Valentine? (Part 1)

Lyrics

"All you have to do is leave it in a mailbox," Venus had said. "It's easy! Nothing to it."       And there he was, standing a block away from Saturn's porch, close to having a nervous breakdown.       What made him do it? Why did this god-forsaken holiday have to exist? Wasn't there another way?       But he couldn't ever tell her out loud. He'd end up flustered and storming away, leaving Saturn wondering what was wrong with him. But even though it looked like he was angry with her, it would always be himself he was angry with.       His cowardly, scared, easily corruptible self that he sometimes despised.       Taking a deep breath, he peeked around the corner and glanced into Saturn's yard. A pair of silhouettes twirled through the half-covered windows. He could clearly make them out as Saturn and Jupiter, her unofficial but destined sweetheart.       He skirted back around the corner again, leaning against the gray bricks and gripping the sides of his head.       How had she gotten through his defenses so easily? She was just a girl...       ...a beautiful, talented, humble girl.       More passionate than Mercury.       More modest than Venus.       More peaceful than Neptune.       And definitely less chaotic and demanding than Earth.       He ran one hand through his ginger hair and looked back around the corner. The shadows in the window were gone, but he could hear noises from the second floor.       "Just do it," he said to himself and sprinted as fast as his small but fit legs could take him; across the sidewalk, the street, and finally up to the beige-painted mailbox in front of the short-cut lawn. He grabbed the handle and swung it down to reveal the wide, dark inside occupied only by a monotonous card he and likely everyone else received from Earth as a Valentine card. He dug his hand into the deep pocket of his coat and took out the card he had made himself.       After a quick, somewhat frantic look around, he stuffed it in the mailbox and shut the lip loudly. He flinched at the sound and sprinted back to the corner where he was hiding.       Should he stay? Should he run before she came out and checked her mailbox?       Too late. Right as he was smoothing down his coat like an animal smoothing it's hackles, the door to Saturn's house opened and Jupiter emerged, closely followed by Saturn. She held a large, pastel orange tomcat in her arms that was cozily curled up against her dance jacket. He recalled the cat's name as Titan.       "See you later!" Jupiter called as he followed the sidewalk.       "Happy Valentine's Day!" Saturn said back. Jupiter's coat billowed in the chilly February wind as he walked far to his own home.       He dared to peek around the corner farther but Saturn payed no attention. Instead, she watched Jupiter leave, stroking Titan's thick, unusually smooth fur. When her friend was out of sight, she walked down the steps to her porch and went to check her mailbox.       He stiffened with apprehension, stomach churning. Would she throw it away? Would she smile?       Saturn opened the mailbox and retrieved the two slips. She read Earth's card first, looking a bit disdained at the formal, not very heartfelt memo. She tucked it in her jacket anyway and held his own card in her hands.       Eyebrows raised curiously, she carefully opened the sealed card and read what was on the inside.       He ducked back behind the corner, covering his face and trying to figure out why he had decided to do this.       Meanwhile, Saturn read the note with a surprised expression that quickly softened into a smile. She couldn't avoid casting a quick glance at the way Jupiter had gone and then around at the street. He stayed hidden behind the wall, engulfed in anxiety.       Saturn let out a small laugh and scratched Titan behind the ear. She held the card close and went back up the stairs.       Mars hadn't caught the way she smiled at the card.