Early on Saturday morning, Mia stretched out on the lounge room floor with a notebook and pen. She really wanted to write her tribute before Shae and Michiko came over for the photo shoot.

But it was hard to concentrate. The house was really noisy and crazy. Nick was practising the drums in his room. Rose was doing her homework and listening to music with the volume turned right up.

Mia sighed as she looked at her page. She’d barely written anything.

There was another problem, too. She knew that Michiko and Shae were her friends. But what about Jack? She had been so sure that they were just friends. What if Shae was right, and Jack did have a crush on her?

I don’t think he has, thought Mia, chewing on her pen. But how can you tell?

Just then, Rose wandered into the lounge room and flopped onto the sofa. ‘Whatcha doing?’ she asked.

‘Homework,’ replied Mia. Then she had a thought. Rose knows all about crushes!

‘Rose,’ asked Mia, a little shyly. ‘How can you tell if a boy likes you?’

Rose looked at her and smiled. ‘Does someone have a crush on my baby sister?’ she said.

‘Uhh, it’s not about me!’ said Mia hastily. The last thing she needed was Rose teasing her as well! ‘I’m asking for a friend of mine.’

‘Sure, I understand,’ grinned Rose. ‘Well, is this boy nicer to your friend than to other girls?’

Mia thought about it. ‘I guess so,’ she said. ‘They get along pretty well.’

‘Does he pay her lots of attention?’ asked Rose.

Mia frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, does he look at her a lot?’ explained Rose.

‘All the time!’ Mia nodded. ‘But mostly to make her laugh while the teacher is talking.’

‘Doesn’t matter,’ said Rose. ‘He’s still staring. Does he give her compliments?’

‘Um … ’ Mia thought hard. Jack was always telling her how good she was at ping-pong. That was a compliment. ‘Yes, he does,’ said Mia.

Rose grinned. ‘I’d say the boy definitely had a crush on your friend,’ she said.

‘Oh,’ said Mia. Maybe it’s true, she thought. Everyone else seems to think so.

Then Mia jumped up. She didn’t want to talk about crushes anymore. ‘If anyone is looking for me I’ll be in the shed!’ she called, escaping out the back door.

The shed was Mia’s favourite place. It was kind of like another lounge room, but just for kids. In one half was the ping-pong table. In the other was an old sofa and a CD player. It was the best place to think.

When she arrived at the shed she got a big surprise. Jack was sitting on the step, twirling his ping-pong paddle between his hands.

‘Hi!’ he said. ‘I knocked at your house, but no-one answered. What’s going on in there?’

‘Everything!’ groaned Mia. ‘You can hear Nick and his drums from here!’

‘Feel like playing ping-pong?’ asked Jack.

‘OK,’ Mia said, racing into the shed and grabbing her paddle. ‘Get ready!’

Pow! The ball flew over the net and Jack leapt up, just managing to hit it back. This game was super close. Jack would win a shot and then Mia would win the next one. But then Jack hit the ball so that it bounced on the opposite corner to where Mia was standing. There was no way she could get to it in time, and the ball zoomed past.

Jack did a pivot and punched the air. ‘Finally!’ he said. ‘I was beginning to think I’d never beat you again. You’re way too good at ping-pong.’

Suddenly, Mia felt nervous. I should just ask him if he’s got a crush on me, she thought. Then we can sort this out once and for all!

‘Um, Jack?’ said Mia. ‘I’ve got a question.’ Her cheeks felt hot.

Jack had dropped to the floor and was looking under the table for the spare ball. ‘What?’ he asked.

Mia squirmed. This was going to be hard! ‘Do you —’

‘Hey, Mia,’ Nick called, poking his head inside the shed and tapping his drumsticks on the door. ‘Your friends are out the front.’

‘Oh! Thanks,’ said Mia, putting down her paddle. ‘See you later, Jack.’

She couldn’t help feeling relieved. The big question would have to wait!