Valentine's Day 2020

It was Valentine's Day at Beacon Middle School, where my best friend Pyrrha and I, both of us only twelve years old in our seventh year class, were in our classroom during our midday break. This was the time where everyone in their classrooms would go around exchanging pink cards and red heart-shaped construction paper with silly love poems upon them.

Pyrrha sat at her desk reading over some of the cards that were given to her, a smile on her face with each poem read, which grew wider if she found a card with a small piece of candy attached that she would then pop into her mouth with a hum. Me, however, had only a few cards, thanks to how us boys outnumber the girls in our class, and my desk only contained platonic poems of friendship, but he did not mind, for his heart had room for only one girl: Pyrrha. Even now, I gazed at her from behind, my eyes transfixed upon her scarlet red hair.

Thanks to us both living next door to each other, we have been friends ever since we were babies when our mothers would let us play together whenever they got together to do whatever thirty-something year old mothers would do together. We have done everything together, from having sleepovers, exploring the forests that anchor near our suburban neighborhood, spending after-school activities together, and plenty more, and in that time, I fell in love with Pyrrha, but I dare not tell her how I feel for fear that she reject me and it ruin our friendship, but now, on Valentine's Day of all days, I have seen a few other boys confess their love for Pyrrha and it made my stomach flip. I knew that if I did not tell Pyrrha how I feel about her, I could lose my only chance with her.

When the school day had ended, I went up to Pyrrha at her desk as she was putting her books into her bag. "Hey, Pyrrha, suppose we can hang out together after school?"

"Of course, Jaune! Can you wait for me at the front doors, I've still got a couple things left to do before I leave." I agreed and headed out with my bag around my shoulder and waited about five minutes before she skipped into view. "Sorry that I kept you waiting! Ready to head home?"

"Yeah," I answered, noticing that in her hand was a plastic bag containing all the valentines she received that day. We headed off together, the eternal spring sun of Mistral shining down upon us. "So, I guess you got a lot of valentines from the boys?"

"Yeah, but, honestly, they were all the usual kind of valentine cards with the same mushy poems bought out fo a grocery store, but I didn't want to hurt their feelings, you know?"

I smiled. "You're too kind, Pyrrha. What if one of those boys actually falls for you?"

Pyrrha suddenly began to blush. "Oh…um…I dunno…" she mumbled out.

Soon enough, we reached our houses. "Do you wanna hang out at my house? I got the newest expansion to Super Fighter Guys Ultimate that we can play?"

"That would be awesome!" I exclaimed, forgetting my goal for a moment at the idea of playing Super Fighter Guys Ultimate. Inside, we were greeted by Pyrrha's mother, who welcomed me to their home . We sat together in front of her TV and got our controllers, and after about thirty minutes, Pyrrha was beating my butt good. We were ready to start another match, but Pyrrha wouldn't pick a character.

"Hey, Jaune, can I give you something?" Pyrrha mumbled, her cheeks suddenly beet red. She went into her back pack and pulled out a card, which she extended to me with her face pointed to the floor. My shaky hands took it and I swallowed hard before I opened it up, but inside, all it said was "I love you, Jaune. Please be my valentine."

"Pyrrha…" I stared at her for a moment while she stared down at the floor, refusing to look me in the eye. "…Pyrrha…I…I LOVE YOU TOO!" I blurted out.

Finally, she looked up at me, her face now a deep red, much like mine. "Really…" she finally mumbled. I slowly nodded, now staring down at the floor myself.

"I…I know we're best friends, but I've had a crush on you for a while, and I can't help myself! I love you, I really do!" I sputtered out.

Pyrrha came forward and wrapped her arms around my waist, burrowing her face into my shoulder. "Will you be my valentine, Jaune?" she whispered.

"Yes." We sat on our knees hugging each other for a while until Pyrrha suddenly moved and kissed me on the cheek. "I…uh…uh…" I stuttered out. I didn't know what else to say, so I kissed her cheek back.

"Um, Jaune? Suppose we can…um…have a…lover's kiss?" Pyrrha suggested.

"A lover's kiss?"

"You know, like when your mom and dad kiss each other on the lips. My mom once said that you should only kiss the person you love on their lips and she called it a lover's kiss."

If I could get any redder, I would've. "Oh! THAT kind of kiss…um…do you really want to?"

"I know we're still young, and I know I have never been in love before, but I think this is it. I truly believe you are the one for me, Jaune."

I swallowed hard and my lips began trembling. "I feel the same way, Pyrrha, and if this is what you want, then I'd be happy to be your first kiss."

We both eyed each other and slowly moved closer till our noses were touching, then finally, we kissed. I felt one of Pyrrha's hands curl around my neck and I could hear her hum as I pressed into the kiss. As nervous as we both were, now that we have connected, we didn't want to separate.

Suddenly, we heard the door open and our eyes shot open as we heard the voice of Pyrrha's mother. "Hiya, kids! I brought you some sn––!" she began before she saw us. We tried to break apart in time, but it was too late; she saw our beet red cheeks and our lips only inches apart. "Oh my! Seems I interrupted something special!" She played it off like she didn't just see her daughter kissing her best friend on the lips, but we both sat next to each other, our cheeks flushed bright red, as she laid a tray containing some juice and apple slices on the small table before the TV. "You kids have fun. Don't get too crazy up here, even if it's Valentine's Day, okay?"

"Yes, mom…" Pyrrha weakly mumbled as her mother closed the door behind her, then she turned to me. "Um, want to continue playing Super Fighter Guys Ultimate?"

"I think I should just head home and get started on my homework." With that, I grabbed my backpack and headed downstairs, avoiding Pyrrha's mother who was watching TV in the living room. I had just made it to the front door when I heard Pyrrha's voice.

"Jaune!" I turned and she was there before me, where she pressed me against the front door and kissed my lips again. "Happy Valentine's Day, my one true love," she whispered when she broke away. I smiled and opened the door.

"Seeya at school tomorrow."

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The next morning, Pyrrha and I met each other outside our houses to head to school together. "Hello, Jaune!" she called to me in her chirper voice.

"Hi, Pyrrha!" As I came close, she moved in and pecked me on the cheek, making me blush. "We don't have to kiss each time we see each other, you know."

"Can't I greet the boy I love when I see him?" she chuckled before taking my hand and leading me towards school.

Eh, why not? I thought to myself as I followed behind her. Before, we were the bestest of friends, and now, it feels like we are destined to be together, both in love and as friends.