugs. "No reason. I'm just happy." She replied and I nodded, my eyes falling on her long wavy coffee brown hair, swaying with the wind. I trapped a soaring strand between my fingers, playing with the ends of her brown tresses.

"Your hair's really long." I commented and she blushed noticing that I was playing with her hair. "I like my hair long. Ah... But, I guess, city people prefer short hair to long, huh?" She asked, her brown eyes twinkling with innocence. "Not really. I like long brown hair. Your hair. It's really soft..." I replied and she blushed instantly.

Feeling a little bold, I slide closer to her, moving my hand a little higher, next to her ear and run my hand through her hair. "And exceptionally silken." I trace my hands out effortlessly. Her hair is flawlessly velvety that my hand never got knotted in her long, brown curls even once.

I move my eyes to gaze at her expression and she's blushing vehemently. I chuckle. "Are you always this conscious?" I asked, moving away from her for the time being, to let the girl catch her breath. She blushes again, shyly looking away. "I'm just not used to... Getting touched so much..."

For some reason, I felt like I was floating on air, over the moon when I heard that. "You, on the other hand, never seem to have a problem at all." Even her accusation and frown made me happy. Because that just meant—indirectly—That she was jealous. No matter how you look at it. "Oh my. Is someone jealous?"

"W-Wha? Y-You're being absurd! Why—Why would I be jealous?" She replied hastily. "Hmm? Why do people get jealous? You're not into me, are you newbie?" I meant it as a joke but the blush and her widened eyes and her fidgeting hands gave me too much hope.

"You're the most arrogant, self-centered, rude and snobbish person I've ever met in my life! Why would you think that I-I'd be into you! That-That I-I like you?!" Her words should have actually annoyed me, angered me but in all honesty, her flushed face further made me amused and I wanted to tease her even more.

I lightly take her chin in and force her eyes to meet mine. "Just look at your face." I felt myself suppressing a laugh as she frowned, pouting cutely. "And besides, if I'm so arrogant, self-centered, rude and snobbish of a person, what are you doing here with me right now, in the middle of nowhere?"

"You-You brought me here!" She protested and I smirk. "Precisely. You came with a guy you consider to be arrogant, self-centered, rude AND snobbish to a place you don't have a clue about without any doubts whatsoever? Someone's smitten..." I emphasize for added effect and it works well. Almost TOO well.

"I-I, I-I didn't—I-I wasn't—" I smirk even wider as she opens and closes her pretty little mouth, not knowing what to say and searching dreadfully for words. "Just-Just because I called you snobbish, rude and arrogant doesn't mean I don't consider you a friend. P-People have faults. Just look at Hotaru!" She replied hastily and I sighed dreamily.

"Hmm... So, in other words, you love me unconditionally EVEN with all my imperfections?! Am I flattered, newbie." I replied and again, she becomes too flabbergasted to reply for a good 10 minutes. "That-That is not what I said!" I laugh as she punches and pouts. "Teasing you is always so easy. You become flustered way too easily, fresher. Stop taking everything so seriously."

Again, she pulled a frowny face. "That's because you're just too light hearted! You take things way too LESS seriously." I couldn't argue with that. "I mean, you're all used to it but I'm not. You don't have a problem touching people acting like you've known them for years. I'm not like that." I chuckled again.

"Tell me, when was the last time you actually saw ME holding hands with another girl?" I asked, propping a hand to support my cheek while I awaited her reply. She scoffed at me, "That depends on whether you consider Luna to be a girl or not! You have been with her literally all morning." I laughed again. "No, she's been hogging me all morning. Did you ever see ME initiate a conversation with her or anyone one else by interest?" I asked and she stopped short.

Mikan's P.O.V:

I understood he was right. Luna was the one who was forcing herself on him all day long but he'd never approached her on his own. "What? No answer?" He asked in a teasing voice as usual. I shook my head, "But-But you're always teasing me like—" I pulled in a sharp breath as he placed his index finger to my lips, silencing me.

"There's not much difference between you and me actually. I avoid touching people too much pointlessly and you're the same except that you do it as you're shy and I do it because I simply don't like touching people I don't know." He replied and my lips purse at his revelation. "Then, why do you tease me alone so much?"

He chuckled. "Because it's amusing." My mouth drops open. Again with his casual attitude! "W-Wha? What, that's it?! You tease me like this because it's funny?!" He shrugs nonchalantly and I glare at him, awaiting a serious reply. "Your expressions are... Whimsical and mesmeric. Sometimes just... Looking at you proves to be more exhausting than touching to tease you. "

I blinked, unable to understand. "Err I don't—I don't understand." He smiles. "You don't need to. I just like seeing your different expressions, that's all. They captivate me. And that's why I tease you so much."

I smiled back, seeing his honest and genuine smile directed at me. We sit in comfortable silence for a few seconds before I look at him, "Should we get back already?" I asked. He looked down and I looked down as well to see that I had eaten nothing. He looked up at me accusively. "I-I'm not hungry. Strangely. I don't know why, I just don't feel hungry at all." He sighed.

"Well, fine, but don't just waste all that food..." He said and I looked down guiltily. "But class is about to start." I said and he nods. Just as I was contemplating going back and throwing the food away since I didn't have a choice, he leaned over to whisper in my ear...

"Ever ditched class before, newbie?" He asked with a devilish smirk and I shook my head no frantically. "No! Of course not! What if we get into trouble?!" He laughed. "Welcome to college, Mikan Yukihira." He whispered into my locks again, sending shivers down my spine. "Come on, it's time you know how we city people live our lives." He said and grabbing me by the wrist, led me to a very well-known place to ditch class and eat lunch. The auditorium.

And then, for the rest of the day, I didn't go to any classes at all. For the very first time ever in my life, I bunked class and it was actually really fun. Natsume showed me all around college and parts I'd never thought to explore up until now. It was amazing.

My hand in his, we didn't go back to the auditorium until it was around 5 in the evening. Our usual practice time. Hotaru was the only one present as of yet, so, when we burst in, giggling to ourselves, we definitely didn't notice a small black haired, amethyst eyed girl working behind the set, checking the lights.

"That's why I warned you to keep quiet!" He complained although he was grinning wide, just as I was. "I'm sorry! I couldn't help it." I replied, catching my breath as I ran all the way here to escape the professor. "Uh-Huh, sure."

Suddenly, Hotaru popped out of the back. Her eyes focused on the wrench she was holding until it fell on us abruptly and she narrowed her eyes. "What is this, 'Hold Mikan's hand day' today?" She asked and we both gazed down to see that we were still holding hands.

Letting go of each other awkwardly, I blushed as Natsume rubbed his neck with his hand. We just stood there embarrassed... Not knowing what to do when, at the same time, by chance, we both turned to glance at each other.

Smiling at each other, recollection the events of the day and all the fun we had with each other, only with each other, I blushed and unable to control it, smiled. I was so happy to see Natsume smile back at me, a faint pink on his cheeks.

"*ahem!* Hello?! Earth to you two there! We have a play to do here!" Hotaru yell brought even wider smiles to our faces and we moved at long last. Natsume walked across the stage and I went the other way to the green rooms.

Even as I came out and prepared myself by the stage, reciting my lines, I couldn't help but glance at Natsume and there he was, flipping a marker between his fingers, looking serious, glaring down at the script.

As though sensing something, he looked up and at me, and we locked eyes for just a second before I turned away smiling. When I looked up yet again, at him, he was looking at me too, tapping the ends of the script to his lips, smiling underneath the thick wad of paper. Blushing, I turned away.

I didn't know what this fluttering was but what I overlooked in this little exchange of our eyes, was someone ominous, scowling hard and angry at me from behind.

A/N: Is Mikan in love? Finally? Hmm, maybe... But is she ready to accept it? Will Natsume ever confess? And what if she does? What then? Will she be able to change herself to suit the city for the man she loves or will she leave to keep her identity as the 'small town sweet, innocent, country girl'? You'll be finding out soon!

Check out my new story Red: A New Take on the Old Tale, a twist of a fairytale between Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf. Betting on the wrong's next chapter, the final chapter will be updated soon(Making final edits)! Right Call Wrong No will be updated later, possibly after Betting on the wrong boy! Thxs again guys, you've been a great audience for my stories and I'm eternally thankful for that! :)