"Now, if you're planning on being my girlfriend," he continued, "then you're certainly not buying yourself a thing on Valentine's Day."

What makes you think I plan to be your girlfriend? she asked. You havent even asked me yet. Nevertheless, Michelle slipped her money pouch back into her cloak.

She raised an eyebrow when Luke added more toads to the already immense pile. Michelle would always appreciate an unending supply of Peppermint Toads, but she really didnt care to look piggish carrying so many back with her. Her desire not to run out of Toads won out over her sense of propriety, in the end, as she reasoned that she really shared as many as she ate, so it was not so bad as all that.

She gave the shop keeper a cheeky grin and leaned against the counter while the toads were counted. Would you believe, she told the shopkeeper, that this boy has just broken up with me, called me an old hag, asked me for help in finding a new girl, and now hes trying to sneak back into my good graces with Peppermint Toads? She leaned across the counter and spoke in a loud whisper. Between you and me, she said, it just might be working.

With that, she slipped one of the silver toad boxes from the pile and into her pocket, and backed out of the front door, raising her hood over her head and offering Luke a mischievous smile.