"It's okay, Laura."

John's brawny arm nudged Laura's side.

Confused, she turned her eyes toward John and swallowed hard. "What are you talking about?"

"It's not your fault they're mad at you. You made a mistake, that's all. Everyone makes them. It's not the end of the world because Laura Brown messed up." John's voice was quiet, but his eyes swam through her's like they were attached on a long line. A single line tying John to Laura. One that she hoped would never be broken.

"How did you know?" He could see through her, Laura was sure of that. He knew the way she allowed things she shouldn't to get to her.

With a grin, John took her hand. "I always know."

"Yeah," Laura strengthend her grip on his hand. It was warm and brought untouchable warmth to her body. "You do."

John's eyes were still stuck on her. She wasn't sure he remembered how to blink. With the sun glowing above him, his face looked serene and golden, as if the beams of sun were gently kissing his face all over.

Laura thought she might like to be the sun. Without thinking, she reached for John's other hand and held it tight. He didn't resist or say anything at all. He took one step closer and Laura's heart began to race so fast she thought she might collapse on the ice.

"You're beautiful, Laura Brown."

Laura giggled, something she hadn't done since she was a girl. She thought, once she was grown, there wasn't all that much to giggle about. She couldn't believe how wrong she had been.

John released one of Laura's hands to caress her cheek, the way the sun caressed his. His lips parted and Laura wondered if he was about to kiss her. When his eyes dipped down to her lips she knew what was about to happen.

Giggling again, Laura brought both her hands up to John's face and pulled him closer. Their faces were an inch apart.

Unable to withstand the tension for a second more, Laura pushed her lips against John's. She felt his entire body relax in her hands.

Her heart threatened to escape her, but she didn't mind. John's lips were on hers and he tasted spectacular. Jealous of the sunlight, Laura began to kiss John's face everywhere the light fell on him. One on his cheek, on his nose, his eyes, his neck, his head, and his lips again and again and again.

This time, John giggled. Laura didn't know boys could giggle, but she liked it.

Standing there, on the frozen lake, Laura became the sun and John her light.