Valen-teen Day Special

Late afternoon, Mitchell Residence

"Okay, you can open your eyes now. Surprise!"

Five minutes before, Josh had asked Natasha to close her eyes and not open them. He lead her carefully down the patio stairs and down towards the end of the pool. His hands were sweating and he hoped that she hadn't noticed, because he was nervous.

He stayed up till midnight cutting out red paper hearts and tossing them into a box that sat beside him on his bed. The chocolates and balloons he bought yesterday and then stopped by the florist today on the way to Natasha's place.

Before she had time to say anything he gave her a quick kiss and wished her a happy Valentine's Day. Natasha smiled shyly and walked over to taste the chocolates. She was in shock and a little speechless that Josh had gone to so much trouble.

The relaxed by the pool picking and choosing their favorite chocolates together. Natasha whispered a, thank you, this is really sweet, into his Josh's ear. She didn't know what else to say to him but thank you.

"Josh some of these hearts don't seem to be shaped like hearts." Natasha said as she held one up, examining the odd angular lines of what was supposed to look like a heart.

Josh laughed. "Charlotte and Pippa helped me cut them out. I guess you can blame Pippa for that one."

With darkness falling they began searching the midnight sky for stars, but it was proving to be difficult due to the overcast weather Greenland Bay had been having lately.

"I think that's one there." Josh pointed. "It's moving!"

Natasha squinted trying to find the spot where Josh was pointing to. "Nah, I think that's just a plane flying below the clouds."

"Oh, look! I see one! There!" Natasha pointed excitedly.

But Josh wasn't looking he was too busy admiring the beauty sitting before him. He was very happy how everything had gone to plan tonight. It was a success, though it wasn't quite over yet. 

The sky was now pitch black and they were both starting to feel the effects of eating too many chocolates. 

Josh leaned over and kissed her, pushing her down gently causing her to lay back on the pavement scattered with red hearts and some not quite shaped like hearts.

Cupping her head with his hand he stared back into her blue eyes. "I love you Tash," he said and lent down to kiss her again.

"Josh...I..."

"It's okay. Just tell me when your ready. I just want you to know, that's all."

She pulled him down with her free arm and they kissed for a long time in that position before packing up and moving back inside for more comfortable seating that wasn't so hard under their bones.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hamilton Residence

Davey had been ordered by Madison to stay in the lounge room while she got a couple of things ready.  He sat with Reece and they watched some of the footy match together.

"So what are you up to tonight?" Davey asked Reece.

"I'm taking Claire out to dinner, maybe a movie afterwards."

"DAAAVVVEEYYYY! YOOUUUU CAAAN CARRMM INNN NOOWWWW!"

Reece looked over at his mate after hearing his sister yell out. "Dude, I don't know how you put up with her--hey, I don't even know how I put up with her."

Davey left Reece alone on the couch and wandered down to Madison's bedroom. As he pushed the door open he caught a glimpse of his girlfriends reflection in the mirror. Her room was glowing a soft red and there were balloons on the floor with the words Love printed on them. Lit candles sat on the side table and--strawberry sundaes, what? He did a double take and realized his first sighting was correct. Two strawberry sundaes sat neatly on the side table in front of the candles.

 "Happy Valentine's Day baby." She said with a mischievous grin.

"Well come on, come over and give me a kiss."

Davey slowly teetered over, unsure of what to make of what he'd just walked in on. "Maddy, I...."  

"You what?" She climbed off the bed and stood in front of him, resting a hand on her hip. "You forgot, didn't you?"

"Well...agh, kinda." He watched her brow furrow. This was one of the ways he could tell she was about to flip out and start to get all dramatic on him.

"I can't believe you forgot! Well this just...."

But before she could finish her sentence he revealed a bouquet of red roses from behind his back.

"Ta-daaaaa!"

Madison's face immediately lit up and Davey knew her mood had changed back again. He was pushing her buttons just like she did to him. It was what they did, it was part of their crazy relationship.

"Just kidding, babe." He teased.

"Aww, they're gorgeous. Thank you."

"This..." He looked her up and down. "This is very cool. Very sexy."

Madison smiled up at him. "I knew you'd like it."

"Has Reece left yet?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Then kiss me you fool and show me just how much you like my little outfit."

She pulled him in and they embraced in a long and passionate kiss. Despite their arguments and fights, when these two were together they were a force of nature. Dramatic crosses hot-headed, cheeky crosses flirty, these two couldn't be better matched to each other. Or could they?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Seaside Grill Bar & Cafe

Recce made dinner reservations for Claire and himself. He couldn't think of what else to do. He wasn't much of a romantic, at heart yes, but not in being able to show it physically. It made him feel awkward and self conscious.

It was also something that he'd tried his hand at but just hadn't gotten any better. Wooing and romanticizing girls definitely did not come naturally to him.

He stood there holding a bouquet of roses behind his back. "So, um...I got these for you."

"Oh Reece! They're beautiful!"

Claire held the roses up to her nose and breathed deeply. They were fresh and the most beautiful bouquet of roses she had ever received.

"So, you like them then?"

"Yes I do, thank you!"

She placed her roses on their nearby reserved table and hugged Reece. She could see he was trying and she was thankful for that. She wasn't expecting much though, she'd been taught not to go and just expect things from others, and she also new what Reece was like. The only time he showed any co-ordination with romance was in the bedroom.

"I thought we could go see a movie after dinner, if you wanted?"

"Sure, I'd love that."

"Great." He said but not before embracing her in his arms and kissing her.

Well, so far so good, he thought. She liked the roses, dinner was still to come but it wasn't possible for him to muck that up, because he wasn't cooking. Right? Right. Then next they'd see a movie. Which one though? Maybe he'd let her choose. Yeah. She could choose what movie they'll watch. This might lead to a few bonus points for him later on in the night.

Fingers crossed.