Disclaimer: I don't own anything…But mark my words, I will!

Chapter 2

I stared at her. I stared at her with nothing but envy. "I got in!" she had said earlier. I plastered a smile on my face, and faked cheeriness. "Oh my god! That's great! Good job!" She laughed; her eyes gleamed with joy and pride. "Thanks! You should totally go check if you got in, because I just stopped looking as soon as I saw my name, that's all that mattered at the time." She laughed at herself. I envied that. I envied how she could be so light hearted about things. I envied how naïve and innocent she was towards life. I envied how the simplest things made her smile, while I hadn't smiled a real smile in over three months. I felt something deep inside me stir. I knew that feeling. I knew that feeling well by now; it was bitterness. Oh how I hated it, but I couldn't help myself. She had something that I had lost and something that I will never be able to get back. All because of him. I felt a wave of anger rise through my body. Anger at him and most importantly anger at myself. I hated how I let him see me vulnerable, broken, and totally and completely exposed.

I let him see a side of me that I've never showed anyone else, my self included. I gave him the part of me so sheer and pure, that I wasn't even sure myself that it was real. And he tainted it. I felt another wave of anger. How could he do that? Better question, how could I let him do that?

I felt bitter all over again. It was my fault for trusting him. For having hope in something that just wasn't there. For giving him a part of my heart and soul without a second thought, thinking that if anything happened, he would help pick up the pieces.

A dry chuckle escaped my lips. Oh how wrong I was. I couldn't have been anymore wrong if I tried. Tears of regret started to fill up my eyes and blur my vision. I stubbornly blinked them away.

No, I thought, I will not show weakness, not now. Not when I worked so hard to be where I was right now: strong, independent, and almost uncaring. No, I thought, he was just some long last chapter of my life that I didn't care anything about; at least that's how I'd like to think of it.

All those feelings of regret, sadness, pain and love that I felt for him started to surface once again. It confused and angered me. Wasn't he supposed to disappear from my mind and heart the moment that he betrayed me? Deep down I knew that it was never going to be that easy, yet I couldn't help but hope that maybe, just maybe, it would.

I tried to shake off all the feelings that started to emerge from the deep hole that I buried them in. I tried to ignore all the pain, and instead I tried to focus on my anger and let it consume me whole. I felt it spread throughout my body and fuel me up to not give up, and go on. To prove that he doesn't rule my life or have any effect on me. I welcomed the passionate rage and with all my heart I prayed to God, to not let me lose my anger, for without it I am nothing. If I lose my fury then I will lose the game, and that will leave me once again, stripped down and empty.

Eri was still talking, and now she looked at me expectedly, waiting for an answer. I mentally shook all those thoughts away, and tried to focus all of my attention on her. "I'm sorry," I said, "What did you say?"

"Day dreaming again, Kagome?" she said teasingly. I gave her a strained smile. "Sort of," I replied, trying to sound as light hearted as I could. She just chuckled, finding it cute.

"What I said was, do you know how you did?"

"Oh…, well no," I said somewhat unsure. "I mean, I didn't look yet."

"Well then go look!" she said excitingly, grabbing me by the shoulders. "Come one, come on!" she pushed me in the direction of the door.

"I will, I will, you don't have to be so pushy." I forced a laugh, "But class is about to start."

She gave me a look that clearly said, "So what? Who cares?" I raked my brain for an excuse. "You how touchy lately my mom is about my grades, and I'm like totally failing this stupid class, so I have to be here." She looked at me uncertainly. "My second period is in that direction, I'll look then, I promise."

She still didn't look convinced, but let it go. "Ok well then, I guess I better go too." I resisted the urge to let out a grateful sigh. "See ya later." She said, walking away.

"Yeah, see ya."

"Tell me if you got in!" she called over her shoulder.

"Uha!"

I closed my eyes, and took in a deep, shaky breath. So close, so damn close. Truth was I already looked, and I didn't get in. I earlier rummaged my brain for reasons of why I didn't get it. I replayed that day over and over in my head, and considered everything, and still didn't understand why I didn't get in.

I swung by backpack over my left shoulder, and started walking toward my class, deep in thought. I did my best at the tryouts, and now I have come accepting of the idea that I didn't get in. The last step was to let it go and move on. But…I just couldn't. I still did not understand why I didn't get in. I know I was better than most people who got in, much better. Yet, it will be them that will be on my stage drinking up what was supposed to be my triumph and glory.

Hatred started to cloud my thinking. I hated all off them, because no one was as deserving and as worthy as me for the part. No one! I clenched my fists, and narrowed my eyes. Oh, I would get over it alright, I thought but I would never, ever let it go.

Still deep in thought I didn't notice him, and we almost crashed into each other. I lost my balance, and fell, my books scattered everywhere. I looked up, and he was standing there, looking as confident as ever, while I was at his feet, on the floor, kneeling. This brought memories I'd rather not remember. I quickly started to gather my stuff, avoiding his eyes. Not that it mattered, he wasn't even looking my way! The jerk!

He just stood there, talking to his buddies, not sparing me a glance while here I was on the floor, and it was partially his fault, and he didn't even try to help! The nerve of the guy! I don't even know what I saw in him in the first place!

Standing up with my stuff in hand, I gave him the coldest glare I could master. He was avoiding my gaze, I knew, but he would still be able to feel my eyes on him, burning a hole on the back of his head, making him uncomfortable in his own skin. Good. He deserved to suffer.

I squared my shoulders and lifted my head in a confident manner, to show him that I was a changed person and was not afraid of him. I felt his eyes on me. So he noticed… Excellent. As I walked away I felt his burning gaze on me the whole time. So he was intrigued…Even better.

I smirked, this could be fun.

A/N: Told ya I would update soon, lol. I couldn't help myself! Finally something is starting to happen, so this should be interesting. Please review I would love to see what you guys think!