The next day Simon kept looking round for Jeanette at school. This was made slightly difficult by the fact he was trying to avoid Jillian. He couldn't face having another conversation like before with her. With his current luck he'd end up proposing or something.

It was a relief to get away from Theodore and Alvin too. Alvin kept telling him what he should do and Theodore kept apologising for getting so muddled yesterday. Simon really couldn't blame him. He'd chickened out of facing Jillian alone and had really forced the responsibility onto his younger brother. He was feeling guilty about that. But Theodore really did have a sweet way with words. If only he didn't get so flustered saying them to someone.

At that moment Simon turned a corner and saw Jeannette. He was momentarily shocked. Had she always been so pretty? He could see her rich, full hair casually tied back with a ribbon. With her usual absent-mindedness she'd let several strands fall down round her face. He felt a sudden urge to stroke them back for her. She hadn't noticed him and he stood for a moment taking in all the details of her. Her smooth cheeks, cute little nose, soft lips and beautiful wide eyes. With a start he realised she was gently crying.

"Jeanette?" She jumped at the sound of his voice.

"Oh! Simon." She quickly raised her hands to sweep her loose her hair back and managed to surreptitiously wipe the tears from her face. If he hadn't been watching her so attentively he wouldn't have noticed. He suddenly wondered how many other such moods he might have missed. She was so reserved.

"Are you alright?" he sat beside her. This close he could smell her perfume. He tried to breath as much of it in as he could without her noticing.

"I'm fine," she smiled softly. If he hadn't just seen her crying he'd have believed her. He felt his heart squeeze as he thought of how often she must hide her feelings, to be this good at it.

"You're not." His voice came out as a whisper. She looked surprised and turned away, flustered.

"It's nothing. Really."

"You can tell me anything Jeannette." She glanced back at him. "Please."

"Well," she hesitated. "Brittany's been nagging me."

"What for?" He noticed how she bit her lip in nervousness and it made his breath catch.

"She wants me to… well, get a boyfriend." Simon felt as though he'd been punched.

"A boyfriend?"

"I've told her I don't want to go out with whoever she suggests. But now…" Again she seemed reluctant to continue.

"Has something happened? Has someone…" he couldn't finish the sentence. She continued in a small voice.

"Someone sent me chocolates." Simon had to stop himself sighing out loud.

"They must really like you to do that…"

"But I don't want to go out with them!" Jeannette stood up visibly upset now. "I thought you'd understand." She looked at him with her wide eyes then turned away quickly. "I don't want to go out with whoever sent me those chocolates! Brittany can't make me. I didn't think you'd try to." She looked at him again and he was pained to see the hurt in her eyes.

"Jeannette…"

"Don't Simon. Please just don't." She ran off back towards the school. Simon sat staring after her. How had everything gone so horribly wrong?

She was supposed to be pleased to get chocolates. He'd envisaged her wondering with her sisters who had sent them. In his mind he'd planned to send flowers as well, perhaps with a card. Then he'd reveal he'd sent them and she'd be delighted.

Never had he thought she'd be distressed. Of course, she didn't want a boyfriend. He sat staring at nothing. Typical. He had a girlfriend he didn't want and the girl he did want, didn't want him.

He sighed. Her perfume was fading along with all his hopes.

After school it was obvious to Theodore and Alvin that something had happened. He didn't really feel like talking about it but they didn't give him much choice. Reluctantly he repeated what Jeanette had said and how she'd reacted to his gift. Predictably Theodore began apologising again.

"I'm so sorry Simon. I really thought she'd like the chocolates. I would have."

"It's alright Theodore. I thought she would too. I never considered she might be perfectly happy without a boyfriend."

"You don't think… well she might not… like someone else?" Theodore queried. Simon stopped in horrified shock. Alvin suddenly interrupted.

"Oh for Pete's sake you two! Isn't it obvious?" His younger brothers looked to him in obvious confusion. "Of course she likes someone! That's why she's refused any boy Brit's suggested and doesn't want a secret admirer." Simon struggled to find his voice.

"Who?" Alvin stalked over and knocked Simon about the head.

"You, you idiot!"

"Me? But I sent her…"

"Yeah, but she doesn't know that does she?" Simon stared at nothing and automatically began walking home again, his mind in a whirl. Alvin and Theodore followed and heard him muttering,

"She likes me?"