Cupid Candy

Valentina absolutely loathed Valentine's Day. Not only was it her namesake but all the cooing and kissing couples with way too much PDA just had to come and buy chocolates and candies at the sweetshop she was working at.

"You're so cute when you blush!" a teenage boy told his fluffy-haired girlfriend.

She blushed an even brighter shade of red and twirled her fingers into her ringlets.

Valentina tried not to blanch. She wished they would hurry up and pay for the chocolate already instead of making love-struck eyes at each other.

"Will you protect me from Cupid Candy?" the girlfriend asked, fluttering her lashes.

"Of course, princess. I'll never let that creep lay a hand on you."

Like hell he could do that. Cupid Candy was a serial killer. The fluffy-haired girl's boyfriend was a love-struck teen. He wouldn't last a minute.

But Cupid Candy appeared to share Valentina's hatred for Valentine's Day for it was the one day of the year when they were active. Two or three different couples disappeared every Valentine's day only to be found a week later, their bodies stuffed with hard candies.

"Ahem," Valentina cleared her throat.

The couple's happy bubble burst when they realised they weren't the only two people on the planet. They quickly payed for their chocolate and left the sweetshop but not before giving Valentina an eyeful.

Valentina sighed. She just wanted the day to end.

The bell chimed when another customer came in and Valentina pasted on another plastic smile to greet them. But when she saw them, her heart nearly stopped.

Standing in the doorway was the most gorgeous girl Valentina had ever seen. Her luscious black curls framed her hair like a dark halo. She wore blood red lipstick and had the bluest eyes Valentina had ever seen. Her eyelashes were thick with mascara and her silver cross earrings dangled as she walked. The girl was dressed in punk-goth clothes, wearing a short-waisted, sleeveless jacket on a dark purple top and black denim shorts, accompanied with netted thigh-high socks. She had several silver bangles on one wrist and a rose was tattooed on her left cheek.

Her heeled and belted boots thudded on floor as she made her way to the counter.

Valentina's heart was in her throat. Before today, she hadn't believed in love at first sight.

"W-welcome to Candy Vale," Valentina squeaked.

She flushed with embarrassment at her stuttering.

"Hello," the punk girl said. Her smile was a wry quick of lips that was positively dazzling.

She leant her elbows on the countertop and looked into Valentina's eyes.

"Do you have heart-shaped candies?" she asked.

"Yes, we do."

Valentina found she couldn't think of more words to say. Her mind was blank. This wasn't like her at all. What was happening?

"Can I see what they look like?" The girl leant forward and tilted her head in an incredibly saucy way. She tapped her nails against her cheek, the shiny black nail polish glinting in the florescent lights.

"Of – of course. This way."

Valentina led the girl to the candy shelf on the left wall.

"Hey, do you think Cupid Candy will strike again this year?" the girl said suddenly.