I got a few requests asking to see Natara's reaction, so I decided to make the Valentine's Day one-shot into a two-shot. Here's the part you wanted. Enjoy!

I ran all the way to school on Monday, my cards in a grocery bag that kept banging into my knees. It was kind of cold out and I almost got attacked by Mr. Lichett's dog again, but I couldn't wait. I was too shy to put my name on Natara's card, so I'd signed it "Your Secret Admirer" like my dad told me to. I also made out one of those "cheap and tacky and straight up dumb" cards to her too, because otherwise she'd figure it out right away. I'd also had to leave out her last name, because neither me or my dad could figure out how to spell it.

My mom had also showed me how to make a tissue paper flower, and I'd taped one that I made to her card. I was hoping she'd take it off and put it in her hair, but my dad just laughed at me when I said that.

When I got there, Natara was already there, along with Oscar. They both had bags full of cards too, and I grinned at both of them as I walked up.

"Hi guys!" I said gleefully. Oscar grinned back and Natara waved.

"Hi, Mal," she said. She was wearing a red dress and white shoes and a pink headband. I was embarrassed to admit it, but she looked really pretty and I was hoping that someday I could tell her to be my girlfriend. Only she wouldn't push me down like Madison Cara Finch. Cause Madison was mean, and Natara's usually not.

It seemed to take forever before Miss Tibby came and opened the door for us. All our tissue box mailboxes were sitting at our seats, and after we hung up our coats and put our backpacks in our cubbies, we were free to deliver our valentines. I tried to look very casual as I went around, fishing out the correct cards and dropping them in the mailboxes.

When I got to Natara's table, I looked over my shoulder to make sure she wasn't near me. When I was sure she was talking to Blaise near Shawn's table, I slipped both her normal card and her special card in at the same time, put the rest of her table's cards int heir mailboxes and quickly walked away. I blew out a sigh of relief; I'd done it. I managed to do it without her noticing. Now all I had to do was wait.

At recess, Oscar and I were sword fighting with sticks near Natara's cupcake kingdom. We were having a lot of fun, but I was sort of distracted because I was still waiting for Natara to come over and tell me that she liked my card. I made up an excuse that I was tired, and Oscar and I went up to our thrones at the side-by-side slides. I also liked the fact that we could hear everything Natara was saying.

"You have a secret admirer!" I heard Blaise squeal. I turned my head in time to see Natara grin. "It's so exciting! And romantic!" Natara was holding my card.

"I think I know who it is," she said, then looked over to where we were sitting. I felt my heart speed up as she stood and began walking over to us. I half wanted to escape down the slide, but at the same time I was too excited to move. I watched as she pulled off the flower I made and put it on her headband, just like I'd hoped. It was almost too much to hope for.

She'd finally reached us. "Hi, she breathed, her shoulders hunching up and twisting one leg around the other.

"Hi," Oscar and I said back.

"I got a really nice card from someone today," she said, looking up at us shyly. I couldn't help but grin. "I think I know who sent it, and I think I like him too. I think he's really pretty."

I laughed. "Boys aren't pretty," I said with a smile. "You call boys handsome, or my dad like dashing. Girls are called pretty."

"Oh," she said, biting her bottom lip. "Well I think you're really handsome, Oscar."

I could feel my face drop. And my stomach rolled, but mostly I felt like she'd just ripped my card in half.

I'm evil. I know it. I've known it for quite some time, actually.