Getting Lucky on Valentine's Day

It was Valentine's Day. Time, once again, to watch the happy couples skipping hand-in-hand on my college campus without a care in the world. They are always so Disney. I could almost see flowers growing where they step and birds singing songs and flying by just to highlight their already perfect moods. Each year it's like this, and each year I loathe them.

Since starting school, I've been too busy to make the time for such nonsense. I'm an honors chemistry major, so I must keep my mind focused and my real goals in view at all time. No time for love, and if it makes you act like the world is all rainbows and butterflies, I don't want any part of it anyway. I'm much too serious of a person to be behaving so foolishly.

I know what you're thinking. "Who am I trying to convince", right? Well, I can honestly say that I have no need for romance, and if you don't believe me, I don't care!

Oh, who am I kidding?

Secretly, I envy them. I've had bad luck in past relationships that resulted in a lot more stress and tears than I'd imagined possible. Sure, high school relationships aren't the same as adult ones, but they left me afraid of romance nonetheless. Add to this the fact that I'm also quite unlucky in other aspects of my life, and you'd understand my reluctance.

I do have a crush, though. There is this guy who works at the hotel with me. Well, not exactly WITH me. He works the front desk after my shift is over, so I see him only in passing. I've never actually had a conversation with him though he always greets me pleasantly. I try to think of something to say back that is more than "uhh, hi", but I always end up leaving work scolding myself for not saying the witty things I later think up after I've already missed my chance. He goes to school here, too, but when I see him around, I avoid him because I'm so afraid of looking stupid. I think, if there were any guy I'd want to sweep me off my feet, it would be him.

Speaking about looking stupid and getting swept off my feet, I just stepped into this hole in the grass and fell. Yes, I am currently on my butt on the wet lawn with my books and papers scattered all around me. I guess instead of watching the campus's lovebirds, I should have been paying attention to where I was going. Such is my luck.

I'm not getting up yet. I know there is going to be a wet grass stain on my pants and I was supposed to meet a friend in a few minutes and go to the library. I think those slight annoyances and the dateless on Valentine's Day thing nearly broke me, because I'm sitting on the grass with tears welling up in my eyes. I know I need to pick up and move on, but I just can't bring myself to do it.

I notice a clover bed near my shoe and I'm instantly reminded of my terrible luck. I don't know why, but I start to search for a four-leaf-clover. Juvenile as it may be, I feel compelled to look, desperate for any sign of hope for a turn-around. As expected, I find nothing. I never found one as a child either. But wait, maybe if I look in that place I skipped...

I FOUND ONE!

Wow, this is a bit exciting, though I'm not sure why. Everyone knows that with so many clovers growing in one spot, there are bound to be mutations, but hey, it's...

"Oh, awesome. You found a four-leaf-clover. That's good luck, you know" says a voice behind me.

I immediately recognize it and tense up. It's him! I have to speak. What do I say? What do I say?!

"Umm, yeah. I know" UGH! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

"Oh, of course you do. Haha, sorry, stupid thing for me to say. Do you need some help?"

"Uh, no. I'm okay." I say and get up.

"Oh, that's quite a stain on your pants!" he says and begins to help me gather my papers.

I blush. "Yeah."

"Listen, I'm parked close by. I could run you home so you could change if you want. "

"Yeah," I begin. "I mean, yes, thank you; that would be perfect."

"Okay, follow me. I'll carry your books so you won't ruin your lucky clover. By the way, do you have any big Valentine's Day plans?"

"No. No, I don't"

"Awesome! Would you like to do something some time."

I look down at my lucky clover and then back up. "Yes, I'd love to."

Maybe my luck is changing!