Normally I'm quite good at writing. I have top marks in English, after all. I've had short stories and poems published in magazines. Needless to say, I know full well how to express my thoughts on paper.

So it's come as a surprise to me that I'm having so much trouble writing these letters for you.

I hope this doesn't come off as rude, but there's something about you that just makes my brain go all…stupid, I guess. I don't know how else to describe it. It's like I forget how to do the most basic of tasks whenever I'm around you.

We share a couple classes together. Half the time I can't even focus on my work because your presence is so distracting. And I don't mean that in a bad way, not at all. It's just…

Like I said in my last letter, you're adorable. I have to constantly check to make sure my heartbeat isn't loud enough for you to hear it. Plus, you like to yap on about what movies you've seen and what games you've played recently. And it may look like I'm not paying attention, but trust me. I hang onto every single word you say. Even when you're not talking to me.

You're so easy to be around. It's comforting. And, I'll admit, you can be really perverted, and some of the stuff you say makes me cringe a little. But you're still really kind regardless. And you've at least dialled it back since the beginning of the year. That's something.

I don't know if I want to ask you out yet. I have this awful feeling that I'll mess it up in some unfixable way, and we can't have that at all. You deserve better than that.

Hell, I don't even know if I'll ever confess my feelings, in person, at least. The thought of it fills me with dread. My words will become lodged in my throat, causing me to suffocate on my emotions.

If a single word gets out, it will be a miracle.

From, Me.

Cody stared at the letter in his hands. Freshly delivered just that morning, before he even arrived at his locker. Another torrent of emotion that awaited him between the folded page.

He didn't know what to feel.

Happiness, that his secret admirer thought he was adorable?

Sadness, that he still won't be getting a love confession anytime soon?

Flattered, that this person feels so strongly that they can't even articulate their words properly?

Cody read the letter again, and when he was done he read it once more. He was halfway through a fourth reread when he suddenly realised Gwen had appeared and was reading over his shoulder.

"Oho, this is some dramatic stuff," she remarked. "If they can't confess to you, then you should confess to them."

Cody's stomach dropped. "B-But I don't even know who it is!"

"I think we can figure it out." Gwen scrutinised the letter with narrowed eyes. "It says they're good at English and have stories published in magazines. They also share several classes with you. And they don't outwardly seem to be paying attention, even when they are." A smirk slowly enveloped her face as she stared right into Cody's eyes. "You know, this sounds suspiciously like a certain bookworm you have a crush on."

"But we don't know that!" Cody's heart pounded. "I don't wanna confess to him only to find out he didn't write the letters! Ohmigod, I don't think I could ever face him af-"

Gwen grabbed him by the shoulders. "Dude, calm down! It'll be okay! I'm not suggesting you walk up to him and confess right now. I was thinking we could go ask Eva and Izzy what they know before you do anything."

Cody blinked. Of course…of course that's what she was suggesting.

"Y-Yeah, I knew that, heheh…"

"Hey, speak of the devils," Gwen peered over Cody's shoulder, down the hallway. "There they are now."

Cody spun around. Izzy was riding atop Eva's shoulders, whooping loud enough to alert the entire town to her presence. Eva's face was grim and tight-lipped. The sight of them struck fear into his heart.

He clasped his hands together to get them to stop shaking. Gwen gave him a reassuring grin.

"Okay, how about I go and ask them, then? Since someone's a little chicken…" She playfully nudged him with her elbow.

"Yes. Please do." Cody buried his face in his hands. He sighed with defeat. "You're right. I don't have the stomach for it."

Although Cody had turned away from the girls, he could hear every single sound they made. He leaned against his locker and rested his face on the cool, slightly sticky metal, clutching his churning stomach when he heard Gwen say, "Hey you two, I've been meaning to ask you something…"