Snow, snow go away. Come again another day.

With fascination, I watch the blizzard taking place outside the classroom's window. It's the first snowstorm of the year and of course, school wasn't canceled. So instead of lounging on the couch in the warmth of my house, I'm sitting rod-straight at an uncomfortable desk pretending to take notes on the boring American History lesson.

New Year is getting closer and closer and my excitement of seeing Adrian is overflowing like a river breaking through the dam. I haven't heard from him in weeks, but I keep on telling myself not to worry. To take a deep breath and hold it. Not to worry. Then release it.

And when those worries crash down on me. Nothing, nothing, nothing.

Now, you might ask me how it's been going? Are these exercises that Dr.Lewis has instructed me a success?

The answer is: Not really.

My heart thumps loudly every day, every hour, every minute, every second, worrying for the well-being of my loved one. Adrian. But I have to keep on reminding myself that in just a week it will be New Year and my love will be home safe and sound in my arms.

Only happy thoughts.

"Shelby?"

I focus on Sierra who's waving her freshly blood-red manicured hand in front of my face. "Yeah?"

"The bell rang two minutes ago. Everyone already left."

"Not you."

She rolls her eyes and sighs dramatically. "Honey, I'm only here because I noticed you not budging from your desk as if you're in your own world."

I blush. "Yeah, sorry. I guess I am sort of out of it."

"Is Adrian on your mind again?"

Now I'm covering my face with my hands, peeking at her through the cracks of my 10 fingers. "How'd you guess?"

"Because every love-struck girl out there is most likely thinking of her loved one. Especially you, my friend. You must be freaking out that Adrian is going to be coming home next week." She smiles and winks.

I can't hold myself back from letting out a nervous giggle. "Yeah, I'm definitely really excited. Just wish that he's back home for good."

"If only you could convince him."

My eyes are glued on her, her words reverberating throughout the room. If only you could convince him. If only I could convince him.

That's what I'm going to do.

That's what I must do.

"We better get going," Sierra is saying. "I'm sure we're already late to our next classes."

With difficulty, I draw myself away from my wandering thoughts, and sliding out of my desk, I follow her out of the classroom.

***

Why am I not surprised that Levi is waiting for me by our lockers?

"Hey," he says cooly as he leans against his locker. 2 broad arms crossed over 1 broad chest.

"Hi," I respond, opening my locker and placing my belongings inside.

He peeks around the metal door at me. Metal door. Metal eyes.

"What?" I ask.

He smiles. "Have any plans for the holiday?"

"Yeah." I don't elaborate.

Of course, he has to wonder. "What are the plans?"

I don't look at him as I reply, "Adrian is coming home. I plan to spend as much time as I can get with him."

"That's understandable."

"Yeah. How about you, got any plans?"

He shrugs. "Not much. Just gonna spend the holiday with my family."

"Sounds like fun," is all I can come up with as I close my locker and begin to head out of the school building.

"Shelby," he calls after me.

Sighing, I turn around, hands-on-hips. "Yeah?"

"Are you doing anything tonight?"

My heart thumps loudly and I can feel the blood rushing to my ears as I remember the dance we shared the other night. The intensity in his gaze. In those mysterious, beautiful steel eyes.

I want to lie, tell him that I'm busy, but maybe spending some time together would be good. Maybe it will clear my mind from all my worries and be a good distraction, so I say, "Nothing much. Come on over after dinner. Just text me when you're outside."

He smiles. "Sure thing. See you then."

With that, we part ways as I step out into the raging snowstorm happening outside.

***

The snow stops falling as we sit down to eat dinner. Tonight is Taco Tuesday. Yummy!

I add some more spicy pickles to my taco and bite down. Delicious! The spicier the better.

The first time Mom attempted Taco Tuesday she used the mild pre-made taco sauce, it was quite good, but was missing something. It needed the spice. Because the spicier the better. So I opened my mouth and told her that she's supposed to buy the medium or even the hot pre-made taco sauce. She ended up going with the medium since she doesn't like her food to be too spicy. And that is why I always add more spicy pickles to mine, cause I like it hot.

"The tacos are amazing. Thank you," I tell Mom.

She beams. "Glad you enjoy them. I was actually debating if we should make Taco Tuesday a tradition."

"Like every Tuesday we'd be having tacos?" Josh asks as he licks some sauce off his fingers.

"Yes, that's the plan."

"Yay! I would like that." He smiles, still licking his fingers. That boy better wash them after before touching anything. He can be so unsanitary. It's gross.

Mom turns to me. "And how about you Shelby?"

"It sounds like a good idea to me, but aren't we going to get sick of having the same thing every week?"

"I was thinking that too," Dad pipes up. "I'm actually getting sort of sick of having the same sandwich for lunch every single day."

"I thought you liked that, Donald," Mom says.

"I do. It's my favorite sandwich, but you know sometimes people can use a change and I feel like that time is coming for me." He gives Mom a soft peck on the cheek, getting a smile out of her. "Do you think you can start changing up my lunch, give me a surprise every day?"

"If that's what makes you happy, then yes."

Dad smiles, giving her another peck on the cheek. "You are definitely the best."

"Hold on," Josh interjects. "What's happening in the end with Taco Tuesday?"

As Mom and Dad were having their little exchange I was actually thinking of an idea. "How about doing it every other week?" I suggest.

All eyes are now on me.

"That sounds like a good idea," Mom agrees.

"Yeah, sounds good to me," Dad says.

"Same." Josh smiles.

"So then it is settled," Mom finishes before taking a bite out of her taco.

Just then my phone --- which is on my lap, hidden because of the no-phone policy --- buzzes. I look down to see a text from Levi.

Outside.

Making sure that my family members aren't watching me and that they're all busy munching on their food, I quickly type back. Coming. Just give me a few minutes.

"My friend is waiting outside for me," I announce, "Can I be excused?"

Mom and Dad share a look, the conversation between them happening with their eyes.

Mom finally speaks, "Ok. Bundle up well, it's a cold night."

"Got it." I stand up, empty plate in hand, and place it in the dishwasher. "I won't be back too late." And with that, I exit the room, ready to go get on my winter gear.

***

I step outside, the icy cold air slapping me in the face. Before I even get the chance to skip down the porch stairs, I'm hit in the chest with a snowball.

Across the street, Levi lets out a whoop.

"Oh, you asked for it," I call to him, a challenge in my voice.

I can't see him that well due to my eyes watering from the cold air, but I do sense the smirk on his face. "It's on."

With those words coming out of his mouth, I jump down the stairs, and as fast as I can I begin to form snowballs, ignoring the fact that my brand-new gloves are getting soaked.

And the snowball fight begins.

1 of my snowballs hits Levi in the leg and he stumbles but manages to catch his footing, sending a snowball my way. I duck as I make my way around the Malik's yard, collecting more snow into my hands and forming as many balls as I can while dodging all the snowballs coming my way.

A snowball whizzes by my face as another smacks right into my shoulder. Ouch. That is going to bruise for sure.

"You asked for it," I shout as I break out into a sprint, kicking snow everywhere.

He's running away, laughing. And I'm flinging snowballs his way, missing each time.

At last, I'm catching up to him, throwing that 1 remaining snowball and hitting him right in the back of his head. He goes crashing down, face-first into the bed of snow. And I come to a stop, shocked.

He's struggling to stand up, wet snow dripping off of him. I'm shivering too.

"A little help," he says.

I blink. Once, twice, 3 times, and then go to lend him a hand. He takes hold of my soaked glove and before I know if I'm in the bed of snow beside him. The devil brought me down with him. How dare he!

Pissed, I take a fistful of snow and rub it into his face. He sputters, wiping it away, his eyes flashing with annoyance. A gun. Loaded.

"Now you asked for it," he growls, fangs flashing.

I gulp as he climbs on top of me, pinning me down by my arms and legs.

"Get off of me," I cry.

"Not until you pay for what you have done." He smirks as he forms a large snowball.

I close my eyes, waiting for the impact. But instead of feeling the freezing, cold snow hitting me in the face, I feel the coldness spreading down my front. Levi slipped the snow down the front of my coat. What in the world?

Eyes now wide open, I struggle to stand up. I need to shake the snow off of me! But Levi won't budge.

"Let me go!"

He shakes his head at me and I realize just how close his face is to mine. Inches. I can feel his cool breath on my face. His full lips parted. So, so, so close. I stop breathing.

"Shelby." Now he's concerned. "Are you ok?"

I struggle for breath, but it's no use, I can feel the darkness creeping in.

And then it overcomes me, drawing me under.

***

My body is encased in a block of ice. 1 frozen head. 1 frozen torso. 4 frozen extremities.

With a shiver, my eyes fly open, landing on the boy leaning over me.

"Shelby," he says relieved, his tense shoulders relaxing. "You scared me. You actually gave all of us a fright."

"All of us?"

"Yeah, your family is waiting just outside your room."

That's when I notice that I'm lying in my bed, wet clothes gone. My body is slowly becoming toasty-warm from all the layers wrapped around me.

Who changed me?

"Your mom removed all your wet clothes and changed you into something warm," Levi says.

I didn't realize that I voiced my thought out loud.

I'm looking down at my hands uncomfortable when he continues to speak. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For putting the snow down your coat. I pretty much almost froze you to death." His voice is so down-bitten, his pretty eyes sad.

Finally, I look at him and give him a soft smile. "It's ok. I should be apologizing for the snowball in your face."

He returns a smile of his own. "Then we are even."

"Yup, I guess so."

If only he knew what really caused me to pass out.

Him.

Mom and Dad peek their heads into the room, their searching eyes full of worry.

"I'm ok," I assure them.

In unison, they release a sigh of relief.

"You gave us the fright," Mom says. "No more snowball fights for you."

"Mom, seriously?"

"No arguing with your mom on that. I support her decision completely. No more snowball fights for you."

I roll my eyes at them. "Whatever."

Just then my phone buzzes and I look down at it, my heart skipping a beat. "It's Adrian," I breathe. "All of you go!" I shoo them away.

"See you around," Levi says as he follows my parents out of the room, the door silently closing shut behind them.

I answer the video call and smile big. "Hey, handsome!"

Adrian looks drained, dark bags circling his beautiful eyes. "Hi, gorgeous. How are you?"

"I'm good. What about you? You look exhausted."

"I sort of am. Been busy dealing with some things in the Middle East."

I shift positions now resting on my belly, chin in hands, and feet crossed. "Oh wow. You still positioned there?"

"Yeah. There's kind of a war going on here."

"A war," I squeak. "Are you safe?"

His eyes dance as he gives me a charming smile, the 1 that always melts my heart. "Don't worry about me, sweetheart. In a few days, I'll be leaving this place, headed home sweet home for the holiday."

"I can't wait until then. I miss you so much."

"Me too. But it will be here before you know it."

I rest my forehead against the phone screen. "I love you so much and I just want you to be here already, so I can hold you in my arms where it's safe and sound."

"Soon, my love, real soon."

I look at his handsome face, noticing the tears rolling down his stumbled cheeks. "You're crying," I acknowledge.

"It's nothing," he sniffs, "Just excited that I'm coming home so soon. I've seen enough bloodshed for now."

"It's that bad?"

"It's nothing for you to worry about."

"Ok." We both look into each other's eyes and I open my mouth ready to say more, but a siren begins to blare on his end, causing him to look over his shoulder nervously.

"Is everything ok? What's happening?"

"I don't know. I have to go."

I say his name over and over again, begging him to stay. To talk to me.

"I wish I can, Little B, but I have to go see what's going on. I'll see you very soon in person. Love you."

"Love you too."

The screen goes dark and all the worry that I've been trying to hold back breaks free.

Breathe in, breathe out. Clear that mind from all its worries. Think of 1 word. Nothing, nothing, nothing.

NOTHING!

But it's no use.

I'm drowning in all of my worries.