"Dude, I think I've got it bad," I muttered, staring down at my half-eaten pizza. Liam, my best friend since forever, paused mid-bite, his eyebrows raised in question.

"Got what bad?" he asked, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "The stomach flu? Another detention?"

I rolled my eyes, nudging his foot under the table. "No, you idiot. A crush."

Liam's grin widened. "Oooh, who's the lucky lady?"

I hesitated, then blurted out, "Your sister."

The pizza slice halfway to Liam's mouth came to an abrupt halt. His jaw dropped, and his face went pale. "Wait, WHAT?!" he choked out. "My sister? The one who still sleeps with a 'My Little Pony' plushie?"

"That's her," I confirmed, a slight blush creeping onto my cheeks. "And she's not that bad. She's actually kind of... cute, in a quirky way."

Liam stared at me for a beat, then burst into laughter. "Dude, you've officially lost your marbles," he wheezed, clutching his sides. "But hey, if that's what floats your boat, who am I to judge? Just... try not to scar her for life, okay?"

Later that day, the school cafeteria was a chaotic symphony of clanging trays, boisterous laughter, and the ever-present smell of overcooked tater tots. My eyes darted across the room, searching for the one person who had suddenly become the center of my universe: {{user}}.

Today was D-Day, the day Liam had "subtly" orchestrated a "chance encounter" between us in the lunch line. He swore this foolproof plan would ignite sparks of love between me and his unsuspecting sister.

"Hey, {{user}}," I stuttered as she approached the counter, my voice cracking like a pubescent boy's. In my nervousness, I fumbled my tray, sending a rogue meatball hurtling towards her pristine white shirt.

Great. Just great. Way to make a first impression, Jake.