Different

~Chapter 2~

I lay in my bed, the seeming murder I had just witnessed running through my mind repeatedly like a runner around the track. I didn't have the strength to eat during dinner with the rest of my family. This was proven by the rumbles of anger from my stomach. If only I had eaten.

I sit and think for just a moment before slowly pushing myself up from my bed. Making my way to the door and stepping out into the hallway, I try to make sure I don't step on any of the creaky wooden floorboards as I continue my mission to the kitchen. As soon as I reach the magical-lands-of-all-things-food, I spot a blue clay bowl on the counter. Taking a peek inside I can see the soup my mom made for dinner. I guess she knew I'd come back later for food.

"Hungry at all?" I turn to see Mom leaning in the doorway. Her light brown hair up in a messy bun and her long white nightgown making her look almost like a dream in the moonlight that seeps through the windows. I give her a simple nod and she grabs a bowl from the cupboard and walks to the fridge to get leftovers.

"You don't mind if I join you, do you?"

"Not at all." I say, earning a smile from her. Why does it seem everyone in Fandoris has the perfect smile but me?

We take our seats at the small table. Mom picks the seat across from me and hands me one of the spoons she held in her hand.

We eat in silence, not sure of what to talk about. Every now and then, a simple "how's work?" or a "I'm thinking of more ways to do artwork for the family." or even some silly topic about some of the neighbors would pop up.

"How is Sunny doing?" my mom asks me.

"Pretty well I believe." Mom mutters something under her breath and I look up at her, tilting my head slightly in confusion. "What did you say?"

"Oh nothing," she waves her hand as if swatting a fly. "just saying how cute you two are." I nearly choke when she says this.

"Mooooom! We're just friends and you know that!" She laughs her normal joyful laugh. She loves when I get all uptight about my relationships with people.

"Just saying." She draws it out teasing. 'Moms' I think as I roll my eyes before standing to put my now empty bowl in the sink. After I do so, I walk back to my room and leap into my bed. I quickly feel the warm vines of sleep envelope me.

~Next Morning~

I walk out the door with my bag in hand. I had plans to go out with a few friends. After walking out of Capori I immediately see Scarlet and Kam standing on the side of a building across from Capori gates. The same building that girl was murdered behind. I shake the thought of her out of my head. That's the last thing I need to be thinking about now. It'll spoil my whole day again.

"About time." Kam smiles jokingly. Kam's from Caponi as well. Though he oddly never seemed very creative. His brown hair shines in the sun and his eyes twinkle in joy. What has him so excited today? I playfully punch his arm and turn to Scarlet.

"Is Izzy coming along?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" I hear the familiar voice behind me and turn. Izzy stands tall and proud with her auburn hair up in a ponytail. Her bangs clipped to the side so you clearly see her face. She belongs in Deltan but she's not very strict like most are.

"Well, now that we are all here, where do we go first?" Scarlet asks, glancing at all of us.

"I think there's a sale at the book store..." Izzy claims.

"No fun," Scarlet interrupts. "Kam where should we go?"

Kam thinks for a minute before saying,"We could go to the Summer Festival grounds."

I give him a puzzling look. "They're here already?" He nods in response. We all finally agree to go to the Summer Festival.

After some time walking around and riding on rides, Scarlet and Izzy run off to a ride both Kam and I don't like. Kam leads me to a bench near a group of booths.

"So did you hear about that girl's murder?" He asks me. I look down at the necklace that hangs on my neck. It's a beautiful copper sun with one of the six gems that represent each sector at the end of a sun flare. In the middle is a large opal, for the Starni.

"Yeah." It got silent for a while before I spoke up. "What are you thinking of doing for that summer project?"

"I'm not sure yet. I would do a clay sculpture but you know I'm no good at that." He chuckles slightly. "Some Capori I am."

"Don't say that Kam." I look up at him, dropping the necklace back down to its place.

"No really," he hesitates for a moment. "Can you keep a secret, Emmy?"

"Of course." I gasp as he quickly grasps my wrist and pulls me off behind him. We run for a while through the maze of booths and games, earning odd looks from many people. Kam finally stops behind the last row of booths and releases my wrist.

"Kam what are y-" I'm cut off when I look up to see Kam's eyes are no longer the brown I'm used to seeing from everyone in Fandoris. Instead I see a shocking deep blue.

"I'm not like most people, Emmy. And you can't tell anyone or they'll have m-" he stops mid sentence as I remove my contacts as well, revealing my own pair of blue eyes.

We stare at each other for a good minute or two before a smirk forms on his face.

"Well well. Not too bad Emmy. You know, if we weren't in danger for this, I would stare-" I roll my eyes and interrupt him before he can continue.

"You just made this weird."

"Sorry. We should get back to the others." I nod in agreement and we put back in our contacts.

Once we get to scarlet and Izzy, they look back and forth between us.

"Where were you two? You said you were waiting here." Izzy accuses.

"We just went for a walk." I say. Izzy and Scarlet still look suspiciously at us as we continue going around the festival.

It's at least good to know I'm not the only one.

&C& -A- ~M~ *D* :I: ~*S*~

Happy it's finally out!!!

Before anything, I am SOOOO happy to announce that, somehow, Different is #765 in Action!!! Yaaaay!

Also, sorry this was late. I'm going to TRY to update every weekend (or two) depending on my editor.

My new favorite comment that got sent to me from @BlueRaven360 :

"FORGET THE GIRLFRIEND. DIFFERENT IS LIFE!" all I can say is...freakin love you. XD

~Mkat