DML: I don't own GA. Enjoy this fic! :)

Don't Let Me Go

Mikan hugged herself as tears streamed down her face. Alone in the cold elevator, she leaned on the wall and half wished that Natsume would be outside when the lift doors opened. But she realised that even someone of Natsume's built would not be able to climb 37 floors so fast. Mikan straightened her shoulders and wiped her tears away.

Mikan walked back to her room slowly, sniffling. She turned the door knob and swung her room door open, greeted by a stoic looking Hotaru, who had a tinge of hope in her violet eyes.

"So," Hotaru asked cautiously, "How did it go?"

Mikan tried to smile at her best friend but sighed, her waterworks building up again.

Hotaru walked over to her best friend and was about to hug her but Mikan spoke out first.

"Hotaru, I've been really immature," Mikan sighed, blinking away her tears, "Maybe I should be-"

"I'm going to stop you right there," Hotaru rolled her eyes and sighed, "What's this Mikan? You're so out of character. What happened when you met Hyuuga?"

Mikan wiped her tears away and told Hotaru how Natsume had flared up at her, and how she had cowered in response and retreated. Hotaru listened intently and sighed. She reached into her bag and a "CLICK" was heard.

"BAKAN!"

And Mikan was thrown onto the couch by the powerful force of the baka-gun. Hotaru put her hand into her bag again and another "CLICK" was heard.

"Mou," Mikan groaned as she massaged the bridge of her nose, "What was that for?"

Hotaru shook her head and pulled the brunette girl into a hug.

"Idiot," Hotaru breathed and released Mikan, "Why can't you tell that he just cares for you?"

Because I'm childish and immature, she thought.

"You're perfect the way you are and you don't have to change anything for anyone alright?" Hotaru sighed, "And Hyuuga accepts you for who you are too you know."

Mikan kept her gaze on the ground and kept silent. Hotaru patted her head and walked in the direction of her room.

"You should get some rest," Hotaru said, "Goodnight."

"Night."

Natsume stood rooted at the spot where Mikan had left him. Had he been too harsh on her? But he really was worried and frustrated. Who wouldn't be?!

The lift door dinged opened and he hoped that a certain brunette would've come out but instead it was thatstrawberry blond chick. She strutted towards him in a simple black dress and flats. Natsume cringed at the sight of Luna and shuddered.

"Hey Natsume-kun," Luna purred.

Natsume walked briskly straight for the elevator, pretending he had not seen her.

Luna could not take no for an answer and tried her luck again.

"We never did finish our date," Luna seductively said.

Natsume widened his strides and quickened his pace. He stepped into the lift and hit his floor level; 35. When he looked up, the sight before him scared him.

Luna's hair was wild and flying. Her nostrils were flared and her wide eyes that resembled a goldfish's screamed CRAZY.

Natsume kept his cool façade, and continuously pressed the close button of the lift. Luna, on the other hand, who obviously disliked being ignored, sped forward.

"Close, close close," Natsume chanted.

"WHY. WON'T. YOU. LOVE. ME?" Luna said each word with each step she took, "PAY. ATTENTION. TO. ME."

"Nope," Natsume said as the lift doors closed in time. He heaved a sigh of relief as a screech was heard all over the school.

"Can't believe I liked that."

The lift door opened and Natsume stepped out only to be greeted by a pair of violet, stoic eyes. Natsume took a step back and wondered if this was the worst of the two fates.

"Hyuuga," Hotaru greeted.

"Imai," Natsume replied.

"Mikan," Hotaru observed as she said her best friend's name, "Do you like her?"

Natsume was taken aback and prayed that the ice queen had not spot any shades of red. He pondered on her question and lowered his head in shame, remembering his last words to his brunette friend.

"I," Natsume began, "I think I'm in love with her."

"Since when?"

"Forever. But since that night, when I ditched her for Luna, that was when I realised my feelings."

"What happened that night?" Hotaru asked, curious as to what the raven haired lad might have to say.

Natsume closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He recounted his tale from getting ready, to finding a drunk Luna at a dumpster without her make-up, lying in her own puke. She tried to get up to walk towards Natsume but fell back into her own puke and revelled in it. Natsume's eye twitched as he remembered the horrific scene. Good thing one of her male lackeys walked by and helped her up and Natsume ran back to his dorm.

Stifling a laugh, Hotaru aimed a mini baka gun at Natsume.

"Why didn't you just say so?" Hotaru questioned.

Natsume rubbed his new bruise and glared at the fellow raven haired human in front of him.

"I was going to," Natsume sighed, "But she went MIA for 24 hours and got me really worried, I just wanted to know if she was alright first."

"I'll help you," Hotaru firmly said.

"I didn't say I needed your-"

"BAKAN!"

The next hours were gruelling for the class of 2B as they worked hard to help Natsume win back the love of his life. The class argued over which romantic film was the best and which quote should be used as Natsume lifelessly flipped the pages of a shoujo manga, recommended by one of the girls.

Hotaru burst through the doors with a large box of Howalons. Everyone's eyes widens.

"Isn't the Howalon shop closed at this hour?" Ruka queried.

"Yeah," Hotaru replied stocially, "Don't worry, it's been paid for by Natsume. "

Everyone paused to think and realise that they didn't really commit a crime since it was being paid for anyway and resumed their work.

"What do you like about her?" Sumire asked Natsume.

"Uhh," Natsume thought hard about his answer, "I don't really know."

"Her undies," Koko muttered and those around him who heard sniggered.

"She keeps it real," Natsume said, "And she's just herself. I mean, she can be immature, but no one's perfect. Though now that I think about it, she seems perfect… for me."

"Then why did you go out with Luna?" came a soft voice from a distant corner. Everyone turned in the direction of the voice and were stunned to see Mikan dressed in pyjamas.

"Oh would you look at the time," Koko said enthusiastically.

"And there's still Jinno's homework to do!" Sumire chipped in.

"You mean there's homework?" cried Koko.

"Shut up, let's go," Ruka whispered and the gang left the room.

"Oh yeah," Hotaru said as she prepared to take her leave too, "We were in my room. Anyway, don't screw it up!"

And with the slam of the door, they were alone.

"Those are for you," Natsume swallowed hard and looked towards the box of Howalons.

"Still waiting," Mikan said impatiently, though her eyes lingered on the Howalons.

He closed his eyes and sighed, before walking over to Mikan.

"I'm sorry," Natsume said as he looked into Mikan's eyes, "You could call it a phase, just a crush. I never really thought that Luna was the one, and I guess I got carried away. But after our supposed date, I realised that you are the want that I want, that I need."

Outside the room, cramped at the hallway were the class of 2B, listening in on Natsume and Mikan's conversation.

"This guy is cheesy man," Koko whispered.

Mikan, unconvinced, folded her arms across her chest.

"What did she do, puke all over herself and rolled around it like a pig?" Mikan snorted at her sarcastic delivery. But when she saw Natsume's right eye twitching, she threw him a look of concern. "You okay, Natsume?"

"Well," Natsume said as he closed his eyes and cleared his mind, "That was what happened, but yeah, let's not go back to that moment."

Mikan withdrew in disgust that the school's queen bee could be so… unhygienic. She, too, shuddered at the thought of Luna's puke parade. But, she remembered that she was mad at Natsume, and put on a cold façade.

"Why didn't you mention this earlier?" Mikan coldly asked.

"I wanted to," Natsume replied back, slightly hurt by Mikan's cold attitude, "But you didn't pick up my calls or reply my texts and I was more interested in knowing that you were safe."

"Why?" Mikan retorted, "I'm not anything to you, why should you care?"

"Oh, she's playing hard to get, this one," Koko whispered and rubbed his hands together in excitement.

"Shut up, Koko!" hushed everyone.

Natsume, visibly hurt by Mikan's comments, now understood how she must've have felt earlier on.

"Don't say that," Natsume stepped closer to Mikan, "You always meant something to me. It took me a while to realise, but I know now. I'm sorry I upset you; I should've handled myself better. But, I want you to know, that I choose you, and that, I love you."

Mikan's eyes widened and she felt her blood rush up her cheeks, staining them crimson. She looked up to face Natsume but before she could say anything he planted his lips upon hers for a good two seconds.

"Natsume," Mikan whispered as she reached up to touch her lips. The touch of his lips still lingered on hers.

"Well now," Natsume smirked, "I take it that you enjoyed that, seeing as you're red all over."

Mikan was alarmed by his statement and began to throw punches at Natsume, which he blocked. He then caught her hand and pulled her into another hug, kissing her once more.

Natsume was about to break the kiss but Mikan pulled him back to her and kissed him back.

"I'm sorry too," Mikan said apologetically, "I'm sorry for not understanding, and being immature. I'm sorry I-"

"There's nothing to forgive," Natsume smiled, "Polka."

Mikan blushed again and hugged the moon of her life tightly and whispered in his ear, "Pervert."

"Mikan," Natsume said, his voice serious, "Will you marry me?"

"OH COME ON," Koko yelled as he swung the door open, "REALLY? MARRY?"

"KOKO!" yelled everyone.

"Alright," Koko rolled his eyes, "Alright, my bad, I'll shut up. So, Mikan, your answer?"

Mikan giggled and smiled at Natsume.

"Yes," she nodded and Natsume lifted her and spun her around, much to the delight of class 2B who cheered along as the two childhood sweethearts finally got together.

A red haired man fidgeted and adjusted his tie. He wore a rose pink vest over his white long sleeve with an electric blue tie. His brown pants were tailored and not a crinkle was seen. Jinno-sensei cleared his throat and walked down the hallway to his class. He noticed something amiss and realised that the class was quiet.

Suspicious, he readied his ruler and opened the class door to class 2B.

However, there was nothing suspicious. The class was just… asleep. Jinno narrowed his eyes and scanned the class. He did a double take and noticed Mikan sleeping next to Natsume, hands intertwined on the table. He smiled at that.

"Well it's about time," he shook his head.

Regaining his composure, Jinno cleared his throat.

"DETENTION!" he yelled as class 2B jumped in their seats and awoke.

SO DIDJA LIKE IT, HURR.
It's been long. I'm so sorry I took so long to write/upload, but here it is! I hope you all enjoyed this fic and yes, the feel/mood is different compared to the previous chapter. Ah, the problem with 2 year gaps. Anyhoo, do leave a review to lemme know what you think :) Sorry for the errors!