Yes...i know you want to all kill me. And yes, i feel really bad. And you will all get an explanation after this chapter.

Enjoy.

High School Sweethearts

Written by:

13ISMYNUMBER

Chapter 18

Promises are Meant to be Broken

"I've heard too many promises already, and I got tired watching them break before my very eyes."

Hotaru Imai

Hotaru was sober. Yes, she had been drinking. It was unlikely for an Imai to get drunk. And it was even more unlikely for an Imai to show emotion or worse lose control. Imais know their place. Imais know when to stop and when to start. Imais are always in control. But when it comes to love, Hotaru Imai never knew if Imais still control it.

And what happened yesterday was not what an Imai would do.

For a girl, Hotaru was one of the coldest. But she was an Imai; at least that's what she tells herself. She had always been independent. She always knew what to expect, when to expect and when to just stop expecting. She was an Imai. She was in control.

No one got too close to her. And she liked it that way, she just love being mysterious. And of course, although she will never admit it, she fears of getting hurt and getting things out of hand. But then again, fate was a cruel thing, cruel enough to send a devil to her way and make her lose control.

After she got home, she was so mad…and depress. She felt so depress and mad that she threw her Gucci bag way across the living room and headed straight to the bar, not minding the way she smelled because of what happened earlier. As she reached the door of the bar and entered it, she swiftly grabbed a glass, placed some ice and poured herself some wine. She sat down and started to drink. She said to herself that she was only going to drink until the end of the night. But as the end of the night came, she felt that she just needed more wine so that she'll feel numb and forget whatever happened today, hopefully.

Hotaru stood up from her sit at the bar in her house. She knew she has to get some sleep before the big party at her cousin's. But she was sober, drunk in other words. As she tried to stand up, she ended up falling on her rear. And as she tried one more time, she fell again. The heels weren't helping either. She just fell again.

She stayed on the floor with her head resting on the wall. She felt so stupid right now. Why would she let some guy she just met weeks ago ruin her reputation like that? In fact, she should get back at him like what the real Hotaru Imai would do. But right now, she couldn't think straight, she felt like her sanity was blown away when Ruka kept on kissing her.

'There I go again with those kisses. God, I thought that when I drank endlessly last night I would not think straight.' She thought. She closed her eyes trying to get some sleep only to be disturbed by her mother who suddenly enters the door.

"Hotaru!!!" Amanda said with panic in her voice. She kneeled beside Hotaru and shaked her, Hotaru opened one eye lazily and the other the next. She looked at her mother and smiled a small smile.

"I feel so stupid, mom. So stupid!" She said in a husky voice.

"Oh God, Hotaru, I thought you died! Don't scare me like that." Her mother said as she hugged her. Amanda helped her daughter up and sat her down in one of the sofas in the bar. "What happened to you? You smell like…ugh…shit." She asked Hotaru as she removed some of her hair from her face. She tried to ignore the smell.

"Where do I start mom?" She asked then continued, "I got dared during Lit. class and ended up doing 15 laps around the school. During that time, I ended up getting pranks from the school's Prince Charming." Hotaru stood up. Her mom followed her closely, afraid she might fall.

Hotaru walked outside the bar and headed for the stairs to go to her room. She walked like a real drunk man who had been so depressed he drowned himself with liquor. When she reached the top of the stairs she shouted to no one, "I feel so stupid! I drowned myself with liquor because I am such a sore loseeeer!!!"

"Honey, I don't understand. Please, just stay still and tell me what happened." Her mom said trying to get her to stop walking around.

Hotaru stopped and faced her mother. She looked at her eyes as if searching for some answers. "Mom. Tell me something."

"Anything to get you to stop walking like some drunken man, well you are drunk but still. Just stop." Her mom said as she steadied her daughter by holding her shoulders.

"In the world where we, as in you, me, my cousins, your sisters, and my dad, does love ever exist? Or is it just something that is so impossible that we would laugh when we hear about it?" Hotaru asked as she tried to stay awake, waiting for the answer.

"I—I don't—Hotaru!" Her mother shouted as she fell and lost her consciousness. Her daughter must really be drunk.

High School Sweethearts by 13 is my number

Mikan woke up early and was currently heading to Sumire's house. She was also currently on the phone with Misaki. After telling Misaki that she should also go to Sumire's house so they could decide what to wear, Misaki told her what Ruka said yesterday.

"Look Misaki, you should take Ruka's advice. I mean come on, Tsubasa isn't that bad. And anybody would love to date that guy! Even me…that is if I am still single." She said and then giggled.

"Oh shut up! I would give Tsubasa to anybody right now."

"Riiiiighhhhtttt. You know, you'll only know what you have when they turn to what you had." Mikan said slyly.

"Look, Tsubasa is a great guy but he's just out of my league."

"And do pray tell how is he even out of your league?" Mikan said as she turned to the next street near Sumire's house.

"Well, first of all, he's a playboy! Totally not my type. Second, he's a jock, I'm a new kid. And lastly, my cousins are with his friends which totally make it a little weird!"

Mikan suddenly hit the breaks and said, "Are you saying that we shouldn't date them because we are cousins and we are new and it will be 'weird' if we date the greatest boys in Japan?!"

"Oh come on! That's not what I meant. I mean, isn't it ironic that all of us are suddenly dating this group of boys we just met a few weeks ago and suddenly changed every little thing we believe in."

"Misaki, you're just paranoid. You know what, you need to get a boyfriend…and soon!" Mikan said as she started her car again.

"I do not! I am perfectly fine being single!"

"Yeah right! Look at Hotaru, she said two years ago that boys are just nuisance. And look at her now, drunk because of a boy." Mikan said trying to hold her laughter.

"How'd you know that?"

"Her mom called me this morning saying that for once Hotaru went nuts. And she was kind of glad about it. Weird but she said that her little girl was becoming human. Haha! You should have heard Aunt Amanda." Mikan explained finally reaching her destination.

"Great. When I thought my mom was weird, Aunt Amanda comes into the picture. Gosh. The world has gone nuts, I tell you, nuts!"

"yeah yeah, whatever. Get a life…no…get a boyfriend. Hook up with Tsubasa!" Mikan laughed, "Look, I have to go. Go to Sumire's already. I'm here. Ttyl."

"Sure. I'll be there in…thirty minutes. Bye!"

And with that, Mikan hung up and got out of her car. She climbed the front steps of Sumire's house. Today, Mikan was determined to make herself hot…not beautiful but hot. She was so gonna make Natsume have his jaw dropped to the floor.

High School Sweethearts by 13 is my number

Nonoko opened the door of her home finally happy that she's back in Japan and that she can attend Yoichi's party. As she walked through the living room, she saw her sister walking down the stairs. "Hey, you're back!" Anna shouted.

"Yeah, I'm glad to be back." Nonoko said with a huge smile.

"You should call Yuu. He was…well…let's just say he wasn't happy when Mikan said you weren't sure if you could attend the party tonight." Anna explained as she reached the last step and walked towards her sister.

"I left a message already, saying I'm back and I'll explain everything later during the party." Nonoko said as she headed for the kitchen with her sister.

"That's great! Anyway, I got this message from Misaki saying Mikan and her are at Sumire's right now. She said we should go there too." Anna said as she read again Misaki's message.

"Sure. I think I have enough sleep to party later. But where's Hotaru?" Nonoko asked as she got some milk from the fridge.

"Drunk. Mikan said her mom called her and said that Hotaru was drunk. Mikan said it was probably because of what happened yesterday." Anna explained.

Nonoko looked at her sister and said, "Why? What happened yesterday?"

"Well, there was Lit. class and Hotaru and Ruka were taking it together. Then there was this dare. I don't really know all the details. Anyway, Hotaru was dared to run 15 laps around the school by Ruka."

"What's so bad about that? It's not like Hotaru's fat and it'll be hard for her to run."

Anna giggled and continued, "Ruka prepare some pranks so that Hotaru would blow up and go with him, which worked, eventually."

Nonoko laughed. "Really? I wished I was there. So what did Aunt Amanda say?"

"She was actually happy. Weird but she said that she was glad her only daughter was finally becoming human. Or at least, something like that." Anna explained as she stifled a laugh.

Nonoko laughed some more and said, "If I was Aunt Amanda, I would have said the same."

Anna then started to laugh along with her. When they gained their composure back, Anna asked, "So, what are you gonna wear tonight?"

Nonoko shook her head and said, "I don't even know if I'm going. Yuu is not returning back my call. So, it seems to me that it's unsure." Nonoko was surely disappointed.

"Well, it shouldn't stop you from going you know!" Anna beamed trying to cheer her sister up.

Nonoko smiled and said, "Yeah, but still…it'll be nice to go with the guy I like, right?" Anna just nodded. "Speaking of boys,"—Nonoko said as she sat beside Anna with a sinister look, "What's up with you and Kitsuname?"

Anna smiled and rolled her eyes. "Well you know same old, same old." Anna said shyly.

"Oh come on! I've been gone for almost two days and all you can say is 'Well you know same old, same old'. Kitsuname must have done some Casanova MAGIC, RIGHT?" Nonoko said.

Anna bit her lip as she reminisced what happened yesterday morning. "Well…not really. I think I did the magic."

FLACHBACK

"Brother?! What the hell are you doing here?!" Kitsuname shouted as he dropped his bag on the floor unconsciously.

"Well, it's nice to see you too, Kits." His older brother said as he leaned on the counter next to where Anna was cooking.

Kitsuname stomped to where Anna is and stood between the gap of his brother and Anna. He then said with clenched fists, "I didn't say I was glad to see you. On the contrary, I wasn't even near to being glad to seeing you."

His older brother pretended to be hurt as he clutched his chest and said with a hurt voice, "Why is that? Is it because little Anna here took my place in your heart? Is your heart to small that you must take someone out when someone new comes in?"

Kitsuname pushed him away and said, "Sadly, you were taken out of my heart a long time ago." He glared at his brother and said, "You never answered my question, what are you doing here?!"

His brother heaved a sigh and said with a grin, "My school had an exchange program and it was a pure coincidence that they chose this country." He paused and looked at Kitsuname with a smirk, "I'll be here for a while. I'll be studying at an exclusive boy's school."

It was Kistuname's turn to smirk and said, "That's perfect. That way, girls will be safe with a pervert like you."

Kitsuname turned the stove off and held Anna's hand lightly. He looked at her and then at his brother. His eyes on his brother narrowed as he tightened his hold on Anna's hand. He ripped his eyes off of his brother and walked away, dragging Anna with him.

He was heading for the door. He reached for the knob and opened the door with a bam when his brother said in a playful voice and filled with confidence, "If I'm a pervert, then so are you."

"Kim," He said not turning to look at his brother, "I'm a player not a pervert. I may play with girl's heart but I don't do one night stands with them." Kitsuname said with so much venom. With that he dragged Anna into his room.

High School Sweethearts by 13 is my number

Kitsuname pushed Anna to his room and sat her down on his bed. He paced back and forth with his hand on his forehead. Anna just watched him in his tense moment. She bit her lip and tried to think of a way to make him talk her. She wanted to know what's wrong.

She finally thought of something and said with a small voice she naturally used, "I made you breakfast down stairs, it might get cold so, I'll get it for you."

Anna stood up and was heading for the door when Kitsuname appeared in front of her and sat her again on the bed. He kneeled in front of her with his hands on both sides of her thigh, clutching the bed cover. Anna just stared at him, waiting for him to talk this time.

Kitsuname breathed and said in a calm demeanour, "What did you make me?"

Anna face lit a little up as she said with a small yet enthusiastic voice, "Blueberry Pancakes. Kim said you liked blueberries."

Kitsuname narrowed his eyes and said, "Kim said that?"

Anna just nodded with a smile at Kitsuname, which calmed a little Kitsuname. He heaved a sigh and said, "Don't trust him."

Anna blinked her eyes for a couple of times. Her smile vanished and turned into a pout as she said with sincerity, "Why is that? He seemed really nice."

"Because," Kitsuname said, "Because I'm allergic to blueberries."

Anna looked down slowly the moment she heard this. The moment she heard this, she realized she almost poisoned her boyfriend. She was ready to cry. She started to sniff.

"Hey, hey," Kitsuname said with full of love as he lifted the girl's head, "Why are you crying? Don't cry, princess."

"It's just that…I almost poisoned you!" Anna said between sniffs. She let the tears flow down from her angelic face. She then hugged Kitsuname tightly around the neck unexpectedly that Kitsuname almost fell on the floor.

Kitsuname held his laugh. He wasn't trying to make her realize that she almost poisoned him…he was trying to tell her that Kim lied to her. Instead of laughing, he just smiled his irresistible smile as he rubbed the back of Anna to calm her.

He removed her arms around his neck. That smile of his still visible in his Casanova face. He looked at her and wiped her tears away with his thumb and said huskily, "Princess, I'm not blaming you. You didn't know. My main point was to tell you that Kim lied to you. You shouldn't trust him."

Anna wiped the rest of her tears away with the back of her hand and nodded with a smile. Kitsuname kept his smile on his face. Anna blinked a few times and stared at Kitsuname's face. She then gave him a peck on the lips. Kitsuname was shock. It was too sudden for him to react so fast.

Anna stood up and started dragging Kitsuname down the stairs, "Then let me make you another breakfast, so that I could make it up to you!"

Kistuname looked at his watch and halted which caused Anna to almost fall. If it wasn't for Kitsuname, who kept her in balance, she might have rolled down. Kitsuname then looked at Anna from his watch and said, "It's time for school. You could just come here during dinner and make it up to me."

Kitsuname walked ahead of her and dragged her down. They headed for the door and then the car.

Anna was shoved inside Kitsuname's sports car. She watched as Kitsuname started the engine before saying, "Why dinner? Why not breakfast tomorrow?"

Kitsuname didn't glance at Anna's direction but said simply, "I don't like you being around the house when I'm not around when my brother is there. Who knows what he could do perverted to you?"

End of FLASHBACK

"GOD! You are so totally out of your mind. I can't believe you can do that! I am so proud of you!" Nonoko said hugging her sister.

Anna rolled her eyes and said, "I can say that I'm a late bloomer." Nonoko only laughed. Anna took a deep breath and said, "What did dad want?"

Nonoko forced a small smile and said, "Well, you are currently looking at the new successor of the Ogasawara Industries."

"You don't seem so happy about it." Anna said worriedly.

"Yeah, at first I thought it was just some type of after shock but…it just makes me miss mom even more. I was wondering what she would think if she saw us now. Would she be proud?" Nonoko said in soft voice.

"Of course, she'll be proud! I am finally blooming and you are the wonderful future of our company! She'll be so proud." Anna beamed and smiled brightly.

"It's not the only thing that dad said. Remember when dad called and said that he booked me a flight to New York?" Nonoko said softly as she tried to avoid eye contact.

"Yeah. What about it?" Anna said curiously.

"He also said that…he thinks I'll be staying there pretty soon so I should prepare for whatever comes my way." Nonoko said as she bit her lip and finally looked at Anna.

"Oh." Anna muttered as she lowered her head. "So, did you tell Mikan? Sumire?"

"I told Mikan and Hotaru. That's why I think Yuu really deserve to hate me." Nonoko took a deep breath and said, "Finally when everything was working out…fate just have to interfere with it."

Anna stood up and hugged Nonoko and rubbed her back and whispered, "It's okay. I'm sure we'll think of something. Besides, Yuu will surely understand. I guess, you should have just told Mikan to explain it to Yuu rather than making him feel like…I don't know, clueless?"

Nonoko pulled away and said, "Yeah. I figured that out a little too late." Nonoko smiled at her sister and stood up and said, "Well, we should get dressed. Sumire and the two are probably waiting for us."

Anna beamed once again and said, "Yeah, you're probably right."

High School Sweethearts by 13 is my number

Hotaru woke up with the sun striking through her window, which was not helping because she was nor seriously having a huge headache. She closed her eyes again trying to get rid of her headache by sleeping once again. But sadly, it wasn't working.

"If you're trying to sleep again to get rid of your headache, it won't work." Someone said across the room. Hotaru shot up and looked at who the owner of the voice.

"Hyuuga. What are you doing in my house? More importantly, what are you doing in my room?" Hotaru said in a husky voice.

"You're mom called Ruka. And well, since I was being a good friend I decided to go with him if ever your mom plans on slapping him, which she surprisingly didn't. And I'm in your room because your mom wants me to wake you up. I knocked but no one answered." Natsume explained as he leaned his back on the wall.

"So you entered without my permission?" Hotaru asked irritated. But before Natsume can answer, "Wait. Ruka's here?" Hotaru said as she ran her hand through her hair. Natsume only nodded lazily. "Oh God. He is the last person I want to see. Where is he?"

"Downstairs with your mom, talking." Natsume answered as shortly as he can.

"Oh God. I have to go downstairs." Hotaru said as she swiftly got out from bed and grabbed her robe. She heading for the door when Natsume said, "Look, Hotaru, Ruka never tried this hard just to get a girl's attention."

Hotaru looked at him with a cold one and said, "That's because every girl's attention is already at him."

Natsume rolled his eyes as he started to walk to wards her, "True. But I never thought he'll even try this far. It seems to me that you really like him, although you announced that to the whole world already." Natsume passed her and as he held on to the knob, ready to leave, he said something that surely got stuck on Hotaru's mind, "And you might be the only one oblivious to this fact that you want to give him a chance."

High School Sweethearts by 13 is my number

Sumire slumped down on her chair in the dining table with her robe on. She was really, really excited for tonight. Tonight was the night for her to show Britany who's the real It Girl.

"I am so hyped up for the party tonight!" Sumire said.

Mikan raised a brow at her and said, "Apparently, I can see that. So, you going with Koko?"

"Stupid question, Mikan. Of course, she's going with him!" Misaki said all of a sudden.

Sumire rolled her eyes and muttered, "I am. But…I met this really cute guy in the library!"

Misaki looked at her and chuckled. "You go to the library!?" Misaki said clearly shocked at what she found out.

Sumire looked at her with an offended face and said, "Yes, I go! Anyway, Koko and I were there and I returned our book. I was hitting my head with the book when he found me. And it was damn embarrassing but heaven heard me!"

Mikan laughed. "You were hitting yourself with a book? Why?" She said as she tried to stifle her laughs.

"Well,"—Sumire hesitated—"Because…Ugh…Koko acted a little weird. It was like he was trying to tell me something. Like…he was trying to tell me that he…likes me."

Misaki and Mikan looked at each other with a shocked face. "So, let me get this straight, he was professing his feelings and all you did was returned your books and hit yourself?" Misaki said. She truly believes that Sumire was unbelievable!

"Hey, he wasn't professing anything. I just think he is. Maybe I was just jumping into conclusions." Sumire defended as she stood up and started to walk back and forth.

"Then why are you so worked up about it?" Mikan asked as she tried to look at Sumire in the eyes despite her moving back and forth.

"I don't know! Do you think my conclusion is right? Do you think he…likes me?" Sumire trailed off as she sat once again. Misaki shook her head as she gave up with Sumire. Mikan, on the other hand, rolled her eyes and said, "Figure it out yourself like the rest of us. I mean, you've given millions of advices to many girls who saw you as their 'role model' then maybe its time to give those advices a test. Don't you think?"

Sumire sighed as she sinked in her seat and said, "That's exactly the problem. I don't know where to start. What would you two do if you were in my position?" Mikan looked at Misaki, indicating for her to go first.

Misaki obliged and looked at Sumire. "I'll figure out first what I feel." Misaki said in a soft proud voice. She looked at Mikan then who said, "I'll follow my heart who says that I should start believing what I see."

Sumire looked down and silenced herself. Sumire was never the type of person to get all worked up with a boy but…what makes Koko so different? Why does Koko make her feel so different?

"Gaaah! I need a new life!" Sumire suddenly shouted as she slumped her head on the table. Mikan and Misaki only laughed at her. For once, Sumire didn't know what to do with a boy.

High School Sweethearts by 13 is my number

Hotaru went down the stairs slowly. As she was halfway, Ruka, Natsume and her mother came into view. Hotaru took a deep breath as she got her natural composure back. She climbed down the stairs with a normal pace and headed to them.

As she reached them and stood there, they were all looking at her expectantly. And all she could do was blink. When she opened her mouth to say something, she ended up closing it instead. Her mother smiled and then said, "Natsume, dear, why don't we go and get something to eat in the kitchen." Natsume being the smart boy he is, caught up what she wanted to do: leave them alone. Natsume stood up and so did Amanda and they both headed for the kitchen door.

Hotaru was still standing there. She took a deep breath and said, "I got drunk." And for a smart girl, that was the dumbest thing she could say. And as she stupidly repeated it, she felt how awkward the atmosphere felt for her, "I got drunk."

"Yes, yes, you did." Ruka said not even budging from whatever position he had after Natsume and Hotaru's mom left. "Your mom told us." Ruka explained.

Hotaru sat down and closed her eyes. She massaged her temples as if trying to get rid of the stress. She took a deep breath once again and said, "I'm gonna go get some aspirin." And with that she stood up and started walking but even before she could get far, a hand grabbed her arm and spun her around.

For once, Ruka didn't know what to say to a girl. All he did there was stand and look at her. Hotaru expectantly stood their waiting for him to say something. And he didn't. So she spun around and started walking again. Ruka gritted his teeth and he ran to cut her in front.

Hotaru raised a brow clearly irritated from being stopped again. "Tell me what you want, Nogi?" She said coldly.

"I'm sorry."

Hotaru's eyes softened. And she pitied him. That is until she caught herself from falling again and turned her face to avoid eye contact. She breathed out when she realized that she was holding her breath for a pretty long time.

"I'm sorry for acting such a jerk. I'm sorry for kissing you. I'm sorry for annoying you. I'm sorry for ruining your day. I'm sorry for causing you to get drunk. I'm sorry for—" Ruka trailed off only to be cut by Hotaru.

"Look, Nogi, I have no time for games. Why did you come?" Hotaru said. When Ruka opened his mouth to say something Hotaru cut him off again, "And, yes, I know my mother called you but, seriously, why did you even go? Go here?"

Ruka looked at her and took a deep breath as he said, "Because I think I'm doing the right thing."

"Doing what right thing? Look, you won. Give it up already." Hotaru said as she tried to pass him by but was caught by Ruka. Hotaru turned to look at him, thinking that he was going to tell her something but was only welcomed by a tight hug.

"Give me a chance. Give me one chance, and I promise you, you will not regret it." Ruka whispered against her hair.

Hotaru pushed herself away from Ruka's embrace and looked at him in the eyes and said in a very low voice before Hotaru left Ruka with a broken heart, "I've heard too many promises already, and I got tired watching them break before my very eyes."

Before you go and kill me, let me explain.

You see, I have confirmation, and pep, and a class and clubs to go and fix. As you can see, in school we are running late because of the typhoon. And unfortunately, i have been going home late because of the school activities. After fixing a school mass. I have to then return my attention to my section, which is a pilot section, which makes it harder. For Pep Squad, i am a leader and we are also running late. And i have to make cheers for our batch this coming intrams. For the clubs, i have an org and another club where in the teacher only trusts me...and not the president of the club. Anyway, so you can see, very busy.

And my studies, i still need to catch up to them. But i am really sorry. I am not proud of this chapter...but i will try to write the next one now. I have no inspiration to write lately. I have been very busy and my mind can only think of ways on how to get pass this phase. Anyway, i didn't plan on ending it here, AND some of you might have seen that there is no Natsume and Mikan Moment. That's because, i have writers block. Sorry. I will really try my best for the next chapter to be better. But right now...i have to do some things.

Please do review. I love them. And please do tune in to HIGH SCHOOL LOVE STORY becuase i really plan on finishing this story. Thank You!

Stay safe.:)

Love, 13ismynumber