Chapter 1
Sunday Febuary 6, Mikan's POV
I was vacuuming one of the two L-couches in the living room while Himeko and Luna sat on the other couch watching a gossip channel talking about how the famous group Flaming Stars were leaving their modeling and singing job to go back to a normal life in their hometown. I knew Luna was head over heels for the leader, Natsume Hyuuga, since I see CDs, posters and magazines all over her room when I have to go clean it. I also hear her playing songs by them through her iPod though she totally sucks at singing along to the lyrics.
Just then we all notice five sport cars making a racket outside and Himeko and Luna head to the window in the room that faces the vacant mansion next to our place. I watch from across the room though I could clearly see five boys around my age head into the house and Luna immediately shouts "O.M.G. the members of Flaming Stars are moving in next to us!" and wildly points to the window that gives a view of the neighbor's house.
The models don't interest me the least bit so I hurry away to clean the dining room since I finished vacuuming.
Next day
Alice Academy is only a block away so I could get there in less than 5 minutes by walking though I think it is silly for Luna to take a limo with it being so close. My friends, Hotaru, Sumire, Nonoko, and Anna walk with me to school.
We head to our lockers which are right next to each other.
There's a lot of noise this morning since girls all around are squealing about seeing Flaming stars right outside of the school gates.
I ignore them since I do not care one thing about them.
First bell rings so my friends and I hurry to our homeroom which we all have together.
Normal POV
The late bell rings and all the students are hurrying to their class. The classroom layout is 3 columns with 2 people per table so Mikan's friends occupy most of the first row. Hotaru and Anna sit on the desk in the center column right in front of the teacher's desk, Sumire and Nonoko sit in the column next to the door, and Mikan sits alone on the farthest column from the door that is near the window.
The second row is empty since Luna and all the other students think its "cooler" to sit in the back rows away from the teacher.
Mikan's POV
I see our gay homeroom teacher, Narumi-sensei, dance into the room late.
The class quiets down as sensei heads to his desk.
"I have wonderfully news for all of you." Narumi says with a huge smile. "We are going to have 5 new students today." And he starts jumping up and down like a little girl. "You can come in now boys." Narumi says like he is going to explode with joy.
I think I saw almost everyone girl in the back rows faint or fix their hair or do something to catch the new students' attention.
I could not believe my bad luck when I see the members of Flaming Stars enter the classroom.
"Well I guess there is no need for an introduction since I'm sure you all know them so I'll just give the boys their assigned seats and I'll be on my way outta here since I got an important meeting." Narumi says.
"Kokoro and Kitsuneme sit in the desk behind Nonoko and Sumire." And he points to the desk in the second row first column.
"Ruka and Yuu can sit in the desk behind Hotaru and Anna." He points to the desk in the second row second column.
"and Natsume can side next to Mikan" I give Narumi a death glare since I did not want to sit next to him since all the fan girls would crowd around him and it would annoy me.
"Then again you could sit in the desk behind Mikan in the second row third column near the window. I gotta leave now so free period" Sensei says in shaky voice and ends it with an uneven laughter then bolts out of the room.
The new students head to their assigned seats.
"You better not talk to them" Luna whispers to me as soon as she arrives at my desk.
"Like I would want to talk to them" I say in a disgusted tone and roll my eyes.
"Good, keep it like that" she smirks and leaves to flirt with Natsume along with all the other girls in the class trying to hit on one of the Flaming Star members.
My friends gather around my desk and begin chatting about what to do today. Their like me when it comes to our opinion on the famous band and models.
I hear a beep from the PA system signaling that an announcement with be made so everyone quiets down a bit.
"A reminder to all students that the Valentine's Day masquerade ball with be held one week from now which is next Monday, February 14 at 8pm. The attire is semi-formal. That will be it for the morning announcements and I hope you all have a wonderful day" the principal announces and another beep is heard signaling the PA system is being turned off.
"I can't wait for it I already made all our dresses their so pretty" Anna happily says.
"I'm not sure I can go Luna would probably have me work all day the time of the ball so I cannot go" I say with sadness in my voice.
"But you have to go your dress is the best one I have ever made please please please come"
"You know I could get in trouble if they find out I did not do the chores while they were gone"
"Not unless the chores get done while you at the ball" Hotaru says suddenly talking.
"I can't be at two places at once"
"Yes you could it seems your forgetting I'm a genius inventor. So you'll be going to the ball because I don't want Anna getting as annoying as you for not going and so I could also test my new invention and you're going to be paying me 1,000 yen." She holds out her hand with money signs in her eyes.
I stare at her since I was liking Hotaru for being my best friend until I hear the last part but neverless I handed her the money since my father gave me a bank account that I could only access that has billions and billions of yen before he passed away so I'm not exactly poor but I keep that a secret from Luna and Himeko. My four friends know about it but only Hotaru takes advantage of it.
"Thanks Hotaru I actually really wanted to go and wear a pretty dress" I said.
"I know, that why I'm doing this idiot" Hotaru states plainly.
Natsume's POV
I shoo all the fan girls away and my gang gathers around my desk.
I notice the girl in front of me, I think sensei called her Mikan, was surrounded by four girls at her desk. I was eavesdropping a bit and they didn't seem to be talking about Flaming Stars which surprised me but I ignored that fact.
"We gotta go to the ball I bet we'll meet good partners and maybe get a girlfriend and besides that we got nothing better to do" Kitsuneme says. Koko nods in agreement along with Yuu and Ruka. They all look at me at the same time waiting for my response.
"Fine" I say though I'm sure it would be just as boring as doing nothing and I knew my friends wouldn't go if I didn't go.
Luna's POV
"Hey Natsume" I say with a sweet smile
He looks at me. He looks so hot.
Then he turns his head away from me…
"Hey why are you ignoring me!" I shouted
He doesn't answer so I start getting boiling mad.
I notice Mikan and her dumb friends have turned their attention toward me due to my yelling.
Mikan's POV
My friends and I turn around and see Luna trying to flirt with Natsume. No surprise there.
"Hey!" I hear Ruka suddenly say and points at me. "Aren't you the girl we used to play with because all the other girls were afraid of your tomboy personality?
I raise an eyebrow.
Natsume turned to look at me.
I see Luna but in.
"What are you talking about Ruka, don't you remember me? I was like your bestest friend back then before all your fame." –Luna
"Sorry but I only remember Mikan and her friends Hotaru, Anna, Nonoko, and Sumire. Right Mikan you played with me and my gang a lot?" –Ruka
I stay quiet wondering if I should answer. I had blocked out all the memories before my father's death but I'm starting to remember them. The Flaming Star members used to be my childhood friends before middle school which was when they had left for their career and that was when my father died too.
"Yeah I remember you were all tough because you had no mother" –Koko
I glare at him and he hides behind Kitsuneme.
"Koizumi you came here right when Flaming Stars was starting their career but I remember once that you saw them in Mikan's house when they we saying their goodbyes" –Hotaru
Everyone in the room is now staring at us. No one talks.
"So, um… how are you now? How's your father?" Yuu says in a shaky voice.
I go silent and make sure that my face shows no emotion.
"Her father is dead but he married my mom before he died so I'm her step-sister" –Luna
"Is that true Mikan" –Yuu
I nod.
"We're sorry for your loss" –Ruka
"How could you Mikan, not tell me you were friends with Flaming Stars. I mean seriously I give you the best and this big secret you know how much I idolized them" –Luna
I gag at what Luna had said.
"It wasn't important; them being here would not change my life"
I then turn to leave the room.
Hotaru's POV
I know Mikan left the class because she couldn't hold her tears anymore. Those who did this will pay badly.
I turn toward Flaming Stars and Luna.
Baka, baka, baka, baka, baka, baka, baka.
I shoot each Flaming Star once and Luna twice with my baka gun.
"What was that for Imai!?" –Ruka
"Yeah I thought we were childhood friends too" –Kitsuneme
"It's good to see you again Sumire, Anna, Nonoko" –Yuu
"I can't believe you still have the baka gun" –Koko
"You made my best friend cry idiots. Childhood friends or not"
"Why did I get hit twice" –Luna
"Cause I like hurting you since you have brought so much pain to Mikan"
I turn to find Mikan. Sumire, Anna, and Nonoko follow.
Natsume's POV
I didn't really understand what Imai's last sentence meant but didn't really care.
At least the scene made all the fan girls stay at their seats though they were talking about what just happened.
"Man, I wonder what happened when we were gone" –Ruka
"Don't care" I say blankly
"You should you've had a crush on Mikan since pre-kindergarten"- Koko
I give a death glare at Koko.
Luna's POV
I cannot let Mikan go to the masquerade ball I better give her tons of chores messing up the whole house for her to clean would be a good idea. And also since I just overheard from Koko that Natsume liked Mikan. He should like me not my bitchy maid.