Italics =flashbacks

Valentine's day to me was the worst day of year. It wasn't that I was always single on the date, it was in fact just the opposite. I had been in a long term relationship for the past three years of my life, and did I mention it was toxic. It had ended in chaos and screaming, but I was glad it was over.

I took a look in the mirror, making sure I looked all right. I wanted to make sure I impressed the new crush. This Valentine's day I had a new boyfriend I had been dating for the last three months, he had wanted to make it special and it memorable since it was our first one together.

Staring into my mirror, I admired the outfit I was wearing. Ryan, my ex, never liked it when I wore oversized sweaters and looked hipster, but I thought I looked hella cute with my skinny jeans and nerd glasses. There was a lot of stuff Ryan never let me do, it was nice to just to get to be myself. 

Wiping my sweaty hands on my pants, I walked out of my apartment and locked the door behind me. I put in my headphones in and played Basket Case by Green Day, Ryan always said he didn't get this song, but I did. 

"Brendon you're seriously going to our valentines dinner dressed like that." My boyfriend terrorized me as I admired myself in the mirror.

I didn't think there was anything wrong with my outfit, it was just a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a black tie. As soon as my boyfriend questioned it I felt as if it weren't enough, that there had to be more I could do to it. I went back into my closet and returned with a black vest on.

"Better?" I asked, turning so he could see better.

"It'll do, we have to get to our reservations." He didn't even look up from his phone, just walked over to the door and waited for me.

I followed him out to the car sheepishly, still bothered by the outfit dilemma. When we got out to his white Porsche he didn't even hold the passenger door for me. I stood and waited to see if he would, but he never did.

"Are you gonna get in or are you just going to stand there like an idiot?" Ryan groaned harshly, I got in quickly so I wouldn't bother him anymore.

I waited in my car, making sure I would walk into the little downtown cafe right on time. My car was parked about a block away from the cafe that I loved, Ryan hated it though, always said the atmosphere didn't fit his badass personality. As the clock turned to 12:30 I didn't see the tall boy I was meeting enter the building, I scoffed a little, getting out of the car and walking towards the restaurant.

When I got there, though, the handsome man was standing and waiting on me. He got here early. There was no way he realized how important that was to me. Ryan was always late, it wasn't punk to be on time.

Dallon greeted me with an affectionate smile, taking my hand and kissing me on the cheek. He guided me to a table in the corner, near a window. When I went to sit down, he pulled my chair out and took my hand to help me in. There was no way he realized how special and kind that was, but I did and I thanked him with a smile.

When we got to the fancy restaurant, Ryan walked ahead of me, not even bothering to help me out of the car or open doors for me. I followed behind him like a lost puppy, too scared to voice how annoyed I was. My frustration had been building up for months now. At first I liked Ryan's badass but yet sweet personality, but lately he's lost all the sweet. We followed the hostess through the busy restaurant to a corner booth.

For the first week of the mood swings, I thought he had just gotten bored of me. Even then he still wanted to kiss and have sex, but only when he wanted it. I tried so hard to impress him and be loving, I bought him gifts and changed the way I dressed to make him happier and be the cool trophy boyfriend he wanted. He only wanted sex.

"May I get you something to drink?" The tired looking waitress with her hair pulled into a messy bun stood at the table with a notepad in hand.

"A bottle of your best wine." Ryan smiled at the waitress.

"I'll just have I water." I ignored Ryan's glared, I knew he just wanted to get me a little tipsy for sex tonight.

"Nonsense Bren, your best red wine." I shrunk back into the seat cushions, like a scolded puppy.

I hate when he ordered stuff I didn't want for me.

A cute little waitress with her fairy silver hair in a messy side braid approached the table to take our orders.

"What can I get for you two today?" She asked with a soft smile.

"What do you want Bren? Hazelnut latte with soy milk?" Dallon questioned politely, I was just flattered he remembered my favorite coffee.

I nodded and Dallon ordered our coffees and two cinnamon rolls for us. He noticed me smiling at him and he smiled back at me, holding my hand across the table. No matter what though I couldn't stop comparing Ryan and the smiling boy across from me. The punk and the sweetheart. I opened my mouth to tell him on my mind, thankfully he spoke up before I could.

"Did I ever tell you about I my family's adventures in Florida?" He asked, his blue-green eyes glimmering with excitement.

"No you haven't, what happened? Did little Dally get stung by a jellyfish and had to pee on it to make it feel better?" Dallon laughed at what I had said, it was strange that he thinks I'm funny, Ryan never did.

"Not quite, but I fell asleep in the sun and got a terrible sunburn..." He continued on with a story about how he had let his brother spray his back with sunscreen and ended up with a zigzag pattern in his back.

We both sat there laughing in a cafe on Valentine's day and I could feel my growing love for the handsome boy grow stronger. He understood how to be loving and caring. For the first time in awhile I totally forgot about Ryan and just got lost in the blue eyes across from me.

"So I was thinking that after dinner we could go over to that fancy hotel and get a room, if you know what I mean." Ryan reached across the table and grabbed my hand, it felt wrong when he did it, like he shouldn't be.

"I don't know Ry, that hotel is expensive, and we've got a perfectly nice bed back at our apartment." I was really just trying to get out of the inevitable way the night would end.

"Well nothing is to good for my man." Ryan commented leaning in seductively.

"Ryan, it's expensive and unnecessary." I repeated myself.

"I just want to treat you right Bren." He reached under the table and rested his hand on my knee.

That sent me over the edge, I was tired of him treating me like I didn't mean anything and then trying to butter me up when he wanted something. I was sick and tired if the same apologies and him thinking he could treat me like this. I was done.

"If you really wanted to treat me right you would show me a little love and respect every once in awhile." I let my voice get louder, I wanted to make him feel ashamed and embarrassed.

"Bren, what are you talking about? I took you out to this fancy dinner and-" He started but I cut him off before he could continue.

"No Ryan that's all you did. You haven't held a door for me all night or held my hand. All you did was parade me around like a trophy." I yelled, causing heads to turn.

"Brendon, be sensible. There is no need to make a scene." Ryan mumbled under his breath.

"Apparently there is, because you don't get the message. I can't do this anymore, I can't stand the way you treat me. Like I'm an idiot who can speak up for themselves. Well this is my taking a stand. I can't do it, Goodbye Ryan." I began to stand up, when Ryan grabbed my arm.

My hand immediately went to the still full glass of red wine and threw it in his face, all over his white shirt and leather jacket. I smiled, satisfied with what I had done, and walked out of the restaurant. It was done , I was free.

I had spent the last year pondering these events and living in fear I would see Ryan again. But now, with Dallon laughing like a little kid across from me, I felt as if  I could be okay again. All of the sudden I felt this weight being lifted off my shoulders, I could breathe again.

When the waitress brought the bill, Dallon picked it up before I could even touch it. That was probably something else he didn't realize was so sweet, but it made me feel special. He took my hand and walked with me down the block to my car.

"Je me sens tomber amoureux" Dallon leaned in close. I loved it when he spoke french, it made me feel like I was in a movie romance.

"Dally, I told you I don't understand french." I giggled, lacing our fingers together as I leaned against the car.

"It means I feel myself falling in love." I whispered in my ear.

I bit my lip and stared into his eyes. His eyes flickered down to my lips before he closed the gap between us. I forgot everything else, I could only feel the way our lips fit perfectly together. My feet weren't touching the ground, it felt as if I were floating. When we broke apart our eyes met again and we held on to the moment.

"Text me when you get home, I wanna make sure you're safe." He kissed my cheek and left me in my blissful daze.

When I arrived back at my apartment, the one I had found days after my breakup with Ryan, I found a box of chocolates and white tulips, my favorites, waiting at the door. There was a note attached to the flowers.

Vous allumez mon monde, je suis tellement chanceux de vous avoir trouvé

(You light up my world, I am so lucky to have found you)

Happy Valentine's Day mi amor.

I held the flowers to my chest for a second before unlocking the apartment and stepping in. Setting the flowers and chocolates down on the counter, I pulled out my phone and texted Dallon, thanking him for the goodies and asking how he knew tulips were my favorites. I watched love begin again and it was even more beautiful the second time.