The frozen lake cracked beneath his feet, sending a spiderweb of fractures racing outwards across the ice. Owen froze, his breath clouding the air, unsure whether to step forward or back. He hasn't meant to stray so far from the shore, but chasing the sunset across the glittering expanse that had felt like an irresistible pull. Now, the orange-pink hues reflecting off the ice seemed mocking, like a mirage he'd been foolish to follow.


A voice called from the shoreline, sharp and familiar.


"Owen! Don't move!"


He turned his head, careful not to shift his weight. Standing on the snow-covered bank was Maren, her dark hair whipping in the wind, a bright red scarf trailing like a beacon. She cupped her hands around her mouth. "Stay right there. I'm coming."


"No! Don't--" his words cut in his throat as Maren stepped onto the ice, her boots crunching the frosty surface. Despite the fear coursing through him, a wry smile tugged at his lips. Typical Maren--headstrong and impossible to deter.


She moved with practiced confidence, her years of skating on this very lake evident in her sure-footedness. As she drew closer, Owens pulse quickened, though not entirely from fear of the ice breaking. Maren had always had that affect on him--a mixture of awe and helplessness.


"You're an idiot, you know that?" She said when she was close enough for her voice to reach without yelling. Her hazel eyes glinted with equal parts exasperation and concern. "What were you thinking, wandering out here alone?"


"I wasn't thinking." Owen admitted, his voice tinged with sheepishness. "The view looked...nice."


Maren rolled her eyes, though the corner of her mouth twitched upward. "You could have admired it from the shore, you know. Come on, let's get you off this deathtrap."


She extended her gloved hand, and Owen hesitated. Not because he didn't trust her but because the idea of shifting his weight at all seemed liie tempting fate. The ice beneath him groaned ominously.


"Trust me." Maren said softly, her tone dropping the teasing edge. "I've got you."


He took her hand, the warmth of her grip a stark contrast to the cold pressing in from all sides. Slowly, step by careful step, she guided him back towards the shore. Her movements were deliberate, her focus unwavering. Owen couldn't help but admire her--her steadiness, her strength, the way she seemed so sure even in precarious situations.


When they finally reached solid ground, Owen let out a breath he hasn't realized he's been holding. He sank onto a nearby log, running a hand through his unruly brown hair.


"Thanks," he said, looking at her. "You really saved me there."


Maren smirked, plopping down beside him. "What else is new? Someone's gotta keep you alive."


"Guess I owe you--again." Owen said with a grin.


"Big time." She replied, nudging his shoulder. But her teasing faltered, replaced by a hint of something more serious. "You scared me, you know "


Owen's smile faded. "I didn't mean to."


"I know." She pulled her scarf tighter around her neck, her breath visible in the frigid air. "But you can't just go wandering off like that. What if I hadn't been here?"


"You're always here." He said without thinking, the words tumbling out before he could stop them.


Maren stilled, her eyes locking onto his. For a moment, the world around them seemed to quiet, the wind, the creeking trees, even the distant chirping of birds fading into the background.


"Yeah." She said softly. "I guess I am."


Owens heart thudded in his chest. He wanted to say more, to tell her what he's been carrying inside for so long, but the words felt stuck, lodged somewhere between fear and hope. He looked down at his hands instead, tracing patterns in the snow.


Maren sighed, her breath puffing out in a plume. "You know, when we were kids, I used to think you were fearless."


Owen snorted. "Fearless? Me?"


"Yeah." She said with a small laugh. "You were always climbing trees, jumping off docks, doing all kinds of reckless stuff. I thought nothing scared you."


"Plenty scares me." He admitted, his voice quieter now. "I just...don't always show it."


Maren tilted her head, studying him. "What scares you now?"


He hesitated, the words dancing on the tip of his tongue. Finally, he looked up,meeting her gaze.

"Losing you."


The confession hung in the air, raw and unvarnished. For a second, Owen wished he could take it back, the vulnerability of it too much to bear. But Maren didn't look shocked or uncomfortable. Instead, her expression softened, a gentle warmth spreading across her face.


"You won't lose me." She said, her voice steady. "I'm not going anywhere."


Owens chest aches, not from fear this time but from the overwhelming relief of hearing those words. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. His fingers lingered, the touch light but full of meaning.


"Maren" he began, his voice thick with emotion.


"Yeah?" She prompted, leaning closer.


"I--"


The sharp crack of a branch in the distance shattered the moment, pulling them both back to reality. Maren glanced towards the sound, her brow furrowing. "Probably a deer " she said, though the interruption seemed to shake her composure.


Owen nodded, withdrawing his hand. The intimacy of the moment passed, but the unspoken feelings lingered, heavy in the air between them.


"We should head back" Maren said, standing and brushing snow off her coat. "It's getting colder."


"Yeah" Owen agreed, rising to his feet. "Let's go."


They walked side by side through the woods, the silence between them no longer awkward but laden with possibility. The sunlight had faded, replaced by the soft glow of twilight, casting long shadows across the snowy ground.


As they reached the edge of the forest, where the small cabin they'd rented for the weekend came into view, Maren paused. Owen stopped too, turning to face her.


"About what you said earlier" she began, her cheeks tinged pink--not from the cold, he thought.


Owens heart skipped a beat. "Yeah?"


She hesitated for only a moment before stepping closer, her eyes searching his. "You're not losing me Owen, but... Maybe it's time we stopped pretending."


"Pretending?" He echoed, his voice barely above a whisper.


"That this" she gestured between them, "is just friendship."


Owen stared at her, stunned. He's dreamed of this moment a hundred times but had never truly believed it would come. "Maren, I---"


She silenced him with a kiss, her lips warm against his in the icy evening air. It was a kiss that spoke of years of shared memories, of unspoken feelings finally brought to light. When they pulled apart, Maren smiled, her breath mingling with his.


"Took you long enough." She teased.


Owen laughed, his heart lighter than it had been in years. "You always did have to save me."


"And I always will." She said, her voice soft but certain.


Hand in hand, they walked the rest of the way to the cabin, the warmth between them more than enough to chase away the cold.