Hermit's can be attractive

Hello fellow people of earth! Or people of other planets, I don't discriminate. I wanna say thanks to everybody who has read, voted, and commented. You guys are truly great!!! I wish I could give you all a cookie, but I can't so here's another chapter. Enjoy!

P.s If you want to see the pictures of the celebrities of my characters I see best fit, I put a link on my profile page.

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I stood in front of my full-length mirror in my bathroom staring at the clothes I was forced to put on. I had no other choice but to either put on the clothes my mother bought or go naked.

I like the first one much better.

This morning, my sister woke me storming into my room going into my closet to pick out an outfit for me, under my mother orders. She knew I would either not go to school or pick something hideous, so she had Gwen make sure I looked acceptable.

Gwen picked out a simple light blue chambray dress with white polka dots and buttons down the center. It was sort of tight fitting so all my curves were on display just like my mother liked it. The dress didn't even reach my knees. Like what ever happen to dresses like that. The dress was luckily paired with white multi-strap sandals.

Gwen even pulled all my long hair blonde hair to one side, leaving some hair hanging on the other side and braided it in a messy fishtail.

To top my morning off, my mother had the nerve to steal my glasses. When I went to reach for them on my nightstand I only found a box of contacts with a note saying "You will get these back later."

I really didn't want to go to school today.

I sighed begrudgingly. I went over to pick up the tote bag my sister happily given me because apparently you weren't supposed to wear backpacks with dresses.

I trudged down the stairs trying to prolong my trek to school. Mind as well get breakfast too, since I'm trying to procrastinate.

When I walked into the kitchen, Gwen was at the bar eating an apple and drinking a cup of coffee. I took the liberty of pouring some for myself.

I slowly took a sip relishing in the dark liquid.

"Oh la la, don't we look fancy." Gwen spoke upon noticing me. She admired her handy work with a smile.

I slouched into the counter I was leaning on trying to shy away from her stare.

"What did mother say about slouching? It messes up your posture." Gwen nags teasingly.

"Blah blah blah." I mumble in the rim of the coffee cup.

"Ok when you end up looking like a hermit, don't come crying to me."

"What if my life goal is to be a hermit, then what?"

She glared at me noting finding what I said funny. "You will be one attractive hermit then." She said dryly. "Neal called and said you don't have to pick him up this morning."

I groaned out loud. Great, now I would have to get to my locker without the protection of Neal. Everyone would see how I looked.

"Ok then." I say preparing to leave for school. Gwen stopped me before I could make it to the door. She unbuttons the first button on the dress.

"For that extra...." Gwen said with a French accent. "Je ne sais quoi."

"Whatever, I'll see you later." I respond not bothering to button it back up.

"Bye. Make sure your home on time for grandma."

"Whatever." I say walking towards the front door.

Let's get the torture over with.

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On the way to the school, I texted Neal to meet me at the school doors. I didn't want to have to walk all the way to my locker unguarded.

I pulled into the parking lot with a bundle of nerves. It was one thing to have to wear this kind of "revealing" clothes at the carnival. At school it was a whole different thing.

At the carnival teens are being watched by the adults so they have to act a certain way. At school, you were able to act however you wanted. No telling how people will react to me.

I take a couple of breaths before exiting the car. I scoped out the parking lot. There were not many people hanging about in the parking lot and those who were, weren't paying attention to me.

I grabbed my stuff quickly and made my way over to Neal.

Neal was leaning on a wall near the doorway, playing what it looked like an app on his iPhone.

I cleared my throat to get his attention. He pocketed his phone quickly. Neal gave me one glance before his features morphed with amusement.

"Oh my god." He said with an under toning chuckle.

"Don't even."

"But..... Why?" Neal said, grimacing trying to hold in a laugh.

"My mother is making me. Grandma is flying in and she wants to show off."

Neal suddenly stopped laughing.He patted my shoulder in understanding. "I'm sorry your mother is such an ass." Neal said in an attempt to make it better.

I smiled a little at that."She's more of a bitch."

"How long do you have to wear this stuff?"

"Till my grandma leaves."

"Brutal. You look beautiful though, and if anyone says otherwise, I'll kick their ass. "Neal said, puffing out his chest, trying to look muscular.

"Thanks."

"You ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

Neal opened the door for me as we walked into the school. I ducked my head, preparing for the whispers and the stares.

As predicted everyone's attention gravitated towards me. Some just stared, I even heard someone whistle, others whispered comments like "Who's the new girl."

That kind of angered me a little. I knew I looked a little different but come on I have lived in Cranbrooke since I was little.

I just had to suck it up and keep moving forward. And that's what I did. Neal hovered close to me.

Finally, I reached my locker. Neal stayed with me probably already having gone to his.

"Do hermit people have hunchbacks?" I rattled off randomly trying to distract myself from the stares coming from all around.

"What? How am I supposed to know?" Neal snorted.

I shrugged, opening my locker. When the door opened, a plastic gift bag tied with a pink bow fell out and onto the floor.

I bent carefully as I could in a dress and scooped up the bag. There was a note attached that said: " I heard you dropped your candy" -O

My first thought was how did some creep get into my locker? Then I realized it must have been from Olivia. At least that's what I thought. It could be from quarterback Owen Ashford, but I highly doubt that.

I didn't want to admit it, but I wanted it to be from Olivia.

I smiled softly at the bag, examining its contents through the clear bag. There were of course, my favorite flavors of Dum Dum suckers but there were also some of my favorite candy, it held: Hersey kisses, gummy bears, and sour skittles.

How did Olivia find out, found my favorite candies? If I didn't find the gesture so adorable and my heart wasn't beating so fast, I probably would have thought it was creepy, that she had gotten into my locker and knew my favorites.

Neal peeked out from behind my shoulder to get a look at what I was holding. He let out any excited squeal when he saw that it was candy. "Ohhh, can I have some?"

"N-no." I said, clutching the bag to me. Neal cocked his head to the side with confusion.

"Why not? You always share with me."

I didn't want to share this with him. This candy was meant for me and only me. Olivia intended for me to eat it so I will. Look at me getting all possessive over some candy.

"I-I don't want to s-share this time." I said with a small voice. I quickly put the candy in my tote bag, hoping he would just drop it.

Neal frowned, eyeing me with suspicion. "Who is it from?"

"I-I don't know. There was no-no note." I tried to lie smoothly, but my cursed stutter was getting in the way.

Neal huffed and crossed his arms. "Fine, don't tell me. I have a feeling I know who it is anyways. But I'm not going to say anything."

Inwardly I sighed with relief.I'm glad he let it go and didn't bring up his notion. I wasn't ready to confront these strange feels I was having about Olivia that I shouldn't. For now I would just enjoy the candy Olivia had given me.

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My classes went by rather quickly considering I had to sit through each of them enduring the stares, counting the minutes till I was able to dash out the classroom.

I hadn't seen Olivia all day. I hated to admit I was constantly searching the halls for her luscious brown locks. Trying to catch a glimpse of her somewhere. To, you know, thank her.

I gathered my stuff ready to get to my locker. As I walked I could feel a presence hover near me. I knew it wasn't Neal because his last class was on the other side of the school. I looked to my left, searching. No one was there so I turned to my right.

Danika stood there smiling at me.I wasn't expecting her to be so close. So being me dropped the books I was holding in my hands.

I stooped to pick them, keeping my head low to hide my reddening cheeks.I can be such a klutz.

Danika stooped next to me to help me gather my books. People lingered around trying to see the commotion, but most moved on. "This is the second time I have scared you." She chuckled.

I stayed silent because of my nervousness and not knowing what to say.

"Strong, silent type, I suppose." Danika said, grabbing the last book standing at full height; I stood as well sticking my hand out asking for my books.

She simply copied my gesture. "I'll carry them. Don't want you dropping them again." When I didn't hand them over, she smiled a bright smile trying to coax me. I reluctantly handed them to her.

"Lead the way."

I did, walking ahead of her. She followed behind me quietly, the reason I knew she was still there was because I feel her gaze on my back and, do I dare say it, my backside. I'm not even remotely joking.

When my locker came into view, I could see someone leaning against the one next to it. I couldn't get a clear view of their face because they were staring down at their shoes.

Just as we near closer Olivia picked up her head to look at me. As her glance left my eyes, her jaw slackened and her eyes widen just a little. Her eyes traveled up and down my body repeatedly. A shiver shot up my spine. I even gave a little smile.

Olivia cleared her throat, standing up straight. "W-why... you're... clothesumm different." She said in fragments. I smile even more because it was kind of adorable. I knew what she said though.

"My mother made me."

"Doesn't she look ravishing?" Danika spoke up now with a British accent, but you could tell she was serious about her thinking I looked "ravishing". I had forgotten she was there.

Olivia turned her attention to Danika. Her gaze was no longer light and warm, but cold and steely. Her grin vanished as she looks at Danika. Danika just stared back with a wickedly sweet smile.

"Danika."

"Olivia."

I watched as they stared at each other in some type of battle that I didn't know about.

"What do you want?"

"Joey..."Danika started, but smirked with Olivia's jaw clenched at my nickname." had dropped her books and I was polite enough to help her carry them back to her locker."

Olivia just glared, trying to find a flaw in Danika explanation. "Okay. So what are you still doing here?"

Danika's smirk grew wider. "Maybe I wanted to get to know Joey, seeing that we have gone to the same school for 2 years. And she doesn't seem to have anyone attached to her, so I thought why not." She made the word "attached" sound like it had a double meaning. Olivia must have caught it too, because she raised a fine eyebrow.

"I think she can handle her own books now. So you can just run along." Olivia said with a slight sneer, waving her hand in a shoo motion. Olivia's gesture causes a wolfish grin to appear on Danika's face.

"Okay, I'll leave." Danika swiveled toward me resting a hand on my bare arm, handing my books back to me. "I'll see you later." She ran her hand lightly down my arm before parting.

Olivia glared after her with a scowl. I thought nothing of Danika after she left only focusing on Olivia's facial expressions. She looked angry, but to me it was just cute. For an odd reason these days, I found most things Olivia did cute.

I shook my head, because I should not have been thinking that Olivia was cute. Especially since she was standing right there. I went on to open my locker and shoved my books in and grabbing the ones I might need tonight. Olivia eye's followed my every move as she leaned against the locker adjacent.

My motions slowed for a moment as I thought about the candy in my tote bag. "Thank you." I blurted, not looking Olivia in the face. "F-for the candy." I said in a whisper while blushing.

I could see Olivia warm smile bloom on her face. "You're welcome. I wanted to do something for you since your other candy fell to the floor. I know how much you love it." Butterflies swarmed in my stomach at the fact she actually was listening and remember a little small thing like that about me.

"H-how did you even get into my locker? Or know my favorite candies?" I asked.

Olivia tried to look aloof, but failed since she was smiling widely. "I have people."

"B-by people do you mean Neal?" I had a hutch she got the information from him because he knew everything about me. Or it could have been Gwen.

"You will never know." She looked at me playfully smiling. I couldn't help but to smile back. Olivia had one of those infectious smiles.

Maybe, just maybe, I didn't want this whole Olivia hanging around thing to pass. No, not just yet.

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"Je ne sais quoi" means a certain something (attractivness) about said person. Apperently it actually doesn't from all the comments but I decided to just leave it.

~~Athena