The second time he lost it was having a panic attack behind a tree. (504)

"Just do it already," a pair of amber eyes rolled skyward.

A frown formed. "I can't just give it to her!"

His lips pursed contemplatively, imagining the twin looks of shame his parents would have if they ever knew their son couldn't even give a girl a stupid piece of candy.

Then again, he thought broodingly, they probably wouldn't be too happy that he even wanted to.

It was Valentine's Day and at only eleven years old, Ian Kabra was a coward.

"I already said I wouldn't tell Mum. Would you just do it?" The voice to his right remarked with impatient exasperation.

And at eight years old, his little sister, Natalie, was still as incredibly annoying as the day she was born and had screamed bloody murder in his eardrums.

The Kabra siblings stood outside a school, both in their school uniforms. Ian had begged his mother to let them walk home with the sole purpose of stopping by a certain red-haired girl's school. Isabel Kabra had been too busy to care and simply given him permission just to get him out of her office.

He knew if she knew about his secret mission, she would have never get within a mile radius of the school. Public schools, she had once told them with a disgusted face, are filthy places for children who can't afford better.

"Hi Ian," a soft voice ventured into his range, forcing him to jerk his head up in surprise.

But in his opinion, Amy Cahill was fairly clean and she was pretty. Faint freckles covered her pale skin as her viridian eyes brightened at the sight of him. Or at least, he hoped, she was happier because of him.

"What are you doing here?" Her brow wrinkled in confusion as she glanced between the siblings, her fingers tugging on the straps of her backpack.

"I-Um, here-I-" His voice stammered briefly, before a faint blush crawled over his tanned cheeks. "Here!" Swiftly shoving a brown paper bag into her hands, he jumped away just as quick as if the bag had burned him.

He sharply glanced away, avoiding her gaze and ignoring Natalie's snickers as he heard the crinkle of the bag being opened.

Then a faint brush of lips against his cheek and his head whipped around, eyes wide. Amy stood there, her eyes a soft green and a similar rosy tint on her face. "Thanks," she whispered shyly, clutching the bouquet of heart lollipops and the brown paper bag with the paper heart glued on it.

"Amy!" A voice from far away called, breaking their staring contest.

Her face formed a frown as she turned back toward him, her face apologetic. "I have to go. Bye Ian!" And as she raced away, still holding onto her (his) gifts tightly, his gaze remained on her.

"Come on, Romeo." Natalie rolled her eyes, amused as she dragged her lovesick brother away.

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Notes: Just addressing a review - this story is AU of course because yes, it's highly unlikely Amy & Ian would have ever been in the same class. This story is meant to show particular moments in Ian's life so I tried to cover specific ages. And also, thank you for the reviews, reads and such! Chapter 2 is my least favorite and in my opinion, it definitely gets better after.