In Mrs. Gauer's classroom, she was taking roll call when she saw that Candy was missing, "Looks like Candy has gotten cavities" insulted Alice.

Instead of laughing at her joke, everyone glared at Candy, "Kiki," said Mrs. Gauer, "since you and Daniel have been close to her since day 1, go find her. You can catch up after school."

"Okay, Mom," replied Kiki.

Once Kiki and Daniel left the classroom, Alice glared in anger. *Teacher's pets,* she thought to herself.

XxoxX

In the auditorium, they spotted Candy panicking around. Daniel thought it was another dance routine she's working on for dance class, but to Kiki, it was something else. When Candy sat down, she spotted her two best friends staring at them. Candy told them that she'd been so busy with her piano and ballet, she forgot to give her classmates Valentine's Day gifts and was afraid that they would be disappointed, "I want love, but it's impossible," cried Candy.

Just then Kiki spotted a Hawaiian lei on the piano, giving her an idea, "I know where this is going," smiled Kiki with excitement, and "You're going to use your imagination again

"Hawaii is filled with love," recalled Candy. "I did a report on the Hawaiian gay and lesbian tradition of Moe aikāne, though I got a B. But that's okay."

XxoxX

Candy, Kiki, Daniel, and Bennie were in Hawaiian hula apparel, "These skirts are nothing compared to Japanese kimonos," said Daniel. "I've seen Mom go to a Japanese cultural festival in Florida and you should see her meet the hosts of the Early Naughties show, 'Up With Cakes.' She has all of their cookbooks."

During their little Hawaiian dance, Candy was still glum because of her present's block. "Coming up with ideas for gifts is toughening up around my heart," she admitted. "But it won't brick me up, won't fence me in."

They saw Raelynn and Bennie going around and applauding.

XxoxX

Candy, Kiki and Daniel snapped back to reality and saw the two of them just standing there and applauding for their little dance thinking, "That is the same technique Aunt Regina did when she was having creative's block," recalled Bennie.

"The security footage caught you three going around and doing the hula," explained Raelynn. "I was coming out of the bathroom when Bennie told me that he needed to get you three to class."

"A girl like you is dead in places if you keep your class waiting," finished Bennie.

"Sorry, Bennie," replied Candy. "I was just so busy with ballet and piano, I forgot to give the people I love Valentine's gifts."

"I'm gonna text Ronnie about this," Bennie replied. "Meet at her locker during Study Hall. I think she has a little something that can help."

XxoxX

And sure enough, Bennie was right. Ronnie was drawing a picture of two hearts coming out of a toaster when she spotted Candy coming in, "You know," Ronnie replied, "I have a little something that just might help." From her bag, she got out some digital art Valentine's Day cards. "I made these in my Graphic Design class," she explained. "I figured I could save them for a special occasion."

Candy was glad, because she finally found the perfect gift for the people she loved. Also, during art class, Kiki gave her scented stickers cause her big brother has sinus issues.

XxoxX

Over the next two hours, Candy gave out cards to the people she loved.

Ronnie got a magenta heart with banana scented stickers, Bennie got a red heart with vanilla ice cream scented stickers, Kiki got a rose pink heart with strawberry scented stickers, Daniel got a blush pink heart with marshmallow scented stickers, Regina and Davina both got two red and pink hearts with chocolate and cotton candy scented stickers, Nikita and the Jets got three salmon colored hearts with root beer, orange, and lemon scented stickers, Raelynn got a fuchsia heart with coconut scented stickers, Ms. Nordland got a hot pink heart with grape scented stickers, Mr. Otto got a garnet heart with raspberry scented stickers, Mrs. Gauer got a crimson heart with peppermint scented stickers, and Harper got a red, white, and pink heart with popcorn scented stickers.

Suddenly, Candy was left with a pink heart with ballet slippers and cherry-scented stickers. Knowing this, she realized that this was Ronnie's Valentine's Day gift for her.

XxoxX

Later at Mr. Otto's music history class, Kiki was putting a hand-painted medieval Valentine painting up for him when she came across a painting of Bennie and Dawson together. Remember that they didn't accept gays and lesbians back in the day, Kiki decided to show it to Candy.

Candy was working on I Want Love when Kiki came up with the painting. Chucking by Kiki's discovery, Mr. Otto told them that Dawson painted it and promised to keep it a secret from his parent., "Dawson has been having a hard time coming out of the closet because of the band."

"NSYNC* and New Kids on the Block had gay members," recalled Kiki, "but kept it quiet to save the band's reputation."

It was there she realized that Bennie was in love with Dawson. "Think about it, Mr. Otto," Kiki replied. "Bennie tells me that he's smoking and they're closer to each other than any member of Bennie and The Jets."

"Bennie is a fool for love," Mr. Otto joked.

"He sure is," Alice bragged. "Cherry's not getting Valentine's Day gifts for her family and friends. That's disappointing."

"No worries," Kiki smiled. "She already gave them two gifts, being myself and cards that Ronnie designed in her Graphics Arts class. I really loved the one with the strawberry scent; it's my favorite fruit and flavor."

Alice got annoyed by what Kiki said. "I'm going to play 'The Blue Danube' on the piano," she growled.

While she was playing, Alice thought about how Candy got simpler ideas than her expensive and over-doing ideas. "Don't feel nothing. I just feel cold Don't feel nothing, just old scars," groaned Alice.

XxoxX

At the Mellow Gamer Center after school, they found Bennie playing Road Smashers when Candy came up to them. "I know that you're gay," she replied. "Kiki told Daniel and I on the way here."

"Apparently," guessed Bennie. "Getting ideas from Aunt Regina and Aunt Davina would do that to you. But I want love, just a different kind."

"Are you kidding?" Candy asked with a smile. "It's awesome that you're gay. Does Ronnie and our aunts know?"

"They do," answered Bennie. "But they don't want to ruin our band's reputation. Only a year and we don't wanna go down the same path River Town did."

"You mean that Irish rock band where they were rejected to be in 'Riverdance' in the '90s and became their own rock group?" asked Kiki. "My mom has all their CDs."

"That's the one," Replied Bennie. "Promise not to tell anyone else outside us, our family, and Mr. Otto."

All three of them agreed to his plan.

The End.