Disclaimer: I don't own the book series, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor does. And if I did, I wouldn't be writing this right now lol.

Hope you enjoy it anyway!

Eddie POV:

I woke up like it was any other ordinary day, but just as soon as I opened my eyes, I realized it wasn't any ordinary day.

It was stupid Valentines Day. The one day of the year that I don't like. It's so happy and so sickeningly sweet.

Even my sister, Beth, is sickening right now. She's got like this big ole crush on Josh, and she's totally grossing me out.

Like, seriously? Josh Hatford? Anyone other than him, please!

Just take this morning for example. Caroline and I noticed she'd done her hair up and painted her fingernails. It was just any ordinary "painted her fingernails." She had put little blue glittery J's on each fingernail.

See what I mean? Positively sickening. The whole Valentine's Day thing is just sickening to me.

But maybe that's because I don't have a boyfriend or whatever. At least, that's what Beth tells me. Why should I want one? I'm only eleven! She's younger than me, and at only ten, she's already got a boyfriend. Who just so happens to be none other than Josh Hatford.

Well, this thought never left my head, as we walked to school. But for some reason, Caroline had the strangest smile on her face. Not sure why though. When we arrived at Buckman Elementary School, Beth, Caroline, and I all went our separate ways to our own classes.

As I walked into my classroom, I took my seat and slumped over my desk. From behind me, I heard someone snickering.

I turned to see Jake and Josh, smirking at me. "Why do you look so glum?" Jake chortled.

"It's this day," I said, as I threw out my arms. "I don't exactly like Valentine's Day. I mean, the candy is the only thing I actually like. Its just all the lovey doveyness that makes me sick."

Josh nodded. "Of course, I understand why you might not enjoy today. You're not the type to like pink, lacy, frilly things."

I laughed. "Ya think?" Which got a laugh from both Jake and Josh. "Well, what exactly do y'all do for Valentine's Day here at school?"

"Well, first of all, we make the boxes for people to put the candy in, then everyone will put the candy into the boxes, then close to end of the day, we'll open them." Josh said, as he sat down at his desk, as Jake did the same. "But we're still having actual class, at least until 2:30."

I grinned. "Aw, man. And here I thought we wouldn't have any work at all." I said.

Josh grinned too. "Naw, it ain't like that 'round here. I don't know how y'all did it back in Ohio, but this is the Buckman way." He said.

"So, what do we do until then?" I asked.

"Well, we're making our boxes right now. We could push our desks together, if you want?" Josh offered, and I saw the look Jake was giving him. He clearly didn't want him to ask me and he definitely didn't want me to say yes.

I grinned in spite of myself, then tried to cover it. "Sure! I love to!" I said, only wanting to make Jake annoyed. I had successfully annoyed him because when I said this, he groaned and rolled his eyes at me.

Jake, Josh, and I pushed all three desks together, and started to work on our Valentine's boxes. "So, Josh," I began, grinning at him. "How's your Valentine's Day love life?"

His face turned red, and he knew exactly what I was hinting at. "I... I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't have a valentines."

"Oh, my bad. I must've heard wrong." I smirked, because he clearly didn't want Jake's suspicions to be confirmed. "Sorry, Josh."

He cleared his throat, his cheeks still throbbing red. "It's ok." He said.

Then our teacher came around and handed us our boxes and gave us things to decorate them with. I looked around for a thing of red paint and saw that Jake had it. "Hey, can I use that when you're done with it?" I asked.

"Sure, I guess." He said. And just as soon as he finished painting red stripes on it, he handed it to me. "Here you go."

"Thanks." I took it from him and our fingers touched. It sent a shock up my arm. But I just tried my very best ignored it.

I dipped my paintbrush into the red paint and painted on the ever so present, cardboard box the teacher had given us. I did exactly what the boys had done, just painted on a few stripes.

I let mine dry, before cutting a hole so it would be easier for them to put the Valentine's in my box. Then I was done decorating my box and I gave the paint back to Jake. "Oh, you're done?" He asked as he grabbed it.

"Yeah, I didn't know if you would want the paint back or not, so I just gave it back, just in case."

"Oh, well, thanks."

"No problem." I said.

"Ok, class, if everyone is done decorating their boxes, write your name on them, and set them over there on that table." Our teacher said as she pointed to a big, round table in the corner of the room.

"Hey, do y'all want me to take your boxes over there?" I asked, as I grabbed mine.

"Um, yeah sure. Just let us write our names on the label then you can take them." Josh said, as he and Jake finished writing their names on their boxes and then they gave them to me.

I walked over to the table and placed them down. Then I walked back to my desk and pushed it back to it's original place and I sat down.

"Okay, class, get out a pencil and a piece of paper. Pop quiz time." The entire class groaned collectively, but obeyed.

Almost three hours later, it was lunch time and our entire sixth grade was headed to the cafeteria. Normally, I would have sat with some of the boys, but I decided to sit with some of the girls I knew in class.

"Isn't Jake Hatford just the cutest boy you've ever seen?" A girl named Kristen McAlister said, all the while staring at Jake, who was sitting at a table in front of them. "I gave him the best valentine money could buy. Oh! I hope he loves it!"

Ewwww!! I mean, he's not bad looking, not that I'd ever admit that to anyone else but my own thoughts. I thought as I wrinkled my nose.

"Oh! I agree! I gave him a valentine that I spent my entire allowance on! I didn't even get the chance to buy the new Teen magazine this month!" Jenna Peters grumbled.

"I gave him one too. I even threw a bunch of candy in there too. Well, I agree with Jake Hatford being the cutest boy in our class. He's so cute and nice." Becca Marsh said.

I snickered at that. Because when has Jake ever been the least bit nice? All of the girls turned their heads when I laughed and glared at me. "What's so funny, huh, Eddie?" Jenna snapped.

"Uh, maybe just the fact that you think Jake Hatford is nice. He's never been nice to me." I said.

Becca sneered at me. "Well, have you ever thought it's maybe because he doesn't like you? Because I wouldn't, if I were him."

"Oh, I know he doesn't necessarily like me, but we're all sorta friends." I said, as I ate my chicken sandwich.

"Uh, Eddie, you're kinda getting on my nerves," Jenna grumbled. "Can you like, go sit somewhere else?"

I grabbed my lunch tray and stood up. "Yeah, whatever. Bye." I said, as I turned and sat where the boys were sitting at. I plopped my tray down on the table as I sat across the table from Jake.

I must've had the angriest look on my face, 'cause Jake laughed and said, "Who got you so angry?"

To answer him, I turned around and glared at the girls, who glared back. "Oh, what'd they say to you?" He asked.

"Nothing'. It's not important." I said, as I jabbed my fork into my mac and cheese I had on my lunch tray.

"It sure seems like something." Josh said, eyeing me warily as I continued to jab at my Mac and cheese.

"I swear it's not." I said, and that was the end of that conversation.

Later, after lunch was over, we came back to class and we had to take yet another pop quiz. But luckily, it was science, so I had it in the bag.

I answered all 12 questions then turned my pop quiz upside down. Then I turned my head to see Jake, who was still stuck on the first question. I looked up at the clock, and I realized that he didn't have much time left.

I decided to help him out. I reached out and tapped him on the arm with my pencil. "What?" He mouthed at me.

I flipped my quiz back over and scooted my desk a little closer to his so that he could get the answers.

He grinned at me, understanding what I was saying, and went straight to writing the answers down.

In just a few minutes, he finished getting the answers, and we both flipped our tests over simultaneously.

As it started getting closer to 2:20, and since I hadn't put the chocolate valentines I had brought for my classmates yet, my teacher let me get up and put one in each Valentines box.

Once I was done with that, I sat back down at my desk. Then out of nowhere, I felt someone tapping me on my shoulder. I turned to see Josh, leaning over his desk. "You wanna push all three of our desks together again?" He motioned to me, Jake, and himself.

I nodded my head, as we pushed our desks to create one big one. "Ok, class, you may come up here and get your boxes now." Our teacher said, as everyone rushed up to the front to get their valentines box.

Josh got all three of our boxes and sat them down on the table in front of us. Jake opened his and poured it out on the table, cards, envelopes, candy, you name it, spilling out in every direction.

"Geez!" I exclaimed, giggling. "That's sure a lot of stuff!"

His cheeks turned bright red. "Yeah, they really webt all out this year." He opened the first envelope on the very top and as he read it, he groaned out loud.

"What?" I asked, curious what could make him groan like that. "Who wrote it, Jake?"

"Who else? That nut job, Jenna Peters." Jake shuddered. "She's so annoying and and plain out weird."

"Like me?" I asked, smirking at him.

He smiled. "Naw, you're an funny kind of annoying. She's a weird kind of annoying." He said. I laughed. "So, what did you get?"

"I don't know. I haven't opened it yet." I said, as I started to open the tab.

"Well, c'mon, let's see it." Jake and Josh said, grinning.

I opened the tab the rest of the way and dumped the contents out of top of the table. I was surprised with all that was in there.

There was a bunch of candy, cards, and there was even an white envelope on the very top of the pile.

I wanted to save the envelope for last. I looked at all the cards, and most of the guys gave me sports-related cards. Some of the girls did too, but some of them gave me girly-looking cards. I didn't care all that much about them; all I honestly cared about was the candy.

There was a bunch of candy in the box, as though someone had taken a handful of candy and thrown it into her box. There were lollipops, chocolates, gummies, you name it.

Then it came time for me to open the envelope. On the front, my name was written. I opened it, quite carefully, and looked at the card.

The letter read, "Dear Eddie, I kinda like you, and I'd never tell this to your face, but you're also like, really pretty. You have the prettiest hair and I really like your personality. Love, Your Secret Admirer."

I blushed, feeling very happy from the letter, but it made me wonder who likes me and who sent it. I looked all around the room, but no one was looking at me; they were all focused on their own boxes and the candy they received.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a hand lunged forward and snatched the letter out of my hand. I whipped my head around to see Josh, holding the letter out of my reach as he read it to himself. "Oooh, Eddie! Who's your secret admirer?" He teased.

"Give it back, Josh!" I snapped as I reached for it again.

He held it out of my reach again, laughing as he did so. But Jake snatched it out of his hands, tossing it back to me. I blinked in surprise. "Thanks," I said, stuffing it down inside my backpack.

"No problem." He said, before returning to his Valentine box.

Still wanting to figure out who my secret admirer was, I started studying everyone's handwriting. Oddly enough, the first one I started with, was Jake. I hadn't even suspected him as the secret admirer, but his handwriting matched the one in the letter.

OMG. I thought. Jake's my secret admirer? Ok, I didn't expect that.

I didn't want him to know that I knew, so I just played it cool till school let out. As soon as the final bell rang, I jumped up and shoved everything into my backpack and ran off towards the classroom door.

Not even five minutes after I started walking home, I saw Wally Hatford run out the main school doors and shove this super pink and super frilly valentine into Jake's hands, then run off as though a swarm of bees were chasing him.

Within the next few days, I honestly began to remember why I disliked Valentine's Day as much as I always said I did.

I had just recently walked out of my house, to see all three Hatford brothers leaning over what was supposed to be a dead Caroline. Only problem was, Caroline had faked the entire thing. The so-called blood on her forehead? It was raspberry jelly.

There has been so much going on. Between Josh and Beth, Caroline trying to get Wally to love her, my science project, a little girl going missing because of my science project, and the rejection letter that arrived at the house the other day, hence why Caroline had pretended to kill herself.

Beth had been so distraught because she thought it had been from Josh, so she ran up the stairs, sobbing her eyes out. But in fact, it had not been from Josh. Not even from Wally to Caroline.

It had been from Jake to Caroline because he thought the mushy valentine she'd given to Wally was one that she'd given to Jake instead.

I don't know if I'll be able to last through another day like this. I'm going mad just thinking about the rest of the year. I can't spend all of our time here in Buckman, just getting into trouble. Especially when baseball season starts, I can't be getting into trouble and I can't give my dad a reason to not let me play.

I just had a feeling our parents would tell us we couldn't talk to the boys again, and they did, but as soon as what the people in Buckman called an abaguchie, turned out to be a cougar, their parents started making them walk to school together.

Then sooner than most, the weekend was over, just like that, and it was back to school for us. It was the first time we'd walked to school with the boys, and boy, was it ever awkward.

I was walking beside Beth, then Beth caught up with Josh, and then I was walking by myself. Then out of nowhere, someone pulled on my elbow, pulling me backwards.

I turned to look at who it was and stared into the face of Jake Hatford. "Hey." I said, smiling.

"Hey." He smiled back.

Then suddenly, I remembered I had something to ask him. I had to ask him about that letter. "Hey, can I ask you something?" I asked. "I meant to ask you the other day, but a lot of things happened and in the moment, I forgot."

"Ok." He agreed. "Shoot."

"Well, you remember how I opened my valentines box last Friday?" I asked.

He nodded his head. "Yeah, I do. Why?" He said.

"Well, I got a secret admirer letter from someone and I just wanted to know, well, I wanted to know if it was from you."

He blushed and I knew it was from him in that moment. "What makes you ask that?" He blurted.

"Well, maybe it's the fact that your handwriting matches the one in the letter." I said, laughing.

He groaned and smacked himself in the forehead. Then his eyes turned pleading. "Please don't tell Josh. He'd never stop teasing me if he finds out about that." He begged. "I teased him way too much about him dating Beth. I should've just let up and let him do what he wanted to."

"Yeahhh, it would've been better for him if you had." I laughed. "So, why didn't you just tell me how you felt?"

He stared at me, as though I had three extra heads. "Did you seriously ask me that?" He smirked. "I couldn't just tell you that out of the blue. You probably would've thought I was trying to pull a prank on you or something like that."

I laughed because what he said was true. I would've found that suspiciously odd for him to just tell me that one random day.

Suddenly, Jake looked all around us, I guess he was trying to see if someone was behind us or our siblings were still hanging around. But as soon as the coast was clear, he leaned down and quickly kissed me on the lips then ran off to catch up with everyone else.

As they all walked inside the school, I stood rooted to the spot, the warm tingling feeling still lingering on my lips. I couldn't breathe; I couldn't even think.

The only thing I could think about was that kiss and what it meant to him and to me.