The Sweets Shop
Part 3: Valentine's Day 2003
"It's super unfair, Tonio!"
The sudden shout was enough to make Antonio freeze with his hands outstretched toward the little box that Francis was holding. He turned his head, eyes wide in confusion as he stared at the now-scowling Gillian standing a few feet behind him. "Huh? What's unfair, Gill?"
Francis was staring at her too, obviously just as confused as he was.
Her scowl turned into something more similar to a pout as she stomped a boot against the ground, causing slush to splash over the top of Antonio's sneakers. "You just had your birthday two days ago!"
Antonio and Francis both continued to stare at her. Finally Antonio nodded, slowly. "I did..."
"And Franny made you a cupcake then, right?"
Another nod. He sent a puzzled look to Francis, who just sent him an equally bemused look in response. Apparently he didn't understand why Gill was upset either.
"So how come you get another cupcake today?! That's not fair!"
Ohhh...
Antonio frowned slightly at her comment and returned his attention to the box that Francis was still holding. Inside was a cupcake, similar to the one that he'd received two days ago. It was all wrapped up in its own little box with pink tissue paper that kept it from moving around and getting ruined. The top of the cupcake had the red outline of a heart on top and a cursive 'A' written inside with pink frosting.
He supposed that it really wasn't fair. He'd just received a cupcake from Francis two days ago. And it had been a really yummy chocolate cupcake with a special raspberry filling and a cute little froggy drawn on top with green frosting...
Francis just sighed, though, and pushed the box into Antonio's hands, rubbing his own hands on the side of his jeans once Antonio had the box securely in his grip. "Gilly, of course it's fair. I made you a special cupcake on your birthday last month. And you're holding your Valentine's Day cupcake in your hands right now."
That was also true... Gill was currently holding a box like Antonio's, except her cupcake had a little yellow chick drawn on top that was surrounded by a bunch of balloon hearts. And Antonio remembered her birthday cupcake, which had been a chocolate cupcake with chocolate filling and lots and lots of sprinkles on top.
She pouted and clutched the box protectively. "But that was so long ago. I can't even remember what it tasted like!"
"Chocolate. That was definitely what it tasted like, chérie."
It had looked like a really yummy cupcake, Antonio remembered. Although he wasn't really sure that he'd have wanted a cupcake that had so much chocolate inside it. She'd ended up eating the cupcake at lunch that day and had made a huge mess.
"But he gets two cupcakes in one week..."
Antonio frowned and then looked down at the cupcake that was he was currently holding. And then held it out toward Gill. "Do you want my cupcake, Gill? I don't mind." Well, he did, but it was okay. He wanted Gill to be happy.
"Of course not!" Francis answered first, almost sounding angry. "That's yours."
"I don't want your cupcake..." And Gill didn't sound very happy either.
And now Antonio was just confused.
Gill and Francis had both been acting rather strangely today. They'd both been waiting for him at the bus stop, like they usually did, and now they were walking the last couple blocks to school, like they did every morning. But neither of them seemed to be in as good a mood as usual. Which made Antonio feel sad, because it was Valentine's Day so why were they both upset?
"Um..." But he wasn't sure if he should mention it, because that might make them more unhappy... But they were both frowning as they walked on either side of him. Neither was speaking, which was very strange, and both of them staring down at the slushy sidewalk. Gill occasionally kicking at the chunks of ice.
"Is—" He hesitated for a moment. "Is something wrong?"
"No." They both spoke at the same time, but neither of them looked up. And Gill kicked a chunk of ice hard enough that it hit the tire of a parked car.
...Antonio was pretty sure they weren't telling the truth right now. "Umm, sorry..." Had he done something to upset them? He couldn't think what it could be. Maybe they were mad because he hadn't given them their Valentine's cards yet? But he hadn't wanted to give them to them yet because it was wet and icy and he didn't want to accidentally drop them in the slush.
Suddenly Francis sighed, looked up, and sent Antonio a slight smile. "I'm sorry, cher. It's nothing that you've done. I'm just..." He paused and then adjusted his backpack for a moment before continuing, "My parents were supposed to be coming this weekend. And I knew they probably would back out like they always do, but... They called this morning while I was still asleep and they didn't even want to talk to me. They just said 'things came up' and..." He scowled and kicked at his own chunk of ice. "Why did they even have me if they didn't want me?"
"Franny!" And Gill responded first, moving past Antonio and grabbing onto Francis's arm, hugging it tightly while pressing herself against his side. She frowned up at him. "You can't say that! Your parents are stupid and unawesome so you're ours. They can't have you. We're a way better family than they'll ever be anyway!"
"Sí!" Antonio hurriedly moved to stand closer to his friend as well. He honestly didn't understand how Francis's parents could be so mean... Franny was really wonderful and nice and smart and it didn't make any sense for them to not want to spend time with him.
Antonio had never even seen Francis's parents. Gill had said that she'd seen them once from far away. According to her, Franny's mom looked just like a grown-up girl-version of Francis, and his dad looked like a grumpy, mean jerk-face.
Francis smiled. "Thank you."
"I'm sorry I was being grumpy, Franny." Gill hugged his arm more tightly. "I was just mad 'cause my aunt's a big jerk."
"What did she do?" Antonio was glad that at least they were telling him what was wrong now.
Gill pouted, but said, "Well, Mutti and Vati went out last night on a date and Big Mike was supposed to baby-sit Ludwig and me, but she got sick so we had to go stay with my stupid aunt and uncle. And I hadn't finished my valentines yet so I was making valentines with Eli and Lizzie. And I was making a valentine for Courtney."
Ah, yes, Courtney was the girl in their class that Gill had a crush on. She was really cute and quiet and sat next to Francis and she had really pretty red hair.
"And it was an awesome valentine! Like the most awesome valentine ever! And then my aunt came over and she's all like 'who's that for?' and I said it was for Courtney and she's all like 'why are you making a valentine like that for a girl?' and I said 'cause I liked Courtney and I wanted her to be my girlfriend and she yelled at me and took my valentine and said that I couldn't have a girlfriend 'cause I'm a girl!" She stomped her foot now. "That's stupid and unawesome!"
"Did she give the valentine back?" Antonio knew he would be really upset if someone had stolen his valentine for Lovi. He'd worked really hard on it. Mamá had even helped him cut the heart out since he kept making mistakes.
"No! I told Mutti this morning, but we didn't have time to go and get it from my aunt. Mutti was really mad, though. Vati made me and Ludwig go outside early, but I could still hear Mutti saying lots of bad words through the windows." She hesitated for a moment, obviously distracted from her story by the memory. "I think she's gonna go yell at her today, but I didn't have time to make another valentine that was just as awesome so I had to make one that didn't have any glitter on it!"
That was so sad! Gill loved glitter!
"I'm sure Courtney will be happy with any valentine, even without glitter," Francis reassured her.
"But it would've been way more awesome with glitter..." She pouted and kicked at another chunk of ice. But then brightened up a little bit. "But she didn't get rid of you guys' valentines and they're super awesome!"
Antonio smiled. "I made your valentines almost all by myself!"
Gill grinned. "And did ya make a special one for Lovi again?"
Of course! Antonio nodded proudly. "I drew a tomato on it!"
"You always draw a tomato on it."
That was because tomatoes were Lovi's favourite things. And Lovi's valentines to him were always so cute! He knew that she got them from a box and it was the same as the ones that she gave out to the rest of her classmates, but he was the only person not in her class who got one! Which meant that Lovi thought he was special!
And they usually had cute little cartoons on them and last year she'd given him one with a lollipop attached! Although then she'd later stolen the lollipop back because she wanted to eat it.
"Well, my awesome valentines are gonna put all of your valentines to shame!" Gill jumped ahead, right into a puddle that splashed all over Antonio again. Francis had moved back so he managed to avoid getting wet.
But that was okay, Antonio didn't really mind that much.
A/N: I'm sensing a pattern with these last few things I've written. Just a little bit of one. xD
Also, just for anyone who's wondering. Eli and Lizzie's mom technically isn't Gill's aunt. She's actually their first cousin once removed, which makes Eli and Lizzie their first cousins twice removed, but Leni and Luca figured it'd be easier to just simplify it for the kids. (Which I can't blame them, because that's just confusing even to me.)
So today was Antonio's birthday! Happy birthday Antonio!
I haven't decided yet what the actual Valentine's Day fic is going to be about. We do have someone who has a birthday on Valentine's Day, but I'll be doing his fic tomorrow instead, since I'll probably do a fic focusing on multiple people on V-Day (or an actual romantic couple? Idk. If you guys have any requests, feel free to ask.) And then... I'll do one on the 15th and a Lithuania-centric one on the 16th since I got a request for that and since it's his birthday on the 16th. And then that might be it unless people want me to continue... We shall see, I suppose.
As always, reviews are loved-loved! Thank you for those who have reviewed. It makes me very happy!
