I apologize for the very short chapters! I think it just happens because I find certain spots that I feel are just perfect for stopping ^-^. I don't own that first little quote, don't sue me!

Chapter 2

September 7, 2001

Fall Semester

"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."-Oscar Wilde


Just as he'd done on the first day of school, Sasuke continued to arrive to class before all of his other peers. Unlike the first day, however, he would not speak to me. We settled into a comfortable routine for us both-I would remain at my desk and grade papers while he would slouch on his chair and stare off into space. Though he seemed to be daydreaming, one thing that bothered me about the boy was that he was always expressionless. Always.

I sighed. Today Sasuke was here even earlier than usual, and by a little investigating (what? I wasn't doing anything illegal!) I discovered that he had a free period before this class. That made sense, really.

I glanced down at the essays I'd been grading. My students had been forced to do summer reading from a specific list I'd posted online, and their first important assignment of the year had been to write an essay about it. This was really more for me to be able to assess each individual's writing style and level, and less about following guidelines or citing text. But still...so far most of them had been downright horrible. First off, everyone in the class so far had picked the shortest and easiest book on my list- Of Mice and Men. It wasn't just their lack of developed vocabulary or their bad book choice; I knew it also had a lot to do with their lack of caring for their work. That, as well as the fact that most of my students tried using extremely complicated words in their writing to sound intelligent.

I rubbed my forehead with my palms and shut my eyes for a brief moment. I finished reading through Ino's persuasive essay regarding whether or not Lennie should have been killed at the end of the novel and gave it a B-. I moved Ino's paper to the pile with the rest of the graded essays, and then set my eyes on the next one. It was Sasuke's essay. I glanced at the title critically, and I was only mildly surprised. Sasuke had written his essay on The Picture of Dorian Gray, one of the most difficult novels I'd put on my list.

I rolled my eyes. Sasuke was probably one of those arrogant, self-proclaimed-tortured writer types. He probably wallowed in made-up crap he believed himself to-

Sasuke's writing knocked the thought right out of me and caused me to inhale sharply. His essay was wonderful in it's simplicity, but at the same time, it held all of the complexity in the world. He had started off with seven very plain words- There is no such thing as beauty. How true. My mismatched eyes hungrily took in the next line of his writing.

Beauty is an abstract concept and therefore remains forever subjective.

I devoured the next line, and the line after the next, and my hands began to shake. I had never seen such talent before. Like the rest of his peers, Sasuke had disregarded the standard essay format, but his essay's quality was levels and levels above the rest. From the first time Sasuke entered my classroom, I had always wondered where all of his pent up emotions might be. Apparently, he released all of his thoughts and feelings into his writing.

With an unsteady hand I wrote out a shaky 'A-' on the top of his paper. I was supposed to move on to the next essay, but somehow..somehow...I couldn't take my eyes off of his writing. I couldn't make my hands move his paper to the 'completed' pile on my desk.

The first bell rang, and the second bell followed not long after.

Hrm...yeah. :D the next chapter should be out shortly!