Day 21

i'm sorry i've been mia these past couple of days, y'all. ya girl has been sick af. but i promise you will have the oneshots for the days i missed!

Snow Walk

It was cold, freezing actually. The ground crunched under your feet when you walked. Your hair was slightly frozen at the tips. Your fingertips were numb and your face was a tad frostbitten. This only meant one thing: snow.

You could just smell it in the air, all around you. It was coming, and soon.

Emily couldn't wait. The only thing she loved almost as much as Christmas, was snow. When it snowed, everyone just seemed happier. The town was a Winter Wonderland. And the sounds of children laughing and playing could be heard on every street corner. It was just magical.

Every year since she was a kid, she always takes a late night walk in the first snowfall of the season. It was something her dad has turned her on to, and now it was something she looked forward to every single year. These past few years she'd been doing them by herself, but she loved them just the same. Just enjoying some peace and quiet with herself during a soft snowfall was just what the doctor always ordered.

xXx

"I heard it's supposed to snow tonight," Hanna had said during lunch.

"Really?" Emily asked, her face lighting up, "Where did you hear that?"

"It was all over the radio this morning when I was driving to school," Aria said around a bite of her salad.

"Does this mean the annual snow walk is underway?" Alison asked, looking at Emily with curiosity. And a little bit of flirt behind her eyes.

"It does. Every year without fail."

"Well don't come crying to me when you can't feel your fingertips," Alison said, throwing a wink over her shoulder to let Emily know she was kidding.

A few hours later, the first flurries started to fall. Emily ran to the window like a small child and watched it for a while, seeing it cover the cars and trees. She loved this.

At 10pm, she bundled up and headed out her front door. She took a deep breath and let the cold, snowy air fill her lungs. She took her first step, feeling the snow crunch under her feet, and started the route she took every year.

There was nothing like Rosewood in the snow. It was like the entire town, and everyone in it, was transformed.

She always walked past her friend's houses, and they've known through years of experience to leave extra supplies for Emily on their doorsteps should she need it. Handwarmers from Spencer, a mug of hot cocoa from Ali, an extra hat from Hanna, and an extra set of gloves from Aria. She made her rounds and collected her supplies.

Just as she was turning into the main part of the town, she spotted an all too familiar figure walking around.

She couldn't help the smile that pulled at her lips at the sight of the blonde in front of her.

"Hey, you," Emily said, "What are you doing out here?"

Alison turned around and blue eyes met brown. She smiled sweetly at the sight of Emily.

"Thought I'd take a page from your book this year. Have my very own snow walk."

Emily smiled again, taking in the sight of Ali's own mug of hot cocoa.

"In that case," Emily said, extending her hand out to Alison, "would you like to join me on the rest of mine?"

"I couldn't," Alison said, smiling again, "This is your thing."

"Come on," Emily said, "I want you to."

Alison looked into Emily's eyes and grabbed the outstretched hand. They linked arms and continued their walk.

They walked in silence for a few moments, just enjoying the peace and quiet and each other's company.

"I have a confession to make," Alison spoke up a few moments later.

"What's that?" Emily said, taking a sip from her mug.

"There's a reason that I decided to take my own snow walk this year. And it's not just because I wanted to see the town."

"Then what's the reason?" Emily asked.

"I was hoping that I'd run into you," Alison said sheepishly, her eyes staring at the ground.

Emily stopped walking, and waited for Alison's eyes to meet hers.

"Why would you want to just run into me?" she asked.

"I'm always hoping that I'll just run into you," Alison said, averting her eyes again, "At the store. Around town. All day in school. It's the best part of my day whenever I get to see you."

Emily didn't say anything, her head was spinning. She had to be dreaming.

"And I know that this is your thing, but it's something that makes you so incredibly happy every single year. And I wanted to see it first hand. I hope you're not mad, I just-I wanted to be with you."

"Ali," Emily started, but she didn't have words. Was Ali really, finally, saying all of this to her?

Ali reached up and tucked a chunk of hair behind Emily's ear, running her fingertips gently over Emily's cheek. Emily couldn't help but lean into the touch. She quickly turned and pressed a kiss to Alison's fingertips.

Alison's breath caught in her throat at the action. Emily moved to wrap her arms around Alison's waist, their foreheads coming together. They stood like this for a moment, just in each other's space. Where they always belonged.

"Can I kiss you?" Emily asked, shyly.

"I thought you'd never ask," Alison said.

Emily reached a hand up to cup Alison's cheek, and carefully pulled Alison's face to hers. Their lips met in a gentle touch, stealing the air from both of their lungs.

Emily pulled away first, finding Alison's eyes. They stared into each other's for a moment before Alison leaned in again, moving to deepen the kiss.

The air grew colder around them. They finally pulled away after what had seemed like hours, but were just sheer moments. Alison's gloved hand found Emily's. They continued on their walk, and not even the cold air could touch the warmth in their hearts.