Hey, hey! Thanks to Guest for reviewing the last chapter! This one's for you!

Twenty-One: Valentine's Day

It was a secret he would never tell a soul.

He could just imagine the look on France's face if he knew the truth. He could already hear the laughter ringing throughout the conference room. He knew that the confession would haunt him through life and follow him to an early grave. He would rather die than have a single person in the wide world know his true disposition on the matter.

It was such an overbearing, sinful pleasure that he often tried to convince even himself that it wasn't true.

So when America plonked himself down beside England at lunch-time and inched close to his shoulder and batted his lashes in England's direction and whispered in a sweetly conniving voice, "I know your secret," England thought for sure the world had ended.

He held his breath and stared back at the superpower, all pale and green eyes and thumping heart, and thought for sure the hanging hearts and pink steamers and plastic roses surrounding them were beginning to close in. He was suffocating in the sheer magnitude of Valentine's Day—and of America. Still smiling impishly. Still batting those lashes. Still unimaginably, unfairly close.

He cleared his throat and tried to force himself to get up and run but his legs didn't budge.

"Wh—what are you talking about, git?" If it hadn't been for the stammering and sweating and wide-eyed deer in headlights look, he was sure it would have come off as quite smooth.

America's smirk grew and he cooed in that sultry voice he used when he was teasing, "About Valentine's Day."

How did he know? How did he know? How could he possibly know?

He'd been so nonchalant. So discreet. Not even France had a clue, and the frog was his best friend!

"V-Valentine's… Day?"

"Mmmhmmmm…" he drawled, relaxing his chin into the palm of his hand and tapping one finger idly against the side of his mouth. "So confess."

He zipped up his lips and shook his head. No way was that dazzling smile getting to him again. Not today. Not now. Not with something so important.

"Oh, come on." America paused and huffed, before his eyes began to twinkle ominously again. "I have a secret, too. If I tell you mine, will you tell me yours?"

Oh, damn him. Must resist temptation. Must resist temptation. Must resist—

"Okay."

England cringed. What was he, suicidal?

America lowered his eyes to the table and seemed to be pondering something for a moment, before inhaling a slow breath and quietly murmuring, "I don't like Valentine's Day at all."

England had to force his jaw from dropping, but there was no stopping his eyes from bugging. "You what? But… but you've been so excited the last few weeks! Hell, you're wearing a jacket with hearts all over it."

He nodded whimsically, but did not smile. "It's true. I'm a fraud. I just figure it fits more with my character to act like I love the holiday, but I don't. Not really."

"Why not?"

Wringing his fingers, he answered, "I'm not sure. I used to really like it. But…I guess I just filled it up with too many dreams that never came true."

Lowering his gaze, England felt grimy and scummy and dreaded the next words out of America's mouth.

"Your turn, now. Confess."

He sighed, his shoulders drooping, and mumbled half-heartedly, "I love Valentine's Day."

There was a moment of the world closing in again, before a gentle nudge in his side urged him to look up, and America was smiling impishly again, and England was blushing.

"I know. You're really good at hiding it, but I could tell."

"Don't tell France, okay?"

He laughed. "I won't. But you have to tell me-why?"

He thought about it a moment, watching America's curious blue eyes on him, and chose his words carefully. "It's the only day of the year that I ever fill up with dreams."

America's smile turned dreamy. "Do they ever come true?"

And if it had been a film or a romance story, England would have kissed America while he was sitting there all lashes and bright, blue eyes and pink-hearted jackets. He considered it, even, briefly—his lips were still turned up, beckoningly, almost hopefully.

"No," he finally answered. "Not yet."

God's sake man! Kiss him! Oh well, hope you liked that one guys! Thanks, LucyMoon1992 x