I'm not going to say much this time because I'm kind of irritated because this is the second time I've had to type this up. For some reason, my computer didn't save it properly the first time.

.:Line Break:.

Francis Stone hated Valentine's Day. Not only did he find the colorful paper hearts and other decor plastered all over the school obnoxious, but he was sick and tired of seeing couples making out in the halls. He was also fed up with listening to girls complaining that the presents they got weren't good enough or guys whining that their girlfriends wouldn't sleep with them. In his opinion, it was all irritating.

"But there's one thing that pisses me off the most." Francis thought with a scowl as he walked through the overly decorated halls of Dakota Union High. He glared at kissing couples and growled as he walked into a pink paper heart hanging by a string from the ceiling. He stopped, sneered, and briefly considered setting it on fire before he continued down the halls. "Why do I still come here?"

As he neared Katrina's locker, he suddenly remembered the answer to his question.

Katrina Blake, his girlfriend, stood at her locker, smiling as she said goodbye to her sister. Seeing as it was Valentine's Day, she wore a different outfit for the occasion. Instead of her usual blue T-shirt and jeans, she wore a sleeveless red dress with a ruffled skirt that fell just below her knees and a pair of black high heeled Mary Janes.

Francis smiled when he saw her, thinking she looked beautiful. He considered himself lucky to have met her, just as she considered herself lucky to have met him. This was their first Valentine's Day as a couple and he was determined to make it special. Sticking a hand in his pocket, he began walking towards Katrina.

He stopped a short distance away when he saw a certain boy walk up to her. Francis knew who it was. It was Jason Fields, star of the football team. He was also a known bully and had a reputation for sleeping around. Despite the fact that the whole school knew that Katrina was his girlfriend, Jason still tried to ask her out.

Jason grinned at Katrina, who gave him a forced smile as she already knew what was coming. At that moment, she wished that her sister had not taken off to find Richie.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Katrina." he greeted, his voice smooth.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Jason." she reluctantly returned, "What brings you to my locker?" She didn't have to ask, she already knew.

"Well, Katrina," he pulled a bouquet of roses out from behind his back, causing her to gasp in surprise, "will you be my Valentine?"

"That's very sweet of you, Jason, but no." she told him flatly.

He frowned, the flowers now hanging by his side. "But, why?"

Katrina sighed, her smile gone. They had been over this many times, but Jason simply refused to accept it. "You know why. I'm dating Francis."

"Yeah, so beat it, chump!" Francis thought, fists clenched. This was what pissed him off the most about Valentine's Day. He knew that some loser would try something like this. He didn't like anyone hitting on Katrina.

"Why him, though?" Jason pressed, "Of all the people you could have picked, why choose him?"

"Because Francis is..." she trailed off, a faraway look in her eyes, "Francis understands me. He'll listen to the things I say and actually remember them. He's kind, loving, caring, affectionate, thoughtful, and loyal. He makes me feel... like I matter, like I'm special." Katrina blushed, smiling fondly, "I love him."

"I don't get it."

"And I don't expect you to. However, I do expect that you understand that I love Francis and I wouldn't give him up for the world."

Francis felt his anger momentarily dissipate. He was touched that she thought so highly of him. His anger quickly returned when he saw Jason scowl and grab Katrina's wrist.

"Listen here, you bi-" Jason stopped abruptly, visibly paling.

Katrina didn't have to wonder long about the sudden change of behavior because she soon felt a very warm arm wrap around her waist. She didn't have to look to know that Francis was behind her. A growl rumbled through his chest as he leaned over the healer's shoulder.

"You got three seconds to let the lady go before I fry your worthless ass!" he snapped, eyes turning crimson as opposed to the milky white they usually became when he used his powers, "Beat it, chump!"

As Jason's flowers went up in smoke, he let out a frightened yelp and took off down the hall.

Francis smirked in satisfaction. Katrina turned to him in his hold, a slight frown on her face.

"I know that he's kind of a jerk, but that wasn't very nice."

"He shouldn't have touched you." He paused, leaning down to give her a quick peck on the lips. "You're dressed up today. Why?"

She smiled sweetly and stepped out of his grasp. Katrina spun on her heel, causing her dress to flare and giving him a good look at her. "What, don't you like it?"

"Didn't say that." he said, shoving his hands in his pockets, "I'm just curious."

"I was thinking that since Kathrine and Richie made plans to go out tonight, I'd cook us dinner at my house."

He smiled, "Sounds good, babe."

Katrina grinned and went to open her locker, which had several Valentines taped to it. He scowled as the door opened, allowing more Valentine's Day cards to spill out.

"That just gets on my nerves." he said, sneering at the colorful cards as they fell.

"I'm fairly certain that most things get on your nerves." She ignored the cards entirely as she put her books away, not even bothering to pick them up.

Francis shrugged, "I've got issues."

Katrina laughed, "The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem." She expected him to laugh, smile, or make a witty comment, but he didn't. Instead, he shifted uncomfortably and stared at the floor. She frowned and turned to him, worry setting in, "Is something wrong?"

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "No, nothing's wrong. I, uh... I have something for you."

"A present?" she asked, a brow raised in question, "You didn't have to do that, Francis."

"I know, but I want you to have it. Turn around and close your eyes."

Katrina did as she was told and soon felt Francis brushing her long, chocolate brown hair to the side. She then felt something cool being wrapped around her neck. "A choker?" Katrina wondered as Francis fastened the piece of jewelry.

"Okay. Open your eyes."

She did and looked at the mirror on the door of her locker. Her eyes instantly widened and her hand flew to her mouth as a gasp escaped her. Around her neck was a black leather choker with a fairly large, flame shaped crystal that shimmered red, orange, and yellow.

"Oh, my..." She gently touched the crystal, treating it as though the slightest amount of pressure would break it. "Francis... It's absolutely beautiful!" she said breathlessly.

"... It was my mom's."

Katrina whipped around, shocked. "What?! Then I can't accept this! It must mean a lot to you!"

"It does." he confirmed, hands back in his pockets, "That's why I want you to have it."

"And what if, heaven forbid, we break up? Wouldn't you want to give this to, I don't know, your future children or something?"

He sighed, shaking his head. He knew that she'd react like this once she knew what it was. "I'd still want you to have it. And I know that... I know that if mom was here, she'd want you to have it too."

She gaped at him, her hand going back to the crystal. "I-I... I don't know what to say..."

He smirked playfully, "A "thank you" would be nice."

"Thank you, Francis." she said, joy dancing in her blue orbs, "I love it and I promise to take good care of it."

"I know you will."

She glanced back at her mirror, "It's so beautiful. I've never seen anything like it before."

"And you won't. Mom... My mom was born into a wealthy family. I don't know all the details 'cause I never got to ask her, but I've seen some of her old high school yearbooks and I think she went through some kind of rebellious phase."

"Hmm, that sounds like someone else I know." she joked.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." he rolled his eyes, "Anyway, that choker is from her rebellious phase. It was handmade."

Katrina tried not to think about how much it had cost to make the choker. The undoubtedly high price combined with the sentimental value would make her feel bad for accepting it.

"Mom loved fire." he continued, watching her, "She said that fire was a symbol of who she was. She... she said that she liked the warmth it created and she loved the way it danced."

"Is that why you're so attached to your powers? Because they remind you of your mother?"

Francis looked away and nodded slightly. "When mom married... my father... I think her parents disowned her, because they didn't approve of him."

"Have they ever tried to contact you? Your grandparents, I mean?"

"No, but I'm not too broken up about it."

Katrina took one of his hands in hers, lacing their fingers together. She gazed into his emerald green eyes, "I'm sorry."

He didn't need to ask what she was talking about. He gave her hand a squeeze, nodding. "It's alright."

"I love you."

Francis allowed himself to smile, "... I love you too."

Francis leaned down to kiss her again, deciding that maybe Valentine's Day wasn't so bad after all.