"Cut it out," Thene complained as I walked by her snowman, dragging my fingers across its face. I had just pulled out an arm a second earlier.

"Cut what out? What are you talking about?" I asked innocently.

"I'm talking about doing this kind of stuff to my snowman," she said, taking a swipe at my snowman and knocking a chunk out of his stomach.

"Hey!" I protested. We had started building the same snowman, but we had too many creative differences so we set out making separate ones instead. Somewhere along the way it had become a competition, which eventually led to us trying to destroy each other's creations. To get back at Thene I chucked a handful of snow at her snowman. In return she threw a snowball at me.

"Oh no, now it's personal," I declared, throwing a snowball back as she laughed. Pretty soon we had a full scale war going. In the end I was ducking behind my snowman, or what was left of him, for cover. Some things never change, even if I am pretending to be someone else, girls still beat me.

"Do you surrender?" she called.

I got out from my hiding spot and looked at her. "Is that my only choice?" I asked.

"No, you could not surrender and I can just keep pummeling you," she said, holding up a snowball menacingly.

"All right, all right," I conceded, holding my hands up. "I give."

"Good," she gloated, and chucked her snowball at my face anyway. I was shocked.

"What was that for?" I spluttered, wiping my face.

"What?" she asked innocently.

"You're a cheater; I don't play with cheaters," I stated, sticking my tongue out at her and walking away. I wasn't really mad, I knew she'd catch up. She did and soon we were walking side by side. I was starting to get cold and I really didn't know where I was walking to, but it was nice having her next to me.

"You don't play with cheaters?" she asked after a moment. I shook my head and she smiled. "I do. Cheaters are the most fun to play with," she said, looking at me.

I held her gaze. "And why is that?"

"Because you never know what you're going to get, they keep you on your toes," she said.

I couldn't help grinning, the double meaning of it all certainly didn't pass me by. I wondered if something about me gave away the fact that there was someone else in my life. Then another thought crossed my mind. What if there was another person in hers, too?

"So what's your story?" I asked, changing the subject.

"What do you want to know?"

"Where you're from, what you do, what you love, anything. Everything."

"OK, well, I'm from Massachusetts. I went to Boston College, where I was a Liberal Arts major. I love to read, write, draw, act...artsy stuff like that."

"Not ski?"

She laughed. "No, not at all. I hate skiing."

"Then why would you come to a ski lodge in the mountains?"

"I used to come here every year with my parents," she said, and it wasn't hard to pick up on the sadness that invaded her cheerful tone. I wanted to know what had suddenly upset her.

"So this is kind of like a weekend to reminisce?" I questioned. She sighed.

"In a way. A year ago on this weekend they were killed in a car accident. I came here to escape, I guess...and remember, too."

"I'm so sorry. If you want to be alone just say so, I'll completely understand," I told her, secretly hoping she wouldn't take me up on my offer.

"I think if it was anyone else I'd say I'd prefer to be by myself," Thene said. A moment later she swatted my arm. "So what's your deal, Chad, mystery man from nowhere, comes to Vermont to get away. What are you running from?"

"I'm not running," I answered automatically. Thene raised her eyebrows.

"Ooo, touchy," she teased. I laughed her off.

"Nah, I'm just...I have to travel a lot and I was...I felt like I was losing myself," I said. It wasn't really a lie, just a broader explanation of the truth. "Did you find yourself yet?" she asked "I found a lot more than that," I answered, walking closer to her.

We continued to walk and talk. Thene talked a lot about her parents and her childhood. Those times I just listened without comment; I think that was what she needed.

After it had been quiet a few moments Thene checked her watch. "It's a lot later than I thought," she said. We slowed to a stop and faced each other. "This is when I leave to go to my room," she stated softly.

It was a lot more than that, this was it. Up until now it had all just been a lot of talk. This was the point where we'd say goodnight, maybe make plans to meet up the next day. This was when I'd smile and walk away.

"I'd really like it if you stayed with me tonight," I murmured. Thene looked into my eyes. My hand went to her face and as I touched her she closed her eyes. A moment later I was kissing her. She broke away first and I was afraid for split second she'd leave. Instead she took my hand, and together without another word we walked toward my room.