Chapter 19: There's No Pretending

Nancy's POV

"Hey Norm, you missed a spot," One of the students said to Nancy as she was cleaning a table. She glanced at the table, noticing it was perfectly clean—until the student turned over a plate of spaghetti on it, as they stared straight at her. Daring her to do something about it-Nancy sighed and started to grab the spaghetti on the table, throwing it in the trash can she rolled around the cafeteria. The student grinned and left her with a parting, "Just like a Norn to cower in the presence of people with power." Nancy rolled her eyes as she started to clean the table she just finished cleaning. This would only last another twelve days. A temporary setback that her mother created. She knew her mother didn't want her at the academy. She also knew why her father didn't want to raise her.

It all came down to the fact that she was Norm, and all of her blood relatives were not. Some moments she reveled in the fact that she could pack her bags, return to California with her wonderful mother Lucy, and live out the rest of her days blissfully unaware that demons existed. But she knew deep down that she wouldn't change her mind. Raising her hand up towards her neck, Nancy stopped short, forgetting that tomato sauce clung to her gloves. Nancy then reached back down for a rag and continued cleaning.

A few minutes later, Nancy switched to mopping the floors and was just about halfway through the cafeteria when someone bumped into Nancy and spilt a strawberry milkshake on the floor, spilling the contents over Nancy's shoes and pants. She looked up and saw Marina staring at her with a look of disdain. "Sorry," she said with a sickly sweet tone before walking off, leaving the mess for Nancy to clean up.

Grumbling, Nancy reached for the shake and tossed the rest of the contents in the trash can, and used her rag to clean up the shake off the floor. Before she got back to mopping another student stopped a few feet away from her. She looked up to see that he held an empty salad container in his hands and she glared at him, "Let me guess, you're too lazy to throw your own damn trash in the garbage can that's literally right next to you?"

"No," is all he says before throwing it in the trash can.

"Thanks," Nancy replies shocked that he didn't throw it at her. She then rolled her eyes at herself when she thanked him for doing something that was expected of him.

He only grinned before saying, "You're welcome."

Nancy only nods her head in response before continuing to mop the floor.

"You know Marina always picks on people she thinks are weak to make herself feel better. Being ranked number three is quite the thorn in her side."

"I figured as much, most bullies are the same no matter what color, creed, or age," Nancy retorts.

"My name is Ryu," the boy says before taking a seat on the table close by. "I take it you are Nancy the Norm?"

"That's me, waving my Norm flag in the air for all to see," Nancy says sardonically. She glances back at Ryu and guesses that he can't be a day over sixteen. She wondered was this kid talking to her when everyone in the room treated her with such hate. "Why are you talking to me?"

"Just wanted to. Is that wrong?"

"No, it's just strange. Most people here would rather spit in my face than hold a conversation."

"I'm not one of those people that would spit in someone's face just because they're different," Ryu says in return. And then suddenly Aliah appears right beside Ryu, kissing him on the cheek. She regards me with a raised eyebrow before looking at Ryu who only smiles at her.

"What are you doing here? I thought you had to study?"

"Yeah, but I figured our classmate needed someone to talk to, cleaning the cafeteria looks dreadfully boring."

"Oh," Is all Aliah says before sitting next to Ryu.

They talk for another ten minutes about the school, classes, and even TV shows before Aliah and Ryu take their leave. Aliah looking at Nancy with a wary glance as they walk away. Nancy only grins at the two lovebirds and then gets back to cleaning the cafeteria floors.