"Oh my gosh! You're so funny" the young blonde girl giggled. Josh cringed, he hated Earth Space. It was his only class filled with underclassmen, particularly sophomore girls. And the other boys weren't in his grade either, and were quick to partner with the over-tanned group of girls, who were more interested in Josh. The one stand out of the class was Chelsea Hamilton. It was weird to Josh, as he remembered Chelsea as the awkward gangly girl hanging around at her sister Skye's graduation party a few years before. Now she was all outgoing and flirty, so unlike the older Hamilton. It was extremely overdone and forced, making it even more uncomfortable to be around, but she was all he had.

"Okay Chels, let's finish up the lab." Josh told the girl. He tried to remember what made his statement funny, but for the life of him, he couldn't figure out what was funny, or remember what was said.

"Aw, Chels. New nickname, I like it!" Chelsea said a little loudly, earning the jealous stares from several girls. They all whispered and tried to toss their various shades of hair, in hopes of getting Josh's attention. "Do I get to give you one?" her voice dropped down to a husky whisper.

Josh felt like a pedophile.

Thankfully, the class ended and amidst last minute homework assignments, Josh bolted from the classroom.

"Hi Josh!"

"Hey Hotz Stuff!" a freshman giggled to her friend.

Josh sighed and tried to enjoy a moment to himself. This was his typical day. Ever since he got his braces off, hit the gym and started an intense Accutane regiment, he was subjected to feminine attention. It was slow first, some of Kristen's friends getting close with him. Then younger girls friending him and following him on the internet. The attention was flattering but over the top.

"Joshy!" He grimaced, turning face to face with his little sister Joise and his best friend Kristen.

"Younger sibling, Krissy." Josh acknowledged them both. "Jois, your classmates, have to be the worst." Josh complained as the group began moving.

"Which ones?" Joise's mind combed through her group of associates.

"I think it was Chloe, Alessa, and.."

"Julianna, they are in love with you."

"It's evident."

"Aw look at Joshy, gets all the love from the sophomores." Kristen tugged his cheek.

"You two are so weird!" Joise groaned. "Not to mention, embarrassing, I do have a rep."

"Whatever, I'm supposed to be embarrassing!" Kristen laughed.

"If you don't like it skedaddle." Josh added with a smile, but Joise beat her brother to the punch, making a quick turn in the opposite direction.

"Bye Josephina" Josh said, even though the teen girl was gone. Kristen slapped Josh's face softly. "Stop! No one will talk to the girl who's being humiliated by her brother in the hallway."

"Humiliated? And no one should be talking to my little sister anyways, she's not even cute."

"I know you're deflecting the fact that Joise is one of the prettiest girls in her grade, but face it. You graduate in June, and then no one will be holding back."

"They aren't holding back now. Griffin said that she is the only girl in her grade that he'll talk to." Josh twitched at the memory.

"Don't get mad. Joise is brown eyed, and has that long pretty hair. She doesn't have to tan, and she doesn't cake her make up. She's natural. Destined to be the female you. Jois will attract the older boys, like you get the younger girls." Kristen shrugged.

"Joise hangs with some girls who are dying to associate with upperclassmen. And guys are so forward. They won't turn to mush when they're around her." Josh thought of his unfortunate luck with girls at school.

"I know. Some of these girls are really cute though Josh, you just need to relax and have fun with it." Kristen told him. "You have been single all of your life. You need to experience people."

"Why don't you stop to think that maybe I enjoy this independent lifestyle?"

"Because I know you. And you are a boy. You all want a girl whether you know it or not. You are just too picky. Which is a shame because there are wonderful girls in this town."

"And who might these girls be Krissy?"

"Joise's friends, Chloe, Alessa and Juilianna and Chelsea!" Josh stared at Kristen like she had sprouted another head, "Those girls are a lot better than the immature girls in their class, and Chelsea, she's just an airhead by nature."

"Who else?" Josh tossed back to her.

"There's that new girl, Claire."

"Noticed all the girls you named are illegal." Josh returned.

"Only if you get too touchy Hotz!" Kristen laughed as she approached her next classroom. "Think about it Joshy!"

But he had thought about it.

Those girls were cute, but they were so wrong for him. They all reminded him of his little sister, and that creeped him out. Alessa was almost the girl, she was nice and cool, not obsessing over who he was as much as her other friends. But then Joise came over with the girl, and he realized the pair were close. He couldn't dare date someone his sister's age. All the others were nice girls but he felt weird dating so young.

But the real thing that made it impossible, was that all the adoration was superficial. Two years ago, none of the girls that were interested in him now, would have paid him any attention. And it made it all a little less worth pursuing the girls. He wanted a girl who wasn't interested in his looks. He wanted a girl who wouldn't play games with him.

Then Josh thought about the girl Kristen mentioned.

Claire.

He hadn't heard that name. Or seen that face. She was really new, not another town new. She probably had no clue as to he was. Maybe, she'd be worth looking into as a new girlfriend.