could　even　zip　up

her　coat；　someone　grabbed　her　hand　and　pulled　her　out　the　door　with　him。

Outside　the　snow　had　enveloped　everything　and　the　streetlights　glowed　gold　on　the　downy　white

blanket。　Without　the　constant　honk　and　roar　of　traffic；　there　was　a　pleasant　calm　about　the　city；　as

if　it　had　finally　gone　to　sleep。　Shrieking　in　merriment；　the　gang　of　models；　stylists；　and

photographers　plowed　through　the　thigh…deep　drifts　and　began　spiking　balls　over　the　volleyball　net

with　total　disregard　for　the　peaceful　scene。

？Isn？t　it　beautiful？？　Serena　breathed。　She　wished　Aaron　were　there　so　she　could　kiss　him　and　tell

him　how　much　she　loved　him　while　stuffing　a　great　big　snowball　down　the　back　of　his　shirt。　But

he　wasn？t？the　party　pooper？so　she　would　just　have　to　make　do。　She　turned　to　the　guy　holding　her

hand。　It　was　the　guy　in　the　black　ski　suit；　and　he　was　tall；　blond；　and　gorgeous。　Everyone　there

was。　She　let　go　of　his　hand　and　scooped　up　a　handful　of　snow。　？e　here；？　she　beckoned　him。　？I

want　to　tell　you　a　secret。？

He　took　a　step　toward　her；　his　breath　filling　the　air　with　steamy　clouds。　？What？？

Serena　stood　on　tiptoe　and　wrapped　her　arms　around　his　neck。　Then　she　kissed　his　cold；　smooth

cheek。　？I　love　Aaron！？　she　squealed；　stuffing　the　snowball　down　the　back　of　his　black　ski　suit　and

tearing　off　through　the　snow　to　join　the　others。

The　guy　chased　after　her；　grabbing　her　legs　and　knocking　her　down　just　as　they　reached　the

volleyball　net。　The　game　was　halted　as　the　crowd　of　gorgeous　revelers　began　to　hurl　snowballs　at

the　frolicking　pair；　stopping　now　and　then　to　light　cigarettes　or　reapply　their　lip　gloss　before

joining　in　again。　Seren