Two years had passed since Paul's victory at the talent show. He and Hank were still close with each other. They were now sixteen, and today was the day they were going to take their driver's tests. Hank was chatting with two of his friends as they were getting ready to leave the school. One of them asked him, "What kind of car are you hoping to drive?" He said, "I'm thinking either a sports car or maybe one of those muscle cars like my grandpa used to collect." The second one of his friends said, "That's cool. You'll look so tough in it." Hank smiled. The first friend then asked, "What'll Paul drive, a hippie van?" Hank frowned. His friends still enjoyed making fun of Paul. The second friend said, "I bet he'll drive a pink one, being the sissy that he is." They laughed. Hank said, "Stop that! Paul might not be into sports cars and muscle cars, but that doesn't make him less of a man!" Just then, they saw Paul walking out the door. Hank's first friend said, "There he is. Let's beat him up." Hank said, "If you touch him, I will end you myself!" His friends ran in fear. Hank then went to join Paul and said, "I think I'll sit with you on the ride home." Paul asked, "Are you mad at your friends?" Hank said, "They were making fun of you." Paul said, "I don't care what they think of me." Hank said, "I know, but I wish they'd at least show you respect." Paul said, "Maybe they will someday." Hank said, "I hope so. In the meantime, this is the last time we get to ride the bus with those assholes." Paul said, "That's true." The two brothers enjoyed each other's company as they rode home to prepare for their driver's test.
A few hours later, Una and Everett were comfortably snuggled up together on the couch, sharing the last of Una's chocolates which lay in the open box between them, as the credits rolled on the movie.
"That was so good," murmured Una, her head resting on Everett's shoulder. "You know - I was looking forward to your plans, whatever they were going to be, but I was really hoping we'd be able to watch this."
Everett gave a small laugh and shook his head. "I wish I'd known. I could have saved myself all this trouble."
Una grinned. "This year, our Valentine's Day plans were on me," she said. "Next year I expect it to be your turn."
Everett felt a warm rush at the thought of next year, that Una was so certain they would be celebrating Valentine's Day together next year. But then... of course, Everett though. He wouldn't have considered anything different.
"I love you, Una," he said.
"I love you too, Everett," she said.
"That was so good," murmured Una, her head resting on Everett's shoulder. "You know - I was looking forward to your plans, whatever they were going to be, but I was really hoping we'd be able to watch this."
Everett gave a small laugh and shook his head. "I wish I'd known. I could have saved myself all this trouble."
Una grinned. "This year, our Valentine's Day plans were on me," she said. "Next year I expect it to be your turn."
Everett felt a warm rush at the thought of next year, that Una was so certain they would be celebrating Valentine's Day together next year. But then... of course, Everett though. He wouldn't have considered anything different.
"I love you, Una," he said.
"I love you too, Everett," she said.