A/N: Okay guys, this one's been setting around on my computer for a while unfinished so I figured why not finish it on here. I'm really a little worried about grammar and spelling mistakes since I don't have a beta so please excuse any major errors. I apologize in advance. I've got a few chapters written so updates will be pretty quick for a while, but they will definitely slow down when I get to the newer chapters I'm writing. Please enjoy.

Oh, and obviously I don't own Bleach or any of its characters no matter how much I want to! They are Tite Kubo's babies *Sad Face*.

CHAPTER ONE- DAMAGED PRIDE

Jasmine shuffled her feet when she walked. Even after her older sister told her time and time again how bad of a habit it was. She also slouched. Very unbecoming. She watched the pebbles she had inadvertently kicked scatter across the sidewalk. Risking a glance up, she saw the orange haired boy walking at least a block in front of her. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks and immediately looked down at her feet again. After all these years, he'd never even once looked back at her. She doubted he even knew they were walking to the same school, let alone lived on the same street. It's not like she actually wanted him to see her. She'd never be able to speak to him anyway.

"Hey." a voice from behind her nearly sent her into shell shock. She glanced back, putting a hand over her chest, like that would help slow her thumping heartbeat. She smiled slightly and nodded at her friend. Uryu Ishida was one of the only people in Karakura Town she wasn't nervous around, they'd known each other nearly their entire lives. "Mind if I walk with you?" He asked halfheartedly. He would, even if she had said she did mind.

"You're going out of your way again." she observed. He just shrugged. She should be used to it by now. He often went out his way to make sure she made it to and from school safely. It didn't bother her. "Did you study for the exam?" her voice was so quiet, he almost missed the question. He looked sideways at her and noticed she was peeking through her bangs, eyes ahead of them. Uryu sighed and looked up at Ichigo's retreating form. He hated the way she clammed up whenever the ex-soul reaper was anywhere in sight. It was very annoying. She should have more pride in herself.

"Of course I did. Did you?"

"Yeah... sort of." a soft reply again.

"Hey! Ishida!" Ichigo called out and waved, slowing his pace only a little so his friend could catch up.

Jasmine gasped. She had to get out of there! She ducked behind her friend and looked around for an escape. The school gates came into view and she made a mad dash for them, running past other groups of students until she was safely inside the archway.

She was such a coward! He was just a boy. A typical normal human boy. No reason to get so worked up. She took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, peeking around the stone wall at the two boys approaching. A smile crept across her face as she watched Ichigo staring at his feet, kicking rocks out of his path as he walked. "See? Totally normal." She told herself, even if she knew better.

The school day seemed to drag by. They always did when she spent most of her time trying to avoid conversation with anyone. She was perfectly content with being the wallflower. That meant that she could avoid any unwanted questions about herself. When the final bell rang, she grabbed her books and walked as fast as she could to get far away from the noise of all of her class mates. Half way down the hall, she realized she had left her jacket hanging on the back of her seat. "Shit!" she growled at herself in frustration. Turning around, she headed back to class, shuffling her feet and staring at her shoes again.

Without looking up she rounded the corner of the classroom and smacked hard into something, or rather someone. The books she'd been holding slid across the floor. "Oh, I'm sorry." She mumbled squatting down to gather her things. "No, it was my fault. I wasn't watching where I was going. Are you okay?" A hand rested on her shoulder. She looked up and froze as she met the brown eyes of Ichigo Kurosaki bending down to help her. She didn't even dare to breathe as he looked at her with concern. "Uh... yeah." She finally managed to squeak out. She cringed inwardly at the sound of her own voice. "Thanks, um... sorry." She quickly retrieved the rest of her things and stood at the same time as he did, causing her forehead to connect with his chin. "Oh... no, I'm sorry." She groaned. He smirked at her rubbing his chin. The blush that had consumed her cheeks had now started to burn all the way into her ears. "I..." She turned on her heel and bolted down the hall.

Ichigo watched her go, not even trying to hide the smile on his face. Uryu walked up beside him and gave him a pointed glare. Ichigo nodded toward the girl disappearing down the hall. "Who was that?"

"You're serious?" the Quincy looked at him like he was obviously missing something.

"Yeah... What?"

"She's only been in your class for three years!"

"Dude, you know I'm not good with faces." Ichigo rubbed the back of his neck with one hand.

"You're hopeless. She lives three houses down from you, idiot!" That didn't surprise him. He'd never paid attention to his neighbors.

"She's kind of cute."

"NO!" Uryu barked.

"What? I'm just sayin'..."

"Just don't." Uryu rolled his eyes and walked away. Jasmine had to be a nervous wreck right now. She DID NOT do well with people, but he didn't have time to chase her down just yet. He'd just sensed the presence of a hollow. He whipped out his cell and sent a quick text before he ran out of the school.

To: Jazz

R U OKAY?

She stared at the text for several minutes. She was certainly not okay! She was in the middle of a very serious freak out. He had spoken to her and she had utterly embarrassed herself. God, she was pathetic! But Uryu had more important things to worry about than her stupid damaged pride. She was just being dumb again. He didn't need to know that. She finally sent him a text back.

To: Uryu

I'M FINE.

A/N: Opinions? Kind of a short chapter. I'll work on that. I started this story a while back and had to re-read it a million times and almost decided not to post it, but seeing as how today is my birthday, (YAY! CELEBRATE WITH ME! LOL!) I figured I'd just throw it out there and hope for the best. I hope you guys liked it. Review! It'd be the perfect birthday gift! ;)