"Since this is your first time, leave your poles over there, they'll just get in the way. The snow is pretty flat here so it should be easy to get your skis on. Just place your boots into the skis like this... and then press your heel down hard until it clicks and locks in place," Elias said, showing us how it's done with practised ease. "And once you've got one in, do the same with the other one."

The three of us followed his instructions, and I managed to get my first foot secured easily enough, despite feeling like a klutz even on flat snow. I caught Elias smiling at me as I struggled with getting my second boot in, since my other leg kept slipping and sliding every time I shifted my weight. Amber seemed to have less trouble getting into her skis, already locked in and standing upright as she kept steady with her arms splayed out to the side, shooting me a smug look.

"Having some trouble there, Lex?" Amber teased, making me grumble.

"Shove it! Aubrey's struggling too, okay! It's not just me!" I pouted, Elias laughing as I let out a yelp when I almost toppled over, which earned him a glare in return. "Don't laugh at me, you know I'm a tobogganist, not a skier!"

"Sorry, sorry," Elias said, though the smile on his face showed me that he wasn't sorry in the slightest. "Here, let me help you."

Elias slid across the snow so smoothly and quickly that it took me a few beats to register that he was now standing beside me, one arm around my waist and the other gripping my arm, his hold tight as he helped me stay upright. Even with all the layers between us, I couldn't help but shiver.

Dude... Are you trying to kill me? Why can't you go and stop your future wife from falling over and killing herself instead, she's clearly struggling with this too!

My mind was a scrambled mess as I was caught in Elias's embrace, because his close proximity made me almost topple over as my legs turned to jelly.

"I've got you," Elias murmured quietly, grip tightening. "But have you got it?"

I don't fucking got it, because you're so close and warm and smell so good and I just want to-

"Y-Yeah, thanks, dude," I said, clumsily jamming my second boot into the skis and managing to get it in, Elias humming with satisfaction. He took a moment to make sure I wasn't going to face plant on flat ground before releasing me, turning back to the mountain with a small smile. 

I turned to Aubrey then, wondering how she was going, but she had somehow managed to get her skis on, even if her cheeks were a bit red after her struggle. 

"Okay! Let's get to the top of this little hill and then work our way down," Elias said, pointing to something he called the 'magic carpet', which was essentially a conveyor belt that carted people up the slope. 

Elias got on first, and his three little ducklings waddled after him shakily on our skis. Amber managed to get up without falling, cackling triumphantly when she saw Aubrey and I wobble our way up, the former face planting in the snow. 

Eventually, the three of us got up to the top, where Elias showed us how to snow plow our way down. His instructions were easy to follow, and after a few rounds going up and down the small hill, the three of us were able to make it to the bottom without completely falling on our asses.

"Since you guys are going down this beginner hill really easily, want to try one a little further up? It's still a green run, but it's a bit better than this straight hill," Elias offered, Aubrey biting her lip nervously as Amber stretched her limbs.

"I'm not sure, I'm a little tired after falling so many times, I think my butt is bruised," my sister sighed. Aubrey suddenly perked up at her words, gently tugging Elias's jacket.

"Um, I'm a little nervous and tired too, so I think I'll call it a day and rest, and try that run with you guys tomorrow! I'll just head back to the chalet, our room will probably be ready so we can move our luggage in. Hey, Amber, why don't you come with and help me get our bags," Aubrey said quickly, beginning to take off her skis and not waiting for a response before tugging on my sister's arm, Amber unable to withstand the whims of the protagonist and eventually getting carted off by the redhead.

Um, hello? Why did you drag the antagonist off instead of your future husband? You could've had a cute, romantic moment in the room by yourselves while my sister and I slum it outside on the slopes! Did you knock your head or something when you fell down while skiing? Girl, please!

"What about you, Alex? Up for one more run?" Elias asked, pulling up his goggles to look at me with his glittering eyes. 

Ah, fuck. I can't say no, can I?

"Alright," I replied simply, Elias beaming and nudging me towards a different set of chairlifts, the two of us getting strapped in side by side. 

"The view is way nicer on the chairlifts," Elias said as I looked out over the mountain from where we swung in the chilly air, taking in the blanket of white cast over grand peaks set up against the pure blue sky. The frosty breeze was gentle and warmed by the sun, and there was a strange kind of peace sitting all the way up there, with just me and Elias and the silence.

'I should enjoy this while it lasts,' I thought glumly to myself. 'Because we won't be able to be like this once he and Aubrey get together for real and become attached at the hip, getting married and having kids and living a life so far from me...'

My heart got caught in my throat when Elias grabbed my arm tightly when we dismounted the chairlift, making sure I didn't fall down, but only succeeding in making me fall in love even more.

"Need me to hold your hand the whole way down?" Elias teased, sliding smoothly across the snow so he stood in front of me, somehow staying upright even as he began to slip down the mountain backwards. I rolled my eyes behind my ski goggles, pointedly slapping his hands and shakily scooting forwards to tip off the slope of the hill, beginning my extremely slow and clumsy descent.

Since I had only experienced the very mild decline of the beginner's slope, the slight increase in steepness made me squeak out in surprise and panic, arms windmilling as I began to pick up speed despite wanting to slow myself down. Fear seized me as I began to flail around, and I had only travelled about two metres before my ski's toe snagged a patch of snow, sending me careening face first into the soft white mound.

Face buried in the cool snow, I flipped off Elias blindly when I heard him burst out laughing, his arms looping under my armpits to hoist me back up, grunting a little due to my weight.

 "You alright?" Elias asked softly, breath fanning my face as he took off his gloves, hot fingers gently wiping away at the snow and water on my cheeks which flushed crimson from embarrassment. I was thankful for my large reflective goggles, because they allowed me to stare at Elias's face shamelessly, melting under his fingers and gorgeous smile.

"Uh, mmhm. I'm fine, totally fine, never better," I breathed out, Elias humming.

"Good. It would be a shame if you ruined your pretty face," Elias said with a cheeky grin, making me splutter and flick some snow from my jacket onto the soccer captain's face, the boy just laughing.

"Oh, please, I have many other charming qualities other than my pretty face to fall back on if it's busted," I huffed, but the twitch of the corner of my lips told Elias that I wasn't serious at all, the boy grinning wider.

"Other qualities, you say? So your clumsiness?" Elias mused, making me gasp in faux offence and shoving past the new main lead only to screech as I slipped on my skis, beginning to face plant for a second time. Luckily, Elias managed to grab me, pulling me against his torso as he forced me to stay upright. I flushed again, ears feeling hot but luckily hidden by my helmet.

"Don't you dare-"

"See? Clumsy," Elias reiterated, voice almost singing as he spoke right beside my ear. "But you're right. Clumsiness is just another one of your many charming qualities."

Elias's words made me lose my footing and any strength in my knees again, which made me slump back into his solid body. 

Oh my God, Elias! Why are you practicing these Casanova main-lead lines on me?! I know this is just banter between best bros and whatever, but your straight ass is going to make my squiggly one misunderstand!

"W-well, as long as you're aware of my charming qualities, I think we can put this conversation to rest," I croaked out, patting Elias's hands that were clasped around my waist. "O-okay, you can let go now. I'm not going to roll down the mountain any more, okay?"

"Are you sure? Joking aside, I'd rather not see you fall so much. It's all fun and games until you land badly and pull a ligament or something, I've seen it happen before," Elias said, letting go of my waist but moving to slide his hands down my arms instead, ultimately taking my hands in his. "At least let me guide you down this way."

I looked down at our intertwined hands, heart hammering. 

I should really say no, because this isn't good for my heart... But... But...

It's so hard to let go.

I swallowed thickly, before tightening my grip on Elias's hands, the boy seeming to release a tight breath.

"Alright, only because you're so concerned and I'm not particularly fond of falling and splitting my apparently pretty head like a watermelon," I managed to churn out, Elias nodding with a smile, tugging my arms slightly to pull us into motion. 

I allowed Elias to slowly guide me down the mild slope, no longer feeling afraid as we skied, my tight lips slowly loosening as I began to enjoy the feeling of the mountain wind whipping past my face. I relished the the sound of soft snow giving under my skis, of Elias cheering me on in his smooth voice, and how his hands that seemed warm despite the thick gloves that separated our skin made me feel weightless.

"You're doing good, Alex!" Elias said loudly over the rushing of the wind, his praise making me warm up from the inside, confidence building as we smiled at each other. Somehow, it felt like we were staring into each other's eyes despite our goggles, and suddenly I couldn't hear the sound of the wind nor the laughter of other skiers around us. I could just hear my heartbeat, and wished that it beat to the rhythm of Elias's, even if deep down I knew that wish was never going to be granted.

Suddenly, I felt my skis jam themselves into a thick pile of snow on the side of the prepared trail, Elias and I both momentarily distracted and not paying attention to where we were going. I felt myself tumble forwards, my boots popping out of my skies and a terrified scream erupting from my mouth while my eyes squeezed shut. 

Elias let out a rare curse as I slammed into him, taking him down with me, the soccer captain landing on his back in the snow with my body following his descent downwards.

Then, I felt something warm and soft press against my mouth, followed by a little gasp and puff of warm air.

Huh?

I opened my eyes slowly, Elias's brown eyes so close and staring at me in surprise, his goggles apparently flying off in the chaos of the fall. The boy beneath me was frozen, which made me freeze, before I realised why he was so still like he had been petrified into stone.

Because the warm and soft thing pressed against my mouth was his mouth.

My mind blanked out for a moment, completely devoid of thought, reason, function, because Elias's lips were on my lips and when one pair of lips touches another pair of lips that is called a kiss.

Elias. And. I. Just. Kissed.

And we are still kissing.

"Oh fuck," I blurted out, jerking backwards and landing on my ass in the snow, hand flying to my mouth that seemed to burn.

Elias just stared at me, mouth still slightly parted in shock, his super heterosexual main-lead brain probably malfunctioning and blaring 'Elias.exe has ceased all function, please reboot the main-lead system because you caught a case of blonde antagonist virus'.

Ohhhh no, no, no, no! Please don't report me for sexual assault, Mr Main-Lead! I promise it was an accident and I did not mean to molest you, even though your lips are perfectly kissable and so fucking soft and I 10/10 would recommend!

But goddamn it, author's world - there's something wrong with your accidental kiss plot line! You roped in the wrong fucking character!

A/N: Took them over 20 chapters to touch lips but any progress is good progress amirite *finger guns* But don't expect Lex to gain any braincells just yet, he's still operating on 'protagonist logic' (or lack thereof teehee). 

As always, here's another ~spicy~ meme, and thank you for reading!