Chapter 3:
Lily woke peacefully. The couch that she slept on faced the window seat and she could see the snow falling in white puffs on the other side. She took a deep breath and stretched. She still wore her clothes from yesterday and she desperately wanted a shower. She watched lay there watching as the snow slowly accumulated on the windowsill. Snow…
Lily sat up quickly. The adventure that had taken place that morning slowly coming back to her. Jack Frost had been frightening and amazing. It was almost to good to be true. She slowly got up and walked towards the window seat. She tried to calm her active mind and try to determine if it was a dream or reality.
It had felt so real. He seemed so alive. As she reached the window she saw that new snow covered the ground covering up any tracks that may have once littered the lawn. Her heart dropped as her mind played with the possibility that it was a dream. Lily put her warm hand to the cold window frame and looked out at the fallen snow. She wanted it to be real. Her mind picked at the threads of her memory trying to piece it together. She balled her hand into a fist and dropped it to her side. She would not torment over this know. Only time could tell her if it was true or not. If Jack Frost was only a dream then so be it, it had been the nicest, and most peaceful dream she had had in ages. She stormed out of the computer room and took a hot shower.
As she brushed her damp hair she could hear the noises of people entering the house. She looks at the clock and is alarmed to find that it is 11o'clock .She quickly shakes her hair and walks out into the kitchen to apologize for sleeping in. "Lily your awake!" Sophie says running over to her and hugging her legs. "I'm sorry I slept in," Lily says looking apologetic at her mother and Emily who both hold grocery bags. "Lily don't worry that's the first time I have actually seen you sleep peacefully," Diana says reassuring her daughter. "Don't' worry we didn't do anything to exciting. We went shopping," Jamie says bored as he places a grocery bag on the counter. "Well I'm glad I slept in," Lily says smiling at Jamie.
Lily's mom has a goofy grin plastered to her face. "Mom stop smiling so much. It's freaking me out," Lily teases and her mom only laughs and drops the bags onto the counter. "It's just nice to see you in such good spirits," Diana says. Jamie and Julie run off upstairs dragging Sophie behind them. Lily smiles after them and then helps the mothers unpack the groceries. "You will have to look after them today Lily. We are going to go and pick up your father at the airport so we will be out of town for a few hours," Lily's mom says. "Yea will figure out something to do," Lily says. "Just be careful okay. Don't push yourself to hard," her mother says and Lily rolls her eyes. "I won't," she says.
After the groceries are all put away the mother's ready themselves to head out onto the road. Lily makes lunch while the kids play upstairs and the mothers get ready to leave. "We will be back soon," Diana says giving Lily a quick hug. "Drive carefully," Lily says and stands by the front door waving to them as they drive away. She returns back to sandwich making. "Hey the food's ready!" She calls up the stairs and receives the reply of running feet echoing off the wooden boards.
"So you three what would you like to do today?" Lily says taking a bite of her sandwich and pleasantly watches as the others wolf down their own sandwiches. "My friends and I want to have a snowball fight today!" Jamie exclaimed excitingly. "Okay we will all go outside today. Hurry and finish your food and we will get ready," Lily says nodding to the rest of Jamie's sandwich. Lily watches as Jamie and Julie finish their sandwiches in big gulps. They chug their milk and then run back upstairs. They were more excited then usual to go outside. Lily shrugged and cleaned the dishes.
Lily glanced through the window behind the sink. She watched the snow dance in the slight breeze. The memories of the morning still tugging at her memory. A fait smile appears on her lips as she watches the peaceful snow. The wave hits her suddenly. The edges of her vision blur and a dark fog creeps over her. She throws out a hand to catch herself on the counter. Her mind blanks and fear creeps in pushing away her happy memories. She feels cold, alone and afraid as the darkness holds her in a tight grip.
She can feel the heat then. The feverish warmth spreading through her as her sight slowly comes back to her. Her vision is blurry and she sways slowly to the side. She catches the counter and turns her back to the window. She leans against the counter hoping it will help hold her up. Lily takes a deep breath attempting to gain control over her body. She lifts up her hands and they shake violently. Not now. She screams in her head. She had been feeling great this morning. She had a peaceful sleep and was ready for a fun filled day with the kids. Lily was not about to let another ill spell ruin her day.
She finished the dishes in a hurry hoping that if she kept herself busy the shaking would slowly stop. She tied her hair back into a braid and slipped a toque on. She feverishly pushed the pieces of hair that fell out away from her face. "Jamie, Julie are you almost ready," she called upstairs as she slipped her gloves on. "Yea!" she heard the two voices call back down.
Sophie appeared at the top of the stairs. She had her winter jacket and pants on and her mittens firmly held in one hand. "You ready Sophie," she asked the young girl. "Yea," she squeaked and ran down the rest of the stairs. "Whoa there slow down," Lily says quickly stopping the rampaging girl. "Lets make sure you're all ready to go," Lily says and kneels down beside her.
Lily zips up the rest of Sophie's jacket and helps her slip into her boots. "Here," Lily says and grabs a toque from a hanger. "There now your ready for a snow day," Lily says as she fixes the toque on Sophie's head. Sophie beams up at her and waddle's to the door. "What's taking you two so long?" Lily calls to the upstairs as she opens the door for Sophie. "COMING!" she hears as a rampage of feet echo through the house. Lily laughs at the pair of them as the charge downstairs and quickly whips on their boots and run past her. "Whoa you two," she says as they pass her in a fit of giggles.
"Come on! Everyone should be there already," Jamie calls back to them. "You two go on ahead. Sophie and I will be there soon," Lily calls to them. Jamie and Julie run down the driveway sliding on the new ice and run towards the park across the street. Lily can see a small group of kids already waiting for them. "Come on Sophie," Lily says and watches as the girl runs around in the fluffy snow.
Lily balls her hands into fists trying to calm her shaky hands. She had put a brave face on for Jamie, Julie and Sophie. She knew it was hard for them to know and see that she was sick. It was hard for everyone knowing that they couldn't do anything to help her. All anyone could do was make her comfortable and happy when they could. She was alone in her struggle against her illness. Lily heaved a sigh and looked towards the sky, looking for the boy with the bright blue eyes.
All morning Jack waited. He watched as the sun continued to climb, and the town slowly waking from their sleep. He saw the Jamie and Lily's family leave from the tree that he perched in. He noted that Lily wasn't among them and assumed she would be sleeping in due to their adventure that morning.
Jack smiled at the thought. Their adventure had been random and exciting. Lily was amazing. She was kind, strong hearted, and brave and he was proud to call her his friend. Jack balled his hand into a fist as he remembered the surprising warmth that had spread from her hand to his own when they first shook hands. Jack couldn't explain what had happened but he was pleased by the thought. What concerned him the most was her changing eye colour. Her eyes shifting from dark to light was not natural and knew it had something to do with her illness.
Jack sat there in his perch puzzling over the questions that the morning had presented him. He wanted news from North desperately. North's reaction to Jack's news had not been a pleasant one. He knew something and wasn't sharing with Jack. He hoped he would have some clue by today or the next. Hopefully Sandy knew something.
Jack's attention was brought back to the Bennett's house as he watched the family's parade back into the house carrying bags of groceries. Jack called to the wind and slowly floated back down to the Bennett's house. He glances in through the kitchen window and just catches Jamie disappears up the stairs with Julie close behind. He averts his attention back to the mom's and notices Lily.
Her back is too him and he notices that her hair is wet and hangs like a curtain down her back. "Just don't push yourself to hard," Lily's mom says with sympathy in her eyes. "I won't," Lily says and Jack can hear the sarcasm and can picture the eye roll that must have gone with. He laughs and leaves the kitchen window. He floats up to Jamie's window and lightly taps the glass. Frost swirls onto the window frame and he watches as it makes beautiful patterns on the glass. Jamie pokes his head from the other side of the bed and runs over to open the window.
"You came back," Jamie says eagerly. "Of course I did. Did you think I would miss our snowball fight," Jack says smiling eagerly at Jamie. "Where did you go last night?" Jamie says taking a seat on the bed and Jack joined him. "I had to ask the big man a question," Jack says. "You mean Santa?" Jamie says with wide eyes. "Yea," Jack says with a grin. "That's so cool," Jamie says with amazement and Jack just laughs.
"Jamie do your friends now about the snow fight?" Jack asks. "Yea but they won't no its today. I told them I would let them know when you got here," Jamie says eagerly. Jamie's eyes widen as he remembers something. "My mom and Auntie are leaving today to pick up Uncle John so Lily is taking care of us. Can we do it after they leave, then they won't be here to tell us to come back inside," Jamie says as excitement dances in his eyes.
Jack hears the car door slam and they both look to the window. They hear the car start and slowly leave the neighborhood. Jack looks back at Jamie with a devious smile. "Let's do it," he says and Jamie jumps up and down with excitement.
Jack hears Lily's voice calling up to them. "Hey the food's ready!" Jamie gives Jack an excited look. "Go on I'll go tell the other kids. Meet you at the park after Lunch," Jack says moving to the window. "Okay," Jamie says and runs out of the room and down the hall. Jack leaps out the window and sends a breeze to shut the window. He calls to the wind to take him past the other's windows.
Jack flew by each of the kid's windows. Pippa, the twins Caleb and Claude, Monty and Cupcake all saw him and ran to get their winter clothes on. Jack frosted their windows to get their attention and it warmed his heart as each one of them turned with a big smile on their faces. This had become a tradition. They had done this same snowball fight last year and it had been a blast. Obviously Jack won but he had an unfair advantage.
He watched as each one of them slowly made it to the park. He landed gently on the snow ready to start his snowball fight. "Jack!" They exclaimed and came over to see him. "Hey you guys. How are you all doing?" he asks at the small group that has gathered around him. "We're good," Pippa says eagerly. "Thanks for the snow," Monty says pushing his glasses up his face. "Where's Jamie?" Claude asks looking over at the Bennett house. "I don't know. I'll go hurry him up and we can get this snowball fight going," he says and leaps up into the air.
Jack landed on Jamie's windowsill in ease and peered in. Jamie and Julie sat on the bed in their gear but that's not what drew Jack's attention. A rabbit that was nearly 7 feet tall paced in front of them. Jack let out a sigh and pushed the window open. "Awh did you miss me Cottontail," he says sarcastically. In response Bunny turns and glares at Jack. "No," he says seriously then barks out a laugh. "I came looking for you. North told me ya would be here," Bunny says stepping up to Jack.
"What's taking you two so long?" Jack hears Lilly voice call from downstairs. "Go Jamie. Everyone is waiting. I'll be there in a minute," Jack says and Jamie nods and glances in amazement at the 7ft tall Easter Bunny. Julie doesn't move at first and just stares at Bunny. "Julie," Jamie says pulling her out of the door. "COMING," they call as they run down the stairs no doubt running to tell everyone that the Easter Bunny was here as well.
Jack moves to the window and watches as Julie and Jamie run out of the house. "Come on! Everyone should be there already," Jamie says looking back at the door as he slides down the driveway. Jack smiles and moves his staff making the ice go a little further so they can slide for a bit longer. Jamie lets out a laugh and glances up at the window and smiles.
"You two go on ahead. Sophie and I will be there soon," Jack hears Lilly call and watches as she emerges from the doorway below them. She has her hair tied back in a long dark braid with a blue toque on to cover her ears. The dark pieces of hair frame her face and he watches as she attempts to push them away only for them to return. "Com on Sophie," she calls in a sweet voice and watches carefully as Sophie frolics in the fluffy snow. Jack notes that Lily's face drops into a sad grin as she watches Sophie play. She balls up a shaky hand and looks up towards the sky. Jack lets out a breath his heart seizing up for some unknown reason. Why does she look so sad?
"Is that her?" Bunny says as he looks out the window at Lily. "Yea," Jack says lightly as he watches her walk towards the park. "She's a pretty one," Bunny says and nudges Jack. Jack feels a strange heat rise in his checks and gives Bunny a curious look. "I thought only rabbits caught your eye Cottontail," Jack teases back. "Ah you got me there," Bunny says and looks back out the window. "She looks healthy to me," Bunny states. "She isn't," Jack counters in a sharp tone.
"Whoa their tiger. I was just stating what I saw," Bunny says holding up two paws. "Did North tell you anything? Do we have any answers?" Jack asks as he turns his attention back to Lily. She and Sophie have met up with the rest of the group. The kids have split into two teams and were currently making snow forts to take cover behind. Sophie and Lily were a little off from the group starting what looked to be a snowman. Jack smiled at them his heart warming.
"He did," Bunny says following Jack's gaze and smiling. "Tell me," Jack says facing Bunny with a serious tone. "We are meeting tonight. North is reluctant but that's only because it's so close to his big holiday. The Gumby. Tooth and Sandy will be there. Sandy said he might know something…" Bunny says trailing off. "Tell me Cottontail," Jack says with a sharp tone. Why were people holding back news from him? "It's not good mate," Bunny says with a sad tone. "You don't think I don't know that," Jack says anger pushing into his voice. "Mate. I'm saying it's worse then you think," Bunny says looking down and shaking his head.
"I've got to go Frost. We're meeting at the Pole just before sundown," Bunny says standing up straight as he readies himself to launch into his rabbit hole. "You're leaving after you dump that kind of news on me," Jack says anger boiling inside and he could feel the room chill around him. Bunny looks at him with sad eyes. "We all are as blind as you are Jack. We don't know what is going on, if it's Pitch or something worse," Bunny shakes his head. "See you at the pole," and with a tap of his foot Bunny disappears down the rabbit hole.
Jack turns back to the open window. What could be worse than Pitch? Jack's thoughts immediately turn to Lily. She was brave. Whatever she was going through Jack knew she could get through it. Whether Pitch is behind it or not he believed in her. Jack called to the wind and joined the fun that echoed outside, momentarily leaving his worries behind.
Lily pushed the first snowball into place. Sophie was working on the head. Lily looked to where Sophie had a small snowball and was inching it through the fluffy snow. Lily smiled and got back to work. She planted both hands on either side of the snowball that was roughly the size of very large pumpkin. She heaved and got into a standing position. She took one step and regretted that decision immediately.
Slick ice from the night before found itself under her foot and she slipped falling away from her almost snowman. The pumpkin sized snowball she held only propelled her momentum backwards. She let out a surprised gasp as she waited for the impact of the solid ground. But it never came
Lily felt a cool breeze lift under her than a cool hand wrap around her waist. She was hauled back into a standing position. Adrenaline pumped through her veins as she glanced sideways at her savior. Bright blue eyes starred back at her and she felt her heart stop. "Jack," she says quietly as her thoughts try to catch up with her racing heart. "Hey Lilly," Jack says with a smirk.
Lily stares back into his bright blue eyes not wanting to look away. He is real. I'm not crazy. It wasn't a dream. Reverberates through her mind as she stares into his blue eyes. His hand is still around her waist and she smiles. She adjusts her grip on the snowball and takes a small step forward. "You're here," she says in disbelief. She takes another step forward and his hand falls away from her back leaving a cold spot where his hand used to be. She places the snowball on top of the bottom one and looks back at Jack.
Jack's eyebrow raises in confusion and she smiles. He doesn't know. She realizes as she stares at his confused expression. It doesn't matter. Her fears of him only being a dream and never returning vanished the moment she looked into his bright eyes. She would never doubt him again. "Of course I'm here," he says taking a step forward. Her heart picks up at his movement. Adrenaline is still pumping through her veins. His bright eyes, and his closeness are not helping in calming down her busy heart. "I'm glad," she manages to get out before they are interrupted.
"Jack!" 7 kids yell together. Jack and Lily look over to the stampeding group of kids that come their way. They both laugh and turn towards the oncoming group. Jamie stops short and looks between Jack and Lily. "Wait…" Jamie starts looking more confused by the second. "Lily? Can you…" he trails off looking up at Jack with raised eyebrows. "See Jack?" she says lightly. "Yea. I can," she says kindly with a smile in Jack's direction. Her heart swells at the happiness she see's in his eyes and smile.
"But… Before… the window?" Jamie starts but Lily stops him. "It's okay Jamie. Anyways I thought you all were waiting for a snowball fight?" she says beaming. "Yea!" they all scream. "Com on Jack!" Jamie says grabbing his hand and dragging him towards the forts they made. She watches as Jack gives one last smile in her direction before engaging in an all out battle with the group. "Come on Sophie. Let's finish our snowman," Lily says looking down at the girl with the head snowball.
They finish their snowman and in Lily's opinion it looked marvelous. Sophie and her had gone back to the house in search of a hat and buttons so they could give it a face and some personality. Sophie paraded around the snowman proud of her accomplishment and Lily watched her with a gleeful smile.
Lily's eyes shifted to the game on the other side. The boys and Jack were laughing gleefully and throwing snowballs in full force. Lily laughed and watched as Jack played on both sides keeping snowballs ready and engaging in the fight. The joy that marked his face made her smile.
Lily walked back towards the house and glanced down at her hands. The shaking wasn't as bad anymore and she could feel her strength returning. She stepped out of her boots and ran to put the kettle on and got ready to make a big pot of hot chocolate for the kids.
She had the mugs, and hot chocolate all ready for them when she stepped back outside. She walked back out to the little park and gathered a snowball in her own hand. Her heart warmed and she threw it with all her might at her target.
The snowball hit him in the side of the head and it sent him falling into the ground. Jack looked around for the culprit and found a smiling Lily at the edge of the park. He noticed another snowball held tight in her hand. He watched her pull it back and throw another in his direction. It hit the target and landed right on his chest and his smile only widened.
He let a gush of wind get him standing again and he grabbed a fistful of snow. He let his breath lightly cool the snow making the perfect snowball. He watched as her face went from a triumphant smile to fear as she quickly scrambled for her own snowball.
He let the snowball fly and watched as her eyes widened in shock and she shifted to the right and the snowball clipped her shoulder. He gathered another snowball ready to throw another as he came towards her a big smile spreading over his face. Jack let another snowball fly and it hit his target again and she let out an excited laugh and ran away from him.
She threw snowball after snowball attempting to hit the mark but Jack dodged them only advancing more on her. To Lily's credit some of her snowballs did hit Jack but he was the youth of winter and had a big advantage over her. They ran around the park throwing snowball after snowball at each other. Their laughter echoing throughout the park.
Jack was filled with joy at their little game. He dodged and she threw more, and he couldn't stop form laughing. He was getting close now, only a few feet away as she attempted another snowball. He launched at her then grabbing her wrists and twisting to fall in the fluffy snow beneath them. They landed in a puff of white snow and burst out laughing.
"That was the most fun I have had in a very long time," she said looking down at Jack. "You put up a good fight," he said smiling up at her. "Yea right," she said rolling her eyes. Jack noticed how close they were. She had landed partly on top of him and he was still holding her wrists. He saw realization in her eyes as well and watched as a faint blush crept onto her cold checks.
He felt his on checks go warm at their position. She wiggled off of him so he could sit up. In one fluid motion he stood up pulling her along with him. She let out a little gasp and the blush only deepened. He lets his hands fall form her warm wrists. Even after his hands left her skin he could still feel the warmth in his fingertips.
"I… I made hot chocolate for the kids when you guys are done playing," she says quickly looking up with her big brown eyes. He notices that they have dimmed a shade since last night. "Okay, ill round them all up," he says smiling at her bright blush. Man she blush's easily, he thought. He raised his hand before he could stop and placed three cool fingers on her burning check. Her eyes widened and she blushed even more, making him smile even more.
"Did you know you blush really easily," he says teasing her. "Oh shut up," she replies brushing his hand away but her checks betrayed her again. He laughs and skips away from her to round up the other kids. "Come on everyone. Lily made hot chocolate," he says to the still fighting kids. The all look up at him with excitement and stampede towards the house.
Jack lands beside Lily and they watch as the kids stampede into the house. They both laugh and follow the group of kids. Jack steals a glance at Lily. He notices that her hands aren't shaking as much, and that her eyes aren't as dark. Did she have another wave this morning? His heart fell at the thought. She looked up at him. Her brown eyes warm with emotion. He smiled down at her attempting to push away the sad thoughts that had begun to surround him. Sundown. He would get his answers at sundown.
