Hey guys :) here's the update (obviously) lol.

I woke up the following morning, in a daze. Somehow, it felt strange and comforting at the same time to be back in my old room again. Only now, it was bare unlike before, when it was filled with random posters and pictures. I did have a breakdown when I entered my room again last night. Then, had another one when I went into Tsubasa's room, which was next door to mine. So, I fell asleep crying, and woke up with swollen eyes and a major headache. Is this how it was going to be for the rest of the summer?

As I prepared myself, I realized that yesterday wouldn't change anything. Yesterday was only going to be the day I cried it all out. My mother and I might have gotten along at some moments, but I still wasn't thrilled to be here. I understood what she said about being closer to him, because that was exactly how I felt. But she wasn't forgiven yet. I hated that she took me away from here, and brought me back two years later, hoping to restore things in place. Didn't she realize that things will never be back to normal? Everything has changed. I've changed.

I immediately smelled pancakes from downstairs. They had always been my favorite breakfast, and what my mom would always cook. I put on my outfit for the day ( another black tank top, ripped shorts and army boots-I wasn't wearing flip flops anytime soon), and headed downstairs where my dad was already stuffing himself with pancakes. It was weird to see him still at home so late in the morning, since he always left early for work. My mom was at the kitchen counter, mixing the batter. I was not used to this kind of scene anymore. I actually preferred where my parents would be waiting for me in the living room, a long lecture prepared, but mostly from Mom.

"Good morning, sunshine," my dad greeted. He hadn't called me that since I was five. "How was sleep?"

"Long," I answered, and walked to where the coffee maker was.

"I made pancakes!" my mom said in her most cheerful voice ever, which crept me out a little bit.

"I can see that. I'll just drink a coffee and head on out."

I kept my eyes on the coffee maker so I wouldn't see their reactions. I knew my mom was frowning, and my dad silently finishing his pancakes. "Where are you going?" Mom asked.

I shrugged. "It's Malibu, who knows where I'll end up."

She clicked her tongue. "Okay. But do be here by six in the afternoon. Rie invited us over for dinner."

I froze. It was like someone had poured ice-cold water on me. Rie Imai. Hotaru's mom.

My mom was oblivious to this., and it took me about ten seconds to keep regain my composure. The thing is, I haven't talked to Hotaru since I moved. I was too depressed at that time to check me e-mails, and I also ignored every phone call for me during the first few months in Tokyo. This was one of the situations that I was avoiding. For all I know, Hotaru doesn't give a crap about me anymore. I'm sure she had a new best friend and an awesome life now without her messed up childhood best friend.

"Mikan, did you hear what I said?"

I blinked a few times, and realized that my mom was now staring at me. She sighed exasperatedly. "I said, be home at five-thirty. All right?"

"Five-thirty? Their house is like forty seconds away."

"So you can help with the food we're bringing. It'll be rude to go there empty-handed."

I thought about it. I knew my mom was expecting me to be all goody-goody now just because we saw each other vulnerable yesterday. Not really, Mom.

"Just be there," she said. "Please?"

I gave her a shrug. "No promises." I immediately walked through the back door, and out of the house.

The beach was full of people again today, but the beach in front of our house wasn't because that part was private property of the homeowners. It was the biggest perk of my childhood. I honestly didn't know where I was going, but I didn't care. I knew I'd end up back home like I always did before.

I let out a frustrated sigh. Why was it I had to relate everything to my childhood? No matter how many times I kept saying to myself that everything was different now, I still found myself remembering, and wishing that things would be the way they were.

"Well they're not," I muttered to myself.

I continued walking along the beach, not actually thinking as to where I was headed. Even if I didn't feel like vomiting anymore, I still didn't like the idea of swimming, or being in the water. I knew that was one fear I couldn't overcome that easily.

As I walked, I spotted Natsume, who was seated on a lifeguard chair on the main beach. So he really was a lifeguard. It felt idiotic going back, so I just walked nonchalantly, pretending not to notice him. Unfortunately, he noticed me.

"Mikan!"

I pretended not to hear him. This was a wrong time to not have brought my iPod. I was already past him, and part of me wanted to make a run for it, but that would definitely ruin being inconspicuous.

"Mikan, hey."

I jumped slightly, startled that he was walking right next to me. He actually chased me? Also, I couldn't help but notice that he was shirtless. Damn these hormones. But I'm a girl. I couldn't help it. "Oh hi," I said, still walking.

"Hey, would you hold on a sec? I'm on break and I don't want to stay too far from my post."

I felt a little irritated. He was the one who chased me in the first place. I ignored him, and walked at a faster pace.

To my surprise, he gently held my shoulder, and that actually caused me to stop. His touch sent electric currents flowing in my body (metaphorically). I didn't like this feeling. "What?" I asked, in a rather irritated tone.

He seemed to be taken aback by my reaction. "Um, nothing. I just wanted to talk to you. I saw you walking and-"

"Why are you being so nice to me?" There. It's about time I get the answer directly from him.

There was a trace of hurt in his eyes, like I've offended him. "What do you mean? Why wouldn't I be?"

I rolled my eyes, and crossed my arms over my chest. "Well for starters, you were a total snob and cold towards me when we were kids. And when you're not ignoring me, you tease me until I want to cry. And now you're all gentlemanly and nice. And you're an actual lifeguard. Wow." Okay, the crying part wasn't really true, because I was twelve to fifteen years old when the teasing began. But there were some times that I felt like crying.

"But that was a long time ago!"

"Two years," I reminded him.

"Well, can't a person change? I've been meaning to ask you the same thing. When we were kids you were happy and energetic and cheerful. But now you're so... uptight."

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah. You weren't like this two years ago. You look so closed, and indifferent. You're wearing all that make up, and seriously, boots on a beach?"

I looked down at my shoes, suddenly becoming conscious, then decided not to be. "Why do you care? What, is the lifeguard now a fashion police too? Am I not allowed on the beach anymore? Fine then, I'll go." I turned my back at him, and walked faster than I did earlier. I was actually pissed. He calls me uptight then judges on my looks and footwear? The nerve of that guy.

"Wait! Mikan!"

I came to a stop and let out a frustrated sigh. I just wanted to get this over with and be far away from him as possible. I stared at him, waiting for whatever he was going to say.

Natsume walked over to me. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't- I wasn't-" he sighed. "Okay, here's the thing. I know that-"

"Natsume!"

He looked over his shoulder, and I saw a girl who looked like my age, running towards us. At first I thought that she was his girlfriend, and I was about to leave. But as she came closer, I recognized her.

"Natsume," she said, panting, when she finally reached us. "Mom asked me to... run all the way at your post because she wanted you to get something after work... but you weren't there, so I had to find you... and... and..."

She stopped talking, and looked at me. Her eyes widened and she gasped. "Mikan?"

"Aoi?"

She let out a squeal, and embraced me. "Oh my God, it is you! I'm so glad to see you! Natsume said that you came back yesterday, and I wanted to visit you but he told me to give you space so you could get adjusted in your house again. I missed you so much!"

I smiled, and patted her back. "Me too." Aoi was Natsume's younger sister, and was younger than me by three years. She was only fourteen, but she was as tall as I was already. I always had a soft spot for her, because I'd always wanted a little sister before and sometimes I'd babysit her. She was a really sweet person, and very likable. I couldn't imagine someone hating her. I really did miss her.

Aoi stepped back, and looked at me. "Wow, you haven't changed a bit. You're still really pretty."

That was just the kind of thing Aoi would say. "You're prettier, Aoi," I told her, "Really." She had the same crimson eyes as her brother, and her long hair which was naturally black, was now a brownish color like it always had been during the summer. She was also a bit tan, but it suited her. While I looked pasty, and my straight brown hair which was lighter than Aoi's, matched my eyes, which were hazel.

She blushed. "Hearing that coming from you, makes it seem like it's actually true."

"It is."

Her expression became serious for a moment. "Look, I'm really sorry about-"

"Aoi," Natsume cut in. "What does Mom want?" I saw him give her a look, and she got the hint.

"Oh, she said you should buy dinner since our stove's broken. She told me anything would be good as long as we don't starve."

"Is pizza okay?"

Aoi's eyes brightened. "More than okay!"

Natsume laughed, and ruffled her hair. It made me swallow the lump that was now in my throat. Their brother-sister relationship reminded me of my relationship with Tsubasa. He would always ruffle my hair like that, and embrace me after. It was somehow painful watching Natsume and Aoi.

"I better go back home," Aoi told Natsume, then turned to me. "We should really hang out sometime okay?"

"Definitely," I replied.

She gave me a huge grin, and waved goodbye to both Natsume and I.

"You didn't have to do that," I told Natsume, once Aoi left.

"Do what?"

"Cut her off. I knew what she was going to say."

"Oh," he said. "Well, I'm sorry. Listen, I have to get back to my post now. But I'll see you around?"

"We're neighbors," I reminded him.

"Right. But I mean, around here on the beach. Aren't you going swimming?"

I glanced at the ocean. "Not today." Or any day, for the rest of the summer, I wanted to add.

"All right then. I'll see you later."

I nodded, and with a wave, he walked back to his post.

For the rest of the day, all I did was walk around town, remembering all the places I always went to when I was a kid: Tony's Ice Cream Shop, the Malibu Diner, Ray's Pizza Palor. They were all still there. Most of the places my family and I went to were restaurants or fast food chains, because my brother and I loved those. I also went to those places with Hotaru.

I sighed, thinking about her. It was already five in the afternoon, and I was at the pizza parlor. I just wanted some time to be alone, to actually think. I was really nervous about seeing her again. Would she still talk to me? I mean, we haven't spoken to each other in two years. That has to mean our friendship was over. Maybe she thought I'd forgotten all about her. But I really didn't. She was the one who tried to keep in touch the moment I moved to Japan. She sent me e-mails, texts, and long distance phone calls which I ignored since I was too busy being miserable. That was during the first six months that we moved there. Then after that, the e-mails, texts, and phone calls stopped. I wanted to e-mail her then, and apologize for my shitty behavior. But then I figured, maybe she'd stopped keeping in touch because she was sick of it. Maybe she was mad at me. So I decided, to not do anything about it anymore.

That's when Sumire and I became closer. Hotaru and Sumire were two different people. And I found myself comparing them from time to time. Hotaru was quiet, Sumire was the complete opposite. She loves being center of attention, and always wanting to be noticed. Hotaru was smart (academically and non-academically), Sumire, not so much. You'd know right away when Hotaru was sincere, but when it came to Sumire, you had to pay close attention if she really was listening to you, or if she was lying. With Hotaru, I never felt pressured, because she never asked me to do anything I couldn't do. While with Sumire, I knew I had to do some things she asked of me to keep our friendship intact. But other than that, Sumire wasn't all that bad, and she was the only thing I could lean on when I felt alone in Japan. She made me feel like life didn't totally suck.

I knew Hotaru would hate me. There was no doubt about it. So, what was the point in actually going to that dinner?

Sorry I had to cut it there. Next chapter coming soon Xx

P.S. Have you guys watched Iron Man 3 yet? Well if you haven't, you're missing out on some pretty epic stuff. Go watch it now! :)