"Will you kiss me?"

His voice rings in my ears endlessly.

"Will you kiss me?"

Relentlessly.

"Will you kiss me?"

"Earth to Aurora!" I jolt in my seat startled by Sabrina's sudden shout.

"Why are you shouting when I'm right next to you" I whine rubbing my left ear in an attempt to rid it of her scream.

"You wouldn't answer me! You were totally and completely zoned out!" She exaggerates all while throwing her hands in the air above her head.

"I don't think you should use "totally" and "completely" in the same sentence Sabrina."  I point out sarcastically.

"Your thinking about your almost kiss with Hagen again, aren't you" She states ignoring my remark.

thanks to the cold nip air, I don't bother covering up the vivid red coating my cheeks. it was the perfect disguise-I wasn't blushing I was just cold, or at least that was a lie I was telling myself.

I begin to fall back into la-la-land as the memory of last week's date comes to mind. But before I can fall back into my day-dream Sabrina reels me back into reality, the strong grip of her hands on my shoulder being better than any fishing hook.

"Oh no, you don't! You stay right here on earth missy, I hate being left out." She huffs letting go of me when she sees she's grasped my  full attention. " if you knew you were going to regret it this much Why didn't you just kiss him!"

"I don't regret not kissing him!" I shout standing up from my seat frustrated. Sabrina's eyes-just like mine- go wide Bewildered by my reaction. I quickly look around to see if anyone had heard my embarrassing confession. Thankfully, students didn't like to roam campus like a heard of sheep during the month of November.

Snickering Sabrina pokes at my thigh, "Then what's got you in such a fuss?"

I plop back down in my seat with a sigh, my hands knead there way through my hair. "I'm just embarrassed that I didn't kiss him, Alright. I was scared."  I admit embarrassed.

My mind flashes back to that day in the tent- the absolute perfect date.

"Will you kiss me?"

My breath hitches in my throat. Suddenly oxygen wasn't doing the trick for me because I could feel my self hyperventilating as I kept looking from Hagens
Warm green orbs to his welcoming lips.

Fear began to course through my veins. Kissing Hagen would be something to cross of my bucket list and I had the chance to cross it out right now but the hesitation tugging on my stomach wouldn't let me make a move or even mutter a word.

"Aurora..." he starts but I quickly cut him short afraid of what he might say next...or what he might do exactly.

"I guess you're going to hold me accountable for that favor of yours, I'm in your debt now" I smile shyly even though I wanted to run out of the tent at this very moment and scream into a pillow for being the biggest chicken in all of Ohio.

"Why would you be afraid of Hagen Carter? He's a hottie with great biceps" She swoons disturbing my memory.

Flicking her on the head I glare, "that's not what I meant"

Giggling she pushes my hand away "jealousy is a new look on you"

"I'm not jealous!" I shout defensively.

Instead of replying Sabrina bursts into a fit of giggles. I'm about ready to pick up my bag and whack her upside the head when Logan's voice stops me.

"What's so funny?" He walks up from behind me snatching the bag that was lifted above my head; the bag I was going to hit Sabrina with. "And why are you trying to hit your friend with your bag?"

"Yea why were you?" Sabrina asks me tauntingly and an evil yet playful smirk on her face.

"I-uh, you see-I" I stutter as I trip over my words. How do I tell him I wanted to hit my friend because she wasn't understanding why I didn't or in more specific terms couldn't kiss my potential boyfriend who is also supposedly man I'm afraid of. Formulating a sentence never seemed more complex.

Sabrina snickers beside me before standing up from her seat. "I'll leave you two to talk. See ya later Aurora" she skips away like a bag of feathers floating in the winter wind.

"So...How you been?" Logan asks coolly.

I look up at him observing him in the afternoon light. He was standing next to the bench I was sitting on, his black hair -which had grown even longer- was starting to peek out of his black beanie. In fact, his entire lean frame was covered in black from head to toe making him stand out against the icy weather. He made winter alluring in a way pine trees and first snow days couldn't.

"I've been alright. What about you, how are things with Katie?"  moving over I make room for him on the bench signaling for him to take a seat.

He sits down in the spot created for him shoving his hands in the pockets of his black coat.

It was freezing outside, yet I decided against the warmth of the school cafeteria for the cold feel of this stone bench. I wanted to enjoy winter, I was odd like that. I wonder if Logan was odd like that as well.

"Shouldn't  I be asking you that, she is your roommateafter all"

I give him a puzzled look. It's true that Katie is my roommate but I never see her around. I assumed after telling her about Logan being her knight in shining armor, she'd run back into his arms and everything would be okay again. Were they not talking still, even after everything he did for her?

I thought for sure Katie would've contacted him after I told her what he had done for her. I could've bet my money on it. I had assumed she hadn't been at the dorm these few days because she was with Logan. I guess I was wrong, but then where has She been running off to? Should I tell Logan? Was it any of my business? Should I even be meddling?

No, meddling isn't my thing it's Sabrina's.

I shrug my shoulders, "I barely see her around. I'm usually asleep when she comes back to the dorm and I wake up to see her bed empty."

He nods his head, staring off into the distance. I know he's trying to act like it doesn't bother him, that her unknown whereabouts that have nothing to do with him don't phase him. But I'm starting to understand the real Logan, he's been a study of mine ever since we had a real conversation. I could tell that it was clawing at his skin.

I rub my hands together trying to stir up some warmth within me.

"Cold?" He asks.

"Just a little" I admit.

He digs through his pockets pulling out a pair of black gloves. "Then what are you doing out here?"

I take them from him grateful for the warmth they bring to my little fingers.

"I enjoy the winter. Unlike most people the sun doesn't really do the trick for me." I say smiling. "What about you, why are you out here when you could be enjoying warm tea in the campus coffee shop?"

He lets out a deep breath, the cold air turning it into a little fog before his lips. "Well for starters because of that, it's freaking cool. For second, I hate summer because it's too hot to go outside. I can appreciate nature much more when I'm not drowning in my own sweat."

I laugh and nod my head in agreement.

"So you're more of a "build a snowman" kind of a guy" I tease.

He gives me a horrified look but I can see the smile peeking out causing mine to grow. There was something satisfying about getting Logan to smile, maybe it was because it was a rare sight to see and it wasn't an easy task. Not just anyone could get those corners to turn up into a smile, however, it was very easy to make him frown.

"Do I look like the type of guy to build a snowman?"

I lean in closer, playfully inspecting his face. But my smile wavers as I pay more attention to the details of his face. His lashes cascade a light shadow on his cheeks and the grey sky above us was the same color as Logan's eyes- an addictive grey. I take notice of how his jaw goes rigid and his lips part ever so slightly.

I swallow my bundle nerves, trying to keep my cool. I was beginning to see why girls swooned over him, Logan was a dangerous creature to be so close to.

"Well," He says his voice sounding much huskier now that I'm this close.

I look at him to see his eyes were already locked on me.

"Aurora!"

My head snaps around to see the man behind the voice that called my name.

Hagen?

Suddenly my phone vibrates. It was a text from Sabrina.

Sabrina Da Witch: Hagen asked where you were. I told him with Logan, your welcome! Oh, by the way jealousy is such a good look on him 😏😝

I drop my phone back into my bag and make a mental note to actually fulfill my duty and slap Sabrina with my bag.

"What're you doing out here it's freezing outside?." He takes a seat next to me squishing me between him and Logan. I finally understood what cheese felt like when I would smoosh my bread on either side of it. I would hate to be a sandwich in my next life.

"I was just enjoying the winter weather," I admit.

I see him eyeing Logan who was still eyeing me. Thankfully it wasn't as intense as before.

Hagen's arm snakes it's way around my waist pulling me closer to his side. Logan's gaze briefly falls to Hagen's arm before looking away.

"Hey Logan" Hagen greets joyfully

"Hi, Hagen" he replies bored.

Silence quickly fills the atmosphere along with heavy awkwardness. The tension was slowly swallowing me while as I sat glued to both of these boys.

Desperately wanting out of this quiet game I stand up from my seat letting Hagen's arms fall as I announce my departure. "Well I'm going to head to class"

"You want me to go with you?" Hagen asks standing up after me.

"No, that's alright. Thanks for the offer though"

Logan stands up as well his lengthy form hovering over me from behind.

"I'll take that as my cue to go" he places his hand gently on my shoulder and I can feel him lower his head so it's just behind my ear.

I keep my gaze locked on the stone the bench to afraid to face Hagen's reaction as he watches what plays before him.

"Maybe we can build a snowman sometime, I'm a build a snowman type of a guy"

As soon as I feel his presence evaporate from behind me I whirl my head around to see him disappear into the distance as he becomes a black dot in reality.

"What the hell was that!" Hagen shouts.

I turn my head to see his eyes fuming with rage. A rage I'm not sure I knew how to tame. It was always so hard to tame an angry Hagen. Even as a child I would be terrified of him when he would be In a bad mood. I mean I ran away from my hometown for several years because of him and his anger.

"Nothing. It's like an inside joke between us" I try and keep my calm. I wasn't going to let my fear of him force me to run away this time. I wasn't fourteen anymore and I wasn't the same Aurora.

"Oh and does this inside joke make it necessary for him to touch you"

"Your acting crazy, it was just a hand on my shoulder it's normal for friends to do that. You act as if he was actually touching me."

"Aurora.."

"Hagen" I sigh suddenly exhausted, "please let it go, it was nothing."

Staring at me for a moment he finally caves in, wrapping strong arms around my waist pulling me towards him. It's been a few days now and his hugs still never get old to my heart. I guess you could say being with Hagen did have its perks.

"Your right, I'm sorry I just over-reacted. I'm not usually the jealous type but it's because you remind me so much of Penelope and my past that I feel protective over you."

My heart drops immediately in a pool of guilt at his words and somehow I manage to keep my smile from faltering.

I step on the tips on my toes and wrap my arms around his neck as I snuggle between his arms. I wanted to take all our pain away, I wanted to rewrite our story. I wanted to make it so that he and I could do this without having a tragedy of past to connect us or a lie to keep us together. I wanted to be able to love Hagen again without being reminded of the fear that comes along with doing so.

"I'm sorry" I whisper but he doesn't hear me and just holds me closer, shielding me from the cold I knew I deserved to freeze in.