Hello, there, DPS lovers! I love reading all of your stories and now thought I might be able to contribute something to the fandom! If you have seen or read the play/musical Spring Awakening, the Moritz/Ilse scene kind of brought me some inspiration, just so you know. :) Thank you all for reading!Seize the day and review!

Neil Perry looked outside his window, crown upon his head, snowy wind blowing its course around his body. He closed his eyes and muttered a few brief, unintelligible words before turning to meet his silver date. Silence whispered in his ear, clogging his ears with the absence of sound. It clouded his mind for the briefest moment, shrouding his purpose.

But the cold sting of silver burned his hand, returning him to the plot concocted in the darkest corners of his mind. No hint of indecision called in the back of his mind. No conscience cried out to stop him. However, when he raised the gun ever so slightly, a bright flash of orange crossed his vision. His arm flopped to his side. His eyes focused, almost like a microscope must first get focused before it can be properly used. What he saw- or rather, first heard- knocked the wind out of him.

"How much do I love you? I'll tell you no lie. How deep is the ocean? How high is the sky?"

A girl's singing voice, sweet and tender, rung out above the snowy landscape, finally knocking his mind back to the present fully. He saw a young woman walking around his corner, carrying herself above the cold ground with a pride that only comes from a person who suffers much in life. The flash of orange Neil caught from the outskirt of his vision was her scarf. She wore a black skirt, a short-sleeved back shirt that was so large and worn that it nearly hung off her, and the scarf seemed to be the only thing that kept her at all warm. Neil rushed to the window.

"Excuse me?" He called.

Later, Neil would look upon that action with such confusion he would stay awake and ponder it for hours; to this day, he still doesn't understand quite why he did it. Astounded that he could be so bold, his heart pounded in his chest. The girl's figure turned toward him, her dark black hair shining in the lamp light and her green eyes locking with his. Those mischievous eyes focused on him, and an odd, nervous feeling bubbled in his stomach as she completely avoided looking below his neck.

"Yes?" She asked, an amused look flashing across her features.

If she at all felt embarrassed, she failed to show it. Neil spluttered for what seemed like the first time in his life.

"I-I-"

At the sound of his voice paired with a closer look at his face, she took half a step back. Her expression shifted and she cocked her head to one side.

"Are-are you Puck? From the Henley Play?"

Neil's heart came alive at her words. A faint smile colored his expression.

"How did you know that?" He asked.

She smiled, but a wry chuckle escaped her as she wrinkled her nose.

"Maybe you could put some clothes on and we could talk about this after? Or is this some post-show ritual where you nakedly-"

Finally, her glance shifted downward. A gasp escaped her. Not due to what was below his waist, but rather what hung below his wrist.

"Oh, dear God."

Her entire countenance changed as the gun struck her view.

"Is that-"

Eyes shifted back to Neil as he stashed the gun in his father's drawer. The expression crossing his face said only one thing: Please don't continue this line of conversation. Instead of pursuing the matter, as any good woman does, she saved the topic for another time and attempted to lighten the situation.

"You need that coffee more that I thought."

She smiled and turned from the boy.

"C'mon. You can change and I'll wait-"

But he stopped her words short.

"I can't. My dad is-"

Looking back at him, she smiled and shoved her hands in her pockets. It almost knocked him off his feet: the way that the sight of her face could stop him so sharply.

"Did he do something stupid?"

Neil nodded minutely, almost surprised that she knew.

"Did he threaten to do something horrible to you?"

At this, the boy shook his head and chuckled wryly.

"My dad didn't threaten. He promised. I'm-"

He could hardly muster the strength to say the words. Military school. His stomach dropped at the mere thought.

"You don't have to say it."

Eyes rising to meet her, he saw the understanding in her eyes. An understanding that could only come from living out many moments like precisely this one. He expelled a deep sigh.

"Thank you."

Brushing her hair from her eyes and shivering from the cold, the girl smiled at him.

"Well, if you're already going to be in trouble, one coffee can't possibly hurt anything. Carpe Diem, right?"

The last three words sold him, but she smiled a Gatsby smile and looked up at him, eyebrow quirked.

"Can it?"

When an echanted moment passed without a response, she spoke up.

"I'll be at the diner on Main for an hour or so. Come if you'd like. I'll wait for you."

And, as quickly as she came, the girl disappeared into the dusting snow fall.

So... What'd you think? Please review! I'd love to get as much feedback as possible...!