Things steadily improved over the week for Emma and Jess. Except for homework, they seemed to have a lot of catching up to do to be on level with the rest of their classmates. Emma was struggling the most out of the pair. Jess flew through work sheets like Emma flew through books, but they were both buried under piles of homework by the time Friday rolled around. They had taken to eating dinner up in each other's rooms and having daily study sessions together. This depressed Jess most of all, she said she missed the 'family' dinners, Emma knew she was just missing Darcy. Darcy was making himself scare as well, at the rink for at least three hours a day. It was his personal mission to make it on to this year's hockey team. They were currently in the middle of one of these study sessions up in Jess' room. Papers flew everywhere as Jess shoved her homework off the bed they were both sprawled on.

"I want to do something different!" She pouted.

"I have to finish my English essay!" Emma whined, she had her laptop propped up on the pillows in front of her.

"You could write that in your sleep." Jess countered. Emma snapped her laptop shut.

"It has to be perfect! Besides, what do you want to do?" Jess perked up.

"We could go watch Darcy at the rink!" Emma wrinkled her nose and reopened her laptop.

"I have no interest in watching my brother sweat more than normal." Jess deflated and leaned back on to the bed. She looked distraught as Emma looked down at her.

"I've been in the same house as my crush for a week, and yet I feel like I've seen him even less than normal." She made puppy dog eyes at Emma. Emma just frowned back at her.

"You go." Jess shot up.

"Really?"

"I'm not your mother, if that's what you want to do, go ahead." Jess grabbed her friend in a fierce hug before hopping off the bed and grabbing her jacket off her desk chair.

"I'll be back in time for dinner, okay?" Emma nodded without looking up from her computer. Jess shrugged her coat on and grabbed her scarf off the rack by the front door. "I'm going to the rink Mrs. Hawthorne!" She was out the door without waiting for a response. The wind nearly knocked her sideways as the shuffled up the street. The cold assaulted her coat, seeping through the lining and the bottom. She was cold to the bone in seconds. She was grateful that she had her hair tied back in her normal braid, she wouldn't be able to see with it all whipping around.

It took her five minutes to reach the rink and get inside. Even with the chill coming off the ice, it was warmer in here than it was outside. Darcy spotted her instantly and waved up at her. She blushed, happy with her decision to make the trek down here. It was definitely worth it. She may have been a bit biased, but even she, who knew nothing about hockey, could tell that Darcy was good. Like, really good. She knew he could make the team this year. They ran drill after drill, never slowing. It reminded her of Cassidy's non-stop energy back home. She missed home, even if she didn't want to admit it. She missed not having to be all bundled up in the middle of September, and waking up to the sounds of the farm, knowing her mother was puttering around down in the kitchen probably humming her favorite songs. But England was worth the heartache of being away from family. Darcy, Darcy was worth it.

She was lost in thought as she felt a gentle tug on her hair. She jerked and almost fell out of her seat. Deep laughter floated from behind her. She whipped around, her braid coming around and hitting her in the face. Darcy giggled again.

"You okay?" He held out a hand to help her out of her seat. She nodded, accepting his help and concentrating hard on keeping her hand from shaking. She quickly dropped his hand as soon as she stood up.

"You looked good out there." She blushed as she revaluated her words.

"Yeah, I've been working hard. Where's Emma?"

"She working hard too, English essay, or something like that. I thought I'd come see how your practice was going." She looked down at her feet.

"Ahh. Well, I'd guess we'd better head home then." She nodded to the floor and he trotted up the stairs and out of the rink. He was waiting for her by the door after she readjusted her scarf. "How's school going?"

"It's fine." She shoved her hands in her pockets, just to have something to do with them. She could stand up to Kimber, but couldn't handle a single conversation with Darcy? That was ridiculous. " Its great actually." She smiled. He grinned back at her.

"Same for me. I really like all of my classes. It's actually interesting to listen to lectures now, what with the accents and all." Jess nodded, she knew exactly what he meant. "Made in friends yet?"

"More like enemies, but a couple of friends." Darcy stopped and reached for her shoulder.

"Enemies? Is everything alright?" He looked genuinely concerned and she tried to answer truthfully.

"Not exactly, but it'll be alright. It's actually kind've of my fault…" She trailed off. He stepped closer and Jess sucked in a breath.

"Now, I can't believe that." He looked down at her lips. No. This wasn't happening. She wasn't about to kiss Emma's brother. She wasn't…

And then he was kissing her.

Fire. It felt like fire when he kissed her. She was on fire from head to toe. He turned her inside out and she could feel herself changing. Sinking into him. Grabbing his shirt and pulling him closer. Losing all sense of herself. She couldn't tell where Jess ended and Darcy began.

The world spun, a kaleidoscope of white and silver around them as they broke apart too soon. Her eyes wide she looked at him, not even attempting to hide her blush.

"Sorry. I didn't mean… I…I " He sighed and bit his lip.

What was he apologizing for? Jess shook her head giggling, giddy with euphoria. She looked back at him, stood up on her tiptoes and then she was kissing him. He gasped and they fell backward into the snow. She was immune to the cold, she was immune to all other feeling expect her lips against his. Time stopped as she lay on top of him, his heart racing with hers. He reached back and undid her braid, her hair flying free with the wind. She had wings. He set her free. She felt like she was flying as his arm snaked around her waist, he was never going to let her go. Her hand ran through his hair, settling on his neck as she deepened the kiss. She could stay here for eternity with him. She wanted him. He was all she wanted.

The snow surrounded them as Darcy held her. She was all he needed. Her eyelashes dusted with snow. Her hair flowing around him. He tightened his grip on her waist and she melted into him. Nothing mattered. Nothing but here and now and her, and angel above him. He was falling. Was this what love felt like?

They missed dinner.

A/N: This is the fastest I've ever written a thousand words. At least it felt like it. It took no time flat. I don't even know where it came from. It appeared on the screen before I knew where I was going with it. I hope it's decent though. I've never written a kissing scene before so….