The gang leave the warmth of the cafe, heading out to reclaim their skis and take on the afternoon. Yoona and Jessica were saying their cutesy goodbyes as they were to be going in opposite directions for a portion of the afternoon. "I'm gonna miss you YoonyDeer" Jessica babytalked, "Not as much as I'll miss you SicaChu" Yoona responded as they snuggled up close together and rubbed noses eskimo style.

Tiffany raised an eyebrow as she witnessed the display. She leaned in and spoke softly to Taeyeon "were we ever this sickeningly cute?". Taeyeon smiled, placing her hand on Tiffany's crossed forearm, "Tiffany, we were worse than this". Tiffany rolled her eyes and shook her head "well then we really have some apologising to do", she suggested. "Baby, you realise that Yoona was probably thinking exactly like you are now, when we were all lovey dovey. Now it’s her time ... let her have it, something this loving can't be a bad thing for the world" Taeyeon rationalised. She always had a way of seeing both sides of the coin, a trait that Tiffany loved in her. Tiff simply smiled and covered Tae's hand on her forearm with her own hand. "Oh my God, she called me BABY" Tiffany thought as that one word rang out musically in her ears.

Sooyoung's impatience was growing as she reached forward and grabbed the hem of Jessica's jacket by way of hurrying her along. "Come on lovergirl, plenty of time for all this later, we've got skiing to do". Yoona pouted as her girl was dragged away, "You mean you've got some mackin' to do Soo" she cheekily suggested. Sooyoung winked back, turning to shout "Maybe I wanna work some of my magic on your girl". Jessica was gobsmacked, she turned to Yoona and started shaking her head with eyes dramatically wide. "Oh don't make me hurt you biatch!" Yoona warned, stabbing her ski poles into the snow with a thud. Sooyoung couldn't help but giggle, naughtily wiggling her tongue at Yoona who was trying her best not to laugh.

Jessica and Sooyoung sat on the bench, waiting to meet up with Sunny who was going to give them some private instruction. Sooyoung shuffled her skis nervously, a cute sight not un-noticed by Jessica. "Relax Sooyoung, I've never seen you like this before, so ... nervous". "So ... human" Sooyoung added, causing them both to laugh. "Well that is true ..." Jessica began, "I've always thought you were a machine!". "I get by ..” Sooyoung retorted, "but maybe it's about time I tried being a love machine". "I dunno, I think being human suits you, but I'm sure you would thrive at being a love ma-Choi-ne" Jessica joked, albeit rather lamely. "Oh Geez, Jessica, you gotta tell that one to Yoona, she could use that in future". Jessica smiled, knowing that Sooyoung was probably right, Yoona was never one to miss out on an opportunity to make fun of those she loved.

Sunny spotted Sooyoung and Jessica chatting on the bench and just watched for a moment. Always a keen observer, it was after all part of her job, to watch her students’ techniques and help them improve, Sunny studied the interactions between the two. From what she knew of Sooyoung so far, she could tell that she was quiet, unassuming, yet somewhat guarded about who she really was. She seemed shy, quite the opposite of how her close friends saw her, particularly if she was on the prowl. Sunny did not know it yet, but she just may have seen a side of Sooyoung the others haven't seen. The caring, loving, innocence of a woman who underneath it all just wanted to be loved. A smile lit up Sunny's face as she moved over toward the waiting women.

Jessica noticed Sunny approaching and gave Sooyoung a not-too-subtle shot to the ribs with her pointy elbow. Sooyoung flinched and shot Jessica a glare before realising Jessica was looking at someone. Sooyoung's face mirrored the smiling glow of Sunny. Sooyoung rubbed her ribs and nudged Jessica back playfully, trying to disguise the blatant "she's here" notification that Jessica sent her way. "Thanks so much for helping us out Sunny" Jessica gratefully acknowledged. "Yeah, we think we've almost got it, but just wanted to get a few more tips and some confidence". Sunny smiled, seeing right through Sooyoung's ulterior motive. "Hey, no problems, I'm happy to do it" Sunny responded, "besides, it means I get to hang out with ... with more fun people my own age". Now it was Sooyoung's turn to get a glimpse at Sunny's motives.

Sooyoung and Jessica impressed Sunny with how much they'd learnt and been able to commit to memory on their first day of skiing. For Sooyoung, the extra lessons were a way of impressing Sunny and winning her affections. What she didn't count on was that she would actually have FUN skiing, or that she would find falling over so amusing. She hit the snow only once during their afternoon session and managed to take Jessica down with her. Quite a sight to see them tangled together, Jessica spreadeagle on top of Sooyoung. Sunny couldn't help but laugh as she tried to help them up. Yoona however, who was travelling overhead on a chairlift, didn't quite see the humour in it, especially when Sooyoung knew she was watching and decided to ham it up. Sooyoung grabbed Jessica's with a slap and started wriggling under her, making over-exaggerated groans. Her face a picture of staged ecstasy, and her responses to Jessica's innocent questions was priceless.

"Sooyoung, can you help me up?" Jessica begged. "Oh Jessica ok I'll try baby" Sooyoung shouted as she watched Yoona seething. She caught Sunny's eye and nodded toward the ski lift by way of explanation. Sunny looked up and saw the reason for Sooyoung's mischievous ways . "I think my leg is cramped up" Jessica groaned as she tried to push herself up. "Mmmm here let me rub it" Sooyoung responded as she started to rub the back of Jessica's thigh. Sunny tried to stifle her giggles as she glanced up and saw that Yoona was almost out of the chair and ready to bungee down to strangle Sooyoung. Jessica eventually righted herself and was on her feet.

Sooyoung and Sunny were both laughing hysterically as Sunny extended her hands to Sooyoung and proceeded to help her up. Their hands stayed held for a few more seconds after Sooyoung was standing safely. The moment not lost on either of them as they smiled softly into each other’s eyes, their little world interrupted by Yoona screaming like a banshee. "Sooyoung you are a dead woman when I catch up with you, do you hear me? You better pray that you don't fall down or I'm leaving ski tracks all up and down your boney !" Yoona shouted all in one breath down to Sooyoung. Jessica was none the wiser and struggled to hear what her YoonyDeer was saying, instead waving back and yelling "Hiiiiiiiii baby ... did ya see me? I falled down gone boom! ... what? ... there's ski tracks that go up and down the where?". Sunny and Sooyoung laughed more as Yoona's wild flailing figure soon disappeared into the distance.

"Well I think on that note, I'm gonna go take a rest for a little while" Jessica announced, dusting the snow off of her jacket. "I think I'll go with ya Jess, I need a caffeine hit" Sooyoung added, "Sunny? You gonna come with?". "Nah ... I'm gonna go spread my wings a bit, get a few big runs in" Sunny answered, noticing that Sooyoung looked a little disappointed, although she tried her best not to show it. There was silence as Sooyoung nodded reluctantly, she had hoped to get to know Sunny more today. Jessica sensed the moment was awkward so she excused herself. "Ok, well I'm heading in, thanks again Sunny, I'll be sure to mention you in my gold medal acceptance speech for un-graceful ski tumbling". Sunny extended her hand to shake, "it was my pleasure Jessica, you did really great, you're ready to go up and down with Yoona" she giggled. Jessica wiggled her eyebrows at the suggestion, "Mmmmmmm that sounds like fun, cya!". "I'll be in there in a minute Jess ..." said Sooyoung as she smiled softly at Jessica. "Sure, no problem" Jessica smiled back, giving Sooyoung a wink.

"So Miss Sooyoung ... I believe you asked me out on a date earlier" Sunny began playfully, calling Sooyoung's bluff. "Wow ... umm yeah, I didn't think you'd remember me asking" Sooyoung stumbled, a little taken aback, she didn't think Sunny would be the one to broach the subject. Sunny took a step closer, leaning in as she spoke "how could I forget?". Sooyoung blushed and looked down at her boots, rubbing the back of her neck in what Sunny noticed to be her familiar nervous movements. Eyes cast down in shyness, rubbing her neck or dragging her slender fingers through her hair for comfort. She was noticing a lot about this intriguing woman, and wanted to notice a whole lot more. "So tonight ..." Sunny stated, "how about we go to FrostBite, it's just down the road from that bowling alley we were at last night". Sooyoung was internally gobsmacked, Sunny remembered that they saw each other at Bowlarama. Maybe Sunny was as taken with Sooyoung as Sooyoung was with her. She could only hope that were true, and from the look of things, it was certainly turning out that way.

"Sounds like a plan" Sooyoung remarked, "So what time shall we go? Do you want me to pick you up? What do I wear?". Sunny found Sooyoung's nervousness so cute, had she even been on a date before? "I'll come by at 7pm and we'll go from there, dress neat casual, and don't panic so much, this is supposed to be fun". Sooyoung chuckled, trying to compose herself since it was apparent Sunny noticed how flustered she was becoming. She hadn't been on a date in a very long time, and all the encounters since that period in her life had somewhat overshadowed those innocent times.

"Okay ... I'll see you then" Sooyoung finally spoke, "Thanks again for today, I hope it didn't put you out too much". "Don't be silly, I was happy to do it" Sunny answered, smiling as she recalled how clumsy Sooyoung was to start with, and how she got on so well with those kids. "If you ever need me, for ski instruction or ... whatever, well, you have my number okay?" Sunny nervously stumbled over her words, trying unsuccessfully not to be so obvious. "Deal, see you tonight" Sooyoung confidently purred. "Seeya Sooyoung" Sunny farewelled her, softly brushing her palm down Sooyoung's upper arm before skiing off to the chairlift.

Sooyoung was melting, that gentle touch sent her senses into overdrive. She headed into Blizzard on cloud nine to meet up with Jessica. As Sooyoung sat down, Jessica immediately noticed the grin on Sooyoung's face. "No prizes for guessing how all that went" Jessica joked. "She's picking me up at 7pm, we're going out for dinner" Sooyoung started, "and ... she touched my arm". "Oooooh" Jessica sang sarcastically, "So when are you two getting married?". Sooyoung gave Jessica a playful shove for her troubles "Gimme a break Jessica, I haven't done this in a long time, and I'm just ... excited that’s all". "I'm sorry Soo, I'm such a bad friend, I should be happy for you not bringing you down" Jessica apologised. "It's okay, you're spending more time with Yoona, her acid tongue had to rub off on you sometime" Sooyoung explained, suddenly realising what she'd said and joining Jessica in her devilish laughter. "Oh yeah, she does have a pretty potent tongue" Jessica winked.

**********

~tbc~