This chapter's a little short, but hope you enjoy it :)

"Look, I'm sorry if I didn't tell you right away," Ruka was telling me, as our order came. "I just thought you knew already."

"Um yeah, I guess the priceless reaction on my face proved that," I said.

"You did look like you were about to faint."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Seriously. When did this happen? And I want to hear everything right now so I won't have a heart attack in the near future."

"Geez, okay. When did you get so dramatic? Wait, don't answer that. So here goes."

Thankfully, Ruka didn't pursue his phone call with Hotaru, and I couldn't help but feel relieved. I mean, how awkward would it be if she was here? I didn't know if Ruka knew what happened between Hotaru and I, but he was her... her... boyfriend (another thing I had to get used to but not fully absorbed) so I guess he does. On another note, Natsume was being awfully quiet, kinda like the way he acted before. Two years ago, this would have been perfectly normal, but now it felt weird. He was seated beside Ruka, and I was facing them.

"Mikan, are you even listening to me?" Ruka was snapping his fingers in my face. "That was a very detailed and well elaborated story and you don't even listen?"

"Sorry," I mumbled in reply. I hadn't realized that I was observing Natsume the whole time, who was poking at his pizza the entire time. "Can you repeat it?"

He sighed. "Of course I can. So here it goes again. Hotaru and I started seeing each other like a year and a half ago. I don't know, it just happened. To be honest, I was kind of terrified of her when we were kids. I know! It's stupid since I am like older, but she looks so uptight and unapproachable. But then we talked and snap! We started dating."

"That is your elaborate story?" I said.

"It was more detailed a while ago, but since you missed it..." He shrugged, and reached for his second slice of pizza. "But that's the whole point though. You hadn't visited her yet since you got here?"

It looked like he did know, but not all of it. "I did actually. This morning."

"What did she say?"

"She hates my guts."

He momentarily choked, and drank a glass of soda. "She said that?"

"Well no," I admitted. "But she obviously does. The way she looked at me made me feel like I was the most disgusting species on the planet. Wait, did she tell you? About what happened between us?"

Ruka looked embarrassed for a moment. "Yeah," he finally said. "She did mention that."

"What did she say?"

"Not much, to be honest. She just said that you guys 'drifted apart' and that she was upset about it. I never asked after, since I know she didn't want to talk about it."

I leaned back on my seat and gave Ruka a look. He sighed. "Okay, she told me she was pissed that you didn't return her phone calls, then I told her to give you a break since you were going through a tough time, then she said 'Isn't one year enough?' Then I told her that grieving doesn't have a due date then she became quiet." He took another slice of pizza talked in between bites. "And then, months later when she still hasn't heard from you, she said she was done. I didn't know what that meant..."

"Done being my friend, obviously," I said. "Thanks for the very detailed story."

He grinned. "Don't mention it. And she doesn't hate you okay? Hotaru might be... unapproachable sometimes, but she's really sweet."

Ruka had that look on his face like he was describing his most prized possession. Which I guess he was. "I know. She's my best friend too. Was."

"You two will work it out," he assured me.

But I wasn't so assured. "I guess."

"So let's catch up!" Ruka said. "Natsume, why the silence? Are you sick or something?"

"No, I'm fine," Natsume said speaking for the first time. "Mikan and I already talked and stuff." He smiled at me.

"And we already talked at the pier too," I told Ruka.

"Oh." He let out a whistle. "Well this is awkward. At least we had lunch together here again. Man, I missed this place. I haven't been here that often anymore since I've been busy. Do you know that they have a job opening here? I think they need a-"

"Wait, a job opening?" I interrupted. "Do you know if anyone got the job already?"

"Um, no. Not that I'd heard of. Why?"

"Long story," I said, glancing at Natsume who was looking at me with an amused expression. "Um, could you just wait here one sec?"

"A job as a punishment?" Ruka said, when I came back to the table. Apparently, someone already got the job earlier today. I gave Natsume a look. He just shrugged and said, "He asked me."

"And I gotta say," Ruka continued, "I'm a little disappointed in you, kid. Drinking is never a solution to anything."

I sighed. I wasn't in a mood for another lecture. "I know. I wasn't looking for a solution. Just something to make me feel numb. And it did."

There was a moment of silence between us, and I pretended not to notice by drinking loudly from my soda. "I think I'm done," I said. "Now if you guys don't mind, I'll just go job hunting."

"I'll go with you," Natsume said.

"I'll have to skip on this one, kiddo," Ruka told me. "I'm a lifeguard too, and my shift is in ten minutes."

"You're also life-guarding? You never mentioned this to me at the pier a while ago."

"Guess it never came up. Oh well. See you guys later." He ruffled my hair again and ran out of the restaurant. That was weird.

"What's up with Ruka?" I asked when Natsume and I were outside.

"Hm?" he said distractedly. "Oh. He's in a hurry."

"Okay," I said. slowly. "Then what's up with you? You were quiet the entire time. Did I say something?"

"No, no. It's not like that. It's just, I need to tell you something."

Tell me something? There was something in his tone that made me think this wasn't good news. "What is it?"

"Let's just head to Tony's Ice Cream Shop since there's also a job opening there, remember?"

Thankfully the shop was only two blocks away from the pizza parlor. And after I talked to their manager (who recognized me and said sorry about my brother), I got the job right away. And that was to man the cashier, which would start tomorrow morning. Now I had a reason to get out of bed.

Natsume was waiting outside the whole time. What was it that he had to tell me that made him so... jittery? I mean, I was shocked enough already, what with Hotaru and Ruka dating (!). Or maybe not.

When I came out, I was beyond surprised to see Misaki.

"Mikan!" she said enthusiastically, giving me a long embrace. "Oh my God I haven't seen you in ages! How are you?"

"Good," I replied, when I had a good look at her. Her light reddish straight hair was now dark brown and curled, and reached up to her waist. She still had that model-like physique, and I wondered if she was one. Judging from what seemed like her professionally done make-up, and her outfit-a purple tank top, studded shorts, 4-inch wedges and a Calvin Klein purse-I'm guessing she was. "Wow, you look great."

"Oh this? Not really. I just came from this photo shoot and I look all frazzled. You on the other hand, look stunning."

And my guess was right. I highly doubted that I was anywhere near attractive since I had this serious hangover, that wasn't so bad anymore. But still. I thanked her anyway, and asked how she was.

"Oh everything's been great! I just took up modeling a year ago. I'm studying in Stanford, so I need the extra money."

I tried to hide my surprise. I'd forgotten that Misaki was one of those straight-A students. "Stanford. Wow. So you're visiting for the summer?"

"Yup. And you are too, right?"

"Yeah. For Tsubasa's anniversary." I didn't know why I added that part, but it looked like Misaki was avoiding that topic, because she suddenly had this weird look on her face, and glanced at Natsume, who was again, being quiet.

"Oh yeah. It's this Saturday."

There was an awkward silence that followed, then I cleared my throat. "Right. Well, I guess I better get going."

"See you around, Mikan," Misaki told me, giving me hug. Natsume gave me a small smile. I smiled back and walked off. I didn't know if it was just me, but there was some serious tension in the air during that whole encounter. Or maybe it was the hangover.

"I miss and hate you at the same time."

I was on the phone that night with Sumire (with her having just woken up at one in the afternoon). That was the first thing she said when she picked up. "Sorry, I forgot the reception here sucks at my house," I told her. "So now I'm on the roof of my room."

"Yeah, I should have called too. But I seriously cannot figure out these ridiculous time zones. So what's up?"

I sighed. As much as I'd like to tell her everything, something told me she wouldn't be able to catch up, since she knew little of my life in Malibu. "Nothing much. It's boring."

"Oh please. As if anything in California is boring. If I was there, I should be getting a tan right this moment."

"It's nine p.m.."

"See what I mean about time zones? Anyway, spill you little biatch. I will seriously hang up if you don't tell me everything."

I couldn't possibly tell her everything, because what would she understand? So I told her something that was more of "in her zone." "Okay fine. I have a hangover."

There was a pause at the other line, and then, loud laughter. "Holy shit, Mikan. Finally! But damn, too bad I wasn't there. We could have gotten wasted together."

"It wasn't intentional," I said. "Sort of. It just happened."

"Honey, you don't plan when and where you get drunk. You just do. So tell me what happened."

Eventually, I had to tell her about Tobita, the other blurry stuff that I could remember, and Natsume (who she already knew about).

"OMG, two hot guys in one night? I am so proud of you."

I rolled my eyes, even if she couldn't see them. "Sumire. Tobita is an ass, and Natsume well..."

"The totally hot lifeguard that you're madly in love with?"

For some reason, this made my cheeks flush. It was a good thing Sumire couldn't see me. "No," I said.

"You are totally blushing!" So much for not seeing me. "But you just told me that he's a lifeguard, and that he's all good boy now, and he saved your ass last night. Plus, isn't this the same Natsume that you told me about before? The one you've had a crush on since you were eight?"

"Had," I said, through gritted teeth. "I liked him until I was fifteen, and then when we moved my feelings just vanished. So I don't like him that way now. Probably not ever."

Sumire laughed again. "Oh my God. Feelings just don't disappear, darling. Obviously it was because you didn't see him for two years that's why you think you've forgotten all about him. But now that you're back and you see each other everyday, you realize that you've always loved him and couldn't resist his finely toned abs. I'm sure he has abs, Mikan. He's a lifeguard."

"I know, I've seen them," I said as nonchalantly as possible. "And have you been watching sappy romance movies again? Jesus, you talk like one of those cheesy radio shows."

I heard her gasp. "OMFG, you've seen his abs? Did you touch them? Oh my God, I wish I was there! If you don't like him you could hand him over to me."

"Funny. Besides, you don't even know what he looks like. And, um, I think he has a girlfriend."

"Shut up! How do you know?"

I told her about my theory in why he was being so nice, and the phone call in his truck last night.

"Oh come on! That could have been one of his 'bros' or something. And what, people can't change? I'm telling you. If you don't hook up with that guy, I am coming there right now to do it for you."

"People change for reasons, Sumire. Besides, it's not like it matters if he has a girlfriend or something. It's not my business. Oh and you could come visit anytime. Just call. I don't give a shit about what my mom has to say."

She sighed. "That's sweet. About you inviting me, I mean. Not the one about Natsume, because you totally suck for thinking that. But I'm going to be at my grandparents' for like the whole summer practically. Like rehab. But I'll call if they let me out early."

"Wait," I said, warily. "You are going to your grandparents' and not rehab, right?" I knew Sumire did drugs and drank a lot, but she would tell me if she was going to a rehabilitation center, wouldn't she?

She let out a laugh. "Of course I'm going to be at my grandparents'. I was just kidding about the rehab thing. My grandparents' house is in this place called the middle of nowhere, just like rehabs."

Why wasn't I fully convinced? "Okay, but if you are going to rehab, you'd tell me, right?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I? You're my best friend. And no way am I getting sent to a crack house. I'm don't even smoke anymore."

"But you still do..."

"No not so much," she said, quickly. "Um listen, I have to go. My mom's going to chew my ass out for coming home at six in the morning. I'll call you soon. Bye!"

And with a click, the other line was dead. I knew overthinking wasn't going to do me any good, but judging from the things that happened today, I couldn't help but do just that.

So who is Natsume's mysterious girlfriend (if he even has one)...? Hmmm. Lol. I have no idea if I should write a flashback chapter or a present one. I'm having a writer's block at the moment. But not to worry. I will update soon. 'Til next time xx