• The air was sweet and held the cool whisper of winter's approach. The chill stabbed needles into my exposed flesh, but the playful aroma of cider gave me warmth all over again. Still, I pulled my scarf closer to my neck then stuffed my hands quickly into my pockets -as if I needed to take such precautions. I was acting as if the nipping air bothered me, when in truth I have never been bothered by the cold. I tended to retain more heat than others, but sometimes a jacket was nice.

    Even with all the different smells of spices and apples cluttering my nostrils, I could still pick out Aiden's wonderful scent. He smelled like a newly open book -sometimes old, depending what he was reading- and he smelled like trees. I loved that lovely earth scent. It reminded me of rainy days when the trees were at it's greenest, and of crisp Autumn leaves placed in giant piles waiting for children to destroy them. I loved his scent; I loved him.

    I finally spotted him weaving in and out of the rows of trees heading towards me. I caught him picking an apple or two, and stuffing them in his messenger bag resting along his left hip. I hoped to God no one saw him; someone was going to have to pay for those apples, and I didn't have cash. I waved anyway, and I couldn't help but smile idiotically when I noticed he was wearing the blue argyle scarf I bought him the other day.

    I saw his face twist into a crooked smile. He must have caught my expression and thought it odd. He called out, "What's that face for?"

    I answered, still grinning, "You're wearing my gift. It looks nice on you."

    He rolled his eyes then handed out an apple in my direction. I shook my head and with a shrug, he tossed it back. "Too good for my apples? I see how it is." He half smiled when he said this.

    "Yeah, because they're stolen."

    His mouth dropped open in a fake moment of shock, "Stolen? No, no. I would never steal." He playfully smacked my shoulder and rolled his head to the side then back to face me. "Hey, you know I don't steal. I paid for my share of these apples at the front. I just decided to use my bag instead of hauling those splinter heavy baskets around." I watched his face turn to a more loving smile when his fingers caught hold of the stringy ends of the scarf. His eyes shifted downward and he kicked one foot back and forth. He was pondering something.

    "Aiden." I said softly. "Do you know why I asked you here?" I waited for him to answer, but all I received was a shrug. It was good enough. "There was something I wanted to talk to you about. Something really important." His eyes lifted and met mine. He held a gentle smile in his eyes. I loved when his eyes looked that way. It always made my heart jump -and usually I feared it would leap right out of my chest. "I know you've been waiting for me to say something, but I've been too stubborn to say a word. I couldn't say it because I was unsure of what you felt, but now that I know, I have courage." I paused a moment, tumbling the words over and over again until I had them right. There was only one way to say this, and I was ready. I parted my lips and as I had, Aiden spoke for me.

    "I love you." he said. I love you he had stolen the words right from my mouth. It was as if he had breathed in my words and spoke them for me. I didn't mind though. I was actually kind of glad he said it before I did. It made following up easy.

    "I love you too." I said in a low voice. I reached for his scarf and pulled it from his fingers gently. I used it to guide him towards me, and to guide his lips closer to mine. Our kiss was sweet with a bit of spice -cider. I recognized the flavor immediately; it made our kiss better -it made it true.

    Cider. Crisp when cold, and smooth when warm -the perfect description of our passion.