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“Really?” another voice asked.

“Yeah…” the first voice continued. “Her doctor thinks it’s from the drinking fountain.”

“I’m sure it’s from the drinking fountains,” the second voice said sarcastically.

I was impatiently awaiting the return of the graded earth science tests. I had really studied and had my heart set on getting an A. Li had helped me study for this. Finally my paper was given to me.

“Ninety-four,” I said out loud, holding my paper up to make sure that the red ink on the page was real. It was (A/N: excuse the cliché) as if a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

“Ninety-six,” Madison said, flopping down on the lab stool next to me. “Two problems wrong, easy ones.”

“Good job,” I said, my grade seeming less important. Suck it up, Sakura, I thought to myself. You did fine. More than fine. Great.

I glanced across the lab table. Li was sitting there talking to Mark and Eriol. He looked up, and I flashed him a wide smile. He smiled back one of his rare smiles and nodded his head a little. I felt that if I died right then and there, it would be okay because I would die happy.

Li called, “Ninety-eight. How about you?”

“Ninety-four,” I managed.

“Cool.”

I was floating.

Sakura was smiling. Just smiling. Every once in a while, she would glance at Li. I know she likes him. Every time I say so, though, it’s, “ Madison, he’s just my friend. If I like him, I would tell you, okay?”

I know she likes him.

Sakura is so pretty and nice and smart. Li likes her. Mark likes her. Mark told me. He also told me that Li is only going out with Nikki to try to make Sakura jealous. Li shouldn’t do that, it’s sick. Li’s just sick. I was busy being depressed over the fact that I had tried to finish the test too fast and had gotten the last questions wrong when Sakura said, “Madison, I’m so stupid.” “We know,” Meilin laughed. I do not know why Sakura puts up with her. Meilin would respect her more if Sakura would just cave in and yell at her. Meilin’s has a kind-heart inside, I know but she just doesn’t show it very often.

Sakura has such an up-and-down personality. She’ll be laughing and then she will start crying, or be all spacey and then try to be serious. It gets confusing sometimes, but she’s my best friend and I understand her the most. I like Eriol secretly, I haven’t told anyone yet. Not even Sakura.

But I’m still sure she likes Li.

Sakura and Li were gazing at each other without either of them knowing that the other person was even looking at them. How sick. I mean sure, they captured clow cards together when they were little, but that’s over now. They had their little sparks here and there but that didn’t mean anything.

Li has problems. Not physically. He has got the most incredible amber brown eyes and chestnut brown hair. Muscular arms, legs and is really cute. But besides that, he’s got problems.

He’s supposed to like me. Not Sakura. But as hard as it is for me to admit, he does like Sakura.

She makes me sick sometimes. She’ll be all, “ Meilin, you’re so mean!” and everyone feels sorry for her and turns against me. It’s pathetic.

Sakura is my friend. She’s nice and I like her. I just don’t know why I get so mad at her sometimes. Oh yeah, I do. Because Li likes her.

Sakura is so perfect it makes me sick sometimes. She is really popular. She doesn’t think she is, but she is. Not popular popular, but everyone wants to be her best friend. Even Li.

Oh, how I despise that last thought, “ Meilin, I know you’re my cousin, but you’re so sour toward Sakura sometimes and I think you should treat her more friendlier,” Li says. Blah, blah, blah. He’ll go on, and everyone would agree. I do make fun of Sakura and sometimes even Li, but I can’t help it. My mouth runs faster than whatever controls it. But not Sakura. She’s pretty, smart, sweet, etc. Please.

That is no reason for Li to like her, though. Every other guy in the room likes Sakura, anyway. She doesn’t have to like Li. I don’t have any competition with Nikki, though. Li has some twisted idea that going out with her will make Sakura like him more. Guys tell me that I’m pretty, but to Li, I always come in second.

What a dork.

Meilin is glaring at Sakura. Li was gazing at Sakura. Sakura was staring at her test paper.

And I just observe all this. Observing is good, though. If you listen and look long enough, you can hear people’s thoughts in the expressions on their faces.

The last time I told someone that, she called me a weirdo and walked away.

Sakura is so pretty. Emerald green eyes with long lashes, smooth urban brown hair that curves around her face. She’s at least five foot, seven inches tall. (A/N: I’m only guessing, I don’t think it’s true.) I am continually amazed at how beautiful she really is. Inside and out.

But as the guy-who-likes-her’s best friend, (One of Li’s best friends) I am forbidden to even think about liking her. “You and Eriol are the only ones who knows, Mark. Don’t tell anyone,” Li will say. Sure, Mark the perfect buddy whose internal perfect buddy appearance is clouded with the ugly thoughts that are aimed solely at Li. It’s his fault I cannot even like the girl I like. I had to confine that in someone. Or at least let someone else know Li’s big “secret.” That is why I had to tell Madison.

But Li doesn’t have to know I like her. My own thoughts aren’t going to tell anyone.

What a waste. Sakura and Li are in love with each other, and everyone knows it but them. They will never confess their true feelings. Their love will go on unrequited. They will die with an unfinished business. Unsaid words.

Yeah, that’s happy thinking, Eriol, I tell myself.

But it’s true, though I have hope for them.

For me, Madison is more my type. Gorgeous. Uniquely, yet magnificently gorgeous. She’s prettier than Sakura I think so anyway. She doesn’t have the charisma that Sakura does, but she has equally as many friends.

She would never like me back I am at least two inches shorter, obnoxious (as hard as it is for me to admit) and well, I’m not Madison’s type. She’s my type; I’m not hers. Confusing. Oh well… I can live with it. For now, at least. But if I’m still like this in tenth grade, I’ll have Mark knock some sense into me. He’s the only not lovesick guy I know.

Sakura and Li keep glancing at each other. Unrequited love. What a pity. This would make a great soap opera.

Smile Syaoran, I urged my lips. A good smile. As good as Sakura’s is.

Sakura looked so cute grinning and giggling with Madison and Meilin. I like her so much. Nikki isn’t making her jealous. She’s too honest and sweet to get jealous. She just avoids me now. At least, as long as I’m around Nikki.

I told Eriol, looking for advise, but he just said, “Gee, I wonder why? Possibly because Nikki is your girlfriend?”

Yeah, he’s a lot of help.

Neither is Mark. He changes the subject. Or he goes on about how incredible Sakura is. It’s like he’s trying to fix me up with her. Hello! I already like her, man. Mark can be so dense sometimes.

Maybe I should fix him up with Meilin.

Meilin is kind of scary, even if she’s my cousin. She may just be evil. Not on the outside, but her fiery ruby red eyes look as if she wants to destroy Sakura. And me.

Sakura’s green eyes ran into me. They can be so powerful. They send out signals of sweetness and laughter. Not like Meilin. I want to break up with Nikki but I don’t want to hurt her feelings. People say I’m too honorable.

“Sakura’s so pretty, isn’t she?” I said quietly to Mark.

“What’s the answer to number four?” Mark had changed the subject yet again. I’ll talk to him about Meilin tomorrow.

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Write to me, I have to have at least some comments instead of flames or I won’t write anymore. This story isn’t one of my best so I don’t blame you for giving me a lot more flames than comments. Anyway, just send a review, or e-mail me, I’d like to be your friend. By the way, if you’re a Harry Potter, Lily Evans, and James Potter fan, I’m starting to write one right now so be there to read it. I’m planning to write a Digimon one too for all you Digi Fans. If you have any requests, or questions, write me or just put it in the reviews, I’ll be sure to read them and answer them too on one of my stories.