If it had been up to Cory, he would have given Topanga the same kind of "Valentine" Shawn had given Minkus. But thanks to his mother, he was standing on her front porch holding a card he'd made by taping random scraps of paper together, with the most generic message he could get away with scrawled inside.

At first, he'd felt a surge of hope; Topanga would hate it and then he could gloat to his mother that her idea sucked. Then he remembered this mess of paper and tape and bright colors was exactly the kind of thing a weirdo like Topanga would love and he instantly regretted not just buying a silly cartoon Valentine at the store instead. Sighing, he rang the doorbell and glared down at the envelope.

When she came to the door, though, he did a double-take.

"Um...hi, Topanga. Did you just get a haircut or something, cause I can see past your head for once," he stammered. Topanga laughed.

"Actually, I just got out of the bath so it's still wet. But this is a pleasant surprise, Cory, what brings you here?" she asked. Blushing furiously, Cory thrust the envelope into her hand.

"Here. But don't get any crazy ideas about us! My mom made me bring it, that's all," he said, then for some reason wished he hadn't. Almost as if part of him wanted to give it to her.

"Oh..." Topanga smiled. "Well, it was still sweet of you to do it." She opened the envelope and gasped. "It's beautiful! I didn't know you had a talent for collage!" Ah, that's what it was called.

"Yeah, well...I couldn't afford a fancy one and cutting out hearts is too much work," he mumbled. "And it was either that or take the scraps from Morgan's projects to the garbage, and..."

"And you saved a tree by not throwing the paper away," Topanga finished. "Cory, you are so sweet." She hugged him tightly and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you so much!" When she let go, Cory's entire body felt like rubber and he forgot how to use his legs for a few minutes. Once he remembered, he waved to her and ran all the way home.

"Now, do I tell Shawn about it or not? Wouldn't want this to get around or I might look like a weenie..."