"I can't keep saving you!" Andrew scolded Darien, who was putting away his books. "What the hell was that. She was right there!" He tried to keep his yelling down. He did not want Serena or the girls to see. "Hello! Dumbass! I am talking to you."
He said nothing. Darien pulled out some cash and threw it on the counter. He looked up at his friend. "Have a good night."
Andrew shook his head as his friend exited the arcade. He turned to the booth that sat 5 young girls and he observed Serena just sitting there. She watched as he walked by the window. He didn't turn to glance at her, and he could see on her face that she was a disappointed. However, she did turn back to her friends and plastered on a fake smile.
"Dare you are going to have to pull off one hell of a 'Hail Mary' to get her to be your Valentine...you better figure it out." Andrew wished to himself. He threw a rag on the counter and went about taking other orders.
The next day went about as usual until school got out and suddenly the arcade was filled with everything red and pink. There were balloons and bears everywhere. The amount of kissing going on was starting weird Andrew out.
"Can you look anymore disgusted?" Andrew's disgust was interrupted by the vision of his best friend sliding into his usual stool.
"Shut up!" Andrew shipped the wash cloth at him. "I am not taking advice from the guy who crushed someone's love life two days before Valentine's Day."
"I am going to make it up to her. You remember the plan." Darien argued back.
"Calm down. I remember the plan." He threw his arms up and just continued going about his shift.
Darien went about trying to read his notes and sipping his coffee. This was the routine until the bell rang and the sound of 5 girls gushing and laughing filled the room.
"Hello Andrew! Happy Valentine's Day eve!" Screamed Serena. She was wearing a pink quarter sleeve shirt with a red skirt that went mid thigh.
"Happy 'Valentine's Day Eve.'I don't think I have heard that one yet." He teased.
"Oh shut up. I love love. This has to be one of my favorite holidays." She had a smile from ear to ear. "Everyone is just so lovey, boyfriends are just so giving and caring."
"Granted they should be doing that every day of the year. "Lita interrupted.
"True but this is just so much more special." Serena scrunched her shoulders up gave herself a hug. "I love Valentine's Day. Even if I don't have a Valentine."
"Well speaking of having a Valentine and giving gifts..." He reached around the counter. "These are you for you." He threw a giant bouquet of roses on top of the counter. There was a little heart shaped balloon right in the middle.
Serena looked at the bouquet in front of her. She then looked at her friends, who shrugged their shoulders. Then looked at Andrew. "I am sorry these are for who?"
"For you." Andrew repeated.
"Aww Andrew you shouldn't have!" Serena squealed.
Darien tried to hold his cool. The fact that she automatically thought it was Andrew made his blood boil.
"I actually didn't." Andrew answered.
"Then who are they from." She questioned. She looked back to her friends.
"Don't ask us," Raye said turning away. the site of Darien caught her eye. He looked more tense than normal.
"I am not sure Serena," Andrew finally answered. "It was delivered by a flower delivery guy."
'Flower delivery guy? God he is going to blow this.' Darien ran his hand over his face.
"So Darien, you're always here. Did you see who dropped off the flower?" Raye asked tilting her head to the left.
"Yeah.. Darien." Mina added. "Do you know something?"
"Pshhhh." Serena interrupted before he could say anything. "He never takes his head out of those damn books. He doesn't pay attention to anything. I am sure he doesn't even know what day it is."
Darien shut his book closed. Looked up at the group standing before him. He straightened his shirts. "Actually..." He argued. "I do know what day it is. It is February 13th and tomorrow is February 14th. The day everyone celebrates love, being in love and everything lovey dovie."
"Something you wouldn't know much about I'm sure." Serena cut him off.
'I am madly in love with you..so I must.'
"There is card!" Mina yelled grabbing it from the top of the bouquet. "Open it!"
Serena shook her head. "This has to be a mistake." She ripped open the top of the envelope. "Nobody would ever buy me roses."
'I will buy you roses everyday if I could.' He watched as she opened the envelope and pulled the card out.
"What does it say?!" Amy gushed.
Serena eyes scanned the card over and over again. She flipped it over. "It just says. 'To my dream Valentine, Words are so much harder to speak when you're standing in front of me. I've always loved you. From Your Valentine.'" She shrugged her shoulder and put the card back in the envelope.
"Awww... You make him nervous." Mina encircled her face with her hands. "I love him for you already." She gushed. "Can you tell who it is from by the writing?" Mina asked.
"It's typed up." She flashed the written part to her friends before sealing up the envelope again.
"You don't have any idea who it could be from?" Andrew asked.
"Nope."
"Well whoever he is. He has 1 day to show himself if he wants to be your Valentine." Raye expressed crossing her arms across her chest. "Andrew can we please get our usual?"
"Sure but I think there is a couple sucking face in your usual booth right now." He pointed for the girls to see.
"Gross..." Mina said making a disgusted face.
"Guess we will just sit here." Serena stated.
Darien's stomach turned again. She was going to sit next to him all day? He will never get any studying done.
"That won't be any issue would it?" Lita crossed her arms and looked over to Darien who still had a semi blank face.
"Not at all." Darien said shutting his book. "I can just go study at my apartment." He packed his things away. Threw money on the counter and headed out.
The girls all watched him.
"Ladies give me one second." Serena said slipping out of her stool.
"Sere where are you going?"
"Don't worry I'll be back." She ran out the door. Pulled her jacket tight and yelled. "Darien!"
He suddenly stopped in his tracks. She called his name, it sounded so beautiful coming out of her mouth.
"Darien!" She called again.
He turned to see her quickly walking to him. He stood in his spot. Not taking one step forward or one back.
"Hey." She said trying to take a deep breath.
"Hey." Was all he could get out.
"I am sorry that we took your spot." She smiled sweetly and looked up at him.
He could have died and went to heaven right there. The way she smiled and looked at him. That would the highlight of his year.
"We typically try to stay out of your way, but it was kind of hard."
'She tries to avoid me?' His stomach turned again.
"Not that we try to avoid you...but I know we can tend to bother you." She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked at the ground.
The blood rushed to her face and he soaked in the image.
'You never bothered me. I love you.'
Serena waited for him to speak, but nothing came from his mouth. She started to feel awkward. She bit her lower lip, which caused Darien to lose track of anything he may have wanted to say. All he could do was think of what it would be like to kiss her lips.
"Look I know you need to go study, but again thank you."
"It's cool." 'Good job you at least said more than one word.'
"Well you have a good night. Happy Valentine's Day Eve."She started to walk away.
And still he said nothing. He watched as she walked away. He wanted to run after her. Screw the plan he came up with in his head. He wanted her now. But his legs felt as though there were weights hold him down. He couldn't move. He wanted to scream her name, and maybe it was the cold breeze, but he could not scream her name. She just kept getting further and further away from him. His heart ached. He just wanted to be with her so bad. He wanted to see her face light up a million times on Valentine's Day. He wanted to see her smile every time she smelled that flower, and most of all he wanted to wrap her in his arms and be one those couples in the booth that disgusted Andrew.
He was going to get her and he was never going to let her walk from him.