Disclaimer: I do not own I am Number Four. This is the property of Pittacus Lore (James Frey and Jobie Hughes)
A/N: This is my new series of one-shots or little arcs between John (Four), Jane (Six) and the whole I am Number Four crew. They may be a bit out of character and I apologize for it. Enjoy! I have to thank Constellapeia (Skye) for being such a speedy beta. Thank you for correcting all my stupid grammar mistakes I was too lazy or stupid to check myself.
If We had Normal Lives pt 1
"You're going to the party tonight." Jane swiftly moved her hand just in time as the locker door slammed shut. She turned to glare at the redhead who stared back with gleaming brown eyes and a furious pout. Jane sighed and brushed a stubborn strand of her black hair out of her face, wishing she could do the same with the girl in front of her. "I'm serious. As your best friend – "
"Self-proclaimed best friend," Jane corrected as she readjusted her bag and gave Emily a tired stare. The redhead was unfazed by her friend's negative comment and continued smiling. Jane just moved to Paradise, Ohio a few months ago, starting a tiny buzz through the school. The dark haired beauty has taken the school by storm, getting the girls' soccer team to state and unconsciously causing guys to trip over each other trying to impress her. Even with all the attention from the opposite sex, Jane easily sidesteps the advances which included star quarterback Mark. Emily decided to take the girl under her wing, despite Jane denying she didn't need any help. "And why do I need to go to a party? You know I hate that stuff."
Emily waved her friend's disgruntled comment away and followed Jane through the hall towards their next class. "Jane, you've lived here for six months and you rarely socialize with anyone." Jane didn't deny it. The small town life was a huge contrast to her big city home in Los Angles. She missed being able to blend in to the background and make fun of the cheerleaders and football jocks with her best friend, Marina. She missed playing soccer and not caring if her hair was just right or if mud was smeared across her bottom. But most of all, she missed being invisible. Paradise, Ohio was just too small to be invisible especially if you were the new kid. Her life in LA seemed like a distant memory now. Sighing, Jane brushed those thoughts away and smiled at Emily. She had only half a year left and then she could go to college in LA where she belonged.
"Jane! Are you listening to me?" Emily shrieked like a bird. Jane smiled ruefully. Emily was a sweet girl who cared a bit too much. At times, Emily could be a bit ditzy. Jane wouldn't admit it but she enjoyed Emily's chatter. It made things feel a bit less lonely. "You weren't listening again. I should be mad at you." Her cheeks puffed up and she crossed her arms. Emily looked more like a kid throwing a tantrum than a mature teenager. She couldn't stay mad at anyone. She was too nice and forgiving. "Anyways, there's a reason for this party."
"You mean there's a purpose for getting drunk, making out with random guys and then regretting it instantly afterwards?" Jane asked in a fake astonished voice. Emily swatted her arm and sighed like she was going to give up on Jane. "Ok, ok, I'll bite. What's so different about this party?" Jane asked, and Emily beamed her famous thousand watt smile.
"Sarah has a new boyfriend and you have to meet him." Jane frowned instantly, forcing herself to refrain from making any comment about Sarah Hart. Sarah is everyone's sweetheart. No one in their small town they reside in hates her. She's perfect in every way, even after quitting the cheerleading squad and trading her pompoms for a camera. Everyone still adores her even after the breaking up with Mark James, the golden boy of Paradise. Jane didn't have a real problem with the resident photographer. Sarah was sweet - at times. Jane felt like a cavity was coming in. Sure, Sarah was a hometown beauty that was so humble it could get almost annoying. Jane had spoken to the girl a few times but aside from that, no real contact had occurred. They were only friends by association.
"New boyfriend?" Jane repeated, remembering the time Sarah tried to take a picture of her for her blog, "Strangers in Paradise". It was a very flattering photo where Jane covered her face with a physic textbook. "And how do I fit into this?" And who is she dating? Jane thought, running through possible guys in her head. Not Mark since he's still making blatant passes at me. Surely not Sam since he's taken. Who?
"Jane, you know Sarah just wants to be friends with you. If you stop pushing people away…" Jane sighed. She had already heard this lecture at least twenty times, give or take a few.
"I'm not pushing anyone away." Jane cuts her off. "Sarah… she's just too sensitive sometimes. Just because everyone in town adores her, doesn't mean I have too." She peeked at her cell phone, frowning at the time. "Look, Em, I'll love to continue chatting but I have physics in a few and Anderson nearly chewed my head off last time for being late." She inched towards the science hall but Emily latched her hand around Jane's arm.
"Oh no, you're not getting away until you promise you'll go." Emily demanded while looking at her with determined brown eyes. Jane tugged her arm but Emily wouldn't relent. She sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Em, you're acting like a child."
"Promise me you'll go or else I'll sic the whole team on you during practice." Jane shivered, thinking about their soccer captain. Julie was their goal keeper and captain who could be very persuasive if she wanted to be. Millie, another soccer girl, enjoyed torturing Jane so much she adopted it as a hobby. "We have a tradition here for the soccer girls to hang out with the football guys. If you don't go, you'll break tradition." Jane frowned at the mention of the football guys.
"Fine, I'll go but can you promise to keep Mark James and all his jerky friends away from me?" Jane was so close to kicking one of the football jerks in the balls if they looked down her shirt again. Emily nodded her head enthusiastically, grinning from ear to ear. The expression reminded Jane of a puppy's whose master had returned home. "Ok, I'll go! Can I please go to physic now?" Emily finally released her friend's arm and skipped off, leaving an exhausted Jane. Just one more period and practice and then I'm done, Jane repeated in her head as she opened the door, ready to collapse into her chair and sleep the period away. But instead someone was already occupying her usual seat. Jane stood there, internally moaning in frustration and studied the young man.
She could tell he was tall by the way he slumped in the tiny desk. His jean clad legs were fully extended. Underneath the sturdy fabric, Jane could see hints of his strong muscles from hours of running. He wore a thick jacket with the hood pulled up, hiding his hair but a few stubborn strands of blond popped out. Jane wasn't able to see his eyes or face since he was engrossed with his smart phone but she knew he wasn't a Paradise local. "Um, excuse me, you're in my seat." She stated plainly, not in the mood to deal with this. Why can't this day just end? She thought as she crossed her arms and tapped her sneaker clad foot impatiently.
The young man glanced up at the sound of her voice, showing Jane the bluest eyes she had ever seen in her life. His hood fell out, revealing his strong neck and sun-kissed skin. She tried not to gape at him but he was very attractive. "Oh sorry," he said in a rich tone as his luscious lips curled into a tantalizing smirk. "I didn't see your name carved on the desk." He was either joking or making a literal statement. The desk was covered with crud drawings, swearwords and names overlapping other names. An apologetic smile slid onto his handsome face causing Jane's heart to flutter restlessly.
She walked by slowly, carefully stepping over the young man's feet. His blue eyes lingered on her slender but curvy body as she took the seat beside him. Jane's lips curled into a smile as she caught him checking her out. He didn't look away when their eyes met. "But, how else are you going to learn my name?" She teased back, leaning forward to pull her notebook and textbook out. Her low cut top gave the young man a taunting view of her cleavage which he drank in willingly. "Now, aren't you a little perv?" Jane chastised as she reached forward and tipped his head up. Her fingers softly caressed his chin, forcing him to look up. Those damn blue eyes were twinkling with mischief in them. "My eyes are up here." She whispered, licking her lips unconsciously.
"Sorry, the mind of a teenage boy." He explained while gazing into her hazel eyes. "Though, I enjoyed the view immensely." He winked which caused Jane to shake her head and chuckle. "As for your name, I guess you could just tell me. Just a suggestion."
"Well, aren't you a charmer? Jane, Jane Lawrence. And you are?"
"John, John Smith. And don't give me that look." Jane smiled before wiping the skeptic look off her face. "You have no idea how often I get that look but I'm serious. My name is John Smith. Look at my id card." He wiped out his standard Paradise High School id and forced Jane to lean in to read it.
"Ok, I believe you, Mr. Smith." She taunted, still doubting his fake name. He pouted, looking oh so adorable, coaxing a giggle from her. They chatted for the whole period. John told her about moving here a few days ago because of his father's job. Henri Smith was a writer and needed a small town like Paradise as a model for his next book. John was forced to give up his perfect like in Florida. He was the starring quarterback and Jane could guess he was Mr. Popular. "I still can't believe your dad allowed you to lounge around at home before starting class. My dad forced me to try out for the soccer team and booted me to school. You were babied."
"Did I hear you right, Ms. Lawrence? I was babied?" John repeated following her out of the classroom after the bell rang. He had taken a liking to the girl with dark silky hair and bright hazel eyes. Jane possessed supermodel looks but had a down-to-earth attitude. She was smart but didn't flaunt it for the world to see. She wasn't an attention whore which was refreshing since girls usually strived to be one. Jane wasn't the friendliest person but that was part of her charm. In reality, she was a really fun girl. "I should be offended but I'm not since I'm just that type of guy." Jane rolled her eyes and bit back a smile.
"Sure…" She replied before glancing at her cell phone. "Shit, I have soccer in a few. I'll see you later. Have a nice weekend!" Jane shouted as she started her long walk towards gym. A content smile appeared on John's face as he leisurely walked towards the principal's office to get his papers for sport's clearance signed. Even though he left his perfect life in Florida, John guessed Paradise couldn't be so bad.
A/N2: Ok this is rather short but the next part will be extra long. I promise.