Logan’s baseball meeting with the coach and the team was finished, and he was the last to pack and leave because he had to take over another member’s duty of managing the equipment. He was in the school equipment shed, where it was dark and crampy. He wanted to go home and be with his friend and the brat, so he rushed through his work. His pace was interrupted when a hand was at his shoulder. He turned around.

It was Coach Tang. “Your special fan came to see you. She’s out in the fields. You should go see her.”

Logan’s eyes lit up. “Special fan?” He rushed out of the room and to the field and searched the area.

There was no one.

He was hoping for a beautiful and sexy lady.

“Oh, my!” gasped a familiar voice from behind him.

He immediately frowned and turned his head around.

It was Hana. She put her hands over her cheeks and pretended to look surprised. “Are you, perhaps, Logan? Logan Hart?” She squealed with delight and spoke in a feminine tone, “You are Logan Hart! I can’t believe you’re in front of me right now!”

“What are you doing here, Hana? I thought I told you to not come.” He didn’t see the baby. “Where’s the brat?”

Hana spoke normally. “Don’t worry. He’s at daycare. And why can’t I come? You always let.”

“Because you’re our bad luck charm. Last time you brought honey lemon slices, we ate and had a tummy ache and lost.”

“You mean you had a tummy ache. Besides, it was your fault for gobbling all of it. It was supposed to be for the team, you selfish brat.” She pinched his nose. “I guess it was too good, wasn’t it?”

“It was poisonous, that’s what it was.” He cheekily smiled. He wanted to continue the bicker, but he was too tired. He hugged her and put almost all his weight on her. “Carry me home.”

She tried to shove him away. “Idiot, you’re heavy! Get off!”

“What’s up with the love?” It was Coach Tang with Logan’s personal belongings. He told Logan that he had finished Logan’s job and had secured everything.

The teens had known Coach Tang since sixth grade, so Coach Tang had seen the development of Logan and Hana’s relationship together. He found it amusing to tease the two friends because they always gave him a reactive response.

“Hana, haven’t seen you in a while,” said Coach Tang, throwing a hand in the air for the short Hana to reach.

Hana pouted and playfully slapped the Coach’s side.

“You two dating yet?”

“We’re not!” exclaimed the teens, together.

Coach Tang chuckled. “As always, you guys are in sync. Just date already. Everyone knows you two are a couple.”

“Everyone?” The teens freaked out.

“Not everyone. But the baseball team knows about your relationship.”

Hana crossed her arms over her chest. “We’ll never have that kind of relationship. It’s not possible.”

Logan nodded. “Exactly. She’s like a guy.”

Hana pointed to Logan. “And he’s like a gi--dummy.”

“Hey, I called you a guy!”

“And I called you a dummy. What’s wrong with that?”

“A dummy’s worse than getting called a girl! At least give me some boobs!” He started to grope the air, and Hana looked away with disgust.

Coach Tang smiled as he glanced to his wristwatch. “Snap! I can’t be late for this breakfast!”

The teens docked their heads to the side.

Logan said, “You’re not a breakfast person though.”

“Not for me. It’s our four-year anniversary. I was late for the last two years, and she was furious.”

“Girls. They’re such—”

“Romantics?” finished Hana.

“No,” said Logan without hesitation. “I was gonna say that they’re a hassle. It’s why I don’t date. I fling.”

Hana shook her head. She returned her attention back to the Coach. “It’s sweet of you to remember and do it.”

“I don’t go for the food or for the celebration. I go ‘cause she’s there.” He pointed to the young ones. “You two might think you’re not meant for each other but trust me, when one of you is far from the other for a long time, you’ll start missing each other’s presence.” He walked away and shouted, “Keep that in mind!”

Once the Coach’s shadow disappeared, the friends slowly turned to look at each other. “Nah, it’s not happening,” they said, shaking their heads. They started to walk home, forgetting the words the older man had said.

*

“Morning!” greeted Hana to Hailey in the school hallway.

It was the first day of the new semester, and the gang had barely gathered together. The only person missing was Jake.

Hailey’s response was low and quiet. It was unlike her cheery self.

“What’s wrong?” asked Hana.

“My dad. He moved the wedding to March.”

Logan, standing at the other side of Hana, propped his arm over Hana’s shoulders and leaned in. “Thought you were against them?”

Hailey clicked her tongue. “I couldn’t break them up, okay? But don’t worry. I can still try even after they’re married. What’s so hard ‘bout that?”

Logan flung his head back and asked Seth, who was walking on the opposite side beside his girlfriend, “What made her so attractive? She’s evil.”

“I’m sure she’d give in and admit she’s only after my dad’s insurance money,” continued Hailey. “She can’t possibly love an old man who’s twenty plus years older than her.”

Hana sighed. “I think she does love him.”

The friends stopped and blinked at Hana’s words of defense.

“I’ve seen them together on their dates a couple of times, and she takes good care of him.”

“Well, yeah, she has to,” snapped Hailey. “Or else she’d get it from me.”

“Hailey, do you know people talk about her? Mean talk, not envious talk. She doesn’t flaunt the love she receives from your father, and she doesn’t stand up for herself when they trash talk about her either. But when she hears people degrade your father, she speaks up.”

Hailey rolled her eyes. “It’s all for show.”

“Logan and I went shopping recently and saw your dad leave her at this store to do something and while she was there, she received dirty looks. We thought maybe we were seeing things but when one of the employees insulted your dad about being a sugar-daddy and that stuff, she got up, slapped the employee, and left.”

“Whoa…” Seth quietly said.

“It was awesome,” added Logan, nodding and smirking. He received a slap on the shoulder by Hana.

Hailey looked away. “I still don’t believe it. She’s a liar, a two-face, and now she’s gotten you guys to take her side.”

Hana shook her head. “Hailey, it’s not like that. I want you to understand her.”

“There isn’t anything to understand.”

Hana and Logan looked at each other. They knew that once Hailey had decided on something, it was for sure.

“No matter what,” continued Hailey, “I’m gonna wreck their marriage. She better not think it’s gonna be an easy ride.”

The gang continued to walk to their classroom but was surprised to see a jumpy Jake at the door.

He saw them, waved to them, and ran to them. “Guys! Guys! Guess what?”

“What?” everyone said.

“Guess who’s gonna get a girlfriend this year?”

Logan, who still had his arm around Hana’s shoulders, pulled her in close. “This guy.”

Hana sent him a sarcastic smile.

“What, you ain’t a girl, so that makes you and Jake the only single boys in our circle.”

“Why, thank you. You’re not a boy too?”

Logan did a side-way L with his index finger and thumb and put it under his chin. “No. I’m a man. And I belong to every girl.”

“No, seriously, guys,” chimed Jake. “I’ll be getting a girlfriend this year!”

“And she is?” everyone asked.

“Remember the girl I showed y’all on my phone? I found out that she’ll be here next week for a tour of our school!”

“How do you know that?” asked Hailey.

“And didn’t you say you didn’t get to see her face?” added Hana.

Jake frowned. “That doesn’t mean I can’t recognize her.”

“You saw her from the back,” said the girls.

Jake clicked his tongue multiple times. “See, this is the difference between us guys and you girls. We,” he pointed to himself, Seth, and Logan, “don’t look at the face. We look at the other beautiful features and characteristics. You girls look at the face first. That’s why girls get crappy-lookin’ guys.”

Hailey nudged him. “Hey, Seth’s not crappy.”

“You know what I mean. Anyway, from now on, the single people are you,” he pointed to Logan, “and you!” he pointed to Hana. “Better hurry it up, or you’ll be old forever. Alone.”

Hearing Jake talked about having a special someone and being single reminded the group about the confession Logan had made about not marrying anyone else until Hana got married.

Hana put on a smile. “Let’s get to class, guys.”

*

The Hart family had finished dinner, had finished homework, and had finished cleaning. Logan was getting the baby bottles from the kitchen for Hana, who was waiting at the stairs.

“Did he finally stop texting you?” asked Hana to Logan when Logan came to her.

Jake had been sending the group text messages about his future girlfriend once every while to remind them of his soon-to-be-upgraded single status to taken status.

The duo walked up the stairs, with Logan making sure that Hana got on each step carefully with a sleeping Lucas in her arms. He made sure a hand was at her back and that he matched his pacing with hers.

He yawned. “I don’t know. I stopped checking. But I do think it’s ‘bout time he gets a girl. But what do girls find in him that they don’t find in me?”

“You’re not ‘Jake’ enough.”

“Well, you’re not ‘Hailey’ enough.”

They froze.

He grimaced. “Can’t believe I said that.”

They laughed it off and got to the top of the stairs. They headed to their respective rooms.

Hana placed Lucas gently on the bed and covered him with a blanket. She was about to close the door when she saw Logan in his room, fixing the bed. A thought came to her, and she had to address it. She went to his room and stood by the door. “Hey. When will you…be dating?”

He smirked and walked to her. He placed a hand on the wall and wrapped a teasing hand over her waist to pull her in close. “Why? Want a piece of me?”

She rolled her eyes while laughing. His silliness always made her laugh. “Idiot. I was…I was asking if…you will date even if his parents are never found.”

“Hana.” His voice was low. And soft. “About what I said. Don’t worry about it.”

They locked eyes and exchanged smiles.

He realized that he might have implied he didn’t care about his declaration of not getting married until she did or that he was taking it back, so he stuttered to make himself clear. “No, no, what I mean is th—”

“I know.” She used the same soft and quiet tone as he had. She hugged him. “I know you’ll always be there for me.” She looked up at him. “For us.”

He planted a soft kiss on her forehead, which she pleasingly accepted by closing her eyes. He pulled away, and so did she.

“Good night, Logan.”

“Night, Hana.” He watched her head back to her room and close the door.

He smiled and closed his eyes.

*

Jake had asked his friends to wait for him at their original spot during lunch and to not eat until he had come back. The friends waited, curious to know what their friend was up to. To their surprise, he returned with two girls.

“Hi,” said one of the girls. “I’m Sylvia.”

“And I’m Crystal,” said the other girl. “Jake said we can join you guys for lunch. Is that okay?”

“Sure!” interrupted an excited Jake, answering for his friends. He forced his friends to make room for the new additions.

“Hi, I’m Hana, and the one with a stuffed mouth is Logan.”

Logan waved to the girls.

“And I’m Hailey, and this is my boyfriend, Seth.”

Seth sent them a smile and asked, “How do you know Jake?”

The new girls looked at each other. Sylvia blushed while Crystal answered.

“Today’s the last day of the school tour, so we were given permission to walk around the school for a more personal feel. We were taking some notes, and her papers flew, and it was Jake who gathered them for her.”

Jake flashed a smile.

“How do you like the school so far?” asked Hana.

“We like it. The people here are nice, and the teachers are helpful.”

“And everything is easy to find,” added Sylvia. “It’s not like a maze.”

Logan coughed and choked on his food. He hit his chest with his hand. “H-Hana!”

Hana came to the rescue. She was calm. She handed him water and patted his back.

“You two dating?” asked Crystal.

Logan spurt out the drink he had gulped, and Hana’s initial shock to the question was overtaken by her friend’s spurt.

Hailey answered for her busy friends. “They’re good friends.”

Hana nodded, vehemently. “Yes. Good friends.” She was rubbing Logan’s back while he was attempting to survive.

“Me?” interjected Logan with a hoarse voice. “And Hana? She’s the only one I wouldn’t date.”

Hana and Logan bumped fists, agreeing.

“Really?” questioned a happy Crystal. She calmed herself and asked, “Why is that?”

Sylvia tapped her friend and whispered, “That’s too personal.”

Hana waved her hands and shook her head. “Oh, no, it’s not. In fact, we’d be glad to get rid of any rumor out there about us.”

Hearing this, Crystal felt encouraged to know more. “So, the rumor isn’t real?”

“We’re friends. Nothing more.”

“Then, Logan, who are you dating now?”

“No one.”

“Crystal.” It was the shy and quiet Sylvia, who now looked worried. And scared. “I think it’s time for us to go.” She stood up, making her friend stand up too. “Bye. Hopefully, we’ll see you guys next year.” She dragged her friend away.

The gang looked at Jake.

“What?” he said, confused. “Isn’t she adorable?”

“It is her!” the friends exclaimed. To themselves, they had been wondering why their friend would have two random girls join them.

“Y’all know which one, right?”

“Sylvia?”

Jake nodded. “Yeah. She’s got the most beautiful smile ever.” He touched his own lips. “It’s soft and—”

“Whoa—” interrupted Logan and Hailey together.

Seth had his eyes wide opened, and Hana was too busy with cleaning Logan’s earlier mess to comment.

“You kissed her?” exclaimed an envious Logan.

Jake sighed in a sad manner. “No, but all girls’ lips are soft.”

The friends rolled their eyes playfully for having been unintentionally trolled.

“Perv,” said Hailey.

“And stalker,” added Logan. “Bet she didn’t know you were stalking them.”

“I can accept being a stalker,” said Jake, “but I won’t accept being called a perv. You’re jealous I got two girls.”

Logan made a face at him. Seconds later, he frowned. “You’re right.”

Everyone laughed.

“But, Logan,” said Hailey, “Seems like you’re gonna get a girlfriend too.”

Everyone paid attention to her.

“That Crystal girl likes you.”

Hana nodded. “She asked you those questions to see if you were single.”

Logan scooted close to Hana. “What? Jealous?”

She shoved a hand to his face and pushed him away. “As if. I guess your charms are still working. Your dating record resumes.”

“And yours will be with cats.”

“Stop jinxing it!”

Everyone laughed while Hana attempted to murder Logan.