Chapter 23 – Obsession

Mikan's POV:

"MIKAAAAAANNNNN! Wake your sorry buttocks up young lady. It's 7:48 and you need to get ready for school." My mom screamed from the kitchen.

I turn over to look at the time; you know how its actually 7 but my mom tends to over exaggerate. To my surprise she wasn't lying…

"I'M LATE! FUCK!" I bolted up to a sitting position on my bed.

"Language Mikan" my mom yelled out.

To hell I cared though. You know if my first period wasn't math everyday I would really be this worried but the universe just loves me. I rushed to the bathroom and brushed my teeth. Do I really need to take a shower? I smelt my hair and it smelt like…nothing really. I decided not to shower and just changed into my uniform. I curled my hair into a bun and sprayed some perfume on. If you are curious, it's my Tom Ford Black Orchid, the one Sumire got me for my birthday last year. Yes I didn't use it for that long cause I don't want it to get over.

I half run/ half jump down the stairs and see my mom mixing her coffee. The breakfast she laid out for me looked so inviting but I knew I didn't have the time. Just when I was about to run out…

My set bang… my set bang haha

I didn't bother to look at the caller ID and just picked up. It is probably Anna or Nonoko asking me where I am anyway.

"Mikan! We are all heading to the beach and wondering if you wanted to join us?" Anna said chirpy as ever. Wait… What?

"What do you mean? You should be in class by now." I replied very dumbfounded with the situation.

I could hear laughter in the background. I think it's Nonoko but I'm not sure. I heard sounds like the phone was being moved too much and some static.

"Mikan, get your ass ready in an hour. We are going to the beach and you are obligated to come, as we will be shooting the final scenes of the project. Understood?" it was Hotaru who took the phone from Anna. Apparently she is still laughing her arse of with Nonoko, bitches.

"What about class?" I asked Hotaru innocently.

"I cannot comprehend how you became this stupid." She sighed with irritation and cut the call.

I stood there looking at my phone still confused.

My set bang… my set ba

"Hi" was all I managed to say while smiling at the ground. If you are wondering who called and made me this way and you guess Natsume, you were right. Well done!

"Morning Berry, let me guess Hotaru called you already?" he said playfully.

"Yeah, I can't believe she wants us to ditch school for the skit. Don't get me wrong I'm all for it but it just isn't like her you know?" I walked to the kitchen to finish the breakfast my mom made. Surprisingly it was still left on the table.

"Mikan… my sweet dimwitted Mikan…" I could hear him hold back a laugh.

"What?" I said a bit annoyed that everyone is treating me like a child today.

"It's a Saturday" he laughed at me. I can feel the smile plastered across his face right now. It was a good intuition.

"I need to call you back, see you at the beach." I sounded annoyed and cut the phone.

My dear innocent mother, more like ruin-my-glorious-Saturday-morning-by-pretending-there-is-school mother.

"MOTHER!" I screamed while my voice echoed through out the whole room. I should really try out for an opera.

No reply. I searched the living room but no mother was found. I looked into her room with the same result. I am so going to get her back for this. Just wait and see my dear mother two can play at that game.

I run back to my room and strip off my uniform. I scavenge my closet for something to wear; well we are going to the beach so take out my Triangl bikini that is neon yellow in colour and has a black outline to it. I take out some navy blue shorts and a white tang top. Wow, you can see my bikini top through this but it's the beach so I'll make an exception. I take out some clothes that I could wear after we swim and an extra towel. I take all my swimming essentials and run down stairs.

"This is going to be a long hot day" I mutter to myself.

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Arriving to the beach I try and search for my friends. This task would be easier…if I didn't forget my fucking sunglasses. I curse under my breath at my stupidity.

"Mikiiiii! Over here!" I heard Nonoko's voice from my right side.

Everyone seems to be present.

Let me tell you right now that I am being cooked alive over here. The sun was right on top of us and the heat was agonizing. I cover my eyes from the suns rays and make my way to the group. The sand feels warm to my feet and the water looked nice. The one thing I like about this beach is that it was clean. No garbage in sight.

I was a few feet away from the group and lets just say I'm not the only one that is bothered by the heat…

"Baby, you are overreacting again" Koko announced for the whole group to hear with a naughty smile.

"Do not baby me right now you fuck. I did not spend huge sums of money to keep my beautiful white complexion just have it tanned in less than 30 mins." Sumire shot back at her boyfriend with visible annoyance. Koko just shrugged at his over dramatic girl.

I wanted to laugh at how Sumire was. She was in her hot pink bikini under a huge umbrella and apparently did not let anyone else take up the shade. That's Sumire for yah.

"Well look who finally showed up, it's Ms. Steal your man." A bitchy voice came from behind me.

"God Luna, what decade are you in? Ms. Steal your man? Really" I retorted back without even looking at her.

I heard that she was going to make a comeback at me but Hotaru interrupted her.

"You can bicker all you want when we are done with this stupid play." she said monotonously.

"Mikan, you are crucial for this scene so I need you to give me your maximum effort" she continued.

"What do you want me to do? And what scene is this anyway?"

"This is the scene where you are on your date with Lanford (Natsume) having a good time when Victoria (Luna) and Chloe (Hibino) come and ruin it all for you. Luna I need to act as if you are trying to get Lanford to see that Lissa is a whore and basically what you actually feel towards Mikan. Understood?"

I raise my hand as if I was in 5th grade. "And where exactly is my Lanford?" I heard a few chuckles from the guys and saw a smiling Anna. Luna just kept glaring at me, which I ignored.

"Right here berry" I felt two arms hold my waist from behind followed by a light kiss on the side of my neck. I felt chills go down my spine…

"Thank you for blessing us with your presence Hyuuga now lets get to the scene." Hotaru took the initial and walked towards the shore of the beach and Ruka following closely behind.

Natsume and I followed them. Out of nowhere Luna grabs Natsume's hand and pulls him away from me.

This bitch is testing my patience…

"Natsumeeee, I've missed you so much" she says while battering her eye lashes and clinging on to his arm for her dear life.

"Luna…" he says as he nears his face to hers. Luna has a satisfying look on her smug ugly face.

For a second I was shocked and fucking so close to going ape on this man but what he did next changed my mind.

"Get. The. Fuck. Of. Me." he said with a dark tone and gave her a slight push away before making his way back to me.

I turned back and saw the despair on Luna's face. She had her head down and her hands in a fist. Hibino was infront but didn't know what to do. Is it weird that I somehow felt sorry for her?

Mikan seriously? This is the girl who tries to ruin your life on a daily basis but I just cant shake off this feeling of pity for her.

"Natsume and Mikan I want you two to be in the water acting like love sick puppies. Luna I want you..- Luna get your sorry arse over here before I have it dragged it." Hotaru was never a patient person and God help anyone who makes her wait more than 3 minutes.

Luna and Hibino walked towards us but didn't look at Natsume or me.

"I want you to see these two enjoying their lives while you just got dumped by Raymond. You will be filled with envy and try to break them apart. Hibino you will be supporting Luna through this fight. Let's get this much done and see where we can go from there. Ok lets have a trial."

By the way, Ruka was the one filming us.

I look at Natsume waiting for him to make the first move but he just stared at me as if thinking the same thing. I role my eyes and swiftly splash water into his face. Some of it went inside his eyes as he falters back a bit. I regret that choice. I saw Natsume's eyes turn well…evil and his smirk was devious so I did what any normal person would do…Run.

I was trying to run in the opposite direction but I forgot my legs were half under water therefore running isn't really a good option for me.

I felt Natsume's arm grab my wrist and he casually turned me around so that I was facing him. I am now in his grasp and he didn't take his eyes off me. I didn't expect him to do anything but then again this is Natsume we were talking about, he pulled me into the water and I let out a little scream.

We surfaced and I was happy. Yup! I know I was genuinely happy. I know we were supposed to be acting but it just seemed so natural to us. I look at him and damn did I enjoy my view. He was shirtless and had the perfect set of 6 pack abs. His shoulders were broad and made him look even more attractive.

"Well, if it isn't my darling Lissa. Are you having fun with your new boy toy?" Victoria had a hand on her hip with Chloe at her side.

"What do you want Victoria? Shouldn't you be with your egoistic boyfriend?" I spat back at her.

Victoria's face seemed hurt but was quickly replaced with a plastic smile.

"I got bored him."

"What's new there?"

She turned to Lanford "You are an eye candy but your taste in girls is revolting."

"Says the girl who dated a two timing asshole." I hissed at her. I was getting too much into this scene and I don't know why.

" Honestly Lanford, you could so much better than that" Chloe backed Victoria up. They both snickered at me.

"Well since I am a good person let me fill you up on a little past of our darling Lissa." Victoria took a few steps towards us with Chloe following her every step. Such a dog.

"She is a good for nothing conniving little whore. Not to mention is a very jealous bitch. Did you know she has tried countless times to flirt with my boyfriend? She would always try to tag along on our dates and flirted with him behind my back. She was always envious of all the things I had and would try her utter best to imitate me. Let's face it dear, there can only be one Victoria. So, if I was you Lanford, I would ditch that pathetic girl and move onto something more of your standards." That smug look on her face… I wanted to rip it into shreads.

I look at Lanford and see that he analyses her words very carefully. He then turns to me with a poker face as if studying me.

This scene is more fragile to me than I expected.

It was just like before when Roxy didn't believe me when I tried to tell her that I didn't flirt with Reo…

"I don't believe you." Lanford said.

My eyes grew twice it size. He didn't believe me…

I felt the tears build up and I couldn't bare to look at him so looked at the water instead. He grabbed my hand, which surprised me and my head shot up. He was now facing Victoria.

"If you expect me to believe someone I just met over someone I have known for a while you really must be deranged." A smirk forming on his lips.

I held his hand tighter and wiped my tears with my free hand.

"You ungrateful piece of shit. Let me set you straight, the only reason I ever tagged along on your sickening dates was because you needed someone to get you out of the house. You always needed to take all the attention for yourself. You fucking abused our friendship and made me suffer for all these years. Do you have any idea what you put me through? You always made me doubt myself…you made me think I wasn't worth being loved and it was all because of your selfishness. Victoria you took away my confidence and you broke a part of me through this all. But I refuse to let you take away anything else I left you alone just like you wanted so I cant comprehend why you are still running after me." I was out of breath. Victoria's face was surprised and she didn't no she couldn't say anything.

And then it hit me…

"You need me more than I need you." was all I said.

"Victoria…lets go." Chloe said before leading her out of the seashore and away from us.

I didn't realise how hard I was holding Lanford's hand until he gripped my hand even harder.

"And we are done." Hotaru said while motioning Ruka to stop recording.

Hotaru's voice broke me from my role as Lissa and back to Mikan.

"I thought that was just a trial."

"It was supposed to be but you all made it look so real" she said while heading back to the rest of the gang. She turned around and said "I'm proud of you Mikan" with a smile and continued walking

Wait… DID HOTARU IMAI JUST SMILE? No…DID SHE JUST PRAISE ME? Is hell going to freeze now? Is the dead going to rise back? Surprised is an understatement right now.

"Hey stop that!" I tried to grab Natsume's hand that was messing with my hair.

"You keep smiling like an idiot."

"Well sorry for being happy cause Hotaru praised me for the first time in my life." I pouted and he chuckled.

He pulled me to his chest and kind of stayed like that for a while. We didn't say anything but we were comfortable.

"You are growing stronger each day Mikan. I will be here for you till you are ready to face this issue head on, I promise you that."

"I know you will."

We let each other go and made out way back to the group.

"So how was the scene?" asked Nonoko.

"It was…interesting" I replied with a sly smile.

"Since we are done for today you guys can do anything you want just make sure to leave me and Ruka alone for a while" Hotaru said before grabbing Ruka and went somewhere God knows.

"Let's go swimming!" Anna squealed and dragged Nonoko and surprisingly Hibino to the beach. Koko had to drag Sumire from her little comfort zone.

Natsume asked if I wanted to get back in the water but I told him he could go ahead since I was abit exhausted.

I sat in Sumire's spot under the umbrella and tried to relax my mind.

"Sakura, you are taking up all the shade" shit I didn't even feel Luna come and sit so close to me.

ok… this is beyond awkward because we didn't say a word to each other and just sat there in silence looking at the view. Dear God, first Hotaru praised me and now Luna isn't trying to get on my nerves what is happening?

"Are you and Natsume really together now?" Luna said in voice low. For some reason I doubt she was gonna go on monster bitch mode right now.

"Yes we are."

"You…yo…you guys look good together" she blurted out.

"Thank you?"

"Sakura, what you said while we were filming, it really affected me for some reason."

"Why?"

"Your facial expression." Was all she said?

I looked at her with a puzzled face. "What do you mean?"

"Now that you and Natsume are an actual thing now, I lost my motivation to keep fighting with you" she trailed off

I was speechless and confused. I didn't understand what she meant by that so I stayed silent I hoped she would explain.

"To be honest Mikan, I was jealous of you. I was jealous of how you were the new girl and within a few months you seemed like you already belonged. What ticked me off even more was that you didn't even try…" she laughed but it was a sad laugh.

I have never seen this side of Luna; hell I didn't even know she had this side to her. She looked so lonely and depressed and for a minute I saw Roxy in her. Acting on my emotions I hugged her. I felt her body tense up but slowly relax into the hug. She started sobbing into my arms and I just help her tighter.

"Luna you know you don't have to always be a bitch to get what you want. Sometimes you have to let things come to you." I slowly caress the back of her head.

"I'm..- I'm sorry Mikan" she stuttered.

"I'm sorry too."

We stayed like that for a few more minutes and then eventually let go. Luna rubbed the bottom for her eyes to remove the mascara residue.

"I never would have thought the day would come where we would have a normal conversation and here we are hugging and making up."

"Biiiiitch, I know right?" and we both laughed at our stupidity.

"Let's try to tolerate each other from now on ok?" she perked up and smiled at me.

"Deal." I extended my hand and we shook on it.

"Well aren't you two getting close" Nonoko eyed me with suspicion.

"I should leave, I have an appointment at the saloon at 5." Luna said as she got up. "Let's go to the saloon together next time Miki" she winked and walked back to her car. I waved her bye as she drove off.

"Mikan, what the fuck was that?" Nonoko looked at me with disbelief.

"She apologized to me."

"WHAAAAAAAAAAT?"

"I KNOW RIGHT! SHIT BALLS I'm JUST AS SHOCKED AS YOU ARE."

"OMG, THE WORLD MUST BE ENDING SOON"

"What are you girls talking about?" Anna asked while sitting down next to me.

I saw the rest of them were returning from the beach.

"I'll tell you girls next time."

The rest of the day was ok. We all decided to go our own ways. Natsume insisted on dropping me home and I was too exhausted to argue with him.

We walked back to my place since we weren't that far. A good 20 minutes maybe; we talked about random silly things. I never realized how easy it became to talk to this guy. I really enjoyed his company even our slight arguments. That's what I like about this relationship. Just because we are officially dating, nothing changed, he still mocks my very existence and I try my best to retort back. That's just a thing between me and Natsume and I wouldn't have it any other way.

We said goodbye and I walk up to my room.

I need to catch up on my sleep. I didn't even bother to change. I just jumped on my bed and dozed off.

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Hey lovelies!

Hope you like this chapted. I always felt bad for Luna to be honest, why was she always the bitch you know?

Please review! Love to hear your thoughts about the story.

Nikki 3