Valentine's Day

Jamie looked at the small red card in his hands. His heart beat so fast it felt like it might jump out of his chest. Was this a mistake? After everything that had happened, was it crazy to be thinking about Valentine's Day?

It had been three weeks since the killing at the bridge. Detective Rivera had found Ms. Chen bleeding but living. She was in the hospital now, with police guards outside her door. The doctors said she couldn't have guests yet.

The shooter had fled without a trace. Just like Mrs. Garcia, who was still missing. No one had attacked Jamie or Elliot since that day, but the danger hung over them like a dark cloud: Time's up. The real game starts tomorrow. Only one of you will live.

But tomorrow had come and gone. And the next day. And the next. Nothing happened. It was like the person frightening them had suddenly changed their mind. Or was just waiting for the right moment to strike.

"You're going to be late," Jamie's mom called from downstairs. "Hurry up!"

Jamie tucked the Valentine's card into his bag, next to the small box of chocolates he'd bought. He'd spent three days drawing the perfect heart on the card. Inside, he'd written the words he'd been too scared to say out loud: Will you be my Valentine?

At school, the halls were decked with paper hearts and pink streamers. Kids traded cards and candy between classes. It all seemed so normal, so safe. As if there wasn't a dangerous secret still unsolved.

Jamie didn't see Elliot all morning. They had different classes before lunch. That was good. It gave him time to leave his surprise.

Between classes, Jamie rushed to Elliot's locker. He looked around to make sure no one was watching, then quickly slipped the card and chocolates through the vent slots at the top of the locker door. His hands shook the whole time.

"What are you doing?"

Jamie jumped and spun around. It was Ryan, standing a few feet away. His face didn't look mean like before. Just curious.

"Nothing," Jamie said quickly.

Ryan nodded toward the locker. "Leaving something for Elliot?"

Jamie felt his face get hot. "Maybe."

He expected Ryan to laugh or make fun of him. Instead, Ryan just nodded. "Cool. I left something for Megan."

"You did?" Jamie couldn't hide his surprise.

"Yeah. I've been seeing a therapist. She's helping me figure some stuff out." Ryan looked down at his shoes. "I was a jerk to you guys. And to Megan. I'm trying to be better."

Before Jamie could reply, the bell rang.

"See you around," Ryan said, going to class.

Jamie stood there for a moment, stunned. Was Ryan actually changing? Or was this some kind of trick?

In photography class, Jamie couldn't focus. Ms. Chen's substitute teacher, Mr. Diaz, talked about lighting techniques, but Jamie kept thinking about Elliot finding his card. Would they like it? Or would they think it was silly after everything they'd been through?

After class, Mr. Diaz asked Jamie to stay behind.

"I found this in Ms. Chen's desk," he said, giving Jamie a sealed envelope. "It has your name on it."

Jamie's heart skipped. The envelope was small and white, with "For Jamie - Open on Valentine's Day" written on the front in Ms. Chen's neat handwriting.

"Thanks," Jamie said, putting it into his pocket. He would open it later, when he was alone.

At lunch, Jamie couldn't eat. He kept watching the diner door, waiting for Elliot. When they finally walked in, Jamie's mouth went dry. Had they found the card yet?

Elliot spotted him and walked over, face unreadable. They sat down across from him.

"Hi," Jamie said, his voice cracking.

"Hi," Elliot answered. Their face broke into a smile. "I got your Valentine."

"Oh. Good."

"Is that all you have to say?" Elliot teased.

Jamie's face felt hot again. "Did you... like it?"

Instead of replying, Elliot reached into their backpack and pulled out a small blue card. They slid it across the table to Jamie.

"I made you one too," they said. "But I was too nervous to give it to you. I've been carrying it around for three days."

Jamie opened the card. Inside was a beautiful picture of two people holding hands under a star-filled sky. Written below: The stars led me to you. Will YOU be MY Valentine?

Jamie looked up, smiling so big his face hurt. "So we both had the same idea?"

"Looks like it," Elliot said, smiling back.

"And your answer is...?"

"Yes," Elliot said. "Of course it's yes."

After school, Elliot had art club. Jamie walked them to the art room, feeling happy than he had in weeks.

"I'll wait for you," Jamie said. "We can walk home together."

"It's an hour and a half," Elliot told him.

"I know. I'll work on homework in the library. Text me when you're done."

As Elliot went into the art room, Jamie remembered the package from Ms. Chen. He found a quiet spot in the library and carefully opened it.

Inside was a single piece of paper with a short note:

Jamie,

If you're reading this, something has happened to me. I left this note in case I couldn't tell you in person.

The treasure is real. It's hidden where the old school base meets the new. But it's not what Mark and Thomas thought it was. It's much more dangerous.

Watch out for the one who smiles. Trust only your heart.

\-RC

Jamie read the message three times. What did it mean? The old school foundation? And who was "the one who smiles"?

He tucked the note into his pocket just as his phone buzzed with a text from Elliot:

Art club canceled. Ms. Diaz sick. Meet me behind gym?

Jamie texted back: On my way.

He hurried through the empty halls to the gym. School was mostly empty now, with just a few clubs still meeting. Outside behind the gym, the winter air was cold and crisp. The sun was already setting, creating long shadows across the snow.

"Elliot?" Jamie called, looking around. No one was there.

His phone buzzed again:

Sorry, running late. Wait for me? 5 min.

Jamie sat on a bench to wait. The wind picked up, making him shiver. He thought about Ms. Chen's note. The old school base... Part of the school had been built in the 1950s, and then they added a new wing in the 1990s. Maybe that's where they should look.

A sound made him turn. Footsteps crunching on snow.

"Elliot?" he called again.

But it wasn't Elliot who stepped around the corner of the gym. It was Principal Garcia.

"Jamie," he said with a smile. "What are you doing out here all alone?"

Jamie stood up quickly. "Waiting for Elliot, sir."

Principal Garcia's smile widened. "Elliot texted you to meet here?"

"Yes."

"May I see your phone, please?"

Something in the principal's voice made Jamie's skin crawl. He took a step back.

"I need to go," Jamie said.

"No," Garcia said, his smile never breaking. "I think you need to stay."

He pulled something from his coat pocket. A gun.

"You've been quite a problem, Jamie," Garcia said, still smiling. "You and your friend. Always getting too close."

Jamie's mind raced. Ms. Chen's warning repeated in his head: Watch out for the one who smiles.

"Where's Elliot?" Jamie asked.

"Don't worry about Elliot," Garcia said. "Worry about yourself."

He raised the gun. But before he could pull the gun, someone tackled him from behind. The gun flew from his hand and fell in the snow.

It was Ryan.

"Run!" Ryan shouted at Jamie. "Get help!"

Jamie dove for the gun as Garcia and Ryan fought on the ground. He grabbed it, his hands shaking. He had never held a gun before.

"Give me that," Garcia growled, throwing Ryan off and getting to his feet.

"Stay back!" Jamie warned, pointing the gun at Garcia.

Garcia laughed. "You won't shoot me."

"Where's Elliot?" Jamie asked again.

"Probably still in art club," Garcia said. "That text wasn't from them. It was from me. I took your friend's phone weeks ago and created a fake number in your contacts. I've been texting you as Elliot whenever I needed to."

Jamie's blood ran cold. If Garcia had been claiming to be Elliot in texts...

"Which texts were really from you?" he asked.

Garcia smiled that terrible smile. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

He lunged forward. Without thinking, Jamie pulled the gun.

The gun clicked. Empty.

Garcia's smile grew bigger. "Did you think I'd leave a loaded gun in the snow?"

He reached into his other pocket and pulled out another gun. "This one, however..."

A rock hit Garcia in the head, making him fall. Ryan had thrown it.

"I said RUN!" Ryan shouted.

This time, Jamie ran. He raced around the gym, hearing Garcia curse behind him. A shot rang out. Ryan screamed.

Jamie ran faster than he ever had in his life. He had to find Elliot. Had to warn them.

He burst through the school's side door, running toward the art room. As he turned the corner, he collided with someone.

Elliot.

"Jamie? What's wrong?" they asked, seeing his face.

"Garcia," Jamie gasped. "He has a gun. He shot Ryan. We have to get out of here."

Elliot's eyes widened. "Ryan? Is he..."

"I don't know. We need to call the police."

They rushed to the nearest classroom and locked the door behind them. Jamie called 911 with shaking hands.

As they waited for help to come, huddled together in the dark classroom, Elliot whispered, "Some Valentine's Day, huh?"

Jamie squeezed their hand. "At least we're together."

His phone buzzed. A quote from "Elliot":

Found you. Don't worry about Ryan. Worry about what's behind that door.

They both froze, looking at the closed classroom door. And then, slowly, the handle began to turn.