I rolled my eyes and sighed.

Belle checked her watch. "You can make it if you run."

I nodded and took off. I knew which classroom Naimh had, but it was all the way across campus. Getting there and back to my own first period would be tight. Unfortunately, I got to the front door of her classroom and she was nowhere in sight. I hunted around, wondering if she had gone looking for ME, and checked my watch. The mental deadline I had in my head for getting back to my first period on time came and went while

I was hunting around, and I sighed in resignation. I was a senior and could afford a tardy once in a while, so I decided to stick around and be in an obvious place by her classroom, and sure enough, with little more than a minute to spare she appeared within view across the hallway.

“Hey, I'm so sorry," I said apologetically as I hurried up to her.

My girlfriend sighed and folded her arms across her chest. Her emerald-green eyes narrowed, and she regarded me coolly.

“I'm happy

Zofi got her special day, but you couldn't find even one minute to call me?"

“I have no excuses."

“You know SHE found time to come visit me. Wanted to make clear that as amazing as it was, she respected that I'm your actual girlfriend. Funny how she apparently knows that better than you do.”

“I know, I know. I'm sorry.”

Naimh rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“She told me about your

Breakfast at Tiffany's/Roman Holiday mash-up. You've never done anything that romantic for ME, you know. We haven't even been on a date since Santa Cruz."

I winced.

“Now that's not entirely my fault. How do we get you un-grounded nights and weekends?"

She sighed. "We don't."

“Well, maybe it's time we told your parents about us and convinced them to let you out."

“What? No way. Telling them I have a boyfriend isn't gonna make them any more Likely to Let me out on weekends or evenings."

“Why is that again?"

“It's a long story and we don't have time.”

“Well until you explain it that's the best I've got. Meantime, we're gonna have to make do with afternoons. Valentine's is almost here, and if an afternoon is all we have together, I'll make it a special afternoon."

Naimh blinked.

“You promise?"

“I love you, Neevie."