Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters!

"Hey moron, pay attention to what you're doing!"

Inuyasha snapped back to reality just as a football hit him hard in the chest. His eyes widened and he instinctively began running down the field. He was tackled and fell to the ground hard with a grunt.

"What the hell are you doing out there?"

Inuyasha pulled himself up slowly until he was eye to eye with his quarterback, Kouga. Inuyasha wasn't particularly fond of Kouga, but he had to admit he was a damned good football player. He had insane leg strength and could out run almost anyone who was chasing him. He also had pretty good throwing accuracy, which landed him the quarterback roll.

"I've got a lot on my mind, shut up!" Inuyasha snapped as he shoved the football roughly into Kouga's hands.

"Well you'd better pull your head out of your ass before our first game Friday night or coach will bench you," Kouga replied.

"Yeah, yeah!" Inuyasha rolled his eyes and walked away.

He went over to his water bottle and took a swig before turning back to the practice field. He hated to admit it but Kouga was right, he needed to get his act together.

"I need to quit thinking about that damn girl," Inuyasha grumbled as he jogged back over to his teammates.

….

"Kagome you're pretty good!" Kagura told her new teammate as they finished up tennis practice.

Kagome smiled, "Thanks! I'm trying my best!"

The dark haired girl made her way back home where she showered and then ate dinner with her parents. She hurried upstairs afterward to her room and proceeded to do her homework. After she made it through most of her work her mind started to wander. She was really interested in this Inuyasha guy and it wasn't because he had a totally abnormal hair color. Kagome wanted to know what had him so hooked on that Kikyou girl and she wanted to know about his family. His brother Sesshomaru seemed like he was so far out of everyone's league it wasn't funny. Kagome couldn't believe how intimidating she found the elder brother and was curious to know how Inuyasha got along with him.

In truth, Kagome felt bad for Inuyasha. She didn't like that Kikyou toyed with him and broke his heart again and again. No one deserved that. She stared blankly down at her homework and sighed, getting her mind back on track. She finished the assignment quickly and decided to go to bed early that night.

…

"How did your first tennis practice as an official member go?!" Sango asked with a big smile the next morning.

Kagome smiled back as she got her things out of her locker, "It was great! Apparently I'm doing very well. I just do my best!"

Sango nodded, "That's all you can do, and it looks like you're doing great."

They started walking to class and Kagome saw Miroku and Inuyasha enter the room before them. She briefly made eye contact with the silver haired boy and noticed he gave her an almost confused expression.

"So does Inuyasha still like Kikyou that much?" Kagome found herself asking Sango.

Sango gave her a bizarre look and spoke, "I guess he does. He's been chasing after her since last year when they broke up the first time. They were on an off, but I think she only enjoyed the power she had over him. It's pretty horrible what she does to him. Half the time he's devastated because he thinks she hates him."

Kagome frowned at Sango's explanation, "That's really sad, and mean at the same time."

Sango nodded, "It is, but he's the idiot who keeps falling for her tricks rather than forgetting about her."

The pair sat down in class and the teacher started lecturing. Kagome followed the notes closely until her attention started to wane at the end of the period. Her eyes went to Inuyasha's back. He was slumped over with his chin resting in the palm of his hand. She then looked over to Kikyou who was staring at the teacher with an intrigued expression; writing notes rapidly. Kagome squeezed her pen, it made her slightly irritated, the way Kikyou seemed hitched on every word the teacher said, it screamed 'suck up'. She remembered Sango telling her about Kikyou getting good grades on top of being the most popular girl and cheerleader in their class. The bell rang and Kagome stood up, collecting her notes and putting them into her book bag. She left the room and made her way to her next class.

…..

Kagome was shocked that Inuyasha was sitting at their table once again that day. She also noticed that he was staring at her with a scrutinizing expression. She squirmed in her seat and her eyes looked away. She felt extremely uncomfortable and glanced at Sango with helpless big eyes.

"Kagome?" Sango asked in a concerned voice.

"Um, can we go to the restroom real quick?" Kagome asked, knowing that boys would never question that excuse.

Sango's eyebrows shot up in realization, "Oh, yes!"

Kagome stood and Sango followed after her retreating friend. Inuyasha and Miroku stared after the girls and then looked at each other.

"What the hell is that about?" Inuyasha asked Miroku.

"Don't you know?" Miroku questioned, and then continued, "When girls need to go to the restroom together it can mean one of two things… They're talking about boys, or it's… that time of the month."

Inuyasha's mouth dropped in horror, "That time of the month? When they get really angry for no reason?"

Miroku nodded, "I'm afraid so."

"Maybe they're talking about us," Inuyasha mused.

"Why are you so interested in Kagome all of the sudden?" Miroku asked with a sly grin.

"I'm not!" Inuyasha snapped defensively.

Miroku shrugged, "Whatever you say."

…

"Did you see him Sango? He was staring at me, really staring, I was freaked out!" Kagome cried once they were safe in the girl's restroom.

Sango frowned, "I didn't notice…"

"Why is he also suddenly sitting with us?" Kagome asked, "I don't mind, but it's just weird since you've said he usually sits with his team."

Sango shook her head, "I didn't say that, he does sit with his team, but he goes through spurts with who he sits with. It's whatever he feels like doing, Inuyasha isn't a predictable guy."

Kagome's eyes shot to the ground, "I don't know what to say to him."

Sango's expression fell, "Do you like him or something?"

"What?! No! That's ridiculous! He likes Kikyou!" Kagome exploded.

Sango shrugged, "I don't know, maybe you should keep an open mind. Maybe you could be his fresh start, overall he's a good guy, even though he's a bit hot headed."

Kagome's stomach felt like it was flipping over inside of her. She didn't know why she was having these feelings. Why the heck was she drawn to this guy? She didn't even know him!

….

"Alright class, we're going to be doing a project so you'll need to grab a partner."

Kagome's eyes shot to Sango and her friend looked back at her with a knowing smile.

"Sango! Please be my partner!"

Kagome's jaw dropped as she watched Miroku grab her friend's arm possessively. Sango's eyebrows shot up and she frowned at Kagome. The desk in front of Kagome moved and her eyes shifted from her friend to the space directly in front of her. Immediately her heart started pounding.

"Hey."

Kagome stared at Inuyasha who was watching her with curious golden eyes. It was the first time she had noticed his eye color and it was just as unique as his silver hair.

"Are you going to say anything or sit there and gawk?" Inuyasha asked.

"Sorry!" Kagome sputtered.

"So will you be my partner or what?" Inuyasha asked like it was no big deal.

Kagome nodded awkwardly, "Yes, that's fine."

Kikyou stared at the scene from across the room and scowled. That was the first time that Inuyasha hadn't even looked at her when a partner project was given. He always pined to be with her whenever he could. Was he done with her? Jealousy raged inside her as she watched him stare, totally enraptured by the dark haired girl in front of him. Kikyou knew that she was a new girl at the school and didn't know her name. She had barely taken notice of the girl, but now this new girl definitely had her attention.

"From what I see, we will need to meet up after school to do this," Kagome noted, as she skimmed over the project paper that had just been passed out.

Inuyasha nodded, "Yep, sounds fine, your house or mine?"

Kagome shrugged, "We could mix it up, one time at your house and one at mine, that would be enough time to get it done."

Inuyasha smiled, "Alright."

…

"I'm so sorry about ditching you for the project!" Sango apologized once school was over and they were back at their lockers.

Kagome smiled, "It's no big deal."

"I feel awful! Especially after you talked about how much Inuyasha freaked you out!" Sango said with a sad face.

"It's fine," Kagome reassured her, "Inuyasha actually didn't seem that bad once I talked to him."

Sango's eyes widened, "Really? Well I'm glad."

"Tomorrow after school I'm going to his house," Kagome added sheepishly.

Sango slammed her locker, "What?! Are you serious? You aren't going to do the project at neutral site like the library or something?"

"Oh, I guess I didn't think of that," Kagome said with a thoughtful look, "But he's coming to my place the day after. We're rotating, I think it'll only take us those two days meeting outside of school to finish it."

Sango nodded, "Probably… and you'd better tell me everything that happens! I think he might be interested."

"Interested?" Kagome questioned as she pulled her tennis bag out of her locker.

"Yeah, I think he might be interested in you," Sango confirmed.

Kagome shook her head, "No way, he likes Kikyou! He was only my partner because there was no one left in the class to pair with!"

"There were plenty of people Kagome."

Kagome shut her locker and changed the subject, "I'm off to practice! I'll see you tomorrow Sango!"

The soccer player watched her friend dart down the hallway and she looked thoughtful.

"Sango! What are you doing all alone out here?" Miroku asked, appearing at her side.

"Does Inuyasha like Kagome?" Sango asked him.

Miroku's eyes widened, "I'm not sure… but I told him he should check her out, she's a nice girl, much better than Kikyou."

Sango scowled at him, "If he hurts her I'll wring your neck since it was all your idea."

"He was against my idea! This was all his own doing! I think he might be genuinely interested in her," Miroku defended himself.

Sango sighed, "They wouldn't be a bad couple, but his obsession with Kikyou worries me, I doubt he can get over her just like that. I really hope he doesn't end up hurting her… then again I don't know if she even likes him."

"Let's make an agreement, I'll get Inuyasha to tell me how the project goes, and you get Kagome to tell you how it goes. I'm sure we'll be able to figure out if they like each other if we put our stories together," Miroku said.

Sango agreed, "Sounds like a plan."