Chapter 6: I Wonder Who That Lucky Girl Is - lady from the jewelry shop

Disclaimer: Gakuen Alice doesn't belong to me. It is owned by the great mangaka Higuchi Tachibana.

Natsume gulped and took a deep breath to calm himself. So I'm going to Central Town with the idiot today. Big deal.

Liar, a voice inside his head sneered. I know you're dying to spend time with your.. your precious little.. girlfriend! Laughter rang eerily in his ears.

Stop that! Go away and leave me alone, he thought irritably and mentally kicked himself (to get that annoying voice to shut up).

He thought about how eager she was when she asked him days ago. I just can't get used to the effect she has on me, he mused and a blush stained his pale, handsome face.

He then stood up, looking determined. I plan to have a good time with that idiot today, no matter what anyone else might think. Whisper all they want and I'll just reduce them to ashes, he thought grimly.

He glanced at his watch and his eyes widened. I'm meeting her in fifteen minutes! I'd better hurry. He threw on a pair of dark trousers and a t-shirt and bolted out of his room.

OOO

Where IS Natsume, Mikan wondered. Oh. Right. I was so excited that I got here twenty minutes early. She blushed. Why am I thinking like this?

She felt herself shiver in excitement. I'm so excited to go to Central Town today!

Fake, a voice scoffed in her ear. You're excited because of NATSUME, aren't you? She turned scarlet at this. She shook her head fiercely to get rid of these thoughts. Shut up already. I get it, alright?

She noticed a figure walking slowly towards her (Natsume's obviously trying to look cool and collected ).

It's Natsume!

"Hey! Natsume! Over here!", she yelled waving her hands wildly up in the air.

"Stop that, idiot. You look like a windmill", he said, smirking.

Mikan was so excited that she didn't even notice Natsume's teasing. "Let's go!", holding on to Natsume's left arm, causing him to turn bright crimson. He let himself be dragged off by the very enthusiastic Mikan.

OOO

'Interesting. Did you guys see that?' The blond boy with the rabbit turned to the two.

'Did you see how Natsume went red when Mikan touched his arm?', the boy with glasses asked.

A girl with beautiful violet eyes nodded. She raised her video camera and aimed it straight at them.

'I'm going to be rich.'

The two boys laughed nervously at her expression and -sweatdrops.

OOO

"Oooh, Natsume! Look at this! And that! Oooh! Look over there, Natsume!", Mikan rattled on.

"Yeah yeah yeah.."

But Natsume wasn't really listening. He stared at Mikan, transfixed. Mikan, being just.. Mikan, doesn't seem to notice at all! Her cheeks were flushed in excitement and her eyes seem to shine extra special tonight.

He took in her long and silky russet curls and longed to run his fingers through them. He shook his head as if to clear away those thoughts.

"Natsume, are you alright?", Mikan asked, concerned.

He jumped but recovered quicky. "Yeah, I am", he mumbled looking away.

She held on to his arm and said worriedly, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah.." (This seems to be the only word in Natsume's vocabulary right now )

He turned and found himself looking into those chocolate pools. Time seems to have frozen as the two of them just stared into each other's eyes.

Natsume has such stunning eyes, she found herself thinking. She longed to gaze and lose herself in those eyes.

Mikan was the one who broke the contact. She turned away, her cheeks flaming. She took a deep breath and faced him again, saying brightly, "Let's go somewhere else, Natsume!"

He nodded and she dragged him off.

OOO

Mikan stopped and gazed into the window of a shop. "Natsume, come look! Isn't this really pretty?" She pointed to a delicate ruby necklace, set in white-gold.

Natsume stood beside her and looked at it, too.

"Yeah, it is".

Mikan glanced at her watch and said, "The fireworks start in an hour. Do you want to go see?"

Natsume just nodded and they went on their way.

OOO

The girl with those startling violet eyes remarked, 'I think he has something hidden up his sleeve.'

'What do you mean?', the boy with the bunny, err, rabbit asked.

'You'll see.'

'Ahh.. I get it," the 'four-eyed' boy said.

'Huh?'

'You'll see it on Mikan later on."

'Huh?'

The girl just nodded and resumed her position, with her video camera in hand. She aimed it again at the couple and crouched down.

The blond boy just shook his head. 'I think I get it." He grinned. 'Go for it.. Natsume!'

OOO

"Hey, blueberries."

Mikan whipped around and glowered at him. "Pervert!" She smacked him on the arm.

"Listen, wait here alright?"

"Huh? Why?" Mikan said, quizzically.

"I just have something to take care of quick. Be right back, alright, polka dots?", Natsume said point-blank.

"Uhh.. Okay. Don't take too long, alright? The fireworks start in twenty minutes", she called to him.

He raised his hand as if to say 'okay' and went on his way.

Mikan stared at his retreating figure and shrugged. She turned back to the current attraction, which was a show made by a person with an illusion alice (Ooh, is it Yuu? Lol it rhymes :P)

OOO

Natsume looked left and right before entering the shop. He pushed the door open softly as to not attract any attention from passers-by.

"May I help you, sir?", a kind old saleslady asked.

"Yes, I'd like to buy this, please", Natsume said, trying hard not to turn cherry-red. He spotted a matching bracelet and thought, I'd take that one, too.

"This one, too."

"You have great taste, sir", the lady said, smiling. "Is it for your girlfriend?"

Natsume turned an even more bright shade of red and wasn't able to say anything. She smiled knowingly and went to wrap them up.

"Sir, please choose a box. This velvety deep purple or silky midnight blue?"

"Uhh.. Whichever you think is appropriate", Natsume said, kind of stupidly. (Give him a break! He doesn't know anything about that kind of stuff! XD)

The lady shook her head and smiled again.

"The silky midnight blue, it is. That would be 3000 rabbits, sir." (Wow, he's, like, totally rich! O.o)

Natsume handed over the money and took the bag without a word. He turned and was on his way out when the lady called, "Good luck, sir. I'm sure she would absolutely adore it."

He stopped for a split-second then went out of the store.

I saw you blush. I wonder who that lucky girl is, the old lady thought, fondly.

OOO

'See that?', the boy with glasses asked.

'Yeah, I did!', the boy patted his bunny, err, rabbit on the head twice.

'Got it. Caught on film, huh Natsume?', the girl smiled sadistically.

-sweatdrops

'Uhh, Hotaru? What exactly are you planning with that video?', the two boys asked, almost afraid to know.

'I'm gonna sell it and get rich quick'.

'Uhh.. Alright.'

'Hotaru sure is scary', came from the two boys' speech (err, thought) bubble.

-sweatdrops

A/N: So what do you guys think? Review please! Thank you very much for reading!