Snowflakes and Sweethearts

❅ i've got my love to keep me warm

"You've got to be kidding me," Max Mayfield lets out an exaggerated groan as she steps out of the Hawkins High School front doors and into what looks and feels like a winter wonderland.

There aren't exactly mountains of snow surrounding them, but there are enough white blankets piled on the ground for Max to know that her bike ride home may be met with icy turbulence. Not that she could even ride home, her tires would most likely slip and slide on the frosty slush; and she wasn't prepared for the stinging feeling she would get while the frigid air collided with her face and bare skin. She gently hugged herself, running her hands up and down her arms and the goosebumps forming on them.

"Are you cold?"

Max looked up at Lucas Sinclair and followed his eyes as they wandered to Max's bare arms and her poor attempt at finding warmth. When she noticed this, she stopped, letting her arms drop to her side. "I'm fine," she mumbled, turning away from him.

"I told you it would snow today," He chuckled, wrapping one of his arms around her. Lucas did tell her it would snow today, but in the same conversation, he'd broken a date with her due to a surprise basketball practice. After that, she found it hard to focus on the rest of what he was saying without getting agitated.

"I said I'm fine," she shrugged his arm off and crossed her arms. She looked down at the ground and decided to focus on the glistening snow instead of how she did feel a sense of warmth after those few seconds of Lucas embracing her.

It was primarily due to the Hawkins varsity jacket he always wore.

But it was also because Lucas was a warm being.

He was this person that Max could latch onto and suddenly she was melting into someone else. Someone else that a lot of other people didn't have access to, but Lucas did.

With him, she allowed herself to feel comforted, safe and loved; because he made her feel comforted, safe, and loved. And if things were as right as she felt they were, she made him feel just the same.

"If you say so," Lucas raised his hands as if surrendering to her. "But if you want to, you can wear my jacket."

"I don't want to wear your jacket, Lucas." She lied, she promised herself she would not fold. She would not break merely because of Lucas Sinclair and his dumb basketball jacket.

The dumb basketball jacket was warm and probably smelled like him.

"Are you sure?" He raised an eyebrow, already moving to pull off the letterman.

"I'm sure." She said, actually not sure. She wanted his varsity jacket. It wasn't just about not being cold. It was about wearing something that was his. She wanted the jacket.

"Okay then," Lucas completely removes the letterman coat. He holds it in one hand, and uses the other to gently grasp one of Max's wrists and pulls her to him.

She ends up bumping into him, and for a few seconds, she wonders if he did that on purpose. Then she dismisses those thoughts because whether he did or didn't, she doesn't care. It happens a lot, and secretly, she likes it.

"Here," he helps her take off her backpack, slinging it over one of his shoulders. She thinks he shouldn't be carrying both of their bags at once, but it's only for a few seconds and she knew Lucas liked doing things like this for her.

Max notes how Lucas could have gone behind her and held the letterman up so she could simply slide her arms inside. But instead, he stands in front of her and reaches his arms around her, something like a hug, but not quite. An excuse to share little intimate touches here and there.

She then pushes her arms through the sleeves and lets Lucas adjust the article of clothing to a proper fit. Again, excuses for touching. She loves it.

"Okay," he steps back, looks at her from head to toe, and grins. "You look amazing."

"Thanks," she clears her throat. She can feel the heat on her face and hopes her blushing isn't obvious, though with her luck it probably is.

"Thanks to me and my sense of style." He grins, watching Max's smile fall.

She rolls her eyes, marching up to him and snatching her bag. "You're so annoying."

Lucas laughs, pulling her into him once again and locking her into a hug. She doesn't return the hug, which is okay, because sometimes he just likes to hold her and he knows she likes that too.

"Alright," he separates himself from her after a few seconds. A few seconds too soon if you ask Max. "I have practice," he sighs, "but I'll see you later."

"Later," she nods.

"Stay warm," he says before disappearing back into Hawkins High.

"Stay warm." She repeats quietly as she beams to herself.