Valentine's Day.

To many people out there, this is an adorable, romantic and special day to express how much they love each other. To me, it's a day where couples want to show off that they have someone to spend this 'beautiful' day with.

Why should there be a particular day to express love for one another? Shouldn't that be done every single day if you love that person?

I bet 81.2% of the girls simply want gifts and an extraordinary day where they get the opportunity to empty the guy's wallet with a 'valid reason.'

For the guys, however, this is a day to get the opportunity to take things to another level physically.

I frankly couldn't care less about this day.

Sadly, my best friend, Kyla, and every freaking person surrounding me seem to care about it way too much.

My school's student council committee has considered this day as another day to be able to raise funds for the school. They're organizing a Valentine's Dance and selling roses and cards; they're even ready to deliver these cards and roses anonymously for cowardly people.

Ranting to myself about Valentine's Day, I grumpily walked into the girl's bathroom and stared at my tired reflection. I needed sleep.

Kyla decided to call me at 12am and tell me what Derrick, her boyfriend, did for her and gifted her. She spent twenty minutes talking about how romantic and sweet he was. Twenty minutes later, when I couldn't take it anymore, I hung up on her and switched my phone off.

I'm positive she's going to be whining this morning to me about how rude I am. Honestly, that's what you get when you ruin my sleep. My sleep is way too precious.

I splashed water on my face and wiped my face. Walking out of the bathroom, I made my way to my locker. The hallway was decorated in pink, red and white with random balloons and streamers along with posters about the Dance almost every ten steps I took.

As I neared my locker, I saw Kyla standing with Derrick next to it. I'm quite surprised to see them talking for once rather than exchanging saliva.

I don't mind Derrick. In fact, he's a really nice guy but I feel that he behaved like Kyla's pet. He was like a love sick puppy who followed her everywhere and obeyed all her commands.

"Hi," I murmured.

"Hey!" Kyla said a bit too brightly.

She was holding a red rose, which I assume was given to her by Derrick.

"Happy Valentine's Day," Derrick told me.

I gave him a tight smile and mumbled to myself, "What's so happy about it?"

Either he ignored me or didn't hear me because he turned to Kyla and said, "I'll see you in break."

She nodded and leaned forward to kiss him. I pulled some books out of my locker while Derrick said a quick bye to me and walked away.

"Do you think I should get him something?" she asked. "Maybe dedicate a rose to him?"

I lifted one shoulder lazily. "Up to you," I said.

"I think I'll get him a rose," she decided, nodding. "Come with me?"

"Fine," I said.

We walked to the end of the hallway where the table for Valentine Dedications was placed. They had sappy, romantic cards and different colors of roses; the usual.

Kyla chose a card with red hearts all over it and wrote something in it before handing it back to the people collecting the cards and roses to be delivered in the last period.

"So, tell me," Kyla said as we walked to our first lesson. "Do you have a date for tonight?"

"Please tell me that by 'tonight', you don't mean the Dance," I pleaded.

"Of course I do," she responded.

I scowled. "I don't."

"The guy doesn't have to make the first move, you know," she said. "You got your eyes on someone?"

I shot her a look. Despite knowing that 14th February was the one day I despised, she asked me such questions every year.

"No," I said in a flat tone.

She let out a frustrated sigh while I gave her a sarcastic smile.

"I'll see you in break," I said as my Math class neared.

"Alright, bye," she said and walked away.

*

I sighed with content as I entered my last lesson for the day. I can finally go home and shut myself in my room; away from this lovey-dovey environment.

Derrick entered the class and sat next to me. We became good friends after he got together with Kyla. That was bound to happen considering I was always the third wheel. He was fun to hang out with, though.

"Got any plans tonight?" he asked.

"Going to lock myself in my room with a big bowl of buttered popcorn and watch Sherlock," I said.

"Spending Valentine's with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman doesn't sound so bad actually," he said with a nod of approval.

"What about you?" I asked.

He ran a hand through his dark blonde hair and said, "Taking Kyla out for dinner and then we're going to the Dance."

I hummed in reply as some students walked into our class with a big basket in their hand. They started walking up to random people and started handing them either a rose or a card.

Rolling my eyes, I opened up my novel and started reading it. I was lost in my world full of science fiction till someone called out made my name.

I looked up to see a girl-Mary? Maria? I don't know-reaching forward to hand me a card and a red rose.

I stared at it with a questioning look for a few seconds before she said, "It's for you."

"Uh, right, thanks," I said and took it from her. 

"You're welcome," she chirped with a smile and walked away after giving Derrick the card Kyla had selected for him.

He turned to me and raised an eyebrow. "Looks like someone's got a little crush on you."

"Shut up," I mumbled, placing the rose on the table and opening the card.

I don't think we've ever actually talked but that doesn't stop me from admiring your beauty. Every day I see your dazzling smile that makes your hazel eyes sparkle. But for some reason, I've never actually come up to you and talked to you. I decided tonight would be the perfect night to do that.

Ava, will you be my valentine?

If your answer's a yes, come see me at the new restaurant downtown at 7pm. I'll be waiting for you outside for you.

-Someone you know

I put the card down and noticed that the back of the card had an address to the restaurant. I stared at it with a frown. Derrick had read it along with me over my shoulder and was smiling with a smug look on his face.

"Creepy much?" I voiced out.

He laughed and shook his head. "You're not going to go, are you?"

"No!" I exclaimed. "I can say with full confidence that this is a stupid prank."

He shrugged. "I don't know. Whoever sent that seems pretty genuine."

"Yeah, totally," I said sarcastically and added, "Gosh, this is so creepy."

"Chill out," he said, nudging me with his shoulder.

"Yeah, it's not like I'm going to go," I responded.

After the lesson was over, Derrick and I walked together to my locker. Kyla was already there, leaning against her locker. Her face lit up when saw us-Derrick, actually-walking towards her.

"I see you've got the card," she told him as he wrapped her arms around her. He leaned down to peck her lips cutely.

"Ava got one too," he said with a smirk.

 I glared at him. Kyla sprung apart from him in excitement. "Really? Oh my god. Show me! Who's it from?"

She took the card from my hand and read it.

"Aww," she cooed. "That's so adorable!"

"What?" I said. "Adorable? Excuse me? This is flat out stalker-ish."

She rolled her eyes at me. "You have got to stop reading those mystery and thriller novels."

"I'm serious," I said, staring at her. "That has stalker written all over it."

"What are you going to wear?" she asked, ignoring my previous comment.

"Kyla," I said, feeling impatient. "I'm not going."

She looked at Derrick for help but he shrugged and held his arms up in a defensive manner.

"But it's adorable!" she whined. "What if the guy turns out to be an absolute sweetheart? You're letting a chance slip out of your hands."

I rolled my eyes. "This isn't a movie, Kyla."

Derrick laughed and Kyla hit his shoulder.  

"Come on," Derrick said, hugging Kyla from the back. "Give her a break."

She let out a puff of air. "Fine."

"Thank you!" I said with glee.

*

When Kyla agreed to give me a break, I don't think she actually meant it. Because if she did, she wouldn't be here in my room, pulling random dresses out of my closet to see which one would good on me when I go out on the date with my 'secret admirer.'

"Don't you have to dress up for your date?" I asked in hopes that she would leave.

She waved me off. "I've already decided what I'm going to wear so it shouldn't take too long."

I collapsed on my bed. "I am not going Kyla."

"Yes, you are," she said, throwing another dress on my bed.

I heard the door to my room open and mom step in. Her eyebrows pulled in as she stared at the mess in my room. "What's going on?" she questioned.

Kyla sighed in frustration and turned to face Mom. "Ava does not have one decent dress. Do you know how difficult it is going to be for me to dress her up for her date tonight?"

"Date?" Mom inquired with a smile.

"Yes," Kyla squealed. She picked up the card from my dressing table and handed it to Mom. Mom scanned through it and looked at me with a goofy smile on her face.

"What?" I snapped.

"It's adorable, isn't it?" Kyla asked.

"I must say the boy sounds cute," Mom agreed.

"Are you serious? Am I the only who thinks that thinks this sounds freaky?" I asked.

Mom sat next to me. "Just go. If the guy turns out to be unpleasant, text me and I'll call you. Then you can pretend that there's been some emergency at home and come back."

"Why can't my mom be like yours?" Kyla whined, rummaging through my closet.

"What's the big deal if I just stay at home?" I asked with a groan.

"One, you're going to break the poor boy's heart and two, it's Valentine's Day! Go out and have fun," Mom exclaimed.

I shut my eyes with irritation. There was no way I was going to spend my entire night arguing with them. I'd rather just go.

"Fine," I caved in.

That was all Kyla and Mom needed to start rushing around my room with make-up and dresses. Mom did my hair while Kyla did my make-up and decided on a dress.

Thirty minutes later, I stood in front of my mirror in a simple yet cute peach-pink dress which reached mid-thigh. My brunette hair was pulled back in an elegant waterfall braid and my hazel eyes were coated with mascara and eyeliner.

I can't believe I let myself become their Barbie doll.

"Okay, I'm going to drop you to the restaurant and then go back to my place," Kyla said and started packing her things.

"I don't know who he is, how am I supposed to recognize him?" I asked.

"Ava, it's not like every guy from our school is going to be camping outside that restaurant," Kyla retorted.

It was worth a try.

After saying bye to Mom and getting a speech from my dad about how I should keep my guards up at all times, Kyla and I sat in her car and made our way to the restaurant.

About twenty minutes later, we were parked a few shops away from the restaurant. Kyla unlocked the door and gestured for me to go out.

"Text me the minute you see him," she instructed. "I want to know who it is."

"Alright," I said.

"Oh my gosh!" she squealed. "I can't believe you have a Valentine's date!"

"Yeah, let's not call this that," I insisted.

She chuckled and shook her hand. "Have fun," she called out as I stepped out of the car.

"You too," I said and started walking away.

There was a queue of people waiting outside the restaurant. It seemed like a fancy place and for a second, I was glad that I allowed Mom and Kyla to dress me up.

I scanned the queue to see no familiar faces. I glanced around till my eyes landed on a tall boy with dark, messy hair dressed in faded black jeans, a plaid shirt and worn out black converse holding a bouquet of flowers.

Another glance at his face confirmed my suspicions.

I was staring at Seth.

A/N- Yay! Another book by me! :P
I'm so glad to be writing again. Please leave some feedback! I really need that right now since I need to know whether all these new characters and stuff is good or not.
If you liked this chapter, go ahead and hit that star. You know you want to :3

If you liked this, you might want to go check out my other book called My Best Friend's Brother, it's completed and it's not as cliche as it sounds (yes, I'm promoting myself shamelessly :P)

Dedicated to @MidnightPotion for the adorable cover on the side! :D