"You know, I kinda hate snow, Wybie."

Christmas Eve was upon Coraline and Wybie as they ventured outside. Coraline hid her face further into her scarf as the breeze picked up. Her yellow boots sunk slightly into what she considered a white death trap, her socks and feet becoming damp as the time went by. Wybie walked beside her, their shoulders brushing against the others as they walked aimlessly through the woods. She peered at him through her peripherals. The wind swept up his monstrosity of brown curls. It was even messier than this morning when he first arrived to pick her up. Irritated, she turned her nose up at how content he seemed to be. How could he possibly be so happy surrounded around something so sinister?

"You don't think it's cool? It barely ever snows here." Wybie responded, looking around in amazement.

If her irritation wasn't visible then, it was definitely visible now. Her face grew hot and a shade of red that had nothing to do with the cold winter brings. She clenched her fists together as they sat in her pockets. Coraline examined the bare trees and the way snow lazily molded against the branches. Flakes glittered on the shards of a broken bottle nearby. It was indeed pretty to Coraline, in its own twisted little way.

"It's interesting I suppose.." Coraline trailed while closing her eyes and snuggling back into her scarf.

"Oh, I'm guessing it snowed a lot back in Michigan, huh." Wybie responded nervously.

Wybie knew an annoyed Coraline wasn't a Coraline he wanted to deal with. He always had the same cautious habits when she was annoyed. Like now, he'd fiddle with his hands and pulled his jacket at the neck. He wasn't sure if he feared Coraline as a person, or if he just feared what she could be capable of. Wybie knew that Coraline wasn't afraid to take risks, because unlike him, she seldom regretted those risks. Sure, he liked adventure, but not as much as Coraline, which oftentimes led to her being the leader of whatever they could get themselves into. He definitely wasn't going to anger a girl who'd put him in deathbed for mispronouncing her name.

"It snowed, but maybe no more than a inch or so." She replied, gazing off in the distance.

"That's not the point you wish to make here, is it." He sighed.

"I was wondering when you'd start connecting the dots, Wyborn."

"No need for the passive aggressiveness, Jonesy. I just don't quite understand what you're getting at." He smiled meekly.

Still gazing off in the distance, Coraline mumbled.

"My parents were trapped in a mirror because of the Other Mother."

"And what does that have to do with snow?"

"It was snowing inside the mirror, or technically the other world I guess. I'm not sure. They scribbled for my help and everything. Yet, the strange part about it is that they don't remember any of it!" Coraline exclaimed, throwing her arms into the air.

"And I guess it just never sat right with me. I mean, I hope I- I mean, I guess you sort of defeated her too, since you helped me destroy her hand so that I could throw the key into the well, but since it's snowing, I feel like it's her way of taunting me." Coraline made sure to whisper the last part, in case the Other mother had been tuning in.

"I mean, I guess I did kind of save your life back then."

Wybie was quick to joke, especially since this was the rare time that Coraline actually paid him a compliment, but he quickly regretted it as he noticed the unease that plagued her face.

"I'm scientifically sure she's dead. Even if she is out there, you threw the key down the well, which means you or anyone else can't get hurt anymore." Wybie continued.

"I know you're probably right for once, but I think she's still out there watching. Ghosts, or whatever she was, just don't die." Coraline shook her head in dismay.

"If that helps you sleep better at night. Yet, you can't blame yourself. It's probably best if your parents have no recollections anyway. Besides, now you have someone to share the guilt with."

"Thanks, Wybie."

Wybie smiled softly. This was definitely a more vulnerable side of his friend. Coraline seldom opened up about what happened years ago. He hadn't realized how much it had still haunted her, and he possessed his own guilt from not believing Coraline in the beginning. Yet in his defense, it was a lot to take in as an eleven year old. Especially when Coraline mentioned that it was another him in a parrallel universe. He wondered what came of the other Wybie, and if he met his untimely demise. He did find it quite hurtful that Coraline liked the more quiet, less rambling Wybie though.

Breaking from his thoughts, Wybie closed the distance between them. He slowly began to remove his biker gloves, taking Coraline's small hand in his own.

"H-here, you need these." Wybie cleared his throat.

There was a visible height diference between them now that they were teenagers. Coraline could've sworn just yesterday she was towering over him, but somewhere along the lines he had hit a growth spurt. Sure, it was only a measly two inches, but it was enough to make her feel small.

"What about your hands?" She retorted.

"Oh, I'll be fine. You're going to get frostbite or something. You're shivering, Jonesy."

Jonesy.

Yes, he had already addressed her as "Jonesy" once before. He's addressed her as "Jonesy" perhaps a million of times before now. Yet, there was so much tenderness behind it this time; So much concern. She felt like a child who couldn't look after herself and it made her queasy in a way. She was blushing from God knows what, which caused her to look shyly at the ground. Her own gloves were tattered and worn from the constant years of use. She loved them from the day her mother brought them home and she still loved them despite their condition.

"You're really weird, Wybie." Coraline whispered.

"I know."

Coraline nudged at the snow beneath her feet. She didn't know what to say. It wasn't that Wybie was ever a malicious person. Their friendship dynamic was weird. They always helped when the other was stuck in a rut, but their random acts of kindness for each other were barely acknowledged, at least not in a sentimental way. It was more so "Shut up, Wybie!" or "You're actually asking for my assistance, Jonesy?"

Seeing what looked like discomfort on his face, he jokingly asked "W-what's the matter, cat's got your tongue?" Wybie tried to break the silence.

Quickly regretting once again, speaking the first thoughts that came to mind, he quickly followed his question up before she could verbally attack him.

"Do you want me to take you home now? There really wasn't anything important to look for or examine today. I just thought we'd maybe enjoy the first snow of the year."

"Well, I definitely don't want you catching frostbite," Coraline teased, sticking her tongue out. "So yeah, let's go home."

Wybie smiled weakly, rubbing his neck. He spun around on his heels, and headed back toward his motorcycle. He kind of wish he would've appreciated the brown of Coraline eyes a bit more before he began walking back. Wybie always found that they had a glimmer. Whether it was frustration or childlike wonder, anger or rebellious satisfaction. Just a pure, and what seemed to be a natural glimmer that left Wybie puzzled with emotion. When they held eye contact just a few moments ago, Wybie felt something. He couldn't pinpoint that something, but it was definitely new. He would have to think about it later.

Wybie seemed to have zoned out as he found himself standing in front of his red motorcycle. He felt Coraline approaching behind him as she trudged through the snow. He unchained from the tree and proceeded to kick the stand up. He slid on the seat with ease. For some reason, he was waiting for the embrace that came with Coraline wrapping her arms around him during the ride. He shivered when she finally did catch up to him and did exactly what he silently yearned for. Thank God for the freezing temperatures, as Wybie wouldn't be able to explain all his newfound shivering.

"Ready?" Wybie questioned, pulling down his mask.

"Ready." Coraline breathed.

With that, the engined revved and soon enough they were off. Carolina learned to love the adrenaline that came with being on a motorized vehicle. It ignited every rebellious bone in her body, and it was bonus points that she rode without a helmet. Her blue hair flew everywhere, the cold wind nipping at her pale face. She unconsciously buried her face into the back Wybie's leather jacket. Partly to stay warm, and partly because they were going slow enough for her to pick up on his scent of fresh pine trees.

After about ten minutes or so, they arrived at the Pink Palace. It was beginning to get dark, the sky unchanged from its cloudy and gray hue. Coraline jumped off the motorcycle, almost falling backwards.

"Careful. I might have to save your life again." Wybie teased.

"Shut it, Wyborn. You know I'm the only one who can saves yours. Don't let me be the one to endanger it too." She retorted, crinkling up her nose.

"I see the cat finally gave you back your tongue."

He smiled at the sight of her freckles and the way they looked when it crinkled in disgust. She was so fiery and filled with uncontainable sass, and Wybie wouldn't have it any other way. Even if that meant being verbally attacked from time to time, her self expression was important to their dynamic.

"What did you ask for this Christmas?" Wybie smiled.

"I'll be lucky if my parents spare me any attention this year. But nothing out of the usual. Socks, hair dye, books, a plane ticket to visit my friends back home over the summer although there's zero percent chance of that happening." She sighed.

"Do you ever miss home?" Wybie looked up at her.

"I guess this is my home now since I've lived here for four years." She replied.

"That's not a very long time."

"I do miss my friends, and maybe there was a little bit more freedom down in Oregon than it is here. I didn't have to wear a stupid uniform at my old school."

"That's fair. You seem to have a lot that you want to express."

"But don't get me wrong, I love throwing parties in the gardens, and using sticks to find my way, and my weird neighbors. I also got to keep a cat. Those are about the only things here that keeps this place ten seconds from snoozeville."

"We give bland a good name though."

"What about you? What did you ask for?" Insisted Coraline.

"Nothing, really. You have everything you need when you utilize everything around you." He smiled, putting his arms in the air for effect.

"Uh-huh." Coraline clicked her tongue.

"Well," Wybie spoke, running a hand through his hair, "I better get going. Don't want Gramma out looking for me again."

"And hey, before I forget. Come by house so I can give you your gift tomorrow." He added.

"You got me a gift?" Coraline gasped.

"Why wouldn't I? We're friends right. In our own twisted way."

"Who said we were friends, Wyborn?"

"Alright, alright. Friendly acquaintances. Just when I thought you were warming up to me." Wybie teased.

Coraline stuck her tongue out like she always did when she didn't have anything witty to say. Finding nothing else to say, Wybie put on his mask and climbed onto his bike once again. Before revving his engine, he turned toward his blue-haired "acquaintance".

"Later, Jonesy." He spoke.

Before she could respond, he was already driving off into the distance. He seemed to be taking the sky with him as the sunset began to set more. She blushed again. Jonesy. Jonesy. Jonesy. It was so stupid and infuriating. Yet it only frustrated Coraline because Wybie had been calling her that ridicolous nickname for the two years that she's known him. So why did it leave such a profound affect on her now, and not the type that made her want to pummel him?

"Later, Wyborn." She whispered.

Thank you so much for reading part one of my two-shot. I did consider making this a one shot, but I figured it would be extreme eyesore to read what could potentially be a 4,000 word chapter. I also wanted to leave you all on a cliffhanger in hopes of piquing your interest. The final chapter should be posted tomorrow. (Consider this a little Christmas treat from me!) Finally, I wholeheartedly appreciate any constructive criticism that anyone has. Coraline is one of my favorite childhood movies and it sad to see that it might be a dying fandom. Alongside that, I enjoy Wybie's and Coraline's friendship dynamic and have always wanted to experiment with the possibilities of a romantic relationship. Have a wonderful Christmas Eve and thank you so so much for giving this a chance!