"Keep it up, you're doing great," Jack shouted to Jamie as she skated across the ice. "With any luck you'll catch up to me."
She smiled. "Yeah, right."
"Hey, I thought river ice did you good."
She smiled. Jack was always making comments like this. He was too cute. She cradled the rock they used as a puck with her stick and skated a slow circle around him. The river made her nervous, but Jack was heavier than her and he was fine...
"Try to get it past that line there," he called, pointing. She nodded and skated forward, pausing to shoot-
With a deafening crack, the ice buckled under her skates. She was plunged under, ice cold water surrounding her from top to bottom, making her numb. Struggling with her stick and her breath, she kicked her legs hopelessly, trying to break the surface.
Jamie's cry chilled Jack's blood. Quickly, he skated to where she had fallen and reached into the icy fluid, grabbing ahold of her stick and pulling it out. "Jamie, grab my hand!" he called, plunging his arms in.
Jamie reached up, trying desperately to grab his arms. The water was entering her mouth, making her choke- she was running out of oxygen- please, help me, don't let me die-
He saw her sink down, and he stuck his head under, grabbing her arms. They broke the surface, gasping, scrambling to safer ground. Jack's hands were bleeding somehow, and Jamie was shivering. Her lips were blue. "Jack-" she stammered, tears running down her face.
"Shh," he whispered, taking her skates off and placing them with his. Quickly he got his shoes on, his shaking hands making it harder for him. Then he gathered her up and carried her to his house.
The fire was warm and inviting. Jamie sat in front of it, her hair drying, her body no longer cold. She was wrapped in a huge blanket. Jack sat down next to her, kissing her temple. "You all right?" he asked.
She nodded. "Thank you... so much."
"I had to, didn't I? I couldn't let you die." He sighed. "So, what have we learned?"
She thought. "Hockey on frozen rivers is bad for your health."
He laughed. His smile was so beautiful... "Were you really scared?" she asked.
"Scared? You're talking to a genius, a tough Boston boy, a hockey player, for crying out loud! In short- I was petrified."
She laughed. "Really?"
"Yeah, Jamie. I don't know how I could live without you as a friend... or as a girlfriend."
"Girlfriend?"
"Do you want to be mine?" he asked.
Shock flooded her. "Me?"
"Yeah. I... I love you, Jamie."
She nodded, happier than anything. And then that was it- he kissed her, softly, sweetly. The kiss deepened, and in his embrace Jamie felt at home.