My Girlfriends Brother || Reddie

Chapter Twenty Two

Valentine's Day

The faint smell of roses and chocolates filled the halls of the high school as students walked through the doors carrying gifts for their significant others. Eddie noticed the pink and red decorations taped to the walls as he walked to his locker. The reminder that it was Valentine's Day made his stomach twist with both excitement and unease. It wasn't that he disliked the holiday—it was more the weight of expectation that came with it.

As he approached his locker, Eddie's gaze darted to groups of students exchanging gifts. A girl squealed with delight as her boyfriend handed her a heart-shaped box of chocolates. Another couple stood by the stairs, sharing a kiss while holding matching teddy bears. Eddie sighed, silently willing himself to get through the day without too much awkwardness.

"Hey, there you are!" Luke's voice rang out, cheerful and warm. Eddie turned to see him weaving through the crowd, carrying a small gift bag in one hand. Luke slipped his free hand into Eddie's as he approached, his smile bright enough to rival the Valentine decorations. "Happy Valentine's Day," he said softly.

Eddie smiled back, though it was smaller than usual. "Happy Valentine's."

Luke tilted his head, noticing the slight hesitation in Eddie's tone. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Eddie said quickly, pulling his books out of his locker. "I'm just... not really into all this holiday stuff."

Luke chuckled, bumping Eddie's shoulder lightly. "Good thing I am, then. You're in for a surprise later."

Eddie blinked, his heart speeding up. "What kind of surprise?"

Luke grinned, leaning in to kiss Eddie's cheek. "You'll see."

Eddie felt his cheeks heat up as a few nearby students glanced their way, but Luke didn't seem to notice or care. Instead, he tugged on Eddie's hand and said, "Come on, let's get to class before Bowers decides to ruin the morning."

The first half of the school day was a blur of passing notes, whispered gossip, and more Valentine's Day flair. Eddie couldn't help but notice how seamlessly Luke navigated the attention, laughing with friends and flashing that charming grin at everyone he passed. It was hard not to admire how confident Luke was—how easy he made everything look.

But as much as Eddie tried to stay in the moment, a part of his mind kept drifting. He couldn't stop wondering about the "surprise" Luke had mentioned, or why he still felt this faint, nagging discomfort despite everything.

At lunch, Luke handed Eddie the small gift bag he'd been carrying earlier. "Open it," he urged, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Eddie hesitated, his fingers brushing the soft ribbon tied at the top. "You didn't have to get me anything," he said quietly.

"I wanted to," Luke replied. "Go on."

Eddie untied the ribbon and peeked inside. His eyes widened as he pulled out a small, intricately folded origami heart made of red paper. Alongside it was a bracelet made of dark beads, simple yet thoughtful.

"I made the heart," Luke said, his tone suddenly shy. "I know it's kinda cheesy, but I thought it'd be fun. And the bracelet—it's supposed to be grounding or something. Helps with anxiety."

Eddie stared at the gifts, his chest tightening. "Luke, this is... really sweet."

Luke's grin returned, the nervousness fading. "I'm glad you like it."

Eddie slid the bracelet onto his wrist, the beads cool against his skin. For the first time all day, he felt a genuine smile tug at his lips. "Thank you."