From this moment on

 "God, what if we get caught?" Eli fretted. It was the first time Darry ever had a friend to confide in him. Of course, he thought it was kind of lame.

"Relax," he said as he was walking down the stacks of the library trying to nail this Valentine's Day thing, somehow. "It's just violin lessons." He shrugged. "Besides, you're not dating Junie." He turned back to Eli who thought it was all casual with Amy. After all, those two had known each other since elementary school. Maybe even before.

"I don't know," Eli was shaking his head. "What if it all blows up..and..and I don't get to see Amy at all?"

"You should have thought about that before,"  Darry couldn't help to smirk. Besides, Eli was so much more daring than he was. Darry was still at a loss as to what attracted Junie to him. He was sure it would expire by Valentine's Day if he didn't think of something.

He looked at the craft books. Maybe he could make her something. Eli was looking at a book about how to sharpen knives.

"You know, there's a sock hop at their school," Eli said as he flipped through the pages of the old book. 

"Really?" Darry winced.

"Uh-huh," Eli then mentioned it started at two on Valentine's Day, but they would have to skip PE if they wanted to make it.

"But I don't know," Darry winced hard as he shook his head. Junie would just have to settle for a box of chocolates and some three-dollar keychain from DOLLAR GENERAL (Which was just a block behind his house) that she could put on her backpack. Maybe they could go out for Milk tea.

Darry sighed. He wasn't sure who was worse with these dares, Amy or Eli.

"Well, I think a nice steak at our house would be just fine," Alfie didn't mean to invite himself over to Gage's with Zoey, but really he was sure the fire alarm would go off if Zoey did the cooking. It seemed to happen a lot lately, he went on to say to Gage while they were looking at gift cards where Alfie worked at the drug store. 

"Oh, really." Gage looked at him out of the corner of his eye as if that was a no go.

Alfie sighed. "I know. I'm kidding," He shrugged back, only he really wasn't.

"What's up with Zoey?" Gage squinted. He said he thought Alfie's wife was pretty good with lots of different cusines.

"My wife," Alfie smiled proudly as he loved the sound of that.

"Yes, you're wife," Gage chuckled as if it was kind of funny. "Why don't you do the cooking?"

"Me?" Alfie winced hard. He said if he had to cook at his house that would mean just chopping up veg and Nora would do all the cooking. He was certain Gage's pregnant wife needed a night out.

"Precisely," Gage agreed with a nod. 

"It'll be thick as thieves," Alfie decided as they talked on about it. "Maybe..maybe we should just go to the movies."

"That's so expensive," Gage gave Alfie a face of disgust as he finally picked out a card of gold, glitter and lots of hearts.

"All right then, just come over," Alfie switched gears as if it was settled before they could discuss Valentines day any further.

"Well, I'll have to check with Nora," Gage tilted his head.

"There will be pizza and maybe even some Rocky Road fudge with nuts." 

"Why nuts?"

"Cause that's what we got, and so many little marshmallows." 

Leftovers from Christmas baking. Gage nodded but told him there better be a salad. Nora only ate salad lately.