"My Surprise on Valentines"

After everything that has happened in this so called "high school love", I’ve learned not to expect too much, because in the end you might just end up getting disappointed. I just had this nasty habit of making exaggerated situations that never happen and wish they would. This time I’m proud to say that I didn’t expect anything and ended up with one of the best surprises ever.

It happened on Valentines Day. As always, I started thinking of things that could possibly happen, things that I want to happen, but quickly reminded myself to forget it and just let things happen on their own.

I went to school. Listened to my student teachers lectures and spent time with my friends. All in all it was a pretty good day.

The only difference was that I was practically surrounded by every reminder of the holiday. My classmates’ boyfriends came and left gifts. Someone hung a banner from the fifth floor declaring their love for a girl. Then one boy got suspended for planning an elaborate expression of love for another girl. It was a crazy day.

But, just when the day was ending, classes were about to be dismissed and we were all heading for practice. It was my turn for a valentine.

I was about to go down the stairs to look for him to go to practice together, but he was already there. He was at the bottom of the first flight of stairs smiling at me and in his hand he was carrying a huge bouquet of balloons.

I stood there at the top of the stairs, frozen, just staring at him as he came closer. I kept asking him "Are those for your wife?" referring to his make-believe marriage to one of his teachers. But he didn’t say a word. He just kept climbing up towards me, with a smile on his face and keeping eye contact.

He reached the top of the stairs and stood right beside me. We were so close to each other. Any amount of space between us was taken up by the balloons. I turned to face him and asked him again

"Those are for your wife, aren’t they?"

He held them up and said to me "No, they’re for you."

I looked at the big and intricate bunch of balloons, with streamers and paper. It had all kinds of balloons in different sizes and shapes like spheres spirals and hearts. It was all red, white and pink. Then in the very top center of it all was a shiny, red balloon covered with "I love you" in different languages. Then I noticed how he was holding it. They were all planted in a mug that said, in his own messy handwriting.

"Happy Valentines Day, from Jordan to Amy"

My smile grew wider. My heart beat faster. My stomach was doing summersaults. I even started to giggle. Then I looked at him.

I gave him a questioning look and asked "Really?"

"Yes" he reassured and gave them to me.

I took it and looked at it again. It seems stupid now, but I just couldn’t believe this was mine. I was never given anything like this by anyone like him. He was my first valentine.

He started apologizing for not getting me anything better and that couldn’t think of anything give me. I just told him that it was fine and that it was one of the sweetest things. I loved them. I thanked him for such a wonderful gift and for being such a great person.

Then in the background I could hear them. My classmates were cheering and howling "uuuyyy… Jordan… Amy"

We both started blushing and smiling too much. I just tried not to meet his eyes. If that happened again, I just know that I wouldn’t be able to control myself even more. I just stared at the balloon or at my feet because of embarrassment.

Then my classmates started to chant "kiiiiiiiisss…"

I was about to apologize for their behavior when, out of no where, he kissed me on the cheek.

Whatever bodily freedom I regained, after seeing him earlier, quickly disappeared again. I was frozen. I couldn’t believe he did what he did. It shouldn’t have been such a big deal. He’s kissed on the cheek before, but it was always casual and it was out of welcome or departure.

I could really feel his kiss this time. His lips were soft and tender. It was quick, too quick to the point that I doubted it ever happened but enough to make my heart skip a beat.

My classmates cheered louder. I just tried to focus on him. I didn’t look at my class at all. I just gestured for us to leave.

He held out his arm, just like the way he was supposed to. He took my other bag. I put my arm around his, holding the balloons in my other hand, and he led me downstairs.

For once I left it all to fate and it figured out a situation better than I could ever had.