“You know, she really likes you.”

“Of course she does. We’re best friends.”

“No, dude. She likes likes you. You know…” Tim nudged his friend. “…she wants you to be her boyfriend.”

“As if.” Simon laughed.

Madison was walking by, but had not seen her two friends.

“Hey Madi!”

Madison turned to face the boys. She smiled as she approached.

Simon nudged Tim as he said, “This bonehead thinks that you like me. As in like like. Can you believe that?”

Madison turned bright red. She glared at Tim. Then she turned to Simon with a smile. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She turned to Tim again and shot him a look.

Tim thought, “If looks could kill…” He turned to Simon. “Okay. So if Madi say turned red or made puppy dog eyes whenever you were around, you wouldn’t think anything of that.” He glanced at Madison, who was now red with rage instead of embarrassment. He snickered and was glad that he was far enough away that she could not kick his shins.

Simon smiled. “Nah. Look, she’s red now, but she looks like she’d rather strangle you than do anything with me.”

Tim chuckled. “Well, that’s definitely true. And so observant. But you know, you’re the only one in the whole wide world who calls her Madi. She corrects everybody else and says, ‘It’s Madison.’”

“Sure, but that doesn’t mean…”

“And she’s the only one who calls you Sye. You have little pet names for each other.”

Simon looked like he might be starting to see the light. He said, “Hey, that’s right. Nobody calls me Sye but you, and nobody calls you Madi but me.” He looked right at Madison. “Does that mean you like like me?”

Madison looked at Tim. He could see that her red, mad look was gone. Her eyes were wide. She looked like a trapped animal looking for an escape. Tim provided one. He looked at his friend. “Nah. You got it right the first time. Madison’s just your best friend.” He nudged his friend and winked. “If it turns into more, she’ll make sure to let you know. Unless you let her know first. You know. If it turns into more for you.” He winked again.

Madison let out a deep breath. Simon smiled.

Simon looked at Madison. He seemed to be studying her. Tim noticed that she was turning red again. Just a little. Simon finally said, “I will definitely let you know. But you gotta let me know if you like like me first.”

Madison just nodded her head.

Simon looked at his watch. “Oh shoot. I gotta go. See ya.” He turned and left without looking back.

Madison hit Tim hard on his shoulder.

“Ow! What was that for?”

“You know exactly what that was for.”

Tim smiled. “No. I told you. He doesn’t have a clue that you like him. Even though the signs are right in front of him.”

“So you decided to tell him. You told him that I liked him even though I told you not to.”

Tim laughed. “Of course I did. I told you he would only believe it if it came from your mouth. After all, he might be both our best friend, but he is still oblivious. He is after all, just simple Simon.”