Valentine's Day.
Tyler had it all planned. Of course he did. He had had this planned for years.
Dean was late for the first bell every morning without fail. Tyler would meet Sage by her locker, as he usually did and this year- this year- he would do it. He would ask her or tell her how he felt and had ever felt since first meeting her.
He hadn't overdone anything. He'd had three years to perfect this. He did his best to remain as calm and as casual as possible. He had a box of her favourite chocolates and a book she had wanted for two weeks and still hadn't purchased- her dad had cut her book money completely after finding her texting Dean, several times, after hours. She hadn't gone into details about the conversation, simply waving it off as casual chit-chat. If it really was 'casual chit-chat', why had she locked her phone with a code and no explanation? Previously, Tyler had been allowed to go through her phone and she tolerated him sending silly texts to people.
Now she kept her phone safely guarded.
He had tried to kid himself it was because her dad was nosing around, fulfilling his role as a protective father, but that didn't fully sit right with Tyler.
"Tyler, hurry up! I'm going to be late for work!" Andrew shouted.
Sighing, Tyler mustered his courage, burying his sudden need to stay off school. He grabbed his bag and the gift bag for Sage and hurried after his father.
Andrew gave him a knowing look at the gift bag, but blissfully said nothing, giving a content nod instead. He even helped to get Tyler to school ten minutes earlier than usual.
Theo and Callum were walking to the gate, pushing each other and play-fighting. They cheekily insulted each other- "Ugly!"/ "We're identical!"/ "Lies!"- but Lilly wasn't with them; most unusual.
"Ooh, who's your Valentine?" Callum demanded excitedly, pointing at the shiny gold gift bag dangling from Tyler's trembling fingers.
"You can't ask people that!" Theo hit his brother's arm lightly. Theo knew- Callum probably did as well, considering they had a weird brain/secret/knowledge sharing collection thing going on- and Tyler was grateful that Theo had stopped Callum from questioning him further.
Theo grabbed Callum's elbow and tried to haul him away. "Come on, we've got to find Lilly."
"She's with Sage." Callum shot his brother a quizzical frown.
"Now." Theo stressed.
"Bye Tyler! I'll find out!" Callum vowed, giving a maniacal grin as he walked backwards and in step with his brother.
"I doubt it!" Tyler called back; smiling at Callum's suddenly cheekily, daring look. Of course Callum would find out, but there was no point giving him clues now.
He trailed after them, his heart hammering in his ears as he turned left and headed towards his- and Sage's- lockers.
Sage was rummaging in her locker, nodding along to the music in her headphones and reading on her Kindle. If you thought you were a multitasking queen (or king, let's not be sexist), Sage could stamp you out while doing her homework, reading, listening to music and doing something or somethings for any or some of her family members.
Tyler had tried multitasking once. His smoke alarm hadn't forgotten or forgiven him.
Taking a deep breath and a step forward, Tyler tried to summon that random confidence from earlier, but then he was there.
Why was he here? He wasn't supposed to be here for another half hour!
Dean strolled casually up to Sage, grinning as he tucked on the headphone cord and drawing her attention. He handed her a red envelope with a flourish, his smile taking on a flirtatious, charming tilt.
Sage took the card sheepishly, revising it and turning it over in her hands. Dean said something to her, to which she laughed at.
She tore open the envelope and retrieved the card, catching two strips of paper before they fluttered to the floor.
Movie tickets.
Dean's lips moved again and she hunched her shoulders, musing over this new idea.
Please say no, Tyler found himself thinking, Say no, please say no…
But she had nodded, effectively and unknowingly ruining Tyler's day and leaving him crushed beyond repair.