All my life I knew I wasn't special. I wasn't amazing, nothing notable. That's not to say I was below anyone or bullied. I was just kinda ordinary, nothing memorable about me. I didn't plan it that way, it's just was what ended up happening. Just plain old Jane.

I used to try and stand out, but I found no matter what I did, I was always a background character, not matter where I was. It's the sort of thing you get used to. After a while I almost considered it a superpower, the girl who was never remembered. I'd make a great spy.

But fate had something different for me in mind; someone different in mind at least. He was the first one who made me feel I was needed, that I was a part of the main cast. He was the first to look at me and not through me. He was the first one that taught me to care about anyone else.

If I was the star of some big picture, I'd say we'd start the film in the Ezzay. Not the biggest nightclub in town, but it had a constant stream of people. I found this an ideal place to practice the espionage skills I had convinced myself I'd need one day, and they serve good bagels. I had my own spot in the corner that was perfect for eavesdropping, right under a recruitment poster for the war and next to the pay phone. I found that as always, I could make myself invisible, no one noticed me. Until one day, someone did.

"Did you hear about Sarah and Johnny?" giggles from the next table, I rolled my eyes and hoped this wasn't going to be the speed of all the news here tonight. I scanned the room, but stopped. There was some half starved chicken staring right at me. Wait... not at me. Wait, over me. At the recruitment poster behind me. I could breath again. Human contact avoided. Because as much as I like watching people, I didn't want anything to do with talking to them. Expectantly if they looked like a toothpick.

"Not again Steve. You need a life." Good, toothpick had a friend. Now, please both of you go and get away from me so I can continue my mission. "Steve, you need a girl, not an enlistment form. I drag you places all the time and you just try and find a recruitment station. You need to get a life."

Something about the two made me uncomfortable. I don't know what, but they felt like trouble.

"Bucky, you know me, I'm not interested in girls. That's your job." Urg, why are they still right in front of my table, I can't see anything else. And these are two people I don't care about spying on. NO challenge. They are literally standing less than 10 feet in front of me and still haven't noticed me yet. Can I say boring? Maybe if I stir my hot chocolate really loud, toothpick and his friend will get the message and buzz off.

"Hey there, can I ask a favor?" I flinched, a single warning sounded in my head: HUMAN TALKING TO ME! ABORT, ABORT! Toothpick's friend had noticed me. " Woh, I didn't mean to startle you, I was just going to ask if you could give my friend here a dance? He's too shy to ask himself."

"Bucky I don't care about dancing. Besides, I think you're scaring her." Yes, thank you toothpick, I'm very much aware I look like a deer caught in some bright lights.

"No, I don't dance." I was even slightly surprised by how much my voice sounded like it hadn't been used for at least a century.

"Come on Bucky, let's go. Please." Yes listen to toothpick, now go.

"Steve, Steve, Steve," toothpick's friend rolled his eyes. "You really need to learn how to act around girls. And looks like you," he gave me a wink, creepy, "wouldn't be hurt for a lesson in social interactions either." Oh please, if there is mercy on God's green earth, get this person away from me.

"Bucky, what are you doing, she obviously wants us to go." As much as I tryed, words wouldn't come out of my mouth. So I mostly just sat there like a pale, shaky statue.

"You know me Steve, I have a soft spot for those who are socially ill adjusted. Come on, I hang around you. Besides, maybe this girl will be your speed." Why are you talking about me? I can still hear you. I gave him a death glare. "Come on, do you have anyone waiting for you?"

"Of course." I hoped my voice didn't sound too shaky as a gave him the line.

"Well then, I hope you don't mind if we wait with you. This is Steve, and I'm James, but please call me Bucky." Like I was going to be impressed by the smile he gave me.

I did what any reasonable person would do. I gave him a death stare and the silence treatment until he was the one squirming. I'll admit, he was a persistent one, he kept trying to talk to me until he realized it wasn't going to work. Toothpick wasn't so bad, he just kinda sat there and looked at the recruitment poster until his friend suggested they find something else to do. Once again, Jane 1; world 0.

Finally Monday rolled around. I was lost in thought about everything and nothing as I walked to work that day, just like every other day. It's funny. No; cashiering at Tom's Corner Market wasn't my dream job, but I didn't hate it. I usually would, having to talk to consumers at all, but this was a role I could play. No one was talking to Jane, nobody even saw her. There was the cashier, but that's all. A position, not a person.

"And how was your weekend Jane?" Molly Thomas, the other employee with the morning shift. She wasn't all that bad. It had just taken some time for me to warm up to her at all.

"Horrible, I was having a nice quiet bite at Ezzay's on Friday when a pair of guys came over and started harassing me."

"Which is your code for talking to you, you should really be nicer to people you know." I stuck my tongue out to make her chuckle at how unlikely that was.

Ding Customers this early, urgg.

"I'm telling you Steve, this store's supposed to carry all sorts of exitic fruits, like kiwis and stuff. It'll be a hit at the party." I paled. It was them. The two from last Friday. Toothpick and company. Well, not much to worry about. I remember faces well, but my face isn't the type that anyone can seem to remember.

"Hey, if it isn't the girl from last Friday." My tongue slid out of my mouth and into my stomach. I just kinda stared at him.