First the hair tie, then talk of a boy named Haku whose description similarly matched the Haku I knew—all in one day! It was too much! My feet took me out one of the side doors to the athletic fields we share with the high school. There was a high school class out there, so I slumped down behind some bushes and cried. I had done so well in forgetting it all. Or, at least, I had done well in putting it behind me. I buried my face in my hands. I heard some people running around the track, but I didn't care. I probably didn't know any of them.

They were coming in my direction. I muffled my cries a little and waited for them to pass. It sounded like they all did. Only when I heard footsteps right in front of me and someone squatting down did I realize I was wrong.

"Are you all right?"

The voice was definitely a student's. I had heard that voice just a little while ago. It was so familiar, so calming. But in my distraught state, I couldn't think of whose it was. I looked up and saw a boy—but that was all I could see because my tears had blurred my vision. I felt really embarrassed. I quickly wiped away my tears and looked upon the face of a boy a little older than I, with dark hair, deep-green eyes, light skin, and concerned look on his face. I knew right away that he was the guy Asuka had described. And he was the boy I had been waiting for for so long.

"Haku," I breathed in wonder.

"Yes. How do you know my name?" he asked with a puzzled expression.

"Oh, well, my friends were talking about you in the bathroom, so I kinda assumed . . ."

"Well, you assumed correct. But who are you?"

This question shocked me out of my mind. How could Haku not know who I was? I thought he would remember right away! But, then again, it had been a few years since we had seen each other. Maybe he had forgotten, a little—though I couldn't imagine why.

"I-I'm Chihiro," I said, smiling a little.

"Chihiro," Haku mumbled. He looked at me. "Well Chihiro, I take it, from your smile, that you're feeling a little better?" He smiled and stood up, holding out his hand. I took it, and he helped me up. His hand felt just as I remembered it.

"Thanks," I said.

"You're welcome." He stared at me a long while and then shook his head, as if clearing his mind. He smiled and took off running again, around the track.

I felt so confused. I knew that was Haku! There was no mistake. How come he didn't remember who I was? There didn't seem to be anything wrong with him. And I was sure that I was recognizable. My hair was the same length, same color, and same style. My eyes were the same color, and I didn't wear glasses. I might've grown a little, but that shouldn't have made a difference. Then it came to me. The Bath House! Maybe if I reminded him of that, he would remember. But, in order to do that, I needed to talk to him alone. That would be hard. That meant I'd have to meet him "by chance" again. Well, it just happened twice in one day. How long could I possibly have to wait?

What a question. The fact that he went to a different school, however close, was obstacle enough in trying to talk to him. Then there was the fact that not only was he popular among my friends, but almost every single girl, from both schools, wanted to be around him. So I had observed, watching him go to school every morning. I had so much to tell him, and every day it seemed that he had no sudden realizations as to who I was to him. But every day I didn't talk to him, the more frustrated I became. And the more frustrated I became, the harder it was to hide my frustration. I could barely keep my friends out of it, especially because they pried into my knowledge of Haku all the time. I couldn't keep my parents out of it at all. Moms must have some special sense that tells them when something is wrong with their child.

"Is something wrong, honey?" my mom asked when she was driving me home.

"No," I said, turning away.

"You can tell me, Chihiro. I can help you."

"No, you can't."

"So there is something wrong."

I groaned.

"I'm just trying to talk to someone, but they go to a different school and I have no other way of contacting them!" I said, raising my voice higher than necessary. But I couldn't help it. I'd been waiting for a long time! My mom was silent for a while. Then she sighed.

"There's no need to raise your voice," she said calmly. "Let's think about this. You've obviously seen this person before, or you wouldn't need to talk to them, right?"

". . . Yeah." I rolled my eyes. "He was in gym class. . ." And then it dawned on me to go back to where I had been crying that time when I did see him. "And I could go back during the same time and see him! Thanks, Mom!"

"Told you I could help," she smirked.

The next morning, I had to take the bus. My dad ended up leaving before I was ready, because I woke up too late. I hate the bus. The ride was so bumpy; it's not like I could've napped on the way to school. Every few seconds, my head would bump against the window. I had a small bump on my head by the end of the ride.

Finding Haku was easy; waiting to find him was the hard part. Time dragged on; there seemed no end to any of my classes. Everyone around me was my enemy. The teachers switched their voices to "monotonous," the kids in the halls were like turtles. Obviously, the school was trying to make sure I didn't find Haku. Or, if I did, to take the longest amount of time to get to him.

But finally, after what seemed like years, it was time for lunch. And I was so excited to finally talk to Haku that I was actually the first one in the bathroom at lunch! All my friends were so surprised.

"Chihiro!" Asuka exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"Um, isn't it lunch time?" I asked.

"Yeah, but you're never here first," said Mika, going right over to the mirror.

"We should celebrate," said Niro.

"Oh, please," said Linn. "If I know Chihiro, she wouldn't like the attention. I'm sure she'd like us to get over it. Right, Chihiro?"

"Yes, thank you."

"So," Asuka almost shouted. "What's the latest gossip? I hope I didn't come here for nothing!"

"Well, my parents said we could go to my house and hang out," Linn offered.

My friends' eyes lit up. Linn had a huge house with tons of cool things. We totally freaked out every time we went. Every sleepover we ever had been at Linn's house.

"When?" I asked.

"Today, after school," Linn replied.

We all whipped out our cell phones and called our parents. Mine said yes, as long as I could get a ride. Linn's parents could take me.

"All right!" Asuka exclaimed. "Well, all that excitement has made me too hungry for gossip! And we'll have all the time in the world to do that at Linn's house! Let's go!" She sashayed across the room to get her bag. Everyone followed suit.

"You guys can eat without me. I just have something important to do right now. It can't wait," I told everyone. I didn't want to miss Haku's class.

"Probably a guy issue," said Asuka, rolling her eyes.

"N-no it's not!" I almost stuttered.

"Ha! It is. I can see your face turning red." She waved her hand in the air dismissively. "Fine, Chihiro. Go have fun somewhere else. Just leave your friends to fend for themselves."

I turned to grab my stuff and go, but my friends quickly grabbed me.

"You're not going anywhere. You're making this a habit Chihiro. Don't," Mika ordered.

"C'mon, we were just joking around, Chihiro," Linn reasoned. "We don't want you to leave."

"No, really guys," I pleaded. "It has nothing to do with your teasing. It's really important. I'm not mad. And I'll be here tomorrow."

"OK," Linn answered, the only one who seemed to understand.

I smiled back. "Thanks. Don't worry. I'll see you all after school!" Everyone let out a whoop as I exited.