Chapter 2:

Lily shivered, opening her eyes tiredly. The first rays of dawn shone through her window, accenting the thin layer of frost decorating the sill. She sighed as she sat up, pulling the blanket around herself as her breath formed small white puffs in the air in front of her. She looked up at the clock, slowly rising. She had time still before her father would wake up but she wanted to have his breakfast made early so he wouldn't be angry. She took a tired step forward, yelping as her foot connected with something unseen on the floor, unable to stop herself as she fell forward.

Jack started as something connected with his stomach, instinctively scooting backwards. He gasped as Lily fell forward, quickly wrapping his arms around her to break her fall:
"Watch out!" He hesitated reluctantly as he realized that his actions would do nothing for the non-believer, grunting in surprise as she collided into him: "Wah!" She gasped as they tumbled to the floor, unable to help:
"Oww..." Jack froze as the girl stared down at him wide eyed, shocked:
"what the...you can see me?" she continued staring in shock, then looked down. She was laying between his legs, their bodies pressed together. She scurried backwards, a whimper forming in her throat. Jack quickly lunged forward as she opened her mouth to scream, clamping a hand over her mouth and wrapping an arm around her: "Shh, shh, shh...It's okay, I'm sorry I startled you..." she struggled weakly as he pulled her into his arms to restrain her, small tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Jack maintained his grip as she struggled, speaking quietly at her: "Hey, relax. If you're dad comes up here he'll put you in an insane asylum for struggling with air..." She paused in her attempt to escape, looking up at him curiously:
"Mrph?" He smiled, loosening his grip slightly:
"If I let go of you will you scream?" She looked at the door briefly, shaking her head. He slowly removed his hand from her mouth, leaving his arm wrapped around her: "It may sound crazy but not very many people can see me. I'm Jack. Jack Frost. You could call me a spirit of sorts..." She tilted her head slightly, her voice quiet and shaky:
"A-A...spirit?" He nodded, slowly releasing her:
"Yea. A winter spirit. I bring the snow..." She scooted away a few inches, looking him up and down uncertainly:
"Wh-Why are you in my room?" He laughed, running a hand through his hair awkwardly:
"Well...It's a long story...I heard some glass break last night and so I came to investigate and came in through the window...Then you closed it and I didn't want to freak you out by opening a window you had just closed since you couldn't see me so I just stayed here..." She gasped, jumping up as she glanced at the clock:
"Oh no! I'm late!" Jack blinked as she raced for the door, slowly getting up:
"Late for what?" She yelled over her shoulder, almost falling over the rug in front of her door:
"Dad's breakfast!" He sighed as she left, blinking as she stuck her head back in the door: "W-will you wait here for me? Please?" Jack smiled, nodding:

"sure." Lily smiled faintly, running down the hallway.

Lily quickly plated the food she had prepared, setting them down in front of her father as he slunk into the kitchen and sat down:
"Coffee." she set a steaming mug down at the head of his plate, backing away:
"Is that alright dad?" He ignored her as he began eating, opening the paper she had brought in for him:
"What was all the racket this morning, did you fall off your 2 inch mattress again, dipshit?" She nodded, avoiding his glare by staring at the floor:
"Yes...I'm sorry..." She felt her stomach drop down into her legs as he held out his hand, slowly walking forward:
"You woke me up, now you'll have to be punished."

She squeaked as he gripped her wrist, resisting the urge to pull away. It would only make matters worse. She swallowed hard as he picked up the steaming mug, breaking out in a cold sweat: "Is this fresh?"

"Y-yes...I just poured it..." she cried out as he began to slowly pour the burning hot liquid over her hand, sinking to her knees as he began pouring it up her forearm:
"Yep, looks nice and fresh when it's burning your arm. Now get out of my sight. I have a big day with the boys and I don't want to see your pathetic face until tonight." She sniveled in response, unable to form solid words as her vision swam with the pain. She stumbled to her feet, swaying unsteadily as she made her way towards the stairs.

Jack flopped onto Lily's bed, sighing impatiently:
"Geez, what's taking so long..." He turned his head towards the door as the handle turned, smiling:
"took ya long enou-" he slowly sat up as she stumbled in, flying to her side as she fell to her knees: "Lily? Lily what's wrong..." He reached out to steady her, jerking his hand back as she squeaked. Her left arm was covered in severe burns, blood oozing from multiple blisters already beginning to form on her soft skin: "Oh my god, what happened? Did your father do this to you?"

She mumbled almost inaudibly, crawling towards her dresser. Jack quickly followed her, pulling her long dark hair away from the wound: "Lily, talk to me-"

"D-drawer...cooling...aloe..." She collapsed onto her side, her eyes squeezed closed in pain. Jack had never had a burn in his life so he felt unsure of what to do until she said that:
"Cooling? Okay, okay, hold on..." He gently scooped her up, floating over to the bed. She shook her head, pointing weakly at the drawer. He sat down on the mattress, quickly wrapping her in the blanket: "I know, but this will help more..." He carefully pulled her arm free from the blanket, lowering his head to it. She flinched as he blew on the wound, slowly relaxing as cool air soothed the intense burning. He kept his eyes on her face as he continued blowing on her arm, careful not to freeze it too much. After a few moments she opened her eyes, looking up into his:
"H-how...are you doing this?" he winked, setting her down on the bed beside him as he got up to get the aloe:
"Winter spirit, remember?" She exhaled slowly, closing her eyes again:
"Right..." He retrieved a small tube, carefully picking her up again:
"Do I just rub this on?" She nodded, letting her head flop back against his shoulder. He squirted a small amount on her arm, stopping as she winced: "Does it hurt?"

"N-no...it just startled me is all..." He relaxed slightly as he began rubbing the goo in, watching her reaction. It wasn't as drastic as when he had cooled it for her, but it seemed to help. After a few minutes he had covered the entire wound and Lily lay limp in his arms, her eyes still closed:
"Lily? Are you alright?" She smiled faintly, remaining limp:
"He heard us...when we fell.. it woke him up..." Jack blinked, anger welling up in him again:
"What? He did this to you because you woke him up? Who the hell does stuff like this to their family-" He stopped talking as she began to cry, all heat dying down to a dull glow compared to the shared pain he felt with her. What kind of family indeed? Her mother was dead and her father was abusing her...what else was this poor girl enduring? In some ways Jack would never know since he had never really had a family, but even then he could sympathize with the pain of feeling alone, even when there were others sitting right next to you. He reached up, gently wiping a small tear from her cheek:
"I'm sorry...I shouldn't have said anything..." She shivered at his cold, caring touch, sloppily wiping at her eyes:
"It's f-fine..."
"No, it isn't fine, you shouldn't have to put up with this." She sniffed, laughing almost hysterically:
"It's okay, It'll only be a few more months before I have to go find somewhere else to live..."
"Why?" She slowly twirled a lock of her long dark hair around her finger as her tears began to dry, her voice quiet and afraid:
"I turn eighteen soon...the only reason I'm still probably here is because Dad can't give me up yet...he gets a check every month from the state for child care...and he doesn't have a job because he's always drinking, so...when I turn eighteen I'll really be useless to him...and he won't need me anymore...so...I'll have to leave..." Jack sighed, patting her head reassuringly:
"don't worry...things will work out for you..." Lily shrugged in response, letting her head rest on his shoulder. Even though he was cold she still felt warm and comfortable sitting with him like this, her body relaxed and calm despite his lack of acquaintance. Lily closed her eyes, drifting off as he gently rocked her back and forth: "you'll be okay..."

Lily slowly opened her eyes, sitting up. She gasped as she remembered what had happened earlier, looking around wildly:
"Jack?" she looked down sadly as silence greeted her, pausing as there was a crinkling from her pocket. She put her hand in the fold, taking out a small slip of paper:

Sorry to leave you alone like this, but I have some business to take care of. You know, snow stuff. Don't be afraid and try to stay away from your dad, I'll be back in a few days. Be safe.

Jack Frost

(p.s. you're really cute when you're asleep)

Lily blushed at the last comment, tucking the note back into her pocket. She looked up at the clock above her door, heaving a small sigh. It was 4:30. Time to start dinner.

Jack carefully laid Lily down on her bed as she fell into a much needed sleep, writing a small note and sticking it in her pocket before tucking the blanket around her to keep her warm. He turned reluctantly to the window, opening it as quietly as he could. He really didn't want to leave her in this state but he had no choice, his job still needed doing and he wanted to ask the other Guardians a few questions. He caste her one more look before flying off, headed north.

Lily managed to get through cooking and the dishes without showing her dad how much pain she was in, but once she got back to her room she collapsed, her breathing rough and ragged. Her arm throbbed constantly with her heart and felt like it was on fire. She grabbed the aloe gel, rubbing it into her burn. It helped dull the pain but wasn't nearly as helpful or soothing as Jack's breath had been on her damaged skin. She sank down into the chair at her small desk, pulling out her journal. She silently thanked God that it had been her left arm and not her right, picking up a pen:

December 13th, 2014:

The least I can say is that a lot has happened since last night. This morning I met a strange young man in my room who wasn't there one minute and then I somehow managed to kick him and he was. His name is Jack Frost and he says he's a "winter spirit of sorts". It startled me when I saw him there, I've never really been that close to a guy before...most guys hear Dad's name and immediately leave...Jack seemed genially concerned about my arm and stuff after Dad poured hot coffee over it as a punishment for waking him up too early...My arm hurts so much I keep wondering if it would be better to just amputate it...But I guess that's just foolish talk. Jack was really nice and kind to me, he even helped me treat the injury. But what is he doing here? Why did he come into my room? I'm not really sure about him but I feel I can trust him. Any suggestions Mom?

Lily closed the journal, tucking it back into the drawer before going through her usual ritual to clean and disinfect her wounds, this time adding her arm to the mix. She nearly fainted as the wound hissed and steamed, the pain great enough to almost make her lose her dinner. She cleaned up and rebandaged herself, crawling into her bed and setting her clock for 6 so she could get up to fix her dad's breakfast. She smiled slightly as she glanced at Jack's note again, keeping it held tenderly in her hand as she drifted back into a dreamless sleep.