6. Maria

I was embarrassed.

On Monday in school, especially during classes, I avoided eye contact with Valentine for as long as I could.

My friends started teasing the hell out of me when they found out that I confessed to Valentine, then chickened out by telling some lie. I was surprised that he didn't call me out on it, instead he just accepted it. Maybe he thought he was hearing things.

"Why are you standing there?"

I looked up into Valentine's concerned face.

For context, I was supposed to walk into class, but I stood staring at the door. I was scared to face Valentine. For once, I wasn't happy that we shared the same classes.

"Um..."

"Where are your friends?" He asked, looking around.

"They should be inside," I said, surprised that I could talk.

He nodded. "Let's go in then. We're late."

He pushed the door open and grabbed my arm.

I froze.

He quickly let go. He probably thought I didn't like that. I did though. But I wanted to know what was going on in his head.

We walked into class, all eyes on us. I knew rumors would be fueled by this. I'd heard a few already. They said Valentine and I were in a relationship, but were trying to keep it a secret.

I wish that were true.

***

"You know, you acting weird around him is going to make him feel uncomfortable," Kimberly said during lunch.

I was staring at Valentine's table. He never really came to the cafeteria to eat, but he did today. And he was accompanied by his friend and his girlfriend. I was a bit jealous at first when I saw how they were talking to each other. He never used to talk to anyone but Chad.

"And then he's going to back away from you," Kat added. "Forever."

Wilson didn't come to school for reasons we didn't know. But he said he wasn't sick or anything, so we didn't worry. He'd tell us if it were anything serious.

"I just feel embarrassed, you know."

"You said you told him you liked his eyes too. He accepted it. Now, you're running away from him like he did something wrong," Kat said. "I don't think he's going to wait long enough to know whether you like him or not, Marie. Your actions are annoying even to me."

I looked at my food sadly. She was right. Valentine didn't do anything wrong. What if he didn't care that I was avoiding him? That would hurt me, no lie.

I raised my head to watch him. He seemed to be relaxed as he interacted with his friends. Still as expressionless as ever, but in the same way, showed a bit of emotion. He was so handsome in my eyes. His shaved head only made him look better, and the earrings. And his eyes were really pretty too. Though I changed my words, they were true. Hi s brown-

I felt my cheeks become heated as I realized that he was staring right at me.

No wonder I was able to admire his eyes.

With a red face, I waved at him. He smiled a bit and did the same. That really warmed my heart.

"That was cute," Kimberly commented. "He's kinda cute."

She was right about both things.

I spent lunchtime looking at him. It would be creepy if it were a movie, I know. But it really wasn't! I was just appreciating his looks and noticing a few more things I didn't notice before.

I caught his friends glancing at me a few times though. Others in the cafeteria were starting to notice what I was doing, and so I was the center of attention. I wasn't exactly being discreet, so I couldn't complain about being stared at.

The bell rang sooner than expected. But I was still looking at him, to my friends' annoyance.

I felt bad for them.

***

"What are you getting daddy for Valentine's day?" I asked my mom the moment I entered her office.

She choked on the bread she was eating. So, we spent a while trying to calm her down.

"What?" She croaked, tears on her cheeks.

"I didn't know such a question would cause such a reaction. Sorry mom," I said.

If anything had happened to her, my dad would've killed me.

"It's okay," she said, patting my cheek.

We sat down on the couch in her office, laying her head on my shoulder as we relaxed.

"Who do you want to get a Valentine's gift?" She asked. "You don't have a boyfriend. I would know."

"But I have a crush."

I barely kept anything hidden from my mom. We were very close. For some reason, I never told her about my crush on Valentine. Maybe because I thought it would go away.

"Hmm," she said, now upright. "I didn't know you had a crush."

"Yeah... Sorry," I laughed nervously.

"It's alright," she said. "Find something he likes and get it for him. Or get him something simple. As for your dad... I don't know yet, baby."

It was hard shopping for someone who had everything. But she could simply smile at him and he would take just that, so I didn't think she had much to worry about.

Now, I have savings. I'd saved since last year when I discovered that I liked Valentine way too much to let him go. I'd saved a large amount of money to get him a present. More than one though, since his birthday is the same day. What did he like? I knew he liked video games, and art... Maybe I could ask his friend.

"Don't think too much about it, Maria," mom said. "Valentine is still far away so you have all the time to think and ask questions."

"Okay."

"I'd love to see this boy you're crushing on soon though," she said, making me laugh. "He has to be something for you to be thinking about Valentine's day gifts for him. You usually get anything."

She was right. He really was something.

If he accepts my affection, then I'd introduce them.

I smiled at her, kissing her cheek.