Valentine's Day. For some this day brings romance, for some it's heartache and for others it's loneliness. We've all been there; the warmth and excitement of sharing the day with your special someone, or the pain of missing the love you had, or the feeling of isolation that comes when everybody around you has someone and you're alone. Yes, everyone has felt all three on Valentine's Day at one point or another. And if you haven't, you will… Everyone loves, everyone hurts and everyone feels lonely…

"It's Thomas, leave a message…"

Rapunzel sighed and hung up her phone. She hadn't talked to Thomas since the Red and White Ball. She knew he was upset about her ditching him for Flynn, and she didn't blame him. But, she wished he'd give her a chance to apologize. And, to top it all off, she hadn't heard from Flynn since the ball, either. Rapunzel knew she really screwed up. She grabbed her jacket and started walking to Thomas' house.

Thomas and his family moved down the street from Rapunzel in kindergarten and they rode the bus together. Thomas was a really shy kid and never talked to anyone but John. Rapunzel's dad had bought her the big box of crayons and the other kids were always trying to steal crayons from her. So, she used to color by herself in a corner. One day Thomas' blue crayon broke and he had come to her and asked if he could use hers. She invited him to color with her and they became inseparable. They've been best friends ever since. Until now.

Rapunzel walked up to Thomas' front door and rang the doorbell. Thomas answered the door and frowned at her.

"Thomas, I'm so sorry!" Rapunzel cried.

"I know it sounds ridiculous, but you really hurt me, Rapunzel."

"I know, and I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

"I have to go." With that Thomas closed the door.

Rapunzel knocked on the door. "Thomas, wait, please!"

Of course, he didn't come back. Rapunzel hurried back to her house and collapsed on her bed. She buried her face in her pillow and started crying. She couldn't believe she was losing her best friend after all these years. Thomas had always been there for her no matter what and without him she suddenly felt very alone. Rapunzel's Samoyed came into the room and jumped on her bed.

"Oh, Max, what am I going to do?" Rapunzel wrapped her arms around his neck. "I miss him so much."

Max laid down and put his head in her lap. Rapunzel started petting him. "Some Valentine's Day this turned out to be."

Rapunzel had never hurt this much before; she could actually feel her heart breaking.

Everyone hurts…

XXX

"Dinner was delicious," Esmeralda said as she and Phoebus walked out of Bella Notte. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Phoebus said, opening the car door for her.

They drove in silence for a while. Esmeralda still felt a little uncomfortable around him after what had happened at the dance. She was embarrassed about what Facilier had done but, at the same time, she had been pretty turned on by seeing Phoebus fight for her.

Phoebus pulled into the parking lot of dark two-story building. Esmeralda looked around trying to figure where they were. Phoebus parked in front of the building and she could now see it was a fitness gym.

"This is where I do mixed martial arts," Phoebus explained as he turned off the car.

Esmeralda nodded. They got out of the car and Phoebus led her to the back of the building. There was a ladder leaning against the building and Phoebus immediately started climbing up it. Esmeralda followed him. As she reached the top, Phoebus held out his hand and helped her up. He walked over to a small storage shed, pulled out a blanket and laid it on the ground. He sat down and Esmeralda joined him.

"Phoebus, why haven't you tried getting me in bed with you?" Esmeralda asked.

"I want to wait 'till it's the right time," Phoebus said. "When we do it, I want it to be romantic and special, like your first time."

Esmeralda let out a small laugh. "I don't remember my first time, so it must not have been very special."

Phoebus raised an eyebrow at her. "You don't remember?"

Esmeralda shook her head. "No. I've just done it so many times, that I can't differentiate each separate occasion. But, I like to pretend it was romantic."

"In a nice, candle lit hotel room with orchids everywhere?" Phoebus asked. "And with a guy who will be gentle with you?"

Esmeralda slowly nodded. "Yeah. How did you know that?"

Phoebus smiled at her. "You told me."

"I did? When?"

"Last summer when we were working as lifeguards at the pool," Phoebus said.

"Oh, right! I totally forgot all about that," Esmeralda said. "Sorry, last summer was kinda chaotic."

"Do you remember Fourth of July?"

Esmeralda thought for a minute. "Not really. I remember it was supposed to be the biggest firework show Andalasia has ever put on, but I missed it for some reason."

Phoebus frowned. "I'm not sure if I should find this sad, humorous or offensive."

"Offensive? What do you mean?" Esmeralda asked.

Phoebus sighed. "Esmeralda, you missed the fireworks because you were with me. You lost your virginity to me that night."

Esmeralda's eyes grew wide. "It was with you?"

"A lot of guys had been talking about your new reputation that summer," Phoebus explained. "You confessed to me that you were nervous about your first time and you told me exactly how you wanted it to go."

Everything came flooding back to Esmeralda. "You were still a virgin, too, and I asked you to be my first because you were the only one I trusted." Esmeralda smiled to herself. "You got us a room at the Bell Tower Hotel and made sure everything was exactly the way I had explained it to you."

"We wanted to do it on Fourth of July so it'd be an easy date for us to remember," Phoebus added.

Esmeralda looked down. "I can't believe I forgot. That night was perfect."

"Almost perfect," Phoebus said.

"What do you mean?"

"We stopped being friends after that. We didn't talk again until this semester when we became lab partners."

"I'm sorry." Esmeralda leaned up against Phoebus and he kissed the top of her head.

She knew now that she had purposefully blocked out that night. After they made love, they had been cuddling on the bed and Esmeralda thought she was falling for Phoebus and that had scared her. She had started using sex as a way to gain popularity, but she had done it so often as a way to keep from thinking about Phoebus. And it worked; for a little while, at least. But now she was with him again and all those feelings she had been trying to hide from were catching back up to her.

Phoebus leaned back on his hands. Esmeralda straddled him, then leaned forward and kissed his forehead.

"I think I'm falling for you, Phoebus," Esmeralda said.

Phoebus sat up and wrapped his arms around Esmeralda. "I'm falling for you, too, Esmeralda."

Everyone loves…

XXX

Belle was curled up in the big armchair in the living room with one of her favorite romance novels, but she couldn't concentrate on it. She closed the book and set it on the coffee table. Part of her was regretting canceling her date with Adam. She had to stay strong, though. His behavior at the dance was unacceptable and he had to learn that she wasn't going to put up with it. Of course he had apologized about twenty times, but to Belle not to the kid he had lost his temper with. Belle didn't think he really understood what he had done wrong.

But, nonetheless, she still regretted canceling on him, since now she was sitting home alone on Valentine's Day. She had no date, and all of her friends did. Aurora was out with Philip, Tiana was with Naveen and Jane finally asked out Tarzan. Even Belle's father had a date.

Belle's phone started ringing. She reached over and picked it up off the coffee table. It was Adam, again.

Belle flipped open her phone. "Hello?"

"Belle, I'm sorry about how I acted the other night," Adam said.

"It's not me you should be apologizing to," Belle responded. "You need to tell that kid you're sorry."

"But, I don't even know who he is."

"His name is Pinocchio," Belle said. "I tutor him once a week and I have his phone number, if you want to call him."

"I don't think so."

"All right, then I have to go. Bye, Adam."

Right after Belle hung up the phone, she got a text from Aurora. She opened it to see that it was a picture of a bracelet with the caption "My Valentine's Day present from Philip! I love him!"

Belle closed her phone and sighed. She had been getting pictures from Aurora, Tiana and Jane all night. Belle ignored the text and tried getting into her book again. About a half an hour later Belle got another picture message, this time it was from Jane. Belle opened the message and frowned. It was a picture of her and Tarzan playing mini-golf at Pleasure Island. They were standing in front of the waterfall at the hole where Belle had made the hole-in-one to get Adam to go to the ball with her. Belle wished she was there with Adam now.

Stupid Adam, Belle thought. You were co cute and charming. Why did you have to open your big mouth and ruin everything?

Belle closed her book and started drumming her fingers on it. Stop feeling for yourself, Belle scolded herself. You're lonely tonight because you're being stubborn.

Belle needed to distract herself from being lonely. She had to make a decision about Adam. She still really liked him, but she was worried about his temper. Just how bad was it? He threw a cup of water at a kid because he accidentally spilled his drink on him. What would he do if Belle really made him mad? Would he throw something at her? Would he hit her? In all honesty, Belle was a little afraid of Adam.

But, at the same time, Belle wanted to help him. She's seen that he's a good person. It's just his temper, but that can be fixed. Belle decided she would continue dating Adam and try to help him. But the first time he gets physical with her out of anger, she's gonna end things with him.

Belle picked up her book and started reading it again. When she got to the first romance part, she closed the book again.

"Ugh. This isn't helping," Belle muttered to herself. She got up, threw the book on the chair and went up to her room to do her homework.

Everyone feels lonely…