The surface breaks, ever so gently, with merely the slightest bit of pressure upon it's frosty coating. My booted foot plunges into the soft fluff beneath. When I withdraw it, a crisply cut hole remains behind, a reminder of the quiet destruction I brought upon it with the lightest touch. I shiver, and glance up at the two beside me. She's quietly laughing, unassuming as always, her sweet smile as white as the snow falling around us. Behind her, he is sulking, and yet not sulking. He is content, and shows this through his growl of "Not like that!" as she stumbles, attempting to catch the miniscule flakes on her tongue.

My eyes remain fixed to my feet.

Maybe.

Just maybe.

Her eyes shine with the light of a thousand stars, sparkling blue. They pierce me right through, baring me to the soul with just a simple aqua glance. I shiver again, although the heat has returned to my body full-force. I can't help but imagine how that arm would feel around my shoulders, how badly I'd shiver if she looked right into my face. My eyes are still glued to my boots.

What would I do if I were different?

You've read the stories. You've seen the movies. The girl always gets up her courage and tells the guy she likes, and either he rejects her and she kills herself or they live happily ever after...together. Real life doesn't work like that.

I can see it. I can see myself running up to her, right now, in front of him, and I can see myself kissing her, finally kissing her, as soft, as gentle, as sweet as the snow. I can see his look of disgust, his rage. I can see her looking at me strangely as though she'd never have guessed it, shocked, maybe a little freaked out. I can imagine the stares, the taunts, the rumours, and his mocking laughter, laughing at me for being a fool in love.

I could never. I could never sacrifice everything I've worked so hard to achive. I could never throw away this complacent existence, this "okay", in fear of things worse than this. Coward, that's what I am. My imagination is my only hope, my only hope that someday she and I could...

My peace is shattered.

A soft impact, the powder immediately covering my shoulder. I stare at it, shocked out of my silence. She beams at me, laughing so simply, yet somehow lighting me up from inside.

"Yuki-kun!" Her voice is like a bird's. "Come play with us!"

I laugh with her, and the snow flies furiously as we launch handfuls of the powder into the air, covering all three of us from head to toe with white fluff. Her grin is fixed in my mind, so beautiful, so sweet, and I know she would never laugh at me for loving her.

Yet, I cannot tell her.

Someday.

Maybe.

Just maybe.