15 Valentine's

"Hey", Matt said as he strolled into Zephyr's room, "You know how I've always said that you're my favourite son, right?"

Looking up from the book he was reading, Zephyr narrowed his eyes, "I'm your only son".

"Right", Matt nodded, "You're still my favourite".

"As he was about to continue, he was cut off by Zephyr, "All right. What do you want?", he asked as he closed his book.

Looking into the eyes of his son, Matt gulped, "What makes you think I didn't just come here to talk to my amazing, intelligent and athletic son?"

"Please", Zephyr scoffed, "You've never come into my room without needing something. So what is it?"

"Hey", Matt said, indignantly, "I take offence to that".

"You were meant to", Zephyr clarified, nodding his head, "Now. Can you please tell me what you want so I can say no to whatever you're asking?"

"Honestly, I don't know where you got this attitude from", Matt mumbled, "Definitely not from me".

Hearing his words, Zephyr sighed, "Just tell me what you want".

"Ok. Fine", Matt said, "I have somewhere to be and Desiree is going out so we need you to supervise Bella until we come back".

"Let me clarify this. While you're out on a date and having fun", Zephyr began, "You want me to babysit our neighbour's daughter, who you're going to be going out with. Is that right?"

"Hey", Matt replied, "What makes you think I'll be going with Desiree?", however, he shrank after looking at the murderous glare he was receiving from his son.

"What makes you think I don't already have plans?", Zephyr asked.

"Well, do you?", Matt retorted.

Sheepishly rubbing the back of his head, Zephyr muttered, "Well. Not really. But still. It's the point that I'm trying to get across".

"See. You don't have plans so there's no problem. Thanks, son. I'll tell Desiree you agreed. Peace", Matt replied as he rushed out of the room.

Seeing Matt's antics, Zephyr shook his head and took his phone out of his pocket.

[Hey] - Zephyr

[Are you free today?] - Zephyr

[Yeah. Why?] - Alex

[What are your thoughts on children?] - Zephyr

[I'm not really sure] - Alex

[Why are you asking?] - Alex

[Would you be willing to supervise a 7-year-old today?] - Zephyr

[I don't really have any plans today] - Alex

[So, I guess] - Alex

[Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool.] - Zephyr

[Can you come over to my house and look after Bella with me?] - Zephyr

[I don't really mind but give me a sec to ask Mom and Dad] - Alex

[I think they agreed] - Alex

[What do you mean?] - Zephyr

[Mom and Dad were whispering about something] - Alex

[And when I asked, they just waved me off] - Alex

[That means they agree] - Zephyr

[Really?]- Alex

[Are you sure you're not just saying that because you don't to be alone during Valentine's?] - Alex

[No way] - Zephyr

[Do I look like the type of person who would do that?] - Zephyr

[If you're anything like your dad, then you deffo are] - Alex

[Fair point] - Zephyr

[But I'm not as irresponsible and immature as my Dad] - Zephyr

[I guess] - Alex

[What do you mean by 'I guess'?] - Zephyr

[I'm nothing like my Dad] - Zephyr

[Are you sure?] - Alex

[You're both pretty lazy and irresponsible] - Alex

[That's just one similarity] - Zephyr

[I bet you can't name another similarity between me and him] - Zephyr

[You're both annoying. You break rules left and right. You're both pretty stupid] - Alex

[Hey, I feel offended] - Zephyr

[Good] - Alex

[You were meant to] - Alex

[So I take your lack of opposition as a yes]- Zephyr

[Thanks so much] - Zephyr

[See you at 5] - Zephyr

[Byeeeeee] - Zephyr

[Zephyr is no longer online]

[HEY] - Alex

[When did I agree?] - Alex

[Ugh. Fine. I'll see you there] - Alex

[Time Skip]

"So you know the rules right?" Matt asked.

Hearing his words, Zephyr groaned, "This is the 3rd time you've asked and the answer hasn't changed".

"Yeah", Matt agreed, "But this is the first time I'm leaving you, a teenager, a species infamous for their lack of control, with a girl, who is also a teenager. What did you expect?"

Zephyr shrugged, "I don't know. I guess I expected you to make some horrible Dad joke and then just leave".

Matt gasped, "Do you think that low of me? I would never make a bad joke".

"Seriously?", Desiree questioned while smacking Matt on the back of his head with her purse, "You can argue with your son later. Now, hurry up and get the car ready".

"Yes Ma'am", Matt saluted before running out of the house.

Seeing him gone, Desiree turned around and knelt, being at the same level as Bella, "Now. I want you to behave while I'm gone. Okay Bella". Bella nodded her head rapidly which caused Desiree to smile. "Good", she said while rubbing Bella's hair.

Once done, she looked at Matt and Alex and said, "And you two, don't do anything teenagers shouldn't be doing, okay?"

Hearing her words, both of their faces became scarlet, making Desiree's smile grow. Nodding her head, she walked away, and into the car that Matt had brought out of the garage.

Closing the door, Zephyr sighed, "Thank god they're finally gone".

"I don't know", Alex responded, "I think they were pretty funny"

"Ugh", Zephyr groaned, "You're just saying that because they were embarrassing me".

"You can't prove that", Alex argued.

"I don't need to prove anything. I know you well enough", Matt replied, "And besides. Do you find joy in other people's pain".

"No", Alex retorted, "Only when it's you".

"I don't know whether I should be happy or hurt", Zephyr stated.

"It's your choice", Alex remarked. Looking around for a few seconds, a look of confusion appeared on her face, "Hey. Where's Bella gone?"

Without even looking around, Zephyr responded, "She's either in the garden or her room".

"She has a room here?", Alex questioned.

"Yeah", Zephyr answered, "Desiree has been coming over quite often nowadays and has stayed over as well, so we converted one of the spare rooms into a room for Bella".

"That's nice", Alex commented, "So what are we going to do now?"

Zephyr shrugged, "I guess we can watch a movie or something".

"Let's watch a movie", Alex decided, with Zephyr nodding.

[Time Skip]

Two people sat on the couch, a boy and a girl, engrossed in the movie playing on the television. They leaned back, their bodies relaxed against the cushions, as their eyes remained fixed on the screen. The girl, her face illuminated by the flickering light, occasionally laughed at the comedic moments, her hand unknowingly reaching out to lightly touch the boy's arm beside her. The boy smiled, his gaze alternating between the movie and the person beside him, appreciating her infectious joy. Their bodies remained still, except for the occasional shifting to find a more comfortable position. While focused on the movie, the doorbell was suddenly rung, snapping them out of their world.

"Hey, are you expecting someone?", Alex asked.

"No", Zephyr answered, "At least, I don't think I am". Getting up, he made his way to the door, stating, "Let me go check who it is". Reaching the door, Zephyr swiftly opened it, and found himself looking at Manny, who looked depressed, "Hey Manny, what are you doing here?"

"Mom and Jay are out on a date so I came here because I have nowhere else to be", Manny responded.

"That's nice", Zephyr replied with a somewhat strained smile, "You look sad. Why don't you come in and tell us what's wrong?".

Opening the door wider, Zephyr moved slightly to the side, letting Manny enter the room, who paused as soon as Zephyr closed the door and asked, "Us?"

"Yeah", a voice replied from the living room.

"Alex is here with me", Zephyr clarified, "Bella is here as well, but she's out in the garden".

"Whoa", Manny muttered, "I didn't think Claire would allow you and Alex to be by yourselves in a house while unsupervised".

"She didn't exactly agree", Zephyr argued, "But she didn't disagree either".

Manny nodded as he followed Zephyr who led him into the living room where he saw Alex sitting on a couch. "Hey Alex", he greeted.

"Hey Manny", Alex replied, "How are you?".

"Loveless", Manny dejectedly replied.

"Bad Valentine's Day?", Alex asked.

"I went for gold, Fiona Gunderson", Manny said, taking out a juice bottle, opening it and pouring it into a glass chalice, "I poured my heart and soul into a poem and left it on her desk. I even burnt the edges to make it look fancy".

"And she didn't like it?", Zephyr questioned.

"Oh, she loved it", Manny replied, taking a sip of his juice, "But this kid, Durkas, told her he wrote it".

"Why didn't you just tell her you wrote it?", Alex asked.

"She was already gone", Manny responded, walking over and sitting on the couch opposite Alex, "And now they're on a date at my favourite restaurant, Great Shakes".

"And how do you know that?", Zephyr asked, sitting down next to Alex, both of them engrossed by the details.

"I invited her in my poem", Manny remarked, "Right after 'My love is deeper than the Great Lakes'".

"That's sad", Zephyr commented.

Alex nodded at his words, causing Manny to look at them questioningly, "That's it? You're not going to encourage me to chase after her?"

"Why would we?", Alex questioned.

"Yeah", Zephyr added, "This isn't some fairy tale where the guy always gets the girl".

"I have to agree with Zephyr on that", Alex supported.

"Ugh", Manny mumbled, "This universe is cold, cruel and heartless".

"I get that It's Valentine's and all", Alex said, "But there's no need to act so dramatically".

"Yeah", Zephyr nodded, "It's clear this kid Durkas also likes this Fiona, so you going over there might make things worse".

Hearing his words, Alex muttered, "Of course when it's someone random you know if they like you".

"Did you say something?", Zephyr asked, hearing Alex mumble something.

"No", Alex replied while shaking her head. Zephyr looked at her, confused for a second but nodded his head. Turning to look at Manny, Alex continued, "In the few years I've known you Manny, I have seen you fall in love with over 10 girls this year alone, so I think it'd be in your best interest to slow down a bit".

Manny, shocked by the revelation, looked at Alex accusingly, "How can you be so callous and say that to poor me".

"As much as I hate to say it", Zephyr interveened, "You do tend to fall for someone rather easily".

"Not you too Zephyr", Manny muttered in betrayal, "I thought we were bros".

"We are bros", Zephyr retorted, "But as your bro, I've got to be honest and Alex is saying the truth". Seeing Manny's reaction, Zephyr got up and patted Manny on his shoulder, "Why don't you watch the new James Bond movie with us? I'm sure it'll take your mind of things".

Nodding his head, Manny leaned back on the couch looked at the TV which was turned back on. As soon as the movie began, he was immediately engrossed by the movie, not taking his eyes off for even one second. Seeing this, Alex and Zephyr smiled, with Zephyr getting up and preparing a some popcorn for Manny. A few minutes later, Alex and Zephyr joined Manny and became abosribed by the movie.

[With Matt and Desiree]

"Do you think Zephyr will make a move on Alex?", Desiree questioned Matt while taking a sip of her margarita.

"I don't think so", Matt replied, "He'll be too scared of ruining things".

Hearing his answer, Desiree sighed, "He reminds me of someone I know".

"Ooooh. Who?", Matt asked, "Is it Jeremy, but I thought he asked out Kayla".

Smacking him on the back of his head, Desiree replied, "I meant you".

"Hey!", Matt complained, "I was nothing like Zephyr".

Desiree scoffed, "As if. You only asked me out after I gave you hints a blind person would've picked up", she said, causing Matt to groan. Seeing this, she smiled and whispered into his ear, "You know, you can choose to continue this or join me in the room". Saying that she walked away, with Matt's eyes following her.

Grabbing his glass, he quickly down the rest of his martini and followed after her. On the way, he pumped his fist and muttered, "Yes. Matt's getting laid today".