Larimar was scrolling through Pinterest trying to find a new wallpaper for her home screen. As she passed by a picture of a pretty magnolia tree, she received a message from Renie. It read:

R: Hey, wanna come over today? It's St. Val's and I have nothing to do seen as nobody is appreciating this beautiful face once again for the seventeenth year in a row...ahaha.

Larimar laughed a bit before responding back:

L: yeah sure! I also have nothing to do. I'll be over in a bit.

After confirming with Renie and gathering all of her belongings for her night aka three pounds of chocolate, her small yet shiny karaoke machine, and her face mask machine. As she walked downstairs, she bumped into her mother who asked where she was headed.

"Oh, I'm just going to see Renie. We are going to watch a movie and have a sleepover."

"Hmm, sure," her mother laughed, eyes looking sneakily at her daughter, "I hope you're not just sneaking off with some boy from your class," she finished, wiggling her eyebrows.

Oh no, here we go again, thought Larimar. Now you see, the thing is that Larimar has never told her mother about any of her crushes. Her girl crushes specifically. Her pure innocent mother believes that Larimar is straighter than a ruler...more like a bendable ruler. Larimar has fortunately been able to get away from her mother's clutches and her arranged dates because of school.

Their conversations usually went a little bit like this:

Larimar sighed for the fifth time in the past twenty minutes before looking at her mother.

"Ma, I already told you. I'm focused on school right now, I just want to finish my last year of high school and not get distracted. Boys are distractions, I don't need that."

Her mother shook her head at her stubborn and hard-working daughter before saying, "I know, mi amor but I still want you to take a break and have fun. I want you to not be so hard on yourself and open yourself up to other people."

But back to the present. Larimar is still standing in front of her mother, clutching the bag in her hand tightly, trying to find the easiest way to leave her house. She could either run to the back of the house and run around to the front where the chances of her mother catching her are slim. Another option is going under her mother's arms and zooming out of her house. What would you do?

Larimar, a typical teenager with half a brain cell left, decided that risking her life was worth it and so she went through the front door.

Three blocks away from her house she could still hear her mother's threats of throwing her chancleta at her.

After running for a few more minutes she finally reached the turquoise house at the end of the block. She knocked three times and waited for the brunette girl to answer the door.

"Lari! You're finally here. I've been waiting for so long. I felt like my other half was missing. My heart was broken. I was crying so much. God, literal buckets of tears are on my floor right now."

Larimar waited for her friend to finish her theatrics, already accustomed to the walking drama queen that is Renie.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you. I would like to thank my mother, my sister, and most of all, the love of my life, Larim-"

"Shut up," said Larimar, rushing over to place her hand over Renie's mouth.

The two stared at each other, eyes slowly forming into a glare.

"Renie, don't you dare. I know that look on your face. Don't do it-"

"Ah! You disgusting idiot, why would you do that?!," yelled Larimar whilst trying to wipe her hand down on her jeans, effectively getting rid of Renie's saliva that was there mere seconds ago.

Renie, meanwhile, was laughing at her black-haired friend.

"Sorry, sorry, baby. I didn't mean it."

"Hmm," Larimar pouted and crossed her arms, looking away from Renie. They both knew it was an act but even then, Renie couldn't help but reach forward and bring Larimar into a hug.

After the dramatics of the two best friends(shh don't tell Larimar, she swears she isn't dramatic) they finally went to the empty living room where popcorn and candy were waiting for them. All they needed to do was choose a movie to watch. They settled on The Kissing Booth. After twenty minutes of arguing that is. There is always arguing in this household.

"Are you ready to do not-so valentine's day things?"

"Heck yeah! Time to not eat these heart-shaped chocolates and not watch this love-themed movie, am I right?"

"Idiot," said Larimar while throwing popcorn at Renie who couldn't help but stare as her friend- yes, friend- laughed. She studied the soft dimples that settled below her rosy-colored lips, how the indentation made her smile bigger and brighter. She could see, could smell, could practically taste the cocoa butter lip balm that was spread on her lips. God, what she would do to taste those soft, pillowy lips again.

"Renie, Renie, Renie! Are you okay?" asked Larimar.

Renie was startled out of her daydream but was able to offer Larimar a brief and sweet smile, her sign for saying she was okay and ready to rumbleeee.

"Lord, he is such an idiot. How can he not notice that she likes him? She has made it so obvious!" comments Larimar halfway through the movie.

"Lari, it's not that simple when you really like someone and can't show them," said Renie, casting her gaze down after responding to her friend.

"What do you mean? If it was me, I would simply go for it. We can't be out here missing chances."

"I mean that if I liked someone but also knew that I was an idiot to them my whole life or knew I wasn't good enough for them I wouldn't try to pursue them. I mean, why would they choose me when they have so many other people to choose from. There is nothing special about me. I'm just Renie and they are such a smart person and kind and beautiful and just amazing..."

Larimar's jaw had dropped from the moment Renie opened her mouth. To her, Renie was her funny and chill friend, not this person who had so many feelings and words to say. Larimar tried to compose herself before asking Renie a question.

"Renie...do you like anyone?"

Renie looked up, startled by the sudden question.

Shit thought Renie, she knows. What am I going to do now? Our friendship just down the drain. I know she likes girls but not girls like me. God, she would never like me. What am I supposed to say now? F***, she is looking at me. Okay, Renie, breathe, just do it. Just do it. Yes, do it. Come on you got this.

After giving herself quite the lengthy pep talk, Renie took a deep breath and turned to look at Larimar who was waiting for her, a small frown adorning her face. Renie tried to memorize the delicate and soft eyes that stared back at her and the button nose that seemed to fit just right on Larimar's oval-shaped face.

"I do like someone."

Larimar's eyes widened, taken aback by Renie's affirmation.

"This someone has been by my side for the past eight years, ever since middle school. This someone has the prettiest little dimples and hair darker than night. This someone volunteers at the local orphanage and offers tutoring help to the children. She bakes them cookies," Renie pauses for a bit, shaking her head and giggling quietly to herself, "well, she tries to at least. Those peanut butter cookies she makes taste more like coal than anything, but that's okay-"

"Wait, it's a she?" interrupts Larimar.

Renie stared back at Larimar, surprised and amazement dancing around in her eyes, "Is that all you got from that?"

"I mean kind of. But just tell me who it is." Deep down, Larimar knew who Renie was writing poetry about but she didn't want to admit it to herself just yet. It just won't work, she thought to herself.

Meanwhile, Renie went through her list of pros and cons all over again. Ultimately, she decided to shoot her shot.

"It's you."

The distant sound of an ambulance passing through Madison avenue could be heard in the quiet living room. The two girls stared at each other, not knowing what to say.

As established before, our main characters lack a few brain cells so Renie did what she deemed proper aka throw herself at Larimar and plant one big smooch on her lips.

Larimar felt her brain short circuit from the press of soft, strawberry lip balm-covered, pillowy lips. It was nothing complicated, just a peck, and press of lips but even that made the apple of her cheeks redden by the idea that she was kissing her crush. At last.

Seeing that Larimar didn't push her away or run away from her, Renie decided to slide her hand underneath the hem of Larimar's shirt until her hands were placed snuggly on the other girl's waist. She gave her a little squeeze and leaned back, looking at the dark brown-nearly black-eyes staring back at her.

The two girls kept gazing into each other's eyes until Larimar made another move. She leaned back in, to the point where the tip of their noses touched. She took a leap.

The second time their lips touched, Renie thought she was in heaven. Larimar, gave her another quick peck before diving back in and tentatively brushing her tongue over Renie's bottom lip as if asking for permission. Renie opened her mouth-

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

Larimar and Renie jumped away from each other, startled by the sudden noise. They both look towards the door where the delivery man was waiting impatiently for someone to open the door and get their food.

Renie ran to the counter, gathering the money she had received from her parents earlier that night, and ran to the door, quickly thanking the delivery man. She walked quickly(more like ran, honestly) to the kitchen, placing the sushi and beverages on the table. Larimar followed her hesitantly.

As they got their plates and utensils, they both avoided eye contact and tried not to bump into each other as they traveled in the kitchen.

Dinner was the quietest it had ever been. It hadn't even been this quiet when Larimar's pet bird passed away two years ago. It was awkward, very awkward.

Unbeknownst to both of them, both girls were thinking the same thing: What the hell have I done?

Dinner was quick and filled with tension, but at least they got through it. They both knew they had to talk about what happened but they would only have the chance to do so after they finished The Kissing Booth. They had made it a rule that they have to always finish a movie in one go, no exceptions.

As the credits rolled down the black screen, Larimar took a deep breath before grabbing the remote and turning it off. She turned towards Renie who was already looking at her, hope and fear simultaneously dancing in her eyes.

"You know I don't like dating friends, Renie-"

"I know, I'm sorry. Let's just forget about what happened ahaha, right?" asked Renie, offering Larimar a forced laugh.

"-But, I must admit that I wouldn't mind dating you-"

Renie looked up, eyes red and filled to the brim with tears.

"What did you just say?"

Larimar laughed a little before answering, "I said I wouldn't mind dating you."

"Pinch me."

"What?"

"Lari, you better pinch me right now or I swear to God. This cannot be real-"

"Ouch, that hurt. Guess it is real." Larimar laughed at her friend's antics, shaking her head at her ridiculousness.

"Of course it's real, stupid."

"The disrespect and in my own home. I cannot believe it," said Renie, turning away from Larimar.

Larimar smiled at Renie once again before reaching forward and pulling Renie towards her.

"I like you," she whispered, "I like you a lot."

Renie smiled at Larimar before whispering the same three words into the air between them.

"So, do you want to be my girlfriend?" asked Renie, wiggling her eyebrows seductively at Larimar.

Larimar hesitated for a bit before opening her mouth and saying, "I do, but there are some things that you need to know first."

"Hit me, baby. I'm ready for anything."

"I'm Aroflux."

"You're what now?"

"Aroflux or someone whose sexual attraction fluctuates. There are days when I don't want to be touched...in any way. But there are days when I do. I know this is probably uncomfortable for you and you didn't sign up for this but I figured I would tell you before we started anything serious."

Larimar paused before saying, "If you're not okay with that then I totally understand and I can go home and we can forget that this Valentine's day ever happened."

Renie giggled and brought her hand to her mouth, trying to muffle the sound. In the end, she ended up on the floor laughing and close to crying from her amusement.

Larimar, on the other hand, thought Renie was making fun of her and decided to pack her stuff and leave.

Amidst her laughter, Renie noticed Larimar moving closer and closer to the door so she chased after her, offering her a back hug.

"You idiot. Lari, you absolute idiot."

"Hey! I'm not an idiot!"

"Yeah, you're right. You're not an idiot. You're my idiot."

"Huh?"

Renie guided Larimar back to the couch and sat in front of her on the floor.

"Why would you think that I wouldn't want you just because you don't want to be touched sometimes? I like you because of your amazing personality and how you are so kind to everybody. I like you because of how clumsy and yet put-together you can be. I like you because even though you deny being a good student, you still get your work done right after school and get ahead of everybody else. I like you because you always put others first and prioritize others. I like you because you're you."

Larimar looked down at Renie, eyes wide and surprised at the other girl's declaration.

"But don't you want someone who will offer you endless cuddles and do... "stuff" with you?," asked Larimar, playing with her fingers. She began to pick at the side of her nails, a nervous habit of her.

"Lari, love. I don't get together with people just for physical intimacy. There is so much more to a relationship than just sex or pleasing one another."

"...but I know you're experienced and like doing things. I like it but not always...won't that be difficult and unfair for you," asked Larimar, tears gathering in her eyes once again.

Renie sat up a bit more before asking Larimar if she could touch her. After receiving a timid nod, Renie reached up and gently grabbed Larimar's face, forcing her to look at her.

"Baby, we could do everything or we could do nothing. It doesn't matter to me. All I care about is being with you. Spending time with you and being there for you. We can go through this together. We can find what makes you comfortable and what doesn't work for you. We can do it together."

Larimar reached forward and pecked Renie on the lips.

"...I'm fine with kissing. I like kissing. I like kissing you. It feels nice," she said, right as her cheeks got redder.

Renie laughed at her girlfriend, not believing that she could act this shy in front of her.

"I also like kissing, Lari. I really do."

After consuming some much-needed cookies and cream ice cream, the two girlfriends went up to Renie's room where they will spend the rest of the night talking about all the fun dates that they can now go to. As their eyes closed, they began to hear the soft whoosh of the wind and the gentle descent of the snow onto the dark grey pavement. In the distance, they could hear one of their favorite songs, "two queens in a king-sized bed", playing in the background. The next day, as the sun was settling in its rightful place, Larimar reached over and held Renie's hands between her own, dimples making a surprise appearance onto her cheeks.

Fast forward to one year later, on St Val's day and the two girlfriends can be seen cuddling on the couch of their apartment just a block away from their college.

In the past year, the two had laughed and cried and felt every possible emotion that could be felt by the human body. But they did it together. They argued but always found themselves placing chocolate candies by the other's lockers during breaks. It was their way of apologizing. They placed gentle kisses(with consent, of course) on each other's hand, neck, lips.

"You know, I used to hate Valentine's day," said Larimar.

Renie looked up from the show they were watching and asked, "Really? How come?"

"I don't know. I guess mostly because I never had a date of my own or anyone special to flaunt. Nobody ever asked me out so I just acted like it was any other day."

"What do you mean you were never confessed to? I left you cards decorated with glitter and chocolate hearts in your locker ever since the eighth grade-"

"Huh? That was you? There was never a name, so I never knew-"

"Renie, you idiot. You absolute idiot," said Renie to herself.

Hit with a sudden wave of Deja vú, Larimar spoke up and said, "Yeah, you're right. You're an idiot. You're my idiot."