Romantic One Shots & Imagines

One Shot #36: V-Day

     The promise you made him long ago rang through your mind repeatedly. It was tortuous but you knew you couldn't help it. You think back to last year, February 15th, when you were on the phone with one of your friends from Astrology club. It was freezing and the high was 10 degrees but the only thing that got you out of bed was knowing that there was candy out there calling your name: "Jenna! I'm half priced today. Nobody wanted me. Will you be my Valentine? Be mine! Eat me! I'm made of discounted chocolate." Next thing you knew, you were in the middle of an aisle, juggling two heart shaped boxes of chocolate in your hands and your phone between your shoulder and ear.

          "Another hopeless year..." You hear Mark's discouraged voice on the other end.

          "Hopeless? You know what gives me hope? Knowing that I live in a world where I can get chocolate for free without a man." You state matter-of-factly, your voice ringing with feminism.

          He laughs. "For free?"

          "Its practically free. Listen, you better come down here quick before all the other lonely singles realize its not that cold out. This stuff is literally 75% off! I was expecting 50% at the most." She exclaims to him.

          "You know, I was so close this year!" He ignores her. "I've been talking to this girl in my studio class since the beginning of the semester. It was going great too...until she introduced me to her girlfriend in the hallway."

          "Ahh don't dwell on it. You really shouldn't take it personally. Its not that she didn't like you; she just didn't like your penis." Jenna teases while focusing on a king size bar of chocolate.

          "Well, thanks." He responds sarcastically. "Listen, I was thinking...if we don't have a significant other or even a date by Valentine's day next year---"

          "Sure."

          "Really? I mean, yeah. Thanks."

         "Yeah, I mean I haven't been on a cliche V-day date since sophomore year in high school. Remember those days? When buying carnations and taping valentines onto each other's lockers were the highest forms of showing love? Everybody thought they were experts on relationships back then. Who knew it'd be so hard."

          "Yeah..." Mark nods, even though he knows she can't see him. He only agrees to avoid bringing up the fact that he never had a girlfriend in highschool.

     You sit in front of your mirror, trying to smile. At the time, you didn't think much of the deal you had made with him. You figured that either one of you would have found a date. If you were to be the lucky one, you were going to find a girl for Mark so he wouldn't be lonely. Despite remembering yourself, you were kind of hoping he wouldn't. Instead, he calls you about plans of making a reservation at this formal restaurant downtown. He tells you to wear something nice and that he would pick you up at 6pm.

          "But he's your friend", you keep telling yourself. You didn't think he would go this far. A rental movie and a home cooked meal would have sufficed. You shake your head, finally coming to the conclusion that its Valentine's day and that its practically blasphemy to not go all out, even for friends. With five minutes to spare, you touch up your makeup and put on your heels.

          The door knocks. "Hey." You answer to a very well dressed Mark. In fact, you don't think you've ever seen him this dressed up before.