'Hey, Berwald! It's me, Tino! I was just wondering how the situation is at your cousin's house :)'

It had been a long day after the coffee shop, and I had almost forgotten that I had the Swede's number. Lukas had indeed been mad that I had gotten lost, but Jia-Long threw a snowball at him and spared me a lecture. Mr. Puffin had dropped feathers everywhere(even though he wasn't supposed to be molting yet!), and I had to clean them up since everyone else was engaged in all-out war.

I jumped(along with my heart) as my phone buzzed.

'It's the strangest thing...' the text read. 'By the time I got there, all the snow had melted and I found Mathias drinking beer out on the lawn'

I chuckled, imagining the look on Berwald's face. Ooh, how mischievous am I!

'That certainly is lucky!'

'The snow was gone everywhere else, too. And now it just started back up again.'

Glancing out the window, I realized that my eagerness had started another snowfall – a gentler one this time. My cheeks went slightly pink. Why was I acting like such a schoolgirl stereotype? How could texting someone be so thrilling?

'Weird weather!'

'I'll say. This is uncanny. How are you?'

Oh good, he didn't suspect too much.

'Kinda exhausted, but happy. You?'

'Aside from the pest that is my cousin, I'm doing well'

Berwald was a lot easier to understand via text!

'Glad to hear it! Today was fun... we should meet up again sometime!' I was very brave to send that one. Was I asking him out? Did it seem like I was asking him out? Was I being too forward? Curse my nervousness! Why couldn't I be smooth and suave like the other demons?

It took an almost worrying amount of time for him to respond.

'Sorry for the delay, I dropped my phone and then Mathias stole it. Luckily, I got it back before he could damage it'

'He sounds like a handful!'

'He really is. Anyway, I'd really like to meet up again as well. I do need to get Mathias a Christmas present... care to go shopping with me on Saturday?'

I wasn't sure if we were planning a date or what, but I was excited.

'Sure! I need to get some salmiakki, anyway'

'I hope that won't be my present'

'Of course not, silly! I wouldn't tell you about what I'd get you!'

What was I to get him, anyway? We had barely just met, but I was already feeling socially obligated to give him something... a card would be too impersonal, but anything else would be too much.

"Hey, Tino, I need your help with- who are you texting?" Lukas asked, letting himself into my room without knocking like the rude asshole that he is.

"A friend." I said.

"Neither of us have any friends." Lukas pointed out.

"And whose fault is that, I wonder?" I asked playfully.

"Tino, I've told you time and time again that mortal/immortal relationships -be they romantic or platonic- don't work out. I don't want to see you get hurt."

I laughed. Lukas was so old-fashioned! He acted like he was everybody's older brother. I was starting to see why Emil was always so annoyed with him. On the other hand, Lukas had a point. A point I was trying hard not to consider.

Dammit.

It's not fair. It's not fair. I like Berwald and I want to be friends with him! It's as simple as that! I don't care what Lukas says! I don't care that I'm immortal! Some things are more important than keeping your heart shielded all the time!

"I'll be fine, Lukas." I said with a smile. "I'm older than you, you know! You don't need to be so protective of me! Remember, I was a viking!"

Lukas stared me down for a moment, cold eyes evaluating and calculating. I smiled back up at him, unwavering and cheerful.

"Who is this 'friend'?" Lukas asked icily.

"Some poor Swedish soul who's staying with his idiot cousin for Christmas." I shrugged. "He's very nice."

"What's his name?"

"If I tell you, you have to promise not to hunt him down and kill him." I teased.

"Fine." Lukas responded seriously, as if that was actually an option.

"His name is Berwald Oxenstierna. You would like him, I think." I said. "He's very smart."

"I see." Lukas said, crossing his arms.

My phone buzzed.

"Ah, that's probably him." I said. "I'm glad we had this little talk! See you later, Lukas!"

He took the hint and left as I checked my new text.

'I have to go, Mathias wants to decorate the tree and I have to make sure it won't fall on him. See you Saturday.'

'Do you believe in love at first sight?' I typed. I considered going to a doctor. This kind of erratic behavior was highly unusual for a calm individual such as myself! I went to hit the "delete" button... but, of course, fate was not on my side. The idiot phone designers had put the button I was going for right next to the "send" button!

"Shit!" I exclaimed before clapping a hand over my mouth. Even when alone, it felt so weird to swear. "Oh... fudge! I didn't mean to- why did I even- oh god..."

My phone buzzed again, startling the hell out of me.

'I'm starting to...'

(dat mean he love her more dan 4evr)