Their breathe shown in the cold air as they walked to a skater rink. He wearingly stepped onto the ice while she confidently glided a top it. As he began to fall he desperately reached out a mitt towards towards her

“Nina!” He barely managed to catch him.

“Albern! Hehe! You’re okay, here hold my arm.” He kept his arm wrapped around hers. Her ability to keep him up as well as herself was impressive. Meanwhile he was clumsy and kept falling. Every time he fell she would giggle at the sight of a supposed monster looking at her like a cute puppy. Her smile was all that kept him going. He continued to trip a little as they circled the rink.

After a while he had to stop otherwise he was going to have even more of a bruise then he already had. She helped him to the edge and they took off their skates. Her cheeks were blooming red. He got them cocoa. She blew on her cocoa as they sat on a bench watching the sunset.

“You promise not to tell Callum about this?”

“Promise.” She smiled at the thought of Callum knowing that his rival had been so clumsy and open. She shivered and pulled her jacket tighter. Sipping on her cocoa he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. His cold cheek resting against her head. She loudly slurped her cocoa as they watched the sky. She had to go to work early in the morning and he walked her home. He lived almost half an hour away from her, but he refused to let her walk alone. She had been taken from him once, but never again. She gave him a hug goodbye and went into his apartment. She watched from her window as he started his walk home. She also watched as he slipped on the ice and awkwardly tried to regain his footing. She used to be scared of him. Scared of what he could do to her. Now he was her adorable sweetheart that she loved. He fixed his coat and walked home. The cold, lonely walk home was worth knowing she was safe. He unlocked the apartment and walked in. All of the sudden he was hit with the warmth of the apartment. He quietly slid through the kitchen into the living room. The TV was on and as he crept closer he saw Rose sitting on the couch watching it. Callum slept with his head on her lap. She sweetly stroked his hair. He tried to be silent.

“You’re home awfully late.” He stopped mid step and sighed.

“Was busy?”

“Next time at least text me so I don’t worry. Callum said he hadn’t seen you and while he was glad I got worried.”

“I’ll try? Well goodnight.”

“Did you have fun?”

“Don’t know what you mean.” He walked into his room and closed the door. She waited and eventually the door creaked open a crack. “Maybe a little.” She smiled and he closed the door. Callum stirred awake.

“Albern?”

“Yup, go back to sleep.”

Albern walked into his empty room. He flopped onto the plain bed. It looked like he had just moved in. He had lived there for five years. Only the camera on the desk showed any sign of life.