3. Maria

I've liked and noticed him for about a year now.

That sounds a bit stalker-ish but I swear I'm not a stalker. I just never had the confidence to approach him. I don't think anyone ever had the confidence to approach him because he barely ever gave anyone the chance. He was always with the long-haired boy Chad Washington. Him and no one else.

It was even a miracle that he'd sat down next to me in English class. I knew I hadn't looked it at the time, but I was excited. I was trying my best not to squeal. It was the first time I'd sat next to him, and the first time he'd spoken to me.

"This is the first time I've ever seen you so excited because a guy spoke to you," Kimberly said as we sat at our lunch table after art class.

I smiled, biting into my sandwich. Delicious. "You'd feel the same way too if the guy you were crushing on finally noticed that you were alive, Kim."

She laughed, the others following.

I had three friends. We've been close since middle school and for some reason, never grew apart despite different interests. Kat was the most studious amongst us, and always got high grades. Wilson was a basketballer and so usually practiced, but today he was sitting with us, because he got a slight injury on his leg. And Kimberly, she was the one I was closest to. She was the most available and we had every class together and went out together whenever the others didn't have time. People assumed that I was close to every other 'popular' person, but they were wrong. Others were trying to 'recruit' me, but I wasn't interested, I just liked my friends and I was going to keep it that way.

"He looked shocked when you smiled at him that time," Wilson said.

"I can't blame him," Kat mused, eyes on her phone, "You're not known to be nice to anyone. But that's the same with him. You're perfect together, it seems."

I felt myself flush at that. I guess I shouldn't judge him for always being with Chad when I was like that.

"But I'm not mean."

Kimberly nodded. "But you're intimidating. Not to us though."

"Yeah," Wilson chipped in. "To us, you'll always be a crybaby."

"I'm not a crybaby," I said firmly.

Kat raised her head, adjusting her eyeglasses. "What a liar you are. But that's okay, because we still love you."

I gave her the middle finger, and she just laughed.

"So, what's your plan now that Valentine knows your name?" Wilson asked. "I need something romantic to happen to one of us soon, so I can find something to be jealous of."

"You could find someone," Kat said.

Wilson shook his head, chugging down his soda. "Not interested."

I sighed. "Then don't rush us."

"Back to what Wilson said," Kimberly said.

"The first sentence, to be precise," Kat added.

Everyone suddenly looked interested. Kat's phone was on the table, Wilson was no longer eating and Kimberly was almost in my face with how close she was.

"Well..." I began. "Valentine's day is coming soon."

Kimberly gasped. "Are you going to ask him to be your Valentine?!"

I winced, trying to cover her mouth at the way she screamed. Our schoolmates were turning to look in our direction. Some of them anyway.

"Yes, I am," I answered. "I've been planning to. Can't crush on him forever."

"That's a really good plan," Kat noted. "Though it'll be a bummer to get rejected on Valentine's day, but it's better to get it over with." She paused. "Not that you're going to get rejected of course."

"Right."

My confidence was slipping.

"You won't get rejected," Kimberly said, patting my hand.

"Hopefully," I said.

"Valentine's day is also his birthday," Kat imputed.

My eyes widened. She was right! So, I should probably get two gifts or something.

Wilson cocked his head. "No wonder his name is Valentine. That's crazy though."

Before I could say anything, I felt my phone vibrate.

"What is it?" Kimberly asked. "Anything important?"

"Yeah. I need to go for a photoshoot after school. Also, my mom and dad are back from their vacation."

My parents went on a two-week vacation to Paris. I was thankful for that because I really wasn't a fan of my mom dying so soon. She was working so hard even though my dad told her to relax and that he had enough money to take care of everybody for as long as possible. Honestly, she should listen to him. She didn't even need to quit her job, she just had to take it easy. My mom was a baker who owned her own place- it was huge, I won't lie- and it was very successful already so I didn't get why she was stressing herself, especially with an estate mogul for a husband.

"The last time we saw your mom was in the hospital. I hope she's feeling better," Kat said in concern.

"She should. They sent my brother and I lots of videos."

"That's good."

My twin brother wasn't usually around because he was busy in fashion school. It just so happens that we were interested in the same thing. But he started off earlier than me. I felt like he was a prodigy, because from all I've seen... He's really good.

"So you're not coming over today," Kimberly said.

"No. But you could follow me to my photoshoot," I said, looking at them. "All of you."

They looked at me silently.

"Please?"

Wilson shrugged. "Alright, it's not like I can play basketball for now anyway."

I looked at Kat, who looked back at me, brow raised.

She finally spoke. "I'm only going to agree because I don't want you to start crying."

I gasped. "That's not fair! I wasn't about to cry!"

They all started laughing.

"Through all of that, we're going to talk about how we're going to make Valentine Baldwin see you as a girl," Wilson said.

Kimberly grinned. "A pretty one."

Kat sipped a bit of water. "And a smart one."

I laughed. I really have the best friends.