Hello again! I hope you're all still reading this...Thanks are due to Evans17 for alerting this story and favourite authoring me, which is so cool of her. Also to EndlessWire, gypsy rosalie, NarglesWrackspurtsQuibblers (do I sense that you like Luna Lovegood?), and Emgem2000 for lovely reviews. ALSO to Graziella, because she gave me some suggestions, which I shall be using, by the way! (First up is the date thingmabob)

Shimmering Crystal Whiteness

Violet stared blankly at the page in front of her. The words just kept sliding in and out of her mind so that she was reduced to reading the same sentence again and again and again.

'Right. Focus,' she muttered to herself, but soon she had slipped back into a dull stupor, her ears filled with a lazy buzzing. Violet gave a low moan of boredom, and rested her head on the tabletop.

'What's wrong, Vi?' asked a familiar voice, and Violet looked up to see Quigley approaching her, a lopsided grin on his face.

'Nothing much. I'm just sick of working my way through this boring old V.F.D file. It's just so...boring, for lack of a better word,' explained Violet, stretching her arms before slumping back down into her previous position, her head resting back on top of her work. Quigley rolled his eyes in an understanding way.

'Tell me about it. Isadora had this gigantic load of – Wait!' a smile spread slowly across Quigley's face, and he pulled up a chair to sit beside Violet, 'You can do this later. I'm sure the others wouldn't mind helping. And in the meantime, you can come outside with me.'

'Thanks for the offer Quigley, but I really should get this done,' said Violet with a resigned sigh, raising her head once more.

'Are you sure?' asked Quigley with a mischievous grin.

'Yeah, but thanks anyway.'

'OK. I'll just go and play in the snow alone then,' said Quigley casually, rising from his chair. Violet jerked around to look at Quigley, excitement gleaming in her eyes.

'There's snow?' she yelped.

'Yes,' laughed Quigley pulling her to her feet.

'Right. I'm coming,' replied Violet immediately, 'let me just fetch my coat and scarf and gloves.'

'I'll come with you and get mine,' answered Quigley, and the two hurried away to get togged up for what was sure to be a wonderful afternoon.

'Oh! Oh, it's beautiful!' cried Violet, gazing at the wide expanse of shimmering crystal whiteness stretching out before them.

'I know. I hardly want to disturb it, but...' Quigley trailed off and quietly gathered a handful of snow while Violet continued to look at the view, '...where would be the fun in that?' he asked and tossed the snowball so that it hit the back of Violet's head.

'Oh you – I'm going to get you for that!' yelled Violet, and, scooping up some snow she threw it at Quigley, hitting him squarely in the face. He yelled and laughed, wiping the cold snow from his face.

Quigley immediately stooped to collect more snow, but Violet was already dashing away, slipping and fumbling in the deep snow. Quigley ran as fast as he could after Violet, and pelted her with snowballs. She shrieked, raising her arms to cover her face, and staggering backwards.

'Stop! Mercy! Mercy!' Violet cried, but when there was a lull in the volley of snowballs, she sent three back at Quigley, throwing them fast, one after another, each one meeting it's target.

'No! Stop, please stop!' yelled Quigley, though he was laughing.

'OK, OK, I've stopped,' said Violet, but as soon as Quigley relaxed, she threw another one at him, which hit him in the mouth.

'Ugh! I'fe ghot sthnow in my muth,' exclaimed Quigley, though he could hardly speak while his mouth was filled with ice. Violet didn't think she had laughed so hard for years.

'Sorry, sorry,' she called, 'that was the last one, I promise!'

'Yeugh,' said Quigley, as he removed the last of the snow from his mouth, 'um...Do you want to make a snowman?'

'Alright,' said Violet with a smile, and the pair of them started to roll up two enormous balls of snow, leaving trails of almost bare ground behind them.

***

'Well...'said Violet, 'It's not a very normal-looking snowman.'

'But it's our snowman,' replied Quigley, 'and I like him.'

Violet smiled as she surveyed the snowman in front of them. His body had split in two and was now a shapeless mass of snow, while his head, pin-sized in comparison with his body, was balanced precariously on top. His arms stuck out at out angles, and his eyes were made from rather old and shriveled apples Violet had discovered in a shaded area that the snow hadn't reached. His nose was made from a pebble, and his mouth was simply carved in. Quigley's hat rested on top of the head, threatening to fall over the eyes at any moment.

'I suppose he ought to have a name,' continued Quigley.

'How about...Nero?' said Violet with a grin.

'Why Nero?'

'Because he's fat with a head the size of a pea,' answered Violet mischievously.

'That's not fair,' protested Quigley, 'think of Mr Snowman's feelings!' Violet laughed.

'Mr Snowman? Oh, great name, Quigley! Really original!'

Quigley smiled, and walked over to Violet. Casually, he put his arm around her slim waist, then, when she was least expecting it, he pulled her over backwards, so that they landed in a deep snowdrift.

Violet lay back in the snow, and gazed up at the stars above her.

'It's late,' whispered Violet, and Quigley turned to face her, his wide eyes glinting softly in the starlight.

'Good. This way everything's quiet and still. Nothing will disturb us,' he replied quietly, tucking a lock of Violet's silky hair behind her ear. Violet found that she couldn't speak. Her words just died on her tongue, and her throat seemed constricted.

'I –,' she said hoarsely, but it was so quiet that it could hardly be heard. Quigley's face was very close to Violet's now.

Quigley's mind was racing, though the thoughts were unclear and fogged by adrenaline. He could hardly believe he was lying so close to Violet, yet somehow his body just kept inching forwards, even though his mind screamed at him to stop, to go back. There was a part of his mind though, the part that he tended to side with more often than not, that was telling him to go forwards, to carry on inching closer and not to look back. He moved closer once more.

Violet could hear her heart beating against her ribcage, fast and loud. She was sure Quigley must hear it, but he didn't seem to notice. Violet hardly dared to breath. Quigley only had to lean forwards, and...Violet stopped her train of thoughts abruptly.

Go on! Just lean forwards! Do it now! Quigley swallowed, and took the plunge. He began to lean forwards. Their lips were now practically brushing against each other, just a bit further...But then Quigley drew back. He didn't want to draw away and he cursed himself for doing it, but he didn't feel he should kiss Violet just now. It didn't feel right.

'I've just realized,' he croaked, 'Everyone else is out, and without Sunny to cook, we're lost.'

Violet rolled over to stare at the stars again, disappointment welling up inside her, almost choking her, but she managed a small nod.

'So...so I was wondering,' again Quigley swallowed, 'I was wondering if, maybe, we should go to a restaurant together or...or something.'

Violet's heart skipped a beat.

'Yes. Yes, I'd love to, to go to a restaurant. Good idea,' Violet stood up, and started to walk back towards the house, Quigley following.

Good grief, thought Quigley, that had to be the stupidest way of asking her out on a date I could come up with.

There we go. Hope you liked it! i I did, quite a bit actually. Ooh, Emgem, I tried to loosen Quigley up a bit because you thought he was a bit too...overreactive. I hope it worked!

Tabs :D