The Hopeless Romantic ✔️

Chapter twenty nine.

Today was the day things changed. I had a few weeks to grieve for what I had lost and I wanted to move on so badly that it hurt me to say goodbye. But, people move on from things all the time. It takes time and a lot of effort, but it happens.

I wanted this day to be special, to be filled with surprises and love because that was all I had ever wanted. I had never spent Valentine's Day with anybody. It was always me, my cat and Netflix. I thought this year would have been different, I thought it would have been a day where I spent holding the one I loved.

I shook the thought away and I knew that school would be torture. The student council always held Valentine's Day. There would be roses and balloons and serenades that people would buy for their girlfriends and boyfriends. I loved the day because it was filled with smiles and laughter even though I would never get to experience it.

I knew today would be different. But, I went to school anyway. I walked through the school corridors and it felt like a different universe. Some students were wearing all pink with crazy hats and sunglasses. I had History first and I knew that first period was when the student council would hand everyone their gifts.

I was dreading it, but I tried my hardest to act like it had been all of my High School life. I walked in, head held high and when I didn't see Jace sitting in his usual spot, I felt relief because he was once my whole world until he tore it all apart.

Gwen appeared by my side as soon as I sat down, she was red in the face and panting so hard. "You weren't on the bus," I said, "where were you?"

She sighed and sat down beside me. "I missed the damn bus because Gemma was being a pain in the ass."

"What did she do?" I asked.

Gemma was Gwen's five year old sister. She groaned. "She drew on my bedroom wall with permanent marker and mom yelled at me because I let her do it."

I shook my head just as our teacher came into the classroom. "Oh my gosh! But, don't you always close your bedroom door?"

She nodded. "Yes, I do. But, Gemma knows how to open doors now."

I leaned back in my chair. "Are we still going to hangout after school?"

She nodded with a smile. "Yes, my mom will pick us up." I missed hanging out with Gwen at her house and we hadn't done it in a while.

We were interrupted by students coming into our classroom to hand out the roses and the gifts. Names were being called and smiles were shared. I watched everything around me, knowing that Jace was probably avoiding it.

Gwen looked at me with sorrow in her eyes, knowing that I had been waiting for this day. "It's okay, this day will be over before you know it. You can have dinner at mine tonight and we can hang and watch movies and eat chocolate."

I smiled. "That sounds perfect."

Everyone fell silent as the serenades were about to start and I wondered what song they would play this year. "Avery Winters?"

My face went red as everyone locked their eyes on me. I felt nervous and I didn't want to move. The student council came to me. They were all wearing pink outfits and crazy hats and one even had a guitar. Gwen also looked confused. I had never gotten a serenade before, so why now and who was it from?

A girl named Tina George handed me a rose and a pink balloon. I was going red in the face and I wasn't sure what to think. The guitar started playing and they all started singing:

"When your legs don't work like they used to before.
And I can't sweep you off of your feet
Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love?
Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks?