An ROTG Story
~Little Wonders of Winter~
Disclaimers: I wish I could own Rise of the Guardians. But my allowance is not enough to even buy a quarter of the movie (yes, I had to borrow from my cousins files).
"Clowns are sad. It's folks who laugh at them."~Jem Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
Chapter 3:
"Hi Kanga!"
"Shorty."
"Kangaroo."
"Weirdo!"
"Kangaroo."
"SHOWPONY!"
"…"
"Aha!" Aster pointed the white-hair with a triumphant look on his face.
"KANGAROO!" Jack pounced readily.
As a team leader and a highly-skilled soccer player, Aster hated- more likely despised- a person with a huge ego. It was one thing that always gets in his spine. The white-haired person simply cannot be offended by words, much to Aster's displease. The former would only use it against his opposing team.
The young un had that carefree, cocky look that the said brunette teenager couldn't shake off, and it didn't help when he keep seeing it every time he turned his head. So in defense, he just turned to frown at the lad. Oh, if looks could really kill, he would've been arrested for committing murder right now.
"Quit calling me that!" Aster shouted when he had nothing else to chuck into Jack's face.
"Fine!" But Jack was only beginning. He held out one hand positioned for formal greetings and a mischievous smile to contradict, "Nice to meet you, Peter Cottontail."
Aster smacks away the said hand, "Tch, rack off!"
"Aww, wouldn't wanna make the cute bunny wabbit mad, would I?" the thin boy really knew how to make someone tick. Badly.
"I said shove off, sprite!" Aster replied angrily, his knuckles going white as he clenched his fist tighter. His conspicuous eyes slowly signalling the loss of patience inside them.
"Bunny! Jack! Will you both stop already?!" A stern tone behind Jack intruded the supposedly 'death-glaring' contest the two had had. The Russian guy patted Aster's shoulder with his right hand, distracting the latter for a moment. Jack just shrugged indefinitely.
"He started it!" Jack stated innocently.
"Whaaaat?! You just-" the furiously glowering Aster began his rant about what really 'happened'.
It was really so simple. Jack was a new member of the team. So it is the responsibility of the other members to explain the mechanics of the way they work, how they handle things, who was who, and the like. And who was better to explain than that of the team captain himself? So Aster tolerated the responsibility. And Jack had been attentively listening to everything he was saying (despite the few confusions because of his Aussie accent). He even asked a few questions that never occurred to the older guy. For a second there, the Aussie thought everything he heard from rumours and snickers were all lies. That Jack was a really spoiled brat. That Jack was a big pain in the butt. That Jack was the most annoying creature in humanity. Aster was almost assured that Jack would not be a problem or a hindrance to the group at all. Until he heard the most ridiculous question that he could hear from the younger guy: "When does the meeting end?"
It was not that he was affronted by the way he asked the matter. Nor was it the way he smirked while asking. It was because it was late afternoon and Aster had been so tired of that long day, but when he looked into the white-haired guy's eyes- all clear and cerulean- he knew that everything he had been blabbering and explaining to Jack, didn't even administer into his mind. He had been talking to a brick wall. And that was what offended him.
"I was only kidding around! Come on, I understood what you said Bunny. Don't worry!" Jack defended himself. Seriously, can't this guy appreciate a joke?
"Well, I ain't realized tha'. And you know, I had just gotten off from soccer practice earlier this afternoon, ran five blocks away here, to Tooth's place for a meeting, did a big unprepared speech fo'ya, and you didn'nae process it in the silly lil' brain of yours-"
"STOP both of you, or so help me, I'm going to be the one to tie you two together in a sack, UNDERSTAND?!" North rubbed his temples, and quietly went back to his original position. Jack and Aster went back to their proper seats as well.
The silence stayed for a couple more minutes before Tooth's gentler voice took over.
She cleared her throat. "Now that that's settled, I think we should be beginning with our proper agenda, kapeesh? We lost a good fifteen minutes, so let me just cut to the chase." She had an 'I-mean-business' look in her eyes. "We'll be organizing the winter-spring festival. And it is our job to make sure this will come out as perfectly as possible."
As you all must know, the winter-spring festivities is a two-day celebration prepared and managed by students of Burgess High to contribute to the better welfare of our town. Last year, we used the money raised from this fair for the rebuilding of the Pizza Palace, considering it became a public property, used by anyone and everyone. Now it is being maintained and sponsored by a small rotary club. This year, we proposed that the donated money will be for the orphanage near our school, Burgess Home for Kids, to continue the rebuilding of their run-down edifice with a new, and more sturdy household. I already gathered the structural design of the said building from Ms. Katherine Goose, our homeroom teacher and the head caretaker of the orphanage, so even when our program goes flop, we can still find a way to help even in just a small affordable way. Any questions?"
Jack raised his hand. "So this, wintery fair we'd be preparing, if we'll be using the money collected for the orphanage, where would be our funds coming from, for the whole fair? Surely, the school is too poor to even give its own part of the budget."
"The school settled about $500 to $750 for the school fest. Of course, we'll be posting for donations, a few teaser trailer for the celebrations, so hoping someone was benevolent to help us, we can get a few greens to help some orphans find a better place to stay." Tooth answered. She motioned North to come up front, and the bronzed-haired co-president followed.
"Thanks Tooth." North made a small smile to tell his appreciation. He clapped his hands together to catch the attention of the audience of four. "Okay! Now that the appetizer is finish, we can get started with main course, shall we?"
Jack rolled his eyes. Is North so hungry to even pertain events to food? Even by the way he commenced his full-blown discussion was like a start of a fiesta.
"Mr. Manny says I'll handle caterers and booths," North exclaimed as he checked things from his notepad he had been holding under his large palms that Jack almost failed to notice. "Aster is for programs and activities, Tooth and Sandy is decorations and invitations."
"Hold it. Then, what would I be doing?" Jack retorted. He would've wasted time just to go to a meeting if there was nothing planned for him to do.
North cleared his throat. "Actually, you'll be rotating, Jack. We don't do things individually, like Aster wouldn't be the only person to do the programs and activities, because we'll all be assisting him edit and revise until it is at best accountable version. We check and balance."
There was a beeping of a phone, then Aster interrupted by this part. "Okay, I'm in a bit of a rush, so let's just shorten the discussion. Tooth, start with place of celebration. Work your way through the design and show me by tomorrow."
"Already on it."
"Sandy, you're the treasurer, make sure to get the money from the school office. Make a budget plan."
Sandy saluted in reply.
"North, begin with some calls. Make sure every possible store knows about the celebrations, and invite them to put up their own booths in here as well. Moon said we'll be collecting twenty percent of their sales. The more, the better. " He turned to Jack. He took a few seconds to analyze what the boy could do. Most surely, he wouldn't be fitted for carrying and lifting stuff, so not deliveries. Aster didn't know what to do with him. "Jack, can you give me a few skills you can use?" Clearly, since they had not been chummy-chummy, so Aster had to deal with the lad in a business manner.
Jack smirked. Aster had no idea what he was capable of. So he put on his bravado and thought of the stories he could be making up: I can skate, slide, bike, ride, or skid in cement, asphalt, or dirt. I had dealt with the strangest and meanest people, insult them, and still persuaded them to help me. I once arranged a small group of activists for a local community system of students before.
Ugh, as if telling all those would even help them.
"I can deal with the computer."
Aster recovered from the long silence. Not sure what was on the albino's mind, he waved off the feeling.
"Okay then, just organize with the others for things to do. Then they'll take care of the rest." Aster described, "I really need to go, so meeting adjourned, we'll be seeing each other tomorrow! Tooth, take care of everything else." The soccer player dashed off the door.
"Why is he in a hurry?" Jack asked North.
"He must be late to pick up sister." North guessed.
Jack held everything inside of him not to bubble all his laughter. Bunny was a big six-foot tall, soft-hearted, big brother.
The following few days became a routine for Jack.
After waking up, he'd go to school (preferably late) for his first period World History with Aster, where the older student would be buzzing and troubling to keep the young boy awake throughout the discussion much to his constant refusal to leave him be. Then second period Mathematics would consist of a peer-assisted learning, wherein he'd be partnered with Sandy and they'd answer different exercises together. Sandy would always wear an enthusiastic smile and they'd enjoy doing the work together. Unlike the other students who'd give all the work to the smarter one, Sandy insisted to do some of the work, no matter how good Jack had been in math in the past. Then after a good hour in skipping third period, he'd rush to skip lunch and fail because North would drag the white-haired sprite to the rest of the group where they all (well, except for Aster) would be welcoming him to the table and discussing some terms and stuff about the fest. Then after a couple more classes, he'd slip out of the last one and hurry out of the school campus (much to Tooth's curiosity) and disappear. Then, three hours later, he'd come earlier or in time at Tooth's place to work on the festival fiasco, or a late night study session for a World History exam, or a group work for English Literature essay assignment.
Most of the time, they sit by the furnace in a circle with Jack naturally being at the farthest distance. They'd talk about school: North would tell jokes, and Sandy would chuckle; then Tooth would become so obsessed with teeth, and Aster would just roll his eyes obnoxiously.
Eventually, even the stranger Jack Frost warmed up to them.
"So who's this dark, scary person you've been buzzing about yesterday?" Jack looked at the brawny curiously.
North looked up from his stack of papers. A confused look displayed on the Russian's face. It was another thing about the small lad: he'd always ask random questions wherever and whenever. And from the Russian's experiences, once the question was asked, you have to respond it right there and then, or he'd be annoying you the whole day to find the answer.
"What person?" North shrugged in grim irritation. The exams were approaching fast, and the students' work load was stacking up the recent week. An English essay assignment, a joint literature and world history scrapbook, and five exams starting in three days. It gave everyone a harder time to prepare for the upcoming fest, even though it was still a few months away. Teachers really need to schedule work load better. The teen thought. Stressed and sleep-deprived, North was not in much of a mood to recall what had happened yesterday afternoon. It was lunch time, and he hadn't eaten much this breakfast, and he was still procrastinating for Science and Math tests. Even the way he wore his plain brown t-shirt has 'busy and stress' written all over it.
Jack thought for a moment. "You know, you all said 'he gave nightmares to anyone who comes in his way. Literally.'?"
The Russian absentmindedly turned the pages of the hand-out he had been studying- more like cramming- about. "Oh, you mean Pitch Black!"
"Really? That's his name? As in, the bogeyman?" the sprite choked on his pineapple juice.
"Not really, he's real name is Kozmotis Pitchiner."North retorted. The clinking of three more lunch trays stated Aster, Tooth, and Sandy was already at the table to eat. Not. All of them were holding either a math book, a notebook, or an overused hand-out.
"Seriously?!"Jack sighed in frustration, Damn, academic freaks. North did not further the explanation, which kept the young boy more curious about the subject even more. The name was familiar to the extent that the boy had the urge to squeeze his brain out for a reason why.
"Hey guys, whatcha talking about?" Tooth asked from the back of her studying material. She had been wearing a tribal pendant necklace along with her simple black shirt tucked in her pair of skinny jeans that embellished by a golden belt along her waist.
"Tooth!" Jack joyfully asked. "Tell me, who's this Bogeyman you've all been fussing about yesterday?"
Flipping away some stray strands of her jet-black hair, Tooth was a little bit shocked at the question. But one look from North reassured her that he was not up to no good. It was just plain childish curiosity. "He's a senior, just like everyone of us. But people don't acknowledge him for being one, because of his dirty deeds."
"What happened?"
"Well," the black-haired girl cleared her throat as she flipped the page of her notes, "Some say his father used to deal with drugs. Others say he came from a filthy rich family. But he used to be nicer when we first saw him during freshmen year. Meek, and smart that's why he was picked on by the higher years. But when all of us hit sophomore year, he drastically changed. He became this intimidating, hostile creature of a man, that all teachers don't talk to him so much. All except Miss Goose."
"Then, why were you complaining so much about him yesterday?"
They all fell silent. "Last year, we saved up a lot of money from the fair. We really worked hard for it. "
Aster barged in, "The heck we did!" He muttered, pounding a hand on the canteen table nearly spilling a hot chocolate drink over his blue denim pants and apple-green t-shirt that read 'Game On'.
Tooth continues the story, "We were just about to give the money to Mr. Moon when he-"
"Stole it?" Jack predicted.
"We didn't know how he did it at first. Turns out, we had a bank access in the internet, and we didn't notice."
"Figures. From the looks of it, you're all old-fashioned, ATM users."
"Well, we did manage to obtain most of the money, but it was way lower from our targeted income. That's why we almost lost a lot of hope that the teachers would give us the program preparation again this year around. And since it's computer we're talking here, we don't know how he could've managed to get our accounts in the first place and leave off with a clean record." Tooth ended with a mixed frustrated-concerned-upset tone.
"Oh." Jack thought with concern. "But, why do you even want this job in the first place?"
"It ain't that hard to understand, ya gumby." The Aussie answered, "We just wanna help people, tha's all."
Jack hid a nostalgic sigh.
"Why did you ask, mate?" Aster questioned. " B'coz, I'm tellin' ya, don'nae mess with tha' guy. No matter how funny it'd be. That would be serious trouble." Aster warned.
"Oh, I won't." Jack lied with his all too innocent tone in his voice, masked with a wide grin on his face as he grabbed his blue school bag and dashed off before anyone else from the table would ask why. No one ever bothered ask where he was going, since they were all too busy cramming.
"If you would value your life, your reputation, and your dignity, promptly bother someone else and never talk to me ever again." A black haired guy wearing a pair of black straight-cut jeans, a long black sweater, and grey Converse shoes stacked up and placed back a few books from his locker, while a certain white-haired boy followed him.
"Come on… Pitch." Jack started out casually. "Can I call you that?"
"That is what people have been calling me." Pitch stated factually as he slammed the metal door shut and walked away. The younger lad followed.
"Right. I just wanted to ask if we have met some time beforehand. You know, outside school?"
"Why?"
"I don't know. I kinda feel we had."
"You are wasting my time, boy." If it wasn't for the fact that the said boy was so daring, shivers would've run up and down anyone else's spine at the call. The older guy quickened his pace, walking ahead of Jack.
"I'll take a rain check for you then, Mr. Owner of the 'Nightmare' Virus." Jack calmly called out.
Jack's voice echoed on the empty hallway. Pitch froze halfway, then tilted his head towards his shoulder. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You know very well, sir." Jack's tone became more dead-serious. "Look, I don't have to right to meddle with other people's concerns, but when you deal with the gang I'm in. You'd better not deal with computers and money. Especially when you plan on stealing them. Hey, I'm just here to tell you." Then he put up an all-too-innocent smile. As if NOTHING ever happened.
"And why would I feel threatened?"
"Because, I'm here to watch their backs."
"Pfft. Big deal. You're new here, ergo I'll just assume you must not have known how things work around here with me, hmm?"Pitch answered in a formal tone.
The gothic man sighed defeated. "Look, Jack Frost, unless you are worth my attention and not just here to threaten me with useless, pathetic blackmails with no real evidence, I'd say back off and mind your own business." Then without a flinch, he took off to the science laboratory.
"We'll just see, when I'd find proof indeed."
Arf! Arf!
As he went home later than he'd expect, Jack heard the faintest of whimpers, then several barks. He looked to the side of his house. There was a fresh trail of red blood. The sight almost made the pale boy flinch back. But he went on anyway. Barely in sight, a wounded pup backed up from a hole under the porch of his own house.
"Come here, little guy."
Although confused and scared, the pup slowly dragged himself towards Jack. The little guy- or more specifically, the little girl- injured her right hind leg, real bad.
"Let's come inside." Jack comforted. "I'll take care of you."
~~(=*=)~~
A/N: How horrible is it? I'm on the verge of hating my plot & never looking at it again, or giving it to someone else more prominent for this story( or simply deleting it). Do tell me how bad it is becoming. Pretty please?
Pitch won't be back until the _ chapter again. I just wanted to use him here. As for the whole 'computer' gig with Jack and Pitch, I'm planning to make Jack a computer whiz (deal with it!) since he's already good in math. (Did I spoil anything?!) And Yesssss, I added a pet for Jack, at the last minute. Like, ten minutes before I was about to add this chapter.
Comments? Suggestions? Questions? Violent reactions? PM me. Review is not necessary, but constructive criticism is advised for plot improvement.
