AN: I don't own GA. For those of you who followed the previous story, I deeply apologize for this complete turn around. I know it's not even the same story anymore, but I had a different calling for the plot and wanted to head in a different direction. At the same time, I didn't wanna leave you guys hanging by deleting this cause you know, you might enjoy this version better. I'll try and incorporate as many details from the previous story that fits in with this story so you won't be so disappointed.

I hope you enjoy.

Also, if there are any grammatical problems, I'm sorry. I did my best to proofread. And, I apologize for the tense changes.

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1

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It was hot. Too hot.

Even with the air conditioner whipping our cheeks we all had the windows down, practically breaking our necks over the door.

We'd been driving for what seemed like forever and the whole way was a blur of grassy fields with boring livestock grazing said fields. Koko had been getting tired earlier, nearly falling asleep before I smacked him, so he was driving just barely 30 miles an hour. The ocean ran like film across the tall glass buildings off the coast. It reminded me of the baby soothers you hung on cribs.

I was going to need one of those pretty soon.

A sign reading Bay Boulevard came into view a few cars away and I knew we were getting closer. The buildings off the highway were just as showy and business-y as I remembered. And the cars were speeding past us just like I remembered too.

"Could you go faster?" I urged watching another car whip passed us.

Koko looked at me then back at the jumble of cars miles ahead of us. "Could you learn to drive."

I rolled my eyes, "I know how to drive, could you?"

Before he could retort with some lame comeback my mom hushed us. She had been quiet this whole time, thinking she was sleep, so we both were surprised when she piped up.

"Sibling love please, sibling love."

"She started it." Koko stuck his tongue out at me. I waved a balled fist in his face.

"Mikan, anger isn't good for an expecting lady," Mom told me matter-of-factly.

I huffed, falling back in my seat and putting both hands on my overgrowing belly. Koko shrugged it off, continuing to drive just as slowly before we started arguing.

I opted to looking out the window over cooking up another argument.

My mind started drifting to some nonsense about school before a billboard riddled with lifeguards saluting to the traffic changed my focus. Miura was 10 exits away. At the rate we were going, we still had a good hour, so I wasn't too nervous.

I looked down to my hands planted loosely around my stomach. The fabric of my sundress was suffering. I tried to stretch it out a little better but that just made it even more uncomfortable. Staring at my round abdomen made my gut heat up. Everyone had by now knew about the situation but having it underneath my nose everyday only caused me to be more worried.

I peaked at mom through the rearview mirror, watching her pick at her bob in a compact. I guess I was glad she was more disappointed in that her haircut than me. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling she secrectly wanted to tell me off everytime she saw my stomach poking through my uniform. I started thinking about Miura to rid that thought from my head. It's been seven months and I'm still thinking like that.

Another exit sign told me there were two exits left. My heart started pumping.

"I'm excited," Mom piped up again from the backseat. I knew she was on edge to see Kaoru. She and mom have been road dogs since middle school. Best friends there for their kids births, graduations and all that.

Kaoru moved a couple years back a week after my twelth birthday. I cried eveyday that week at school. Mom promised me to go visit them when school let out just to shut me up. I didn't expect her to uphold that promise though, but since then it's been sort of a tradition to spend the summers at Miura.

I felt my eyes getting heaving. The baby was doing that to me a lot lately. I reached for the radio to keep from getting too bored since we would be there soon and I was tired of sleeping. An upbeat pop song that I've never heard danced out the speakers but I attempted to sing along anyway, just to keep busy.

Our little honda crawled to the far side of the freeway to the last exit. My neck got tight, singing a little quieter.

"Don't be nervous," Koko said as he swerved into traffic. I chose not to respond. I was more scared than nervous really. It had been since the beginning of December since we had last seen them. Both Kaoru's boys were in University now, so they finished a little earlier than me and I had been happy to hear they were planning to stop in for the holiday. It was the first time in a while where they visited us instead of us going to them. It was like my birthday was coming anyday after I found out, and I forced the days to go by quicker just so I could see them.

I could never remember what the boys looked like in the winter. How pink their cheeks got or if their eyes watered when the wind blew really fast.

I was just eager to see them, Kaoru too, but especially the boys.

The diner we use to sneak off to for early morning breakfast ran past and I felt myself sinking lower into the seat.

I get completely quiet when the street comes into view. I almost jump out of the seat when I feel a hand on my shoulder, "I know it's been a while but everything's fine," Mom assures me in a semi-convincing tone.

I nod so she doesn't think I don't trust her judgement but my hearts telling me I can't take this pressure. It shouldn't even be this nerving but I hadn't spoke to him in good month. Honestly, the quick hellos and goodbyes we shared before we jumped on the road this morning was the last time. I wasn't upset or anything however. Even though frat movies and campus tours were all the knowledge I had about college, I could still guess it was stressful. All those assignments, and club activities...and girls. College girls I reminded myself. Because "those aren't just any girls" Koko was kind enough to let me know his freshman year.

I couldn't help but agree with him though.

We attempted to keep in contact throughout the last few months but school eventually caught up with both of us.

Koko pulled into the small gravel area used as a driveway. The picket fence bordering the small property had started to peel like the other houses around it. There were two cars in the 'driveway' each far on either side of the house, which that I noticed wasn't left to age but kept up with the same fresh baby blue paint. One of the cars was an old hoopty with a paint job similiar to the picket fences. I guessed it was Kaoru's because the only other car was a jeep and from past years raving that she hated beach crusiers I couldn't image her getting one now.

The truck was parked haphazardly by the fence and it was missing its doors. I pictured one of her boys having a girl in that truck. It's clean red paint job practically mocked me as a college girls haven. Great. All I could picture was him banging some pretty green-eyed girl, the kind that wore her bikini's with way too short denim shorts.

I went into a daze picturing her having long curly hair and tall enough to be a model.

I was somewhere between imagining I was that girl and knowing I was nowhere near her when a scream knocked me out of teenage angst. My eyes rolled over to mom in a clutch with Kaoru. I could only see mom's sandy hair and what seemed like a tutu on Kaoru cause they were spinning each other on the porch.

The door to the beach house opened behind them and a tall, dark haired guy stepped outside smiling as wide as I could see. I gulped. He looked just as good as he did when they came in December, maybe even better once the sun chased him down.

Kaoru suddenly fished me into a hug before I knew it, "You look so good!"

The tutu turned out to be a poofy jumpsuit that stopped a little before her knees. I thanked her and laughed when Koko tried running away when it was his turn. I almost didn't notice someone heading my direction but my defense was on and tripped me into looking over just in enough time to muster a smile when he walked up.

"Hey," He said it so casually. It made me frown, but I quickly reverted to a half smile and returned the hug he was already scooping me in.

"Hey." He smelled musky and like sea water. It was nice.

We parted and I all but calmed down when he stood with his hand hovering my stomach. "You mind?"

I shook my head. "Go ahead."

He got close enough to gently ruffle my sundress. I'm sure my cheeks were red but the heat was floating everywhere so I couldn't feel them. "Whoa...I don't know what to say."

I laughed. So did he.

Truthfully I didn't know what to say either. So I stayed quiet and let him feel.

After getting his time in he back away still smiling.

"You look good, Mikan."

I chuckled again. "Thanks...you too, Tsubasa."

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