Love Emulsion

Chapter Two

"And she said that we all have a star seed!"

Jack felt the sides of his lips curl. The stories this kid came up with were nothing he'd ever heard before. Where did he get this stuff? Then again he had mentioned his babysitter told him this tale so the real question was which crazy book did this one come out of? Ah well, it was a sweet story anyway kinda like the stories of a jolly old man sliding down the chimney every December twenty fifth. Only thing was, that story was true.

Coming by Jamie's house was all worth it, just to hear the new news in his life. Even if he was supposed to be finishing up the winter season in this area, nothing beat this.

"And after we die," He went on the enthusiasm in his voice growing. "Our star seeds go back to where they were created."

"In space?" Jack cocked a brown brow.

"Yep!"

Hm, that was funny seeing as when he died, no star seed popped out of his chest and floated back into the dead of space. So this story was basically a poorly written science fiction comic? Why would a babysitter even tell a kid that kind of crazy story? It wasn't like it had any value but who was he to judge, he hadn't read it. If he had, maybe he'd get a few mental laughs to keep him busy when he was working.

So there's a big cauldron out there somewhere in space, making souls? Eh, not likely.

"Your babysitter told you this?" He asked, falling back into the plastic chair in the younger boy's bed room.

"Yeah," Jamie nodded, his smile as wide as ever. "She told me that she believes in this story more than anything in the whole entire world! She said that if she can believe in that story, I can believe in you."

His heart stopped. "You told her about me?"

"Of course." The brown haired boy nodded.

For a moment he hesitated to inhale but found the strength to speak anyhow. "Did she believe you?"

Did she believe in me?

"At first she didn't." The younger male's eyes darted away from him. "And I'm not sure if she does now but she told me if I believed in anything hard enough it was true."

"I see." Jack felt his own eyes move away from the boy sitting a few feet away from him. "So," He cleared his throat, "She believes this story about star seeds? That's pretty wild."

Jamie's large eyes found their way back to the ice spirit. "Yeah, Heather says I have an 'active imagination' but I think she's the one with an active imagination!"

Active imagination, didn't it always come down to the conclusion? Parents were infamous for saying something like that when their kids came around with 'stories' like the one Jamie had apparently been spreading around school. But as long as there were kids like him around, that's all that really mattered. If just one person believed, that was more than enough for him. After all, how long did he go when no one believed in him?

"Heather huh?" Jack managed to crack a smile.

If this girl could believe a crazy story like that of star seeds then why couldn't she believe in 'old saint Nick' or the Easter bunny? It wouldn't be that far of a jump would it? Then again, she was an adult. If an adult believed in the guardians did that mean they would be able to see them? When had an adult ever seen one of them? The reason why grown people couldn't see them was only because they didn't believe right? What if they did believe?

Would she be able to see them?

It'd be worth a shot.

XoXoX

He'd have to move on soon from this part of the country, it was getting too warm for his tastes. Besides, when spring started somewhere, fall had to start elsewhere right? He was going to miss Jamie and Sophie though, but there was always next winter. The fact that they even believed was enough motivation to move on and look forward to the coming season. A few more weeks of cold and he'd move on. Such was life.

If you can call it a life.

The wind carried him with ease. Ugh, he could feel the warmth in the air, spring was on its way that was for sure; no more snow days for the kids of his city, not any that would cancel school anyway. Hm, with the slight chill he brought to the surrounding area, he might as well make the last days of winter go out with a bang.

With his trusty staff in hand, he soared through the lukewarm air, only bringing his arm down to frost the windows of apartment buildings and street lights. Ha, wouldn't it be great if one of the stop lights went out? Ah, that would remind those morning commuters who ran the place. Mm, but it was a little too warm for that now. But what the heck, why not try at least? Jack spun his way through the narrow streets, his arm guiding the way for the light ice to freeze over the occasional light and street sign.

Through the city streets to the suburbs and making his way toward the elementary school, he traced the car windows with what little frost he had left. No doubt it would melt in a matter of hours or even minutes with the way the weather was carrying on. He brought his arm back up to chest level as he surrounded the grade school roof. He felt the wind around his face thinning out and braced himself for landing. His right arm shot out as the wind died down, his fingers locked on the flag post on the school roof. Once within distance, he clenched his hand around the metal pole and came to a slow stop.

Where would his next destination after this? After all once he was out of the states there wouldn't be a lot of people who believed in him. Ah well, he'd dealt with it for long enough, right? It wouldn't be so bad, winter would always return and now that he had Jamie, things wouldn't have to be so hard. And that went without mentioning North, Tooth, Sandy or Bunny; he had them too.

Things are a lot less lonely with that bunch around.

Winter this year would be the best yet, he was going to make sure of that. More people than ever believed, that meant a world of difference for him and he couldn't wait. He would just have to keep himself occupied until then, but time did have a way of flying by when-

"It IS true! It's not a story!"

Hm, there was a familiar voice. That was Jamie. Jack lowered his chin, gazing down at the active elementary school below. A gaggle of kids ran through the yard, most of them huddled in the basketball court. Still too cold to run out without a coat? Heh, at least he was doing something right. Shaking off his mental congratulations, he allowed his eyes to scan the area his target nowhere in sight.

"You're such a toddler! You can't even make up a good story!"

An unfamiliar voice.

His eyes moved left, right, up and down until a small gathering of kids caught his attention. Near the back entrance to the school were three small kids. The two bigger boys had cornered the smaller one in what looked like some kind of interrogation.

"Did your mommy tell you that story?"

"It's not a story!"

Jamie.

Two against one? How childish… but then again they were kids. Ugh, they never change. He had to do something; he wasn't going to let two bullies rough Jamie around. Jack released his grip on the metal pole and allowed his slender body to float toward the ground. As he neared the floor, he looked down to see a yellow jungle gym below his feet. Ah, the perfect place for a sneak attack, that'll teach those third graders not to mess with Jamie!

Just as his bare feet hit the metal bars of the play equipment he hunched over and flipped his wooden staff around until it was pointed in the bullies' direction. He narrowed his eyes and inhaled a shallow breath before focusing his energy. A little shock of ice to the back wouldn't hurt anyone but it sure would get the message across.

Just before he could fire his round of frozen ammunition at the larger third grader, a streak of black and red flashed in front of his eyes. Jerking backward slightly he balanced himself on the bars and refocused his vision. Looking once again in the direction of the bullies, a larger body blocked his view. What the heck?

"Paul, Jake are you bothering Jamie again?"

A female. A teacher maybe? Jack's right eyebrow lifted as the woman's features came into his line of sight. She was dressed like a teacher and sounded like one but she did seem kind young. Maybe she was a campus supervisor instead? Her short, shaggy, pixie-cut hair style stood out the most, the brown color of her locks shining in the midday sun. Was she going to stand up for him?

"He's telling that stupid story again." The smaller of the two third graders presented the older woman with a frown.

The female parted her lips as if to interject when the loud buzz of the school bell made them all flinch. Time for class again. At least Jamie would be away from those older kids now.

"Hey, he can tell any story he likes." The woman's voice caught the frost sprite's attention once again. "I'm not going to tell you two again, leave Jamie alone." She placed her fisted hands to her hips and locked her left knee. "Now get back to class."

"Hey," The biggest male crossed his arms over his chest and shot the teacher a cocky smirk. "Are you Ms. Matthews?"

She hesitated. "Y-yes."

And just like that, the two boys broke out into a fit of laughter. Jack's brow rose even further as the two kids looked to one another, both nudging each other in the upper arm as if they knew something the teacher didn't. The older woman seemed to hesitate once again before stiffening her limbs.

"What's so funny?!"

"Jamie told us that you believe in soul seeds." The smaller boy spat between laughs.

Soul seeds? Does he mean star seeds?

"She told me that she believes in this story more than anything in the whole entire world!"

That meant the teacher standing up for Jamie was Heather, didn't it?

"She said that if she can believe in that story, I can believe in you."

So this was his babysitter? Huh, somehow he pictured her looking older. She looked pretty young for what Jamie had told him about. Ah well, looks can be deceiving; if people could actually see him, they would never guess he was three hundred years old.

"Oh yeah and that we're all born from somewhere 'deep in space'!" The boy to the right made sure to move his hands back and forth as he carried on. "Aren't you also the teacher who believes in mermaids?"

Jack's eyes moved away from the boys and back to the woman. By this time her head had ducked between her shoulders while her hands rested at her sides in fists. A flush of pink dusted over her cheeks and she bit down on her bottom lip. Was she embarrassed?

"Ha!" The kid on the left nudged his partner once again. "I bet she even believes the story that there's a princess on the moon! Do you?"

She remained silent although the blush ran deeper.

"She does!"

Princess on the moon? I know of the Man in the Moon but princesses? This is new.

This girl sure did have some crazy beliefs. If she could believe in mermaids and princesses who inhabit the moon, there was a chance that she could believe in guardians, right? After all, it wasn't much of a stretch. It was interesting either way he looked at it.

"That's enough!" The sound of Heather shouting forced all eyes in the area to turn her way. "Go back to class before I give you both pink slips!"

In their fit of snickers and giggles the two boys fled the area, still joking to themselves. After the troublemakers left, the female teacher turned to the smaller student with a pout. Was she mad at him? After all, the kid had spilled the beans of her secret favorite story.

"Sorry Heather." Jamie dropped his head. "I was telling the guys when they over heard, I guess."

"Ah," She shook her head before stepping toward the smaller boy. "Forget about it. I'll get over it but that'll cost you two cookies tonight."

He gave his babysitter a playful roll of his eyes. "Deal."

"Oh and try not to call me Heather at school, okay?" Once within distance she stretched out her right arm and touched the boy on the shoulder. "Ms. Matthews works better here. We can't have everyone knowing you're my favorite rat here."

Rat?

"Sorry." Jamie shot her a smile.

"Come on," She removed her hand from his shoulder and turned on her heel. "Let's get back before we're too late."

"Okay."

Jack watched as the couple turned away from his direction and began to make their way back to the school hallway. They seemed pretty close, almost like they were family or something. So this was Heather? She seemed decent enough, from what he'd heard from Jamie she seemed like a nice person. She did stand up for him. But she also seemed a little on the strange side. Star seeds, mermaids and moon princesses? What kind of adult believed in that kind of stuff? He was a guardian and he didn't believe any of that.

Then again he could be wrong, stranger things had happened.

Chapter End.