I grew sick of the snow extremely fast. My first white Christmas was amazing, and I even had a snowball fight with my friends to welcome the new year. I also enjoyed a horse-drawn sled ride with Abe on Valentine's Day. However, by March, I'm craving spring instead of 20-degree weather. I stare out at the grey, wet, slushy snow on the front lawn, from the kitchen table, yearning for the time I could start planting a garden.

Charlie and Harper hunch over our game show themed project on Roman technological advances. A book on Rome my dad had let me borrow lays open across the table. Their job is gluing down, and mine is to write the questions and answers out. Abe, who is in an intense match of some sort of video game with Caleb, had provided pictures.

"Does the snow ever melt?" I whine.

"If you're lucky, it'll be gone by April." Charlie glances out the window.

"And if I'm unlucky?"

"It'll be gone by May."

I moan, dropping my head down into my arms that are folded on the table. Every year without fail, me and my dad plant a garden in our yard. I discovered I have a talent for it, and a fun bonding experience with my dad, at least in California. But here, I doubted we could plant anything for another month.

"No!" Caleb screams. "You killed me."

Abe laughs at this. Over the weeks of his coming over, he has formed a connection with Caleb, making my dad even more mad. He has started to let Abe come around under the supervision of adults, but occasionally, like today, Abe came over without anyone here or the countless nights he had spent in my room, without my parent's knowledge.

Charlie places her hands on her hips and looks down at our project. "Hmm, I feel like the aqueducts would be better in agriculture more. I feel like it would have started out in that category, not luxury."

Harper, who is scrolling through her phone, shakes her head. "Wow."

"I mean listen to this-"

"Not that." She holds the phone out to Charlie, and she reads whatever is on the screen, then passes it to me.

"What is it?" Abe asks, pausing the game.

"Come on, man!" Caleb groans, but Abe ignores him, focusing back on me.

"Latest news on the arrest of 18-year-old Austin Hansen. They formally arrested Hansen for the sexual assault of three teens after Hansen had admitted to the acts last fall. Hansen has no prior record, and a source claimed he was to receive 300 hours of community service but wouldn't have to register because of his age at the time of the act. According to the same source, Hansen refused the offer and asked for a more fitting punishment, refusing all deals. They set his for bail at $50,000 and are to await trial."

Abe is smirking. "Asshole."

That is the second my dad has decided to walk through the door. "Excuse me? What was that Hoover?"

"Dad." I moan. He has been calling Abe every president's name since he realized he is going to be seeing a lot more of him.

"Who's an asshole? My daughter? Are you calling her an asshole?"

"He means Austin Hansen." I turn back to our project.

"Oh," Dad hangs up his coat. "Yeah, that guy is an asshole. Hi sweetie." He gives me a kiss on the cheek. "Hello, girls."

"Hi, Dr. Vidal." Charlie and Harper say together.

"Hey, Diego." Abe calls from the couch.

"Yeah, hey Diego." Caleb calls.

"Man," Dad peeks outside, ignoring the guys. "When is this weather going to get better? We can't garden in this."

"Dad, why are you home?" The clock on the wall reads only just past four. "You have that lecture tonight, it's Wednesday."

"Oh, uh, I canceled class today, I was feeling under the weather." He wanders over to the boys, taking a seat in the chair nearest to them.

Abe throws a glance back at my dad, then back at me. I shrug and go back to working on our project, flipping through the book for more information. Not even a minute later, Abe is next to me, reviewing our work in progress, and making suggestions that don't apply to anything. Caleb even comes up, standing between Harper and Charlie. Eventually, my dad makes his way over, criticizing our project.

"Okay." I yell when everyone is talking over each other. "If you are not getting graded for this, go away. Yes, you too Caleb. No, not you Woods." I grab his shirt as he tries to move away. "We just need to focus on this."

"It's not due for another week." Abe slumps down in the chair next to me. "Can't we put it off for the weekend or something?"

"No!" Charlie scowls at him. "We need to get this done to write the paper, and I need a good week to work on mine." Her eyes narrow. "I'm not writing yours, so you better start paying attention to this project before I fill out my card on how much work each of us put into this."

"No one likes a tattle tell." Abe grumbles.

We, as in Charlie, Harper, and I, push things around the board while I educate Abe on exactly what we are doing in hopes of encouraging him to help. In the end, his hands keep finding their way to my body in a very unsubtle way that Charlie must stand between us, in her irritation. When Harper's mom sends the five-minute out text, I finally spot Abe reading the book, and I wonder if he is trying.

We pack up the stuff, Charlie takes the board planning on putting the finishing touches on it. We roll our eyes, laughing; she is going to readjust everything to her liking. The group moves down my driveway towards the trail that eventually leads to Abe's house, but he stays with us as we talk. The cold is about to get me when Harper's mom rolls up, waving out the car window.

Charlie and Harper jump into the car, waving as it pulls away, waving back at us. Abe takes this opportunity of solitude to pull me to him, pressing his lips to mine softly. "You should skip tonight." He touches down his forehead, and his cold nose rubs against mine.

"I can't because tonight is Wednesday." I rub my fingers over his red cheeks.

He smiles sardonically, breaking our embrace. "I forgot." He does a little curtsy, pinching the air at his sides as if he is wearing a skirt.

I smile. "It's the last practice before this weekend."

The smile drops from his lips. Abe rarely looks serious, but when he does it nearly seems like the world is ending for him, but here, I can understand why. "Did you talk to him?"

I shake my head. "What's the point, you made your case, he said no."

"Vidal, please ask him again."

I shrug, with no intent to do so. "Okay, but I don't see how that will make any difference."

"It's stupid, he won't let me come with you. I can care for myself, and I can take blood for protection."

"It's like Levi said, I'm protected because of A. a truce put into effect after Halloween, and B. I'm not affected by their abilities."

Abe's attention turns off to the woods, his face solemn. "They're just going to let you walk into a room full of bloodthirsty kites with very little protection."

"Milo will-"

"Oh yeah," Abe glares back at me, his eyes burning. "I forgot about all-powerful, godly Milo, silly me. I feel loads better now."

My face contorts into a frown as I glance at him. "If you're going to be this way, then don't bother coming back over tonight." I turn back towards the house.

"No," His face softens. "Vidal, I'm sorry. I didn't..." His voice breaks off. It's tough to trust these monsters, but I have faith in their ability to keep you protected.

Walking back over to him, I say, "I know you're scared, and part of me is scared too, but I have to believe that all of this is part of the treaty." I give him a soft kiss. "My parents will be in bed by 10ish, come over at 11. That should be enough time."

The half-smile that always gives me butterflies crosses his lips as he leans into me. "I'll wear something skimpy."

I laugh against his lips. "You'll freeze on the walk over."

"Trench coat." He moves his lips over my cold cheeks, down my neck, warming me.

"Do you even own one?" I exuberantly sigh.

"No, but I could get one." His icy fingers find their way to my warm back, and I let out a shiver.

Pulling back from him, puffs of warm air escaping our lips, I smile at him. "Just come as you are, and we can figure it out from there."

He nods with a grin. "I like it when you talk dirty to me." Then, after one more kiss, we turn in the opposite direction and head home. The second I'm through the door, I finish my other homework and the chores my mom gave me before I stick my head in my dad's study.

"Hey." He looks up at me from behind his desk. "I'm going to Nya's."

"Is that boy gone?" He glimpses over at his clock.

I roll my eyes. "Yes, he went home. I'll be home before dark."

"Okay." His attention returns to the paper in front of him. Right as I'm about to leave, my dad calls out to me. "Oh, Thea, if another neighbor comments on how close you and that boy get in front of the house, I will have to walk you two out."

"All right, Dad." I murmur as I leave the house, heading up to the gate.