“I don’t know, I think the amount of stickers you get shows how much of a friend you are.”

Jess and I were having an ironically deep discussion about our Valentines as we crafted the lovey-dovey cards our classmates would soon throw away. I’m not too stuck on the idea of a day full of affection and roses and chocolates. (Don’t get me wrong: I enjoy every chocolate I am given and I’ll surely eat it.) It’s nice and all for all your classmates to give you cards wishing you a “Happy Valentine’s” but it also means that all of your classmates are practically sending you love letters. I don’t have my eyes set on anyone so it’s not one of my favorite holidays. However, Valentine’s is one of Jess’s favorites. It’s a day that she can make cutesy cards with cheesy phrases to give to all the boys in the class. Sometimes I don’t know–

“Kendall! Your cards are so bland!” Jess interrupted my thought process.

Thanks. That was great for my confidence.

“Like, You have no pictures, no quotes, no puns.”

She said it like it was a sin.

“Oh. I didn’t realize that Happy Valentine’s Day wasn’t enough…”

“It’s not. How do you think you would feel if you got your card? Now look at my card.”

She held up a little baby blue card with a purple owl pasted on it. Her details were close to perfection. It read ‘I’ll Owl-ways love you.”

“Wow. Punny and affectionate! I give it a ten out of ten!”

We rolled on the floor laughing. This was why we were such close friends.

***

At school it was the same childish deal it always was since Kindergarten, you get a bag and stuff your cards into other people’s. Mine weren’t in too much detail and I was obviously done first so I sat down. I watched as my classmates scrambled around making sure their cards were perfectly placed in each other’s bags. It was finally over and we weren’t even allowed to look until lunch. Whatever.

“Hey did you get anything good?” Jess and I sat at our normal table in the lunchroom with Veronica and Tracey who were diving in to their candy right away.

“Probably not,” I replied. “Hey, why’s Eddy all alone?”

Eddy was a boy from my class that no one really talked to. I have no idea why people don’t like him because I’ve talked to him before when we were lab partners… He’s actually really nice.

“Haha. LOL. I forgot to tell you…”

“Tell me what? What did I miss?” I glanced back at Eddy all alone at his table. Except, now he was crying.

Without letting Jess finish I picked up my Valentines and walked over to Eddy’s table.

“Hey Eddy.”

“Haha.” he said, sobbing. “Very funny, you can leave now.”

“What’s going on? Like, seriously I’m out of the loop on this… What happened?”

“Why don’t you see for yourself.”

I looked at his Valentine’s bag full of notes with mean comments. Whoever did this was just evil. Then I heard the laughter, roaring from my table. Oh, great.

“Just a sec.” I tell Eddy. I turn and stomp back to my table. “Jess!” I snap. “Was this you?” I hold up one of the notes. “You have to admit, it’s funny,” Jess laughs. “no! it’s not!” I yell. “Jess, we’re not friends. I’m not going to be friends with somebody who bullies others.”

This was all Jess and she was a jerk for doing that. I may not be a fan of the holiday, but you can’t just switch it around to hatred! I was fuming when I noticed Eddy looking at me which is when I had realized I had been silent the entire time.

“Eddy, I am so sorry about this…” I trail off trying to find the words.

“It’s fine. I guess it just got to me a little. I just wanna know where all of my other ones are…”

“We’ll find ‘em. For now, you can have mine. I didn’t want them anyway.”

Without saying anything else I stormed over to my former table and let Jess have it. I picked up my milk carton and splashed it in her face and then poured the rest on her Valentines. Well that’s how it happened in my mind… where in reality I just didn’t return her high-five.

“That wasn’t cool Jess. Where are his Valentines?”

She giggled and didn’t talk to me for the rest of lunch.

***

At home I opened up my backpack and saw that a red envelope was straight on the top. Of course I opened it.

Kendall,

I wanted to let you know that I found the rest of my Valentines… in a bag in the dumpster. Anyway I wanted to thank you for being the only one there. Isn’t that what Valentine’s Day is about? Friendship. That’s really what I needed.

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day,

Eddy

Eddy’s right. That’s all we need. Valentine’s day isn’t about corny cards and dozens of roses it’s about the true relationships of friends and more.

***

The next day Eddy came to school and tried to avoid everyone. Before he could sit alone at his table for lunch I was there waiting for him. What are friends for right? Everything.