On the periphery of St. Stephen's, the most prestigious school in west of England, lies a small town of Wilshire. Mostly a hotspot for the students on weekends, it wears an isolated look on the day of Christmas. Majority of students had returned to their homes while those who remained in the Hostels were none too glad to stick their cold feet in the blankets and so it was quite a surprise to see an overcoat bearing figure make a beeline to the local Bakery shop through the snow clad terrain of Wilshire.

Thomas, as was the tradition, was not going home on Christmas. He did not had a home to start with- just an orphanage with a careless old caretaker Mrs. Wool. He rather opted to stay here and buy himself a yumilicious sweet Christmas present. Tinkering the small amount of coins in his pocket which he had earned while working in the school library, he opened the wooden door and peeped inside.

Snappy's pastry were the best and perhaps the only bakery shop in town. Its Chocolate truffles and Pineapple Specials were mouthwatering and Thomas would often find himself daydreaming about his delicious Christmas present while attending a boring class. Adrian- the ageing owner of the shop would welcome him warmly year after year and would often give him these delicacies for free.

Thomas opened the door, expecting Adrian's same warmth and love except- the counter was empty. Raising an eyebrow, he closed the door behind him and rang the bell near the manager's counter. The warmth of the heater inside was rather welcoming and he removed his woolen overcoat. The air smelt of freshly baked goodies and Thomas could not help his instant salivation. Just to pass time, he looked outside at the white scenery. Snow covered the tops of Pine trees and the freshly trodden footprints were preserved on the road nearby. Across the street, a group of children threw ice balls at each other and some girls made an Iceman with a red woolen cap.

"Merry Christmas! How may I help you today?" A girl's voice sounded behind the counter and Thomas turned, only to find himself freeze in shock again- that girl, he knew her.

Kathy had just entered her Bakery shop on the ground floor of their modest wooden house when she found herself a Christmas surprise. Their standing in front of her was none other than Thomas Morgan- the school Head boy, the ice prince, Mr. Perfectionist whom every boy wanted to be and whom every girl wanted to be with. Why did God bestow such good looks on an already financially loaded fellow, Kathy would never understand. It was no secret that St. Stephen's was a school for elite and to the best of her knowledge, she was the only scholarship entry in her year, a fact that did not really earned her any prestige with her class fellows. "The charity case"- that's what she was famously called.

"Well, what would you like to eat today?" Her eyes rested on the tall figurine of Thomas before she looked away instantly. Damn! Why does he have to be so good looking?

Thomas blinked a bit as he tried to comprehend her question. The red head in front of him, yes he knew her. He recalled that oval face with its bright set of emerald orbs shining brightly as she had taken on the bully of their year. The girl had a temper as fiery as her hair. She was outspoken, funny, a spitfire and intelligent. She had this particular air of freedom around her as if she lived life to the fullest. In every term she was his opposite and it was enough for him to keep his distance from her but now, seeing her away from school and in a different setting made him want to question.

"I'm sorry. I don't seem to recall your name." He said politely.

"Kathy. You ought to know my name, given the amount of times the teachers have pulled me out for mischief." Kathy's eyes crinkled with silent laughter.

"One would expect so but I have this awesome habit of zoning out." Thomas chuckled, "however I was expecting to see Adrian here today."

"Oh, Dad's out of town. So, he asked me to look after the shop," She shrugged, " which item would you like to buy?"

"A rather hard decision", he replied as his eyes oscillated from the Black-forest pastry to Chocolate truffles to Pineapple pastry. Noticing that the cost of Pineapple pastry was relatively less, he took out some coins and handed them to Kathy. "That one!" he said with the excitement of a five year old and she could not help but giggle.

"Would you like me to pack it for you or do you want to eat here?" She asked cutting out a huge piece of the pastry.

"Here", he said as he took his place by the glass wall and stared at the main road. Harsh and icy wind was now blowing and snow had started falling again. The children on the other side had already abandoned their game and rushed inside. Thomas decided against going out for at least an hour.

"There you go!" Kathy gave him the pastry and sat on a chair at a distance- now busy playing Candy crush.

A Christmas classic was playing on the radio – 'Santa Baby'. The Christmas tree at one corner was decked with heavy decorations and bright lights were hung across the room.

Thomas settled back and tasted his Christmas gift. The taste of pineapple and vanilla was refreshing, fresh pineapple pieces added a tanginess and the cake was adequately soaked in the syrup. His taste buds moaned. This was heaven in his mouth, a burst of flavours. Spoon by spoon as he savored the dish his eyes were closed, it was only when Kathy moaned did his eyes open.

"What happened?!" He whirled around alarmed. The room was in complete darkness save for the Christmas lights. It was only after he looked out of the window did he realize the source of the sudden change- snow covered half on the glass wall.

"Damn!" Thomas's eyes popped out. It was a bloody snow blizzard!

"Well, seems like it is going to be a long day." Kathy shrugged, "would you like something to preoccupy yourself with?"

"Do you have any Novels?" Thomas murmured hopefully.

"Loads. Which genre would you like?"

"Crime."

Kathy smirked, "Apparently we have similar interests."

She disappeared behind the counter and up the staircase which lead to her home. Thomas stared gloomily outside. Oh joy, what a Christmas!

He changed the stations and finally settled on the one which was playing – "Santa Claus is coming to town..." Nodding his head to the catchy tune and shaking his legs slightly, he turned around to find Kathy standing behind him with a raised eyebrows.

"What?" He asked,blushing.

"It's reassuring to know that there's something Mr. Perfect is not perfect at." She laughed slightly.

He stuttered, "I-it's just that I-I do not get much chances to d-dance."

"It's okay. I was just kidding. I am sure you'd be great at dancing, if you give it a try." Kathy gave him the novel, deciding that this was the first time she had seen him blush.

Thomas looked at her bright captivating eyes, at her flawless cream-coloured skin and wondered that by what miracle has this girl harnessed the right to have such an effect on him. It was only in front of her that he had displayed such an array of emotions. Taking his place by the window again he started reading the novel, it was an Agatha Christi, a novel that he would have rather enjoyed had it not been for his traitorous eyes which flicked back to the fair red-head.

Almost an hour later, she announced.

"I was just chatting with some friends  . Apparently the snow plough will come only in the morning until then we are locked in."

Her questioning eyes rested on Thomas, who just gave a stiff nod and went back to his novel. Seconds later, he looked at her again and she smirked, "Do you do this often?"

He blushed tomato- red as if being caught red-handed in some act, "I am sorry?"

"Do you practice putting on this emotionless mask?"

"Showing emotions is a weakness." He stated plainly.

Kathy threw back her head and laughed, "Hardly, Thomas dear, hardly. What good is there in repressing emotions? By having such ideologies you are showing that you care enough about people."

"And that's a bad thing because?" Thomas arched an elegant eyebrow.

"Because the only one you must care about is yourself! You cannot make everyone in this world happy, there'll always be someone who won't have a hospitable disposition towards you. So, let go!" She threw her hands wide apart at the last statement and her curls flew around her face and Thomas blinked. There was the rebellious, free side of her that he had seen so often in school. Why didn't he really notice her before?

"You have a unique way to view world Kathy. I wish that I could be like you." He muttered slowly.

Kathy looked at his swirling grey eyes which made her fall into their abyss. Suddenly they held such incomprehensible sadness that she found herself hopping onto the chair in front of him.

"Where are you from, Tom?" She popped a candy in her mouth and offered him some.

"London." He answered, gladly receiving the sweet.

"You have a sweet tooth, huh?" She teased.

"Yes, quite a lot. Why else would I be in this Bakery on a Christmas eve." He raised an eyebrow.

"Quite a point you make, Tom. Well, then I am sure there are better Bakeries in London. Why not return home for Christmas?"

"It's just", Thomas paused, "London is a bit too crowded for my taste." He finished with finality.

Kathy's lips made an adorable 'O' and she settled on, "I'll pretend that I bought that. Anyhow, since you are such a dessert-lover, surely you know how to make one?"

"Nope. I just love eating them but it'd be better if I knew how to bake them on my own. Then I won't have to wait to visit Wilshire again and again."

"Well", Kathy smiled warmly, "would you like to assist me in making a chocolate cake? We'll start with the very basic."

He blinked. He wasn't sure that he had heard her right.

"We start by making a batter." Kathy explained while breaking some eggs and Thomas nodded like the sincere student he was, " You mix the eggs with sugar", she whipped the mixture, " and then we use all-purpose flour. Oh, it is in the jar behind you. Can you retrieve it for me, Tom?"

Nodding he was retrieving the jar, when.

Thud! The steel container sounded on the floor and Kathy turned to find a very-white Thomas Morgan standing behind her- he was covered in flour.

"Oops, turns out that I forgot to shut it properly." She laughed nervously.

"You think this is funny?" Thomas was usually a very restrained fellow, he hardly showed emotions let alone anger but an angry Thomas... Let's say hes not a true gentleman. "I'll show you what's funny!" With a war cry he hugged Kathy and then we had two very white, ghost-like occupants of the kitchen.

"Now we are even." He nodded his head with satisfaction.

"Hardly." She replied, throwing the egg yolk still stuck on the spatula at him.

So after an hour when the two settled on the chair after a cake fight, they had to admit that they never had more fun. Except now they were powdery and stinky and Kathy feared a good scolding from her father seeing the deplorable state of the kitchen.

"We finally did made a cake though", Thomas smiled proudly at a rather small chocolate cake kept in front of him.

" Your first ever cake, Thomas! Congratulations, you are officially a baker!" Kathy passed him a towel and connected her I-pod to the speakers, "It's a Christmas mash-up", she clarified on seeing Tom's frowned eyebrows.

"Cool", he shrugged and leant back on his chair.Now a lesser shade of white. The music had slow beats and he felt his body relax. His eyelashes started to droop.

Kathy sat staring at him. She observed that his eyelashes were too long for a boy, his jaws were chiseled and his cheeks had started loosing their baby fat.

'He'll grow up to be quite a Charmer, not that he isn't already', she mentally concluded.

"Thomas!" She breathed and he opened his eyes looking quite annoyed.

"What is it, you lil minx!" He sounded irritated.

"You called me a minx!" Her temper flared.

"You are pestering like one." He said in a dead panned voice.

"Oh, I am sorry that I interrupted your evening nap Grandpa!" She frowned, " I was just planning to ask you for a dance but apparently your joints might ache because of that!" She spat out.

Thomas couldn't help but laugh, "Hey, then you should have asked more politely. Surely I would love to dance, if I only knew how to."

"It's okay. I can teach you." She flashed him a smile. He blinked and mentally decided that she was crazy to have such extreme mood swings.

"I hope you are as good at dancing as you are at baking." He got up and thankfully did not notice the fierce blush on Kathy's cheeks.

Turning up the volume, she joined him on the aisle separating different tables and chairs.

"We take our postures. Place your hand on my waist." She stated formally and he followed her command looking at anything but her, "and then we move like this-123-123."

And so their tutorial continued locked in their own warm heaven while the world shook with the coldness of winter. Once in a while she would berate him, "not your left leg, no, put your right foot in front" and then finally, "Ow, you stepped on my toe!"

Time seemed to freeze for these two teenagers for they knew not how long they danced in each other's arms. Why? They could not answer but somehow, being there with each other just felt... right.

Thomas had to agree that Kathy was a great teacher. Reprimanding himself for noticing how small her waist felt in his hands or how well she smelt, he had finally learned the slow hypnotic grace of ballroom dancing. He looked down at her soft features, the subtle shyness on her otherwise ferocious personality and the striking green eyes which now stared at his chest and words came tumbling out before he can stop himself.

"You are beautiful. It's strange how I never noticed it before."

Kathy arched an elegant eyebrow and he stuttered, "wh-what I meant w-was.."

"Listen Tom", she said putting a distance between them and folding her arms, " if you think that just because I danced with you that I am going to fall on your feet like other girls then you are wrong. I am different."

"Exactly", he said sounding more confident than he felt, "you are different. That's exactly what I like! You know, you are the kind of girl I can go on a new year's Ball with, like a friend  you know, and I know that you won't misunderstand me. If you understand what I am saying?" His eyes pleaded with her.

Huffing, she finally said, "You are asking me to go with you to the Annual Ball?"

"Yes but it's not a date and you are a great dancer...." He trailed off, looking at her hopefully.

She shrugged, "Sure. Sounds fun."

Dropping on the chairs exhausted, they remained silent for some minutes before Kathy groaned, "What now?"

Thomas shook his head, "No idea. Let's wait for the morning."

"Or we can play a game. What about 5 questions?" Kathy suggested excitedly.

"Sure. As long as it is harmless." Thomas agreed.

Starting questions were harmless- What's your favourite colour? Favourite book and band? Best friend? When was the first time you baked and so on but slowly the level of danger zone rose and 5 questions became 25 questions.

"Who was your first crush?" Thomas rocked in his chair back and forth awaiting the reply impatiently.

"David McKinley." Kathy replied hastily.

"Oh my God! That fatty from the other section, what did you ever see in him?!" He hollered with laughter.

"He was a good natured fellow. Anyways now just get over it and move on to the next question." Kathy snapped at him. When her turn came to question him, she was only too pleased to return the favour, "Who was your first crush, Tommy?" She gave a nasty smile.

"I never had one." He simply said.

"What? Are you like a late bloomer?" She teased further.

"No!" He blushed beetroot red, "It's just that I never gave much thought to this topic. However, now I think that I have found someone I might like." He looked at her straight in the eye and she looked away hastily.

Whatever emotions lingered in his eyes, induced a turmoil in the pit of her stomach, something she hadn't experienced before.

So, they hopped in this game of riddles, questions and wits. Sometimes Thomas would ask something rather private like about her mother and she sadly informed him that she had passed away when Kathy was only a kid. Though the next question dispersed the morose atmosphere. Sometimes Kathy felt that Tom was flirting with her and then she would remind herself that he was the ice prince and either ways, she was way out of his league. Tom, on his part, was puzzled partly by his sudden display of immense emotions and partly by the girl in front of him. The more he got to know her, the more he was intrigued. She was an oxymoron personified, different qualities stuffed in to make one awesome personality. He could actually see a great friend in her, or maybe, just maybe more.

"So tell me truthfully", she said as the day drew to an end, "why don't you go back to London for holidays?"

Her gaze held him captive and his hands shook slightly under the table, just this once he cannot bring himself to lie.

"You see", he paused.

His face was visibly flushed and Kathy wondered what terrible secret was he hiding.

"Well, you must know that I haven't told anyone except you about this. The group I am in- all of them are Heirs to some industry and they expect nothing less from me. So, even though I never lied, I never really told the truth about my background either. I am a scholarship student, I come from a very humble background. The Wool's orphanage in the backstreets of London- is the only place closest to a Home for me but to have a home like that!" He gave a cynical laugh which was so cold that Kathy shivered even in the warm Heater air, "I'd rather stay in the school. At least I get three meals a day here."

An awkward silence followed this statement and Thomas wanted nothing more than to get up and rush out of this place, to hide his face in shame from the girl he had come to like so much.

Finally he cleared his throat, "I'll understand if you don't want to go to the dance now. I'm a nobody after all."

He expected an affirmation of his fears or even more silence but what he did not expect was- to be hit by a roll of newspaper on the back of his head, "Now stop being a douche-bag!" Kathy growled, " I said yes after knowing you, not because I saw your bank balance! What a crazy twat!"

Thomas gracefully dodged her kick and laughed, "Girl, you are unpredictable!"

"Tell me about it!" She screamed as she aimed for another punch.

A distant church bell rang from the end of the town signaling the start of a new day.

"Merry Christmas, Kathy." Thomas laughed running away from her.

"Same to you, Tommy!" She shouted running after him.

Morning sun was shining brightly over the small town of Wilshire and Carols resounded in the cheerful atmosphere.

"Merry Christmas, Barny!" Adrian shouted at the neighboring bookshop owner as he unlocked the door of his Bakery. Stepping in, he was stunned for his Kitchen was in complete mess and on the table facing the window were the sleeping forms of two teenagers with their hands interwined. Giving a knowing smile, he started cleaning his shop and it was only an hour later when poor Tom got the biggest embarrassment of his life as he tried to reassure his favourite Baker that he was definitely not dating his daughter.

It was only when the school reopened on the 30th that all the doubts started encircling him again. What was he thinking! To tell that Baker girl about his background! By now half of the school might be talking about him! Damn!

And so that day, be it the classes or the hallways, Tom's eyes scanned every face looking for hints of anger or betrayal, half fearing that someone might just leap out and accuse him of deception but no, no such thing happened. At the end of the last class, he cornered Kathy and asked with all seriousness, "You told anyone about me?"

"No", her eyebrows were frowned in confusion, "why would I?"

"Anyone who knew about my weak point might do that....."

"But I am not anyone. I am your friend, Tom."

His eyes bore into her's with such intensity that she was taken aback.

"I feel safe with you, Kathy. I have never felt that with anyone before."

The beautiful smile that framed her radiant face that day- he'll never forget that.

Nor will he forget that how beautiful she had looked  when she had descended down the staircase in her off-shoulder Lilac Gown for the Annual Ball. When she finally took his awaiting arm, he realized that he had to utter words of appreciation.

"You look" gorgeous, breathtakingly beautiful, like a goddess, instead he said, "like a girl."

"Geez, thanks for stating the obvious!" She punched his arm.

"Well, seeing you in all those baggies and hoodies I had really started questioning...." but she stomped on his foot before he could complete the statement.

"I better not compliment you though, whole of the female population of the school already has you dancing on cloud nine." She glared at him as the dance started.

He remembers it quite vividly that he had not even tasted alcohol that day in the party, so it was definitely the winter wind which had gotten to his head which made him hold her hand while they were standing on the balcony after the dance. Her skin seemed to shine in the pale moonlight and he was contemplating how she looked like the Goddess Luna when she looked at him shyly from under her eyelashes. That and the combination of winter breeze which he was blaming were the concoction that made him to bend down and capture her lower lip in his. They were soft, warm, comforting and that's when his life changed.

Now, fifteen years later, his tall form dodges the taxies as he run into his well-groomed house in the London suburbs. He is the CEO of a leading chain of industries and  higher the position, longer are the work hours.

It's the Christmas day again and his front yard in covered with decorations, lightening over trees and bushes.

"Shit, I'm late. She'll kill me." He rings the door bell and mumbles under his breath. He glances at his watch- its exact 9.

Sharp tapping of heels is heard on the other side and the door is opened by a stunning woman in her early 30s. Her auburn hair shines from the lamp light and Thomas could not help but think that her husband is one lucky man.

"Whom would you like to meet?" Her words are brief.

"I am here to meet my wife and children." He gives one of his dazzling smiles but the woman does not falter.

"No entry after 8." She is shutting the door but he stops her.

"Kathy please, I am sorry", he presents her with a beautiful banquet of red Roses, " Merry Christmas and a happy marriage anniversary!"

Her stern expression falter and fall off and she smiles widely at him.

"They are beautiful!" She gasps.

Taking the banquet, she locks arms with him.

The door opens and shouts of "Daddy's home!" echoes through the warmly lit sitting room as a boy and a girl runs towards them while Adrian waves as he takes out the cake from the oven.

"Thank you for giving me such a beautiful family, Kathy." He breathes out to his wife.

"All because of that Pastry Christmas", Kathy agrees.