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The snow had covered the city like frosting over a cake. The city was decorated to its fullest. The streets were full with people and Wintertown was already set up to look like a fairytale.

Wintertown was made up of numerous rustic wooden chalets in deep red shades and warm tones, a large carousel that was only brought out for Christmas, an ice rink and many other attractions.

We paraded in Wintertown holding hands like other couples and stopped to see each and every market stands. On one they were selling different colored Christmas sweaters and socks. On another there were decorations for the walls, tables, chairs, shelves, cars and specific ones for the Christmas trees, not to mention there were maybe ten different stands with different sweets for the children and food and beverages for us visitors. The smell of freshly baked gingerbread hearts and cinnamon pastries was irresistible.

I just loved winter. We grabbed some snacks and some hot chocolate and continued sightseeing.

"Are your hands warm?" Elric asked and handed me to hold his hot chocolate.

"I'm okay." I smiled. I forgot my gloves in my school bag but I was too happy to think if my hands were shaking.

Suddenly he took his money out and turned towards a stand taking a look. He reached for something and then brought me back these really cute white gloves with a gold baby reindeer on them.

"Oh they are too cute. Way too cute.Thank you." I smiled.

He took the hot chocolate from my hands and put them on an empty bench behind me and helped me put them on. He rubbed my hands.

"Better."

I nodded and tipped on my toes to kiss him.

He pulled me to sit on the bench with him until we finished our drinks. He held my hand and played with my fingers.

"So anything you want to do after this?" He asked.

Do I? I only had imagined the perfect winter dates since forever.

"I want to go ice skating." I pointed towards the street. "There is an ice rink in winter town."

"Okay.We're doing that later." He smiled.

"Yay." I leaned my head on his shoulder. " Are you coming to our Christmas party?"

"Yes."

"Do you have anything you want for Christmas? " I looked up at him.

"Don't buy me anything." He answered.

"I'll give it to you secretly. No one will know." What does he mean by "no present". What nonsense is this? I don't operate that way on Christmas.

He shook his head. "I don't really need anything. I have everything I want. I mean it. And if there is something I want I go and buy it."

I pouted. "It just feels stupid not to be able to give you anything. I have to at least bake something. Or give you a small gift."

"Okay okay. I have one. It's more like a wish request for after Christmas." He leaned his head thinking.

"What is it?" I asked excitedly.

"I want you to spend New Years eve with me. I know we get to celebrate Christmas with friends and family but I want to be alone with you. I told you that..you know that the gaming competition might take a lot of my time next year so I want to be with you more. Hold you more. Kiss you more. I don't feel like I'm getting enough time with you."

I was processing what he said. My heart was beating really fast. Hell yess. I wanted to be with him more. Well as for sexy time, we were not going to do that for sure. It was way too soon for me... I tried to study his face. He didn't seem like he was thinking about it, but genuinely wanted more time with me.

"It's a perfectly timed request because I can come up with a plan for that time." I smiled and hugged him. "I want to spend more time with you as well."

He hugged me back tightly and leaned over my ear. "I love you."

It was so sweet and genuine that I melted like a Popsicle in summer.

"I love you too."

After people had started to stare at us we realized it was better to keep going.

We visited the ice skating rink and borrowed some ice skates from the counter.

I glided on the ice as a professional while Elric behind me was struggling. He always did everything so perfectly so seeing him hold onto the rail for dear life, was priceless.

I slid over next to him and held him under his arm.

"You have to use your knees. They have to be bent and you have to always lean a bit forward. If your legs are straight and your back is straight you'll keep falling over."

"Okay." He let go of the rail holding onto me. "Now what?"

"Skates point outward." I made my legs into a form. "You slide like this forward. When you're too fast and want to slow down or stop you make them go inwards. It takes a bit of practice."

I let go of him and tried showing him in the best way I could. He tried copying me, very hesitant, but did it on the first try.

"Oh this is easy." He did it one more time.

The third time he even did a spin.

"You're a natural." I slid over to him. "That was amazing. Do it again."

He did it faster this time spinning into a full circle.

I clapped my hands. "Damn that was so good. You're really good at this."

He grinned and grabbed my hand pulling me to skate with him.

We had so much fun. We skated together, fell together, but it was so fun that I was never going to forget this moment.

After we got off the rink and we changed back into our boots two young girls approached us. They couldn't have been more than 12 or 13. They looked shy but excited as well.

"Hi. Hey. excuse me miss, sir. We took a few pictures and one video of you guys skating. Do you want to see them? We can send them to you."

"Yes. Let me see." I asked excitedly.

She sent them to me rather fast. The pictures were so well taken and clear and the video was even cuter.

"Are you two professionals? These look so good?" I asked genuinely surprised.

Elric didn't say anything, but I could tell he liked the pictures because he was smiling while looking at them.

"We are shippers. We ran an instagram account for couples. I was going to ask you if I can post them." One of them asked.

I bit my lower lip. "Oh I would have let you in a heartbeat but you see we are dating in secret because my brother is his best friend and we need to keep this a secret until we realize how to tell him."

I expected sad faces and disappointment but the girlies were hyped to the maximum. "Oh my god that is so movie like." One of them said.

"Yes. And we are totally supportive of forbidden romances. We will support you. Don't worry." The other one nodded.

"Thank you." I smiled at them.

"Have fun on your date." They said their goodbyes and ran along giggling.

"We have more pictures together." I showed him one. "I love collecting pictures from our dates. It makes dreamy moments like this so real."

"I love this one. First thing after we go public I'll put this on my phone wallpaper." He said.

"Me too. Hey let's go to the carousel next." I suggested.

"Only if we go eat something later. I'm starving." He put a hand around my shoulder.

"I promise."

***

We sat inside a cafe-lounge bar that was quite busy. A jazzy version of jingle bells was playing through the speakers but it was smothered by the chatters of everyone in the cafe. The tables were small and cute and mostly made for two. The chairs were a burgundy red color and the table was made out of wood that had a pinkish tone. It was ultra aesthetic.

Elric and I were sitting at one table away from the fireplace. Yes, the cafe had a fireplace! It was decorated with green and red ornaments on top and even the photos of coffee framed over the fireplace were decorated with lights. In fact the whole roof was overflowing with yellowish lights.

Elric played around with the candle while we were waiting for the server.

I just couldn't stop staring at the bar. It was so movie-like. Decorations like small Santa salts and reindeer peppers were placed on top of the bar. The large Christmas tree was just slightly covering up the menu with coffee options that were so many that I just couldn't make up my mind.

The busy server finally showed up and took our orders. She was super nice and helped us make a choice. This day couldn't get any more perfect.

I took off my coat and the cute gloves Elric bought for me. I was finally warm enough.

My phone buzzed and I quickly pulled it out to check my messages. I laughed as soon as I read the message and started typing vigorously.

"Who're you talking to?" Elric asked.

"Oh just Remi." I said.

"What's so funny?" He asked, trying to peek.

"We're choosing our activities and her ideas are hilarious."

"Activities?" He raised a brow.

"Yes. Christmas activities. We do this every year. We're trash for anything Christmas. Movies, cooking, visiting the best Christmas cafes, shopping for presents, making snowmen families.."

"Families?" Elric laughed.

"Yes. We go all out. Oh my god. !" I suddenly realized.

"What?" Elric asked, entertained by my reactions.

"I can buy a mistletoe. I can finally kiss under the mistletoe like they do in the movies. How willing are you to kiss under the mistletoe?"

He leaned over and pinched my nose. "My girlfriend is so cute. I'll do anything you want for Christmas with you. Even if that requires a sacrifice on my side and kissing under the mistletoe. "

"Anything?" I smirked. "You'll do anything?"

"Yes anything." He smirked back at me.

"Even if it means posing half naked with my cats and taking pictures for a calendar that I'm going to put in my room and lovingly stare at all year. I mean every Hallmark fireman does it for Christmas. "

He leaned back in his chair laughing his ass off. "Oh god."

The server came by, dropped our food and drinks and left. Elric was still laughing.

"I mean if you're not into that..."

"What else do they do in those Hallmark movies?" Elric brought the mug to his lips. "Do they make love by the fireplace?" He winked and took a sip.

"They do, but you don't have a fireplace."

He coughed out the sip and I leaned over laughing, helping him put the mug down. "Sorry."

Elric shook his head smiling."Oh, I asked for it."

"We can try doing something less sexy for Christmas. I don't want to push it." I smiled and put my phone away so we could eat.

"Don't tempt me." He warned me and then he focused on the food.

I kept smiling on the inside. Well.. I guess I shouldn't poke the lion. For now.

***

The day ran by so fast that by the time it got dark, I was surprised by the notion that I had to go home. It's true that time flies when you're having fun.

Elric couldn't take me home because there was a big risk of being seen so we had to separate at the tramway station. It had started snowing again deep into the already darkening sky.

We held hands waiting for the tramway to come. We plugged in our headphones together and listened to music in silence. It was so relaxing and peaceful that I couldn't imagine a better person to be with.

"I think that's your ride." Elric pulled the headphones from my ears. "That was too fast."

"I know." I pouted. "Should we go somewhere tomorrow?"

He nodded. "Let's go to the mall. I heard from some people at the ice skating rink that there might be a Christmas concert there."

"Deal." I kissed him and then ran towards the tramway. I waved at him as he disappeared into the distance and then sank down on the cold leather chair with a bittersweet feeling. I was sad to say goodbye to him but also happy that I would get to see him tomorrow. Love was so strange and new that each day was a new experience.