Happy Valentine’s Day?

Note: Okay, hi there... this was a challenge response I recieved via email. I had to;

Create a short story of 750-3000 words long involving/revolving around Valentine's Day... meaning V-Day must play a clear role in the stort line. It does not have to be predictable and twists are welcome.

Well... you all know how much I love twists :D

Enjoy and please R&R...

Okay, so, here’s the deal. It’s been six months since the news went public that the resident devil-may-care hottie and the quirky nobody got together. It was the full cliché... though not in the way you’d imagine... but that’s another story... another of our stories.

Yep, I’m the quirky nobody. You really wouldn’t expect it... even if you are a die-hard romantic like me. Cliches are my gooey insides bread and butter... though, like I said, mine was a little different. Anyway, I’m getting sidetracked. Six months later... equals... Valentine’s Day. Can you picture my big cheesy grin now? No. That’s probably because you’ve never seen me.

Anyway, I’m average in height and looks so you’d probably just look me over if you ever did see me. I have dirty-blonde hair, brown eyes with a decent tan... though nothing like those golden-brown surf-addicts. I’ve got freckles spattered over my nose and my arms, though I often wish they weren’t and, like I said, I’m quirky.

I like the night sky, roses and long walks on the beach... jokes. I’m kidding. Mostly, I’m just average. My folks were average when they were my age, my big brother is still average so I was shoe-in to be average too. We’re nothing special but we’re happy.

Sidetracking again... so, Valentine’s Day. You want to know about mine? Well, first you need to get to know Aiden, eh?! Yeah, thought so. He’s your typical ‘troubles rebel’, though, honestly, his a big teddy bear. A big, hot teddy bear. Cue cheesy grin again.

He’s taller than me and built like a Greek God... at least in my opinion, though he doesn’t do any sports, I’ve discovered... unless video games are now considered sports. He’s pale-skinned with jet-black hair and dark eyes rimmed in eyeliner. Real men wear eyeliner- look at Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom... yes, even the pretty elf.

Aiden is your Goth/Punk king of the school, opposed to the weak little Preppy king we have. Pft. Aiden could crush the kid without breaking a sweat... and everyone knows it. It’s almost kind of sad really. Anyway, his ‘title’ is the reason for his trade-mark dark clothes, sexy silver chains and the eyeliner, not that I’m complaining.

Valentine’s Day, right. Well, It was our first and I was pretty certain that Aiden wanted nothing to do with the event... seeing as he was Mr Stoic and Depressive by reputation. I have to admit, seeing all those pink and red fluffy and frilly cards often made me nauseous. Though, it may have had a little to do with jealousy as I’d never had anyone to share it with... ever.

So I’d geared myself up, figuring that day would be the same as all others, seeing as Aiden had probably forgotten or refused to partake and, I felt pretty much untouchable by those ugly little cards that were being flashed around everywhere. Anyway, Aiden met me at the gate, like usual, wearing his trademark bored expression as he walked me to my locker.

The walls were plastered with posters screaming about the Valentine’s Day dance the school held every year on V-Day... meaning that afternoon. We’d known about it for weeks but I really hadn’t thought much on the subject. I made a mental note to ask Aiden about it later on... maybe when there weren’t so many people around. I was hoping he’d say something first and had already started mentally figuring out what I could wear... I’m hopeless like that.

Aiden leaned against my locker as I fiddled with it, whacking it so it would open, earning a soft chuckle from him. Finally, it popped open after a bit of cursing and Aiden looked around bored again. As I reached in to grab my books, he tapped my shoulder and told me he’d be back. I nodded and glanced over to where he was headed then frowned.

His ex-girlfriend Rebecca was hugging him and grinning prettily. I tried to shrug it off, knowing they were still good friends... but I also knew she still thought she was in love with him. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ I told myself, turning back to my locker, ‘he doesn’t like her that way.’ I reminded myself, snatching up my text book and shoving it in my bag.

I was grumbling to myself when my eyes caught on something red... rose red. I plucked it out from the back of my locker, careful not to damage the long-stemmed rose and blinked. I looked over at Aiden who was standing with his back to me, talking to Rebecca. Frowning, I wondered who could’ve sent it? How did they get it in my locker?

I chewed on my lip, spinning the rose between my fingers... ‘Secret admirer?’ I wondered before putting it back into my locker, up on the shelf so it didn’t get damaged. Aiden would blow a gasket if her knew I had a secret admirer.

Still thinking, I slammed my locker shut and started over to Aiden who was saying good bye to Rebecca and met me half-way. He answered in grunts and shrugs when I asked what she’d wanted and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at him. He walked me to first then left, probably to skip or something? I was too preoccupied at that point to warn him off skipping so I just took my normal seat, surrounded by squealing and gushing girls.

Part-way through the class, the droning teacher was interrupted by a knock on the door. He scowled, scratching at his bald-patch before opening it, practically scaring the small freshman that stood there enough to pee her pants.

“What?” he snapped at the quivering girl.

“I-I’m supposed to deliver this...” She squeaked and passed him a slip of paper, squeaking again as he scowled at her, as though it was all her fault.

Shoving the paper back at her, her turned and spotted... you guessed... he looked straight at me, “Put your hand up McGavern.” He spat, sniffing before turning back to his board.

I frowned and raised my hand. The girl glanced at the teacher nervously before producing a single long-stemmed rose and passing it to me with a second piece of paper that was signed ‘xx’... kisses? Or hugs? I could never get those straight.

Anyway, it was driving me crazy. I had no clue who it was and Aiden just looked at me strangely when I hinted about the roses and the secret admirer. It didn’t help that another three arrived throughout the day via both strangers delivering a rose and a note and the roses just turning up in my usual places, like on a desk or on my chair.

By the time I got home I realised I’d been so busy thinking about my ‘secret admirer’ that I hadn’t asked Aiden about the dance. I cursed myself out plenty for that and, just when I was about to pick up the phone and call him, my mum bellowed from downstairs that I had company.

Looking out the window, I didn’t recognise the car in the driveway... though it was real nice; a sleek black Porshe Cayman that must’ve cost a small fortune.

I frowned and went downstairs, walking into the front hall... ‘Maybe I won a million dollars or something?’ I guessed. Nope. There in the doorway stood Aiden in a fitted black tuxedo holding a single, long-stemmed red rose.

My mother was gushing over him and then over me until she gushed herself away into the kitchen... I was grateful she was so supportive of us but... she was still a little embarrassing. Aiden smiled- not a smirk or a cheeky-ass grin, but a real smile.

“You ready to get going, Lex?” he asked, as if everything was normal... which it never had been, and handed me the rose, “Six for six.” He said, bordering on shy. Aiden Tate being shy was something I never thought I’d see. I grinned and rolled my eyes at him,.

“Give me five minutes and I will be.” I assured him before racing back up to my room and searching for my own tux and shoes. I put my sixth rose on top of the pile of the others, smiling softly.

When we left for the dance, my mother waved us off, telling us to have fun.

Six months since we’d officially gotten together. Six months since the hottie and the nobody got together.

Six months since our school found out their hard-ass Goth/Punk king was gay...

My name is Alexander McGavern.

Happy Valentine’s Day?

Mine was perfect.