Mickey is once again to be found in a coffee shop enjoying a casual chat amongst his friends. Cutting off one of them midsentence, he launches into story time with a chorus of groans and a collective movement as the group make themselves comfortable as he begins to recount a life story.

Ahh Valentines day has come and gone again my friends, and what a day it is. Being a single chap myself, my viewpoint is different to the norm on this topic. I see couples spending their hard earned pennies on each other, doting on one another as a show of affection and single people moping around wishing it was any other day of the year. I saw Senka purchasing flowers and chocolates for herself, just in case nobody else spends the time and cash on doing it, Sprozz striding around on his mission to find a lass looking a little bit forlorn and lost on Vday, and Pratster wasting his time trying to drill a concept of "get over your fathers death" or "learn grammar" to new bloods as he has no intentions for females.

Valentines day is not only a chance for couples to show their love for each other, but a chance for single people to make a move on their teen crush in a more socially acceptable way. Flowers any other time of the year would earn you a raised eyebrow and a cautious step back, perhaps a comment of "that's a bit weird…", but on the 14th of February it is a perfectly acceptable notion.

Back in the early days of school, I had the disadvantage of going to an all male school. Valentines day, as you can imagine, wasn't such a big thing for us. It was almost as awkward as the day you discover one of your peers wears Y-front underwear. Or when you discover that you're the only one who does. PoisonousJelly. This made it very difficult to utilise the one day of the year that is ideal for expressing your dream of getting jiggy with a girl above your league. When I hit 18, I was able to be far more expressive of this however. I do not recommend a cheeky wink and a masturbating hand expression, this doesn't impress the ladies.

Valentines day for single people, and not in a predatory way, is a chance to reach those who you previously thought were a standard far above what suits you. Chances are that hasn't changed, but may get a slightly less harsh rebuttal than usual. There may even be a possibility of the person humouring you, and you gaining the opportunity to impress and dazzle them with a witty sense of humour and showing them an enjoyable time out. I will advise this though, don't get your hopes up. They're probably only there for the free meal ticket and not to be alone on valentines day. Especially if you look like DeadlySin, who clearly has brainwashing abilities to manage to not be alone on valentines day. Good job too.

One memory that stands out for me in particular was when I was very young, around 8 years old, and was encouraged to write a love letter to a girl that I had a major league crush on. She was also 8, it was true love. I spent two days leading up to Valentines day composing this letter in my best handwriting, with the biggest words I had in my armoury, and posted it to her before school that morning. The next half an hour was the most harrowing experience an 8 year old will ever have to go through. I sat in my chair, pulling the threads out of my slightly pink school jumper which had faded in the wash, staring intently at the door awaiting my love's arrival. Every time the door opened, I would flush beet red and avert my gaze to something else such as a mark on the board, or a rustling tree outside the window - very interesting things to stare at.

She eventually arrived, one of the last to arrive through the door, and eye contact was made. I hesitantly smiled at her, testing the water to see her reaction to my letter. She giggled nervously and blushed before taking her seat. Was this a good reaction? I hoped so. I saw her pull out a piece of paper from her pocket and pass it to her friends. Recognising my handwriting, my heart sank. This was turning into a ruthless humiliation. A chorus of "awww" echoed around the schoolroom from the girls corner, before one of them came over with another piece of paper. It simply said "Yes x" on it. Thinking back on it, my reaction probably wasn't the coolest, as I stood up abruptly and caught my leg on the chair, toppling to the floor. We "dated" a whole two weeks before she caught me playing kiss chase on the playground and decided I wasn't faithful to her.

Glancing at his watch briefly, he realised he'd rambled on for quite some time. Chuckling, he realised this may well be the first story of many to leave his lips and give an insight into the life before crime for Mickey.

Ah yes, I interrupted your conversation. Please continue, and rest assured that this Mafioso hasn't yet gone soft, just a bit of a storyteller and reminiscing about the past.

Mickey takes a breath, glancing at his peers all staring at him with a bemused expression in their eyes. With a slight smile, he leaned back in his chair and allowed them to continue their conversation.

PJ sheepishly crosses his legs and trys to pull his over coat tightly around him. Hiding any out line of underwear that could maybe possibly be seen. Hobbling with crossed legs over to Mickey he leans in close and at a barely audible levels he speaks

Mate... Seriously? No one wears Y-Fronts any more? I'm the only one? You could have told me this in school when you found out! Why didn't I get the memo that these things aren't cool anymore?!

Senka picks up another chocolate from the ones she purchased earlier.

It's not my fault Technical forgot it was Valentine's Day and thought it would be more fun to get his suit dry cleaned.

Stuffing another chocolate into her mouth she savours the taste before continuing on.

Please keep entertaining us. I need to put my chocolates to good use!

Immortal smiles at Mickey.

Aww young short love. She thinks for a moment back to her own childhood days and running around the playgrounds, not playing kiss chase but throwing rocks at the boys she might have thought were cute, and a giggle comes from her lips. Weren't those the good days?

Happy Valentines day to all.

She picks up a rock and carries it off with her still giggling.

Kayla smiles to herself, thinking of her own childhood 'love valentines'

Well said, Mickey. Happy Valentines Day.

She takes a bit of  her chocolate and continues looking for Philli-Stein to show up

Djosefin listened carefully as Mickey told his story with depth. As he finished, she was a little upset that his story was already over. Straightening her leaher jacket, she walked down the street with rose in hand.

"Happy Valentines Day to all you lovely people."

Disappearing into the crowd looking for her own Valentine.

When Mickey finishes, Emma catches his attention by jumping around and waving. She pulls a heart shaped piece of paper from her pocket, slightly creased from being folded up. Pretending to be all sweet and shy, she hands it to him.

One this paper was a simple sentance: "Will you be my Valentine?", along with the words Yes or No.

She blows him a kiss and returns to the crowd, giggling like a school girl.

Desmond scowls as he stumbles past the soapbox and speaker, whiskey bottle firmly in hand.

Why the glum face, ace?