Complicated

chapter seventeen

A month later, it was Valentine’s Day, and we had to go to school. I hate going to school on Valentine’s Day, especially when my boyfriend thinks Valentine’s Day is ‘a waste of time’, and I have to face both Taffy and James at school. (And yes, it totally does still feel weird calling Aaron my boyfriend. He’s my boyfriend!).

      But I believed in Valentine’s Day, so before I left for school I wrote a Valentine’s card for Aaron. When I was finished I put the card in the pink envelope and sealed it. I kissed the front before writing Aaron’s name.

      “Jennifer, we’re leaving.” Called Mum from downstairs.

      “I’m coming!”

When we arrived at school I went straight to Aaron’s locker and slid the card in the gap between the locker and the metal.

      “Jen?” said Taffy from behind me. I jumped and spun round on the spot, throwing my arms protectively over Aaron’s locker. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”

      “Hey, Taffy. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

      “I’ve . . . I know you’re going out with Aaron, but I’ve got a card for you.” He smiled and shrugged his bag off his shoulder, taking a red envelope from the front pocket.

      “Um, thanks.” I smiled and took the card from him. “So . . . you got a girlfriend yet?”

      “No . . . not yet.”

      “You should ask someone. Like, not me. Someone else.” I felt suddenly uncomfortable, and I knew I was blushing, which was embarrassing since I had a boyfriend and I honestly didn’t fancy Taffy. “Don’t you fancy anyone else?”

      “Well . . . yeah . . . you know Poppy McDough?”

      “You fancy Poppy?” I demanded. For some reason, I felt a twinge of jealously. Then I reminded myself that I was going out with Aaron. This cheered me up. “Then ask her out. I bet you anything she’ll say yes.”

      “Really? You reckon?”

      “Yeah, go on. Ask her out today.” I suggested. “Its Valentine’s Day; that would be romantic.”

      “Okay . . . see you around, Jen.”

      “Yeah, see you.”

I went to my locker and found a shimmering silver envelope inside with my name on it. I recognised the handwriting; it was Aaron’s. He totally did believe the whole ‘soppy’ Valentine’s stuff, the little liar.

      So now I had two Valentine’s card.

      I decided not to open them until I got home, because then I could show off to Connor. Of course, Connor would have hundreds of cards, no doubt. He’ll probably have girls crowding around all day long, begging him to go out with them. I expect he’ll be down June’s tonight as well. Maybe Mum and I can have our usual Girl’s Valentine Tea.

I walked in the door and dropped my bag instantly.

      “Hello honey how was your day at school?” asked Mum from the kitchen. I worked to control my overwhelming anger; I wouldn’t start a shouting match over a simple question like ‘how was your day’, though I most certainly felt like I might. I didn’t even know why I was so angry. Maybe it had something to do with Connor totally embarrassing me in RE? I was glad he wasn’t here now – I would have killed him.

      “It was . . . fine.” I said slowly. I went to go up the stairs, but apparently Mum wouldn’t let me leave without a full conversation beforehand.

      “Really? Doesn’t sound like it was fine to me . . . did you get any Valentine ’s Day cards?”

      “Yeah. I got two; one from Aaron and one from Taffy.”

      “Oh . . . very nice.”

      While Mum tried to find something to talk about, I took my chance and darted up the stairs, two envelopes in hand. One was dull and red, the other was sparkling and bright and silver. I knew which one I preferred.

      I took Aaron’s card and slipped my finger under the envelope, ripping it open. Slowly, I took the card out. It was silver with a big red heart on the front. I opened it, and inside it said ‘Happy Valentine’s Day to my wonderful girlfriend’. I felt my cheeks burn into a blush, and I was suddenly beaming inside, my heart lifted right out of my chest.

      But something was catching my eye.

      Taffy’s card was bright and colourful against my white bed, and no matter how hard I tried I still wanted to read it. So I gave in, and went to lie on the bed, rolling onto my tummy. I ripped open the envelope and took the card out quick as I could, thinking that if I got it over and done with it wouldn’t seem as glamorous and lovely as Aaron’s card.

      Taffy’s card was a little boring, but it was homemade. Six little pink hearts with wings were placed in a circle around a cherub cut out from a magazine. Glitter was sprinkled on the corners, and it was slowly but surely falling off onto my bed. I opened it. Inside, in Taffy’s scribbled handwriting, was a little poem.

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

Happy Valentine’s Day,

I love you.

From ?

But I guessed the ‘From ?’ bit was a bit pointless, because he gave it to me and I knew it was from him.

      Then my phone rang.