<div align="center"><strong>Dann Riley</strong></div><br/>Dann trudged through the deep snow in his old black boots, wrapped up in several layers of blandly colored thick clothing. He hated being so wrapped up, and therefore hated fall and winter.<br/><br/>"Nearly there!" he gasped as he arrived on the block where his family's home was, following a five mile walk from the gymnasium he'd spent the afternoon at with his school books while oogling at the girl's volleyball time practicing beautifully on display, a hobby he thoroughly enjoyed. Sure, he could've gotten a lift from one of them, or from one of the other 6 members of his school's math squad. However in the two years he'd spent studying around the other kids, he'd never bothered to get close to them.<br/><br/>Dann had never attempted to be close to anyone really. He kept to himself, quite content with excelling in acedemics. He never participated in any organized sports but rather preferred a jog around the track after the other athletes finished using it three days a week. Most months out of the year he would love his current trek home from school. Excersize was one of the few things Dann felt comfortable doing. It afforded him the oppertunity to spend over an hour a day doing something productive (toning his slim body which he took care of), without the possibility of uninvited interruption from other human beings.<br/><br/>He didn't loathe the entire species really. Just the ones he'd met for the most part. Why couldn't Dann befriend someone like Frank Abagnale Jr., or that other guy...the most famous bill counterfieter in Canadian history. These guys were real geniuses. People on Dann's level of intellect. People he could respect. Of course there were other people he admired. Women for example such as the cute chick who lived in the duplex. Belle, was it? She was quite the piece of work. On ocassion rumors had floated around that she was a nudist, a hobby he and his sister had delved into from time to time. This claim he'd never been able to verify though since when he was home, most of the time was spent in his room hiding.<br/><br/>His social difficulties prevented him from getting to know Belle or any other girls from school on a level he wished. Being uncommunicative did have its pitfalls. However, he did have Krista, his big sis. Though Dann knew very much his parents loved him dispite his---oddities, he never allowed himself to build a connection with them either. Ever since he was a small child though, he'd developed a sense of protectiveness over his sister whom he cared for very much. They'd always looked out for eachother. She was also the only person he'd truly ever felt comfortable around.<br/><br/>Dann smiled subconsciously as his thoughts drifted to Krista. Such a beautiful person both inside and out. Lately too, they'd grown closer than he would ever have imagined, making life a bit more interesting...<br/><br/>A taxi cab wizzed by Dann, splashing black and grey slush all over his boots and jeans.<br/><br/>"Ah, fuck!" he yelled, irritated. He couldn't wait to get inside and tear off these now drenched clothes that he felt trapped in. He pondered why the cab was on his street and cursed again when he remembered. Some new guy was supposed to be arriving to live with his neighbors that day. Belle's brother to be exact.<br/><br/><em>Great, an other one to tolerate.</em><br/><br/>His grin returned as he approached the duplex though and the smell of pasta drifted down the driveway. The nieghbor's entrance closed just as he turned. At least he wouldn't need to greet the new guy just yet. He gladly sprinted the last several feet to his own doorway, tore off his boots and stumbled in the doorway.<br/><br/>"Krista?" He called, peeling off his wet jeans and sweater, standing there in long flannel underwear and a couple of warm shirts, shutting the door behind him.