I start to play with shaking fingers, and, surprisingly, I don’t pass out from fear. It helps that it’s an easy song, like I said. Just something I composed a couple of weeks ago, when none of the songs in my repertoire seemed to really capture my feelings. This tune is all Rose. It’s about how much better euphoria feels after you’ve been living your personal hell. How beautiful it is to kiss someone for the first time, and how much more beautiful it is to kiss them when you thought you never would again. How it feels to find someone who makes you into a version of yourself you want to be forever.

At first, it was only going to be for my ears. But then when I was trying to figure out what, exactly, I was going to give Rose for Valentine’s Day with a budget of zero, I thought of this. And I don’t know, maybe it’s cringey, or not enough. It obviously can’t measure up against a brand-new pair of leather skates. But it’s all I’ve got to give.

Then I dare to look out at the crowd, just for a second. I thought I would feel terrified, but no one’s laughing. No one.

I find Rose, who’s watching me with a hand over her mouth. I can tell she’s smiling behind it. As wide as she possibly can. And Molly—the only other person in the room who has any idea what’s happening right now—is watching Rose smile at me.

To anyone else, it probably just looks like Rose is proud of me for getting up here. Part of me knows that, even though another part of me can’t believe that anyone else can hear this song and not know all of my most personal feelings. It feels like I’m standing in the middle of the dining hall, screaming at the top of my lungs that Rose and I are together, and I’m falling for her harder than anyone I’ve ever met before.

It’s the closest I’ll ever come to doing just that, I guess.

And I’m so glad I did it. Because Rose’s face tells me she doesn’t find it cringey or not enough at all. I’ve never actually seen her look exactly like this.

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anybody look at someone the way Rose is looking at me right now.

Later that night, when I’m already in my pajamas, there’s a knock on my door. I’m hoping it’s Rose before I open it, and when I see her on the other side, I can’t help smiling. That is, until I notice the wild look on her face, and how out of breath she is.