Here's that second chapter I promised you. Two in one night. What fun.

03/25/10: Rewritten/Edited

Disclaimer: Wait! Let me check…nope. Still not mine.

"Doesn't it feel like there's an oppressive cloud over the back of the room?" Nonoko whispered to Anna, looking over her shoulder at the three figures that seemed to be generating said cloud.

"Mmhmm," Anna agreed, nodding. "It's weird. I mean, for things to be awkward with Mikan isn't so very strange, but it seems like even Ruka and Natsume are tense with each other."

The three topics of conversation sat in their usual seats. Things would have seemed completely normal if it weren't for the obvious fact that they were all ignoring each other. Not a one had said a word since they'd entered the classroom. Mikan had buried herself in her futile studies, glad for the excuse not to speak. Natsume appeared to be sleeping under his manga, but the strange waves of emotions rolling off him suggested otherwise. Ruka merely sat there silently, occasionally shifting uncomfortably, petting Usagi.

The rest of the class tried to carry on as usual, but no one seemed sure how to act with the stormy undercurrents in the background. This unease continued on throughout the rest of the week and into the exams. Even the teachers seemed discomfited by the strangeness of Class B. Exams came and went, but still there was no release for the tension.

Sighing, Mikan rested her head on the desk in her room. For better or worse, the exams were over. She was sure she had failed every one of them despite the fact that she had studied almost nonstop for the past few days. With them over, however, she had to face the uncomfortable fact that she no longer had the excuse of studies to run away from life. Tomorrow, she'd have to face reality and find some sort of balance. Find some way to make up with Natsume without surrendering to him. But that was tomorrow.

Turning her head, she noticed the tear-away calendar on her desk. The date jumped out at her. October 25. Shooting up in her seat, she grabbed the calendar and stared at it. Was it really October 25 already? Hotaru's birthday.

Her eyes moved to the HAM caller collecting dust on the shelf over her desk. Had she really not spoken to Hotaru in over three months? In truth, she knew subconsciously she had avoided thinking about Hotaru. She was afraid to call her. She didn't know what to say to her. She was also fairly certain that Hotaru would be able to read in her voice that there was something wrong. Hotaru already had enough on her shoulders, what with the new setting and all. Mikan didn't want to burden her with her problems.

Regardless, it was Hotaru's birthday, and it really was about time she called. She knew she was way overdue. Picking up the HAM caller with some trepidation, she pulled on the pigtail and heard a ring as the phone called Hotaru.

Oink! Oink! Oink! Baka's Calling! Oinky! Oink!

Hotaru jolted up from her nap in surprise as she heard the ring of the HAM caller break the silence of her room for the first time. Quickly, she snatched it up, pressing her ear to the phone. Answering as calmly as possible, she tried to stamp out the worry and irritation from her voice.

"Hello? Mikan?"

Mikan felt an aching longing build up inside her as the oh-so-familiar voice filled her ear. Swallowing down the lump that had risen in her throat, she tried to answer as cheerfully as possible, willing Hotaru to hear a smile in her voice.

"Hi, Hotaru!" she said with almost over the top bubbliness. "Sorry it's taken me so long to call. A lot's been going on."

Hotaru immediately picked up on the strange quality of Mikan's voice. Something was wrong. Very wrong. And it was clear that Mikan didn't want her to know.

"Baaaka. I thought you'd lost it already." Hotaru teased, trying to sound nonchalant. Maybe if Mikan didn't suspect that Hotaru was suspicious, she'd let something slip.

"No! I didn't lose it. I've just been busy. Besides, didn't you tell me not to bother you with trifling complaints?" The teasing almost seemed real. Mikan almost felt normal. Hotaru had always given her strength in strange ways. Like Natsume...

She shook her head, forcing herself not to think about him right now. She'd have to deal with that later, but right now was Hotaru's time.

"Since when have you had any respect for my rules?"

"Just thought you'd need some time to settle and get your projects underway." Mikan answered lightly.

Hotaru glanced at the ever growing pile of unfinished projects and useless gadgets strewn around her room. Mikan didn't need to know about that.

"Anyway…I called to tell you Happy Birthday! Are you doing anything interesting today?" Mikan continued, eager to get to the purpose of her call.

"Not really. Just working on this and that. Birthday parties are only something for immature children like you."

Mikan huffed in fake irritation.

Their conversation carried on like this for nearly an hour: teasing, light-hearted. Both carefully edited their stories, carefully avoided certain topics. To all appearances, their conversation was happy, comfortable, friendly, normal.

That couldn't have been further from the truth. It didn't take Mikan very long to realize that Hotaru seemed unusually cheerful. And every time Mikan asked her what she'd been working on lately, or if she had any new friends, Hotaru would just answer vaguely "this and that" or Mr. such-and-such had said something funny the other day. Mikan felt her heart sink as she realized it was quite possible that Hotaru was as lonely as she was.

Hotaru's concern grew as they talked. It almost seemed that Mikan was omitting the last three months of her life from conversation. The only things she talked about were the exams and something funny she'd heard another student say in class the other day. What was going on?

When the conversation was over and both had said their goodbye's, with Mikan promising not to wait so long before she called again, the two both sat back in their chairs in front of their desks, miles and miles apart, staring with deep concern at the Pig-faced HAM caller.

Something is very wrong. What's going on here? They both thought, their minds in tune, despite the distance between them.

…I miss you...

There's the next chappie, for all those of you missing Hotaru. The next chapter's gonna be more interesting and slightly more upbeat, I swear. As usual, R&R. I live off reviews. They are my addiction.