California

“I can’t believe I’m sick on Valentine’s Day,” I sniffled, grabbing a wad of tissue from the box.

Jaime looked over at me and smiled. “It’s not that bad, Sky.”

I blew my nose and stared at him. “That’s easy for you to say, you won’t be getting snot all over Jess.”

He chuckled and continued tying his shoes. The bus was buzzing with excitement this morning, since all of their girlfriends were flying out to see them. They were all chatty and going from room to room getting ready and anxiously pacing. I, on the other hand, haven’t been feeling well the past few days and this morning when I woke up I felt absolutely terrible.

“Alright guys, we have to go now. Their flight will be landing soon,” Vic stated as he hurried through the lounge. They all gave me smiles as they walked out of the bus, leaving me alone on the couch. I blew my nose again and coughed, my eyes feeling swollen and sore. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. “Come in!” I shouted to the best of my ability.

I cleared my throat and suppressed a cough. I heard the door open and I looked up expecting to see one of the guys coming to get something they might have forgot. Instead, Mikey stood by the door looking unbelievably handsome as always. He was wearing a sweatshirt that was rolled up to his elbows and black jeans that clung to his body perfectly. He beamed at me. “Hey, darling.”

“Hey. What are you doing here? I told you I was sick and we can’t go anywhere today.” He smiled and made his way over to me holding a container in his hands. He set it on the small table we had and then placed a kiss on my forehead.

“I know, but I still want to spend Valentine’s Day with you.”

“I’m going to get you sick,” I replied, coughing again.

Mikey just smiled and gave me another kiss. “Then I’ll get sick. Come on,” he said. He pulled me into a standing position and wrapped the blanket I was using around me like a cape. He pulled out a chair for me and I sat down, still clinging to my box of tissues.

“What are we doing?” I sniffled. He did not answer me right away. He opened the container and pulled out bowls from our cupboard. He poured equal amounts of chicken noodle soup from the container he brought into both of them and then got us each a glass of water.

“We’re having the romantic dinner I promised you.” I smiled as he pulled a candle out of his pocket and lit it, placing it in between us. Mikey then turned the light off so that the only thing illuminating the room was the red wax that smelled like honey.

Mikey sat down across from and gave me another smile. I took a spoonful of the soup into my mouth and was relieved when the hot liquid guided down my sore throat. “Thanks for this, babe. It’s really sweet of you,” I said. He blushed and shrugged, taking a sip of his own soup.

“It’s nothing really. I just didn’t want to let a sickness ruin our first of many Valentine’s Day together.”

“Of many?” I asked softly. He realized what he said and turned crimson once again.

“I hope we have many more together.”

“I hope we do too,” I said and slid my free hand across the table to place over his. Relief washed over his face and we fell into a comfortable silence as we ate. After we had finished eating I took his bowl to the sink before he could protest and quickly started washing it. I felt his arms slide around my stomach and he placed a kiss to the back of my head.

“I would have done that, love.”

I shrugged and wiped my hands on the dish towel. “You always do nice things for me. I wanted to do something nice for you for a change.” I turned around and placed my arms around his neck, standing on my tiptoes to kiss him. He smiled as we pulled apart. “Would you like your present now?” His eyes lit up and he nodded happily. I laughed and walked into the bunk area, opening my suitcase and having a coughing fit before I got his present out. I entered the lounge again and he had taken my tissues and blanket back and put them on the couch.

I sat down next to him and handed him the box. He opened it carefully and grinned at what was inside. I had made a small poster that read ‘are you made of copper and tellurium? Because you’re cute’ and I had drawn the two element boxes together. Around it were pictures I had taken of the two of us over the last few weeks and a couple really handsome ones of him. At the bottom of the box was a bunch of American candy that I knew he’d love. He studied each of the pictures, the smile never leaving his face. Once he was done he carefully put everything back in the box and set it off to the side. He turned to me and gave me a kiss on the nose. “I love it. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome,” I smiled.

Mikey licked his lips nervously and asked, “Are you ready for yours?” I nodded and he bit his lip and began digging into his pocket. He pulled out a little white box and handed it to me. I lifted the lid and gasped. It was a necklace in the shape of a heart, with little rhinestones on it. I lifted it up to get a closer look and noticed a bit of paper under it. I pulled the paper out and scrolled in Mikey’s elegant handwriting read ‘You make me smile every day, you make me happy in every way. The past few weeks I knew, that I really do love you.’ I read it over twice before I slowly looked up to him. He stared into my eyes and quietly said, “I love you.”

I fought back the tears that threatened to spill and smiled. “I love you too.”

He beamed and leaned forward, pressing our lips together. His hand rubbed gentle circles on my thigh and sent shivers down my spine. I tangled my fingers in his soft hair and pulled gently. He groaned and pulled me closer as tongue darted in and out of my mouth, leaving me craving more. He pulled away from me, both of us panting heavily. Mikey pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Do you fancy watching some movies?” I nodded slowly and he got up, picking a random movie and putting it in. He laid down behind me so we were spooning and pulled the blanket over us as the movie begun. I grinned when the familiar opening scene to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles started.

As the movie progressed, he kept his hand tracing circles on my thighs. I had my hand across my chest, rubbing circles on his arm as he did so. Just as they were driving to April’s farmhouse after the showdown with the Foot Clan, I asked, “Who is your favorite turtle?” I felt him chuckle into the back of my hair.

“Mikey.” I turned my neck and playfully glared at him.

“You’re only saying that because you have the same name.”

He shook his head. “I am not. He’s funny.” I turned my attention back to the screen. “Who is your favorite?”

“Leo!” I shouted, startling him. He placed his hand over his heart and looked at me in bewilderment.

“Calm down there, you nearly gave me a heart attack!” I laughed and he put his arm around me once more, bringing me closer to his body.

“I love you,” he whispered in my ear. My heart fluttered and I smiled.

“I love you too.”

Notes