Christmas morning. Artemis lay awake in bed, thinking about the day to come. While everyone else thought about presents and roast turkey, she thought about Ranger. She looked at the little red box, tied with yellow ribbon, sitting on her bedside table, inside was a red stone shaped like a heart.

"Artemis!" her younger brother ran into the room. Apollo was often described as the spitting image of her, but as a boy. They had the same eyes, same hair color, same skin tone, but Artemis was a lot taller than the younger boy.

"What is it?" she asked, knowing what he was going to say.

"Santa's been!" He held up two stockings. Artemis smiled at the ten-year-old. Apollo handed her her stocking, then set to work opening everything in his. Before long, the whole room was covered in wrapping paper and empty boxes. Artemis always loved the little things she got in her stocking each year, a necklace chain, nail paint, a travel hair brush, and lots of chocolate. All very useful things.

"Shall we wake the parents and open the presents under the tree?" she asked her little brother.

"Yes!" he squealed in excitement. She laughed and followed him through to her parents room. It took them awhile to get the parents up, but once they did it was all go on the stuff under the tree. Apollo ripped through gift after gift, opening everything in the time it took Artemis to carefully open and examine one small present. It was a heart shaped pendant, covered with glittery diamonds. She dashed upstairs and grabbed the necklace chain from her socking, attaching the pendant she hung the necklace around her neck.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The day had gone pretty much exactly how Artemis had expected it too. Giving and receiving gifts, seeing family members, eating way too much food, and having fun. It was the very end of the day when Artemis was at the door putting on her coat.

"Where are you going, love?" asked her mother, as she walked past arms piled high with dirty dishes. Dishes Artemis knew she'd leave till tomorrow.

"Too see Ranger" she didn't see the point in lying.

"It's dark"

"I'll be careful"

"Your family are all still here"

"Mum, it's christmas, I'll be back before they go, promise"

"Oh, alright then, stay safe"

"I will" and with that she slipped out the door. She cold air hit her like someone had just thrown a ball at her face. It felt strangely quiet in the dark snow covered streets without the consent laughter and chatter of grandparents and cousins. As she walked through her estate, she noticed all the Christmas decorations and lights outside every door. Behind each door, each family was having their own christmas. From parties with second cousins twice removed, to newly married couples spending their first christmas alone together. With all the lights and the faint sounds of laughter coming from each house, as well as the soft fresh blanket of snow beneath her feet, Artemis felt like she was in some winter wanderland. Like she was walking through Santas elf village, where it always had this magical atmosphere. She pulled out her phone and texted Ranger. 'Meet me in the park'. Almost immediately a reply came through. 'Why?' 'you'll see' and with that, she turned off her phone.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

It had been a long, cold, walk to the park, but it had been worth it. Artemis enjoyed the feeling of stepping on frosty grass, and loved the pretty lights she passed, but most importantly, she was going to see Ranger at the end of it. She stood alone in the park, under one of the street lights so she could see. A person was running up the icy path towards her. Their gonna slip, Artemis thought to herself. As the person grew closer, she realised it wasn't just someone out for a cold Christmas jog, it was Ranger.

"Hi, I ran all the way here" he laughed, skidding to a stop next to her.

"Ranger, thanks for coming" she smiled.

"You're welcome? Oh, merry christmas!" she laughed. It was then that she realised these were probably her and Rangers last moments as just friends. She looked at him, pointy nose, almost invisible freckles, eyes with the effect of smashed glass in them. He wasn't the most handsome boy, but looks had never mattered to Artemis, and in her eyes, he was the most beautiful person alive.

"Merry christmas" she smiled, then handed him the box.

"Oh, thanks, I didn't get you any-"

"I don't need a gift, Ranger, I might be good at giving, but let's face it, I'm terrible at receiving" they both laughed.

"You sure?"

"Just open it already" as he untied the ribbon, Artemis' doubts began to wander in. What if Hunter had been wrong? What if Ranger wasn't ready yet? What if he didn't understand, or worse disliked the way she was showing her feelings for him. It was too late now, he was opening the lid.

"What's this?" he asked, a huge smile on his face as he held up the little red stone, polished and smooth.

"Hunter said you liked me, this is my way of telling you I like you too" this was the bravest Artemis had ever been. She needed more courage now than she would need to jump off a cliff, into shark infested, freezing water, with the hopes of surviving.

"Hunter told you that?" he asked, sounding angry. For a moment Artemis worried it was because Hunter had lied, but as Ranger continued her fears were taken away. "I told him not to tell anyone! But then again, I'm glad he did, glad you knew, glad you told me how you feel"

"It's true?"

"Of course it's true!" Artemis couldn't quite believe what was happening, all she had to do now was try not to mess this up.

"So, we both like each other, what now?"

"This" she felt Ranger throw his arms around her. She smiled and held him tight. It was just Artemis, Ranger, the moon, and the snow. Nothing else. No noise, except from their quiet breathing. No smells, other than the scent of each other's clothes. All they could feel was each other, as they stood there in a deep embrace. Their eyes were closed, but if they could have seen each other's faces they'd have seen each other smiling in pure joy, although they were so calm it just looked like contentment. After what must have been at least five minutes, they stepped back. Artemis suddenly felt cold without Ranger's body heat. "I love you, Artemis" he spoke so softly, it was like he was a different person.

"I love you too, Ranger" she replied, just as soft. It was as if Artemis wasn't thinking as she leaned towards him, and placed her lips on his. They were there for less than a second, before she caught herself and pulled back. "I'm sorry-" she began, but Ranger cut her off.

"Shh, it's ok" he leaned forward and kissed her. It felt so unreal, Artemis thought she must be dreaming.

"Hit me, I need to know if this is a dream" Ranger did as he was told, and smacked her across the face.

"Ow! Not that hard!" she laughed. He laughed too.

"Sorry, you asked for it" she smiled, then checked the time on her phone.

"My mum will be wanting me back" she sighed.

"Yeah, same"

"I'll text you when I get home"

"I'll text first"

"No I will!" They both laughed again. Oh the familiar sound of her laughter, it would never get old.

"Love you" he kissed her forehead then turned around and ran off into the darkness.

"Love..you too" she whispered after him. Then, heart beating faster than she knew was possible, Artemis turned around and began the walk home. She almost forgot to check the roads, she was so lost in her own world of eternal happiness. She didn't care how mad her family would be about her absence when she returned. She didn't care what people thought of her, she didn't care what people said about her, she didn't care about anything, not at all. The world was carefree and happy. She whooped in joy, not caring if she woke up a sleeping child in the houses she was passing by. She ran the rest of the way home laughing. As she reached her door, she looked up at the moon. Snow was gently falling once more now, floating down around her to land on the already white pavements. As she stared off at the sky she smiled. "I love you Ranger" she told the moon, hoping Ranger would be looking up at that same moon, and hearing her words from it, or that her words would be carried with the snow, right to his ears. Ranger looked up at that same moon, in that same snow and thought about Artemis. He was bursting with happiness, but he didn't let it show. Coco ran out of the door and bounded over to him, jumping up and licking his face.

"I did it girl" he said to the dog, not even pushing her down. She barked happiny, almost like she understood, which he knew she didn't, but he didn't care. Artemis loved him, that was the whole world right now. 

Random note, I feel like this book is loseing quality part by part XD also I just wanted to say that I made that snow angel :) I love snow angles :D....gosh it feels wrong to be doing a note in this book I'll go now bye