Chapter 9 || How To Lie To Your Best Friend 101 ▲

"Oh My Goodness," I breathe, slowly opening my tightly closed eyes. "That was amazing!" I laugh; slightly relieved and surprised that I had survived. I untangle my arms from his waist and hop off his bike, "I can't believe I just did that! Did you know that riding a motorcycle has been on my to-do list for ages?"

Natsume hops off the bike, smirking down at me, "No, but I do now."

I grin and unclip my helmet, handing it over to him. "That was so cool. At one point I thought I was going to die. Scratch that. I felt like that the entire ride, but it was great!" I say, shaking out my arms and legs. They felt like jelly from how stiff I was throughout the ride.

Natsume's smile only widens as he stares at me.

"Thanks for that, Natsume," I break the silence between us,

"That was really nice of you."

And just like that, as if something had clicked in his head, his expression drops. He glances around, noticing all the on looking students. A scowl morphs onto his face, "Yeah, okay. But just because I fucked you last night and drove you to school, it doesn't mean we're together. It was a one night stand," he bellows, making sure that his comment is loud enough for all the on looking students to hear.

My smile immediately falls off my face and my eyes widen in shock as I stare at him; too shocked and paralyzed to move, let alone speak.

He glances over at me and his satisfied smirk wavers the slightest. "Sorry," he mutters to me as he pushes past me and walks over to his group of friends who were leaning against the school building. Koko was shaking his head at Natsume, and the other two, Ruka and Kitsuneme, were just watching curiously.

"Come on," A voice says softly behind me. I turn to see Sumire shaking her head sadly at me, "Come with me," she loops her arm in mine and ushers me over to the school building.

I stare down at my feet, my heart pounding as I feel the stares of all the students burn into me; some whispering, some gossiping wildly, and others just watching quietly. But over all the commotion, the only thing that was running through my mind was Natsume and what he had done. He lied! Why would he do that?

I wasn't too fussed about the rumor; truthfully, I was mainly upset because Natsume chose to spread such a lie so that he can hurt me. Ugh. Why is it that every time my faith restores in Natsume, he does something that completely shatters those beliefs and brings me back to where I was in the beginning?

Sumire pushes the two of us through the crowd and leads me over to the girl's bathroom. Upon our arrival, I see Hotaru and a few girls exit the room but they exit; leaving only us three. Sumire immediately embraces me in a hug,

"Let it out, Mikan. Let it out," she coos.

I force a laugh and pull away from her, "I'm not gonna cry, Sumire. I'm okay," I lie, "I'm just hurt."

Sumire brakes the hug, and I see both of them stare at me unsurely, "You're lying," Hotaru states; hugging me,

"You need to cry."

"Hotaru!" I protest, "I don't need to cry, I just.. I just want to talk."

"Okay," she sighs, "How do you feel? What happened? Will you be okay?"

"I'll be fine," I smile; laughing lightly, "besides, what is there to loose, you guys are acting like it's a big deal. It's not that bad. I just... I keep trusting him and I need to stop, I know that now."

Sumire frowns at me while Hotaru glares, "That was horrible what he did. I saw the way you were looking at him and how happy you were with him before he, you know, flipped."

"If you're trying to imply that I have a crush on Natsume, then stop right there," I hold a hand up to silence her, "I was happy and got a little too hopeful with him, that's all."

"What? Who said anything about a crush?" A sly grin forms on Hotaru's face and I shake my head. She huffs,

"You know, you don't need to act like you're okay, Mikan. Cry to me, rant about how much of an asshole he is, anything! Just don't conceal all your emotions, it's not healthy."

"In fact when it comes to healthiness, the three of us know what isn't especially for you." Hotaru says eying me.

I stay silent, staring at both of them quietly. They were right; I shouldn't hold my feelings in. But I'm stronger than this and I'm going to let something so silly control me, and my emotions.

"I'm okay guys, honestly. If I want to cry and babble about my hatred for Natsume, you'll be the first person I go to. Okay?"

She sucks on her teeth before sighing defeated,

"Alright."

"Know that, that is settled, I have some good news and bad." Hotaru says.

"What is it?"

"The good news is that here is your spare house key Mikan." She give it to me and continues, "and the bad news is that we have another problem. Yesterday, Ruka and I went out after school. He took me to an animal shelter where they keep all the abused, sick or any animal they is homeless. I took a few photos of how he looked which frustrated him. Which I could careless about."

"Aww! So cute!" Sumire cooed. I roll my eyes and give a smile.

"Anyway, we went to the park later on starting talking about stuff like our childhood, future plans, and everything." She says. I was happy for her.

"That is great Hotaru, expect I don't see a problem. I see a miracle."

She glares at me but continues, "well baka, I am about to tell you that right now. While we were talking I accidently spilled our secret." She finishes.

Silenece.

Silence.

"WHAT!" me and Sumire blew up at her.

And that, folks, is how you lie to your best friend.

I'm currently in Geography class; tired because of my short sleep from last night, and numb because of the event that occurred this morning. I still couldn't get over it no matter how hard I tried to.

"Psst, Mikan!" A voice whispers, "Mikan!"

I lift my head from the desk, rub my eyes tiredly and glance back; surprised to see Koko smiling broadly at me. Beside him is Yuu.

Yuu, like Koko, is a good friend of Natsume. He's slept with most of the girls at our school. He's a real flirt and, as some may put it, a player.

"Why are you whispering?" I ask Koko with furrowed eyebrows.

"Are you okay?" He asks, his eyes darting over to the classroom's door. A few minutes ago Narumi had left the room to collect some papers for today's lesson, leaving our class to chat.

My eyebrows furrow, "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

Koko shoots me a deadpanned look and I laugh, realizing what he was talking about. "Oh yeah, that."

"Well?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I nod, smiling at him gratefully. "Just a little shocked, I guess. How's Natsume?"

Koko and Yuu shoot each other a knowing glance and I look at them in confusion.

"Natsume wasn't lying when he said you were too nice, wasn't he?" Yuu comments with a small laugh, the corner of his mouth tilting upwards.

"They don't call her Gakuen Alice's sweetheart for nothing," Koko informs Yuu matter-of-fact; sending me a quick wink.

"Right, ha-ha," I laugh before clearing my throat, "So how was he?"

"Grumpy, as per usual," Koko rolls his eyes in annoyance, "Don't take what he says personally, though. He's been through shit and so he sort of/kind of, has a passionate hatred towards anyone who is happy."

"Ah. But you know, he isn't the only on this planet that has been through a lot. Heck, it's the quite opposite and I am the perfect example."

"He'll calm down, babe," Yuu interjects. At first I'm a little startled by him calling me babe, though from his nonchalant expression I assume that it's a nickname that just rolls off his tongue, "You just need to give him a chance. I know you think he's a fucking dick and all, which I guess he is, but when you get to know him he's not that bad. It just takes time, that's all."

"Yeah, okay," I nod with a smile, "And thank you guys for cheering me up and all. I appreciate it." It was nice to think they had my back.

"No worries. We like you," Koko assures me with a grin.

"And for what it's worth, not many people believe you were just his one night stand," Yuu informs me.

Hallelujah.

"You guys know that I didn't do anything with him... right?"

"Of course, babe," Yuu confirms, "Natsume hates you."

My eyebrows rise at his blunt comment.

I think we established that this morning thank you very much

"Yuu is a very straight-forward person," Koko fills in, leaning forward to whisper, "Just ignore him. It's okay - He's used to it."

Yuu hits Koko across the head with a laugh and I can't help but join in on the laughter as the two bicker on about who ignores who. I liked Natsume friends. They're nice.

Just then the door opened. I looked up and thought it was the teacher, but it turned out to be Ruka. Everyone was quiet and stared up at him. He searched the class as if he was looking for someone, until his eyes met mine. He walked towards me with an expression on his face that I could not describe.

"Meet me after school in the school's parking lot with Hotaru and Sumire." Ruka says sternly, and with that he leaves the classroom. I heard Yuu whisper something to Koko.

"Dude what was that about?" Yuu asks Koko.

"Beats me man." Koko replies in a whisper.

Natsume POV:

It is now lunchtime and everyone was at the cafeteria. As usual I was sitting with my boys having lunch. Our table was in the center of the café and many girls would walk by flirt with us. Girls would walk by and drop something 'accidently' for one of us to pick it up. Sometimes it would work but other times my boys and I would just ignore.

Koko and Yuu are acting like 4-year olds. Koko was slurping his smoothie while Yuu was throwing food at random people and turned around fast before they could figure out whom it was. Ruka on the other hand was just sitting in silence, and eating. I have noticed that he hasn't been around the gang in while nor talked as much as before with us.

"I am sitting at a table of two 4 year olds."

"WHERE?! Man they are the worst! They are like Demon children!" Koko says and I stare at him, while Yuu was acting like a manic.

"Correction, one 4 year old, and… an idiot." They both just roll there eyes continue with what they were doing. I stared at my longest best buddy Ruka, he seemed to be in his own world. He had finished eating, but something was off with him. he was staring out into the cafeteria, at a certain table. I follow his gaze to which table and it turned out to be the farthest one by the window.

It was Mikan and her friends.

"Ruka. What's up man? You have been out for a while."

he looks at me and says nothing and turns back at Mikan and her friends.

"Then why do you keep looking there at Mikan's lunch table."

He says nothing. I was getting a little curious towards his behavior. Koko looks up at us, confused as well as Yuu.

"Yeah man, you haven't been with us for a while. You walk with us, sit with us, and hang out but no talking." Koko says. glad to see that they have noticed this too.

Ruka turns around and looks at us, "Nothing. I just have a lot going on." Ruka says.

"Yeah well we kind of guessed that during mid-way of geography class today." Yuu says.

"What happened in geography class?" I ask out of curiousity.

"Nothing." Ruka says.

"It's something alright, or why would you ask Mikan ad her friends to meet you after school in the school's parking lot?" Yuu inquires. What. Why would Ruka want to meet that goody-two shoes?

"What is going on Ruka?"

"Nothing is going Natsume, and would appreciate it if you left it alone." He snaps at us, and Koko, Yuu and I flinch a little at his voice. Ruka was never the one to get angry much less snap at someone.

"What did she do Ruka?"

"She did anything." He shot back. Now, I know something is up.

"Tell me Ruka." I say with a little anger.

"none of your business Natsume." Ruka says getting up, grabbing his stuff and leaving the café.

"What was that all about?" Yuu asks.

"I don't know man." Koko replies. But I know Yuu has a point. What is up with Ruka?

I get leaving the cafeteria and go looking for Ruka. Knowing him, he would need to soon tell me or I will have to force it out of him somehow.

It had been fifteen minutes and I still couldn't find him. I kept walking down the hall, passing doors and lockers but still no luck. I happened to pass by the music room and suddenly I heard someone singing. The door was a little cracked open. I heard someone playing the guitar but I couldn't see whom it was. All I could say it was a girl with long brunette hair. I couldn't see her face because her back was to me, but I heard her voice and it sounded very familiar. I just couldn't pin point who.

True Friend-Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus)

We use to sign our cards and letters BFF
You've had a million ways to make me laugh
You were lookin' out for me, you had my back
Was good to have you around

I was listening to her voice and it sounded so good. She had an amazing tone towards the song she was singing. To me, it sounded as if this was her personal song.
You know the secrets I could never tell
And when I'm quiet you break through my shell
Don't feel the need to do a rebel yell
'Cause you keep my feet on the ground

Listening to her made me feel something but I don't know what. For some reason, while listening to her I felt guilt and sorrow for her. I even felt sorry and I never feel that for someone unless it's my family or my gang.

You were a true friend
You were here till the end
You pull me aside when something ain't right
Talk with me now and into the night
'Til it's alright again
You were a true friend

Her voice sounded so good, but at the same time it sounded so sad. If seemed like she was singing for a long time friend.

You didn't get angry when I change the plans
Somehow you never had a second chance, and
Won't say "I told you" when I'm wrong again
I'm so lucky that I had you

Now I was certain the song was for someone she lost because she was using past tense words. To me, it seemed like she had lost some she cared about. However I keep listening.

A true friend
You were here till the end
You pulled me aside when something ain't right
Talk with me now and into the night
'Til it's alright again

True friends will go to the ends of the earth
Till they find the things you need
Friends hang on through the ups and the downs
Cause they've got someone to believe in

A true friend
You were here till the end
You pulled me aside when something ain't right
Talk with me now and into the night
No need to pretend
You were a true friend

You were a true friend
You were here till the end
You pulled me aside when something ain't right
Talk with me now and into the night
'Til it's alright again
You were a true friend

You were a true friend
You were a true friend

I guess that was the end of her song because she had stopped singing. I was about to call her I accidently tripped over my foot and the door flew open.

I saw the girl stand up run out of the music room. I ran after her, calling her but she doesn't turn around. She makes a turn and I follow not far behind. I look into the next hallway and it is empty.

Where did she go

Then I noticed something on the floor. It was a pink bracelet. I picked it up and new it belongs to the girl. I had to find her, and know who she was. The only thing that can get me to her is this bracelet. I put it in my pocket and start searching back for Ruka. We had some unfinished business.

I changed some of the words in the lyrics, but other than that I hope you enjoy this chapter and leave lots of comments and reviews!