Okay, I wrote this as soon as I finished the first chapter and was actually surprised I finished it instead of going off somewhere else and coming back a week later to finish this like usual. I know I said I wasn't going to update everyday though i wrote chapters ahead of time but I just felt like it. Anyways just glad I hit my stride with this story. Please enjoy chapter two of NoRMaL!!!!

NoRMaL

Chapter Two: Enter Attention

Tip #1: If possible don't ever work with groups, or partners for projects. It may seem more fun and a lot less work than flying solo, but its easier to live a fake life when nobody from school has to come home with you for research.

"What do you think of this look?"

I pulled my head out of my locker and saw Rin standing beside me pulling at the edges of her black t-shirt with silver graphics and a hot pink long sleeved shirt layered under it. She was wearing a pair of baggy black cargo pants that drug against the ground and had lots of pockets chains. On her feet were a pair of black Converse and her hair was pulled into two wild high ponytails with a fake strand of pink hair. She had on really thick eyeliner and wore lots of necklaces, bracelets, and rings.

"Its going to be hell trying to change out of that for gym," I told her before pulling out my Literature binder and slamming my locker shut.

"That's not what I asked. Do you think it's...me?"

"Are you trying to be goth this week?" I asked raising an eyebrow at her and we both started down the hall to our classes. "If you are, you fit the part, perfectly."

Rin isn't exactly sure who she is and, unlike me, is determined on finding herself before we hit Senior year. She comes to school in a different identity every week or for half or for even just a day if she really hates that identity--perky cheerleader didn't last long. At sixteen Rin is lost in her identity and wants to try everything before she finally settles on who she is. As much as having out there friends is against The Guide, Rin was the only person who interacted with me freshman year so I just became friends with her. It's not like she attracted a ton of attention like if I were friends with someone like Kikyo.

"I was actually going for a little more punk/skater look, hint the pink. The point is do you think it fits me?"

"You don't like punk music, you don't skate, and you're just too much of a bundle of fun to look even a bit like a goth person." I delivered my verdict as we turned the corner to the hall where our classes were located. In the beginning I was afraid of giving my opinion on Rin's character of the week because I thought she might be insulted but she really wanted me to be truthful. And even though I don't know who I am yet, at least I can help someone.

"So another failure," Rin sighed shaking her head just a bit. "And to think I have three days worth of clothing for this look. Oh, well. I agree with you though, Kags. This doesn't sit well with my aura, but I'm a stick with it anyways. I like the clothing." She stated as we were approaching her math class. "See you at lunch!" she yelled before she disappeared into the class.

I struggled to keep my neutral face up as I made my way to Literatue, but it was getting really hard. Mom was on the couch this morning and when Souta came running down the steps because he was about to miss the bus she got really mad because her head was hurting. I told Souta to just leave and I took the wrath. It was nothing but insulting names and stuff, but not many people want to be told they're stupid, ugly bitches before school.

I quicky buried the memory in the back of my mind though as I felt myself getting too emotional. This would only lead to tears and tears lead to attention, and attention leads to questions and I hate questions because I never want to give the answers. Answers lead to more questioning and the next thing I know I'm being taken away from my mom and sent to a Foster Home. Point is I can't think of home at all while I'm at school.

I stepped into Mr. Fujimoto's class and took a deep breath and when I exhaled, I made sure I blew away all home memories with them.

There was no room for home at school.

-x-

"There are many different elements in..."

I basically zoned out as soon as Mr. Fujimoto started speaking. I had a seat in the back of class, out of view of everyone but I saw everyone, and right by the big window. My eyes looked out to the bare trees that were stripped from their leaves once October hit. Now its early November and they were nice and bare and people were kicking through the leaves now littering the ground. For a second I almost imagined playing in the leaves of our front yard with Souta, Mom, and Kazuo but I quickly got rid o fthe thought. Not only was it impossible, but I'm not supposed to think about home at school.

So I stared at the leaves getting whipped up by the wind not thinking of anything except the colors of the leaves. I watched the leaves traveled up the sidewalk until they fell in the path of two people. I finally took my eyes off the leaves and lifted it to where I saw two boys...or one boy and one man, standing there arguing. They both had silver hair and thats about all of the physical description I could get since the boy was wearing a red hoodie with the hood up and they were turned to the side. I squinted my eyes a bit and tried to read their lips just because I was bored, not nosy, but I'm not really a lip reader and I failed. I kept my eyes on their actions though. The younger was moving his hands in angry motions while the older one stood completely calm.

They were interesting to watch. The young one was full of anger and told it to the man's face while the other stood completely still just talking in what seemed to be a smooth tone. It was like watching fire and ice interact. The fire raging and out of control while the ice was solid and kept to its place. They seemed to b--

"Kagome!" a voice hissed and I looked away from the window to see Aiko's hand hanging over my desk with a piece of paper in it's grip and I quickly grabbed it. I then looked back to the fire and ice men only to see them gone. Sighing a bit at loosing my source of entertainment I looked down at the piece of paper that was now resting on my desk.

Frankenstein Project
(Summary, Journal, Theme, and Performance,)

I furrowed my eyebrows together at the title of the paper. Either I missed the beginning of the school year, but I'm pretty sure we haven't even read Frankenstein so the fact that we have project is kind of throwing me off. I decided it was time to tune back into class.

"...reading in class but you all will be working on a project out of class. As you can see there are four parts listed under the main title and that is what you're going to be doing. First you will summarize every two chapters of the books, and Mr. Ookami," Mr. Fujimoto paused giving Kouga, the wolf demon a hard look. "I do know the difference between a SparkNotes summary and your own. As for Walter's letters in the beginning and end of the story you can just summarize them into one. Then I want at least ten journal entries, no shorter than half a page long each on any topic you wish. Then you are to find a theme in the story, give at least five examples, and display it some way for the class to see. Then I want you to perform your own version of some scene in the book."

The entire class was silent still trying to digest all of the work Mr. Fujimoto had just dumped on all of us. I'm usually not one to go crazy abut school work, but I honestly think Mr. Fujimoto has really lost. How is a normal student, let alone a girl like me, supposed to get all that done. This is crazy and then I still have other classes. This is never going to get done and I need to maintain good grades because I have to get an academic scholarship for college.

"But..." Mr. Fujimoto broke into the stunned silence. " You will work with partners and you can split the work anyway you want. Each could do five journal entries and then switch summarizing or one person could do all summaries and entries and the other work on the themes and performance. I don't care just as long as you work together. This is not going to be due until the end of the semester and there will be no test or quizes during this time meaning this project is worth a lot. Oh, and I'm letting you choose your partners."

With that the class exploded in a frenzy, trying to grab a partner, but I stayed glued to my seat. There was an odd number of students and I usually volunteered to work by myself when Mr. Fujimoto assigned group projects, and even though I really didn't want to do all the work by myself I didn't want anyone getting too close to me. I raised my hand and Mr. Fujimoto saw it and started heading towards me.

"Yes, Ms. Higurashi?"

"Well considering we have an odd number of students I'll take one for the team and work by myself." I said with one of my best fake, teacher reserved smiles.

"This is a lot of work to take on by yourself Kagome."

"I know, I just--"

"And you won't have to do it by yourself luckily." Mr. Fujimoto cut me off and my smile faltered for a second before I caught myself. Normal students want to work with other people so they have less work. Remember the goal, Kagome. Nomality.

"I'm sorry, but how is that possible?" I asked trying to be polite even though I was freaking out in my head. I can't work with anybody for the remainder of the semester. Project partners are practically an automatic in to each other's lives. And I don't want anybody to know me too well outside of school.

"There just so happens to be a transfer student and he's signed up for this class."

As if on cue there was a knock on the door and Mr. Fujimoto left my side to answer it. He opened the door and in stepped Fire in his red hoodie but the hood was drawn down and two pair of dog ears were twitching around on his head and he had the most brilliant set of golden eyes.

"Class!" Mr. Fujimoto yelled grabbing everyone's attention. Well, more so the transfer standing beside him grabbed their attention. "Please welcome your new classmate, Inuyasha Takahashi. Inuyasha please take your seat next to Kagome, she'll be your partner for the project and I'm sure she'll be happy to explain everything to you."

I raised my hand just as I was expected to do and just like that I had everybody's eyes on me as Inuyasha came to take a seat next to me and I was no longer someone who just passed by blending in with the crowd.

"So..." Inuyasha spoke giving me a once over, but i could only concentrate on the people who usually never look at me sneaking a looks out the corner of their eyes and whispering. "What's the project about?"

I just passed him the sheet of paper and buried my my face in my hands, suddenly having the urge to cry. All that I've worked for ever since I entered highschool ruined with his appearance. My secluded, carefully planned out, blan highschool life ruined and now I was on judgement by the entire school because I was so "lucky" to land him as a partner.

I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. He was new, attractive, and definitely stood out with ears, silver hair, and gold eyes. He sticks out like a sore thumb.

"Are you alright?" my new partner asked and I instantly shuddered.

See, people are already seeing my wall crumble. This can't just happen like this. Soon everybody will see the bags under my eyes, a bruise I couldn't completely cover for in the moments when my mom really looses it, the constant sadness in my eyes, and the fakeness in my smiles.

I took a deep breath before lifting my head and gave him a bright smile that seemed to catch him off guard for a second. "I'm fine...just a little tired from staying up late yesterday and then the stress of the project."

He slowly nodded, examining my face slowly and I hated it, but I kept my smile. "So you want to decide on how to split the project up."

I quickly nodded, glad he didn't ask any questions.

"Sure."

-x-

"Who's walking with him?"

"Did you see his ears? Kawaii!"

"I don't remember her."

"Maybe they're both new."

I walked through the halls with Inuyasha at my side--turns out I was somehow chosen to be his guide though I'm not on the school's welcoming committee and we only have a few of the same classes--and I heard the whispers all around me. Maybe I should be insulted that nobody knows me after all the years I've been here, but I'm not. I wish it was still that way. It's so much easier to keep up a facade when not everybody is looking at you.

"HEY!" I heard Rin's voice carrying over the whispers and I saw her pushing her way through the crowd towards me granting us even more attention. "KAGOME!"

"Kagome?"

"Her name's Kagome."

"Kagome."

"Kagome..."

And just like that everybody knew my name.

-0-0-0-

Alright so now I have introduced Inuyasha...YEAH! Now I already know how I'm going to really tighten there bond but that's a fair amount of time away so you'll have to stay with me. Alright now that you've read the chapter you HAVE to REVIEW!!!!!!!!!...please?

~Kimiko888~