Chapter 1

"So how long you going to hide out in my flat, mate?" Jack Overland Frost's eye trailed from the TV to his friend E. Aster Bunnymund. Aster was a tall man with blue swirling tattoos that adorned his arms and legs, because of this he made sure to wear tank tops and shorts to show off his ink. He also had blue hair, and Jack teased him relentlessly about the color choice. At the moment Jack was not interested in teasing, no he simply wanted to stay hidden under the blanket he had pulled over his head, stay seated on the couch, and watch two more hours of television. His messy brown hair poked out from under the blanket, and his brown eyes watched as Aster tapped his foot as he waited for an answer.

"Until I have a job." Jack groaned out and slumped further into the couch almost disappearing in the pillows.

"I can talk to North, he might be able to give you a delivery job." Aster shrugged and sat down next to his friend.

"And be stuck working with you all day? No thanks." Jack smiled the whole time he was speaking. He wouldn't mind working with his friend, but he knew that with the economy the way it was North really couldn't afford to hire another delivery boy.

"Maybe now is the time to get your GED?"

"Ok, not the time to nag me about that, Bunny! I'm so serious! I need a job! We can't live off my mom's disability alone, and Elizabeth is starting middle school in August!" Jack threw the blanket off him and jumped up starting to pace back and forth. Up until now Jack had been blessed with a custodial job he managed to get at the age of seventeen, he was a loyal employee for a year but budget cuts caused the school to let him go. Jack had been working the moment he turned seventeen. His father had died of cancer, and the resulting medical bills weren't going to pay themselves. His mom was too depressed to work and seemed content just drawing on disability, not at all concerned about the fact that her check wasn't enough to cover all her bills or get her children what they needed for school. There had been a time that Jack went a whole month without hardly eating anything, just so his sister could have a good dinner. Jack loved his sister more than anything in the world, and she was the driving force behind Jack quieting school and working full time.

"Well sitting at my place isn't going to get you a job." Aster handed Jack a news paper and gave him a stern look. "Here are the classifieds."

Jack snatched the paper from his friend and plopped down onto the couch with a frown. How was he going to get another job? He hardly had any experience and he didn't even have his GED.

"It's not like employers are tripping over themselves to hire an inexperience eighteen year old without an education." Jack muttered sarcastically, but looked at the paper with hope none the less.

"You got to apply to get a job. Sitting on my couch watching TV ain't gonna find you work. Plus you'll have to face your mom eventually and tell her you got laid off."

Jack let his shoulders slump. "She's just going to have a fit when she finds out, and I'll have to listen to her doom and gloom, and try to cheer her up while making sure my sister doesn't over hear anything. The last thing I need is Elizabeth worrying about our financial state."

"Don't you ever get tired of having to be the bread winner?" Aster asked with a tinge of pity in his voice.

"Yeah but…mom isn't getting out of bed. She's too depressed. I don't blame her, on her bad days she's really bad, she even manages to bring me down. Can't imagine what that would be like in a work environment. She's probably get fired after a week, that or just quiet showing up because she doesn't see the point in living anyway."

Aster cringed at the sound of Jack's voice. He was usually happy and upbeat, always optimistic no matter what, but he truly sounded lost. He sounded like he had the weight of the world on his shoulder. He was the man of his house, ever since his dad died, he took that role seriously. Sometimes Aster wished his friend had it easier but really there was nothing either one of them could do to change it. So Aster just gave a listening ear.

Jack turned the page of the classifieds, with a disappointed look. All the job opening were asking for experience. Experience that Jack didn't have. He wondered for a moment if any of the fast food joints around town where hiring. He should really have spent his day filling out applications rather than sitting on his best friends couch.

"Hey what about that one?" Aster pointed a finger at the page right under a short blurb.

Seeking reliable and responsible individual to perform clerical work. No experience necessary, but must be well organized and friendly. Please apply in person.

"Well I'm friendly." Jack grinned wide at his friend. "With this smile, who wouldn't want to hire me as a secretary. Though I might have to break out the leather."

"Going to have an office affair with your boss?" Aster asked skeptically.

"Hell yeah, if it gets me a bonus!" Jack laughed loudly.

"Well get home, change and apply for the damn job. Doesn't look like there is much for you to choose from."

"Yeah, I'll probably stop by some fast food places and fill out applications." Jack got to his feet—which were bare because he hated wearing shoes—and exited Bunnymund's apartment. Jack's own apartment was only three doors down, so he didn't have far to go. He took out his keys and opened the door as quietly as possible. The whole apartment was dark, with curtains drawn over every single window. Jack knew immediately that his mother was in one of her darker moods, and hoped that Elizabeth would stay in her room and play for the day. He swallowed the lump in his throat, and hopped his mom would simply stay in her bedroom as well and not ask were he'd been or where he was going.

He managed to get to his room without rousing his mother. He picked out the nicest clothe he had—which was a blue polo shirt and khakis—and got dressed quickly. He put on black sneaker because he didn't own anything nicer than that, and hopped that his future employer wouldn't look at his feet.

"Jack is that you?" Jack cringed, he had almost made it out of the front door without waking his mom.

"Yeah it's me." He sighed out and walked toward his mom's bedroom.

"Come here—oh there you are. Can you go to the store and pick up some dinner? I don't feel like cooking." It would have surprised Jack if she had felt like cooking.

"I'll cook something tonight."

"Don't you have work?"

Jack prepared himself for his mother's reaction. "No, I was laid off. I was actually just going out to put in some applications."

His mother frowned at him and let out a mournful sigh. "With the way things are, I'm not surprised. This world doesn't have much to offer us, except disappointment and heartache." His mother pulled the covers over her head, Jack took that as a sign to leave. He made a pit stop at the kitchen and made sure all the knives and scissor were locked away, and that the only pills out were the single dose of antidepressants his mom took in the evening. Sure that his mother couldn't get a hold of anything to harm herself, he left the apartment with hopes of a new job.

Jack arrived at the address the classified ad had described. It was in the old downtown area of Burgess, and the façade of the office looked like an old store front. The windows were large and there was even etching on the door which read 'Kozmotis Pitchiner, individual therapy and phobia treatment.'

For a moment Jack hesitated, he wasn't sure if he wanted to work at a therapist office, he had a hard enough time handling his mom. However he was desperate for a job, and beggars couldn't be choosers. He opened the door and the sound of a bell rang throughout the small sitting area. There was an empty desk in front of him, and a hallway to his right. He turned down the hallway and saw two doors. One had a sign on it designating it as the bathroom, and the other door was closed with a sign reading 'in session.'

With a shrug Jack decided it be best to sit out in the waiting area. There were only four chairs in the room, and Jack took the one closest to the hallway. The chairs were a deep charcoal color, and modern in style. The walls of the waiting room were painted dark lavender which seemed to sooth Jack. There were some dark abstract paintings hung on the walls as well. They almost resembled moths, if Jack turn his head to the left.

As he sat in the chair waiting he became nervous. He wondered if he had to fill out and application, if he was expected to have a resume—which he didn't—or would he be interviewed on the spot. He wasn't quite sure if he was ready for an interview. He started to worry his lip and get lost in the 'what ifs'. He was surprised when he heard a door open and a "thank you" echo from the hallway. He watched as a Indian women came out of the hallway dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

'Were people supposed to leave a therapist crying?' Jack thought to himself. He was pretty sure therapists were supposed to make you feel better, not worse. The lady smiled at him softly as she noticed him sitting, and he smiled back.

"Mr. Pitchiner is great I'm sure he'll help you with anything you need." She said reassuringly and left. Jack watched her dumb founded, did he look like he needed a therapist?

"May I help you?" A deep frigid monotone reached Jack's ear and it sent a shiver down his spine. Jack turned to the entrance of the hallway and saw a very tall man, who appeared to be in his late thirties. His hair was jet black and slicked back in a professional manner. He wore a black button up shirt and dark grey slacks. His skin was pale and his eye such a bright hazel that they almost appeared yellow. He was rather handsome.

Jack put on his most charming smile and stood up while reaching out his hand. "I'm Jack Overland Frost, and I'm here in concern to the clerical position you have open."

Mr. Pitchiner gave Jack a once over before shaking his hand firmly. " You have impeccable timing, I have an hour before my next session, come in." The dark man walked back into the hallway and entered the door that was previously closed. Jack followed and was absolutely astonished to see the man's office. It had a light grey walls and a black leather lounge on one side by the window, and a black leather chair on the other. Against the back wall was a small chestnut desk with a comfortable and old fashion desk chair. Jack sat down in the lather chair, feeling slightly uncomfortable. It looked like he'll be having an interview right away.

"Do you have a resume?" Mr. Pitchnier asked and he put a folder in one of the desk drawers.

The brunet kept his smile on wide and bright. "Unfortunately, no." This didn't seem to impress the darker man, and he only nodded minutely as he took out a pad of paper and began to write something down. Jack noticed that his face was rather stern and unemotional, and he wondered how this man could help people feel better about their lives and phobias.

"Do you have any experience?" Pitchiner asked, making eye contact which only made Jack feel like a rat in a cage.

"I'm worked as a custodian for a year at a nearby middle school. So I'll be sure to not only keep your office organized, but clean as well."

"How do you feel about running personal errands? This job isn't only for helping me organize and keep up with my appointment, occasionally I'll need you to pick up dry cleaning, or lunch for me. It's very difficult for me to leave my office, as I'm usually booked solid. The only reason why I have time to talk to you know is because I had a client cancel. I'm very busy and I need someone that can keep up." The man sounded slightly rude, and Jack wondered if he's already been written off, and had no chance at getting this job.

Jack kept up his smile anyway. He needed this job, and his personality was the only thing that would get it for him.

"I don't mind at all. I like to be kept busy, I don't want to just sit around at work, the more I have to do the better. I never sat still at my old job, and I don't plan on doing it now."

Pitchiner seemed slightly impressed by Jacks enthusiasm, or at least Jack thought. It was hard to tell the man didn't really change his expression, he just nodded.

"Do you have references?" The dark man question. Jack felt so unprepared he was pretty sure he wasn't going to get this job. His excitement had gotten the best of him, and he really hadn't thought to type up a resume or a list of references. Usually there was room for that on application.

"Yeah, of course," He gave a wary smile, "If you have a sheet of paper I could write down my old employer and some personal references."

In complete silence Pitchiner flipped the page of his notebook and tore out a paper. He laid it in front of Jack along with a pin, and the young man went about writing down his references. He knew that he would get a glowing recommendation from his old boss. He was a hard worker, and though the interview wasn't going as well as he liked, if his references were called he'd be hired on their recommendation alone. Jack handed over the page with a bright smile, and Pitchnier took it calmly. "

That is all I need to know for now, thank you for stopping by." He said and waved his hand in dismiss.

"Thank you for your consideration." Jack said pleasantly before taking his leave. He took one more look around the front room and the empty desk there and wondered if he had any chance of sitting behind it. With a sigh he exits the bell announcing his departure.

"I guess I'll go to some fast food joints." He said out loud to himself, which got him a couple of stares from the people passing by. He only smiled and let out a sigh. It was going to be hard finding a job in this economy.