"Lola, you better hurry, or else you'll miss breakfast," Zoey called to her roommate as she finished putting on her key necklace. The sun was up and shining on this beautiful day, but it seemed the girl wasn't having it.
A low groan could be heard coming out of the closet. "It's so not fair," Lola emerged into the room, throwing on the cropped cardigan she grabbed to complete her look for the day. "We're seniors; why can't they let us only have afternoon classes."
Quinn couldn't help but laugh as she finished putting on some lip gloss. "I figured you would be excited since today is Valentine's Day." It was a special day for all three girls. This time they all had boyfriends and had plans for the holiday.
"Yeah, but Vince and I aren't meeting up until tonight," she pouted, crossing her arms as she sat on the edge of Zoey's bed. "Ever since he started football again, I feel like I never see him anymore." Before he rejoined the team, he spent nearly all of his time with her, but now he was back, and his time got divided between her and the team. She knows she's being a little unreasonable, but it feels like she's being pushed aside.
"Did Vince tell you what he has planned for tonight?" Zoey asked, grabbing a brush to comb out her hair to get away any leftover bed hair. She hoped talking about any date plans for tonight might cheer the girl up.
Lola shook her head, "He didn't say much other than for me to dress up because it'll be a special event tonight." Sighing, she brushed her bangs out of her face and stood up. She was tired of being mopey and decided to be happy. "What about you and Chase? Did he tell you anything?"
"Nope," Zoey said but sounded slightly giddy about being left in the dark. This was her first Valentine's Day with the boy that was both her best friend and her boyfriend. "He said he had it all under control and that he was going to make tonight special." She was very excited for the day to end so she could see what he had planned.
Brushing her own hair out, Quinn smiled at her two roommates. "And you guys are still okay if I use the room to throw Logan a surprise picnic dinner?" she had asked them a while ago, but she wanted to confirm again to be on the safe side.
Both girls nodded. "Are you sure you want to do a simple dinner in the room?" Lola asked, going to her jewelry box to see which earrings she wanted to wear for the day. "I mean, this is Logan we're talking about. He'll probably take you to whatever fancy restaurant you want to go to." While she wasn't the guy's biggest fan, she had to admit he knew how to plan a date. Plus, her friend always came back with the most delicious leftovers.
"That's exactly why I want to do this for him," Quinn told them, putting down the brush and checking herself in the mirror. Happy with her appearance, she turned to face both of them with a lovesick grin on her face. "Logan is always doing so much for me that tonight is my turn to treat him." He showered her with gifts and always treated them whenever they went out to dinner. She's tried so many times to pay for him that they ended up in fights over it, only to end up kissing right afterward. He said treating her was just one of his ways of expressing how much he loved her. So tonight, it was her turn to express how much she loved him.
"I'm sure Logan will be happy no matter what you do," Zoey said, knowing full well the guy would be ecstatic if she just gave him a card and a box of chocolates. Part of her was still in disbelief, but she had seen it with her own eyes. The former playboy Logan Reese was totally head over heels and smitten for his girlfriend.
Lola nodded in agreement. "And I'm sure you remember your promise." She gave her best friend a knowing look.
"I remember," Quinn chuckled, picking up her bag, ready to go. "Whatever food I make for Logan and myself, I will save some for you." She was taking cooking with Lisa this semester. The two girls were the only ones who managed to sign up for the class in time, and their friends were always asked for their cooking samples. Her roommates agreed to let her use the room if she promised everything she made; she left some set aside for them.
Knock Knock
The three girls stopped, each giving the other a confused look as someone knocked on their door. It was too early in the morning for visitors. None of them were expecting anyone either. Putting her bag back down on the ground, Quinn walked over to open it and see who was on the other side. "Quinn Pensky?" a delivery guy holding a large bouquet of Tulips in a crystal vase in one arm with a long red box in the other arm. "These are for you." He handed them to the girl, a rush of air leaving her lungs when she felt how heavy they were.
Lola came over to grab the flowers, groaning when she felt the weight in her arms, while Zoey and her carefully set the heavy red box down on the ground in the middle of the room. All three let out a long sigh, trying to catch their breaths from the mini-workout they had gotten. "This is also for you." He handed Quinn a pink envelope with her name written on it and a hint of a very familiar cologne coating the envelope. Opening it quickly, she saw it was a Valentine's Day card. Reading the contents inside, she squealed and held the card to her chest. "It's from Logan." Reaching into her bag, she pulled out her wallet to tip the delivery guy, but he put a hand up, stopping her.
"No need, miss," he pulled out three one-hundred-dollar bills and tipped his hat toward her. "Your boyfriend already took care of the payment. Have a wonderful day." He walked off.
Lola and Zoey looked at each other before shouting out to ask. "Any other deliveries to room 101?"
"Nope!" the delivery guy shouted back, turning the corner and walking out of sight.
Pouting, they slammed the door shut, annoyed with the guy's attitude. Looking back around, they saw Quinn was setting the flowers on the ledge of the window so that they could get the best sunlight. "That was so sweet of him," she gave a dreamy sigh, moving next to place the card on the board in their room so she could look at it every time she came into the space.
"Yeah, it sure was." Zoey wanted to be happy for her friend, but to be honest, she was a little miffed that Chase hadn't sent anything to her.
Lola felt jealous too, but her curiosity was starting to get the best of her. Walking over to the flowers, she tapped her nails against the vase and gasped. "Guys, I think this is real Swarovski crystal!"
Quinn didn't doubt it and made a mental note to talk with her boyfriend about not needing to go so over the top. She was quite glad she told him beforehand that she was planning Valentine's Day because she didn't doubt he would have gone overboard with dinner tonight. With the card safely tacked on, she moved to sit on the ground next to the long red gift box. With careful hands, she unwrapped the thick white ribbon and watched as the four sides fell down after being undone. Revealing a mini chocolate statue of a DNA model. "Oh my god!" all three girls gasped out at the sight.
"How did he even get this?" Zoey had to walk around it, getting a better look at the structure that was blowing her mind.
Lola took a whiff of the heavenly concoction. "It smells so yummy,"
"Not today," Quinn opened their fridge to place the chocolate inside for safekeeping. Since it was their senior year, they had a full-size one instead of the little miniature they had in previous years. "Sorry guys, but this chocolate is all mine." She said proudly as she made room in the fridge.
"Will you please shut up!" Logan threw his hands down on the table, making the two to-go coffee cups he had in front of him shake. Carefully he steadied them so that they wouldn't fall over.
Michael looked offended at being yelled at. "All I'm saying-!"
"You've been saying since yesterday," Chase all but growled out, feeling the same frustration as the other boy was. "Look, we don't know why there isn't a category for eating between lunch and dinner. Will you please let it go?!" their friend had been going nonstop since dinner yesterday, and they were so sick of this topic. Logan had threatened to move out more than once, and Chase was right along with him.
"Well, it's wrong!" Michael cried out, hands extended out to try and make his friends see his point. "We have brunch for breakfast and lunch, but we don't have anything for lunch and dinner. That just screams exclusion."
Logan took two fingers and started rubbing his temples. He couldn't take having this conversation anymore. "God, it must be chaos inside your head," Chase muttered, taking a bit of his muffin.
Michael huffed at both of them, pushing away from the table to cross his arms and pout.
"Hey guys," thankfully, the girls came to relieve the tension that was starting to brew.
"Hi baby," Quinn sat next to Logan, kissing him on the lips with a smile. "Happy Valentine's Day."
He eagerly returned the kiss, "Happy Valentine's Day," instantly, he reached out his hand to hold hers in his. "Did you get my delivery?" he passed her the coffee he picked up for them this morning.
"Oh, she got it alright," Lola said, biting into a piece of chocolate that she held between a napkin. Zoey was eating a similar-looking piece of chocolate.
The smile that was on his face wiped away and morphed into a frown. "That had better not be the chocolate I gave Quinn because I swear-!" he was ready to blow a gasket but was stopped by his girlfriend putting a hand on his bicep.
"Baby, it's not. That's chocolate I gave the girls that I made in class yesterday." Reaching with her free hand inside her bag, she handed the boys the little chocolate pieces she had made in class. Logan's was the one only that was in the shape of a heart with more intricate decorations and was shaped in a heart. "I would never give away the chocolate you gave me." While she had no problems sharing her leftovers from dinner dates or if he gifted her random sweets that she would never eat on her own, what he had gifted her this morning was special. It was chocolate on Valentine's Day. She didn't care how long it would take; she was going to be the only person eating it.
"Yeah, so relax." Lola waved off the boy's almost tantrum. Not at all intimidated by him or his short fuse. "She zapped up when we tried getting close." Which really sucked because the chocolate had smelt so good.
Hearing this, Logan relaxed in his chair and smiled. "Good, that chocolate is meant for Quinn and Quinn only." Said girl cooed in her seat, leaning over to give him a kiss on the cheek. He beamed, happy with the affection he received. "I had to place a special order from this famous pastry chef in Germany to get them to mold it into that DNA thing you like so much."
Quinn did her best to keep a smile on her face and not freak out that he called an international chocolatier just for her. "Aww, there's German chocolate in our fridge, and we can't have any?" now Lola was the one who was pouting. She wanted yummy German chocolate.
Chase couldn't help but sigh. "Dude, seriously? You called Germany just to order some chocolate?"
"Hey, you told me not to go overboard so your stuff wouldn't look so lame," he sneered, not understanding why they were complaining. "I could have taken Quinn to France, but you all said that would have been too over the top." He huffed. He swore his friends were never happy with anything he did.
Sensing another outburst coming, Quinn took her free hand to rub her palm up and down his bare arm. "Sweetie, I love that you want to do so much but remember tonight is my night to treat you." She squeezed his bicep, winking when she felt the muscle in his arm. "Now, let's enjoy our breakfast before we have to get to class."
Shifting in his seat, the frown he wore turned right side up into a giddy smile. "Okay." He could never stay mad when she was around. She made him so happy to feel anything else.
Michael was still always amazed, no matter how many times he saw this. "Man, why couldn't you guys have gotten together from the start." It would have saved them so much trouble with Logan, his outbursts, and overall annoying behavior.
"Because Del Figgalo was too busy wasting her time that she couldn't see I was always the best choice," he smirked, jutting his chin out in a superior fashion. Quinn couldn't help but smile at his behavior, finding his superiority complex to be adorable. Only Zoey and Lola gave each other a knowing look. They hadn't said anything to the couple or their friend group about what they had heard the day they went looking for the wallet. That Logan had admitted to developing feelings for the girl long before they had gotten together. "What are you two smiling at?" he asked, narrowing his eyes, not liking how they were looking at each other and him.
"No reason." Zoey gave an innocent smile. Logan didn't trust them but decided it was best to ignore them for now.
"Anyway," Chase cleared his throat, trying to get his girlfriend's attention so she would stop smiling at his roommate. "Are you ready for tonight?"
She nodded, now turning her smile in his direction. "Can't wait." She giggled, feeling giddy all over again at the thought of what tonight could bring. "Are you sure you can't tell me a little bit?" she wanted to know even a tiny detail about what he had planned.
He shook his head. "Nope. You leave the planning to me and just worry about bringing your cute self."
Michael and Lola gave each other the same dead stare as they mentioned to the two couples that were paying more attention to each other than the table.
"I don't like this," Lola said, finishing off her chocolate.
"Me either," Michael ripped into the little clear plastic bag that had the chocolates Quinn made for them. "Hey Quinn," he called to the glasses-wearing girl. "Is it true that shirtless Dave is in your cooking class?" he heard a story going around about him on campus, and he wanted to know how true it was.
Snapping out of her lovestruck gaze, Quinn looked at the boy. "Yeah, he's in the same group as Lisa and I."
Hearing this snapped Zoey out of it. "Please tell me that boy does not cook with his shirt off."
"He does," Quinn couldn't help but wince and shake her head as she remembered what happened. "There was actually a bit of a chocolate incident yesterday with him because of it." They all winced hearing this.
"So Michael," Zoey figured it was best to change the subject before they all imagined something they couldn't unsee. "What do you have planned for Lisa tonight?"
He beamed, "I'm so glad you asked." He got ready to explain, but his two roommates groaned. He gave them an annoyed look. "I am going to cook her my famous ravioli and then serenade her with my flute, playing the same song her parents danced to at their wedding." it's a night he's been planning for weeks now, and he was going to make sure everything was perfect.
The guys at the table found his idea revolting, mostly because they'd heard it repeatedly for the last two months, but the girls thought it was sweet. "Lisa is going to love that!" Lola cupped her hands together, finding the idea so romantic. "Just maybe switch out the flute for a less lame instrument." everyone chuckled at this.
Michael just scoffed, "Rude," he offendedly placed a hand over his chest. "Y'all were born without manners."
"Speaking of tonight," Logan ran his thumb over his girlfriend's hand, tracing the soft skin that was at his touch. "Am I still good to come by around seven?" he wanted to confirm the time so he knows how long he needs to get ready for. Quinn nodded, a large smile covering her face to show her excitement. "And it'll just be us, right?" he looked over to stare at her two roommates that were now finished with their chocolate.
Lola stuck her tongue out at him. "Yes, we promised Quinn not to come back until she messages us that your date is over." The girl hadn't necessarily asked for that, but they knew tonight was important, and neither of them would want someone intruding on their date. So, they said that she could have the room for as long as she wanted but to message them when it was okay to come back in. "And as an extra sign of our good nature," she and Zoey each reached into their bags to pull out their spray bottles. As soon as he caught sight of them, he reflexively flinched, swiftly moving his body backward until his back collided with the chair's backrest. This made her grin. "We promise no spray bottles for today." She turned the bottle upside down to show that it was empty. The sigh of relief he gave only made her grin widen in size. It was very amusing to her that he reacts like a cat now whenever the bottles come out.
"Breath check!" Quinn yelled out into the room, all three girls blowing a small puff of air into each other's faces. They all smiled and gave thumbs up when all they smelled was minty freshness.
"Hair check!" Zoey said next, each of them showing the style they did for tonight. Once again, everyone nodded and gave a thumbs up.
"Outfit check!" Lola came next, putting her hands on her hips as she and her two best friends showed off what they were wearing.
Everyone was deemed acceptable and ready to go for their dates tonight. The minute classes had finished, they all rushed out and sprinted back to their dorm to shower and change. They didn't have much time before their dates, so every second they had counted. Quinn had managed to do her hair and makeup before rushing back to her home economics classroom to finish the dinner she had prepared for her and Logan. She called his father a few weeks ago to ask for his favorite recipes and gathered enough ingredients to assemble their meal. Spread out on the floor that the three were careful to avoid was your standard red and white checkered picnic blanket with two candles lit in the middle. The food she prepared was laid out, showcasing the pasta and homemade sauce she created, the fresh salad with the hint of pineapple that he loved so much. Fresh garlic bread with lemon and butter on the side. Plus, homemade brownies with almonds baked in. She wasn't a fan of nuts, but he loved them, so she happily baked a batch just for him and would eat them.
Of course, she set a few containers for her friends inside their mini fridge.
"I can't believe you did all this," Lola was very impressed with the spread of food and the entire presentation. "Are you sure you want to waste your efforts on Logan?" she teased, laughing at the mock glare she received in return. "I'm kidding. He's going to love it."
Zoey nodded in agreement, doing one last hair check in the mirror. "Are you excited? This is your first Valentine's Day together?" it was the first for all of them with their guys.
"I'm so excited, but I'm also a little nervous," Quinn confessed, fiddling with her hands as she stood before everything she put together. "When I was with Mark, Valentine's Day seemed like just another day. We would go out on dates, and I would give him chocolate, but it was never…"
"Anything like what you and Logan have?" Lola knew what her friend was going to say without her having to finish her sentence. It was no secret that her ex-boyfriend was about as romantic as a log. Meanwhile, her current boyfriend seemed to have romance coming out of his nose. "Tonight is going to be amazing for you both." She hugged the girl, hoping to give her some encouragement.
Zoey joined in on the hug. "It'll be amazing for all of us," looking at the clock on the wall, she stepped away, gesturing for Lola to do the same. "Come on, we don't want to be late." As much as they wanted to stay and see Logan's reaction, they knew this was a private moment for them. Besides, they know Quinn will tell them everything when they get back later tonight.
Gathering their purses and doing a quick perfume spray, they walked out the door, wishing their roommate good luck. They had just stepped out when they saw Logan standing in the hall, a hand raised to knock on their door. In his other hand was a little blue gift bag. They had left ten to seven, but it seemed he had arrived early. He looked at them and frowned when they didn't move; instead just stared at him, smiling. "What?" he was ready for them to mock him, to make some snide comment. Instead, they each put a hand on his arms and wished him well. For a moment, he stood there. Unsure how to process their strange behavior towards him. Deciding that they weren't worth it, he shook off his nerves and opened the door. The person inside was the real one who was worth his time.
His breath was caught at the side of her standing there in his favorite black dress, a platter of food spread out before both of them as she held a single red rose in her hands. "Happy Valentine's Day, Logan." She whispered, reaching her hand out for his.
Shutting the door behind him, he took the few steps to take her hand in his, relishing how it felt to hold her. "Happy Valentine's Day, Quinn." He smiled, getting lost in her brown eyes that seemed to sparkle in the light.
His smile was contagious because she soon smiled just as big as he was. Wordlessly she handed him the rose she held, much like he had given her the same flower last year when they met up in the janitor's closet. It seemed he remembered because a soft laugh left his lips as he smelled the fresh flower. Placing it inside the pocket square of his jacket so that it stuck out, he lifted up the gift bag for her to take. "What's this?"
"Come on; you didn't think I'd show up to our date emptyhanded." It was Valentine's Day—the most romantic day of the year. There was no way he would come and not give her a present.
She fiddled with the bag briefly before reaching inside to pull out a small teal box. With steady hands, she opened the box to reveal a sterling silver necklace in the shape of an infinity symbol with both their initials meeting in the middle. "It's beautiful," she gasped, trying hard not to cry.
He picked up the necklace from her hands so that she could put it on for her. She turned around, lifting her hair up so that he could place the necklace around her neck. Reaching up, she traced the beautiful design with a freshly manicured nail. Spinning back around to face him, she put her arms around his neck and kissed him. "You really are too much." Her words were soft but gentle.
Rough hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. "Yeah, but you're worth it." She was worth so much more to him.
"So are you," cupping his cheeks in her hands, she gestured for them to sit down on the blanket. "It's why I wanted to make you this. To show how much you mean to me." He was always doing so much for her that she wanted to devise a way to do this for him. There was no way she could match the price of the gifts he gets her, but she hoped this could help relay to him just how much he means to her.
Logan stared at the spread of food before, looking a little starstruck. "You made all this yourself? For me?" he asked, mouth open in a small smile when he saw her nod. He sat back and had to laugh a little. "No one's ever done something like this for me before." For as long as he can remember, all the meals he's ever gotten have been prepared for him by someone else. All his favorite dishes were here, but instead of a world-famous chef preparing it, she had done it all herself for him. That alone made them the best-tasting dishes he's ever had, and he hasn't even taken a bite yet.
"Like I said, you're worth it." She reached out to place her hand over his. He wasn't saying it out loud, but she could see on his face that this gesture surprised him.
He didn't think it was possible, but his feelings for her grew in size. "I love you."
She smiled, "I love you too."
They pulled each other in for a sweet kiss. It had passion, but it didn't have the same fire they usually put in it. That would be for later; right now, they wanted to enjoy what was before them.
