When a mysterious new guy joins my meteorology class, a blizzard comes to campus.
The new guy is sullen, frosty, and everything he touches turn to ice.
As the snow on campus gets worse, I must help him. Because he says his name is Winter.
And if hi...
Winter is already sat on a bench looking out at the campus lake when I arrive – illuminated by a white moon. The ground is still covered in snow, but it's been the mildest day since the start of the month. It crunches as I make my way towards him.
I don't want to be nervous, but I am.
There's something about this guy.
Something weird.
Something intoxicating.
He looks over his shoulder and catches my eye. I feel a flutter of embarrassment as I remember the last time we locked eyes he was stood in front of me in nothing but his boxers.
If he is embarrassed he doesn't show it.
The corner of his lip tugs upwards into a half smile. Relief passes across his silver eyes.
"You came," he says.
He thought I wouldn't?
I nod, brandishing the flask of hot chocolate I've brought with me.
"And I brought some of the 'warm stuff'."
I sit down beside him. Neither of us speaks. We look out onto the lake – part of it coated in a thin layer of ice. The stars reflect in the water.
"You turned that water into ice," I blurt after a while. "In the cafe."
Winter turns to me, his eyes serious.
"Yes."
"The guy broke his hand when he punched your face," I continue. "Your room was completely frozen."
He nods slowly.
"Last night you said you brought the storm."
He nods again – his expression deadly serious.
"What...I mean...who...are you?" I ask.
"Winter," he says simply.
I look at him, tension seeps from his body. He is waiting for me to judge him, waiting for me to walk away.
I don't.
I can't.
"I am Winter," he says. "I bring the storms, and the snow."
He looks at me, his eyes glistening. He's telling the truth.
And somehow it doesn't scare me.
"I don't mean to. I don't want to hurt anyone," he says. "That's why I've lived alone for so long."
"Why did you come here?" I ask in a whisper.
He shrugs rigidly.
"Answers," he says. "It's been getting worse."
He puts his hand to his heart.
"It has been getting more and more frozen."
I want to reach out and touch him again. Instead I take a sip of hot chocolate.
"You have the best Meteorology department in the world. I thought I could get answers. I wanted to know where I came from. I wanted to find out how to make it stop."
I look up at him.
"Did you?"
He smiles.
"Yes. I think so," he says. "But it wasn't in a way that I expected. Come."
He stands up and holds out his hand. I put down the flask and take it.
He walks me to the edge of the lake – bends down and touches the dark water.
"Do you trust me?" he says.
Somehow I do.
He looks ahead and I inhale sharply. Where his hand touches the water it begins to turn to ice. It travels across the lake until there's a wide path leading to the centre.
He reaches for my hand again, and together we walk across it. When we reach the middle he puts his hands gently on my arms and looks at me deeply.
"Do you know you're the only person who has ever tried to see me? The only person who has really tried to figure out who I am?"
I think he's going to kiss me then, but he doesn't. He just looks at me, his fingers lightly circling my arms.
"You're the only person who has ever tried to save me."
I place my hand to his chest, right over his heart. He tenses a moment then relaxes.
"I think I know how to fix it," he says. "I think I know how to thaw my heart. I've been alone for so long I almost forgot what it was like."
I look up at him, feeling his heartbeat lightly through his jacket.
"What what was like?" I ask.
"To feel something," he says. "To feel love."
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