I tend to hate February when the month rolls around. This year is no exception. The girls at St. Joseph's, already deprived of men, feel even more single when Valentine's Day approaches. Of course, girls like Allison merely just share their plans so their friends can vicariously live through them. And those friends mourn and complain that they're going to die alone. I know because I have listened to the same conversation every February. A year ago, I might have said the same things. But not this year.

"Allison, set me up with someone for a day, just so I can get some chocolate on Valentine's Day," Hazel begs, grasping onto Allison's shoulders.

"I don't think it works that way," Allison admits.

"But Valentine's Day is this Friday, and it'll be my seventeenth year without a valentine!"

"I don't think you'd be getting valentines when you were one," Abigail counters.

"Still!" Hazel complains.

I merely roll my eyes, snicker a bit, and finish my lunch, glad that Valentine's Day will be over this coming Friday. Even my younger sister, who's only thirteen, has been talking all week about which boy she thinks will ask her to be her valentine. I tried to tell her that in high school, it'd be a bit more difficult since no boys attend, to which Olivia decided she wanted to go to public school instead, and thus a fight ensued between her and my mother.

Such naïve youth, I think as I put my things away in my locker at the end of the day. So easily swayed by men and the concept of love.

"Hey, Callie!"

I almost shriek. How long as Aurora been standing next to my locker? I brush it off that I was just zoned out when she arrived, and we begin our walk home. Not much has happened this past month since school resumed. We still walk home often and study, but we don't have much free time to do anything fun like we did over break. Earlier this semester, I was head over heels, thinking something may happen, but it feels like now, we're still just friends.

"Are all your friends obsessed with Valentine's Day?" I ask.

"Every one of them," Aurora agrees, giggling as she says so.

"Ugh, mine too. They're getting on my nerves. I can't wait for the holiday to end," I say, kicking a spare pebble on the sidewalk as I talk.

"Do you have any plans that day?" Aurora asks.

I laugh. "Me? No. Not in a million years." I freeze. Perhaps Aurora does enjoy this holiday, and I've been poking fun of it the last ten minutes. And what if...Oh no. What if she does have a date for this Friday? 

"Uh, what are your plans?" I ask.

"Nothing either," Aurora says, to which I let out a sigh of relief. I expect our conversation to turn to something else, but then, Aurora speaks up. "Hey, if neither of us are doing anything, then why don't we hang out that evening?"

"Seriously?" I ask.

"I mean, unless you don't want to. But I just figured..."

"No, no, I mean I'd love to go! It's like...ironic, right?"

"Right. Ironic," Aurora agrees.

I immediately begin to beat myself up over that comment. Because suddenly, there's that slight bit of hope inside me that makes me wonder if maybe...maybe Aurora likes me.

"Then, it's a date," I say.

"It's a date," she agrees happily.

Friday can't come quick enough, but eventually, the bell rings on Friday afternoon, and I rush out of my last class, ready to head home so I can look semi-decent for my date with Aurora that evening. I keep reminding myself not to call it a date. It's merely a get-together, that's all, but thinking it's a date makes me inexplicably happy. Sometimes I think it's better for me to pretend, just to save my self-esteem.

"What are you doing tonight, Callie?" Abigail asks from my locker. "Hazel's going swing dancing or something. Juliet's tagging along with her, but I don't really want to go."

"Oh, um...I have plans tonight," I admit, not sure how I suddenly got wrapped up in a conversation with Abigail. I glance at my watch, trying to wrap up Abigail's speech quickly. All day I have wanted to burst out of these school gates, but Abigail is suddenly the last thing keeping me here.

"You have a date?!" Abigail exclaims.

"What? No! Nothing like that," I say.

"Why are your cheeks so red?" Abigail questions. "Did you meet a boy or something?"

"No, I—agh—it's nothing. Nothing romantic is happening tonight with me. I'll see you Monday, okay?" I say.

"Sure thing, lover girl," she says, to which I angrily glare at her and stalk off. Great. That's just great. I trust Abigail to keep a secret, but I still made no intention about telling her any of this. Still, if anyone were to find out I was crushing on someone, I'd rather it be her. She's the most trustworthy out of the other girls in my friend group.

Aurora has an extracurricular that will go a little longer, so we agree to drive separately to the movies. Of course, my mother is adamant to know why I am, in fact, risking my life by driving on icy roads all to go out with a friend.

"I still don't understand. This date is...ironic?" she asks.

"We're just celebrating the fact we're both single. Galentine's Day, Mom. Olivia's shown you that Parks and Rec episode, right?" I ask, trying to end the conversation. I decided to only wear my regular winter clothes, though I did put on a little bit of make-up and some jewelry. I dress simply out of sheer embarrassment that I might try too hard and creep Aurora out.

"Well, text me when you get to the movies, and then the diner afterward. Don't stay out too late."

"I won't," I grumble. I reach for my keys and get in the car, driving to the movie theater. I text Aurora that I have arrived, and a few moments later, a car pulls up near mine, and Aurora steps out. My mouth drops. Did I mention she's wearing a dress?

I step out of my car in shock. "Why are you wearing something so fancy?!"

"I don't get to dress up that often," she admits. "Sorry. I didn't think you'd be upset."

"I'm not upset. I mean, you look great, I just...I just feel underdressed now, that's all," I say. "And you're not even wearing a coat. You can borrow mine," I say, shoving it off my arms and handing it to her.

"I'll be okay—"

"It's fine. Keep it on," I say. Our cars beep as we lock them, and we make our way toward the movie theater entrance.

"Are you going to be cold in just a sweater?" Aurora asks. She's draped the coat around her shoulders rather than put it completely on. I have to look away because she looks too adorable in my coat.

"I'll be fine," I assure her, even if I'm already starting to lose the feeling in my fingers as I speak. After we enter the movie theater, I grab our seats while Aurora purchases popcorn. We decided to see the newest superhero movie rather than a romcom like most of the other couples are planning to do tonight. Glancing around, I see mostly everyone here is a couple, with the exception of Aurora and me. I feel a bit upset by the fact, but I also wonder if anyone who walks in will think Aurora and I are a couple. That thought both terrifies me and brings me joy at the same time.

"Sorry, line was long," Aurora says as she finally gets back to her seat. "Everyone thought my boyfriend was taking me out to a nice restaurant with my outfit being so nice."

I cross my arms.

"Aw, come on, why are you sulking?"

"Because now I feel underdressed," I say.

"You'll look fine at the diner," she says. "Popcorn?" she asks, handing me the bucket. I nod and grab a handful, and the lights fade.

The movie isn't exactly my cup of tea. The action scenes go on too long at times, and I'm not too familiar with these characters' backstories, but every time I turn to look at Aurora, I can see her eyes are glued to the screen. I try to hold back on the popcorn, considering we're going out to dinner afterwards, but that doesn't leave me much else to do besides pay attention and tell myself to stop looking at Aurora in her dress every few minutes.

After the movie finally ends, we head back to our cars and drive to the diner. Few couples seem to choose this location as their Valentine's Day meal, besides some older couples, who are content eating heart-shaped pancakes for dinner.

"A nice table for a beautiful couple," our host says as he seats us.

"Oh, uh, we're not—" But he only laughs at me and walks away. I pout, but Aurora seems flustered at the comment. Thankfully, whatever occurs in that moment passes, and soon, we are eating breakfast for dinner and laughing. We comment on the movie and our plans for the weekend, as well as the Calculus test earlier this week that had that one difficult problem on it.

I start to notice Aurora acting more distanced as the night goes on. She continually wraps her hands around her cup of tea and states off into the distance. I have to call her name once or twice in a conversation to get her attention.

"Hey, is something wrong?" I ask.

"Huh?"

"You seem distracted."

"I'm fine," she says. "I'm kind of cold..."

"Why'd you wear a dress, then?" I complain. "Is my coat not warm enough?"

"No, it is! I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Let's split a dessert, okay?"

After we finish dessert and pay the bill, we both walk out of the diner feeling bloated and exhausted. The parking lot is mostly empty, now that it's much later in the evening. In hindsight, we should've picked an earlier movie time. The nighttime air is cold, and I shiver slightly.

"You can have your coat back," Aurora says.

"Just give it to me on Monday," I say. Our good-byes come next. I want to tell Aurora I had a fun evening, but I can't find the words to speak. I look at Aurora and smile, not sure why I can't form a word from my mouth.

"Well," Aurora says, lingering some.

I finally open my arms, and we hug. As I lean my head against her, savoring her warmth, I only want to feel closer to her. I want this hug to last longer. I want to feel this warmth forever. For that reason, my brain stops functioning, and without thinking, I stand on my tiptoes as we start to pull away and lightly kiss her cheek.

"Um, thank you. This was fun," I say, watching Aurora blink in shock and lightly press her fingers to the cheek my lips just ever so gently brushed against.

I quickly turn away and begin walking with rapid speed to my car. Idiot. Idiot. Why did I decide to go and do that? I'm sure once Aurora gets through the shock, she'll understand my feelings and begin to hate me. I've ruined our friendship, I think, as I unlock the car. 

"Callie, wait!" Aurora says.

"Huh?" I spin around, watching her stride toward me. She seems almost angry. That is, until she grabs my shoulders and stares down at me.

"Just go all in or don't," she says. Before I have any time to react or think about what she says, she lowers her head and her lips come down on mine. I stiffen suddenly, feeling disoriented, not completely sure what is happening. My eyes are still open. I can see her long eyelashes, feel her warm lips on mine, and feel the way she presses her fingers into my shoulders.

I am shocked at first. I feel strange, but suddenly, I let myself relax. My eyes fall shut too, and I begin to move my lips against hers. My heart feels that it's about to burst, my entire body feels like it's tingling, and when she moves her hand to place it against my cheek, it feels like fireworks are exploding out of her fingertips.

When Aurora pulls away, I stay standing for a moment, completely shocked.

"I'm hot now. You can have it back," Aurora says, handing me my coat. I grab it, not able to say anything. My throat is parched, and I just can't seem to get any sound to come out of my throat no matter how hard I try. "See you Monday," she says before walking away.

Though she drives off, I sit in my car, coat still in hand, trying to replay what exactly just happened. Did Aurora just...Did Aurora just kiss me?!