Jess was felling especially giddy today. Yesterday it was the last day of curricular school activites and coincidentally the day of first snow.
Her schedule was free, the scenery was painted in beautiful tones of frost and most importantly she was spending the afternoon with one of her favourite people.
Jess' eyes drifted to the stoic young man keeping stride with her. Those cold pale blue eyes were glazed over and felt colder than the ice crystals brushing against her skin.
Even now he made the mere act of walking a choreographed dance. The wind blew hard knocking her hair into her eyes. On the other hand, the weather seemed to work differently around him. Not even a single hair swayed in the wind, like it acknowledged that he was too pristine to touch.
The cold gale crashed into her, harder this time. She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. He finally turned his head to look at her, but his eyes weren't really focused. He was observing in ways she could not describe, even the motion of turning his head was unnecessary, but he did so anyway. Out of courtesy and so not to unnerve her—she appreciated the effort more than she deemed to admit.
"Are you alright? " His voice was monotonous, but she knew he cared.
"I'm fine, just a bit chilly. But that's what the coat and scarf are here for." She usually dressed warmer, but not today, for reasons she could not speak of. He nodded solemnly. She noticed, after that not a single frigid gust bothered her again.
They were sitting now. A needed pause to discuss and share. She had made him promise yesterday and now it was time to reap the gossi... truths of her labour.
The silence blanketed them, tense but not awkward. Was she meant to go first, had he forgotten the promise. No, that wasn't it. She wasn't sure before, but now she was, he was a bit distracted today.
It didn't reflect in his face and his always absentminded gaze made it difficult to discern. Something was troubling him. Unease ate at Jess' stomach, could it be because of something between him and Jonathan.
*Sigh*
He let out a large puff of air, like he had resigned himself to some blasted fate. A small almost imperceptible smile rose on the corner of his lips. Jess caught it, but didn't speak, waiting for him.
"No need to be so anxious. I made conversation with him, yet it seems I'm as clueless as you are on the purpose." The small smile had long since faded, but she felt the ghost of it in his words.
"What exactly happened yesterday?" He heard the anxiety lessen, not fully, but enough.
"Jonathan invited me to his estate. We shared a cup of tea and a some snacks. And made small talk about an emotion invoking artwork in his sunroom. It was a mild mannered afternoon accompanied but civil conversation."
Jess knew he wasn't lying. But wasn't telling the whole story either. What private matter did they need to keep from her. It frustrated her and she couldn't ask Jonathan either. He wouldn't tell her, he was very secretive and recluse when it came to Lukehiem.
She kicked the earth in frustration, kicking up gravel and snow that was barely a centimeter thick. Luke's expression didn't change, but she felt... amusement.
"Don't laught at me!"
"I'm not."
"It might not show on your face, but I can sense it."
He didn't retort, she was accurate in her assessment.
"There's more. I'm sure there is more to it, so tell me." Then she added silently. "Unless it's private."
"We also shared another cup of the in the yard and shared witness to the first snow. That's all I can share." A warm smile bloomed. "I'm sorry, Jess."
"T-tha... It's fine." The smile left her scrambled and struggling to push the matter any further. "It really is okay. I won't push for more, as long as you're both okay, I'm happy." She returned a warm, bright grin of her own.
"Hm." He didn't look flustered as she did. But she felt his short reply wasn't as steady as usual.
"So sharing tea and watching the snowflakes together. I assume you've settled your differences." She had a cheeky smile on her face now.
"Nothing of the sort. Although I admit that yesterday's meeting cleared up a few things. And I'm sure of my stance when it comes to Jonathan now."
Yesterday's tryst had expanded his worldview and thoroughly crushed his budding ego. He needed it.
Jonathan wasn't just an enemy to be cautious of. He was a trial he needed to prevail over before he could venture further in search of secrets.
Any hope of exploration and growth was futile if this one wasn't overcome. He needed to take a more active role in discerning Jonathan's secrets.
Jess, completely unaware, was ecstatic to find out her two friends were making progress and weren't at each other's throats anymore. Luke didn't explain any further.
If withholding the truth and letting her form theories about this matter could keep her safe, then a small pang in his conscience was inconsequential. That smile was worth protecting, even by the likes of himself.
•••
Tobias watched his bumbling girlfriend with a wide smile stretched on his face. She absolutely loved the snow and had already spent the better part of their morning explaining all the plans she had for them this snowy season.
He used his icy hands to cool his flushed ears. The memory of the event that caused the persisting blush flashed again, warming his cooling ears once more. He wondered why the cause of his dilemma was so unaffected.
Just as they were about to exit her car for a stroll, she pinned him to his seat and stole a kiss and whatever was left of his chastity. It wasn't gentle either, how scandalous.
They chatted and laughed and she occasionally stopped to cup a wandering snowflake in her palm. Every action mesmerized him, charmed his heart to submission.
The drifting snow settled in her hair and shimmered faintly. Even with the clouds obscurating the sun, the lack of it's divine glisten on her beautiful dark skin, she still shone.
Her bright smile still bleeded warmth and light. She her made the snow's shimmer her own. A contrast, but also a natural blend worthy of his Sunburst.
Tobias could hold back no longer, he reached out to interlace his fingers in that luscious hair. But a sharp and sudden collision interrupted him.
Tobias shifted his weight, steadying himself while also grabbing the shoulders of the woman that rammed into him. Her shoulders were trembling violently, her breath was ragged and came in shallow gasps.
She held on to his shoulder for a moment longer, her head buried in his jacket sleeve.
"...I-I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." She pushed away from his shoulder like she'd been burned. Her shoulders shuddered, her face even hidden by her hair was pale and litless.
"Are you okay? You don't look well, there's a bench nearby. Why don't you sit down for a bit." Something was wrong, she didn't look well. It seemed that just a gust of wind could knock her off her feet.
Tobias was worried, she looked about his age, yet didn't at the same time. Like all of life troubles had swept through her, all at once.
"No!... T-thanks, but I am good." She was firm. Tobias didn't push any more. She muttered her thanks and walked away. When she passed, he finally got a proper look at her face.
Rebecca had watched the entire exchange and was both shocked and concerned. "She didn't look alright. But I don't think we should go after her... What's wrong?" Her concern shifted to Tobias, who now bore an expression of amazement and recognition.
"I think I know her, she should be a student at our school." His voice was solemn, but also relieved. At least he could make inquires later.
Tobias glanced down at the jacket sleeeve she had been holding onto just moments ago. He noticed a damp mark. Realisation dawned on him quickly.
'She was crying.' He knew it wasn't his place to pry. But something about her didn't seem right. Something was deeply wrong.
He didn't know how he came to that conclusion. It was more of an instinctive intuition than rational thought. Besides not everyone had a good day, life was full of challenges and struggle. He couldn't go about trying to help everyone resolve their problems.
Tobias knew that, but he kept reminiscing about her for the rest of the day. Much to his embarrassment, considering his girlfriend was right next to him. He was still going over the memory over and over again. Trying to understand why it felt so wrong.
He remembered her pale palor, her shallow breaths, her messy dark hair that clung to her face.
Her face. In that brief moment where he saw her face, the light streaming down, sharp on the angles... wait, the shadows cast by the light.
Ah! So that's what was wrong. The shadows around her were warped, too sharp in some places and too muddled in others.
Maybe it was his eyes playing tricks on him again, maybe it was the hallucinations finally taking hold outside the prison of tall woodland.
In the case of the former, that girl needed help. In the case of the latter, he was in dire need of psychiatric treatment. Now he was not sure which of the two he preferred.