A/N: Here's just another little LDD story for you

A/N: Here's just another little LDD story for you! Hope you enjoy. (Regular writing: present. Italics: thoughts or writing. Bold and Regular: article, title, or song lyrics.)

FIFTEEN SWEET THINGS

"I feel sorry that Jess is sick." Fourteen year old Leslie Burke said to her best friend's little sister, Maybelle.

"I do feel sorry for Jess." The seven year old admitted. "But it is nice to have Jess on the couch so he doesn't get me and Joycie sick."

"Yeah. I could see that." Leslie tugged Maybelle's ponytail.

"Hey, Leslie!"

Both girls peered up the Burke driveway.

"Oh, hey Dad."

"Look, I'm on my way into the city to get some supplies for renovating the study. Your Mother's in the middle of writing a book, and can't be disturbed. So do you mind coming with your old man to the Home Depot?"

The blonde turned her head towards the Aarons house. Jack and Mary were out, so the only ones home were Brenda, Ellie, and Jess. There was no light downstairs, and the figures up stairs were definitely feminine. Leslie sighed. She had been hoping to give Jess his homework, but if he wasn't even awake…

"Sure Dad." She said after a minute. "I'll come." Then she turned to Maybelle. "Can you carry Jess's stuff by yourself?"

"I'll be fine Leslie. Have fun!" She started to walk off.

"Oh, Maybelle!" Leslie jogged up to the girl.

"Yes?"

"This is my history notebook. Would you please give it to Jess with his homework so he can copy my notes and not fail our big test?"

Maybelle smiled. Sometimes Leslie and Jess were so protective of one another she wanted to laugh. It was like they were married or something. She would never say that though, because it would embarrass Leslie and her brother would most likely kill her.

"Sure thing, no problem. Have fun at Home Depot."

The blonde smiled. "Thanks. See ya!"

"See ya!"

When the little girl entered her house, she found her brother snoring on the couch. She silently set down the books on the end table and composed a note to sit on top of the pile. Then she slipped quietly up the stairs.

--

Jess woke up one hour later, at four.

"May?" He croaked, but his voice was so congested nobody could hear him. He looked at the end table to find his schoolbooks piled on it. He pulled down the note from his little sister, which was written in hot pink Crayola crayon on a napkin. He smiled.

Dear Jess,

Hope you had a nice nap. These books are your homework. Leslie gave them to me. The notebook is hers. She said it's so you don't fail your history test. Sorry if I woke you.

XOXO,

May

That was so like Maybelle. Always sweet and caring and resourceful and thinking of others. Just like Leslie. Knowing he should try to start on his makeup homework, he picked up Leslie's notebook so he could study for the test. He thumbed the pages. Though his friend had immaculate handwriting, he could only make out a few words at a time because his eyes were blurry with sickness. Also, reading made his head hurt because of congestion, and that made him dizzy.

After about ten minutes of trying to study, Jess gave up. He was still too sick. He flopped the notebook onto the table. In the act of doing so, a folded piece of paper fell out. Even though it made him nauseous and dizzy, he managed to crawl from the couch and pick it up. After all, what if it was important?

After climbing back into bed, he unfolded the paper. Maybe Leslie had summarized the test from the teacher's information or something. The words his eyes managed to read made his stomach flop.

FIFTEEN SWEET THINGS A GUY WOULD DO

His stomach flopped, and this time not from sickness. His vision was suddenly sharper. Did Leslie have a boyfriend and she wasn't telling him? Did she write this? No, he realized. It looked like it had been torn out from a magazine. But someone had marked by some parts in purple pen.

Leslie has a purple pen. The one I gave her for her birthday!

Instantly he was able to read. Jess began to devour the article.

FIFTEEN SWEET THINGS A GUY WOULD DO

By Catherine Peterson

Okay, so Les didn't write it. But why does she have it?

So, you have a special boy in mind, right? Of course you do. That's why you're reading this.

I don't. But my best friend might!

But you gotta be wondering: "How do I know he'll always show his affection for me?" or something alone those lines. Don't worry. This article will tell about some sweet things that boy will do before or during a relationship.

This seems pretty fishy to me. Maybe there's another Leslie Burke at school. Maybe my Leslie got hers by mistake.

Here's your list. Good luck!

ONE:

Holds the door open for you.

There was a check mark by this one. What did that mean?

TWO:

Carries your books home for you.

THREE:

Helps your with your lunch tray if your hands are full.

FOUR:

Helps with your homework.

There were check marks by those too. The mystery boy must be doing these.

FIVE:

Gives you flowers for no reason.

SIX:

Whenever you have been apart, he pecks you on the cheek or gives you a hug around the shoulders. (Regardless of who's around.)

SEVEN:

Dances with you at a slow song, even if you're the only ones on the floor and everyone's staring.

These had no markings. Nothing must have happened involving them yet.

EIGHT:

Remembers the smallest detail that you mentioned in minor conversation. AND can recall enough to bring it back up.

A check mark. Man, this guy was good!

NINE:

Has a pet name for you.

Check.

TEN:

If you think you see him looking at another girl, you bring it up. He responds:

"Never. I have no reason to. They're no comparison to you."

(May kiss you on the cheek)

Nothing on this one.

ELEVEN:

Tucks a piece of hair behind your ear if it falls out.

Score one for mystery boy.

TWELVE:

If you ask if an outfit looks good, or something, he responds:

"You look beautiful in anything. But that one looks especially pretty."

Zip for number twelve. But the guy's average wasn't shabby.

THIRTEEN:

NEVER forgets your birthday!! And gets you something that you may not need, but he thinks it'll be perfect because it goes with your personality or something you mentioned.

Check. No surprise.

These last two are key girls. VERY key!

FOURTEEN:

Respects your independence but will protect you if need be. Knows you have a head on your shoulders, but isn't afraid to offer advice. Isn't too proud to admit if you're better at something. Isn't bossy, but can help in a hectic situation. In other words:

He lets you be you, but he helps you if you need it. He's in tune with you, he knows you. He knows that you're strong, he trusts you. He believes in you, but doesn't expect you to go it alone.

FIFTEEN:

Can be romantic, but is first and foremost a friend. FRIENDSHIP IS KEY!

Check and check.

That's it, ladies. Don't be afraid to make up your own checklist that matches the boy as an individual, but keep these things in mind. Best of luck to you young Juliet's.

That was it.

Oh my gosh. Could Leslie have a boyfriend? No, she must not, or at least not a good one. He hasn't completed the really romantic stuff yet. Leslie has a boyfriend?!

The prospect of Leslie dating a boy and on top of that, not telling him, made poor Jess dizzy all over again. Fighting the urge to vomit, (he wasn't sure if it was from the flu or the terror of the news he had just heard.) he grabbed his sketchbook and his pencil. Flipping to a blank page, he copied down everything from that article word for word. Exhausted, he dropped into a troubled sleep.

--

Leslie arrived back from the city at about six thirty. The lights were still off where Jess was, (truthfully, he had seen her coming and made it seem as if he was asleep.) and she sighed.

After heading up to her room she decided to consult her magazine article. She found the old shoe box under her bed where the article was kept and pulled it out.

Wait a minute…this was the history class overview. Hadn't she meant to put it in her history notebook so Jess would find it?

Then it hit her. She had brought both the article AND the overview to school that day. If she had what she had meant to give to Jess that meant that he had her article. The article that demeaned her reputation of a strong, independent, non-boy-crazy girl. If he found that, he would think she had been keeping secrets from him, that she had a secret boyfriend. But that wasn't true! In reality, she was just using it for some future advice, her pen had leaked through the page she had been writing on.

But it was too late. Jess had it; he had most likely read it. He would be mad at her. She sank back on her bed and tried not to cry.

Leslie Burke was in big trouble.

A/N: This was originally a one-shot idea, but it got to long. Still, it'll probably only be three to five chapters. Review!