It's finally almost Valentine's Day. I've never had a valentine before, I know, sad. But, I'm worried as always. Connor's been feeling sick to his stomach lately and I haven't been able to see him. So, here I am sitting alone on a new bench across the street from our houses.

"Hey," I hear a familiar voice. My gaze shifts from my toes to the toes of combat boots in front of me. My eyes swim over Connor's body until they land on his face. I grin.

"Hi!" I say, smiling into his lips. He giggles and wraps his arms around my waist. He kisses me then stares into my eyes. I bring my gaze up to his blue-brown eyes, asking without words what he needs to tell me.

"I have exciting news," my boyfriend smiles.

"What is it?" I ask, grinning, fumbling our fingers around each other.

"I'm starting testosterone in a few months!" Connor tells me. And my chest fills with joy.

"That's amazing!!" I say, hugging him, and pressing my face into his shoulder.

"And one more thing," he says, nuzzling into my hair. "I'm getting top surgery after that, in about a year."

"Connor!!" I laugh. "That's so great!"

/ it's valentine's day woop /

We leave our bags in our lockers, and I follow him outside after school ends. He starts to run, and I hear him calling, "Follow me."

I run and grab his hand, he slows down and looks back at me grinning. We continue walking for what feels like hours, but in a good way, a peaceful way, an in-love way.

"We're almost there," Connor smiles. About five minutes later he continues, "Okay, Evan, close your eyes and get on my back."

"What?!" I say.

"I'm going to piggy back you the rest of the way," Connor says. I get on his back and close my eyes. "Jeez, you're really light," he says making me chuckle. He starts to run, and I wrap my arms around his shoulders tighter, my grin wide and laughs vibrant. The wind blows my hair away from my forehead and I feel like I'm at the top of a tree. Except the tree is moving and a human that I love.

My eyes are still shut when he slows to a stop. Connor spins around and helps me off of his back. "Open your eyes," he laughs. My eyes open and I'm blinded by the sunlight.

I turn around and we're at the orchard. Connor starts jogging towards the tallest tree and I follow.

There we go wondering how the world might look from up so high.

He grabs onto the lowest branch and hoists himself up, he reaches his hand down towards mine and I use it to help me pull myself up into the tree as well.

One foot after the other, one branch then to another. I climb higher and higher, I climb till the entire sun shines on my face.

"Hi," he grins, as we reach the final sturdy branches, where a picnic basket waits.

"You planned all of this?!" I laugh, looking around excitedly. My laughing is paused when Connor leans over and attaches his lips to mine. My branch is lower and sturdier than his, so he climbs down and our legs overlap. He moves his body closer to mine, pushing me against the tree as we start to kiss more forcefully. The basket falls but we don't care. We just care about each other and our love. I love you, Connor, so much.

~

That night I'm wrapped around Connor in my bed, drawing swirls with my finger over his back. He shivers and pulls the blanket tighter over his chest. I adjust so my arms are hanging over his waist, my fingers under the waistband of his boxers. Connor starts to quietly snore again, and I whisper in his ear.

"I love you more than I've loved anyone, Connor Murphy."

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ok whoops i haven't updated in forever which is proven by me trying to post this chapter on valentine's day but i hadn't finished yet. so here's this now. sorryyy i would say i'll upload more but whoops i know myself too well. ily all ❣️