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 ^{(it's beta!)}

There was an exchange of glances. Eyes lifted feeling the lingering of another pair of eyes, and offered a grin. The amber pair that had been staring looked away and instead focused on the class work before them. Sensing rejection, he too looked away, smile fading.

Later at lunch, he stopped by their table and asked if anyone was going to the dance. His guise was he was arranging a carpool but really he wanted to see if those beautiful eyes would be there. The table buzzed like bumblebees as the people talked amongst themselves. The excitement in the air was tangible.

“Are you going?”

“No, I’m grounded.”

“Maybe if I can get a ride.”

“I dunno, I’ll go if Ashley’s going.”

“I got this really cute skirt, it’s like floral but with some blue paisley.”

He smiled the same smile as before when the chatter died down,

“Josh, are you going?”

Those eyes, smoldering amber, looked up and burned a hole right through his heart.

“No, thanks.” Again his eyes fell away from those lovely gold ones. The bell rang.

On the staircase he caught up with Josh.

“Hey, wanted to ask you—“

“Yeah?” Eyes narrowed.

“—if you… well, eh. I was… I wanted to know… if you would be my Valentine.”

He already knew the answer but even as those copper eyes shrank back against the railing there was still a spark of hope in his eyes.

“You’re joking, right?”

“No.”

The pounding in his ears was deafening. For a moment it almost felt like his heart would explode.

Without answer, Josh ran up the stairs. He couldn’t tell if those had been tears glittering in the corner of Josh’s eyes or flames.

It was February 14th when he walked out his door holding a heart-shaped card and a small box of chocolates tied up with a golden ribbon and tag that read, “To: Josh From: Sam”. He didn’t see Josh in his regular seat by the window. Josh always got there before him. Today the bell rang without Josh.

Sometime before the next bell, the neighboring classrooms heard screaming. Three shots rang out. He had fallen with the card held before him. A bullet caught it and pinned it to his chest, staining it a deeper red. Then the bell rang.

(Inspired by a true [and somewhat recent] story. When I find the reference I shall post it. Allegedly, the boy was 15 and his shooter was 14. The boy died on Valentine’s Day.)