Description: Whoever had left her these gifts clearly knew her very well but just who was her mysterious Valentine?
Jessica woke up early. It was Valentine's Day, one of her favourite holidays, despite having never received any gifts before. However, on this particular year, things were about to change.
After she had got ready for school, she walked downstairs to make herself breakfast. Her parents had already left to go to work so Jessica poured herself some cereal.
As she reached for the carton of orange juice, something caught her eye. She walked toward the table at the other end of the living room and saw a bouquet of red roses. She picked them up and inhaled their scent but, as she did so, a note fell out.
It read: "These flowers I know you are fond of represent your beauty."
She gasped and looked for a name but was unable to find one. Whoever had sent her roses knew they were her favourite flower so it had to be someone who knew her well.
She put the roses in a vase and filled it with water. She then placed the note inside her bag. Once she had done that, she left the house and went to meet Toby, Nick and Lucas at school.
"Hey, guys!" She greeted. "Happy Valentine's Day!"
"You too!" The boys chorused as they walked into the assembly hall together. They sat down and were joined by Gina.
Jessica didn't pay attention to the assembly until the head teacher made a special announcement. "And, in honour of it being Valentine's Day, we will be holding our annual Valentine's Day disco tonight. Everyone is welcome! Thank you!"
As they headed to Maths for a double lesson, Jessica couldn't help thinking about her mysterious Valentine. She sat down at her desk and opened it. "Oh my!" She gasped. Inside her desk was a box of... "Ferrero Rochers!" There was also another note:
"These chocolates are sweet as I know you are in nature."
She smiled and pulled the first note out of her bag. "The handwriting matches!"
"Sorry?" She looked up to see Gina staring at her.
"Gina, someone sent me roses this morning and the same person somehow got these chocolates inside my desk! Look at these notes - the handwriting is exactly the same!"
Gina looked at the notes. "Do you know who sent them?"
Jessica shook her head. "I don't, but I'm going to find out."
After Double Maths was over, Jessica and Gina had a break so they headed to their lockers to collect the things they would need for lessons they had later in the day.
Jessica noticed a piece of paper cello-taped to her locker along with a small bag. She pulled them both out and opened the bag. A silver necklace with a blue heart-shaped diamond fell into her palm.
"Is that what I think it is?" Gina's mouth dropped open.
"Au coeur de la Mer." Jessica whispered.
"The Heart of the Ocean?" Gina asked. "As in the Titanic one? As in your favourite movie? Wow, this guy really does know you!"
Jessica smiled. "Actually the movie mistranslated it. It actually translates to the Heart of the Sea..." She trailed off as a thought became very prominent in her mind. It can't be him, can it? "A replica, of course."
"Read the note!" Gina urged excitedly. Jessica unfolded the note and read:
"I give you this necklace to show that the greatest riches in this world are not money and jewels but being able to love and be loved in return."
"What does that mean?" Gina asked, confused.
"I don't know." Jessica replied. "But I think I'm beginning to figure it out."
After school ended, Jessica and Gina headed back to Jessica's house to get ready for the disco. As they added the finishing touches to their outfits, there was a clatter as something was posted through the letterbox.
Jessica rushed into the hall and picked up a small envelope that had her name on it. Opening it, she pulled out another note which said:
"I know you are smart enough to have figured out my identity but if it still eludes you, be on the balcony at 8pm. I will meet you there."
"Is it another note?" Gina asked and Jessica nodded, handing Gina the note to read. "So do you know who it is?"
"I have a feeling." Jessica said hesitantly. "I don't want to say anything yet until I know for sure. Just in case I'm wrong, you know?"
She turned towards the mirror and gave herself a once-over. She was wearing a knee-length blue dress with spaghetti straps and matching blue heels. The necklace her mysterious Valentine had given her glistened around her neck. The top section of her hair had been braided, twisted into a bun and had been secured with blue clips whilst the rest of her pale blonde hair cascaded past her shoulders in soft waves.
"Ready?" She asked Gina who nodded. Both girls grabbed their purses and left the house and headed to the Tripp's house to meet the boys.
Later on, at the disco, Jessica was nervously eyeing the clock as the minute and hour hands ticked ever closer to eight o' clock. Gina and Lucas had confessed their feelings for each other so Jessica had spent quarter of an hour congratulating them and telling them she was happy for them.
When the clock read five minutes to eight, Jessica politely excused herself and headed up to the balcony. Resting her hands against the railing, she stared up at the sky.
"I've always liked the sky." A voice said behind her. "No matter when you look at it, it always looks beautiful." She heard footsteps and knew they were standing behind her. She slowly turned around. "Just like you are."
Their eyes met. Ocean-blue and sky-blue. Jessica gasped, "Toby? You got me those gifts? But how?"
Toby smiled and led her to the bench. They both sat down and she looked at him quizzically. "Well, let's just say there were quite a few people in on it - Nick, Lucas, Gina, our Maths teacher, your parents..."
Jessica stopped him. "Wait. Did you say Gina knew about this? But she acted like she didn't know about the notes!"
"She helped me hide the gifts and notes until I could send them." Toby informed her. "I swore her and everyone else to secrecy so you wouldn't find out. I've been planning this for ages."
"You have?" She squeaked as he draped his arm around her shoulders.
"Jess," Toby began. "I know I'm probably nowhere near your definition of the perfect guy but..." He looked at the necklace around her neck and added, "My heart has always been yours. I know there are other guys out there who can give you everything you want, everything you need, perfect guys. Just know that I love you."
The girl placed a finger against his lips to silence him. He stared at her, eyes wide at her gesture, and watched her blush. "I don't want or need a perfect guy. I just want you, T-"
She never finished her sentence. This was because, as soon as Toby had heard her say she wanted him, he had kissed her passionately. He kissed her with so much passion, in fact, that he lifted her off her feet.
Jessica didn't know how long they kissed for but she knew that her first kiss had been one she wouldn't want to forget.
As they broke apart, Toby kept lightly kissing her lips before whispering, "If I can kiss you for the rest of my life, I can die happy when it's my time. You honestly don't know how long I've waited to do that."
Jessica rested her forehead against his and whispered, "I love you. Just so you know, you are my definition of perfect. So no one else could even come close to being my true love, okay?"
He nodded and kissed her again. "You're so perfect." He breathed against her lips. "I must be the luckiest guy in the world right now to love someone like you."
"Well, if you're the luckiest guy, that makes me the luckiest girl because I'd never imagined that a guy like you could ever love a girl like me." She responded, her sky-blue eyes mirroring the emotion in his ocean-blue ones... Love.
"From now on, we see everything through together." Toby promised her. "All the good times, the bad times. No matter what happens, I'll always be there for you, okay?" He hugged her gently. "Happy Valentine's Day, Jess. I love you."
"I love you too, Toby." Jessica responded, smiling brightly at him.
The couple embraced as the fireworks went off. They watched from the balcony, knowing that their love would be just like those fireworks - beautiful yet dangerous. But they would never give up on each other or their newfound love...