A week passed since the last time I visited the stable. I don't know why but for some reason I just wanted to avoid Kartik. Other girls however are already gossiping about the new stable boy and some of them seem to be already head over heels in love with him. I swung my feet back and forth as they dangled off my bed. Ann is asleep, I don't blame her, it's about one am, and I just can't seem to sleep. I look out the window and wish to feel the cool wind against my face as I gallop Whisper through fields and woods. I sit there for awhile starring out the window. The stable is black no light shines through the windows. My eyes flicker towards Kartik's room, which faces mine. I look at the small little window trying to peer in. When I realize what I'm doing I pinch myself. The last thing I need to be is one of the love sick girls swooning over him…or are you already one? A voice echoes in my head. I push that voice back and glance at the stables again. I look up at the sky a full moon and many stars litter it. I get up off my bed leaping over a few boards that seem to groan every time you touch them. I go over to my dresser and pull out a small pair of boy's breeches. I slip them on under my nightclothes and pull my nightgown off quickly to place a corset on that does up at the front. I don't know why I bother putting it on but I guess its part of me no matter how much I hate it. I wouldn't feel comfortable without it on. I slip a loose top over then a warmer sweater. I grab my coat that is hanging in the closet and make my way to the door of the room. Gemma, you silly girl what are you doing? That small little voice says in the back of my head….none of your bloody business I reply. I quickly check myself in the mirror to make sure I resemble a boy some what then I open the door a bit and quickly squeeze through. I start walking towards the stairs making sure I avoid all creaky boards at all costs.

When I finally reach the bottom of the stairs and are out the kitchen door I breathed in the fresh cool air that stings my face after the warmth of the school. I make my way over to the stables, the snow crunching under my feet as small footprints trail behind me. I reach the stable and pull open the door a smudge. I enter and the smell of horses greets me. I breathed in the fume of hay, horse manure and clean tack. My lungs greedily accept the air. I go over to Whisper's stall and pet my mare that seems to be alert and ready to go. I talk to her soothingly telling her we are going for a midnight ride. I go over to the tack room door, which is locked and instead grab a lead rope that is hanging near the tack room door. I go back over to my mare and attach the lead rope to her halter, telling her how much I missed her this week. I form reins out of it and lead my mare outside, her hooves clopping on the floor of the stable but muffled when we reach the snow. I'm scared that one of the stable boys will wake up but luckily they seem to be sound asleep. I lead Whisper over to a paddock fence and tell her to stand. I climb on the fence in a most unladylike way and slip one leg over her and then the other. I sit there perched on top like a man. I find this way of riding much more comfortable then sidesaddle. I guess I should admit that I have snuck out before and tried this. I turn Whisper toward the fields and begin my ride.

Kartik (POV)

I watch Gemma lead her mare outside. The trousers she found seem a bit too baggy for her. I try to see her face but only see shadows as the moon reflects off her pale cheeks. I watch as she leads her mare over to the fence and hops on, putting both legs around the horse, like a man. I stifle a laugh afraid of waking anyone and watch as she turns her mare towards the open fields. After she warms up her horse for awhile she gently kicks the glowing mare into a gallop and gallops around the fields. Her balance is wobbly but she stays on. She comes to a stop and turns her face up to the moon. She looks like an angel talking to the heavens. My breath is stuck in my throat. Her beauty enchants me, a whole new role of emotions bubble inside of me. I see her turn Whisper back towards the barn. The sturdy mare slowly walks, her sides heaving from loss of breath. I stare out my window looking her. Gemma suddenly looks up at my window and our eyes lock for a single second. I can feel her icy glare from miles away. I'm pretty sure her ocean green eyes have now frozen over. I move away from the window and return to my little refuge of a room.

Gemma (POV)

What does he think he's doing spying on me? I brush a strand of hair away from my face and bring my hand down to pat my mare. At the stable I dismount off her back, and I collapse into the snow as my frozen and numb feet give out under me. I lay their in the snow with Whisper looking down on me confused at how I got so far below her. I stretch out my arms and legs and lie back. I move my arms and legs together, pushing them through the fluffy snow that floats around me.

I form a snow angle.

I lie their in the snow, debating on the best way to get up without wrecking it too much. I try to maneuver my hands but am unable to find a correct way. I lie back down not wanting to wreck the beauty of the snow. Whisper snorts and paws at the ground. She then gently heaves her body to the ground landing with a thump sound. I laugh. I cover my hand over my mouth hoping no one heard me. I look at Whisper and whisper "Are you making a snow angle too girl?"

Whisper nods her head. I laugh again, amazed at how my horse seemed to understand my question.

I suddenly hear the crunching sound of feet on snow and try to adjust my body in the best position to see who is coming. I spot a big pair of black boot slowly coming towards me. A familiar voice rings out

"What are you doing in the snow…with your horse?"

I look up and see Kartik standing over me. For some reason I give him the coldest glare I can muster. Kartik feeling the hate of my gaze backs away a bit from me like I'd hoped.

I jump up from the snow angle not caring if I wreck it now. Whisper keeps lying in the snow every once and awhile she'll flip her body around, which conveniently scratches her back for her.

Kartik steps towards me and I step back.

"Gemma?"

"Yes." I answer back to his question of my name.

"Why do you keep moving away from me? What did I do?"

I hate when men do that. They never seem to be able to figure out what they did wrong. Did he do something wrong though? That annoying voice inside my head echoes. I push it away and try to think of a smart remark to answer back. Unfortunately nothing comes to mind.

"You didn't do anything." I say in a sophisticated voice.

"Then why…why are you so cold towards me?"

His question rings between the snow flakes. The spider web pattern of the snow seems to hold his question in their weaves. I look up at the sky and watch one snowflake slowly fall from the sky. I follow it with my eyes. My head moves down as gravity pulls it towards the blanket of white on the ground. However the wind has different plans for it. The snowflake lands on Kartik's long thick black eyelashes. On most men they would seem feminine but on Kartik they somehow don't.

His eyes find mine and our gazes lock.

Suddenly out of nowhere my body moves forward towards Kartik. I stand on my tip toes and kiss Kartik…on the mouth, like our first kiss. A sudden and quick kiss which seems to last forever. I feel Kartik gently push his tongue in between my lips until it finds mine. I feel my cheeks flush and pull away from him.

In a furious whisper I say, "Its cause I'm so damn scared of you."

With those words I run for the school leaving Kartik standing in a ruined snow angle and my mare, lying on the ground watching us, studying us and I'm pretty sure if I stopped to look at her closely I would see in her eyes that she thought me the biggest idiot in the world.

Gah! So sorry I have not updated since 2005! Thank you to all those people who have kept reviewing! I was looking over my stories today and read your reviews and they encouraged me to continue with this story! It is now summer so I promise I will update more (If not I give you full permission to yell at me!). Thanks for the reviews and I would really appreciate it if you would keep reviewing! The reviews help me write the chapters and post them! Everyone who has and will review lots of cupcakes and cookies with sugar on top!

xoxo

hazeleyedbeauty