Jack's POV

It was a nightmare.

Pitch must have been in here. I knew I shouldn't have fallen asleep, but I was exhausted. I jumped awake to her dreadful yelling. It was almost 7 in the morning and she was screaming my name bloody murder. Her eyes were tightly shut and a single tear was racing down to her chin. Pitch. It was him filling her dreams with darkness. And I'm certain he has a new plan. I don't find it much of a coincidence that he picks Jess out of all the people in the world to frighten in their sleep. He has waited, trying to find my weakness this entire time. At the first chance he gets, he grabs at it, knowing we are friends. I can tell that this is only the beginning.

Now, as Jess cries silently, I wonder what her dream could have meant. I watch as her cherry-red nose sniffles and the tears drop from her face and onto the bed sheets. If he thinks I'm going to leave her in her time of need, he's utterly and completely insane. That's never going to happen.

After many tears, Jess pulls her hands from underneath mine, wipes her eyes, and silently gets up to get ready for the day. I wait on her bed and look out the glassy door, thinking deeply. I drug Jess into this and now her life is at stake. Once again, I have officially screwed something up. I can't even have a simple friend without something going wrong. And the thought of being a killer drifts into my mind again.

Jess's POV

I run the cold water over my face. Jack is right. He would never leave me in my time of need. My brain is just messed up, that's all. I brush my teeth, comb out my hair, and apply my makeup. Ten minutes later, I walk back into my bedroom, only to find Jack staring out my glass door while he sits on my bed, facing away from me.

I silently walk around my bed to the side he's on and sit next to him, my eyes studying the floor. Our shoulders touch, sending a pulse of comfort throughout my body. I look up at him, wondering what he's thinking about, hoping for his goofy smile to be planted on his face. That's the one thing that can bring happiness to me in a second. Except, I'm greeted with a depressed face. His eyes lost some of its icy color, making him look sad and alone. Any trace of his everlasting smile disappeared into thin air. His silver hair sways with the breeze coming through a vent on the ceiling, making the rest of his body seem as still as a statue. Feeling my stare, he looks back at me and gives a small smile, though the sadness in his eyes gives him away. My heart drops and sorrow rushes into me, as if Jack's feelings just entered my soul.

"Oh Jack, don't give me those sad puppy eyes," I say softly. "It was only a dream, just like you said."

He sighs silently, looking back out the window. I pull a piece of my hair behind my ear, looking around my room for something to do. Suddenly, an idea strikes me as my eye skims my old leather skates, forgotten in the back corner of my room.

"Come on, get up. We aren't going to sit around here in this depressing house with our depressing moods," I say, jumping off my bed. Jack doesn't move; he looks up at me with confusion written on his face.

"What are we going to do?" he asks glumly, strumming his fingers against his staff that's laying across his lap.

"I know a small lake that I go to every winter. And it must be frozen over, especially with Jack Frost hanging around town," I say as I flash him a smile. He only lifts up the corners of his mouth. I roll my eyes.

"Come on, get up, Mr. Grumpy Gills."

I grab his hands and attempt to pull him up on his feet. He moans and pulls away from me. Soon, it becomes a battle of strength as I pull him off the bed and he does all he can to stay on it. I laugh, glad to feel the smile back on my cheeks. I glance back at Jack's face, his familiar smile going ear to ear.

He grunts and yanks my hands, easily pulling me down onto the bed next to him. I let gravity take me straight down. I hit the bed so hard I bounce a few times on my back. My huge grin hurts my cheeks as he laughs with me, filling my ears with the smoothness of his voice.

I catch my breath, put on a straight face, and get up again. He sits up on his elbows, watching me. I walk over to my skates, pick them up by their tied laces, salute goodbye to his pouting face, and walk out the door without saying a word.

As I walk down the stairs, I hear my bed creak as he gets off of it. I smile to myself, pleased that my plan worked. However, as I walk further and further down the stairs and towards the front door, I hear nothing behind me. I grab my heaviest coat and hat and pull them on. I open my the door, hoping Jack catches up soon so I don't have to skate alone. Although, I highly doubt he would abandon me.

As soon as I step outside, something claps on the back of my neck. I yell out as the thing start to wiggle around, tickling me. The overwhelming feeling comes over me and I laugh hard, unable to control it. I take off, running, trying to get away from the hands. I head straight to the pathway in the forest I created a few years ago that leads to the lake. I run faster, feeling the forest dirt starting to appear beneath my boots and the presence of houses and civilization disappearing.

"You know you can't outrun me," a voice says behind me.

"Watch me," I laugh out between heavy breaths, beginning to sprint.

"Is that a challenge I hear?" he responds. Suddenly, I see a blur of blue pass me up. It weaves through the trees and jumps over logs and large rocks. Jack turns around and gives me a grin before speeding off even faster.

"No fair!" I yell out after him. He id immortal - he can do anything he wanted, such as run as fast as a cheetah.

Jack's POV

I burst into a large clearing. I slow down as I take in the scenery. A medium-sized lake stretches out before me, frozen solid. A few bare trees are scattered in some places, but otherwise, the lake seems to have a reserved spot in the forest as the trees seem to create a perfect circle around it. I walk around the ice, hearing my feet crunch the snow underneath. It was peaceful out here; no wonder Jess came every year to get away from everyone.

Until Jess herself busts in, wheezing heavily and out of breath, breaking the peacefulness. She walks a few steps, throws her skates on the ground, and then falls on her knees, exhausted.

"Sooo," I call out, swaying my body in a mocking way as I walk towards her. "I watched you, don't worry. I watched you behind me as you ate my dust!"

"Shut up Jack! You.. have an unfair.. advantage.. and you.. know that.." she snaps, shoulders heaving as she pants like a running, hot dog on a summer day.

"Excuses, excuses," I mock as I hold out my hand. She playfully glares at me, grabs her skates, and takes my hand in hers, pulling herself up.

But as soon as she gets up on one knee, I drag her by her arms. She hits the ground on her stomach, yelling and kicking as she is pulled through the heavy snow. Good thing she has her coat and hat on, otherwise she would be frozen in a second.

I push through the snow with ease, and begin to head towards the ice. I hear her contagious laugh and see the two perfect dimples on her face. I can't help but to chuckle along. She's right; this is a lot better than sitting in her house.

I set my feet on the ice, feeling the slickness beneath me. Sliding my feet, I pull her onto the ice. I turn three tight circles in a row, rolling her body around. On the last, fast, and tight circle, I let go of her arms. I watch her slip and slide away from me, the tip of her nose and her cheeks rosy red from the cold and from laughing.

Jess's POV

"Jack!" I scream out, laughing my head off.

The ice, dusted with snow, slides me across its surface with ease. I try to grab anything to stop myself, and my hand flies into a deep crease. I grab inside of it, pulling myself to a screeching stop. I sit up, my hair wild and flying into my eyes.

Jack slides over to me, invisible skates on his feet. He grins down at me and offers his hand again.

"Uh yeah, no thanks," I say, putting myself in a sitting position. I take off my boots and throw them off the ice and into the snow. I slide on the old leather skates with ease and strap them on. With wobbly legs, I get up and shoo away Jack's hands that are ready if I fall. I can handle myself; I've been doing this my entire life. I push one foot forward and then the other. And in no time, I create a rhythm and start speeding skating around the lake.

Swish. Swish. Swish.

"Whoa, slow down Jess!" I hear Jack call from behind me.

"Don't worry, I can still see you," I reply, turning around and mocking his voice. "I'm watching you eat my ice shavings!"

"Ooh, good one," he says sarcastically, flashing me his signature smile.

I turn back around and face the front. The end of the lake fills my eyes. Gasping, I try to slam on the brakes, but it's too late. I trip on the heavy snow and fall clumsily, landing face first into the snow. I feel the bitter coldness seep through my skin and drop my temperature immediately.

"Ooh, wipeout!" Jack exclaims, skidding to a smooth break behind me. I flip over and lay on my back, ignoring him and staring at the clear sky. Jack sits down next to me, getting settled into the deep, power-like snow. He gives out a relaxed sigh, and I glance at him, smiling to myself. Where would I be without Jack?

"I'm actually glad you brought us here, Jess. I don't think I've ever had this much fun. Or seen anyone fall as hard as you," he chuckles out. I reach over and ruffle his hair violently, wetting it with snow.

"Watch out, don't get Jessica mad. She'll mess up your hair!"

"You are so rude."

"Ow! You punch hard for a girl!"

"That's what I thought."


A little fun is always appreciated :3 Hope you like the story so far! Be sure to leave me any suggestions that you might have! Thanks a bunchies ^-^