You and your friends had planned this trip for months—snowboarding in the Colorado mountains, the perfect winter escape. The snow sparkled under the bright sun as you slowed to a stop on the edge of the slope, taking a moment to catch your breath.

Out of nowhere, you heard the faint swish of skis approaching from behind. Before you could turn, a girl skidded to a stop a little too quickly, lost her balance, and landed in the snow with a soft thud.

Sarah: "Damn it…" she muttered under her breath, brushing snow off her sleek black jacket. Her white helmet tilted slightly as she adjusted her goggles, clearly annoyed with herself. Her fitted black ski pants and jacket looked perfectly coordinated, giving her the appearance of someone who knew what they were doing—until now.

She glanced up at you, her hazel eyes meeting yours for a moment. Even with her goggles and ski mask, the faint redness in her cheeks was impossible to miss.