Geeky Attraction

24: The Grand Finale

-x-

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Mikan

My heart was beating incredibly fast, whether from the unexpected kiss or the rapidly approaching possibility of being expelled I wasn't sure. Possibly both.

As soon as the doors to the dining hall closed behind me, I began running, the sound of my feet echoing in the empty hallway.

In front of Professor Narumi's office I finally stopped, gasping for breath, a lump forming in my throat.

"Hey." I twirled around to see Natsume standing behind me, his beautifully crimson eyes dark with worry. He must have been right behind me, running to catch up.

Suddenly, it didn't matter that he had been a complete moron. I'd thought there would be time to fix everything. I hadn't ever imagined that it could be over in a split second, our time at the academy ending just like that.

A sob escaped my lips and I blinked furiously to refrain from crying. Natsume moved closer and then he was carefully cradling my face, making me meet his eyes even though I didn't want him to see that I was close to tears.

I shivered at the feeling of his fingertips tracing my jaw slowly, sweetly. "Mikan," he simply said my name, uncharacteristically gentle.

"What if we get expelled?" I couldn't suppress another sob. "I don't want that."

"I'll tell him it was my fault. All of it. You don't have to worry."

"'All of it'?" I repeated with confusion, distracted by the feeling of Natsume's warm hands on my cheeks.

"Just relax, alright. You're not getting expelled." Before I could ask him what exactly he meant, Natsume let go of my face and opened the door to professor Narumi's office.

I took a deep breath and followed him inside. Professor Narumi was sitting in his chair, looking rather grave. Or maybe he was simply tired of telling us off time and time again. I knew we'd received many second chances.

"Close the door behind you."

I did as he told me, my hands shaking slightly.

Professor Narumi sighed deeply, "do you remember what I told you at the beginning of the year? I told you to regard these sessions as a way of creating some common ground for you. A way to understand and, finally, tolerate each other. Keep the peace, if you will. I told the both of you to make an effort!"

I bit my lip, looking down at my feet with shame.

"Did your relationship improve? I shouldn't think so. Here you are, once again, causing a ruckus in the middle of the dining hall!" No one uttered a word. I looked up just as Professor Narumi scratched his chin, a bemused expression on his face. "Although... this time it wasn't because you didn't get along per say…" Professor Narumi cleared his throat.

"It was my fault, professor." Natsume spoke, standing tall and looking him directly in the eye. "She had nothing to do with this. I'm the one who kissed her."

"Nat-" I tried to cut in, but a dismissive wave from Natsume made me clench my teeth together instead.

"Well, why did you kiss her?" professor Narumi inquired with curiosity.

"I don't know." Natsume's voice turned hoarse, "I just… wasn't thinking." He wouldn't look at me while he spoke. "She's a good girl. You know that... Sir. If anyone should be expelled it should be me and only me."

Professor Narumi frowned slightly, opening his mouth to reply, when I decided I'd had enough.

"Stop being such a twat, Natsume!" I exclaimed, completely forgetting my manners in front of a professor. Both men looked at me with shock but I focused my burning gaze on Natsume.

"This isn't your fault at all! You saved me from that terrible person and- in fact, you've saved me numerous times and I actually find you incredibly brave - but right now you're acting so stupid! You think it'd make me happy to see you expelled? Of course, it bloody wouldn't! I want you to stay at the Academy - with me!"

I took a deep breath through the nose, forcing my gaze away from Natsume's surprised face and towards professor Narumi.

"With all due respect, sir, I disagree with you. I don't think tolerance and 'keeping the peace' is better. We've hated each other, yes. We've fought and yelled and played every possible prank that exists, but at least we feel something. I mean, I do. I care. I know the situation isn't ideal but, to me, it's better than not fighting. It's real. And I don't want it to change. I don't want to feel indifferent. Not even if you throw me out of school." I couldn't keep a slight tremble out of my voice by the end but I had meant every word. Even if I didn't dare look in Natsume's direction.

No one spoke for a painful three seconds.

"Well, I suppose we could take it down a notch," Natsume's velvety voice sent shivers down my back. He sounded content, happy even. I dared to steal a quick glance at him and my breath got caught in my throat. Natsume was smiling, his dimple showing, eyes shining.

"I take it, you guys will make an effort to get along from now on then?" Professor Narumi's voice made my head snap back to look at him, having forgotten he was there.

I looked at Natsume again and he stared back at me. That damn smile still in place.

"I… yes, professor. I think we will."

Professor Narumi sighed loudly but then shook his head and grinned at us. "Fine. I believe you. Anyway, what kind of teacher would I be if I didn't support the love life of my cute students?"

My cheeks grew warm at his words and I cleared my throat, feeling slightly awkward. A loud knock on the door interrupted any further embarrassment and I jumped in surprise at the sound of Tsubasa's slightly muffled voice.

"Professor! Professor Narumi!" The door burst open and he made his appearance together with Hotaru, Nonoko, Hayden, Permy as well as Ruka and the rest of Natsume's friends.

"Sir, you're not seriously expelling them, are you?," Nonoko voiced with concern, looking from me and Natsume towards the professor.

Before he had a chance to reply, Ruka cut in, "it would be a huge mistake, sir."

"In Mikan's case, at least," Hayden mumbled. Permy elbowed him in the stomach, "ouch!"

Professor Narumi made a disarming gesture and let out a laugh, "Don't worry! I won't expel anyone."

A collective sigh of relief could be heard as well as Yome cheering loudly.

"Now get back to the dining hall, all of you. And do try to keep it down, at least for the rest of the day." Professor Narumi winked at me and before I could think about it I had thrown my arms around his waist and was hugging him tightly.

"Thank you, sir!"

"Ouff.. you're welcome, Mikan." He patted me awkwardly on the back.

I let go just in time to watch Natsume's lips twitch and then he let out a laugh, a real one, and it made his whole face lit up. The frown between his eyebrows smoothed out and the dimple reappeared.

"Seriously, Polka," he chortled, "you just do whatever you want." There was nothing condescending or angry or sarcastic about his tone. It was warm.

"Wow," Yome blinked. "What exactly did you do to him?" he looked towards me with a mischievous grin and I noticed that the others seemed just as flabbergasted at the scene unfolding before them.

Natsume rolled his eyes at their disbelieving looks and held out his hand to me like it was the most natural thing in the world, "let's just go."

I met his gaze and took his hand, somehow unable to stop smiling myself.

We all left professor Narumi's office and as the door closed behind us, Ruka was talking to Hotaru, who didn't seem all that dissatisfied with the attention, Nonoko and Hayden were laughing loudly at Permy who was in the middle of telling Yome off, Tsubasa patting Yome's back in sympathy but unable to keep a grin off of his face.

I was about to join them when Natsume tugged at my hand, bringing me so close I could feel the contours of his body moulded against mine. I breathed in his musky scent when he bent down until his lips brushed the shell of my ear.

"Wanna go somewhere?" his deep voice and warm breath sent pleasant shivers down my spine.

"Yes," I breathed and looked up at him through my eyelashes.

"Are you guys coming to dinner? There's only fifteen minutes left!" Tsubasa told us, breaking off from the conversation with the others.

"Save us some, would you?" Natsume smirked, still not letting go of my hand.

Tsubasa sent him a speculative look, "I thought you were done. Isn't that what you said?"

Natsume's grip on my hand tightened and he moved closer. "Does it look like I'm done?" he said it cooly but his glare was intense.

Tsubasa looked as though he wanted to say a million things but then settled for a laugh while shaking his head. "No, it doesn't." Natsume relaxed his grip slightly and I breathed a small sigh of relief that they seemed to have reached some sort of unspoken agreement.

"See you later, Mikan!"

"See ya!"

"Um, guys!" I called after them and they turned back around. "Thanks for… well, you know. It means a lot." It was nice to know we had friends who'd stand up for us.

"Sure," Hotaru smiled a little. Several of the others were grinning. Permy looked slightly uncomfortable but a bit happy at the same time.

I grinned at them one last time, before they departed for dinner at last. Breathing softly, I stole a glance at Natsume and he caught my eyes. I fell into his arms just as he drew me to him with an urgency I'd hardly ever felt before and then we were kissing each other deeply, caressing the cheeks of the other as if it was the first time, pressing our lips together again and again and it took all my efforts not to cry from sheer relief.

When we finally broke away, Natsume kept holding me tightly to him, intimately stroking the strands of hair on my neck, his nose buried right where it curved.

Over his shoulder, I caught sight of a few people coming back from dinner who spotted us and began whispering furiously.

"This isn't someplace deserted," I commented lightly before I could stop myself.

"I know."

I wasn't sure what he meant but my heart fluttered anyway.

.

.

Natsume

"So…" Mikan's voice was uncharacteristically soft and she wouldn't look me in the eye. We were standing in the library - the far end corner. Her favourite spot and, admittedly, it had become mine too. We were alone.

I badly wanted to continue what we'd started in the corridor but I knew that Mikan wanted to talk. I was curious what her thoughts were too. She'd told Naru that she cared but that didn't mean she wanted things back to the way they were before I'd fucked it up. Hell, I wasn't even sure what that would entail.

"What you said in professor Narumi's office… about everything being your fault. What did you mean by that?"

Ouch, she just went straight to the point, didn't she.

"Did you mean what you said? About wanting me to stay," I dodged her question with one of my own.

Mikan blushed slightly before raising her voice, "Don't think you can just evade the subject, Natsume! There are so many things I want to ask you and you can't even answer this? Are you kidding me!" It seemed she was already working up a tantrum, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"What do you want to know so badly?" I cut in.

Mikan bit her lip, her anger settling for embarrassment. "In the dining hall… what you said a-and uh, what we did, I mean…. in front of everyone! Do you understand what that looks like?" she finally met my gaze, frowning a little.

"Why don't you tell me," I managed to keep my voice calm despite the turmoil of feelings inside.

Mikan looked towards the floor, "it looks like we're dating. Or something."

"Well," I ran a hand through my hair, suddenly extremely aware of my own irregular breathing, "we kind of were dating… or something."

The following silence wasn't as tense as before but it still felt stuffy with unresolved feelings.

"I thought you didn't care," Mikan then said in a quiet voice.

I groaned softly, repressing the urge to touch her, "Well, I do."

"Then why did you say that you were tired of pretending with me?" she met my gaze with fierce eyes, "it hurt me."

My heart clenched tightly, but I'd be damned if I couldn't tell her now. "Because you deserve better than to be with someone like me. You deserve someone who can give you what you want. I'm not-" I rubbed my forehead with frustration, "I'm not kind. Maybe I'm not 100% a dick all the time but I'm definitely not one of those honourable fuckers who talk about your eyes and all that. I say stupid shit that hurt you constantly…"

I looked up in time to see the flash of anger back in Mikan's eyes before she hissed, "Could you maybe get over yourself and ask me what I want instead of deciding on your own like that?!"

I stared at her in astonishment before raising my voice "You're seriously pissed at me now?!"

"Because you treat me like I can't make my own decisions! It's like you think you're the only functioning adult around here." Mikan bristled before mumbling, "I hate that about you."

"If you hate me so much, why don't you just fucking leave then," I snapped at her before I could stop myself.

Mikan gaped at me, "Are you being serious? You're not listening to me at all! You really have no idea what I want!"

I let out a sound of frustration and yelled, "So tell me!"

"Why don't you ask me!"

"For Fuck's Sake- WHAT DO YOU WANT, WOMAN!"

"YOU!"

My heart stopped. I opened my mouth but nothing came out. A second later it was pounding so hard against my ribcage it felt like it would burst.

"I'm trying to tell you that even if you are insensitive and arrogant and conceited and aggressive and get ridiculously jealous over the stupidest things - I want to be with you." With that, Mikan seemed to bluster herself out, and she stood there, looking lovely with her chest heaving and her eyes shining and her hair flying absolutely everywhere. She finally slumped down on a chair, devoid of energy.

Tense silence.

"You're such a pain," Mikan laughed, rubbing fresh tears from her eyes before meeting my gaze and I exhaled silently, trying to control my pounding heart.

"I thought I'd blown my chance with you..." My voice was gruff as I took in Mikan's flushed face and slightly glossy eyes, "But you wanna be with me?"

She took a deep, shaky breath before meeting my gaze, "Is that what you want?" There's a question in her eyes and she's serious.

"Mikan…"

"Just- tell me how you feel!"

I took a deep breath. My throat was dry. There was no way to express all that I was feeling in words. How important she was. How much she had changed me. That she was the reason I thought life wasn't completely shit.

If she was by my side, maybe it could even be fucking amazing.

"I don't deserve you." Mikan's nostrils flared as she frowned but I didn't let her interrupt me, knowing this was a crucial moment. "But I don't give a damn about that anymore."

In two steps I was in front of her, lifting her up from the chair. Ignoring her gasp of surprise, I held her tightly to me and then I brushed my lips against hers softly, sincerely. When Mikan responded something roared triumphantly in my chest and urged me to press my lips harder against hers. She kissed me back just as passionately, wrapping her arms around my neck and pushing closer, her legs locked around my waist. I backed us onto a table, placing Mikan carefully on it, my mouth still covering hers with open-mouthed kisses. Her skin felt so warm beneath my fingers as I slipped my hands under her shirt, tracing the smoothness of her stomach and lower back. She let out a small gasp that was so distinctively her own and I had to restrain myself from not taking her right then and there. Because this was Mikan bloody Sakura with her delicate hands buried in my hair, her lean body pressed against me, making those little sounds I couldn't get enough of.

I didn't care if, sooner or later, she would regret this whole thing. And it didn't even matter that she held the power to completely crush me if she wanted to.

"I've missed you," I groaned and softly bit into her sensitive earlobe. She shivered, breathing shallowly while her fingers caressed my arms and my back. "Let's go back to my room."

"Wait," she said breathlessly and I froze. Sensing my reaction, Mikan pulled back and smiled at me reassuringly. "I just want to tell you something first."

I reluctantly moved away when she sat up until only our knees were touching while I kept my arms on either side of her body, our faces remained close enough for me to feel her light breath against the side of my mouth.

She sighed and met my questioning gaze. "I'm not perfect, you know." I looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "I'm loud and I talk too much. Before I think, really. I'm a busibody and a know-it-all and I can be pretty uptight too. I'm a total geek which obviously I think is a good thing but, you know... And I eat a lot, like, a lot - "

"What's your point?" I cut in, amused but puzzled by her words.

Mikan took a deep breath. "I'm not too good for you. Actually I think I'm probably perfect for you." I could clearly see every detail in her face and I watched with fascination as an attractive blush lay across her cheekbones. Delicate freckles on her slender nose and the tiny specks of gold that shone in the depths of her beautiful green orbs.

Hell, maybe I was the sort of guy to talk about her eyes.

She bit into her lower lip softly and met my gaze, causing my arousal to increase tenfold.

"Why is that?" I groaned huskily.

"Because I like you. I like you the way you are," she shook her head with amazement, "I really, really like you."

Relief. Flooding through my body like a wave, washing all darkness away. That's what it felt like - Mikan's words cleansing my soul. My hands shook against the surface of the table, my knees burned where they brushed against her legs.

Her beautiful, smooth and warm face. Her openness, the way she always looked straight ahead, unafraid.

I loved her. Fuck, I loved her.

"Ditto," I breathed.

Mikan gave me an incredulous stare before laughing out loud, closed what little distance there was between us and embraced me tightly. My arms sneaked around her waist like the most natural thing in the world and I breathed in her flowery scent, hugging her tightly, not even caring if she noticed the light shaking of my hands.

"'Ditto'," she repeated with a snort. "What a stupid answer."

I pulled back just enough to watch her green eyes dance with mirth. "You're beautiful," I told her honestly. "Everything about you."

She blushed and cradled my cheek with her hand, her face inches away from my own. "Thank you," she murmured in earnest. "Ditto." I smirked at her just as she let out another bubbly laugh. My heart swelled. Fuck, it felt amazing to make her laugh like that.

After a few more heated kisses, Mikan pulled back slightly. "Natsume?" And damn, I loved the sound of my name from her lips.

"Hmm?"

"I'm actually really hungry," Mikan grinned sheepishly, a hand on her stomach. "I didn't really get to eat anything... before."

I groaned, wanting nothing more than to just take her back to my room right then and show her exactly how much I'd missed her.

"I told you I eat a lot…" she mumbled looking slightly embarrassed at my reaction.

I rolled my eyes lightly and kissed Mikan's lips one more time. Soft and warm and all mine.

"Let's quickly get you something to eat and then head back to the dorms," I grinned at her and she blushed with embarrassment but didn't protest, taking the hand I held out to her.

We had all the time in the world.

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..

PRESENT DAY

..

Mochu

They're currently fighting. Well, it's pretty fucking obvious even if they probably think they're hiding it well. That Sakura is uncharacteristically quiet and isn't stuffing herself with food. She doesn't look at Nat even though they're sitting next to each other. Nat seems his usual self but there's a big-ass scowl on his face and he keeps glancing at the girl by his side.

I catch Ruka's eyes across the table. What is wrong now?

He shrugs his shoulders in return. This pretty much happens every other day, so I don't think too much of it.

"Salt, please," Sakura's cool voice interrupts my thoughts.

Nat passes it to her and she takes it without looking at him.

"Mikan," he growls with annoyance but is interrupted by the arrival of Koko and his latest conquest - the crazy green-haired woman.

"People!" Koko is a fuckwit as usual and just throws himself into the seat next to Ruka while yapping about some professor who is apparently 'so boring he wants to cut off his hand just to have something to throw at him'. Green-hair rolls her eyes but sits down beside him. I can clearly see Koko casually placing his hand on her thigh and her slapping it away without even looking. Koko merely shoots her a suggestive grin and tries his luck a second time. He manages to keep his hand there for four seconds before Green-hair pinches it hard.

"Mikan," Nat repeats, now fully turned towards her.

"What," she snaps under her breath which earns her an angry glare in return.

"This is ridiculous."

Sakura's eyes flash dangerously and I unconsciously move back slightly. I've experienced firsthand how loud she is when she's angry on several occasions and it's a fucking mystery how Nat can stand being in the direct line of fire as often as he is.

Before she can retort, Koko, finally done with playing footsie with his chick, interrupts with his usual lack of situational awareness, "Is that a hickey?" he points towards Sakura who immediately covers her neck with a hand and flushes bright red.

Koko laughs loudly. "Seriously? What are you guys - thirteen?" He looks from her to Nat.

"I thought you were gonna cover it up," Nat drawls, stealing a glance at his girl.

"I-I just forgot, that's all!" she stutters and looks away from him.

Nat makes a humming sound, looking a lot more satisfied than he did two minutes ago.

"You like me marking you," he says smugly.

"I do not," Sakura bristle but still won't look anyone in the eye.

Nat smirks before leaning in close, his arms sliding across her stomach and waist, his mouth brushing the shell of her ear. He whispers something. I watch with slight nausea as Sakura's whole face turns beet red. Then for a second, she smiles softly and I think maybe I can understand this whole relationship-thing.

"Get a room," Imai deadpans. "People are trying to eat here."

"First sensible thing you've said all day, Imai." Nat easily agrees, stands and grabs Sakura's wrist, dragging her with him.

"Wait- No!" She protests loudly, but the blush on her face doesn't go down.

"See you later," Ruka calls after them before returning to his meal like nothing happened.

I shake my head, "They're just fucking unbelievable…"

"Well, people show their affection in different ways," Ruka mumbles, glancing at the principal's daughter who ignores him. He thinks he's smooth but he's so obviously smitten with her, it's ridiculous.

I sigh deeply. Everyone around me act like lovesick kittens, it's disgusting. I don't know why men put up with women. They're noisy, overly emotional and demanding as fuck.

Well, to be fair, some blokes are too. I glance towards Koko who deliberately leans to the right side of the table to reach for butter as an excuse to brush against the green-haired chick.

One year ago my friends were just like me. Or, at least, y'know they hadn't been interested in a relationship, that's for sure. And now - they were completely whipped. Not that I know anything about love and shit but I thought the obsession was supposed to pass in time. Return to normal. Nat seems to be getting worse instead. If he isn't with Sakura, he's distracted and when he finally spots her, his eyes clear and he relaxes as if he's been somewhat uncomfortable without her presence.

I don't get it and I'm fairly sure I never will.

Ten minutes later, it's just me, Ruka and Koko left at the table and most of the other students have left as well.

I sigh in satisfaction. I like being alone. I like the quiet where no one fucking judges you or tries to impress you or any other useless shit. Even Koko shuts up now that neither his girl nor Nat (his favourite victim) is here to distract him.

A strange humming sends a sudden chill down my back and makes me look up from my plate and meet the eyes of some girl. I'm not just being rude - I haven't seen her before. She's tall and slender and has long, wavy hair that's so light in colour it's almost grey.

She looks like a ghost and she's staring at me with big, brown eyes like I'm a piece of meat.

"What're you looking at?" I immediately growl at her. The girl stops humming but hardly even blinks at my effort to intimidate her. Instead she smiles creepily.

"Weird vibes," she says.

"Huh?"

She tilts her head and stares at me even harder and I unwillingly squirm under the intensity of her gaze.

I don't like girls. Don't understand them. Don't want to. And this one is really taking the prize.

"What the fuck do you want?!" I finally snap.

"You're pretty childish aren't you? And bad-tempered."

Koko snorts in the background but I can only gabe at the girl. What the hell is she on about?

"Yeah," she nods to herself when I don't answer, "you'll do."

"Do what?" I finally find my voice as she annoyingly twists a strand of her long, pale hair around a finger.

The girl's face lights up in a mischievous smile. "You'll see."

"You're a nutcase!"

"My name is Yura Otonashi."

"I don't care!"

"I have a feeling we'll get along great."

"What're you even-"

"See ya." She smirks at me, her brown eyes sweeps appreciatively over my form and I can't suppress a shiver at the intensity of her gaze. As she leaves, I stare after her in a state of pure shock.

I snap out of it and meet Ruka's eyes across the table, "What the fuck was that?"

He shrugs with a laugh but I don't find it funny at all.

"Remember what John and Paul said," Koko cuts in.

I frown just as Ruka asks, "The apostles?"

Koko shoots us a look that states 'duh', "No, the Beatles. All you need is love."

.

Hotaru

He really is a moron, that Nogi.

Unaware that I am watching him he turns a page in his book, his blond hair falling into his eyes as he frowns softly in concentration.

Everything about him is soft, even his frown.

But the contours of his body are fine, the shape of his muscles and the way they move when he rests his head on one arm is, I must admit, terribly fascinating.

His colours. Milk and honey and the blue of his eyes that changes with the slightest shift in his mood.

He sees me now and the blue is like a clear sky when his face brightens, a smile that I don't understand is gracing his lips.

"Hotaru," the way he says my name creeps into me, invades me and I shiver with discomfort.

I don't understand why just the sound of his voice makes me feel this way. Vulnerable and weak.

Much later, in the commencing darkness of my room, I become incredibly aware of the intimacy between us and as usual I turn my back to him.

It doesn't stop Nogi from continuously caressing my shoulders, my hair, neck.

"Our relationship is physical," I say this, I repeat it. I've said it many times. To regain control and suppress this terribly vulnerable feeling.

Nogi groans softly, "I've told you how I feel about you."

"So what?" My voice is a little less steady than I would have liked. Purely because the idiot keeps invading my personal space.

I steal a glance at Nogi over my shoulder just as he shoots me an exasperated look but doesn't remove his warm hands now caressing my stomach.

"So I want you to be my girlfriend." He turns me around to face him, placing openmouted kisses on my neck and collarbone. My heart is beating unnaturally fast and it is starting to affect not only my breathing but my concentration as well.

"Be my girlfriend, Hotaru," he breathes, his soft lips touching the shell of my ear.

"No," I pant, making an effort not to grab hold of his annoyingly perfect head and press it back against my neck.

Nogi slowly moves back and meets my eyes, his chest heaving against my own and his light hair that is too long for my taste falls slightly into his stupidly honest eyes. I notice that they have darkened to an indigo, his features set in a rare scowl.

"Are you just using me?" It is hard to focus on the words coming out of his mouth when he is so close I can feel his arousal against my inner thigh. Without answering, I let my legs slip up his sides, the movement causing his erection to connect with my sex. I buckle against him and he hisses, grasping my hips to stop my movement.

Nogi's eyes are now dark skies, clouded over with lust. I am fascinated with those eyes. "Hotaru…" his impeccable voice has turned hoarse and his desire is blatantly obvious. I smirk at him, rolling my hips once more, enjoying the moan he cannot suppress. Ignoring the effect it has on me. His fingers are digging deeper into my skin but I don't mind. I rather enjoy riling him up like this.

Nogi is always nauseatingly polite. The first time I saw him he was smoothing things over for his friend, the troublemaker Natsume Hyuuga. The first time we talked he was running away from professor Serina and he had a desperate look in his eye.

I want this person to look at me.

But now that he is, I am overwhelmed by it. I was unprepared for the intensity of his gaze, the honesty. I find his touch unexpectedly demanding, the one time where he takes charge, when his voice rasps and the rawness of him in this moment is captivating.

"Hotaru," he growls before reclaiming my mouth roughly. As if he wants to own me. This is the only moment where I let him.

Afterwards, Nogi lies slightly on top of me with his face buried in my chest, his breathing shallow, his beautiful shoulder blades glistening with sweat.

He is silent for a while until I feel a slight tremble in his body.

"You're killing me," Nogi's voice breaks and I cradle his face and lift it from my chest so I can meet his eyes. They're a beautiful cerulean now even as they're brimming with emotion. I watch in fascination as a single teardrop runs down his cheek before falling on my neck. My chest clench tightly at the sight of his distress.

I have pushed him a little too far this time.

Caressing his face, I flip him over so that I am now on top. "Don't cry," I tell him quietly, using my thumb to dry the corner of his eye.

I bend down and kiss him soothingly. My ridiculous heart flutters when he responds, pulling me closer with one hand on the back of my neck. The kiss is so sweet that I know I don't deserve it. But I don't stop him as my fingers continue to dance lightly across his cheekbones.

I keep caressing his face until his breathing returns to normal and his hands stop shaking.

"Don't make things complicated." I whisper this, I repeat it. Though it sounds far from convincing when my fingers are still lingering on his cheek, unable to pull away.

Nogi meets my gaze. A wide smile then spreads on his face and I do not appreciate it even as my heart beats faster. "Right. It's just sexual."

"As I've told you."

He nods once, still keeping his azure eyes on me. "So you wouldn't mind me having sexual relationships with other girls, right? Seeing as you can't promise me anything."

I freeze. So this is his move. He's lying, obviously, but the mere thought of Nogi with another girl makes my insides burn.

I remove my hands.

"If you do anything like that, this is over." My voice is chillingly cold but it still trembles.

"Why?" Nogi asks and I meet his intense eyes.

Because of the colour of your eyes that changes as easily as the caress of a wind.

Because you tell me you love me and it makes me want to abandon everything that is me.

Because whenever I see you I feel that you are mine. In a groundbreaking, bone-aching, soul shattering way that leaves me breathless.

"I don't share," I spell it out for him and detach my gaze.

"Well, I don't either." Nogi's voice is deep and slightly heated.

"Fine," I eventually agree, angry with myself for being tricked into having this conversation.

"Fine," Nogi repeats with laughter and my head snaps back to look at him.

His eyes have softened to a clear sky and his smile lights up his whole face. "Hotaru..." I hate that my heartbeat increases when he says my name, "I won't do anything to compromise this. I promise."

Somewhere deep down I almost hope that he will so I have an excuse to hate him. But I know that he won't. He is a stupidly good guy, after all.

"I love you," Nogi tells me later, his soft breath caressing my ear and neck, sending a shiver down my spine. I don't reply but I don't move away from him either. I let him keep his arms around my waist as he slowly drifts off to sleep.

I am struggling to keep the last bit of control that I know I will lose the moment I give in to him. And I am afraid of that.

I don't trust many people in my life.

I'm not saying that love is a definite weakness but it is not part of my 10-year plan.

I have goals to reach. Things to accomplish.

Ruka Nogi is a distraction.

I sigh soundlessly, listening to his soft breathing as the daylight slowly but surely lights up my room.

Seeing as it miraculously worked out with the arrogant Hyuuga, Maybe I will try Mikan's honesty-thing one of these days.

But not today, I decide before finally drifting off to sleep, enveloped in Nogi's warmth.

.

.

Sumire

He's touching me again. That stupid wanker just doesn't know when to quit!

At first it was just the occasional brush against my shoulder or my hand. Then he began deliberately leaning against me, touching my arm or tucking my hair away from my face, one fucking strand at a time, being infuriatingly slow and then letting his hand linger on my face.

My job is to ignore him until he pretty much violates the boundary of what's considered normal bloody conduct and then I wack him on the head, push him off or slap his hand away.

The thing is that, for some unfathomable reason, he must be under the impression that I'm in love with him or something.

Which I'm not.

Ever since that stupid conversation with Mikan Sakura, he thinks he's entitled to touch me. Like, I gave him my permission by admitting that I would 'keep him in tow' or something.

I hadn't even thought about him like that prior to that conversation! … Fine, that's not entirely true, but I definitely hadn't planned on saying anything to indicate those kind of feelings!

There's something about Mikan Sakura that makes me wanna tell her everything, even stuff I definitely don't want out in the open.

Anyway, Yome is even more ennerving than he was before, now that he's decided to become my exclusive annoy-toy.

I am currently sitting at a table in the common room on the second floor, trying to ignore before mentioned wanker who is seated opposite of me. His obnoxious lazy-ass voice makes it pretty had though.

"Then I just told her, ya know, 'babe, we need to start seeing other people.' Of course, she went completely mad and shouted that no one else would wanna see me and shit. And I just go: 'I was bein' polite. I don't want to see other people. I just don't want to see you.'"

The blokes gathered around Yome snort with laughter at his stupid story while he just leans back in his chair, an infuriating smirk on his lips. He's not even looking my way, while I'm pretending to find my phone extremely interesting. But I can feel his foot rising up my leg and I have an urge to just throw the damn phone in his face just to wipe that smirk off. It's taking all of my efforts not to throttle him.

"She wasn't a great shag anyway," Yome continues in a nonchalant manner, "much too stiff." I can feel his eyes on me now as his foot slowly moves across my inner thigh.

I squeeze my legs together with a growl, effectively trapping him while inflicting some well-deserved pain. He grimaces slightly before concealing it with another infuriating smile.

"Do you have something you want to add, Luv?" Yome addresses me and they all look towards me expectantly.

"Not really," I hiss as I release Yome's foot.

"You'll have to excuse the missus," Yome says in a presumed regretful manner before smirking, "she didn't get much sleep last night." I glare at him hard and he winks at me.

"The two of you are shagging?" one guy asks in a surprised manner. Obviously. The idiot has been talking about doing other women for the past ten minutes. You wouldn't do that in front of someone you're dating, for Christ's sake.

"We're not," I force out, growling. His stupid antics are pissing me off. Even more so than usual.

Yome stops smiling for a millisecond. Then he drawls, "not yet," and flashes a cocky grin, looking me up and down.

I clench my fists and slam them hard against the table, making several of the other guys flinch. "Can I talk to you for a sec?" I hiss at Yome, grabbing his arm without waiting for an answer and start dragging him away from the table.

"Don't wait up," Yome teasingly calls after his friends and is rewarded with sniggering and wolf howls in return. I tighten my hold on his stupid arm.

In a nook somewhere in the hallway I slam him against the wall, secretly pleased with wrinkling his perfect shirt in my deathly grip.

"Get it into your thick skull that we're not an item and we never will be!"

Yome whistles, "I was wondering what you were gonna say."

I tighten my grip on his shirt with a shriek of frustration at his nonchalant attitude, "so stop pestering me already!"

Yome meets my glare unfazed by my anger. "Figured you were the sexually aggressive type," he says, completely at ease.

"I'm not sexually aggressive right now, you wanker, I'm just aggressive!"

"You're awfully close, though." I don't know what he's on about but I follow his gaze down only to discover our close proximity. I'm pretty much completely pressed up against him, I can feel the contours of his body, worse, I can feel how warm he is.

I snort in outrage and move to get away but Yome's arms sneak around my waist before I get a chance to stop him.

So he can move quickly when he wants to, the lazy bastard.

"Let go of me!"

"Calm down," Yome mumbles in my ear, shushing me in what is supposed to be a soothing manner. While his arms are still holding me tightly to him, preventing me from kicking his fucking ass, I feel his thumbs caressing my back.

Ok, goosebumps.

"You're really high-maintenance, you know that?"

"Well, you're a prick," I hiss but with less bite than usual. His damn fingers are distracting me.

Yome chuckles lightly and the sound of it so close to my ear does something funny to my stomach.

Sometimes I get this eerie feeling that Yome can actually read my mind. It's freaky how he always does exactly what I hate the most. He always says the things I don't want to hear.

But he keeps touching me in all the right ways.

"You're committing a sexcrime, you know," he interrupts my thoughts, the grin never leaving his face.

"Like what?" I sneer, realising my mistake as soon as I see the glint in his eye.

"Not getting any."

I let out a growl. "It'd be more of a crime actually shagging an asshole like you!"

He raises a brow, obviously unperturbed by my comment. I glare hard at him. "That meant piss off."

His lips twitch. "I kind of figured."

I struggle a little in his grasp but he doesn't budge. "So take my advice."

This time he doesn't bother hiding his smirk. "How about no?"

I glare at him hotly as if trying to erase his entire being with my stare. Yome raises a brow and smirks at me. "I'll leave if you come with me," he purrs.

I finally manage to get him to slacken his grip on me. "Listen here, you fuck. Why don't you light my tampon and blow the box apart, because it's the only bang you're ever going to get from me!"

He drops his arms completely and I think to myself that he's finally given up. Then Yome smirks and leans closer as he whispers, "I'll take any bang as long as it's from you." His breath on my ear is making me shiver.

"You're insufferable!" I sputter in embarrassment.

"Let me know when you change your mind," he calls out to me, his back turned as he strolls away without a care in the world.

"I won't change my mind, you idiot!" I holler not caring that people look at me strangely.

Anyway, over the past few weeks I've developed a weird love/hate-relationship with Mikan Sakura where we shift between bitching like there's no tomorrow to being almost friendly with each other.

I don't mind eating with her and her other friends either, they're mostly cool. But because Mikan's going out with Natsume now, him and his lame-ass friends are always seated at the same table.

Which means Kokoro Yome is currently staring at me throughout the whole meal.

I grip my cup, exhausting every drop of my willpower to not bang it on his blond head. Stupid oaf.

Swallowing my food, I rise quickly, shooting a final glare his way.

Yome calmly meets my eyes, mouthing the words: changed your mind yet?

And I curse at him under my breath and leave before things really do turn violent.

.

A few days later I'm on my way back to the dorm to set aside my bag - fully intent on skipping the last lesson of the day to go shopping instead.

That's why there aren't many people in the hallway and I jump with surprise when I hear voices.

"Damn, she's an ice queen," a lazy and much too familiar voice drawls, making my heart leap. With anger. Obviously.

I glimpse around the corner and spot my nemesis walking in my direction together with Ruka Nogi.

"She's just overly cautious," Nogi says tiredly. "And I'm a patient man."

"You weren't too worried about being patient when you had her pinned against a wall nak-"

"SHUT UP!" Nogi sounds embarrassed.

"Nah."

"Why not?"

"Well, it's really fun to torment you."

"Seriously, Koko, you need a hobby of some sort," Nogi's voice sounds annoyed.

Just then, Yome spots me and a curse myself when a slow grin spreads on his stupid face. "Trust me, I'm working on it."

Nogi sees me too and rolls his eyes before departing with a, "not getting involved in this," and a half-hearted wave in my direction which I don't return.

Instead, I try a random door hoping to make a quick escape but it's locked. Typical.

"Looking for a reason to avoid me?" Yome's teasing voice says to my right. I lift my eyes and see that he's observing me through amused orbs.

"Nothing gets past you," I reply in a sarcastic voice. "Except the fact that even your friends seem to hate your guts," I scorn, referring to his conversation with Ruka Nogi.

Yome whistles, "that's harsh," he comments but looks completely unaffected by my words.

"Whatever makes you sod off," I grumble.

"Now you're hurting my feelings," he says, tugging lightly on my curls.

Okay. Honestly, my heart skipped a beat just then. So what?

Doesn't mean I like him or anything.

I slap his hand away. "Would you stop touching my hair already? It's getting old."

"Well, I'd be happy to touch you in other places if you'd just let me."

I'm busy emitting a small scream in annoyance so I don't notice the look in his eyes change.

"Sumire."

I feel my cheeks flush. "W-what? Why are you suddenly saying my name, you weirdo?"

Yome scratches his neck, signing. "Not that it hasn't been fun chasing you around these past few months but I'm getting a bit tired of it…"

I furrow my eyebrows. "What the hell are you on about?"

Yome steps closer to me and I'm having a clear sense of déjà vu. Except that now I'm the one trapped against the wall in an empty hallway.

"You could reward me for my efforts."

I snort loudly. "You want me to reward you for your efforts to, like, annoy me to death?! Well, good job with that! Well done!"

Yome frowns a little, "not 'annoy'. My efforts to woo you."

"HA!" I let out. Mostly because I don't know what else to say.

"A kiss will do."

I force another laugh trying to feign indifference, but I'm growing increasingly nervous. Especially with the way Yome is suddenly eyeing my lips.

I breathe deeply to calm my beating heart. "Why in the hell do you think I'd kiss you?" I ask him very slowly to get through to his thick skull.

"Because you're attracted to me." He says it like it's the most natural thing in the world and it makes my temper flare up once again.

"I am not attracted to you! You're a lazy, annoying and frivolous moron - the type I hate the most!"

No one speaks while we stare each other down, I'm angry and flushed while Yome is so expressionless that I feel almost bad for my outburst.

Just when I'm about to break the silence Yome raises one hand and lightly presses his thumb against my lower lip. I freeze up when he slowly starts caressing my left cheek with his fingertips, his soft touch doing weird things to my stomach.

Without breaking eye contact he grabs a lock of my hair and kisses it gently, watching my reaction. I exhale when he finally drops the lock, realizing I must have been holding my breath the whole time.

"And this is how you would normally behave?" his voice is a low rumble.

"Y-yeah.."

"Around someone you hate."

"... Yes," I force out, uncomfortable.

"Man, you're stubborn," Yome sighs and breaks the spell I am under. "Let me ask you a question then. If you're not at all interested in me, why did you tell Mikan Sakura you'd keep me in tow?"

"That was just-" I sputter, red faced, "just in the heat of the moment!"

Yome stares. Then a slow grin spreads across his lips. I shoot a furious glare his way.

"Stop that." I demand. Yome's grin only widens. "Seriously, stop laughing, you wanker!"

"You like yelling at me, right? That way you won't have to acknowledge your infatuation with me."

"That's completely untrue!"

"Oh? But if you were really indifferent, you'd have no problem giving me an innocent peck on the lips, would you? I mean, if it truly means nothing."

"It. Does. Not," I emphasize in staccato, sizzling with irritation.

"You're afraid you won't be able to resist my advances."

"Like hell!"

"Alright, then prove it." I look straight into his challenging brown eyes that seem ever so confident. Even if he looks nothing like Natsume, Yome is kind of pretty, it suddenly hits me. Strangely so, because he doesn't look girly or anything. Rather, his face is finely shaped, his skin looks soft and tanned and that sand-coloured hair is a little too long but it glitters quite captivatingly in the sunlight.

And his smile is a little… fetching.

"I dare ya."

And before I know it, I brush my lips lightly against his but when I try to pull back, Yome grabs the back of my neck and presses his lips more fully against mine.

I want to push him off but when I place my hand on his chest to do so, I can feel the inane pounding of his heart against my palm. And suddenly my body is fluttering and twirling and, and... Yome's lips feel really good against my own.

I'm moaning into his mouth now and he groans and pushes further into me, while doing some crazy-amazing things with his tongue.

I drape my arms around his unexpectedly broad shoulders, then around his neck in an attempt to draw him even closer to me. He runs his fingers through my curls and down my neck and shoulders. I feel weak and lightheaded and even more so when Yome nipples at my ear and kisses my throat. My toes curl and I'm not sure I'd still be standing if I wasn't pressed in between the wall and Yome's body.

Definitely not girly. Not at all.

Yome pulls away slightly and meets my eyes with flushed cheeks and ragged breath. He seems a little surprised himself. Which is, of course, nothing compared to what I am feeling.

Who in the hell knew Kokoro Yome kisses like a damn world champion?

"That was…" I swallow, suddenly feeling nervous.

He snaps out of his daze and smirks at me, "something?"

I ignore him and try to put some distance between us by stepping to the side, "This doesn't mean we're going out."

"Why not? I like you."

I freeze for a second and look back at his face. He's smirking. Figures.

I snort, "stop dicking around."

"I'm not. I'm serious."

"Huh?"

"I like you."

"S-shut up!"

Yome looks amused. "You don't believe me?"

I furrow my eyebrows, staring him down. He doesn't look away.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why would you like me? I'm selfish and I've been a total bitch to you..."

Yome smiles. "So?"

I stomp the ground with frustration, "what do you mean 'so'? You should go find some nice blond bimbo with huge-"

"I don't want a blond bimbo." Yome steps closer. "And I'm perfectly satisfied with your... assets." His eyes stray down my body for a good three seconds before meeting my eyes.

"Assets?" I repeat, too dumbfounded to be offended.

"That kiss just now is plenty proof there's something between us. You must have felt it too."

"Huh?"

"You still don't get it?"

"G-get what?" My heart skips a beat as I stare Yome down.

"The thing is," Yome sighs and scratches his neck a little awkwardly, "that I like your personality. You're badass and gutsy as hell. You don't take shit from anyone. I admire that. And… well, ever since you called me a wanker that first time, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you."

At his words, blood rushes to my head and there is absolutely no way for me to stop it. I open my mouth to say something - anything - but I can't concentrate over the deafening sound of my own beating heart.

"Y-you can't just…" I finally splutter to stop him when he leans closer after a good five seconds of silence. "You can't just say cheesy stuff like that and expect me to gobble it up like some lovestruck schoolgirl!"

"Aren't you?" he lowers his voice, looking right into my eyes. "A lovestruck schoolgirl?"

"Don't treat me like a fool," I speak quietly.

He puts a little distance between us so he can look me right in the eye. "I'm not. I mean every word."

"You like me?"

"Yeah."

"And you wanna... date me?" The words sound unfamiliar to me but they make my stomach flutter.

"Yeah." Yome laughs and takes my hand.

I look down at our hands but I don't let go. "You've got to be kidding me."

I watch with fascination as Yome's small smirk spreads into a slow grin and he leans close until our noses are touching. I freeze for a moment but then relax myself when he patiently waits for permission. I close my eyes and slowly move to kiss his mouth, the fluttering in my stomach increasing at the feeling of his lips.

I don't even know for how long we stand there, kissing, but the sudden loud voices of other students approaching snap me out of my daze and I push Yome back, completely breathless.

I clear my throat uncomfortably, looking away from his piercing gaze.

"Can I take that as a yes then?"

Well, I guess there are worse things in the world than dating Kokoro Yome.

"Fine," I mutter, blushing hard. "But keep your distance in public, you moron."

Yome just looks smug, his intense expression dropping into one of slow and lazy contentment. The satisfied grin that stretches across his face is eerily reminiscent of The Grinch who stole Christmas, as he leans closer to me and nuzzles his nose unashamedly into my hair.

"H-hey!" I protest when the people passing send us weird looks.

"Nuh-uh. There's no way I'm gonna stop any more, no matter who's watching."

"Git," I mumble halfheartedly as to which he just laughs softly, his face still buried in my hair. He breathes in deeply and I am seriously contemplating whether to smack him or not, feeling incredibly self-conscious but strangely excited at the same time.

"Man," he mumbles, tucking lightly on my dark curls, "I really am a sucker for that hair of yours."

Oh well. I decide to let him do as he pleases for now.

There'll be plenty of times to whup his ass in the future.

.

.

.

Final words from Natsume

.

I want to work hard. For her. To be kinder. More honest. Make her laugh. She deserves someone like that more than anyone. I know I'm not exactly the most obvious choice. I will always make her angry, make rash decisions she disagrees with and act like a class A dick on occasion. But still - she chose me. Out of all the fuckers out there, she wants to be with me - a stubborn asshole who tried his best to make her life miserable for years.

Lately, I've been thinking. Ever since I started dating Mikan Sakura, I've been dreaming more, remembering a lot of stuff. My sister visits my thoughts more often than I would have liked, but it's not just shitty memories. There are good ones as well. In flashes I remember playing with my sister in the garden on a sunny day, the wreath of flowers she'd spent all day making, her child-like laugh.

Mikan says it's a good thing. That I'm more in contact with my feelings now than I was before, I'm 'opening up' instead of 'keeping it all inside'. Even if I think she's right, I always roll my eyes at her and snort whenever she plays the shrink with me. Which is fairly often.

To say we don't argue anymore would be a blatant lie. We argue daily - I say some stupid shit and Mikan blows a fuse (the woman has a violent temper) But it never lasts long because, at the end of the day, it feels much less significant than everything else.

I've been thinking about the reason why I was so focused on Mikan even before we got to know each other.

That dinner at Mikan's family's house when her brother caught me off guard and asked me to explain our relationship, I wasn't lying.

I had wanted Mikan to notice me, to look at me and think of me.

I wanted to insert myself in her life but I was way too preoccupied with my own personal tragedy to analyse that feeling further. If I had, maybe I would have realised that it isn't hate that makes you act like that.

It's attraction.

FINAL AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the end of Geeky Attraction - a story I've been writing on for more than ten years. I started in 2008 when I was just 14 years old and I hope you can tell from the chapters that I get older and wiser over the course of these years ;-)

I've changed the storyline several times - from a simple teenage hate/love drama with a typical ending (I'd imagined something like the Alice Ball as the final chapter where they kiss and make up) to the slightly angsty and a whole lot more realistic fanfiction it is today. I especially enjoyed writing the last few PoV's in the present tense (If I could go back and rewrite the whole thing, I would've done that from the beginning).

And yes, I added the possibility of some future Mochu/Otonashi pairing. I've always thought they'd make an interesting couple - very serious, sullen and rude boy meets spacy but beautiful girl (well, at least they'd look good together).

Several of you have pointed out to me that the characters have a realistic feel to them and that makes me extremely happy. Because they've been with me for ten-freaking-years I feel like I know them. I could probably write twenty more chapters because their personalities pretty much just flows naturally from my mind by now.

But I won't.

I feel like this is the right time to end this story of Mikan and Natsume - not right after a dramatical confession or some narrow escape from death or whatever, but just at the beginning of a budding romantic relationship they both want to make work.

Thank you so, so much for reading my story. I love all of the comments and encouragements I've received over the years and hope you'll review one final time.

With love,

Whatiwrote

P.S. I might post an extra chapter with some of the scenes I've written over the years but decided not to put in the story (either because I changed the storyline or… ok, every time it's because I changed the storyline.)

Let me know if you're interested in reading them!