My Note: This is just a little something I came up with after listening to a song and thinking about my fave episode of Penguins of Madagascar...

Here I am as me. Plain old, boring I guess, Marlene. Sure, fashion is not my first priority. And beauty may not be in my category. But I'm still a girl. Not a boy. So why? Why am I thrown amongst the guys? Why can no one find me among them?

Before, I thought my features stood out. For every otter guy asked me out. Though I'd refuse, I still was happy. I come here and things have changed. I'm no longer wanted, more than others. I'm just an ordinary otter. Why? Why don't they see me as a girl? Why don't they see me as more?

I've tried and tried. My attempts are fail. I styled my fur and even did my tail! Of course, they never notice. And once again, I'm naive, a novice. His glance never lingers on me for a minute. Yet all my time, he's in! Why does he notice, but not notice? Why does he call me cute and innocent?

Another day has come and gone. Where I tried, but victory I ended with none. His gaze completely averted me. And all the others pretend not to see. I believe I was beautiful today. More than I would ordinarily. Why can't I turn his head? Why does he look past, as if I were dead?

I've given up. Simply I've had enough. If eyes do not stare me down, then no eyes even want to. If no heads turn to see, then no heads really care to be. So I'm left as his sixth 'man' on a mission. Though attention I used to receive, I'm missing. Why bother trying, if you never fail? Why can't I ever impress a male? Why is it so different here, from there?

The most terrible nightmare. I can't talk of it; Too scared. Perhaps I was heard, most likely not. Since I'm not important, and there's always 'I forgot'. Maybe I just expect too much. Or maybe I don't expect enough. Why-

"Marlene? What are you doing?" That voice..."Um, Oh, Hi, Skipper! I-I didn't know you were there...Hahaha...I, um...wasn't really doing anything." I giggled so unconvincingly. His usual smirk of unbelief appeared. My heart is melting, of course.

"Right...Well, what ever it is, try not to wake everyone doing it, comprende?" I couldn't help staring at his perfect face...That flat head of his just makes my heart soar! "I wasn't...doing anything..Just.." I sighed, he wouldn't care.

"Just ..what?" He pressed on. Suddenly so interested in what I was and wasn't doing. Once again, I sighed. "Just...Just...Nothing." Skipper seemed unconvinced. As he should be, but still. "Marlene, we both know that's not true." I rolled my eyes and turned to face him. "I..I had a...a..OK, a nightmare, alright? I had a nightmare..." I spun around fast, so as not to see his reaction. No doubt he was dying of laughter...Or about to be.

"A nightmare? Whatever it was, I'm sure it wasn't as bad as what I heard. Now come on, tell me all about it. As boring as it may be." Shock lit up my face. He wasn't laughing at me, but even in my sensitive mood and state, he turned from caring to uncaring in a snap!

I turned around slowly, but kept my mouth shut. Just staring. He stared back, of course. I held my shoulders, sensing a chill run up my spine.

My Note: I know it's short, but I just had to leave a cliffhanger! Anyways, I love this idea of Marlene writing in her diary poetically about her every day and her thoughts...I just thought it might fit her...What do you think? Oh, and I'm sorry for not updating my stories recently, it's just that my documents were on another account on my computer and that account is really messed up so I can't retrieve those documents...Unfortunately...Guess I'll just re-write them. Review please!