Chapter 10

"Don't worry, buddy. You got this," Matt was trying to reassure Izzy. "Besides, she asked me about you."

"She did?" Izzy asked.

"Yeah, so that's a good thing. Now come on, she'll be here in fifteen minutes. Steady yourself. When you feel your cell phone go off, you start," Matt said.

"But why? Shouldn't I wait for her before I do anything?" Izzy said.

"No. If you begin before she gets here, it's almost like a little warm-up," Matt said. "Good luck," he patted Izzy on the shoulder. "And remember, just pretend that you're the only one around. Focus on what you're doing, not on your surroundings," he said before he left.

Izzy sat on the cold bench, with an acoustic guitar on his lap. I hope I don't mess this up. He blew on his fingers, trying to warm them up. Take a couple of deep breaths, Izumi. Just relax. Izzy was just a big ball of nervousness. He felt like he was going to expose a part of him that was meant to be secret, he never felt so vulnerable, so awkward. He never did anything like this in his life, and he just hoped that Mimi would take it well. What if she laughs at me? What if Matt and Sora did this just so I could make a fool out of myself? No, they would never do that. Matt likes his pranks as much as TK does, but he would never go that far. Empty your mind, empty your mind. No! Don't empty it all the way, you still need to remember some stuff. Gah! Shut up, brain! Izzy tried to calm down, but his phone starting buzzing in his pocket. I guess it's showtime. No turning back now.

Mimi could hear the sound of music playing faintly. Maybe it's coming from the courtyard. Oh no. Should I even show up? If I don't show up, I'll never know who my secret admirer is. And I know Megumi would be the first person to yell at me if I didn't find out. But I know it's not Izzy, I'm just going to end up disappointing the poor guy who did all of this for me. Oh, I'll just sneak up to see who it is. That way nobody gets hurt and I get to find out who it is. Talk about a win-win situation, Mimi reasoned with herself. She hid behind the side of the building and peeked out. She squinted her eyes and saw a redheaded boy playing on the guitar. His back was to her, so he couldn't see her watching him. Nobody else was in sight. I cannot be seeing things right, because that guy kinda looks like Izzy. It can't be him though, can it? Mimi decided to check for herself. As she walked closer to the courtyard, the music sounded louder and clearer. Mimi strained to hear it.

"...Painted faces fill the places I can't reach..."

Hey, that sounds like Izzy. I am so delusional. It's not him...I think. Mimi walked closer to the boy and listened as he kept singing.

"...You know that I could use somebody, someone like you and all you know and how you speak..."

Mimi inched closer and closer as the boy kept playing his song. Eventually, she only stood a couple of inches behind him.

"Off in the night, while you live it up, I'm off to sleep, waging wars to shake the poet and the beat...well I hope it's gonna make you notice someone like me... someone like me. Somebody..."

Mimi stared at the boy as he strummed along on his guitar.

"...I'm ready...I'm ready...I'm ready..."

"I've been roaming around, I was looking down at all I see," Izzy finished off his song with a couple of strums. He tilted his head up, but he didn't see anyone. Figures, he let out a sigh and gently rested the guitar on the bench. He put his elbows on his knees and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Izzy?" he heard a familiar voice. He picked his head up and turned around.

"Mimi," he said, breathlessly.

"Are you the mystery guy?" she asked. "You know, with the notes and stuff?"

"Yeah," Izzy blushed.

"Oh, Izzy!" she ran to him and wrapped her arms around him. "I was hoping it was you the whole time!" she nuzzled his neck.

"You were?" Izzy was pleasantly surprised.

She lifted her head up and looked into his face. "Yes, silly! I love it, everything!" she gushed. She stroked his face and leaned in close. "Thank you," she whispered as their noses touched. She grabbed his face and kissed him on the lips. She was in nirvana; she could feel the warmth of his kiss spread throughout her whole body. He tenderly brushed his fingers through her long, brown hair.

Meanwhile, her friends were watching the two from a nearby bush. "Aww, how romantic!" Megumi cried.

"They are so cute together! I'm in love with them as a couple!" Miki said.

"Shhh! We'll get caught if we're too loud!" Sora hushed them.

"Oh, right!" Megumi said. She put her fingers to her lips and shushed them.

"So, Izzy. Should we head on to the cafe? It's on you," Mimi pulled out her gift card and winked at him. Izzy laughed.

"Before we go, I just wanted to give you one more thing," Izzy reached into his pocket and took out a jewelry box. He handed it to her.

"Oh, Izzy...it's beautiful!" Mimi opened the tiny box and held up a silver necklace. A key-shaped pendant hung off it and the key hole was in the shape of a heart.

"It's a key to my heart. Well, not literally, but figuratively, uh..." Izzy rambled.

"I know what you mean," Mimi said. "Now stop talking," she kissed him again, their lips pressing against each other. They opened their mouths simultaneously, letting their tongues get acquainted with each other. They could kiss each other all day long, but it started to get windy.

"We should get going now," Mimi said.

"Yeah, it's getting cold," Izzy slung the guitar on his back and he reached for Mimi's hand. "Ready?"

"Ready," Mimi said, grabbing his hand as they walked off to the coffee shop.

"And that's how me and your father spent our first Valentine's Day," Mimi said as she put on her earrings.

"Wow, that's so romantic! I love that story," her daughter said, sitting at the edge of the bed. Mimi smiled at her. Her daughter, Isabella had the same spiky, red hair and dark eyes as her father but her personality was a lot like Mimi's.

"Psh, why is Dad such a fruit?" her son scoffed before he went back to his laptop. His wavy, caramel hair flopped over his light brown eyes.

"Tyler!" Mimi gasped. Reminder to self: Don't let Tai take the kids out ever, EVER again. "One day, you'll do something like that for a girl you like."

"Mom, why is Ty calling Dad a fruit? He doesn't look like an apple to me. Or a grape. Or a blueberry. Or an orange. Or an apple," her daughter said.

"Iz, you said apple twice," Tyler held up two fingers.

"Shut up! You confused me!" Isabella crossed her arms and turned her nose up in the air.

"Oh, Bella!," she laughed. "Okay, remember to be on your best behavior while we're out. If I hear that you've been bad, no laptop," she looked at Tyler, "and no shopping," she glanced at Isabella, "for a month."

"Moooom!" Isabella whined.

"Behave! TK's here," Mimi said.

"TK!" the kids happily ran out of the room.

Izzy peeked in and knocked on the door frame. "Ready?" He went behind her and hugged her waist.

Mimi put on her key necklace and smiled at him. "Ready."

The End