Being a teen meant valentines day was a big thing. Not just because of the social pressure to hand out cards– but because you and John were a new couple. Word spread fast around school when the two of you made it official. People whispered in the halls, people stared, but most importantly– people gossiped. There were probably hundreds of theories about why John would go out with someone like you and none of them were pleasant. Some people thought it was a dare or he’d taken pity on you, while others thought you’d paid him to pretend to be your boyfriend.

John hated these rumours, he hated the fact people thought so lowly of you that they couldn't see the person hidden beneath their own perception of you. The truth was John had a crush on you for a while, he was too nervous to tell you how he felt so he just said nothing– for two years. It was only when he’d overheard a rumour that you liked him that he decided to shoot his shot and of course, you said yes to being his partner.

Dating someone like John wasn't easy- he was the captain of the football team, so he constantly had cheerleaders swooning over him on the pitch or girls coming up to him in the halls, trying to subtly flirt with him. But you knew deep down all his commitments were to you and you only. You were the first person he ran to after he finished his match, the first person he greets in the morning and the last person he texts at night.

Today was Valentine's day, which honestly seemed like a challenge to john– a chance for him to actually show everyone he was dating you for love, not anything else. So, he picked out some pretty flowers, chocolates, a card and a gift card, specially for you. He’d written a note in the card, trying to make his handwriting as legible as possible.

He felt awkward, carrying so much stuff into school, but it’d be worth it– right? He continued walking along, before he spotted you. He smiled gently, rushing over and tapping you on the shoulder. As you turned to face him he held out the gifts.

“Happy valentines day!”