Hello hello! I want to thank my lone reviewer, GreenEyedMoster101, who took the time to review. And it made my day! :) So thank you!

Whoa! I finished this fast!And its long!(for me anyway) I hope this makes up for the filler last chapter!

I DO NOT OWN GAKUEN ALICE!

"Guys, come on, be serious. You can't honestly think it's a good idea to stay here, do you?" I looked around, trying to see if anyone agreed with me.

"Mikan…face it. This is as safe as it's gonna get. And I mean, look we'll have beds. Beds! For once in our life." Tsubasa tried to reason with me. What a joke.

"So you'll risk our safety for a good night's sleep?"

"Mikan! We're safe, okay? We'll just be here for a week or so. And it's only like the middle of the month, so his 'rents won't be coming home anytime soon."

"But what if they do? What is something happens and they need to come home? What do we do then, huh? Get caught and get arrested? I'd much rather stay out of jail, but I don't know about you."

Ruka then started. "Umm…they won't come home. They never come home ahead of schedule."

"But what if they do?" I growled. He did a big gulp and backed down, causing me to smirk.

"Hun, we all think its okay to stay. So you're outvoted. Face it, you can't win." Misaki told me, trying to finalize things.

"Since when was our lifestyle a competition?" I stomped away, going back to the only room I knew, the bathroom. I just say in there, thinking. I checked my cell phone to see the time, but it was dead. I took my charger out of my bag and plugged it in. I grabbed the towel and curled it up into a pillow, and then got in the bathtub to lie down. I quickly found myself falling asleep.

I woke up with a horrible kink in my neck and sore all over, no doubt to the hard bathtub and the sharp angle my neck was on. I threw my tangled hair is a messy ponytail and walked downstairs, rubbing my groggy eyes. I looked around, seeing the gang eating eggs and toast. The gang also was wearing pajama pants, as well as t-shirts (although for the girls it drowned them). "What the Hell is this?" I asked.

"Breakfast. Want some?" Tono asked.

"What are you wearing?"

"Pajamas, duh."

"And just where did you get them?"

"Well me and Tsubasa got these from Ruka's dad's stash, and Natsume is wearing one of Ruka's. Same with the girls."

"Stop getting comfortable, we need to leave soon."

"We've only been here a day!" Misaki said, exasperatedly.

"I know."

"Chill out. We're fine. Here, eat some toast." She threw a piece at me, which I dodged, and it landed with a small thud on the floor. I groaned, and stomped away wondering how they don't get my point of view.

On my retreat back to the bathroom, my stomach growled. I slunk back to the kitchen and grabbed a handful of toast, which caused everyone to chuckle. "Shut up," I grumbled. I then walked back to the bathroom, losing the dramatic effect I had the first time. I ate my toast in silence, all alone. It's been about three hours, and I was extremely bored. There's only so much you can do in a bathroom (a.k.a nothing).

I went downstairs to see everyone in their clothes and actually looking presentable for once. While in the bathroom for those slow three hours, I tried to make myself look better, combing my hair and such.

"Hey, Mikan!" Tsubasa said, cheerily.

"Hi…Why so happy?" I was uneasy.

"We're going shopping!" Misaki exclaimed.

"What!?!" How can they go shopping? How can they be so okay with showing themselves during the day?

"Yeah, want to come with?"

"NO! What is wrong with you guys? Why are you acting so…relaxed and laid back about all of this? It's not you! This isn't us! Remember who you are!"

"And what are we, Mikan? Dirty street kids with no hope for any other lifestyle? Destined to grow up to be burglars and pickpockets?" Tono asked me, daring me to say yes.

"No—But—"

"Then what? What could it possibly be?"

"You guys are changing! We have to go back to how we are, and you guys are trying to run away from that!"

"No, we just want to see what it's like to live a normal life. And you're the one who's changed. Sometimes I can't recognize you." I just gaped at him, lost for words. They walked out the door, and left in Ruka's car. As soon as they were out of the driveway, I screamed. I let out my anger in one, high-pitched sound.

Natsume came downstairs when I did that. I forgot he was here. "What the fuck was that?"

"Nuthin'. Why are you still here?"

"The police are looking for me, remember? I can't go out."

"Right, I knew that."

"Sure you did. So why are you so mad?" He asked, changing to subject to something I didn't feel like talking about.

"I'm not mad."

"Yes you are."

"Well even I am, I'm not telling."

"What is so wrong with staying here for a little while?"

"Because it is."

"You think it's dangerous. Why?"

"Because it is!"

"No it's not!"

"Like you would know! You only got into this like a week ago!"

"Tell me how it's dangerous. I'll prove to you we're safe."

"The police are after us, so we can't risk getting spotted."

"The police are after me, and I'm staying hidden." He countered me, but I kept it going.

"Someone could recognize us and we could get sent to jail, or a foster home."

"They don't have your face on a picture or anything, and if you don't look like street kids, your fine."

"But we do look like street kids!"

"Not today. You guys are clean and have on clean clothes. To me you just look like Goth kids."

Come on Mikan, come up with another reason… "This isn't our lifestyle and if we adapt to this, how are we going to change back?"

"We'll be here for less than a week, I think you'll be fine."

"…I'll lose my only friends."

"No, you won't. They care about you, and it's going to take a lot more than a little argument to change that. Face it, they're your family, and you can't get rid of your family, no matter how hard you try." He smirked, and I let out a half-smile.

"Thanks."

"Now are you okay with staying here?"

"No, but I can deal with it, I think."

"Good." The rest of the time the gang was shopping, Natsume and I watched the television. You would not believe how many channels there are! I kept getting distracted by looking out the window, trying to see if they were back yet. When they finally came back, around dinner time, I sprung off the sofa and practically tackled them at the door.

"What took you so long!?!" I exclaimed.

"Chill. We were just getting out for a little." Tsubasa said, being the first one in the door.

"A little while? You were gone for hours!"

"Well, we needed it. And it looks like you need it, too."

"I do not!" I said quickly, still not completely okay with the idea of this.

He laughed. "Okay, okay. Oh, hey, we got you something! He gave me a bag that I went through quickly. Inside the bag were black t-shirts that would actually fit me, and some black sweats and skinnies that were also my size.

"Oh my God! This is great! Thank you guys!" I gave each of them (minus Ruka) a hug.

"Told you she would like it." Misaki said, nudging Tsubasa in the ribs.

That evening we all ate together. Ruka cooked for us, which was really nice, but really weird. We weren't used to people waiting on us.

"Enjoy the food." Ruka said with a smile. I nodded slightly and started to put food on my plate. "So, I was thinking, since Mikan didn't go out today, we could all go out to eat tomorrow."

"All?" I asked, thinking immediately of Natsume with us and with him getting caught, getting us arrested.

"Yeah. We could get Natsume a wig or something. I mean, there's that store, Party Hardy, right down the street, so we can just pick it up and tadah, no more Natsume."

"What about his eyes? They're a dead giveaway."

"Umm…well I could order some colored contacts tonight and pick them up tomorrow. It wouldn't be that weird, since I actually wear contacts already."

"I…don't know…" I was just getting used to the idea of staying here.

"Just think about, please." I rolled my eyes. He didn't have to act so polite. Freakin' rich pansy… After we finished eating, Ruka showed me to my room.

"I can't remember the last time I had one of these…" I said, mostly to myself.

"A room?"

"No, a bed…" He stood awkwardly for a minute, before speaking again.

"Umm…well the bathroom is right off to the…uh…right, and it should have spares of everything of you need it. Just make yourself at home."

"This is a house, not a home." I said, stonily.

"Will you shut up? I get you don't like being here, but you're just going to have to deal with it! This might be one of the few chances I get to see my best friend of a while, and I want to make it last." I was taken aback by his sudden outburst, and just stood there staring at him. "I…uh…sorry. I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have spoken like that. Umm…Good night." He quickly dashed out of the room, and I plopped myself down on the bed. I can't even remember falling asleep.

The next morning we sat around the table again for breakfast that Ruka made. We kept making awkward eye contact. It was delicious, and it felt so good to feel full. Nothing really happened, but it was nice to feel like nothing happened, instead of all this drama.

In the afternoon I went downstairs to find everyone in...Colors. "What are you wearing?"

"Clothes. Now put these on so we can go." Misaki threw a pair of light, faded skinny jeans and a light pink tank top. Ew.

"Hell no."

"Come on, we're going to lunch. Now put it on!"

"Going out? No way." They didn't respond because a brunette with green eyes just walked out of the bathroom. I gaped at him. "Natsume?"

"Yeah." He grumbled. I walked over and started pulling at his hair.

"It looks so real!"

"That's because it is, now get off!"

I stepped back appalled. "You dyed you hair?"

"No. it's come-in color. It washes out." I let out a relieve sigh. He could never pull of being a brunette.

"Well, I must say, it's pretty convince. Only people who know you and got up close would recognize you."

I saw Ruka beam out of the corner of my eye. "Great! So you'll come with us, then?" He asked hopefully.

"I…guess it wouldn't hurt." Everyone seemed to relax and smile a bit. I went to put on the new clothes, and I must say I looked pretty good, but really different. It felt really weird to have clothes that actually fit me snuggly.

I walked out of the bathroom and everyone looked at me. Tsubasa wolfed whistled. "Damn, Mikan! Who knew you actually had a body. You look hot!" Everyone laughed, including me.

We went to a little pizza place that was probably family owned, since the people were really nice and it didn't have that business feel to it. I tried to relax, I really did, but I just couldn't help but feel uneasy. I know they got annoyed with me from continuing to look around every five minutes. I know I sound stupid, but there were these guys in the corner, and I just couldn't help but think they were watching us. Then again, I thought our waiter was suspicious too, for coming back so often to "see how we were doing."

We went walking around the shops for a little just to get out and enjoy the nice weather. I admit, it did feel nice to get some sun for once. "Hell, girl, you cute." Some teen ganger-wannabe on the street said to me as we were walking by.

"Fuck off." I gave them the finger. Him and his buddies burst out laughing. Drunken idiots. It really tells you something where you see someone drunk before it's dark.

On the ride home, everyone immediately started talking about when we could go out to eat again, and were thinking about doing so for breakfast tomorrow.

"Umm…didn't we, like, just go out tonight?" I asked.

"Yeah, but it's fun! I mean, it's fun right?" Tono said excitedly.

"Uh…" I didn't say what I was really thinking, which was no. I listened to them chatter about what restraints they could go to and what things they could do around town, while I just sat in silence, disgusted with the thought of being so carefree about everything, but the truth was, I was envious that they could have such joy that I just couldn't find.

When we got back, I went to put on some sweatpants, but kept the tank top on. I went back downstairs again and we all watched a movie. It felt like a real family moment, fighting over a movie and finally picking something no one wants to see, but we were all just too tired of fighting to care what we watched.

When we all went up to bed, I stayed awake thinking. I wondered about this life we were living, how everything has changed, and how I have changed. I kept glancing at the clock, and when it was finally 1:00 AM, I got up. I took of the pink tank top and put on one of my new fitted ,black tees. I walked over to the window and opened it the rest of the way (I opened it a little before as to make as little noise as possible when I left). I jumped out the window and onto the terrace that was right below the window. I then lowered myself to grab onto it, let my legs off, and then let go. It was only about a six foot drop, where I successfully landed silently.

I immediately started running down the street and out of sight. I stopped for a second, just to catch my breath, and said quietly, "Sorry, guys. That isn't the life for me." And continued to run.

OMG! Mikan left the group? :O Only I know what will happen next, so you guys have to keep reading ;) What now, suckkaas! Ahh, it feels great to have a good, long chapter. I am proud of this.

I would like to say, I really would appriciate reviews. They make me realize what I am writing for. I don't want to say I will quit writing, becuase I don't want to punish my readers who do review and stuff, but I seriously lack inpsiration when I don't get review to know that guys like what I'm doing. So please, just take the extra minute to write me a quick review. I promise It'll give me the motivation I need to update weekly and stuff. So yeah, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!

Thanks for listening to my rant. You guys are the best!

Luv ya! :) Mmkaybyee.