Buy the Plush

You glance back toward the basket once more before reaching down and grabbing the tiny plush turtle.

Jane immediately notices.

Her eyes widen slightly.

“Wait,” she says while laughing softly. “Are you actually buying him?”

“Him?” you repeat.

“He’s clearly a him.”

You look down at the tiny plush again.

“He looks like his thoughts are buffering.”

“That’s not his fault,” Jane says defensively.

You laugh quietly while walking toward the register with the turtle anyway.

The second she realizes you’re serious, her entire expression softens in that small genuine way she gets sometimes when she’s caught off guard by something sweet.

“You don’t have to buy it,” she says, even though she’s already smiling.

“It’s too late,” you reply. “I’m emotionally attached now.”

“That’s valid actually.”

She follows closely beside you while you pay for it, still trying to act casual about the fact that she’s clearly way too happy over a tiny stuffed turtle.

The cashier drops it into a small paper bag before handing it over.

Jane immediately reaches for it.

“Absolutely not,” you say while pulling it slightly away from her.

Her jaw drops dramatically.

“You can’t separate us already.”

“You abandoned him in the basket ten seconds ago.”

“I was giving him freedom.”

You shake your head while laughing softly.

The second the two of you step back outside into the warm sunlight, Jane reaches for the bag again.

This time you let her take it.

She pulls the turtle out almost immediately before hugging it lightly against her chest beneath the oversized hoodie.

And somehow the sight is so ridiculously cute that it physically hurts a little.

“There,” she says proudly while holding it up toward you. “Now he’s coming home with us.”

“You got attached fast.”

“You bought him for me,” Jane replies like that should’ve been obvious. “Now he’s sentimental.”

Something about the way she says it makes your chest tighten slightly.

Not because of the turtle.

Just because she’s the kind of person who finds emotional value in tiny things like this.

A small smile pulls at your face while the two of you continue farther down the boardwalk together.

Without thinking about it, Jane slips her hand back into yours while still carrying the plush in the other.

Then after a second, she leans lightly against your shoulder while walking.

You chose to buy the plush turtle for Jane.

Relationship Status: +2%

Boyfriend Points Gained: +2

Jane loves thoughtful little gestures. The turtle immediately becomes emotionally significant somehow.