Apologies for the long wait on this one. I tried to get it up yesterday but an English paper proved a bit more difficult than I'd expected. Anyway, enjoy!
3. Sneak Attack
Her prey awaited her attack unknowingly. He stood defenselessly with his hands shoved deep in his woolen pockets, shoulders hunched against the cold, feet shuffling in three inches of thick, wet snow. The normally alert dark eyes squinted as they roved the cloudy skies above.
The time was ripe for her strike. She readied her ammunition and began to move forward stealthily. He would never suspect a thing. If he could turn two inches to the right her strike would be perfect.
He shifted slightly and she grinned. Excellent.
Quick as a wink, Elizabeth slid her hard packed handful of snow down the lip of Will's collar, packing it securely into the back of his shirt.
At first, he didn't react. Instead, he faced her fully, confused. It was then that he slowly began to feel the ice. A humorous mixture of shock, discomfort and a distinct dash of something that promised revenge sparked in his eyes.
His back twisted violently in response to the ice and a sing-song "Elizabeth!" elicited a peal of laughter from her.
"Merry Christmas, Will!" She managed amid giggles.
"Merry Christmas?" He stopped grasping for the snow and instead stepped towards her, an ominous glow to his wind chilled face.
"Will," She backed away, her hands already out to placate him. "Now, it was just a joke."
"A joke, eh?" He fingered the sodden collar nipping the nape of his neck and began to move in on her. One eyebrow arched.
"Yes…" She lost her nerve and ran. That questioning peak was something she had only seen a few times. And each time it boded doom.
His measured footsteps echoed behind her. "Oh, I don't think so." Abruptly, an arm curled around her waist and her feet lifted off the ground. Will's voice purred in her ear. "I don't think so."
"Will! I didn't mean it!" She wriggled, trying to free himself from his firm grasp. "It was just a joke, honest!"
The rumble of his laughter sent a sliver of foreboding down her spine. With her back against his chest, she couldn't see what he had planned. Instead she had to wait. And waiting had never been her strong point.
Something wet and cold suddenly slid down her own collar, whisking away her breath at the frigid touch stealing down her warm skin. "Will!"
He loosed his arms enough to let her whirl on him. "Revenge is mine."
"William Jonathon Turner! How could you?" she pouted, toying with his lapel.
"The same way you did to me."
She looked up and felt her breath whisk away. His eyes met hers squarely, snowflakes balancing on his lashes, lips curled into an impish smile. "Well, then, I suppose we'll have to call a truce?"
"Indeed."
"Mister Turner," she thrust her hand out. "I hereby declare an armistice."
"Certainly." But instead of taking the outstretched palm he reclaimed her waist and tipped her back.
It was an unexpected move to say the least. Elizabeth's hands caught his shoulders and when she recovered a moment later from the shock she realized that Will was only centimeters away, the warm of his exhale washing over her cheek.
"Will! What are you-"
Her lips met his and the world melted away.
Next Thursday: Puppets!