Jai laughed at yet another one of Chris's jokes. Being best friends with the class clown guaranteed you were never bored.

"See you later, man," Chris said, waving and slamming his locker.

"Sure. Bye, Chris." Jai went to his own locker and opened it, fully prepared to dump and run, his method of operation when he didn't have any homework for the next day, but he stopped short when he saw the note resting on top of his history textbook.

He set his books on the bottom shelf and unfolded the paper simply addressed "Jai."

"Dear Jai,

I know this whole mysterious note person

thing is way overused, but I couldn't figure

out any other way to get you to notice me.

We hardly ever talk, but when we do I'm

too shy to say this: I like you. It hasn't been

too long since I realized this, but I can't not

do anything anymore. I really hope that this

doesn't seem creepy, and instead is cute or

adorable or however guys think. I also hope

that you have a great night.

Love,

Your Secret Admirer"

Jai stared at the letter in amazement, noting the strange but beautiful curling of the letters.

Who do I even know that would write me a letter like this? He thought, running through a list of the girls he knew.

Carefully refolding the note, Jai left the school to catch the bus. He had just gotten his driver's license, but didn't have a car to drive yet so he was still a bus-rider. He didn't mind, but he missed the fun times he had had with Chris, who had been working in his parent's store since he was young – and saving money – and had recently bought his first car, a dark green Sebring. Jai also worked for Chris's parents, but still had a little bit more saving to do before he could afford the car he wanted.

As Jai got ready to go to work he debated whether to tell Chris about his secret admirer or not. While he was running through the pros and cons Chris pulled up in front of Jai's house and beeped the horn twice to let him know he was there.

"Couldn't wait to see me again?" Jai joked, sliding into the passenger seat.

"Sure, that's it." Chris said dryly. "Or it could be that I don't want us to be late for our shift."

"You just burst my bubble, dude."

"That's my job." Chris said proudly.

"No," Jai corrected. "Your job is to make wisecracks about everything and make me laugh."

"So what you're saying is that I only exist to please your funny bone?"

"You know that's not actually what that is."

"Whatever." Chris waved his comment off. "You know what I meant."

"Speaking of romance," Jai abruptly changed the subject.

"We weren't." Chris said.

"I got one of those SA notes today"

"What on earth is an SA note?" Chris asked.

"Secret admirer. SA." Jai explained.

"You," Chris said. "Jai Morgan, got a letter from a girl?"

Jai nodded. "I have no idea who it's from though."

"Duh," Chris deadpanned. "That's the whole point of the 'secret' thing."

Jai shot a look at Chris, which he ignored because he was concentrating on backing into his reserved space.

"Since we're on the subject – and we are on it since you brought it up – I was thinking..." Chris didn't finish his thought so Jai asked, "Thinking what?"

"There's this girl at our school that I want to ask out." Chris rushed his whole sentence out in one quick breath.

Jai stared at Chris.

"What happened to not dating until we're seniors?" he asked Chris.

"I don't know." Chris mumbled. "I just really like her and I don't want some other guy to get her."

"Okay, Chris." Jai said. "I guess the second semester of our junior year is close enough."

"Really? So you're not mad?"

"Nope! It's fine. Go ahead and ask her out. I wish you the best of luck." Jai clapped Chris on the shoulder and got out of the car.