Highland came running into the library of the school, panting and with melting snow running down the back of his neck.

"What happened to you?" Elsie asked, looking up from her book.

"Snowballs..." Highland gasped. "I need to talk to you. Like now."

"What about?" she asked suspiciously.

"I can't… say here. Just… well, come with me."

So Elsie followed Highland out of the library and to a back entrance of school, a seldom-traveled corner where they would not be overheard.

"Honestly, Highland, what on earth is it?"

"Okay, so you're going to think I'm crazy or something, but…" he hesitated, looking off to the side.

"Just spit it out, Highland!" Elsie said impatiently.

"Fine, fine. Um, I think that there's a ghost or something following me because snowballs keep flying at me from nowhere every time I step outside and I don't think I'm going crazy because there is definately snow in my hair right? Seriously every time I go outside snowballs go flying and I can never see anyone throwing them and even when I drive somewhere when I get out of the car the snowballs attack again WHAT IS GOING ON?" Highland said this all very fast.

Elsie stared at him in disbelief. "Highland..."

"I swear to you, I am not making this up. Watch." He walked to the door and pushed it open. He walked outside and stood in the small field that bordered this side of the school. Elsie followed him skeptically. She raised one eyebrow as Highland stood still on the thick layer of snow.

"Just-" he began, but a pile of snow fell directly on top of his head, cutting him off. Elsie snorted, watching Highland wipe snow from his eyes. "See?" He said. "I'm not standing under anyth-" a snowball hit him hard in the side of the head. He stumbled sideways and managed to right himself just in time for another snowball to hit him straight in the face.

Elsie looked over her shoulder, trying to see where it had come from. Whoever had thrown it had amazing aim. It had sailed over her shoulder and whistled past her ear in the blink of an eye.

"Elsie!" Highland cried. She turned back to see him being pelted from all directions with no apparent source of the snowballs.

She burst out laughing. She couldn't help it, it was hilarious. He was cowering on the ground now, and the snow was still flying.

"Don't just stand there, help me!" he said through a mouthful.

"What can I do?" She giggled. "But I do believe you now. This is pretty weird.

"It wasn't happening like this before!"

She rolled her eyes. "Come here." She grabbed his arm and tugged him inside, snow still hitting his back but not catching her. She dragged him through the door and the onslaught stopped. A single snowball hit the door behind them.

"WHAT ON EARTH IS HAPPENING?" Highland shrilled.

"Keep your voice down!" Elsie said. "I don't know, but it looks like something weirdly supernatural. Not that I'm an expert."

"Great, now are we gonna go on an adventure to figure it out?"

Elsie grinned. "Looks like it." then her face fell. "Jack would've liked this." she said.

Highland turned away. Another snowball hit the window.

Highland flinched. "Yeah, well, since he's not here-" another snowball hit the window behind him. He turned, incredulous. "WHAT THE EVEN? Anyway, should we ask someone about this? That one kid Tyrone, or maybe the Winston brothers?" There were a few kids in their school who claimed to be experts on the supernatural. Such things were not unheard of, though still widely unbelieved.

Elsie rolled her eyes. "I don't want to ask anyone else. And I don't feel like dealing with Tyrone's crazy sister or that Casey guy who hangs out with the Winstons. I swear there's no way he's an exchange student, he's way too weird…"

"Well then, what are we going to do?!" Highland said, cutting her off.

"Investigate it ourselves, of course!" And she marched outside.

"I'm not going back out there!" Highland called after her. She ignored him as she pushed open the door.

Elsie walked back outside. Jack's heart leaped, but he tried to steady his emotions. Just because Highland had noticed something didn't mean this was going anywhere. She was looking around curiously.

He carefully shaped another snowball and aimed. It fell right at Elsie's feet. She picked it up, but the powdery snow disintegrated in her hands. Floating upward, Jack carefully blew a tiny flurry towards her. The snow lifted out of her hands and off the ground, spiraling upward around her. He circled her, keeping the flakes spinning. She spun slowly on the spot, looking up in wonder.

Elsie had never seen anything like this. She had a personal snowstorm, swirling wind somehow keeping out the cold. The air seemed to sparkle. She forgot about everything and leaned into it, and felt a cold touch on her cheek. She opened her eyes, but nothing was there.

Jack watched her stroke the spot where he had kissed her. She had felt it. He yearned so badly for her to see him. He touched the ground and leaned in toward her…

Suddenly the door flew open. "How are you doing that?" Highland cried.

The flurry dropped as if it had never been. Jack turned, angry at Highland for spoiling the moment. Elsie was still in a daze.

"What was tha-" Highland was cut off by a large pile of snow which had dropped on his head. Jack snickered. He hadn't done that on purpose, but it was funny.

Elsie shook herself. "I… I don't know." She looked around. "Highland?"

A muffled shout came from inside the snow pile. Elsie laughed and helped Highland out.