After growing up in Idaho, where they get a bunch of snow every winter, the magic of the first snowfall loses its excitement over the years. As kids, it meant tobogganing, snowmen, and the possibility of snow days and missing school. As an adult, it means shovelling driveways, driving in horrible weather, and the possibility of an accident.
Mason forgets how pretty it can look, but he's reminded when Jamie sees it for the first time and gasps.
When he arrived at UoI back in August, he met the sweetest, most caring guy ever in his orientation group and residence house. Jamie, born and raised in California, is funny and makes sure everyone is included, drawing a smile to everyone's face with his sunny personality. Okay, maybe Mason is biased because Jamie drew him out of his introverted shell and quickly became his best friend. He's also gorgeous, and Mason has more than a small crush on him.
They spend every weekend together, and the days get colder as they get further into the fall. Jamie wears more and more layers, but his warm smiles and upbeat personality never dim, even as the shorter, darker days affect others.
"You're really not used to cold weather, huh," Mason says, leaning against the open door to Jamie's dorm room as he watches him wrap a second scarf around his neck. The first is under his thick coat, and the second is on top, going further up his neck. He's really not going to be prepared for the bitter winter months ahead. It's only November, and he's already dressed like there are three feet of snow.
"Nope!" Jamie pulls his hat low and puts on a pair of gloves. "What do you think is for dinner today? I hope it's chicken burgers. Those were good. Ooo! Or mac and cheese. Or-"
"I get it," Mason interrupts with a laugh. "You're hungry. Pretty sure you have a hollow leg with the amount of food you eat."
Jamie laughs, shrugs, and waltzes past him. "Guilty. Come on."
He practically skips down the stairs, and Mason smiles fondly. After knowing each other for less than three months, Jamie already has Mason wrapped around his finger. Not that he'd use that to his advantage. He's too nice of a person to do that.
Mason follows him down the three flights of stairs and into the entrance hall, only to smack into his back when Jamie freezes in the entranceway between the two doors with a gasp.
"What?" Stepping around him to see what stopped him in his tracks, Mason looks out the windows and sees that it started snowing at some part during the day. There is probably an inch on the ground. He looks back to Jamie to ask why he stopped, but then he sees the expression on his face.
Wide eyes and full of wonder, jaw dropped open but curling up in a smile. He walks forward in a trance, pushes open the external door and steps into the falling snow. Holding out a hand, snowflakes land in his gloved palm, and he giggles.
Remembering that Jamie is from California, he asks, "Have you never seen snow before?"
Wordlessly, Jamie shakes his head, still staring at the snow gathering in his hand. Then his head tips back, and he looks up into the swirling, dizzying, and hypnotic spell of snow falling through the air. He blinks and stares, then giggles again as he closes his eyes. Snowflakes gather on his eyelashes and face, the ones on his warm skin melting and leaving little drops of water that glitter in the streetlamp over the residence's entrance.
Mason can't look away. He was beautiful before, but now, with pure wonderment on his face, he's downright stunning. His heart threatens to beat right out of his chest as he stares at his best friend. It's been a long time since he's seen someone appreciate snow like this. Most people he knows take it for granted or are annoyed by it, but Jamie's reaction reminds him that snow is a beautiful, wonderful part of nature.
Reaching into his pocket, he withdraws his phone, holds it up, and takes a picture. Partly because he likes how Jamie looks, but mostly because he has a feeling it's an important moment for Jamie, and he thinks Jamie would want something to remember it by.
"This is amazing," Jamie whispers like he's afraid of breaking the magic by speaking too loud.
"It is."
Taking off a glove, Jamie crouches and takes off one of his gloves. He reaches down and touches the snow, his hand flinching back at the cold temperature. Then he reaches out again and picks up a handful, and holds his hand out flat, letting some of the snow fall off.
"Jamie?"
Jamie looks up, then blushes and stands, wiping his hand against his leg. "Sorry. I just…"
Mason touches his arm. "It's okay. I was going to ask if you wanted to get takeout from somewhere off campus and look at the snow."
"Really? You want to sit in the snow with me?"
Mason nods, and a shy smile graces Jamie's lips.
"Okay."
They go to a local sub shop and get their sandwiches to go, then find a bench in a park to sit. They don't talk while they eat, and it's perfectly quiet. The only sounds are from nearby traffic, but even those sounds are muted.
"It's so peaceful," Jamie finally says, breaking the quiet. "It's so calm and soothing. I never knew it was like this."
"Fun fact, snowflakes actually catch soundwaves in their branches and absorb the sounds, meaning that snow- freshly fallen fluffy snow- traps sounds, which is why the whole world sounds quieter when it's snowing. One study found that a couple of inches can absorb up to 60 percent of sound."
"Wow. That's incredible."
They sit for another five minutes before Mason notices Jamie is shivering.
"Do you want to head back now?"
"Not yet. I'm good here." He does press himself closer to Mason, though, and Mason wraps an arm around his shoulder, hoping to warm him up. Jamie burrows into his side. He inhales a couple of times like he's going to say something, but doesn't. Just when Mason thinks he isn't going to say what's on his mind, Jamie turns to face him. "Is this a date?"
Mason's breath catches. He swallows. "Do you want it to be?"
"Yes," Jamie whispers. He leans in and presses a kiss to Mason's cheek. His lips are chapped, and his nose is cold, but Mason doesn't care. Especially when Jamie pulls back and smiles sweetly, saying a thousand things in his sparkling eyes.
Cupping Jamie's cheek, Mason leans in slowly, giving Jamie plenty of time to pull away. He doesn't. Instead, he pushes his face forward and gently brushes his lips against Mason's.
The kiss is sweet and perfect, and Mason doesn't think it's possible for there to be a better first kiss.