The first time Mikan Sakura got drunk was when she was fifteen, and to her, it wasn't all that great. She truly didn't see the attraction, but as her eyes scrutinized the scene in front of her, she began to realize that there had to be something that made people want to act stupid and crazy. Mikan squinted her eyes, Nope, Still couldn't see it.

She was at a party at someone's house, she couldn't remember who's party it was, (one of Luna's mates she suspected) but it was a drag. She was folded into a deck chair, Her best friend Luna had let out a long high pitched laugh as she sat comfortably on some random's knee. Luna was off her trolly, claiming to have had four bottles of Corona already. Either that or she was faking it, again. Mikan tied her hair in a pony, grabbed her tote bag and jacket, before signalling at Luna that she was leaving. Luna tilted her head and let out a pout.

"Why?" Luna slurred and stretched out the why so much it was beginning to sound more like 'wheeeyyyyy'

Mikan put on a smile while wrapping her scarf around her neck, "Practice tomorrow' She replied, patting her duffle bag. "You know how Jinno gets when I'm late."

Luna nodded and went back to her drunken conversation with Dumb and Dumber. As Mikan made her way back through the house and through the front door she said goodbye to a few known faces, eager to get out. As she wondered down the streets to the station she contemplated wether to call her Mum to pick her up, or catch the 11pm train to Central Town, a two minute walk from where she lived. She checked her phone; 10.47pm, She could wait for the train, she enjoyed the ride anyway. After paying for a ticket she strode over to the Women's bathroom to fix her make up. Mikan almost cringed at her reflection, upon getting ready for the party Luna had insisted on doing her make up, she had caked Mikan's face in Mascara, eye liner, red lipstick and a few layers of foundation which had made an obvious contrast to her neck.

Grabbing a paper towel Mikan, dampened it, before wiping all of her face-cake off. She then reached in her bag for a purse and put on some light nude lipstick and a stroke of mascara. She liked simple and barely there make up better than the paint the face look. It suited her better too.

Mikan studied her reflection, pulling out her ponytail she let soft brown waves cascade to her waist. She loved her hair, She had titled it her best attribute. This didn't make herself vain or up herself, as she didn't boast about her good points. She merely liked a part of herself and there was no crime in that. Her eyes were a dull brown and in her opinion; too close together. Her nose was slightly upturned and a few unnoticeable freckles had been sprinkled over it. She was clad in a pink scarf, black button up coat and the end of her light pink dress could be seen under it. Mikan was wearing these horrible heels that made her ankles ache, They looked good, she had admitted to herself, but were very painful. She slid them off and gently put them in her duffle bag, making a mental note to give them back to Luna tomorrow. Mikan was almost eighteen, but yet she was small and thin, and looked like she would break if you touched her. Although she had a sulky face, her personality was normally happy and energetic.

Remembering that her train would be departing soon, Mikan hurried over to Platform 4 barefooted, ignoring the looks from other passengers as she climbed onto the train. Mikan sat by the window, resting her head against the glass. She looked down at her naked feet, they weren't the best looking feet, She thought to herself. her toenail was bent awkwardly and the edges of her feet had been bruised and scratched.

"Ouch."

Mikan's head turned towards whoever had spoken. Standing above her was a boy, no more than nineteen she guessed. His face was furrowed and framed by his blonde hair. All of a sudden Mikan felt embarrassed, and tried to hide her feet.

"It's fine." She replied hurriedly. His eyes met hers, they were a sea-blue, and quite nice. He let out a slow smile and Mikan realized his smile was quite nice too. She was abruptly snapped out of her gaze as a loud voice filled the train.A tall boy with black hair and olive skin had walked through the door to their carriage.

"Ruka, Stop changing carriages or I shit you not - " He cut off as he met eyes with Mikan, He was handsome, but in a different way to the boy who was standing next to her.

"Natsume." The blonde boy addressed, grinning. Natsume nodded, his eyes still on Mikan.

"Who's that?" He questioned rudely. Mikan's blood instantly boiled, impoliteness was definitely something she could not stand.

"My name is Mikan." She replied coldly, "Don't talk about me as if I'm not here."

Natsume raised his hands, palms forward in mock surrender. "Sorry to upset you, Princess. Are there anymore 'rules about Mikan' I have to follow or…?'

Mikan rolled her eyes, Ruka turned towards her; "Sorry, Mikan. Don't take it personally, he's normally this rude." Mikan smiled slightly at the small joke. "So what school do you go to?"

"Alice Academy," She replied.

Natsume let out a snort before sitting in the seat in front of her, body turned towards her. "Makes sense."

Mikan's eyes narrowed. She knew what kind of reputation Alice Academy had, it was a posh private school where the students worked hard to become politicians or lawyers in the footsteps of their parents. A vast majority of them considered themselves above students of other schools, therefore acquiring the label of 'snob' or 'stuck up'

"And exactly how does it 'make sense'?' She snapped. His eyes, she realized, were a brilliant red. Contacts maybe?

Natsume shrugged, "Take a look at yourself, Princess." He started, "That scarf probably costs more than my house."

Mikan turned bright red and tried to hide the imprinted Chanel logo on her cashmere scarf. She admitted she was quite well off money-wise, but she was raised to treat people equally as who they are, not the measure of their wealth.

"So what school do you go to?" She asked Ruka, eagerly wanting to change subject.

Ruka glanced at Natsume, "We used to go to Seaview High, but…" He trailed off

"We got kicked out." Natsume finished dryly, as if it wasn't a big deal. Mikan frowned, Seaview was a bit of a way from here, at least an hours drive.

"Why?"

Natsume shrugged, "Some kid was picking a fight, he got one."

"Right." Mikan replied, not surprised at Natsume's attitude.

"So what about you, Princess? Out late on a school night are we?"

"I just came from a party."

"Oh, Isn't it a bit early to be coming back from a party? Or was it just a little gathering where you all sipped champagne and giggled at each other's experiences in foreign countries?"

"It was a party-party." Mikan snapped. "It just got boring because everyone was getting drunk and Luna -"

"Luna?" Ruka interrupted. "Luna Koizumi?, Blonde hair about yet long, bright blue eyes…?"

"Looks like a whore?" Natsume finished,

Mikan ignored Natsume's input "Yeah sounds right, How do you know her?"

Ruka let out a laugh "She's my cousin!"

"You're kidding!"

"Nah, We're staying with the Koizumi's until graduation. We're going to St. Michaels with her brother."

Mikan shot a look at Natsume, St Michaels was like, the boy version of Alice Academy. Not to mention it was right next door to Alice, They even shared a field. If he was so bias towards Alice Academy what is he doing going to St. Michaels.

"Before you call me a hypocrite, Princess. Let me tell you that we're only going to because Luna's dad did some intense negotiation, we just need to finish senior year and then we're out."

"Alright." Mikan said slowly, there were still holes here and there but these were people she'd just met 5 minutes ago. She didn't really care for their life story.

The stop for Esplanade pulled on and Mikan stood up to get off the train and into the tube. She waved a hand towards Natsume and Ruka as a goodbye and stepped off the train. She heard Natsume murmur something to Ruka and then he called out for her.

"Mikan!"

She turned around to see him running towards her. She stopped and waited.

"Yes?"

"Let me walk you home." He breathed, "It's too late for a girl of your size to be walking out alone."

Mikan was just about to retort to Natsume's comment about her smallness when she realized how handsome he really was. He was clad in a nay blue jacket and a black Guns and Roses t-shirt, Jeans and black chucks. His hands were stuffed in his pockets and his hair was tangled and messy. His eyes were boring into hers, they were captivating. His eye lashes were long for a boy, though his eyebrows were rather short she noticed.

He let out a slow grin. "What, Checking out my looks are we?"

"Yeah." Mikan replied with the same grin, feeling suddenly flirty "You'd be more attractive if you didn't' open that mouth of yours though."

Natsume let out a low laugh, "Come on, show me where you live. I'll walk you there so no bad guys come and hurt you."

"My hero." Mikan replied sarcastically. "How do I know you're not a bad guy? I only met you what, four, maybe five minutes ago?"

Natsume looked at her with a raised brow "I suppose you're just going to have to trust me."

Mikan looked him up and down, hesitating slightly. "I suppose."

Natsume stayed silent while Mikan led the way, he noticed a few jeers from some men outside a pub and grabbed her hand. She looked up at him questioningly

He rolled his eyes, "Don't get too excited, Princess. Just fulfilling my word of getting you home safe." Mikan still didn't understand, but didn't press further. They walked in silence from then on, not an awkward sort but more of a comfortable silence. It was nice, Mikan thought. She turned the corner of Arneys Cres before reaching a tall building of apartments. She turned around to face Natsume,

"Thank you." She mumbled, "This is where I live so…" Natsume nodded and muttered a 'You're welcome' back before retreating. Mikan felt a small annoyance at his impoliteness, Well. She thought Goodbye to you too. She swiveled around to walk through the automatic doors and into the elevator, before pressing Level 6. She flounced out of the elevator when it reached her level and walked down to no.652, she grabbed her keys clumsily and opened the door.

Home, Sweet Home. She thought miserably as the turned the lights on to an empty apartment.

"Mikan!" There was a thumping on the door "Open the bloody door!" Luna's voice echoed through the apartment as Mikan scoffed down her breakfast and grabbed her schoolbag.

"I'm coming!" She replied running towards the door and opening it. "Let's go." She breathed.

Luna looked at her annoyed, "If you're going to get me up earlier so we can walk to school together, at least be on time." Mikan rolled her eyes

"Yeah, Yeah" She replied. "Where's Reo?" Reo was Luna's older brother, who normally walked to school with them.

"Oh, He took the lodgers and went off to school." She replied turning her heel to walk to the stairs, Luna believed that elevators were evil and cursed and eversince the day she turned 11 and got trapped in one for five hours, and vowed to ever take one again. Mikan followed suit.

"Lodgers?" She asked, confused. Luna flopped down the stairs, re-applying some lip gloss.

"Oh yeah," She yawned, "Forgot to tell you, My cuz' Ruka and his mate Natsume are staying till graduation. They got themselves kicked out of their old school so Auntie sent them here, they go to school with Reo now. I would of told you earlier but I only found out like, a few days ago. No one ever tells me whats going on in my family" She huffed.

Mikan eventually remembered the events on the train last night with Natsume and Ruka and decided against telling Luna about her encounter with them. "What about Natsume's family?" She asked as they past a flower shop.

"M.I.A." Luna replied, "They like, totally just vanished years ago. It's so crazy, Natsume stays with Ruka normally in their house."

"Oh." Mikan replied lamely, adjusting her tie. The Alice Academy uniform was quite a nice one, Their ties were blue and black striped over a white long sleeved blouse (short sleeved in Summer) Black skirt that was meant to reach knees, but ended normally somewhere between mid-thigh and knee. They were matched with stockings or knee-high socks and T-bar shoes, and their Blazers were a dark blue with the Alice crest embroider over the pocket. Mikan had a black schoolbag with a foxtail keyring and a small love heart that was drawn on with white-out ink. Mikan snuck a glance at Luna, She was clad in the same as Mikan but she had on the black jersey on instead of the blazer. Luna was indeed very pretty, She had short, blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Her mouth was small and pink and her bottom lip stuck out a little bit. She was tan and had a very fine complexion. Her ears were pierced and she had two diamond studs in one ear, and one diamond stud in the other.

"Hurry up, Slow poke. We're going to be late." Luna said, walking faster.

"'Kay!" Mikan smiled, "Race ya'" She yelled running off ahead

"Oi!" Luna yelled back, "Oh god." She muttered, now running herself. "Now i look like a complete loser."

Luna and Mikan had an unlikely friendship, Luna was very confident and loud whereas Mikan was sometimes very shy. They'd been friends since kindergarten, Mikan had been picked on by numerous nasty little boys who found pleasure in kicking her sandcastles over and telling her that her finger painting was bad. Luna had stepped in and yelled at the little boys so much that her parents had been called in to talk to the caregiver. It was a cute story where a newfound friendship had begun.

As they reached the school gates they parted for their subjects, Luna had Classical Studies whereas Mikan had a double period private dance lesson. The Dance rooms at Alice were being renovated for the past few weeks and the next few months she had to use the studios at . Mikan walked across the field and passed the reception to before entering Dobson Block, Walking down the corridors she looked at the note that read which room the dance studio would be today, D.24 she glanced at the door she just passed; D.46. Just a bit more down Mikan thought

She opened the door to the Dance studio and quickly got changed into her dance gear, A black singlet and tight mid calf sweats. Her hair was tied up in a tight bun and she had pulled on her ballet flats. Shortly after a tall man with long black hair slicked into a low ponytail walked in.

"Good Morning " Mikan said

"Good Morning Mikan." He replied shortly, "We'll get right into it, Shall we? The play is in a few months and I want you to be the best. We'll do Odette's solo today."

"Yes." She stood up and pointed her toes, poised her arms and waited for to start the tape.

The music started and as she heard a low string she bent her right arm downwards delicately and her left up before jumping at the sound of the higher strings. Her routine was one she had learnt off by heart, Mikan knew Odette's solo the best out of any other routine she had ever done. When she started ballet at four years old she was determined to be better than everyone else. She practiced more, tried harder and did better than all of the other little girls in her class. She had no friends in her ballet classes when she was younger as she knew they were only there because their mothers wanted to dress them up in pink tutus and make them look cute. They didn't have the same passion or motivation as Mikan. She soon moved onto private lessons four times a week for two hours. Now, at seventeen years she was doing 4 hours on a Tuesday, 2 hours on a Thursday and Monday and 8 hours on a Sunday. Today was Thursday.

Mr. Jinno had been her teacher since she was fourteen. He was strict and precise, exactly what she needed to be the best.

She finished the routine swiftly as the tune stopped, She looked up at Jinno expectantly.

"Again." He said shortly.

She did it again.

In fact, in those two hours she did the routine about 36 times.

The usual, really.

She stepped out of the dance studio after changing back into her uniform, it was break around now so the boys would be out of the classrooms. She hurried out of Dobson, If there was anything she hated it was definitely boys. Apart from Luna's brother, Reo and probably a few others, they all thought they were the be all and end all of everything. They thought that they were the alpha and that because they had money, brains, good looks and power they ran the whole country! They were cocky enough to make Mikan sick, She avoided St Michaels as much as she could. It would only get her temper flaring if she talked into an asshole here.

"Mikan!" She heard a masculine voice shout out her name and whipped her head to the direction of the sound.

"Ruka," She greeted as the blonde boy ran up to her, followed suit by Natsume. She nodded in his direction and he nodded back.

"What are you doing here?" Ruka asked,

Mikan patted her bag. "I have to use your dance studio, Ours is getting renovated." she explained, Ruka nodded.

"You dance?" Natsume asked, eyebrows raised. "What kind?"

"Ballet for thirteen years" Mikan replied proudly. "I'm working on a show at the moment, You guys should come see it when it's done."

"Sure" Ruka smiled, "Want to catch a bite to eat? We have study after break so theres a good hour to get some McD's or something."

"Okay," Mikan replied, "Do you mind if some friends? I haven't seen them all morning." Ruka nodded and they arranged to meet in Central Town, which was a five minute walk from campus. Mikan flipped open her phone to txt Hotaru and Luna to met her in the Central Town McDonalds.

Hotaru Imai was also one of Mikan's best friends. She was stunning, cropped black hair and violet eyes, Very tall and legs for Africa. She had thin lips and a thin nose, her eyes were big and stood out for their unusual colour. She had very defined cheek bones, her personality was cold and yet caring. She is thought to have no emotions, yet this can be proven wrong as Hotaru has a soft spot for Mikan's naivety. In Middle School while Luna was being a social butterfly, Mikan had been left by herself and approached by Hotaru. The rest is history, the two have a connection with each other and a true friendship can be evidently seen between them.

Mikan carried her tote with her, too lazy to go back to Alice Campus and put it back in her locker. After getting an ok from both Luna and Hotaru she walked down to Central Town, seeing Ruka and Natsume not too far ahead she ran to fall into pace with them.

"Hi" She grinned, falling into step next to Natsume.

"Hello again" Ruka replied, "Who'd you invite?"

"Luna and Hotaru."

Natsume pulled a face, "Luna? Really?"

Mikan slapped him lightly "She's my best friend! Don't be rude."

"She may be your best friend, Princess. " Natsume replied, "But she's certainly not mine, therefore I can be rude about her all I want."

Mikan rolled her eyes, "You are so…" She trailed off, struggling to find the right word. "Annoying." Natsume's eyebrows raised as they walked through the doors of McDonalds and Mikan pulled out her purse, Stepping infront of the boys in the queue.

"Ladies first." She stated, before giving her order to the cashier; A Garden salad with a bottle of water. Natsume gave her a look as if to say 'You come to McDonalds for something like that?'

Mikan simply ignored him as she grabbed her meal and sat at a table with three chairs, and a sofa seat. She waved a hand as she noticed Hotaru and Luna walk in.

"Over here!" She called, a small grin surfacing.

"Mikan!" Luna called out, "How was practise?"

"It was same old, Jin-Jin is still super strict on me." Mikan pouted as Hotaru slid in next to her and Luna pulled up a chair opposite. Mikan gave Hotaru a quick hug and a hello before talking animatedly about the show in February, It was November now and even though there was still a few months until the opening, there was a lot to get done. Ruka and Natsume sat down next to Luna, who had not been expecting them here.

"Why are you two here?" She sneered, Mikan coughed awkwardly

"Sorry, Luna, I forgot to mention that they invited me here, We met the yesterday after I left Nika's party."

Luna's eyes narrowed. "Oh." She said.

"This is Hotaru," Mikan introduced, keen to change the subject. "She's one of my best friends!"

"Hi" Ruka smiled, Natsume nodded towards her and Hotaru simply raised her eyebrows.

"Hello." She replied, she stretched out a finger and pointed towards his fries 'You going to eat that?"

Ruka, surprised by her action shook his head and pushed the fries towards her, "All yours."

"Thanks." Hotaru replied, chewing on a chip. "What was your name again?"

"Ruka." He replied, "And this is Natsume. We're living with Luna currently because of… recent events."

"Freeloaders." Luna cut in. "They're freeloaders."

"Oh come on, Koizumi." Natsume said. "Don't be bitter just because - "

"I'm not bitter!" Luna cut off,

"Why would she be bitter?" Hotaru asked, taking a sip of Ruka's soda.

"Oh, Because Natsume -" Ruka started

"It doesn't matter!" Luna snapped

"You sure do like to cut people off,Lu" Mikan laughed, completely oblivious to the situation infront of her. She took a quick glance at the time, 10.53am. "Shit. I've got to go guys, I've got History at 11." She exclaimed closing her unfinished salad and putting it in her bag for later, "I'll see you all later!" She called out, running out the automatic doors, Leaving the four awkwardly to themselves.

Luna stood up, "I'm leaving too." She stated coldly before grabbing her bag and leaving, Natsume stretched before putting an arm on Ruka's shoulder

"See you at campus,mate"

"Ah." Ruka started, but gave up after seeing that Natsume was already half-way out the door. "I guess it's just you and me then, Hotaru."

"Imai" She corrected, "Do you really need that cheeseburger, Ruka?"

"Um…" Ruka trailed off, reluctant to give up his burger.

"Do you really need it?" Hotaru said slowly, making obvious glances at Ruka's stomach. Ruka rolled his eyes and pushed his burger towards her before crossing his arms.

"Have it." He mumbled, feeling suddenly insecure about his weight.

"Thanks!" Hotaru smiled.

Oh gosh I had no idea how to end that, but I wanted to finish before the chapter got too long and too much happened and it was only the first chapter and blah. Review please,