It was almost closing time at the Arcade flower shop, and Janet couldn't wait to finally sink her teeth into some food. The past few days had been exhausting, as it usually was in the week prior valentine's day, between in-store clients, deliveries, and setting up elaborate floral arrangements ranging in shape and prize. She swore, If she had to see another red rose, she was gonna scream. The fact that she was not gonna be on the receiving end of any flower that year didn't help, either. If was not the first time she would spend Valentine's day alone, but the thing was, up until a week before she thought things would be different this time. Things had been going smoothly with her newest beau, a gorgeous bank teller named Bryce. Mind you, it was not that easy to find someone who was good looking and knew how to handle his money, so Janet was over the moon at the prospect of finally spending the most romantic day of the year with someone worthwhile. She'd even splurged for the occasion, taking out some of her emergency savings to buy herself a new red dress and a pair of matching heels that would make Bryce's head spin.

Little did she know that Bryce would never see them and they would stay at the bottom of her closet, though, because just a few days before the event, Bryce suddenly called it quits, deciding to give another chance to his ex-girlfriend. Yes, Janet knew when she met him that he was coming out of a big relationship, but in her heart she harbored the hope that she was the beginning of a new, happier, chapter for him, and not a footnote on his great love story with someone else. Now, she was stuck pretending to care about other people's feelings when her own were completely shattered. Why did she ever choose to become a florist??? she cursed herself.

She glanced at the clock on the wall, willing the hands to move faster, when the bell on the door jingled, and Jack walked into the store.

"Hey, Jan." he told her, joining her by the counter.

"Hey, Jack." she replied, fixing up a bouquet of lilies. "What are you doing here? I thought you were going out tonight."

"Actually ... I was just trying to decide which flowers to get for my date tonight. What do you recommend?"

"Oh, well, I wouldn't go with roses, especially today. They're too on the nose and if i know you, too much commitment. How about some yellow daisies?" Janet pointed to the flowers on the shelf.

"They're very nice."

"Aren't they? They're my favorites flowers."

"I know." Jack smiled, looking over at her.

"I'm sure your lady friend would love them."

Jack thought it over for a second, before replying. "You know what? You convinced me. Daisies It is."

"Great." Janet grabbed the bouquet and went back to the counter, as her friend followed her. "Anything else?"

"Could you put a note in it?"

"Of course." Janet grabbed a pen and a blank card. "Go ahead."

"To the girl with the lovely brown eyes ... may the always smile. That's it."

"Wow, that's lovely. She must be someone pretty special." Janet smirked.

"Something like that."

"Alright." Janet finished scribbling and put the note inside the bouquet. She then counted the total at the cash registered, and gave Jack his flowers once he had paid.

"There you go."

"You can have them." Jack pushed back the bouquet into her hands.

"I don't understand." Janet furrowed her brows. "Is there something wrong with them?"

"No ..." Jack replied. "They're for you."

"I'm lovely brown eyes?" Janet pointed at her chest.

"You sure are."

Janet's eyes began to well, letting out days of repressed emotions. "You really don't have to do this, Jack."

"I want to. So, what do you say, Janet, will you be my Valentine? just for tonight? And If you're worried about it, no funny business, i promise."

"What about your date?" Janet brushed away a stray tear from her face. "Didn't you have to go out with whatshername, Becky?"

"Betsy." Jack said without too much warmth. "And no, turns out she got a better offer."

In that moment, Janet couldn't picture what better offer she could have gotten. She didn't think there could be one.

"Her too, uh?"

"We're a fine pair, aren't we?" Jack smiled a bitter lopside grin.

"Yeah ... I just wish that for once, just once, I could be first choice, you know?" Janet mused out loud.

"Bryce is an idiot." Jack told her, and he meant it.

"So is Betty." Janet replied, and Jack didn't bother to correct the name this time.

"Come on, let's get out of here."

"It's still half an hour until closing time."

"Janet, If anyone is coming to pick up flowers at six-thirty in the afternoon on Valentine's day, they had it coming."

"... Alright." Janet gathered her things and turned off the lights, closing the shop door behind her.

"Jack?" she then said, as soon as they were on the sidewalk.

"Yes?"

"Thank you." she pecked him on the lips and hugged him. "For the flowers, and for everything."

"Anytime." Jack smiled widely as he circled her shoulders and they began to walk. "Now where to, my funny Valentina?"

Janet pondered her options. "... home." she couldn't think of a better place to be in that moment.

"Home it is. You know, I think Casablanca is on tonight."

"You read my mind." Janet looked up at him. "And chocolate cupcakes?"

"With vanilla icing and cherries on top. Eat your heart out, Bryce! "

"Yeah, eat your heart out, Betty!"

THE END