*
vi doesn’t really care for valentines day, she never has. she watches all the people in the grades above her impatiently wait for someone to ask them out. it’s stupid, really. she hasn’t had much crushes in her lifetime. none at all if anything. that all changed the first day of 6th grade when she was sat next to caitlyn kiramman for the rest of the year. the way her midnight blue ponytail swayed whenever she asked vi a question. the way she was always dressed up for school unlike her wearing the same shirt for up to 3 days in a row.
on the 2nd week of school she finally admitted to herself that she liked her.
she liked caitlyn kiramman.
vi didn't think she was even capable of liking someone. she only had 2 priorities in life.
1. take care of her family (especially her little sister, powder, in 4th grade)
2. make sure her grades are at least passing
she always thought she had no time to have “crushes.” but how could she just push the feelings away? caitlyn was perfect! whatever, it’s not like she would like her back anyway. until it was valentines day when everything she thought was changed.
*
it was 3 days before valentines day when she insisted that she wouldn’t bring anything because it was stupid. but thoughts kept bubbling in her head that told her that she should bring something *just* for caitlyn. maybe she could take some money out from her savings box to buy her something! she had learned some things about her blue haired crush after sitting with her for some months now. caitlyn preferred cats over dogs even though she had two guard dogs she adored dearly, she liked dessert rather than lunch or dinner, her ultimate favorite desserts were cupcakes and tiramisu, vi could talk about caitlyn all day and night. jeez, when did vi get so lovey and sappy?
she thought she could bake one of her favorite desserts but she doesn't know how to bake much. she doesn’t even know what that fancy tiramisu thing is! she struggled for about a day when she has a realization, there was a nearby bakery just two blocks from her house! vi could take some money out her savings box and go walk there with powder the day before valentines day! she can also get a sweet treat for powder as a gift, this was a great plan.
vi sat up from the small couch in her living room to go in the bedroom she shared with her little sister. she knocked on the bedroom door twice before walking in. powder was working on a new mechanical project before she looked up to her sister, “what’s up, sis?”
vi picked up her jacket as she figured it was going to be cold outside, “i was just wondering if you wanted to go walk to the bakery with me two blocks down. i can get you something if you want?”
powder looked at her with confusion, “sure but why the bakery? what do you need from there?”
“uh, i was gonna get something for a girl… i like..” the bright blue haired girl looked shocked and also ecstatic.
she smiled widely, “you like someone?! what’s her name?” vi checked the time, it was 4:00pm, they should probably go before it’s time for dinner.
she put on her jacket and walked towards the box where she kept all her money, “i’ll tell you on the way there! lets go before vander tells us it’s time for dinner. also, put on a jacket its kinda cold outside.”
powder put all the mechanical supplies away in a drawer next to their bunk bed before hurriedly putting on her coat that desperately needed to be replaced soon. it had a few holes and some of them were covered with patches of old clothes. they both walked out the small bedroom and saw vander, their adoptive “dad”, about to start making dinner.
vi awkwardly walked up to him, “um, me and powder are gonna walk to that bakery a few blocks down, is that okay?”
he crouched back up after grabbing a pot from a cabinet and setting it on the stove, “the bakery? i mean, i guess, but be back before dinner, alright?”
she heard a boy yell over from the living room, mylo, “vi, can me and claggor go too?”
her little sister shook her head, “nope! girls trip!” she looked up at vi and smiled. they both put on their shoes and walked out the tiny house, “so, vi, you gonna tell me about the girl you like now?”
“you know what, sure. her names caitlyn kiramman, you might know her.” who is she kidding? *everyone* knows her, i mean she is the mayors daughter.
they walked past a few houses, “yeah i know her kinda. she comes by the elementary school sometimes to read books to us. is she like rich?”
vi shrugs, “she’s like the richest girl in town. do you think she’ll like me back?”
“of course she will! and if she doesn’t i’ll beat her ass!” they both laugh as they finally make it to the little shop. as they walk in the door makes a little bell ring. a very beautiful girl with a ton of gold jewelry and brown locs wrapped in a bun looks up at the two.
“hello, welcome! my name is mel how can i help you guys today?” she takes out a notepad and pen from the back pocket of her jeans.
vi looks at her little sister, “alright pow, get anything you want, okay?”
powder nods as she scans the display of treats behind the glass, “uh, can i get a piece of cake..?”
the gold freckled girl smiles warmly at them, “of course! what’s your favorite flavor, sweetheart?” powder has always been nervous around new adults but her little sister looks at this one like she has known the worker her whole life. maybe the worker is just really good with kids.
“can i get um.. vanilla, please.” the girl grabs a box, takes a piece of the vanilla cake, and carefully places it in the box before wrapping it with a gold bow.
she hands the carefully decorated box to the bright blue haired little girl, “anything else i can you guys?”
vi just now realizes that she has no idea what to get caitlyn, “do you think you can help me pick out something first this.. girl?”
“yeah, no problem! do you know her favorite dessert or anything?”
she fidgets with the money in her jacket pocket, “she really likes cupcakes and something called tiramisu is that helps.”
the worker crouches down at the desserts, “how about her favorite color?”
“it might be dark blue im pretty sure.”
she picks up a cupcake from the display before showing it to her, “this might be perfect!” it was a cupcake with navy blue frosting. although, vi couldn’t tell what the flavor of the cupcake was, it’s brown colored so maybe chocolate?
she stares at the treat in the girls hand, “whats the flavor?”
“okay, do you know what tiramisu is, exactly?” vi nods her head no, “it’s basically like this coffee flavored dessert and this cupcake is coffee flavored so i think she will like it!”
vi smiles slightly, “thats perfect! i’ll take that one, please.” she watches as mel puts the sweet treat in a small box before delicately wrapping it in a gold bow just like the one she also wrapped powders in. she hands it to vi and goes to the register to add up the total.
“alright, your total is $12.98, i’m assuming you’re paying with cash, right?” she nods as she takes out a $10 bill and $5 bill from her pocket and hands it to the girl. the worker hands her the change, “thank you! you babies get home safe, alright?”
powder waves at her, “okay, thank you, bye!” they walk out the door, making the bell ring on the door, as they hold the boxes of treats.
they take the same route home and they make it right before vander starts cooking, “we’re home!” vi yells out.
the two boys look up from their video game, “did you get anything for us?”
she shakes her head no, “nope, sorry.” they look at her with disappointment before getting over it and going back to their game, “did you want to eat your cake after dinner, pow?”
“yup! im gonna put mines in the fridge!” she goes to the kitchen putting it on the top shelf. she then runs to their bedroom coming back with a sticky note that says “DO NOT EAT! >:( - POWDER” and sticking it on the box. vi chuckles as she places the cupcake next to powders cake. she doesn’t put a sticky note on it because she knows that the two boys are scared of her and wont eat it.
vander places plates on the small dining room table, “so, who’s the lucky girl?”
“um, what do you mean?”
he smiles as he sets down the dish, “come on, you’ve never cared for valentines day, something has had to changed.”
“its just a girl from my class.” vi then yells to announce that it’s time for dinner and the family of 5 sits at the table eating. the night went as usual. she helped wash the dishes, she got ready for bed, and dreamed about caitlyn.
*
vi walks into the classroom. she has caitlyn in her first period so she figured she can give it to her right away. vi scans the classroom and she see’s her dark blue ponytail. she’s talking to mr. talis, it’s probably something about the lesson or homework. she sits down in her assigned seat and a few minutes pass before caitlyn sits down next to her.
she’s beautiful. today shes wearing a red cardigan, a pink top underneath, and a pair of blue jeans. vi assumes shes dressed like that because its valentines day. she watches as caitlyn takes out her notebook and pencil, “hey, uh, caitlyn?”
caitlyn smiles, “hi, vi! happy valentines day, by the way.”
vi awkwardly fidgets with the gold bow on the box, “yeah, happy valentines day! i got you something!” she hands the box to caitlyn and she unravels the bow and opens the box.
“oh my god, you didn’t have to get my anything, violet!” she picks up the cupcake and looks at it with admiration.
“i wanted to! it’s your three favorite things combined. the flavor is tiramisu, its a cupcake, and the frosting is your favorite color.”
caitlyn takes a small bite, “thank you, really. its awfully good! so what does this mean?” she looks at her in confusion, “do you.. like me?”
vi feels her cheeks getting hot. is caitlyn figuring it out? what will she think of vi now? she probably thinks that she’s a freak! or even worse, what if caitlyn tells all her popular friends that she’s a loser?!
“yeah, cupcake. do you like me back..?” why would she ask that?! of course she doesn’t! why would someone like caitlyn like someone like vi?
she sets the half eaten cupcake back in the box, “i do, actually.”
yeah, why would she that? she doesn’t like— hold on, what? did she just say “i do?”her eyes widen, “wait, really?” caitlyn nods as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.
“yeah! i’ve actually liked you since the first day of class, i just assumed you didn’t like girls.”
vi chuckles, “you seriously thought that? i mean, look at my hair!” they both laugh together.
they both stare at each other before caitlyn speaks up, “so, do you want to date?”
“of course i do, cupcake.”