Chapter 1 Hey stranger
Jack sat upon the thick oak branch of the tree that over looked his lake. He was thinking of that day, the day he became Jack Frost. He was wondering what had happened to his sister. Where had she gone? Did she have a family? Was she happy when she was alive? He was well aware that she would have to be long gone by now, 300 years, too long for any mortal to live.
The scraping of the ice roused Jack's attention. On his lake was a young woman. Her wide brown eyes searching to see if anyone was around. She unzipped her overstuffed red jacket. Jack watched intently as she stepped out in ice skater attire. She had silver leggings that clung to her slim, but toned legs. Her dress was mid-thigh length and a shimmering sky blue; it has frosted tips that looked like diamonds when she spun.
When she skated, it was like an elegant dance. Her strawberry blond tresses flowing freely and her ivory face was wind burnt giving her a blush that made her look beautiful. He found himself floating near her, he needed to be closer. The ice cracked suddenly the young woman gasped and tripped on the cracked shard. Her knee scraped against it cutting her knee. She winced at the sharp pain, crimson blood spread through the leggings. She gasps has the ice cracks farther.
"Oh no" She says and shuts her eyes bracing herself. Jack immediately sprang into action He stepped in front of the girl, by passing his staff over the ice it immediately smoothed and hardened. The girl looked at the ice and touched it then she touched her knee.
A sharp hiss escapes her lips. Jack realized that she needed to get to a hospital. He kneels in front of the girl and concentrates as he touched her forehead with one finger. Her eyes flutter and she touches her forehead.
"I am going insane," She says with a bitter laugh.
"Next thing you know Jacks Frost is going to be sitting in front of me." She shakes her head and closes her eyes, trying to calm herself. After a few deep breaths, she opens her eyes, which quickly widen with shock. Her chocolate brown eyes give him a once over before she grabs his hand.
"Oh my god you really are here." She says quickly retracting her own hand.
"Yes and you can see me which is rare but you're not insane. I am going to help you but you have to let me." Jack explains tentatively touching her shoulder with his cool fingers. She nods and tries to stand. She cries out and starts to fall but Jack catches her. He picks her up bridle style. With staff at hand, Jack holds the girl tightly.
"Hold on"
"Hold on for wh-" Her question ended with a scream as they were launched into the air. "Woooohoooo" Jack whooped as they soared higher, he closed his crystal blue eyes and smiled at the feeling of flight. When he opened them, he saw the girl closing her eyes tightly and burying her head in the crook of his neck. Her warm breath tickled his cool skin.
"Sorry, but this is the fastest way to the hospital. In the meantime, do you want to tell me your name?" Jack asks while shifting his hands higher up her thigh so that her knee was not strained. She licked her lips nervously before answering.
"Marina"
"Pretty, it suits you" Jack says looking down at her. Marina felt the blush beginning to rise to her cheeks. She whimpers in pain once they land on the ground having to put some weight on her leg. Jack made her sit at a bench and kneeled down to take off her skates, exposing her pink hello kitty socks in the process.
"Amazing choice in footwear I must say." Jack says looking up at her with a mocking smirk. Marina put her hands at her hips but her eyes gave away her amusement.
"Well I didn't think that people would be looking at my socks today so shush."
"Time to get you in checked in. Hmm I can't carry you in without causing a scene. Can you hobble the remaining few feet? I will right by your side till the doctor comes." Jack asked extending his hand towards her. She takes it and hops on one foot to the entrance of the hospital, all the while holding onto Jack for support.
The nurses saw her bloodied leg and quickly retrieved a wheel chair, which she gratefully accepted. Jack stood aside and observed as Marina called her parents. She rolled her eyes and looked to him with a quick smile as her mother went on a worried rant.
"Yes, mom I am fine. I think at worst, I will need stitches no big deal" She explains quickly removing the phone from her ear as her mother screams
"NO BIG DEAL! That is a very big deal; your father and I are heading over there right now. PAUL GET IN THE VAN!"
Jack can't stifle this any longer and holds his stomach from laughing. Marina holds a hand to her lips to keep her laughter at bay. She hangs up and is then wheeled to the examination room. As predicted, she is in need of stitches, 16 in fact. The painkillers that they give her makes her loopy and more relaxed.
"You know Jack Frost saved me. He is so hot, tehehe I mean cold. There he is, Hey Jackie!" She tells her parents as they question Marina on how she got hurt. Jack winked in her direction. Her father was fighting back a grin. Marina's mother smacks him on the back of the head.
A very serious expression on her slightly lined face. She had straw blond hair that was piled in a messy bun atop her head. Marina had her eyes but more open and joyful, especially as she skates. Her father was a wisp of a man. Very tall and very thin, with a shock of raven hair atop his head. He rolled his daughter to the car and helped her into the seat.
"Alright champ, in you go" He tells her as her buckles her in the seat. Jack watches as the gray minivan drove off and disappeared around the corner. Jack shot up to the sky with one destination in mind, home.
Ever sense Jack became a guardian; North had been trying to get him to move nearby so he would be closer to his new 'family'. However, Jack already had a home, his lake.
North though, did make some modifications. The Yetis had built him a modest cottage. Two story, two rooms, with a high-rise ceiling so he could just fly up to his room. This made him think of his old home that he shared with his mother, father, and sister. Sleep overcame him instantly as he fell to the comforter.
