An Unconventional Valentine's Day

Sierra Walls looked up at the clock above her cubicle. Unfortunately it was only 2 p.m. That meant she still had three more hours of work before she could go home and get ready for tonight.

She looked at the photo on her desk, it was of her and her boyfriend of over a year Drew Roy. They had been set up by mutual friends, and had gone on what was essentially a blind date to an Italian restaurant. Sierra wasn't a huge fan of Italian food, but her friend told her that Drew loved it, so she figured she'd make a good first impression on him.

Sierra had hoped that night that Drew was impressed, because it took everything she had not to fall madly in love with him before their main courses arrived. He was smart, funny, articulate and motivated, extremely motivated. And he was probably the sexiest man she had ever seen sit across from her. Maybe it was because she loved his personality, he sarcastically funny, just like she was, but whatever it was, she knew she was going to be crazy about him.

So many people claim to have had a whirlwind romance, but Sierra and Drew definitely had one. That first night they took a long walk around the park, and she found out that he was also the perfect gentleman as well. He offered to drive, and opened and closed her car door for her. He also gave her his jacket when it got cooler. She didn't want that night to end.

But the spark that she felt that night continued to grow over the next several days and weeks, as she and Drew kept seeing more and more of each other. On the nights they stayed in the city, they always finished their evening with a walk through that same park from the first date. She loved that.

Drew worked as an assistant manager at a local pharmacy store. It wasn't a dream job by any means, but he was finishing up his online bachelor's degree so he could do bigger and better things. He wanted to become a sports agent. He was only 25, so he had plenty of time to achieve his dream.

She never complained about his job. Sierra knew that he was positioning himself to do something great with his future. Besides, she worked customer service for the local cable company, a job she dreaded going to every day.

But the best thing about Drew, was that she trusted him completely. She could confide in him almost instantly, and she never worried that he would hold anything against her or ever be disappointed in her. He supported her, and encouraged her to do something different, something she was passionate about.

The cable company job was just to make ends meet. Sierra had always wanted to be a chef, and recently she decided to go to culinary school. She credited Drew for pushing her to go, but she knew that it was something she had always wanted to do.

"Day dreaming again?" A voice called out from an adjoining cubicle.

Sierra looked up and saw her co-worker Dana Johnson poking her head over the cubicle wall. Sierra and Dana had worked together for nearly three years and were very good friends. Dana had listened to everything Sierra had to say about Drew and about life, while Sierra had listened and offered advice when Dana suffered through a string of failed relationships.

"I'm just thinking about tonight with Drew," Sierra said. "We have the evening planned and I don't intend to let anything get in the way of it."

It had been several months since Sierra had seen Drew in person. Work kept him busy and had somewhat pulled him away, but they always talked on the phone every day, and they constantly sent text messages in the morning and at night.

"Are you nervous to see Drew?" Dana asked.

"Not nervous," Sierra said. "I just want everything to be perfect tonight. I want this Valentine's Day to be great for both of us. I think we need it."

"What you guys are doing can't be easy. It's been months since you've seen him hasn't it?" Dana asked.

"Yes, but we talk all the time," Sierra replied.

"You don't think he could've found someone else in this time do you?" Dana said. "I mean, when the cat's away the mouse will play right?"

"Not Drew, it's not his style," Sierra said. "I trust him so much, and I know he would never break my heart like that."

"So you haven't been talking to any of the guys around here who are after you?" Dana said.

"If I had, you would've been the first to know," Sierra told her with a smile.

Just then their boss, Danny Wilson, came around and they returned to work. Sierra had trouble focusing, but she got through the next three hours, even though her evening with Drew was the only thing on her mind.

Drew Roy was in the back of the store checking the day's shipment. It was a routine job, and one that he wasn't in the mood for today. He missed Sierra. It had been too long since he had seen here, and even though they had been talking on the phone every minute they got it wasn't the same as seeing her in person.

He missed Sierra's gentle touch. He remembered their first date, and he remembered reaching for her hand when they walked through the park. When he held it, a tingle went through his body. That tingle hadn't gone away in over a year. He loved her touch, he loved holding her and kissing her was just about the greatest thing on Earth.

But he had let his work come between him and his relationship with Sierra, and he wasn't totally happy about it. However, he couldn't let this job go to waste. He had an offer to become an assistant manager, and got a raise to $32,000 a year. He needed the money to afford taking the online classes for his business management degree. Once he had his degree, he had an offer from an old friend to join his sports management company. It was an entry level position, but one that started at $50,000 a year.

Unfortunately that meant little time between he and Sierra over the last six months. Their relationship had almost gotten started when he got the offer, but they had stuck together. He loved that Sierra didn't get upset over him having to work, and she didn't get upset when he couldn't see her on a regular basis. Instead, she made sure they talked together every night for hours, and she sent him a good morning text when she woke up every morning.

"Are you going to get those boxes unpacked so we can restock the store?" a voice said behind him.

Drew turned and saw the store manager, Kim Langdon, standing with one hand on her hip. They had been working together since Drew started at the store, and he sensed that Kim really liked him. He had always made sure to avoid getting in any potentially compromising position with her, and she was always very nice and never made anything obvious, but Drew always felt a little uneasy.

"Sorry," Drew said. "Just got caught up in my thoughts."

"I'm sure since it's Valentine's Day you have plans with Sierra tonight," Kim asked.

"We do have plans," Drew said with a smile. "I think it's going to be a great night. I'm even surprising her with flowers. She wouldn't expect it in a million years."

"Sierra is a lucky girl Drew," Kim said. "Most guys in your situation would have trouble being faithful if they saw their girlfriend as infrequent as you do."

"I know," Drew said. "But what keeps me going is knowing what kind of connection Sierra and I have, and that she would never be unfaithful to me."

"Like I said," Kim said with a smile, "She's a lucky girl."

They left their conversation at that, and Drew returned to unpacking the shipment. It was 3 p.m., another two hours and he could leave to get things set up for tonight.

As soon as she saw the clock strike 5 p.m., Sierra raced out of the office as fast as she good. Her date with Drew was at 8 p.m., and she still needed to shower, dress and do her makeup. She had no idea what outfit she wanted to wear, but she wanted it to be something that would make Drew's eyes pop out of his head.

Sierra navigated her way through the rush hour traffic and got home at 5:30 p.m. Her cats greated her as she entered her one bedroom, one bathroom apartment. It was somewhat small, but it was all Sierra really needed at this point. Besides, the bedroom was big enough for Drew to be able to spend the night when he could, and it had a nice large living room.

After setting her purse on the kitchen counter and putting down fresh food for the cats, Sierra got in the shower. She always took long showers, even when she was in a hurry. It was a pet peeve she shared with Drew, which was why showering together was so much better for them.

Sierra stepped out of the shower and heard her cell phone buzz. She wrapped a towel around her and went to see who it was. It was a text message from Drew.

"Hey beautiful, I'm home from work now, can't wait to see you at 8, I love you!"

Sierra smiled, he was the perfect guy for her, she was sure of it.

She turned to head back into the bathroom when her phone went off. The caller ID said it was Stacy, Sierra's best friend since high school.

"Hello," Sierra said.

"So are you completely psyched for your Valentine's Day?" Stacy asked.

"More than I have ever been psyched about anything before," Sierra replied.

"I hope it goes great for you," Stacy said. "I wonder if Drew got you anything."

"I told him I wasn't expecting anything," Sierra said. "I just want tonight to be about us."

"If he is the guy you keep telling me he is, he will surprise you with something, count on it," Stacy said.

"Well if I don't get ready in time I won't even have a date," Sierra said. "I've gotta go."

"Alright, good luck, tell me all the juicy details later!" Stacy said.

Sierra hung up and smiled. She wondered if Stacy was right, that Drew would get her some kind of surprise.

Drew was ready to leave work at 5 p.m., but the sales associate that was supposed to start then was running late, and the associate that was due off had to leave. So that left Drew picking up the slack until the other associate arrived.

He kept checking his watch. Time seemed to slow down, as only a few minutes had passed each time he looked at his watch. Thankfully he only lived 10 minutes from the store, otherwise he might not be ready for Sierra, and he didn't want to disappoint her on Valentine's Day.

Finally at 5:45 p.m. the other associate arrived. Drew grabbed his jacket from the manager's office, and practically ran out the door.

Once he got home he sent Sierra a text message telling her he was home and he couldn't wait for tonight. She didn't text back, but that wasn't unexpected. If he knew Sierra as well as he thought he did, she was running around like crazy trying to get ready and her friend Stacy probably called to see if she was OK with tonight.

Drew lived in a townhouse with his best friend Luke Burke, who was already home from his telemarketing job. Between the two of them, they got a great deal on the townhouse. And the two levels and three bedrooms allowed them to have a lot of privacy.

"So, I assume tonight I shouldn't knock on your bedroom door at all?" Luke said with a smile.

"Only if the house is on fire," Drew replied.

"Are you sure Sierra is going to be OK with this night?" Luke asked.

"She will be once she sees the effort I put into things," Drew said. "One thing about Sierra is that she will never be mad if you at least try. I'm definitely trying my hardest."

"I hope it goes great for you man," Luke said. "You and Sierra deserve each other, and you deserve an amazing night."

"Thanks, I think it'll go great," Drew said. "I just hope my surprise comes through."

"Think positive thoughts," Luke said. "Everything will be fine."

"Thanks, I appreciate the support," Drew said. "Now I need to get upstairs so I can look good for the love of my life."

Drew raced upstairs and got in the shower. He wondered how nervous Sierra was, because he was getting really nervous. Today might be just Valentine's Day for others, but he believed it was an incredibly important day for his relationship with Sierra.

Finally dressed, with her makeup on and her bedroom cleaned up, Sierra was ready for Drew. She looked at her watch, it was 7:45 p.m., she had 15 minutes to wait.

Drew was always punctual, another thing she liked about him. She knew he would be ready at 8 p.m. She couldn't wait to see him.

Drew was dressed and thought he was ready for Sierra. The decorations in the room were set up and he hoped they looked nice. He also had candles around, Sierra loved candles.

It was 7:50 p.m., he had 10 minutes to wait. They had made a promise that it would be right at 8 p.m., not a minute earlier or later. That was because their first date had occurred at 8 p.m., and they liked to think of that as their lucky hour.

The butterflies churned in Drew's stomach. He couldn't believe he was so nervous. He couldn't wait for the clock to strike 8 p.m.

Sierra was ready, it was 7:59 p.m., just one more minute and she could be with the one person she believed was her soul mate.

As the clock struck 8 p.m., both Sierra and Drew sat down in front of their computers and logged in to Skype. It was the only way they could be together for Valentine's Day this year, as Drew's job forced him to move five hours away from Sierra. And since Valentine's Day was on a Tuesday this year, he couldn't come spend the night with her.

As their webcams connected, Sierra and Drew saw each other with huge smiles on their faces.

"Hey beautiful, you are a sight for sore eyes," Drew said.

"You always knew how to butter me up," Sierra said, the smile not fading from her face.

"I see you got your new webcam to work without any problems," Drew said.

"Yup, it installed easy just like you said it would," Sierra told him.

"How was work?" Drew asked.

"Same old, same old," Sierra said. "Dana says hi by the way."

"Tell her I said hi when you see her tomorrow," Drew said. "I assume Stacy has already called you tonight?"

"She sure did, she hoped our night would be great," Sierra replied.

"Luke said the same thing," Drew said.

"So what do you think, is this the start of a great night?" Sierra said.

"I don't know beautiful, why don't you tell me after you answer the door," Drew said.

"What do you mean?" Sierra asked. Just as she finished her question her doorbell rang.

It was after 8 p.m., Sierra wasn't expecting any visitors.

She opened the door and was shocked to see a flower delivery man holding a bouquet of red roses.

"Are you Sierra Walls?" the deliveryman asked.

"Yes I am," she said, still shocked.

"The man who sent these to you must truly be in love," the deliveryman said. "We charge and arm and a leg for after hour deliveries."

"I know he is in love," Sierra said with a smile, "But I'm the lucky one."

She signed for the roses and thanked the deliveryman. She closed and locked the door and returned to her bedroom with the roses firmly in hand.

"You are the most amazing boyfriend a girl could ask for," Sierra told Drew as she sat down at the computer.

"No, I'm just the one guy in this world who deserves a girl like you," Drew replied.

"I can't believe you did this," Sierra told him.

"I'd do anything for you," Drew said. "I love you with all of my heart, and I hate that we can't be together tonight."

"It's OK, it's just a silly holiday," Sierra said.

"It's not silly to me, not at all," Drew told her. "I never want to be without you, and even though we are apart right now, I want you to know that you are my present, my future and my everything."

"I love you so much," Sierra said.

"I'm sorry this night isn't what you'd have wanted or expected, but I figured this was better than nothing," Drew said.

"Baby, this night is more than I could've ever asked for," Sierra said.

"I just wanted each Valentine's Day we had together to be the best you've ever had," Drew said.

"I don't know if this is my best Valentine's Day ever," Sierra said. "But it is one I will never forget as long as I live."

For the next four hours, Sierra and Drew kept talking on Skype, taking brief breaks for food. But until the clock struck midnight, the star-crossed lovers had their Valentine's Day together. It might've been a little unconventional, but on this night, it was exactly what they needed.