Star Crossed

         The little velvet box held a necklace, a delicate chain with a pendant shaped like a clover.  It looked pretty in the store but now Evan was starting to wonder.  Would she really like it?  She had a lot of pretty things. 

         The clover necklace was all he could afford.  He just wanted to give her something nice.  Would she like it?

         He had admired Rachel since the first day of school.  They talked but up to now mostly about school.   

The Valentine had a red envelope.  He hadn’t sealed it yet because he was unsure what to write inside.  How much of his feeling for her should he express?  Should he just sign his name?  Was it even a good choice of a card for her?  Would she laugh at him?

         Now he was wondering whether he should even give it to her.  What was he thinking anyway? 

         Once he handed it to her there would be no going back.  She would know he liked her, and if her response was rejection then he would know, but did he want to know?

         He made a decision.  He put the box back into his locker.  He would return the clover necklace to the store.  It was a crazy idea to give Rachel a gift and a Valentine!  He dropped the red envelope into the trash barrel.

         Rachel got several Valentines that day, but none from Evan.  Why didn’t Evan send her one?  Was he shy or did he just not like her?  Should she speak up and let him know how much she liked him?  She put the Valentines she did receive into her back pack and sighed.  She had hoped there would be one from Evan. “I guess he doesn’t like me after all.”