Ehehehehe, hey guys... Sorry, been a while. ^^' So anyways, I would like to ask you guys to please check me out on DeviantArt! My profile name is ac135, just like on here! So yeah, I've been kinda busy lol. Also, I had a big weekend. So sorry I haven't updates my new story, Please Save Me. Oh yeah! Thanks for voting on that, I started it not too long ago! If you haven't, check it out! Anyways here's a short chapter for everyone, as thanks for waiting so patiently!

"Er…Natsume?"

Mikan sweat dropped, staring at the ice cream cone that Natsume had handed her. Said boy stopped licking his own ice cream and raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"It's just that… When you said 'ice cream', I didn't think you actually meant it."

Natsume calmly continued licking his ice cream. "I can't make fun of you all the time, can I?" this caught Mikan's attention, and she stared at him wide eyed. Did that cruel jerk really just admit that he was being nice to her for some unknown reason?

"Uh, thanks?" Mikan glanced again at her ice cream. It had been a while since she had some, and it really did look good. Tentatively sticking out her tongue, she took a tiny lick. For a minute she was worried that Natsume might have done something weird like sticking peppermint into it, like that one time at the mall, but to her surprise it tasted delicious! Just normal, everyday chocolate ice cream. Grinning, she quickly set about finishing it.

The sun shone brightly, making the beautiful day even brighter. Sitting quietly under the shade of a tree in a park, the two close friends ate their ice cream and watched the kids playing around.

For a while it seemed like the day would last forever, but soon enough the dessert was gone. Mikan leaned back against the tree they were under, while Natsume sat back on the opposite side.

Sighing, Mikan patted her stomach, satisfied. "Thanks…" she said happily to Natsume, who just grunted in reply. Pulling out his phone, he discreetly texted Luca, making sure Mikan didn't see.

Snapping the phone shut, he closed his eyes. He could hear the birds chirping happily, singing their own melodies. After a while he started to whistle along, catching onto the tune.

Hearing Natsume whistle was really rare for Mikan, and it startled her. Since when did this arrogant boy known how to whistle? She wanted to say it was out of character, but after recent happenings, that wasn't exactly true. Actually, he sounded really good.

"Hey, can you teach me how to whistle?"

Natsume slowly opened on of his eyes. Inwardly groaning, he stared into the bright blue eyes of the eleven year old girl.

"No way."

Mikan glared. "It's my birthday!"

"No! I just bought you ice cream, you greedy little brat!"

Eyebrows twitching, Mikan raised her fist. "It doesn't cost you anything to teach me, stingy old hag!"

"It's a pain."

"Jerk!"

"Stupid."

"Meanie!"

"Ugly."

Mikan turned white and comically fell to the ground. Leaning over her, Natsume poked her cheek with his finger.

"Ah, it's no good. She's dead." sighing, he laid back against the tree. "Darn, I had a lot more insults for her."

This got Mikan to sit up, a dark aura behind her. "NATSUME YOU JERK, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MY BIRTHDAY!"

Natsume raised an eyebrow. "What are you getting so hooked on this now for? Have you ever even celebrated your birthday before?"

"For your information, I have. When I turned eight I decided to take a trip into town. It was fun, I sat by the river and watched everyone have a party!-"

Natsume didn't comment on how lonely that sounded.

"- and when I turned nine, I bought a new pair of shoes." after saying that, Mikan glanced at the new shoes Mom had bought her a few months back. "Although, I think I like these ones better."

"And what about last year? What did you do for your tenth birthday?"

Mikan didn't answer Natsume. Last year… How could she possibly tell Natsume that she was locked up in a dark room for her last birthday? She shivered,even though the sun's warm rays were hitting them. Inside that place, she hadn't known what the date was. She hadn't known wether it was morning, or night. Her birthday must have been spent like all the other days, huddled in a ball and trying not to cry. She waited in silence, living everyday as though it were Hell on earth.

"Last year?" Mikan paused. "Last year, I discovered how much I enjoy the sunlight."

Confused, Natsume was quiet. Mikan was always so full of secrets, secrets that he could never even begin to imagine. Why did she always have to hide everything? Oh well. There were days to dwell on these thoughts, and days to forget them, and enjoy what miserable lives they had.

"Come on, let's go home," he smiled, offering his hand to the girl. "It's starting to get late - we've somehow been gone all day."

Mikan glanced up at him. Hadn't they just been trading insults only a few moments ago? What a weirdo. She ignored his outstretched hand, feeling like he would probably do something cruel if she took it, and just stood up on her own. Natsume smirked, then started running towards the car. Startled, Mikan shouted furiously at him, racing towards the car as well.

"Happy birthday!" Luca beamed at a twitching Mikan. "How old are you? Eleven, right?"

Mikan glared at Natsume, who was trying not to laugh. "You! It was you who told him to do this!" she screamed indignantly.

Natsume gave her an innocent look. "What? What are you talking about? I told him to be ready with balloons and confetti!"

"So that's why I'm dripping wet, and covered in glitter?"

Luca scratched the back of his head. "Er… Sorry, I must have mixed up the water for confetti. Aaaand the glitter… That too…"

Fuming, Mikan huffed and puffed her way into the bathroom to shower, slamming the door so hard that the house shook.

Both boys shared a glance. Closing his eyes and smirking, Natsume raised his hand. Luca gave him a high-five, smiling. "Hehehe, I'm willing to bet she won't forget this birthday!"

Natsume nodded. Suddenly he glanced to the side. "What do you think she'll do when she finds out that you dyed the shower water blue?"

"Like I said, this is the birthday she'll never forget."

*Sighs* Those two boys... How does Mikan put up with them?