A VALENTINES FIC
She had left it all to be with him. At first people had found it strange; the energetic cheerleader with the silent reader. However, time seasoned their eyes to the sight of the couple sharing a lunch beneath their trademark cherry blossom tree.
Shane really had no idea how fate had brought them together. They would be spotted in the mall, Shia running ten feet ahead of him, only to run back and tug on his sleeve and run ahead again. His pace never quickened a beat. He was accustomed to her, and learnt that she was just energetic in that way. She was the complete opposite of him.
But despite the contrast between his slow steady steps and her feather light footsteps, one could not deny the sense of belonging that hung over their moulded frames.
He was looking forward to today. It was their first valentines day together, the mark of their relationship surviving for almost half a year, and although he knew that as a boyfriend it was his responsibility to make her day special, she was oh so much more innovative than him. He knew that he could count on her to surprise him.
They agreed upon their favorite ice cream store as a meeting point. To say he was excited would be an understatement. However, he kept it well hidden, just as he kept most other aspects of himself secret. His thoughts were for none but Shia, and even if he chose not to reveal them to her, she was always able to tell, just as if she had been present at the moment, his subtle foot tapping would have told her of his excitement.
Excitement faded to a gentle warmth as he watched her entering the store, her hair floating in gentle ringlets, eye shadow softly accenting her brown eyes. He knew that she had dressed up for him.
Despite his impatience, curtsey demanded that he greet her with a hug and kiss, and first present her with his own valentine's gift. An expensive looking rose shaped pendant on a silver chain with a rose taped to the lid of velvet blue box encasing it. He had got it on a heavy discount as it had been manufactured at his aunt's jewelers store, but he decided that she didn't need to know that as she exclaimed that he shouldn't have spent so much on her. It wouldn't hurt to leave her under the illusion that he spent as much as she thought he did. It wasn't that he wasn't willing to spend on her; he just...didn't have that much money to spend on gifts.
He gazed into her eyes, outwardly calm, but she recognized the childish eagerness in his eyes. She gave him a knowing smile that relieved him of the task of questioning her as to the whereabouts of his present. He didn't even want to ask, in case she hadn't gotten him anything, which would prove awkward. Not that she would ever choose NOT get him something; he just didn't want to seem too sure of himself.
She pulled the plastic bag that had been hanging off her elbow throughout the entire episode, and he watched hungrily as she pushed her hand into the bag, which seemed to contain things other than his gift. She pulled out a teddy bear with a string fitted to its rear a ring attached to its end, presumably his gift.
For a brief moment, he felt a pang of disappointment; he had expected more originality from her, something to indicate that she had put in any thought to the upcoming Valentines Day. He decided against voicing his thoughts, and settled for giving her a warm hug. Partially to make it seem as though he appreciated the teddy bear, and partially so that his facial expression would be hidden from her view.
Maybe hearing her proclaim her love for him would rid him of the insecurities that very near plagued him at that moment. "I love you" he murmered. Her only response was a giggle. She pulled away, and told him to pull the string at the end of the bear.
Shane knew it was stupid, but he couldn't help the anger bubbling up within him. He knew that he was acting unfairly, and more like a girl than she was, but he really couldn't help himself. "Just say it goddamnit! I don't get what's with you today!"
"Just pull the string Shane", came her soft reply. "No, I won't! After half a year, you can't even be bothered to put in any thought into my present, and on top of that you won't even say you love me! Sometimes I wonder if you even care for me!"
She had had enough. She fled the shop, tears streaming down her face. Shane groaned, not knowing what had possessed him to behave like a hormonal girl. He looked down at the teddy bear in his hand, and the white plastic bag that she had left lying on the floor. She had slipped the necklace that he had bought her into that, so she had left that behind as well.
Sighing, he hooked his finger through the metal ring at the end of the string that erupted from the bear's tail, and tugged at it. "I love you Shane" came her voice from the bear.
