AN: This one is kind of sad, as it's one of those unrequited love things. It's from a girl who lives in Jack LaGuardia's of Learning To Swim For Real's small Central California home town. She's carried her feelings for him in her heart for nearly her whole life, and has finally gotten her nerve up to tell him, when he's home visiting his parents after going away to Los Angeles to college. And...well, you'll see. It's happened to all of us, and they're not called "crushes" for nothing, are they?

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Hi, Jack,

I'm sitting on my bed, looking out the window at Warren, our hometown. It's 110 degrees outside, and the whole place is baking. I can see our pool, looking blue and inviting in the twilight. Your pool probably looks the same from your bedroom window.

Is it weird that I know where your bedroom window is?

Because I do.

It's the one at the very end of the second floor, closest to the street. You can see it from the next block, from the corner in front of the Moseley's house. I used to stand there sometimes to see if you were around.

I think the first time I knew I liked you was when I was ten and you were twelve. You were teaching me flip turns. I was so bad at them, and you put one hand on my neck, and the other on my shins to help me tuck and turn. You were so patient and kind. You were so much quieter than your brothers, but everyone knew who you were. You were one of the LaGuardia brothers, one of the swimming dynasty of Warren.

And the first time I knew I loved you was when I was fourteen, and you were showing my baby brother how to dive. No one else wanted to help him because of his skin condition, even though everyone knew it wasn't contagious, but you acted like it was nothing, you just put your hands right on him and helped him.

Everyone said you were the least handsome of all the LaGuardia brothers, but I never understood that. Your eyes are incredible, and they see so far into a person.

I never minded that you didn't know my name or anything. It's Dana, though you never called me that. I think you called me "Duckie," because of the ducks on my cap or something, and that might be all you ever knew me by. And like I said, that's okay.

I missed you so much after you went away to college, Jack! You were really the only reason I was on the team by then. I mean, I sure was never any good as a swimmer, you know lol? But I kept swimming, because I knew you'd come and swim with the team, or at least say hi to the coach when you came home to visit.

So today, your family invited a bunch of people over to swim, and I made up my mind that I was just going to tell you, I was just going to do it, finally, no more of this unrequited love bs.

And then you show up with Kelsey Carlisle. Kelsey Carlisle, Jack. One of the most beautiful and famous women in the world. Supermodel, Victoria's Secret Angel, SI Swimsuit Covergirl, I mean, in what world, Jack?

My world, I guess.

Obviously, I'm not going to give you this letter.

But I kind of feel better for having written it, I guess.

Love, Dana