Baby, it's cold outside.
Deep snow gleamed white as milk and created an air of intense winter. Miniscule Christmas lights charmed themselves around each tree, each branch, each lamppost. People peered out of their windows to observe the chilly conditions outside, while some instead curled up by their fireplace or on their sofas with their cups of tea or cocoa. Smoke rose from the dusty chimneys and filled the air with the smell of burning wood. Elena strolled speedily along the still street, knee-deep in purely white layers of snow, her crimson coat gripped tightly with her hand as not to let the cold cut her skin, her cheeks burning bright as ripe cherries. Quietly she sighed with utter relief as she was at the doorstep of her destination.
There he was. The boy she'd longed for nearly three years, which seemed to her a lifetime. He stood casually, inhaling the smoke from the glistening cigarette and looking her directly in the eye. His attitude expressed no emotion, but the duskiness of his eyes screamed peripety. Elena walked passed him with her warm and kind heart leaping bounds and turning aroused. Their eyes, expressing perplexity, continued to follow each other. She rushed inside, holding her coat tightly with her one hand, gripping it closer to her skin and breathing deep into her knitted scarf. Once greeted by the cardinal amount of Christmas lights Elena let her coat fall gracefully off her bare shoulders exposing her sleek dress. The dress, a blood or rather bordeaux red, basked in the glory of her skin. Her complexion touched the hearts of many, with her cheeks the colour of mellow strawberries and her lips stained as if with red wine. Elena quietly strolled through the crowd of persons and found herself a hidden and tremendous spot, from where she observed the crowd passionately, for she simply wanted one dance. One dance with someone who wasn't positively ghastly and didn't insult her nature by inappropriate advances.
Damon stood riotous within himself as he could not believe it. The girl he'd never paid any of his courtesies to was now the object of his soul desire. He now noticed her every inhale of breath, every movement of her locks of hair. Extinguishing his cigarette he moved inside and walked through the crowded room, a room dedicated to the celebration of Christmas, a soiree for their very own school. Damon never lifted his gaze off her, still bewildered and dazed he seemed to finally be looking clearly at someone who appealed to him more than anything else ever had.
Only months ago, he remembered, he'd made a very inappropriate comment about the beauty he now seeked. It made his heart sting to imagine his own arrogance and hypocrisy. There she stood amongst the invisible gathering; bright, harmonious and absolutely delightful. She probably despised him. That he didn't just know, he believed it to be a fact. At his pathetic and overruling orders many a person had begun to shy away from her, simply because he believed her not to be normal enough. Was this an impression made upon him because he'd once caught her glancing at him lovingly? Damon realized how conceited and proud he'd been; believing she'd cared for him or fancied him, when in reality that might have been quite the reverse.
With faint breaths he finally approached her and stood beside her in his usual careless attitude. Elena regarded him fixatedly or so he thought. So he hoped. He produced a silver flask containing his favorite whisky and drank in an aflutter manner from it. Then, with a newfound confidence, he briskly turned and approached the dark haired ravishing girl. The amazement found in her stand was not possible to conceal. Damon reached out and offered her his hand, doing it so with the most impossible of grins, but which turned to a true smile in a mere second. Elena bothered and bewildered stared into his steel blue eyes, which pierced her very spirit like sharp icicles. Without further thought, which might have been advised, Elena belatedly placed her near-trembling hand in his and entrusted her heart to him at that very moment.
Damon was not more assured of himself than she was at the same time. They now, positioned in the very center of the illuminated yet dim ballroom, moved close to one another. Damon felt his heart pound and with no possibility of masking it simply pulled Elena towards him, in a gentle fashion of course, for the gaze of the whole room was now upon them. After the clashing and slashing of Elena's word, by Damon himself, nobody trusted their own eyes. However, everyone wanted to believe what was before them.
The estranged personages stood pressed against one another in an amorous dance.
"I'm Damon," He said rather awkwardly, knowing they had never even exchanged a word.
"That seems rather silly," Elena said almost gravely, "We have been in the same class for three years. I supposed we'd have made each other's acquaintance by now,"
Damon inhaled with a quivering air.
"It's quite unfortunate that until now we've been strangers, for you are certainly the most smashing of the girls here tonight,"
Elena blushed. She didn't intend to. Despite her troublesome and inexpressible feelings she had decided to remain curious and unattainable until the very end, but now that was gone. When she managed to glance upwards after a moment's pause, she found the blue streams stare right into her. Her black eyes could not receive such attention, so her gaze turned away and yet she felt his stinging and edging look penetrate every fence she'd built around her heart.
"It's probable that we've just been woven in different circles," She said with a smile, although she knew. It was likely that she knew each cruel or despicable word he'd spoken about her, but she simply couldn't throw him out of her heart like a raggedy cloth. It was love. Nobody could tell her differently. She just hoped he didn't know.
"That must have been it," Damon replied the same, "Well, anyhow it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance now,"
He raised Elena's hand to his lips and kissed it softly with a smile. His charm was overwhelming, yet he was not undisputed of it now. This whole encounter shook him to his very core. Perhaps it was the enchanting ambiance of Christmas time or the possibility of them becoming a talked about item, but he wanted her. More than anything. More than his own pride. There was such a surge of delightfulness that all he wanted was to take her out to cafes, the movies, talk to her about literature and film and cook Christmas foods together. This side of him seemed inconceivable and yet it was present and occurring.
"Elena," Once said, Elena shivered slightly in astonishment at the mention of her name, for she believed it could have been entirely likely that he didn't know her name, "Would there be any possibility of you being my girl?"
Elena pulled away from him. The stare she gave him was mazed and bemused.
"Are you patronizing me? Do you think me so stupid that you believe I would fall for your lie?"
Damon leaped to her.
"Stop," His hand gripped hers tightly, in utter desperation, "I have never meant something more than I do this now. I have never felt the emotions I am feeling now. They are new, but intriguing and astonishing, for it appears that I love you dearly and my conspicuous loathing and bashing came simply from that. You know do you not?" His eyes searched for an answer.
Elena lightly nodded. Damon sighed in despair. Without other hope he pulled her so close to him their bodies pressed together and he could feel her warm skin heat more and her cheeks turn ruby. Damon leaned close to her ear, moving slowly and temptingly at the same time to keep up appearances; they were after all supposed to be dancing, and whispered soundlessly, audible only to the girl before him.
"I'm sorry," A quiet whisper and yet it meant so much. Elena's heart sank and amongst the fir trees and the brightening modest lights, she felt herself opening up to the man before her. His words were so honest and if one was doubtful of that, his gaze expressed everything else. There was not a drop of deceit in his eyes. Elena could not find the words she required. She simply continued their dance. Loosening her composure and letting herself be caressed in his arms.
This appeared to be the most promising of Christmas's she'd have the pleasure of delighting in.
Elena sat on the armchair, pastel white and embroidered with a golden floral pattern, the palms of her hands resting upon her knees. Her carnation silk pyjamas fell splendidly along the lines of her body and her hair, let out graced her back romantically. Beside her on the small table stood a large white cup rimmed with gold, and peonies of a charming pink and red. Elena's gaze pointed towards the window, as if awaiting and in a mere moment her wish came. At the door came a knock, she composed herself and opened with a genuine and heart-warming smile and in a minute Damon had her in his arms, whilst they were cold she did not feel it, for his touch always warmed her pleasantly. Elena glanced outside over his shoulder and delighted in the piles of white snow, covering the ground in its entirety and the light of day that was still present for it was midday. There was no sun, yet the sky was light and greyish instead of raven black which was to be found most days. Damon entered her house and observed the cosiness of the place.
This day was intended to be a day solely for rest and calm, whilst delighting in black and white films and food. Damon had brought the films – A matter of life and death and Holiday (1938). Elena had bought all the necessary utilities for the creation of gingerbread cookies and chocolate milk whips. Without further ado they got to work.
Damon stood dazed in the kitchen. He had no idea how to start. Elena regarded him from the doorway, surveying every possible item and then placing it upon the counter again. A smile graced her lips. Finally she decided to end his torture and appeared as if completely oblivious to his confusion. Taking out the recipes she began to work whilst giving tasks to Damon.
She read aloud –
"In a medium bowl, mix together the shortening, molasses, brown sugar, water, egg, and vanilla until smooth," And so they continued until both desserts were done and then after observing them for a moment, Damon leaned towards Elena and put his arm around her waist. Pulling her close their lips met and he savoured the raspberry flavour of hers, feeling the warmth and exuberance of her entire being. Elena smiled and so he could not hold back and mirrored the emotion. Each time Elena graced him with her kind and lovely smile, he simply had to smile back. It was unfeasible to not do so.
With their hands full of goods they rushed upstairs to Elena's room. Once there Elena placed everything beside the large bed; beset by radiant white covers and an immense number of pillows. Then the film was started and they both curled up beside each other, delighting in their innovations and smiling happily throughout the film.
"Katherine Hepburn looks lovely here," Elena said whilst sipping her drink.
Damon looked at her inquiringly, but after realizing she truly was not seeking a compliment felt even more inclined to present one to her.
"You look far more charming than she ever could," He looked at her intently and saw her cheeks turn a bright scarlet. She was truly the most fascinating creature one could ever behold.
"Finally I feel like one of those couples. The ones that spend winters together and make them seemed cheery and wonderful throughout," Elena said rather excitedly.
"The most curious notion is that I feel the same. I've never spend Christmas with a girl, nor any winter with one. Honestly, I've never really spent time with a girl, like I have with you. It never seemed appealing to me before," Elena fought against blushing yet again. Damon's confessions and flattery were making her appear naïve and silly.
"Will we spend Christmas together?" Damon inquired rather aroused.
Elena once again felt like she was hit by a snowball of sorts.
"I reckon we can,"
The snow fell. White. In big flakes. Turning the seemingly calm ambiance to an even more peaceful one. There was no one on the snow ridden streets, no one in the cafes or shops. Damon and Elena remained in their cosy accommodations and pleased themselves by doing absolutely nothing. Just as it should be when winter comes.