Hi guys! Happy March! :D The weather feels great and I can finally wear shorts, YUS. I think this is the longest chapter I've written for this story even though it's still a short chapter! School has taken over my life, but it also helped develop my writing skills so KANPAI~ If any of you have been keeping up with the GA manga then you'll probably be with me in my puddle of feels (/)_(\)

Disclaimer: Everything-except the story, Nurse Ayama, Ms. Tanaka, and Tezu-belongs to the biggest troll Higuchi Tachibana TT_TT Happy reading! :D

Chapter 14

The drive home felt long as my mind wandered off to the image of Natsume's angry back walking away from me. I couldn't blame him. I left him out of the loop and he probably felt like an idiot for believing everything was fine at lunch just because I said it was. I didn't mean to keep secrets from him, it was just too hard to say. "Oh my ex-best friend mocked me in front of the entire student body and proceeded to slap me." It's even more depressing saying it out loud.

The sky was beginning to glow orange as I drove through the neighborhood. Varied colored houses passed by; blue, white, gray, red, white again. The trees were turning that familiar brownish-red and slowly drifted through the air before hitting the ground. Winter was beginning to kick in and the festive atmosphere was becoming vibrant. I pulled into my driveway, easing out of the door. I felt even more exhausted trying to open the door, I thought I would knock out right then and there. As I was about to turn the knob, the door suddenly opened. A gasp escaped my lips, but I heard a slight shriek on the other side of the doorway.

Youichi held a hand to his chest and was breathing heavily. "Holy crap, Mikan!"

"You shouldn't have opened the door like that!" I retorted, recomposing myself.

Youichi suddenly eyed me, "I was surprised is all." Then his hand dropped from his chest to his side, while his other hand was still on the door knob. He looked at me then quikly looked away, "Okay bye." He pushed past me, but I didn't bother asking him where he was going. All I cared about was getting into bed and sleeping. Youichi's a big kid now, he can take care of himself.

After setting down my keys, I trudged upstairs towards my bed. There was a quick chill down my spine as I went up, and I clutched myself simultaneously rubbing my arms in an attempt to get warm.

"Ahh.." my bed had never felt so comfortable than today. I wrapped myself in a burrito blanket and closed my eyes, but my attempt to actually sleep failed. The image of Natsume's back and what had happened at lunch keep resurfacing. It was definitely bothering me way more than it was supposed to. I reached into my pocket for my phone and fumbled around until Natsume's number popped onto the screen. My thumb was hovering over the call button when there was a light tap on my door.

"Mikan?" the voice was muffled but I knew it was mom's voice.

"Yeah?" I responded.

There a pause, "Did you talk to Youichi?" There was a sudden knot in my stomach as I rose and opened the door.

"He was on his way out when I came home...why?" I couldn't help but feel cautious. This feeling did not bode well. Mom's forehead wrinkled a bit as her lips thinned and she rubbed her belly.

She sighed, "I don't know, I feel like we haven't talked in a while." I couldn't help but laugh at the irony.

"Mom, it's been months since you've talked to him." I walked over to my bed and sat down. "He's 13. He's beginning to be independent and going through puberty, don't let it bother you."

She tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear as she wobbled towards my bed and sat down. She looked over at me, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I know honey. Maybe it's these raging pregnant hormones that-"

"Oh please save me from the details." I replied causing us to both burst into laughter.

Mom stopped laughing suddenly, then looked right into my eyes. I adverted my gaze to the floor quickly, conscious of my face. "What's wrong?" she asked. Damn it.

I shook my head, my eyes glued to the floor. I felt a light push on my side making me sway a bit. "I'm serious." I say, trying my best to sound reassuringly. I knew without looking though, that my mom didn't believe me. A beat later, there was a soft whistling and mom looked towards the door. "Well, come downstairs if you want some tea, okay?"

I nodded my head again and mom left. I fiddled with my fingers before reaching for my phone again. After a few taps, Natsume's name popped up on the screen and my thumb was once again still hovering over the call button. I played the scene in my head: I call him, tell him sorry, but he hangs up. It sounds like typical him. I groan and toss my phone on the other side of the room. I plop on my bed and wrap myself in my blanket trying to fall asleep once again.

;p

"Mikan!"

I turned around as Ruka picked up his pace. When he caught up, we awkwardly smiled and then started walking again. The hallway chatter picked up, but the silence between me and Ruka was deafening. The sound of him clearing his throat even made me jump.

"So." he started off. "It feels like it's been a while since I last saw you."

I just nodded along, ignoring the stares all around us. We shuffled along the seemingly endless hallway, "It's been..hectic." I responded, gripping the spine of my books. We finally reach my locker, and Ruka just stands there. Seemingly like he wants to say something but can't. "What is it?" I finally asked him.

"Well..." he responded.

"Well?"

"I was wondering if things between us were okay now." Ruka sheepishly said. My pace slowed, I haven't really thought about it. Frankly, with the whole mom situation, Natsume's grumpiness, and Sumire and Luna ganging up on me, I had forgotten and realized how small the problem between me and Ruka was. I also realized how over-upset I was about it too. Romance comes and goes. I'm in a relationship with Natsume now, and Ruka is now a guy whom I dated a long time ago. It's funny how I felt like it was the end of the world at that time. I started cringing at that memory.

"Mikan?" Ruka's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked over at his curious gaze, and suddenly felt extremely embarrassed.

"Yeah." I say slowly, tasting the word. "We're okay. At first, I was so mad at you I couldn't stand it, but now, now I realized that that it wasn't all your fault. It was Luna's fault too and I'm sorry for shoving all the blame on you. I'm not mad anymore, and really, I'm sorry. The past is the past and it doesn't matter anymore." I gave him a smile, when I noticed his flushed cheeks. It was also that moment when I realized that yes, the past is the past and it sure as hell doesn't matter anymore. I didn't want to drag myself back into the past or even blame it for what's happening in the present. I didn't want to generalize Natsume thinking he was going to be like Ruka. Nor did I want my mom's past haunting me because Luna is a pretentious bitch either. I've been so selfish just by only thinking about my feelings.

"Bye Ruka!" I waved, confusion written all over his face as he stood there. Bye Ruka, Goodbye Past, I'm not gonna let them make me stumble anymore during my present nor my future.

;p

I was suddenly in front of my Math class. I peered inside the classroom and didn't see Natsume. I stood outside waiting for him and was hoping he shows up. Usually the main leading guy in a drama would come to the girl, but this wasn't a drama. Well, there is drama, but this isn't a scripted tv show. This is reality, and I can never expect that cardboard to come to me and spill his guts to me without me making the first move.

I turned around and saw him walking with his eyes on the ground looking surly as ever and it put a smile on my face for some reason. Typical. Popped into my head. I walked forward, tired of being hesitant and closed. I stopped right in front of him, confidence overwhelming my body that I felt my toes tingling. He looked up a little surprised. "Let's talk." I said, my voice even.

His face remained the same-emotionless, so I punched him softly. "Answer me." my voice somewhat raised.

"Then talk." his quiet, husky voice made my spine shiver. I cleared my voice, my confidence suddenly slipping.

"About that one time at lunch." I started, feeling the words caught in my throat.

I think he noticed it because he stepped closer and in that same quiet voice said, "Don't worry, I'm listening."

I had to breathe, "About that one time at lunch..I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry. Ugh. Well, not really. I felt like you would get mad like you did in the parking lot and yell at them, and that would make me look more pathetic because I don't want anyone to stand up for me. I want to be able to stand up for myself. I'm tired of all those stares, I'm tired of the 'pity', and I'm tired of those people who make assumptions about my mom. I've endured that bullshit one too many times." I had to catch my breath. "The way I approached it was wrong. Getting into a fight with Luna just made things worse. I really want to punch her in the face again, but I know it won't solve the problem."

He quietly nodded along. I had to catch my breath again. "Seeing my mom run around with all those guys and leaving me and Youichi behind; and what had happened with Ruka...I just thought you would do that too. I didn't want an attachment to you because I thought I was gonna get hurt all over again." And now my eyes were stinging, a lump caught in my throat, but he just continued to look at me like the stupid cardboard he is.

"It was wrong of me to think you were like that. But when I realized how I felt about you, about how deep I've fallen, thoughts about how I could get hurt swarmed me. So I put up a distance thinking it'll keep me safe and happy, but no. It just made everything worse. I wasn't happy when I tried distancing myself. I was more happy with you." I felt my face get warm and instinctively covered my face, "That just sounded really cheesy."

Then I heard it. His laugh sounded so raspy and childish that I felt my face get even more red. But I was mesmerized. The corner of his lips stretched ear to ear-not like his regular smirk that made him look constipated-his teeth dazzling white that it made me wonder what brand toothpaste he used. His eyes crinkled and shined. Oh, there's that twinkle. He raised his hand to run through his shaggy hair and looked away when he caught me all googly eyed.

"You idiot." he said. I wanted to say more but the big lug pulled me into his long arms. He felt so warm that I didn't want to let go, I inwardly groaned. Did that sound clingy?

We faced each other again, "You should've said something earlier."

I furrowed my eyebrow, "Well someone needs to be patient, instead of a hot-headed cardboard,"

"Isn't it because someone was keeping secrets from someone that that someone had no choice but to be hot-headed?" he retorted.

"Well someone-"

"Shit. Not again." We both looked at each other for a second then turned around to see Nurse Ayama standing there with a look that when I think back, it was really hilarious. Her face was contorted in a mix of indifference and disgust. "Hate to break up the love fest," she continued "but class started twenty minutes ago." She eyed the both of us, before smirking and walking past us. I still wonder how she was became a nurse here.

When she rounded the corner, Natsume and I broke out into laughter recalling the first time we argued like this. After calming down, we decided to skip third period since we already skipped twenty minutes of class, might as well skip the rest of it. I had to go to my locker first though, to get books for my fourth period. I was shoving the thick Intermediate Algebra book when it came to me. "Holy shit." I mumbled. Natsume looked at me, waiting for an explanation at my sudden profanity.

"Today's my brother's birthday." I said. How could I have forgotten? I slammed my locker shut. Maybe that's why he was acting up with mom.

"Is it that big of a deal?" Natsume simply asked.

I heaved a sigh, "That kid gets sensitive about his birthday. Mom was always gone, so celebrating it was bittersweet." We sat down on a nearby bench, the hallways completely empty. "I didn't see him this morning too..."

"Quit babying him." Natsume gruffly said. I just rolled my eyes in response, "You're definitely cardboard."

His eyebrows rose just as the bell rang for class to be over. I got up and trudged my way to fourth period thinking about what to get Youichi.

;p

It was finally sixth period meaning school was almost over. I still didn't know what to get Youichi, but I think I can buy more time by buying him a really nice cake. His love for food is pretty amazing in its own way.

"Hey there you love bird!" Ms. Tanaka's booming voice yelled.

I couldn't help but grin, "The Nurse?"

Ms. Tanaka grinned ear to ear while nodding her head, "I knew you guys would get together! You guys make the perfect angst-y couple."

I crossed my arms over my chest, and shifted my weight onto my left foot, "And what do you mean by that?" I couldn't help the grin on my face even though I sounded irritated, her smile was quite contagious.

Her boisterous laugh broke barriers, "The moment I saw him I just thought, 'This is gonna be good.' Don't you remember seeing his face when he was waiting for you? Talk about hi-la-ri-ous!" She clutched her stomach, not even bothering to listen to my explanation. I gave up and walked over to the couch when her phone rang. She rattled on and on to whoever was on the other end, her laughter louder each time.

Back to the drawing board though. All the other birthdays I had gotten him video games, or brought him to a buffet but I didn't want to do that this year. Mom finally came home for good so we should celebrate it at home. Mom! I needed to call her and tell her it's Youichi's birthday! I hastily grabbed my phone to call mom, but after five rings she didn't pick up. I groaned, now I was on my own.

After a rigorous period of Ms. Tanaka laughing at every chance she could, I was finally able to leave her teasing and be on my way to pick up a cake. While walking to my car, I couldn't decide what kind of cake to get him, there was just too many to pick. Regular sponge cake, ice cream cake, a cake consisting of only cupcakes, an upside down cake, a jello cake.."Oh my god! Of course!" The girl nearby jumped, and I shot her a quick sorry before running the rest of the way to my car. I checked both ways before pulling out of the parking lot, and merging onto the main street.

Ten minutes later, I pulled up in front of a small yellow pastel building with brown letters with a white outline, swirled in a cute font: Nothing Bundt Cakes. I can't believe I didn't think of this before. Youichi always passes by this building on his way home, and bugs me to buy him some. Apparently after trying the sample, he fell in love. I told him that one day I would, but I always forgot. But now I finally have a reason to buy it! Plus I've always wondered what this bundt cake tasted like. The door chimed as I walked in, and the smell it me. The sweet smell invaded my nostrils and this warm feeling enraptured my body. "Hello! Welcome to Nothing Bundt Cakes!" the worker said in an overly high peppy voice. I smiled quickly then saw this dome-like clear casing and inside were at least ten dark brown small squares with a swirl of white cream on top. "Today's samples are double chocolate chip, but if you wait a while there will be more samples!"

I nodded my head as I struggle with opening the casing. The worker giggled before gesturing to turn the dome, and it opened. I grabbed a toothpick from the box next to it and stabbed the delicate cake. I took a bite and Youichi was not kidding. The softness of the cake just melted in your mouth as you chewed and the whip cream wasn't whip cream but sweet cream cheese. The cream cheese complemented the chocolately sweetness of the cake and it felt smooth. I took another sample and wow, it was like heaven.

The look on my face must've been ridiculous because the worker was laughing really hard that it broke me out of my reverie. She was clutching her stomach and tears were beginning to form in her brown eyes. "I'm-I'm sorry, but this is your first time trying it right?" I nodded.

"Almost everyone who first tries it makes that same face and it's priceless." She tried calming down but she was still laughing. "I think the most memorable one was when this little boy came in a few months ago, and after trying the marble cake, he wouldn't stop! He ate all twenty-three squares! The other kids that were here were not happy." She wiped a tear from her face after finally calmed down. I tired hiding my embarrassment by smiling. Geez, it's like today everyone is supposed to tease me or something.

I walked over to the big display case in the middle of the shop that consisted of three rows. The top row had these big round cakes with the cream cheese spilling out from the middle. In the middle row, there were platters of the small squares just like the samples; and the last row had small cakes but they were bigger than the ones in the middle. There were so many flavors! Red velvet, chocolate chip, marble, double chocolate chip, lemon, vanilla, confetti, the list just goes on. I figured getting Youichi a cake from the top row was the best option since he's been whining and telling me to get him something from here. I looked up at the worker who was beaming with her glaring white teeth. "Can I get a big marble bundt cake?"

"Of course!" The worker swiftly walked over to the display case, and grabbed the brown and white one. She wrapped it up in a cute pink box with a faux bow on it. I walked over to the cashier side, eying the box. "Now when you put it in your car, you want to put it on the floor board. Make sure it's not placed in a heated or hot area, and if you aren't going to eat it within five hours, place it in the fridge." She finished the box off with a sticker with the swirly "Nothing Bundt Cakes" enclosing the opening flap, so it doesn't open easily. She tapped a few buttons on the screen before saying, "The total would come out to be $15.39."

I fished out my debit card and handed it to her. "Would you like a bag?" I shook my head no. After handing me my card, she pushed the box back towards me with her million dollar smile, "Have a nice day and thank you for coming to Nothing Bundt Cakes!" I thanked her and left.

;p

I knew Youichi always sat in the living room which you could easily see the front door. That would explain me crawling my way to the backyard and tapping on the kitchen window. After scaring the daylights out of Arata to get him to open the back door, I asked him where mom was. He looked a little confused but nontheless said she went to the store to buy the ingredients to make curry. I brushed past him before he could ask me what was in the box to try and find a secret spot in the fridge. Maybe I should put it behind the vegetables since Youichi doesn't eat anything green.

Just as I thought, Youichi really was in the living room playing yet again, Assassin's Creed 3. I tiptoed behind him and grabbed him in a headlock, "Hey there birthday boy!"

He squirmed and squirmed but couldn't get out of my grip, so I noogied him.

"It's my birthday! I'd rather you punch me, now let go I can't breathe!" he sputtered on the floor before giving me the stink eye.

"Happy birthday Youichi." I said again and noticed this time Youichi's eyes softening. He mumbled a thanks and I gave my little man fourteen punches and a pinch for good luck. After complaining that I punched way too hard, he went back to his game. I sat down next to him, "You wanna go anywhere?"

He kept his eyes on the screen, "No." His voice had an edge to it.

"Hmm, you wanna eat something?" I asked again.

"No." His eyebrows started to arched down, a sign he was getting annoyed.

"Then what do you want to do this time?"

"See if mom actually remembers it's my birthday." he said without hesitation. I winced. He really was hurt by mom not remembering. I quickly got up and went to the kitchen where Arata was now sitting down at the table writing something.

He quickly looked up at me before looking back down, "What's wrong?"

Even though I approved of him, I still couldn't help but feel awkward around him. But did he not know too? It's his kid's birthday and he didn't know too? "Do you know what today is?" I tried to keep the bitter tone down.

He reached over his phone, pressing a button so the screen could light up. "It's Tuesday."

I shook my head, "Unbelievable." I walked over to the stairs and the front door swung open. Mom came in carrying grocery bags filled with food. Maybe she did remember! I quickly went over to help her carry the bags, in return she smiled in relief.

"Wow, what's with all the food?" I asked her, hoping she answered right.

"Well today's a good day!" she beamed. Maybe she did remember! Mom got closer, well as close as her belly let her. "Today," she whispered. "I found out the gender of the baby!"

My face noticeably fell, but the grin on hers grew. Shit.