Nicholas

Wynter and Drew turned around, inspecting me as I approached them. Wynter looked at me but quickly turned around, playing with something shaped like snowman in front of her.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Santa Claus himself? We were just talking about you."Drew smiled, nudging Wynter.

"We weren't" Wynter hummed, still fussing with the three tiered snow pile. "Drew more-so than me." She muttered refusing to look into my eyes.

"Wait? Are you mad at me?" I asked, making my way over to her. She still fiddled with the snowpile, patting the middle of the thing with her palm. "Come on Wyn...what did I do now?" I whisper, pulling her waist closer to mine. I thought we both shared a moment by the fireplace last night...or maybe it was just me?

I look over at Drew but he stays silent, not wanting to get in the middle of our row.

"Come on Drew" she sighed, wiggling away from my grip. "I think it's time you show me the way to those mountains in the distance" she announced, grabbing Drew's wrist and forcing him to follow her.

"Ahh? So you're giving me the cold shoulder? Typical" I huffed, patiently watching her as she bent to pick up her plaid scarf from the floor. She locked her arm through Drew's, allowing him to lead her away.

"Wait?" I thought, looking at the both of them as they walked away. A wave of understanding hit me like a truck full of ice bricks. I guess the letter I had left on her mirror didn't exactly go over so smoothly. "I didn't think you would be so upset about me working? I thought that was your whole personality Ms. CEO"

Wynter

I stopped in my tracks as I heard his pathetic declaration. Did he really think that was the only reason I was upset with him? I unlinked arms with Drew and snapped around to face him. Nick only parted his lips into a playful smirk, relishing in my anger.

"Really? I love working? I took two weeks off for you to come here and learn the laws of your land? And where have you been?
Working!" I fumed.

"My work is a necessity. You took two weeks off but all you do is create makeup palettes for humans"

I bent down and formed a thick ball of white snow, patting it into a hard shape before throwing it at the middle of his chest.

"HEY!" He cursed. He was a bit taken back, surprised that I had hurled it so hard.

"My makeup palettes gross 1 billion within a year. Don't do that Nick" I pouted, wiping my hands clean. Drew laughed as he saw the wet patch in the middle of Nick's grey dress shirt.

"AHHH! She got you good!!!" he yelled, bending over to laugh. I shrugged, pulling Drew so he could lead me away from Nick. I was tired of seeing his cute but annoying face.

"Come on Drew. Let's go. I want to se--"

-THRASH-

I felt the cold icy sluch of a thick snowball sliding down the back of my neck.

No way...
He wouldn't dare do it!

I snapped my head back and glared at Nick. He only showed off a mischevieous grin and shrugged, tossing another snowball into the air.

"Nicholas Claus...did you just throw a snowball at me?" I couldn't even mask the annoyance in my voice.

"No my hand slipped." He frowned, still tossing the lone snowball in his palm. Before I could stop him, he lifted a leg and threw the other one at my chest. "See? Nos that one? I threw."
Drew started giggling but stopped once I snapped my head over and glared at him.

Did Nick really think he could win this fight? He didn't know I was Wynter Rider, 3x MVP of Cresent Hills High Softball team, but he would know today.

I made my way across the snowy field to face him, hindering his space. We stared each other down before I decided to bend, taking another big ball of snow and shaping it into a tight ball. I pulled the front of his shirt collar, unbuttoning blouse and trailing my fingers seductively down his chest.

"Don't Wynter"

I flashed him a cheeky grin before sliding it down his shirt, making sure I pressed it against his warm chest. He bit his lip, cursing from the crisp of cold against his skin but nodded, accepting the fair trade in his fate.

"That was cold" he whispered, stepping closer to invade my space.

"I bet it was Santa" I shrugged, tapping his pocket square and strutting back to meet Drew. I knew he hated when I called him that but he deserved it. He gathered another snowball from the ground but before he could attack me, I gathered another ball and threw it against his chest.

"Nah! Come back Wynter!" he yelled, increaseing the pace in his steps so he could chase me. I ran away, giggling as he chased me down the snowy fields and a snowball fight to the death ensued, each of us running and ducking.

I threw in some good hits but he was just as fast as me. I see a forrest nearby and fled to find some shelter, ducking behind a tall oak tree but before I could reach it's base, he lifted me up into the air, carrying me by my waist.

"Let go Nick!" I screamed, giggling as he flipped me over. I tried to break free but his grip was secure. He gently dropped me to the mulch of the forrest, so my feet landed on the ground.

Sneakily, he pulled my back against his torso scooping the base of my neck with a warm palm while holding me hostage with a single snowball to my chin. "Say you surrender." he whispered, gently pressing his lips against my ear.

"No" I chuckled, trying to push him away but that only made him hold me tighter which...I didn't mind.

He lifted the snowball to the back of my head, hovering it over the nape of my neck. He was trying to drop it down my back which was the worst feeling in the world.

"Okay! Fine! fine!" I stopped him, lifting my chin to face his eyes.

"Let's say Truce?"

"Nah.. I want a FULL surrender"

"You monster" I pouted. He shrugged, still hovering the snowball over the nape of my neck.

"Fine...I surrender" I mumbled, rolling my eyes. It should have been a fair truce. He chuckled and slowly relaxed his grip, still not fully releasing me.

"Say..Nick Claus is the only thing that wakes me up every morning"

Nicholas

She rolled her eyes but was silent, refusing to utter the phrase.

"Say it..and I'l let you go" I say whispering into her ear. I could feel her body heat but she refused and pushed me away.

I let her go and pushed the snowball to the floor. I knew I had teased her enough but just as I bent down to drop it, she took another ball and lifted her hand to throw it.

I was too quick for her though and grabbed her wrist, loosing my footing and falling into the snow. I fell down, but not before taking Wynter with me; it was her fault anyway.

She stumbled across the slurry and fell across my torso, giggling and pushing her head against my chest.

My heart froze with awe as I heard her melodic laughter rolling against her tounge. She sounded beautfuil. I mean, she had barely laughed since she arrived at the Pole so it was refreshing hearing her laughter.

Her laugh was contagious, inciting my own and we laughed, both of us chuckling at our stupid game of play. It was the most fun I had in a long time.

I stared at her and she stared at me as I wiped off a small speck of snow from her hair. "That's it . Your offically on the naughty list"

"But I've been so good Santa!" she lied, giggling and resting her chin against my chest.

"You think throwing a snowball at Santa is good-list material?"

She pouted and shook her head no.
"What do girls on the naughty list get? Coal is a gift remember?" she shrugged.

I nodded, taking in her features as the winter gusts surrounded us in the forest.
She was so beautfuil.

We stare at each other, both of us itching to pick up where Drew interrupted us by the fire. I pull her jaw, slowly bringing my lips to my own. She stared at me again, hesitation filling her features but before she could rethink her actions, I pulled her into my lips, impatient to taste her sweet lips and how delicious they were.
We smacked with a fervent passion, her arms around me as we both fell into the soft snow in the middle of the forrest. Deeper and deeper our kiss went and wilder our tounges thrashed as we fought for dominance. She gripped the roots of my curls, deeping our kissing, working with a fervent intensity, her sweet lips warming my body. Deeper and deeper we embraced until she finally broke for air. She looked down to my lips as I caressed hers with the surface of my thumb.

"What was that for?" she teased. I pointed up, signilaing her to look at the scene. The forest had lit up with bright lights of incandescent lights. She gasped, smiling as she saw the scenery illuminate before her.

"Mistletoe." I shrugged. We were surrounded by a bounty of them. I had used my magic to make them appear of course.

"It's beautiful Nick" her eyes lit up as she watched each tree brighten in the forrest.

"There must be over 100 mistletoe? I couldn't ignore them" I lied, knowing I made each and every one of them appear.

"Really? And you counted?" she smirked, dropping her head to face me.

Wynter

He shrugged, resting a palm against the nape of my neck. "I just have a hunch" he teased, pulling me into his arms and kissing me again. And we did this until the sun of the winter solstice had almost set.

—-

I rested my head against his chest, relaxing in his warmth as he caressed my scalp. I knew it now more than ever...I had feelings for Nick. I would never admit it to him but I was curious to see where we could go. It was strange, but no matter how much he annoyed me or we bickered...I could see a future with him. He was thoughtful when he needed to be and inceptive. I couldn't belive I had caught feelings for him.

"Come on. I want to show you something" he whispered gently leading me off his chest. I grabbed his hand so he could help me up and wrapped my arm around his. He takes me into the southern portion of the forrest. It grew darker and darker but he had a small fire in the palm of his hand that he maintained with his magic.

We walked for what felt like miles. My feet were tired and wet but I didn't want to complain, only because I was curious to see what he wanted to show me. We passed a few more trees before he stopped in his path.

"Come on" he pulled my arms, wrapping them around his neck. It was is if he read my mind.

"No Nick! I'm fine"

"Wynter, would you just trust me for once in your life." he sighed, looking back at me. I was silent but nodded and climbed his back, pushing my hands over his shoulders. I rest my head against his shoulder, gently wrapping my legs around his torso. He grabs my legs, positioning me higher so we could continue our hike.

"Ughh you're heavy" he curses, tossing me up like I was a rag doll.

"Shut up" I frowned, trying to hide my smile. He tossed me higher and lower, teasing me until we came to the base of a mountain. There was a distincitve path near the side of the steep mountainside. We hike for a few more miles, climbing to the top of the snow capped peaks.

Nick finally comes to the top and places me down, leading me to the edge of the south side that overlooked the North Pole. He looked to the sky, glancing down at the time on his watch.

"So??? This is the surprise?" I smiled patiently.

"No not yet. It's about to come in--"

And a flash of bright stars zapped through the sky inducing me into a trance of awe and ectasy. I gasped looking to the sky in amazement. The bright hues of pink and purple ribboned against the sky. It was the Northern Lights!

"Nick it's beautiful" I gasped, looking up to take in the magnificent beauty. He looks over to meet my eyes and smirks.

"You see that star?" he pointed to a small bundle in the Northern part of the lights.

"Yes! It's the brightest, how can I miss it"

"That's the Winter star."
I blushed, looking into his eyes as he met mine again. "Whenever I feel lost or far away from the Pole, I look up and find it. It reminds me that home is only a star away"

I am touched and looked up to the star, reveling in its beauty paired with Nick's confession. "Winter star? Was this named before or after you met me?"

"Before" He smirked, looking into my eyes, "but personally? I don't mind the coincidence." he smirks.

I shiver at the cold gust of wind that attacked my back but he pulls me close, taking off his jacket and rubbing my shoulders to warm me. "We should have changed clothes before we came here but these lights only come every two weeks. The banquet is in 4 days so...you wouldn't have been here by then"

I smiled, looking up to his eyes. He meets mine and slowly, our lips meet again, violent to meet our desire. I pull my arms around his neck before he gently lifts me up, holding my waist tight and kissing my chin. I shiver again breaking from him before starting into his eyes.

I didn't know where to place my feelings for Nick.
Were we more than friends?? We've kissed like 4 times now? It looked like he was about to say something as he pulled me into his arms but stopped himself and adjusted the jacket around my arms.

"Let's get you into some dry clothes."