Sarah returned just as the food was arriving, her face blotchy and tearstained. Lisa felt absolutely horrible. Jackson caught the look on her face and sighed as Sarah stiffly fell into her seat.

"Sarah," he said seriously. She didn't look at him. "Sarah, I'm sorry, okay? If it were up to me, your dad wouldn't be in this situation. So don't be pissed at me."

Sarah scoffed. "Not up to you? You're a fucking assassin."

Jackson seemed taken aback by the girl's strong language and cringed. "Yeah, but-"

"It's fine. Whatever. Just don't...talk to me, okay? I know the only reason you're trying to get on my good side is to make Lisa happy," she snapped.

"Sarah-" Lisa began. She felt so selfish, so idiotic, so ashamed.

"You know what?" Jackson cut her off. "This is about me and Lisa. You have no right to sit there and judge my actions."

"Jackson," Lisa warned. Sarah and Jackson fell into a silence, both competitors in a fierce glare-off.

Lisa sighed. This was going to be a long night.

They finally left the restaurant and Jackson seemed to calm down considerably. He glanced at his watch and looked at the girls.

"Well, its still early, what do you say we just walk around a bit?" he offered, holding open the door. Lisa glanced at Sarah.

"That okay with you?" Lisa confirmed. Sarah shrugged but nodded.

They ordered hot chocolate from a vendor and wandered down a beautiful, snow-covered street.

Lisa smiled, happy but also sad. She winced as her ankle suddenly felt a shooting pain.

"Ow," she moaned. "Let's sit down for a bit." She hobbled over to a bench to sit as a light snow began to fall. Sarah looked up at the sky and slowly stuck out her tongue, letting the flakes fall slowly onto them. Lisa laughed and Jackson flopped down next to her. He slid his arm over the bench behind her and Sarah continued to spin around catching snowflakes. Her blonde hair whipped around in her face and the city lights illuminated her face. She looked beautiful and contented at the moment. Lisa saw the small smile on Jackson's face and looked at him.

"What?" she chuckled. He looked embarrassed but shrugged.

"Her," he said quietly. "Sarah. She's so...easily happy by this one little thing, the snow."

"Yeah," Lisa agreed simply. "But...sometimes...when things are shit, it's just...sorting through and making the best of the small things." She looked up into his face, as if seeing if he understood.

"You're right," he agreed. "You're absolutely right."

"I know," she laughed.

"And you're beautiful," he added, their eyes interlocking. She smiled at him and then their lips met. At first she was shocked, but then she let their embrace deepen and she leaned into him, warmed by his body heat as the snow continued to collect on her hair.

Finally, though, it was as if a lightbulb clicked on in Lisa's head and she slowly broke away, tears sliding down her face.

"What's wrong?" Jackson murmured, gently lifting her chin with his hand.

"It all has to end eventually, though, doesn't it?" she whispered. "This-us-it has to end. Nothing lasts forever."

"Leese," Jackson gathered her up in his arms. "What we have, what it is...it is forever."

And with those words, as if by some invisible switch, the lightbulb clicked back off.