This was not how Jonathan had planned to spend Valentine's Day, double dating with a girl he had just met with Evan and his new date. It was awkward and in all honesty he'd rather be at home playing a game with his best friend instead of being in a cramped booth that was small because it was 'romantic'. It was bullshit.

He sighed and rest his head on his hand while he fiddled with the straw in his drink. Evan was watching him and Jonathan hoped he saw how miserable he was. He hoped he felt bad for dragging him out on the worst day of the year just because it was what everyone else did. Valentine's Day was so pointless and nothing but a source of income for companies. That was all and it set him on fire when he started hearing about how wonderful everyone was for getting their significant other the best gifts and blah blah blah.

The woman next to him leaned into him and he looked up, catching Evan's eye. The Asian cocked his head to the side in question and Jonathan clenched his jaw. He couldn't do this anymore.

Jonathan sat up straight and the girl tore herself away. He gave her a fake grin and said, "Excuse me, sweetheart. Could you let me out of the booth?"

Evan sat back and gave him a look, "Jonathan, don't."

But he didn't look back once he was on his feet. He walked over to the small stage that the band had just left unoccupied. He walked to a waiter first and handed him a wad of cash and whispered in his ear. The man nodded and allowed him up where he tapped the mic and cleared his throat giving another fake smile. Evan was already nervous. Jonathan was unstoppable when he was worked up about something.

"Hi, hello, everyone. If I could take up just a few minutes of your time tonight on this ridiculous holiday." He began and he could see Evan rubbing at his face. Jonathan smirked. "I just want to tell every single one of you how stupid you are."

That got everyone's attention and the room fell silent. He cracked his neck and gave them all a wink. "Not stupid, sorry. Just really really blind. Blind as a fucking bat like my friend who drags me out every year with someone new because he believes it's just tradition. But what about this day makes any other day less appropriate to show your appreciation and love for your significant other? Love and affection and support is something that you should give your other half every day, not waiting to treat them like a prince or princess on just one day."

Evan was trying to disappear into the dark corner of the booth but Jonathan didn't stop there. "And another thing that just blows my fucking mind. People! Why do you just absolutely melt when they get you flowers or a box of chocolate and then post it on social media with a loving caption like, oh my god I have the best husband, the best wife, the best boyfriend because he gave me flowers and surprised me with a gift certificate to a day at the spa?! Like … what the fuck? That is bullshit because your better half should not do that for you out of habit only one day out of the year and get a pat on the head and a kiss on the cheek for it. Don't congratulate your sorry excuse of a lover for thinking of you on a day that's been marked on their calendar for as long as they can remember. You should not be with someone who doesn't think of you that way any other day of the year. Are you listening?"

Evan blinked and he felt like an asshole because everything his friend was saying was absolute truth. He sat forward instead of ignoring his rant like he usually did. Jonathan grinned sarcastically to himself on the stage. "What I'm really trying to say it that you shouldn't be with someone who treats you extra special just on holidays and your birthday. Or Christmas. Your significant other should be your best friend. They should be someone that you can stand to look at after tonight instead of having one round of hot sex and then going back to your normal routine of sleeping with your backs to each other for two weeks until one of you is feeling horny enough. They should be someone who you can always laugh with, someone who listens to you and actually fucking cares when you've had a rough week."

Jonathan let his eyes wander to the back of the restaurant where he could barely see his best friend behind the girl he didn't even know. "I'm saying that your person should be someone you want see every day. Someone that doesn't just let you come home from a bad day at work and let you cry over the pizza rolls you burnt in the oven."

He saw Evan slowly move out of the booth and stand. Jonathan's heart beat a little harder and he felt the sting of tears, but he held them back. "And while you're sitting there in the kitchen floor, crying over burnt food and your fucked up life, they should be the person that sits down beside you and wipes the tears away even though it's pointless because more are coming. They should be the one to sit there and let you cry your heart out on them and then pull you up and into their arms. They should hold you and talk it out with you, because they know it's better to do that instead of holding it in like you have your entire life."

His voice wavered and he heard a few people sniffle when he wiped at a tear that had fallen. Even the waiters had stopped what they were doing to listen to him. "They should be someone that knows what you like to eat, someone that remembers you favorite movies, throws a blanket over you when you fall asleep on the couch. Someone that knows how to make you laugh and makes you happier than anyone ever has. Not just one day out of the year, but every day you're with them. Especially when you're not, because they are all you can think about when they're gone. All you can think about is how good they smell when they're hugging the life out of you, or how soft their hair is when you run your fingers through it."

He was about to choke. "Even if they belong to someone else. Even if they're JUST your best friend. Hold onto them, because it's so hard to find. It's so hard to find that person that you are so undeniably in love with that every breath they take … . you feel it leave your own lungs."

The tears fell and he heard someone start to clap and the next thing he knew everyone was standing, applauding him but he couldn't hear it. All he could hear was the sound of his heart beating like a drum and all he could see was the light in Evan's eyes as he looked at him. Jonathan looked down at his feet, his converse worn thin. The same ones that Evan had given him years ago so they would have a matching pair. He stepped down off the stage and didn't even look up as he walked out into the warm afternoon. He could feel his hands shaking as he watched the traffic fly by.

"You know … you didn't burn those pizza rolls THAT bad." Evan said softly and Jonathan turned on his feet to see him standing there with a beautiful grin on his face. The same one that made him fall in the first place, the one that convinced him to be his roommate, the same one that made him stop crying.

Jonathan gave a small laugh and wiped at his face. "No, they were pretty bad. Too far gone. There was no saving them."

Evan stepped closer and chuckled. "And that was the last pack, too."

"So, you went and bought me some more." He grinned.

Evan nodded, "I did. At one in the morning on a Monday."

Jonathan licked his dry lips. "Then we cooked them and listened to Limp Bizkit and played that stupid slap game with our hands."

"Then you got tired after you ate pretty much all of them by yourself." Evan said even softer. He stepped closer and let his hand settle on his best friend's waist.

Jonathan looked up at him. "Yeah … you let me sleep in your bed with you."

Evan smirked. "And you snored so fucking loud."

"I. DO. NOT. SNORE."

Evan grabbed Jonathan's jaw and pressed their noses together. "Yes. You fucking do."

Jonathan squinted his eyes, "Prove it."

"Sleep in my bed tonight and I will." Evan let his hand slide across Jonathan's cheek and around to the back of his neck.

He kissed him right there on the middle of the sidewalk while complete strangers had their faces pressed against the glass inside the restaurant to get a better view. Jonathan heard more applause and he couldn't help but smile while he wrapped his arms around his one and only best friend. The one that knew him inside and out and knew that he liked his coffee with more creamer than was necessary.

Evan pulled back for a breath and exhaled hot air against his mouth, "Sleep in my bed tonight and every night after that. I wouldn't want to share it with anyone else."

"I want pizza rolls first."

Evan kissed him again. "I already got you like six big bags in the freezer at home."

Jonathan ran his hands through his black soft hair and smiled, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

It was how it should've been all along; Evan running after his best friend whose smile never failed to brighten his day.