The Valentine

184 words
Short Story
Written by Audrey Francis-Plante

I opened my locker to an abundance of heart-shaped chocolates and pink ribbons. My eyes were melting with anger. How dared he?

“Looks like Olivia’s got a Valentine,” my locker neighbour immediately teased as he saw the festive decoration. “Let me guess. Your cousin?” Patrick and his friends burst out laughing.

“Shut up,” I muttered.

“Or what? You’ll attack me with cinnamon hearts?” More laughs.

Before I knew it, my fist connected with Patrick’s jaw. He twirled around, hitting the trash full force. Specks of blood mottled the gray lockers. Girls yelped. Boys laughed that a girl—me of them all—had so easily knocked down the school’s biggest jerk.

I wasn’t allowed a second of satisfaction that the principal zoomed through the crowd, a beeline toward me. Great.

“My office, now,” he said, grabbing my arm to make sure I followed. “Did he hurt you?” he asked once in the office.

I lowered my eyes. “Not physically. Though he could’ve played like hell on the emotional level if he’d known whom the gifts were from.”

He cupped my cheek, smiling sheepishly. “Forgive me?”