Eli had asked me to walk home with him in 5th period. Morty was in the shop and Eli said he hated when he had to walk alone. My house was on the way to his, so I said sure.

I couldn't deny my feelings for Eli any longer. I knew I liked him; I got the same piercing feeling in my stomach like I did with Sav. Only these butterflies were even stronger.

Eli met me at my locker at the end of the day. "So, are you up for a snowball fight on the way home?" he asked.

"Between me and you?"

"That's right."

I laughed and shook my head. "I think I'll pass," I closed my locker and snapped the lock closed. Eli and I began walking towards the front doors.

"Why not, MacPherson? Scared I'll beat you?"

"Oh, I know you'll beat me - which is exactly why I'm saying no. I don't feel like going home covered in snow."

He laughed. "But that's the fun of winter!"

We pushed through double doors and walked down the snow covered steps.

About a block away from my house, Eli raised his arm and pushed me, nonchalantly, into the nearest snow bank.

I caught myself using the ice-hardened snow, but the whole left side of my body was still covered in white. Using the hand I caught myself with, I grabbed a handful of snow, pushed myself up and threw the snow right in Eli's face.

He turned to look at me, cheeks glistening in the snow like his green eyes. I stared back, a smirk planted on my face. His playful glare made me giggle and he took a step closer. His chest was almost touching mine.

"You think this is fun, Anya?" He asked, looking down on me.

I nodded, still giggling. "Yeah, I do actually."

He looked away, nodding his head as if to say yeah, whatever. I don't care. But before I could register what happened, his arms snaked around my waist and he lifted me up.

"Eli, don't!" I cried out, but I was too late. He slammed me right into a pile of soft, cold snow, landing on top of me.

Before he could get up, I grabbed his arms, holding him into the snow.

He looked down on me again, hair colored with white, skin still sparkling in the sun and he smiled. An actual smile, not his famous smirk.

I smiled back, surprised at the emotion I got.

Another surprise happened when Eli leaned down and planted his lips over mine. His lips were cold - cold as the snow - but they made my body feel warm. I tangled my finger in his wet, black hair and held him to me.

His tongue slid over my bottom lip and I parted my lips - allowing the kiss to go further than I'd expected.

Eli pulled away once his tongue entered my mouth, leaving me want more. I sighed, trying to regain my breath.

He didn't get off of me. His hands were still planted in the snow on either side of my face and I knew they were freezing. I began to sit up and he moved away, letting me.

"So, um," he began awkwardly, helping me up from the snow.

I stood next to me and gazed into his eyes.

"Does this mean...?" He trailed off looking away.

"Do you want to?" I asked.

His eyes came back to mine and he smiled. "I have been for a long time,"

I smiled. "Me, too,"

Eli's fingers twisted through mine and he smiled. "Okay, then,"

We started walking towards my house again, covered in snow and smiling. I couldn't help but think that this was the best walk home ever.