He'd kissed her on Monday. She woke up Tuesday, and didn't wear her hair in a ponytail. She let the straight brown locks fall in a shiny pattern down her back. On Wedsnesday, she'd worn make up. On Thursday, she'd worn make up, curled her hair a bit, and worn a shorter skirt. On Friday, she looked more girly than she had in her entire life. She hadn't worn a sports bra, but a regular bra that seemed to compliment her figure miraculously well. Although she seemed to have a natural beauty, she looked rather stunning when she was all made up. And valentine's was that weekend. Never in a million years did she think she'd be headed to Madam Puddifoot's, her hand locked in Fabian Prewett's, on Valentine's day.

And even if she had imagined it in her head once or twice, never had she pictured herself in the low cut white shirt and red skirt she was currently sporting. Never had she pictured her make up done just right, or her hair just perfectly pinned. She looked really pretty, but she also looked really different. Underneath it all, she was of course, still Marni. Still the same step-on-any-toes kind of girl she'd always been. But she'd gone through some radical changes that were turning quite a few heads. She wasn't sure why she'd done it really, Fabi had kissed her when she was just being her. Maybe it was her competitive nature, her need to do whatever she had to do to keep Fabian away from other girls now.

As they entered Madam Puddifoots, him kissing her hand, she was in awe. Never had she seen so much of the color pink in one place. "Oh Merlin," she said looking around the room. Pink everywhere. Pink here, pink there. Pink pink pink PINK. Pink. It was a never ending swirl of pink.

He'd helped her with her chair and Marni sat. Being with Fabian made her feel like a princess. Marni had always despised the idea of princesses and prince charming, but now with all the mush inherent in girls she delighted in it, albeit personally and never aloud.

"Probably a good thing I didn't wear my pink robes."

Marni quirked a brow. "You have pink dress robes." she said. It was a statement more than anything else. Just as though she were summing this up in her mind.

"You'd probably not be able to find me in here."

Marni laughed, "No, most likely not."

She paused for a minute, reaching for his hand across the table. She was all smiles as she spoke, "I've never been taken anywhere for Valentine's day before. Thank you," she said and leaned forward and kissed his cheek. It had only been a week but she thought she could feel it coming over her. Even later when the tears were bound to fall she'd consider Fabian Prewett her first love.


i'll be sure to stay wary of you
love to save the pain of once my flame and twice my burn