*ding*

"You've got mail." chimed Sean O' Cullen's personal desktop computer.

The young preteen from Cape Breton paused his game of Super Smash Bros.

His friend and neighbor, Toque elbowed his shoulder and raised an eyebrow.

I know, I know, sorry. Should've warned you. But this could be the email I've been waiting for," Sean walked over to his computer and opened his e-mail inbox. It had one email from an address he recognized.

The same email address he'd reached out to earlier today.

Sean,

Omigosh, I'm so excited to see you again! I haven't stopped thinking about you since that day on the Mira. I'll be sure to thank Mikey when I see him in class tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll see you too.

XOXO,

Mei

"X's and O's… don't those mean… kisses and hugs?" Sean mused. "Toque… do you think Mei… like-likes me?"

Toque rolled his eyes and tapped his controller.

Sean laughed. "Alright, alright, I'll unpause your absolute owing of me. How the heck does a 9-year-old get so good at Smash Bros?"

Toque shrugged as Sean unpaused the game. In less than 30 seconds, Young Link had thrashed his older self soundly. Sean groaned. "Seriously, how?"

Again, Toque shrugged. He then rolled up his sleeve and checked his watch. His eyes widened, then he pointed his gloved thumb towards the door.

"Yeah, I think it's time we shut it down. It's a school night, after all. My first day of grade 8, your first of grade 4," Sean and his mute friend bumped fists, slapped five, rubbed elbows, and pointed at each other, their personal handshake. "Good luck, Toquester. Let me know how the first day goes."

Toque nodded and pointed at Sean.

"Yeah, I'll let you know how mine goes too," Sean promised. When his young friend left, Sean changed into his pajamas and walked back over to his computer, reading Mei's email over and over again. "I mean, who adds X's and O's in a non-love letter?"

On one hand, it didn't make much sense for Mei to be in love with Sean. They'd only met once and for only a few short minutes. That wasn't long enough to fall in love… was it?

Sean's train of thought was interrupted by his father, Kellan knocking on his open bedroom door. "Get to bed, boyo. You got your first day of school tomorrow."

"Aye, Da," Sean turned off his computer and got into bed. "Hey, Da? How would I know if… a girl had a crush on me?"

His father chuckled. "Less than a day in the city ad he's already attractin' ladies. Well, Sean, if this girl really wants to be around ya or looks forward to seein' ya, she may have a thing for ya. Yer mother always used to drop by the hospital I worked in just to say hello to me. And 20 years later, here we are."

Sean blushed. "And if she leaves X's and O's in her emails?"

Kellan chuckled. "Then she might be crazy for ya. Now, get some sleep, son."

Sean closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep, but Mei Lee just wouldn't leave his thoughts.