Here's chapter 2! I plan on having all my chapters about this long. The first one wasn't though because I'm really bad at starting pieces of writing. Any way! Voila!
Chapter Two
Jack chuckled at my reaction and said, "I've missed you, Snowflake."
I returned his affection by gently wrapping my arms around Jack's torso and burying my head in his chest. I took in the coldness radiating off his body and let it comfort me. I had my best friend back in my arms and I didn't want to let him go any time soon.
All sorts of emotions started to swirl together in my mind. Happiness, excitement, and most of all love, but this time it felt different. It didn't feel like the typical love like one would feel for a relative or a brother figure in Jack's case. It was an overwhelming love that I'd never felt before and surprisingly… I liked it.
The more I thought about it though, the more I started to think that I didn't just love Jack anymore. I was in love with him, but as soon as that thought came into my head I automatically shut it down from continuing. I had tons of reason not to feel that way and the biggest one is that everything between him and I would change. That's something I didn't want.
I slightly pulled back from Jack's embrace as it suddenly started to get warm in the room and Jack's low temperature just wasn't helping. I looked up at him and smiled.
"Jack, I- I'm just so happy to see you." Tears started to well in my eyes as I looked at him. I had missed that comforting temperature of his along with those kind, gentle eyes and warm smile.
Jack must have been startled by my tears and thought something was wrong, because his cool hands soon came up to capture my face between them. The sudden change in temperature on my face sent shivers down my spine and I swore I could hear a sizzle as his hands made contact with my warm cheeks.
"Snowflake, what's wrong? Please don't cry." He looked at me so sweetly that my cheeks became even warmer, as if that was even possible.
I sniffed, rubbed my nose with the back of my hand, and laughed softly. "Jack, I'm fine. I've just really missed you. Also, I'm just at that emotional week of the month."
A look of understanding passed over his face and he gave me a knowing smile after I gave him a wink to get the message through. It is weird how I could talk about that sort of thing with Jack and not feel embarrassed. We were just so close that we could talk about anything. That's a big reason why I liked having Jack over. If I ever needed to talk about something that I didn't want to talk to my mom about I could always discuss it with Jack.
Speaking of talking about something with my mom… I still needed to talk to Jack about Tyler. She had asked me what Jack would think as soon as I told her. I don't know why that would be the first thing to pop into her head when she just found out her little girl got her first boyfriend, but oh well. I just didn't know how to bring it up to him.
Jack was still smiling at me and I realized that I had been blankly staring at him the whole time. I blushed and turned my head away. Damn, I need to quit blushing. Jack's going to think I'm crazy or something. Also I can't feel that way about him. I have a boyfriend that I care a lot about. Remember, Jack's like your brother. Jack equals brother. Jack equals brother. Jack equals-
My mental meditation stopped when I noticed that Jack was waving his hand in my face and saying my name trying to get my attention. "Oh, sorry. What were you saying?"
Jack laughed, "Nothing. Now come on. Let's go down stairs so we can reminisce. Also, I want something to eat."
"Alright, alright," I smiled back.
Jack grabbed his staff and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. We then left my room and went downstairs to the kitchen.
I asked Jack what he wanted when we got in the living room. He said he wanted something sweet and cold. I went into the kitchen and looked around. I found vanilla ice cream in the freezer, chocolate syrup in the fridge, and sprinkles in the cabinets. I yelled at him, "Frost! Get in here and help me!"
Jack floated into the kitchen and settled down on the bar stool at our island in the middle of the room. "What are we going to have?"
"How does a sundae sound?" I held up the ice cream and chocolate syrup.
"Perfect," he smiled. He leaned his staff up against the island and walked over to the counter to help me. I noticed that he still had a good four inches on me in height when he stood beside me.
I told him to grab the bowls in the cabinet and get the ice cream scoop and two spoons out of the drawers. While he did that I got out some more stuff we would need like bananas, whip cream, and a jar of cherries. My mom and I always loved to have cold, sweet things during the winter so we always had ingredients for an ice cream sundae around this time of year.
Jack and I talked while we made our ice cream. He told me how he had to deliver a record amount of snowfall to a town in Missouri and that he had about five different snowball fights in about three different countries yesterday. I told him that I was doing great in school and that I was in the running to get valedictorian when I graduated from high school. Jack gave me a proud smile when I told him.
Somehow in the middle of our conversations we started a little food fight. Jack had gotten a mischievous smile on his face and "accidentally" got whip cream on my nose. I then, being a "complete klutz", "accidentally" squirted chocolate syrup on his hoodie. Starting from there we went into a full out war. We were laughing at each other as we shoved ice cream in the other's face and shook sprinkles in the other one's hair. At the end we both looked like the dessert and we were laughing our asses off.
We decided that we could skip out on ice cream for the night and that we should clean all this stuff up before my mom got home and killed us both. Afterwards I suggested that we both should probably take a shower.
"Alright, sounds good to me," Jack said then started making his ways upstairs to my bathroom. I followed him up to make sure he had everything he needed. After making sure he had a towel and knew how to start everything I shut the door. As I made my way to my room to wait on him to finish I heard him yell something at me.
"Hey Snowflake?"
"Yeah?" I walked back up to the door so I could hear him better.
"Can you wash my clothes while I'm in here? I don't need to be putting dirty clothes back on."
"Sure," I replied through the door. "Just hand them to me now so I can hurry and get them started."
A few seconds passed before the doorknob turned and the door opened an inch. Jack stuck his hand through the crack and handed me his clothes. Just before he shut the door back he popped his white-haired head around the door and looked at me.
"Would you like to join me? We can save water and time," he suggested with a wink and a sly grin.
I blushed furiously but decided to just play along. "I'm pretty sure we have different preferences when it comes to water temperature, Frost."
"Trust me. I'd make an exception for you, Snowflake."
"I'm not so sure about that. I like the water boiling hot. It would just end up thawing your ass," I smiled jokingly at him.
I turned away to finish this conversation since it was sending butterflies throughout my stomach. Just as I took the second step I heard Jack say behind me, "I haven't melted around you yet so I'm sure I'd be fine."
My face grew to a blazing heat at the understanding of his words and I whipped around on my heel to stare at him to see if I heard him right. When I looked back his icy eyes locked with mine then searched my face real quick for something before he sent another wink in my direction and closed the door.
I stood there for a second till I heard the shower turn on. My brain then went on autopilot as I went over what was just exchanged between the two of us. Jack had flirted with me. He never flirted with me. We were practically related and you don't flirt with relatives.
Not only did he flirt with me, he basically called me hot. That definitely wasn't helping the feelings I was having for him to be pushed back into the corners of my mind. I distractedly undressed and wrapped myself in a blue robe that tied at the waist and ended just above my knees. I then grabbed Jack's and my clothes and made my way to the laundry room. I had already thrown my clothes in the washer and was beginning to throw Jack's in when I noticed his boxers. They were blue with heart-shaped snowflakes on them. Typical.
I had made my way back upstairs when the door to the bathroom started to open. Jack stood in the doorway with his towel hanging low on his waist and his shiny, white hair dripping water onto his pale, well-defined, muscular chest. I let out a surprised shriek when I saw him and he just looked at me with a devious smile on his face. He then slowly let his eyes drift down my body and back up; taking in the short robe I was wearing.
I swore that a blush had crept onto his cheeks, but I could barely tell since it had started to get dark outside and the only light that lit the hallway was the bathroom one that was behind him. His eyes locked with mine and they seemed to give off their own light since they happened to be the only things I could see clearly in the dark hall.
"You're turn. I saved the hot water for you." I continued to stare at him and him at me for what seemed like forever when it was probably only a couple seconds until I heard the washer go off.
"Go throw the clothes in the dryer if you could," I said making my way towards the bathroom.
He got out of my way so I could enter the room. "Will do."
I then closed the door behind me before hopping into a nice hot shower. I was hoping that taking a hot shower would help me get my mind off Jack. Sadly all I thought about the whole time was what he looked like the whole time he stood in the doorway.
I felt like such a horrible girlfriend thinking about a half-naked Jack while I was dating Tyler. I promised myself that I would call him tomorrow morning and make sure to set up a date for us to make it up to him even if he didn't know what I did.
I got out of the shower after washing the sprinkles and whip cream out of my hair. Just as I was getting ready to walk out in my robe and go change in my room I wasn't quite sure I wanted Jack to see me in it again. Bad news is: I didn't have any clothes in the bathroom with me.
"Jaaack?"
"Yeah?" I could tell he was in the other side of the door. He had replied really quickly and I wondered how long he'd been standing there.
"Can you grab me some pajamas or something?"
"Sure. One second, Snowflake."
I was sitting on the edge of the tub waiting for him when there was a knock on the door. "Got them."
"Why did it take you so long?" I got up and made my way to the door to open it. "It only takes like two seconds to grab a pair of pajamas."
I opened the door just a bit and looked at him. He was now just wearing a pair of loose boy pajama pants that I had gotten for him a few weeks ago so he'd have them when he was over. They were a plaid navy blue. "I see you've found the pants I bought you. How hard is it to find a shirt to put on though?"
"Oh, just get dressed." He shoved the clothes he was holding into my face and pulled the door closed.
The pile included a pair of grey sweatpants and a blue hoodie. I don't remember ever owning either of them. The hoodie was the exact same color as Jack's so I supposed that they were a present from him. After putting them on I noticed that there was writing on them. Up the right leg of the pants it said "Jack's Snowflake". There were tiny snowflakes trailing up both legs and at the bottom of the left leg there was a mini cartoon Jack that had his hand up by his mouth and was blowing a snowflake while holding his staff in the other hand. On the back of the hoodie it also said "Jack's Snowflake".
I laughed at his ridiculous gift and pulled my brush through my hair. When my hair was all brushed I put it in side braid and then opened the bathroom door.
Jack was standing by the door against the wall with his staff in his hand. He still hadn't put a shirt back on. I knew that if I let him know that I really wanted him to put one on he'd keep one off because that's just what he does. I decided I was just going to have to ignore it then.
It was hard not to appreciate the view though. Jack's arms were pretty well built from holding his staff up all day. His torso was really defined also. I realized how hot Jack really was. It's weird how the coldest guy on the planet could be so hot when it came to looks.
I quickly averted my eyes when he caught me appreciating his perfectly sculpted body. He must have noticed that I was becoming really uncomfortable because he finally spoke.
"Do you like your new pajamas? I was going to give them to you for Christmas, but I couldn't wait," he smiled at me.
"I love them Jack. They're pretty warm too."
"I figured that since we would hang out a lot you'd need something to keep you warm around me."
"You're not that cold," I told him while I let out a small laugh.
Jack just laughed back, grabbed my hand, and pulled me towards the stairs. We walked into the living room when I heard the bolt on the front door turn. We stood there and watched as my mom came in through the entryway and into the room with us.
"Hey, mom. Look who's here!" I moved my hands indicating Jack who was standing next to me.
My mom suddenly looked up from digging in her purse for something and looked at me and Jack. "Jack! It's so good to see you!"
She came up to us and gave Jack a hug that he returned while saying, "It's good to see you too Mrs. Rain."
"Jack, I told you. Call me Helen. I've known you as long as Mia has so you don't need to be so formal." My mom then turned towards me and gave me a hug. "How was your day baby? Have you guys eaten yet? I can order something."
I was getting ready to reply when Jack stopped me by saying, "No, but we were going to make some popcorn and watch a movie. Would you like to join us Mrs. R- Helen?"
"No I'm fine, but thank you for the offer sweetie," my mom said as she patted Jack lovingly on the cheek. I was surprised that my mom was able to ignore Jack being shirtless the whole time. Either she was so tired from work she really didn't notice or she had really good self-control. "I think you guys should just spend the time alone with each other. This is the time you two wait for every year so you need to take advantage of it. I'll be in my room if you need me though. Goodnight you two."
She then kissed both our foreheads and left the room. Jack turned towards me and smiled, "You go get everything upstairs ready while I get the snacks."
"Okie-dokie!" Jack turned and went into the kitchen while I went upstairs to set up our little home theatre in my room. I decided to go with "The Vow" for our movie. I grabbed a bunch of pillows and blankets off my bed. I then grabbed the sleeping bags and laid them out in front of the TV along with the pillows and blankets.
I had just gotten done setting everything up and decided to go get mine and Jack's clothes out of the dryer. I went back upstairs with them and just when I finished folding them neatly and setting them on my bed Jack came in my room with a big bowl of popcorn and two cups of pop with twisty straws in them. He came over to me and handed me a cup. I noticed then that his drink seemed thicker than mine.
"What's up with your drink?"
"Do you want a slushy too?"
"Umm, sure I guess?"
Jack set down the bowl and his drink then took mine. He softly blew on the drink and handed it back saying, "Now stir it."
When I did I noticed that it had become icy. I then realized why having a guardian who could control ice as a friend was so awesome. I looked up at him and smiled, "Thanks!"
"Of course my little Snowflake," he said touching my nose with his finger and grinning back at me. "So what are we watching?"
"The Vow. It's a romance movie based on a true story." I went over to my closet and pulled out one of my old sleeping shirts that was my dad's when I was younger. I walked back to Jack and handed it to him. "Can you please put this on, Frost?"
"Why? Is my hotness getting to you?" He winked at me while giving me a sexy smirk but still slipped the shirt over his snowy-head.
"You wish," I mumbled and sat down in front of the TV motioning for Jack to come sit by me.
The emotions I had been feeling for Jack earlier started to die down, but as he sat down next to me not even a foot away I began feeling butterflies in my stomach again. Just when I started to think that at least he's just sitting by me Jack decided to put his arm around my shoulder. He had always done that, but it just somehow felt different this time. The warmth from my hoodie blocked out the coolness of his arm, but I could mentally imagine what it would have felt like on the back of my neck. I was glad that my room was dark otherwise he would have seen my cheeks begin to turn pink.
We sat there enjoying our snacks and drinks while watching the movie. Jack seemed really interested in the movie. It surprised me considering he didn't strike me as a chick-flick watcher. When it finally got to the car wreck part I remembered why I really only watched this movie once in a while.
Feelings about my dad's death started to come back. I remembered how lonely I felt when it happened. My dad and I were extremely close. I mean me and my mom were the exact same, but when he died she sort of became reclusive. She was sad all the time and she sort of lost her spirit of happiness. My parents were completely in love and I think it was all based on how they were practically still child-like when they got older. Both of them still believed in the Guardians even as they aged. I was just really scared that with my dad dying my mother's spirit of believing would die as well.
Before I knew it the movie was over. I never noticed that the whole time I had tears in my eyes. Jack looked over at me and I yawned to try to hide the source of my tears. Being that he's known me since the age of four I should've known that he'd see through it.
"Mia? What- what's wrong?" He turned towards me and put both of his cold hands on my cheeks. The temperature of them comforted me but not enough to make me stop thinking about my dad.
"It's nothing. I promise Jack." He looked at me for a second when realization passed over his face.
"Mia, I'm so sorry," he said with the most caring and softest voice. "I- come here."
Jack pulled me toward him and engulfed me in a giant hug. I was able to hold back most of the tears, but being in Jack arms made me feel like it was okay to let them out. I started to sob uncontrollably while Jack pulled me into his lap and rocked me back and forth while making soothing noises.
I started to ramble on about how much I missed my dad and about how I felt like a part of me died along with him. I cried into Jack's shirt trying to muffle my sobs so my mom wouldn't hear and end up being reminded of it all again. I could feel Jack press his lips to the top of my head and feel his cold breath on my head from mumbling reassurances into my hair.
"I'm right here Mia. Don't cry. Please don't cry, Snowflake," he said stroking my hair.
After about ten straight minutes of crying I finally started to calm down. I pulled my face back from Jack's shirt and looked at him, but I didn't dare let go of him.
"I'm sorry for acting this way. I barely get to see you and I'm ruining it right now by crying. I don't want to burden you with my problems." I looked down not being able to keep eye contact anymore.
Jack put his fingers under my chin and lifted it up so I looked directly into his eyes. "You will never burden me, Mia. Don't ever think that you shouldn't tell me something or show your emotions because you're scared you'll be a burden. You will never be that to me. I will always listen to your problems and I will always be there if you need a shoulder to cry on."
Jack then surprised me by pressing his lips to my forehead. They were cold to the touch and it hurt a bit when they made contact with my warm skin. It wasn't a bad pain though. It was more like a… pleasurable pain.
As soon as I thought that my mind started to send out alarms. I could practically see the red alarms in my brain going off and sending flashes of light everywhere. I can't think of him that way I told myself. It doesn't matter if I'm sad and need comforting. I have a boyfriend and I can't forget about him.
Jack pulled his lips off my forehead and looked at me. I just gave him a sort of nervous smile and said, "Thank you Jack. For everything you've ever done for me."
Jack looked my face over intently before giving me a small smile back and responding, "No problem."
I had been trying to suppress a yawn, but I couldn't do it anymore. I let it out and Jack smiled at me. "I think it's time for you to go to bed. It's late and we still have tons of more days to hang out, alright?"
"Alright," I said yawning again. I slid off Jack's lap so he could get up. Once he did he held out his hands to help me up. I grabbed them and he pulled me up on my feet. Jack turned off my TV then started leading me over to my bed until I protested.
"Are we not going to sleep in the sleeping bags like always?" I turned around and looked up into his eyes.
He seemed to hesitate for a second before answering. "You should sleep in your bed tonight. You need some good sleep. I'll sleep in the sleeping bag."
"But-," I began until he cut me off.
"No buts, Snowflake. Bed. Now." Jack's voice and face were serious, but I could see a hint of playfulness in his eyes.
I let out a sigh of defeat and made a pouty face at him before I walked over to my bed. I pulled my covers back and laid down. Jack came over and tucked my blankets in tightly around me while I giggled. He then started to tickle me while I was trapped in my blanket cocoon. It was times like these that made me think of Jack as an older brother that always messed around with his adored little sister. He did stuff like this a lot and it was probably to make up for not being able to do that with his own little sister for very long.
Once he finally quit as a result of my continuous pleadings I calmed down. Jack and I both let out one more soft laugh as he sat down on my bed next to me. His eyes softened and he pushed my hair out of my face. "Goodnight, Mia."
He stood up slowly then leaned over giving me one more cold kiss on my forehead.
I didn't want to be alone right then. I knew Jack would be just a few feet away on the ground, but I wanted him to be closer. He always made me feel safe and when I started thinking of my dad I got a wave of sadness and then a wave of fear afterwards. It wasn't just of fear of dying or being alone though. It was just a fear of everything right in that small moment.
I grabbed Jack's shirt before he pulled away and didn't let go when he did.
He looked at me a little stunned. His eyes searched my face that laid a few inches under his when they finally landed on my lips. He thinks I'm going to kiss him I though surprised. I let go of his shirt hastily, turned my face away from his so he couldn't see the blush on my cheeks, and asked quietly, "Jack, can you sleep up here with me tonight? I don't want to be alone right now."
I could see Jack stiffen out of the corner of my eye. I knew that he was thinking that I wasn't going to be alone if he didn't sleep with me, but he didn't say anything. Instead he nodded his head, walked to the other side of the bed, and then laid down next to me on top of the covers.
Neither of us said anything as we got situated to go to sleep. I was laying on my side facing Jack and he was facing me on his side. He propped up his head with his hand and looked at me. We stared at each other for what seemed like forever until he finally said, "Close your eyes and go to sleep, Snowflake."
I did as he told me. I was just starting to slip into unconsciousness when I softly said, "Goodnight, Jack."
I heard him reply, but I couldn't make out what he said because the darkness finally pulled me under.
I awoke the next morning like I had the morning before; with the sun shining right in my face. It was brighter outside today since the sun was reflecting off all the snow on the ground. I propped myself up with my elbows before I remembered that I had fallen asleep with Jack laying down next to me.
I looked over to the opposite side of the bed and saw him laying there. He was on his back with one arm lying limply above his head on the pillow and the other draped across his stomach. I could just make out a slight slip of pale skin peeking out just above his pant line.
Jack seemed to be in a deep sleep so I knew he wasn't going to wake up easily. He usually never was easy to wake up though. I remember one time from when I was six that I had to jump on top of him and shout in his face before he woke up. I decided that since it would be awhile till he was aware of the real world again I decided to give myself this one moment to admire his beautiful, sleepy features.
His shiny white hair was sticking up every which way and his eyes were moving back and forth under his closed eyelids. I noticed the slight rise and fall of his chest and I swore I could see his cold breath coming out from between his slightly separated lips. I thought that he was beautiful when he was awake, but he was just as beautiful if not more when he was asleep.
While looking at Jack I suddenly remembered that I told myself yesterday that I would set up a date with Tyler. I reached for my phone and dialed his number. I wasn't worried about Jack hearing our conversation since he was in a deep, sleepy state.
After the second ring Ty picked up. "Hey, Mia. What's up?"
"Ty, I was going to talk to you about that date you offered yesterday. Today's Monday so how does Wednesday sound? We can go to the movies or whatever you want."
"Sure," he said. "I'll pick you up at six and take you out to eat and then we can go see a movie."
"Ty, you don't have to take me to eat. I-," but Tyler quickly stopped me.
"I want to, Mia. I'll see you Wednesday, okay?"
"Alright," I said with a sigh.
"Okay. Bye, Mia."
"Bye, Tyler." I hung up and set my phone in my lap.
I suddenly heard someone clear their throat and I looked over at Jack absolutely startled. His hair was still a mess and his shirt was all crinkled, but I noticed the focus in his eyes. He was fully awake now and he heard everything I said to Tyler.
Jack narrowed his angry stare at me before asking, "Who's Tyler?"
So there was chapter 2. Let me know what you guys think. I love reading the feedback. My best friend helped me with this chapter in giving me advice and reading it over so I could correct mistakes that Microsoft Word didn't catch. She also agreed with my idea of doing it in Jack's POV also so that's going to be in the next chapter.
