My little sister has a crush on a boy in her class. His name is James Carstairs, and she thinks that's amazing because some boy in a book mom read her has the same name. They like to read fantasy books where vampires and werewolves are real. Dad and I read mysteries or science fiction. Lucas doesn't read, and not just because he's only in third grade. He knows how to read, he just doesn't like to.

I just don't get it, though, I guess. I see my classmates date, but they're adults. She's nine.

She says he's just a friend, but somehow I highly doubt that. She talks about him all the time. It's just incessant chatter about the guy! "James did this," "James said that," "James is the cutest boy in the whole world." She's so obvious.

It doesn't get any better, though. I'm a Sophomore in college, and I still hear girls saying "Oh, Dean's so cute," and "My boyfriend is SO HOT!" They annoy me.

James is coming over for a playdate, and she's getting all dressed up for him. Wish me luck.

Lucas is like a little player. Ten years old, and he's already had twelve girlfriends. He looks just like Dad, though. The difference is, Dad couldn't be more oblivious when girls flirt with him. Lucas, on the other hand, has dated half the fifth grade and most of the fourth. Right now, he's dating a sixth grader.

Lilly still has a major crush on James, though from what she's told me, so does half the seventh grade. He's two years older than her, and in eighth grade. I'm sure he likes her too, though, because half the middle school's got a crush on her. If Dad didn't have a license to carry, boys would probably be asking her out. As it is, though, most are too afraid. That cracks me up.

Liam, he's four, has a few little preschoolers who like him. He's adorable with his red hair and freckles, and his green eyes are pretty. Most of them just like that he's the fastest runner in his class, though.

I, meanwhile, have a dilemma. The only girl I've ever even liked is old enough to date, but she's also like family. I need my mom.

"Hey Mom," I start, coming up to her desk, "I have a dilemma."

I'm almost through my second year of law school, so I don't need her help much any more. I guess that explains why she seems so excited.

"What do you need, Logy?"

I look toward the Chief's office, then back at her, "Can we talk someplace private?"

She gets up, "Sure, we'll go in the conference room."

As soon as we get settled inside, I launch in. "I have a crush on a girl, and she's old enough to date, but she's kind of like family, so I dunno what to do, and-"

"Slow down, honey. What's going on?"

"I have a crush on Iris."

Mom's laughing. She's laughing! "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, sweetie. Just ask her out."

"Really? So it's not wierd or anything?"

"She's been your best friend your whole life, Logy, everyone's just been waiting for you to make a move."

"What?!"

"You look at her like a lovestruck puppy. It's obvious. Go ask her!"

So I decide to drive to her school and do just that.

As I'm leaving, I hear mom tell my Aunt Karen, "He's finally gonna ask her!"

I rush over to the school and to the spot where I always meet her for lunch. I may have graduated five years ago, but I won't get in trouble for being here. I look like I belong.

"Logan Lassiter, you are late!"

I laugh and hug her. "Stopped to see my mom. Where is everybody?"

"Annie and Brad went on a date, Lizzie is studying for a Chem test, Jake and John are on a family vacation, Mark is shooting hoops with a few kids from the varsity team, and the rest have volleyball practice."

"I don't miss high school," he told her.

She laughed, "I won't miss it either. One more year after this!"

I laugh, then get nervous.

"Why are you nervous?" she asks. I should have known she'd figure it out.

I decide to just lay my cards on the table. "Are you going to prom?"

"Well, I don't have a date."

"I'll go," I offer nervously.

She smiles, and kisses me. She kissed me! This is literally the best day of my life.

Lucas asked two girls to the Homecoming dance, and thinks he can balance them both. If Mom finds out, she's going to kill him. He's 14, and a Sophomore in high school. I feel bad for them, but they are the one's stupid enough to date my brother.

Liam's eight, now, and starting to like girls. He's the fastest third grader in the school, though, and that's still more important to him. He also plays Little League, soccer, basketball, football, kickball, and he also does some competitive swimming. Liam likes sports. The funny thing is, that's gonna make a lot of the girls like him. Sports will probably always come first, though, for Liam. He wants to be in the Olympics some day.

Lilly and James finally started dating last year, right before he went off to college. She plans to follow him there next year, which shouldn't be too hard. She already got her acceptance letter from what I hear. Mom said it arrived in the mail last night, and Lilly called James right away.

Me? Iris and I got married. We may be young, but we've known each other twenty years. If we didn't already know each other inside and out by now, we never would. I graduated from Santa Barbara College of Law with honors, and now I'm working at a law firm near UCSB. We live in an apartment by campus with Bear and our new Pug named Wrinkles.

We finally started calling each others' parents Mom and Dad. It took a while. Lilly thinks it's awesome because Iris is now her sister-in-law, and Liam's under the impression we never weren't together. He's young. Lucas doesn't really care either way, but my brother-in-law's pretty thrilled. His name is Chris, and he's thirteen. Lawson says he called it. He's our cousin, and he's coming here next year. He got his acceptance letter early. He's entering in as a Sophomore, though, because he's graduating from Meitner.

Iris - my crazy wife - took 18 credit semesters and summer courses, so she's graduating a year early. The whole family is excited to attend this spring. Lilly is excited because it means she will get to spend extra time with James. I really hope this relationship works out for her; she's in deep.

All in all, I'm glad I took the chance, and I wish my siblings all the luck in the world on their future dates.