I wrote this a little while ago in Language Arts class :) I thought I'd turn it into a fanfic cuz Nozomi fits it perfectly... Review please! I was kind of rushing when I wrote this so I didn't have time to proofread it much... :)
No, I don't own Bleach.
She glances at the clock. 5 more minutes. The teacher drones on, not noticing that she isn't listening. Nozomi looks at her. Orihime. The name sounds disgusting, even in her thoughts. She's obiediently taking notes, smiling. Nozomi hates that smile. Today's the day for the stupid surprise party, the one that she forced her into. Nozomi's not like everyone else. Everyone else is vapid and boring, like flat wallpaper. Especially her, always with that sweet smile plastered on her face, the one who greets everyone in the class like her best friend. Nozomi wouldn't say she hates her. No, she simply wishes she would leave her alone, alone in her world. Nozomi doesn't need friends.
The bell rings, the ear-splitting scream that she looks forward to everyday. But today, she's dreading it. Orihime catches her eye, and smiles at her. Nozomi forces herself to smile back, cringing inside, fighting the urge to flee. She walks over to her desk. "Don't forget, meet Ichigo, Chad, Uryuu, and myself at the abandoned store down the street. We told Rukia she left her bag there." She leans down, locks of red-orange hair brushing the wooden surface of the desk. "I baked a chocolate banana strawberry shortcake with cucumbers and fried watermelon."
A little while later, Nozomi finds herself walking. She doesn't know why, but she can't bring herself to run away and pretend like she forgot. Maybe she just wants to avoid her thoughts, her dark thoughts that never let her forget that she'll never be like the rest of them, she's not the hero, she's not the villain, she's just-different. That's something that will never change. Her mind keeps remembering her smile, the smile that shows her understanding. Nozomi knows that Orihime can never understand.
Finally, she reaches the store. She pushes open the door, hearing the soft tinkling of bells. "Nozomi-chan! I'm so glad you came!" It's the sugar coated voice of her. Unmistakable. She's bursting with excitement, cheerful as ever. Nozomi feels like she's going to be sick. The place is decorated with bright balloons and neon streamers. Uryuu and Chad nod in her direction. But Ichigo, he just gives her a sympathetic smile. Out of all of them, it seems he's the only one who's not fake, not pretending. Ichigo leaves her alone.
"Ya-hoo, Nozomi-chan! Could you please go outside and check if Rukia's coming? But don't let her see you."
She walks outside, grateful to escape the presence of her. There's no dark haired midget in sight. She dawdles a bit, taking deep breaths in the cool early winter air and looking at the pale sun. Nozomi sighs, and pushes open the door again, slowly, hearing the answering ring of the bells. It closes behind her. The lights are completely off. It's pitch black in the store.
"SURPRISE!"
The lights flash back on, illuminating a grinning Orihime and her smiling counterparts.
Is this some kind of joke?
"We know it's your birthday! Mr. Kageroza told us and we had to celebrate your birthday!
Mr. Kageroza. The name still sends chills down her back. Her birthday. Orihime can keep trying, for all she cares. She might just be the one to make Nozomi…. Smile. But…. Not today. Not today.
"My birthday was two months ago. "
She watches as their faces fall. She watches as Orihime finally, finally, stops smiling.