It's Too Early:

Lucas's POV:

Why did she have to move here? I can't like girls! I'm only in middle school! I'm not ready for love! I hate this feeling! It... Hurts!

"What's wrong with you?" Danny asked like something was wrong with him too.

"I like someone, you?" I explained.

"Isn't that a good thing?" D

"Nah, not really, look at you," L

"What about me?" D

"You like Val but you ask out every other girl but her!" L

"That's because I want to know if someone else can make me feel good too," D

"Nobody will. You do know that, right?" L

"I don't know that, that's why I'm doing this," D

"Breaking all these girls hearts so you can learn you only like Val?" L

"The day you talk to your first crush I'll talk to Val," D

"If that's what it takes," L

"How do you plan on talking to her?" D

"Going to her house and asking to do homework," L

"Isn't that a little creepy?" D

"Not really, I don't have her phone number so I can't give any warning, and that gives me a week and a half to talk to her before school," L

"So you're okay with me not talking to Val for a week and a half?" D

"Eh... you're right. Maybe I should just go over now," L

"No! I'm not ready to talk to Val yet! Wait a week! Wait a week!" D

"Nah. I'll go over there now. See you soon!" L Hopefully she answers. I wonder if anyone else is home? Of course Danny is watching me... Oh well, I don't care if he knows I like Emily.

"Hey, what's happening?" E

"Not a lot... It's still summer," L

"Any reason you came over, or just to talk?" E

"Eh... I don't know. I just felt like it," L

"It had nothing to do with Danny daring you to come over here, did it?" E

"Not exactly, but kind of. Long story. It won't be like this long, really," L

"So, it was, then?" E

"It wasn't exactly a dare... It was a... Deal, I guess," L

"A deal? What kind?" E

"The kind where if I talk to 'the new girl' he'd talk to his crush. Seemed like a good deal for me. Been trying to get them together all year," L

"Ah... I see... Who is it? Val?" E

"Yeah, how'd you know?" L

"Natalie told me she likes him, and judging by the fact you just told me it was a two way street, seems pretty easy to figure out," E

"And you don't even really know him? That's odd," L

"You get used to it fast, don't worry," E I hope I do... I could get used to you...

"So... I'm not really a social person and I don't like to talking much," L

"Really? You come off as the open and trustworthy type," E

"Yeah, I kind of am, whenever I actually talk to people," L

"Then why exactly are you talking to me?" E

"You're new, you're different, you live right across the street from me and my friends pretty much, and I hate how the new kid always gets a bad rep," L

"So it has nothing to do with me, just the fact that I'm new?" E

"Um... How do I answer that?" L

"However you want," E

"I hate questions that aren't class work related!" L

"Too much thinking for you?" E

"Yeah... Especially for summer," L

"So... Answer?" E

"Uh... I don't have one? I don't know?" L

"Come on! It's not that hard a question, I've been asked much harder," E

"Like what?" L

"Not saying until after you answer my question!" E

"Fine... If a different cute girl moved in instead of you, I'd talk to them too... Probably. But I'm no sure, because that didn't happen. Fortunately, you did," L

"You're one of those crafty types. Like words. Interesting," E

"Uh, what does that mean?" L

"You're sneaky with words. You have a way of saying things where you can hide what you're saying inside a bunch of words," E

"Example?" L

"Alright, you basically just told me what I didn't want to hear, in hopes I wouldn't catch the truth. You answered the question with a yes, but the way you put your words together alluded to your real thoughts, which are the opposite," E

"Wait, so what do you think I said?" L

"You think I'm cute, you're glad I moved in instead of someone else, and that leads to a lot more questions," E

"Huh? What? How? You? Read? Minds? Uh..." L

"Lucas?" E (waves hand in front of face) "You're staring..." "Hello?"

"Okay, this is new. Most people don't read my mind like that," L

"I don't read your mind, I just think about what you're saying, is that new to you?" E

"Yeah... It's... Weird. I can't talk to you without you knowing what I say," L

"Can't be much worse than me," E

"What's that supposed to mean?" L

"There was this one guy I knew before I moved here, it was really funny to me, but it wasn't, he told me I was cute once, and I instantly knew he liked me, turned out to be the only lasting relationship I've had," E

"You've had a boyfriend before?" L

"Yeah, a couple. You?" E

"Nope. Forever alone," L

"Oh come on! You're in middle school! You've probably had five girlfriends by now," E

"Nope. Never liked anyone, at least, until this coming year, who knows what that brings," L

"You've seriously never had a girlfriend? I don't believe you," E

"Believe it. Never had a first anything, let alone girlfriend. You seem so surprised," L

"I am! If I told you I'd never had a boyfriend before, wouldn't you be surprised?" E

"Why do you ask so many tough questions. You should be a journalist," L

"Because I'm a girl, first of all, and every question I ask you would be hard. Second, because I know if I ask them you will give me answers. You're pretty loose lipped," E

"Sometimes that's true. Anyways, considering you told me you have already had a couple boyfriends I would be kind of surprised, but I guess I'm not. I don't know. I hadn't thought about it, really, I mean, why would I think about that before you asked?" L

"That's a good question. See, you can do this too! Why would you think about that? Oh, and why would you not be surprised? I'd like to know," E

"Um... Uh... I don't know? I don't think before I talk, I normally don't have to," L

"Why do you have to now?" E

"Because these questions are too hard!" L

"How? There's only one answer to all of my questions," E

"What's that mean?" L

"It means, that there is a good answer to all of my questions. I'm still waiting for you to say it," E

"Then why do I have to say whatever you are referring to?" L

"So that I can know for sure that my hypothesis is correct," E

"What's your hypothesis, that I want your phone number?" L

"No, but I'll give it to you. My hypothesis is that you think these questions are too hard, but they're really not, it's just that the only answer you can think for them as that you like me and you're trying not to say it, so you can't think of any good answers, even though each question has several good responses," E

"If you're questions are so easy, let me ask you some!" E laughs at L's request.

"Action!" E

"Really? Okay, what's your first impression of me," L

"Seems smart, kind, cute, energetic, not very bold, would like to meet his girlfriend so I have someone new to talk to before I met Val and Natalie. That's all I can remember," E

"Do you only describe guys you like like that?" L

"Trick question! Nice try. No, I don't actually," E

"Do you like me?" L

"Yeah," E

"Really? Just like that?" L

"You never asked how much," E

"Fine, how much?" L

"Why do you care so much?" E

"If you like me, I should probably know!" L

"Okay, then you should tell me, too," E

"You said too! I win!" L

"That doesn't mean anything you know, and this isn't over yet," E

"You actually said something wrong? I'm surprised! You never say anything wrong," L

"No, you heard me right, I think. I said what I said. It just has no meaning, because I said too alluding to the fact that you like me, of course, I don't think you're the type that's into relationships anyways judging by your lack of a girlfriend to this point," E

"Okay, convince me. What's the point of being in a relationship in middle school?" L

"First, so you can say you had a girlfriend when you get to high school. Second, because it's good for your self esteem. Third, because it's fun and you get to meet new people and do more things. Fourth, you get used to it for college and beyond when being in a relationship has long term future implications. Fifth, instead of constantly trying to hide liking someone, you're constantly trying to show it, which is much easier and much more fun for both people. Sixth," E

"Okay, okay, I see your point. I still don't get it though... Why do guys have to like girls so early on in life? It's too much!" L

"So that when girls like guys they won't say no because they don't like girls yet," E

"Why can't that happen! It gives boys more time to prepare!" L

"Ha! Guys need time to prepare to tell a girl they like them? Look at you. You're thirteen, clearly a boy, and you told me you like me. Why can't other boys be the same way?" E

"I only told you because you asked too many hard questions. If all girls made it this difficult for boys to hide their crushes, there would be no more crushes because everyone would be a couple and live happily ever after," L

"Hey now, don't forget the one big problem lying in all this- most girls don't want to be disappointed if they find out at the boy they like doesn't like them back, and it's the same way with guys. For example, if Val told you she liked you instead of Danny, what would you say?" E

"I'd tell her Danny likes her, not me," L

"If Val liked you though, she'd still be upset that you don't like her, and this doesn't make her like Danny any more than she already did. We just got lucky everyone likes each other here," E

"Then what's the point of being in a relationship?" L

"This question again?" E

"I mean, now that we are a couple and all," L

"Wait, you asked me to be your girlfriend and I missed it?!" E

"We told each other we liked each other, doesn't that count?" L

"Nope, because we can like each other and not be in a relationship like Danny and Val," E

"Fine, for formal reasons, do you want to be my girlfriend," L. E kisses L, L faints, E Smiles.