Thank you AnOn Is ThE nAmE, mYkee-cHan, proffesional, Sakino-chan, may520, and tinkerbellie for reviewing:)

CHAPTER 2

"Class, your mid year assessment will be held next month, so be prepared. This time, you will be given an assignment to complete. And that assignment happens to contribute 30 marks to your assessment. You shall complete this with your partner. I shall inform you of your assignment later," said Mr. Narumi, smiling at his grown up students, "Good luck everyone!"

He walked out of the class, leaving the students to discuss freely. Mikan was sitting in a corner, deep in her thoughts. Natsume… Is he angry at me for slapping him? I should just apologize.

"Mikan?" someone tapped her on the shoulder. Mikan was jerked away from her thoughts and looked up.

"Hey, Ruka."

"Hey. You spaced out just now, are you alright?" said Ruka in a concerned tone.

"Yeah, I'm alright. Um, Ruka… Where's Natsume?" Mikan said nonchalantly, trying to sound casual.

"Probably skipping class. What's the matter?"

"Nothing, I just thought I would discuss the assignment with him."

"Oh."

"Um… I have to go and see Mr. Narumi now, bye!" Mikan cooked up an excuse to leave the classroom, and ran out before Ruka could say anything.

Mikan ran as fast as she could towards the Sakura tree in the school grounds. She knew that it was Natsume and her favorite spot. To her dismay, no one was there when she approached the tree.

"To think I skipped class just to look for you," said Mikan and sighed, as she sat under the tree, where Natsume used to sit.

"Why are you talking to a tree, Polka Dots?" said a familiar voice as a figure landed right in front of her, making her jump.

"Natsume? What were you doing up the tree?"

"None of your business, Polka Dots," replied Natsume coldly.

"Natsume, I'm sorry… I shouldn't have slapped you…" said Mikan softly.

Natsume raised his eyebrows, "What's wrong with you, Polka Dots? You haven't apologized to me for like… 5 years."

"Will you stop calling me Polka Dots!" Mikan yelled, frustrated.

"Then what is it today?" Natsume stretched a hand and pulled her short skirt upwards, revealing her toned thighs and her panties, "Strawberry prints," he said smugly.

"NATSUME!" Mikan screamed in anger, punching him hard on the shoulder.

"Aren't you a bit too old for patterns, Strawberry Panties?" Natsume smirked at her as she blushed.

"YOU PERVERT!" Mikan yelled, "YOU BLOODY PERVERT!"

She ran away.

Natsume waited for Mikan to be out of earshot, and laughed softly.

"Everyone, I shall now explain your assignments, so listen up," said Mr. Jinno sternly, tapping his electric wand on the table, "You are supposed to explore your alices to a full extent and submit a report to me on 100 things you can do with your alice. You shall do this with your partner, and I trust that all of you know the safety precautions that are to be taken."

Mikan crept up slowly towards Natsume's seat and whispered to him "You ARE going to do this with me, are you?"

"No," said Natsume flatly.

"But we'll fail! I'LL FAIL!" Mikan wailed.

"Whatever."

Mikan groaned in despair. There was no way she could pass the assessment without completing the assignment.

"Ruka…" she pleaded for help.

Natsume glared at her. He knew he was going to end up helping Mikan after all.

"Please proceed to the hall to complete your assignments now."

"Alright Natsume. Let's get this over with."

Before Natsume could start a fire, the whole hall went pitch black. Everyone gasped loudly.

"Sorry, my bad!" yelled someone with the electricity absorbing alice.

Mikan whimpered loudly. She was afraid of the dark.

"Oi, Polka Dots," Natsume called her to check whether she was alright.

There was no answer.

He rolled his eyes and lit up a small fire, walking towards Mikan. Her face was pale and she was sweating.

"Just focus on the light and-" Natsume was cut off as Mikan nullified his alice, extinguishing the fire. He felt Mikan wrap her arms around his neck tightly, her head resting on his shoulders.

"Sorry… Just leave me like this for a while," she whispered softly.

His presence was soothing to her. Somehow, she felt safe with him, and not with Ruka. Mikan could not hide her feelings any longer.

Natsume felt his arms wrap themselves automatically around her slender body, hugging her tightly.

What am I doing! Natsume thought angrily, regretting his actions.

"Natsume… Do you like me?" Mikan murmured.

He wanted to say yes. But as he thought about Ruka, he shrugged that thought off and replied "What do you think, Polka Dots?" trying to be as sarcastic as possible.

He couldn't say no either.

"I… It doesn't matter," said Mikan, slightly disappointed by the answer. She remembered that she admitted her feelings towards him before, and went slightly pink.

"So what if I like you? You don't even care! All of this is funny to you, isn't it? You just don't understand!"

"Look, Polka Dots. Don't let me catch you cheat on Ruka, or I'll burn your hair."

"You can't burn my hair. I'll just nullify your alice," said Mikan smugly.

Natsume grimaced.

"Then get off me." He started pushing her away playfully, but Mikan held on tighter.

"I'm afraid of the dark," she wailed.

"Just admit it, Polka Dots. You like me," Natsume decided to test her.

"Shut up, I don't!"

"Oh yeah? What was yesterday all about then?" Natsume recalled the incident yesterday.

"I… I was drunk!"

Natsume smiled. It was dark so it didn't matter, no one would see him.