I think we might have flown that night. The white flakes whipped by our cheeks so fast I could hardly tell. By that point, there was only feeling. There were biting white specks on our cheeks, the friction of two thin lines tracing through the freshly fallen snow, and finally, cold fingers intertwining, warming as inaudible footsteps appeared.
It started when the sky was still white with veiled sunshine. Our bikes gleamed with the promise of excitement as snow layered onto the ground.
"Let's go on an adventure, you know, one that won't kill us." I whispered, smiling softly into his ear. A nod was all the consent I needed, his mischievous smile already in place. We found a basket somewhere in the attic, filled it with blankets, chocolate chip cookies, hot chocolate (made from scratch, of course) and a lantern. And we left.
No note, no warning, just he and I spiraling through snow-covered roads until we found somewhere suitable enough to fit the scene. Twilight was breaking just as we exchanged the empty streets for dirt paths in the woods. Weaving in and out of trees, past frozen ponds, mingling undisturbed air with human breath. Farther, farther into the thick, frosted trees, until I almost could see him through the dark, snow-filled air. We rode until the trees broke.
There was a field out there and the darkened shape of a barn mid-clearing. Our bikes were left abandoned by the treeline, and we left a trail of footprints instead of thin lines, now. I intertwined my icy fingers with his as we walked.
The door of the barn opened easily, making soft creaking noises as we entered. It was a single room, warmer than the outside. A circle of snow graced the middle, where the sky could be seen through a broken ceiling. As we lit the lanterns and made ourselves into sandwiches from blankets, the clouds were just beginning to break. Hot chocolate breath mingled in the darkened night as his heart beat in perfect time with mine. He and I created clouds from the ground that floated up to the stars. He and I kissed softly as the moon shone onto us. He and I fell asleep that night with unspoken words hanging from our tongues and one spoken word hanging in the air over our heads.
"Percy," I said, "Percy we've been here all night." A shake. A shove. A whisper. Nope. hmm. I flung myself on top of him and pressed my lips to his.
"Hello there." A slow rumble, straight from his chest. Oh, Gods, he's gonna kill me. Not literally, but kill me. He stretched, slowly. Oh, Gods. His eyes were still closed, a flutter of dark lashes on still-tanned skin. Blue streams just below the surface traced all the inviting paths my fingers wished to follow… we could stay for five more minutes… no.
"Perc-Percy," My voice was cracking, breaking in the fragile morning air, "We were here all night." I paused, watching sleepy sea green eyes light up with the morning and reactions flicker through his facial features. Surprise. Contentment. Defiance. Amusement?
"This isn't funny. I don't even know where we are." I couldn't help joining into the delicious noise that bounced from between his lips to the wall and echoed all around. At this point, it became a swirl of limbs and snow and laughter, his wonderful encompassing laughter, a playful wrestling match dusted with dirt and ice.
My wrists were pinned above my head, my back pressing softly into the ground, our legs were a staggering of length. It was out of breath kisses in a circle of sunlight and undeniable, unexplainable warmth.
"I think we can stay," he mused, almost growling each syllable, 'Let's stay."
