A year had passed since that night. 365 days, and all of them spent without Jack. Even now, she still felt numb, like a hole was inside her, one that couldn't be filled. She was just a vessel, nothing inside her anymore. Empty. No more tears to shed, only the overwhelming sadness that overcame her each night as she waited by the window, hoping for his return. But each night, there was nothing. Nobody there to come get her and whisk her off into the night. Rose became withdrawn and alone, shut off from the outside world. She felt like a part of her was missing, like she couldn't be whole unless Jack was with her. Her heart seemed to throb and twist with loneliness, and her arms yearned to hold Jack. To feel him, the touch of his ice cold skin on hers. Every fiber of her being missed him, but still she carried on, forcing herself to live. She wasn't going to give up, no matter how many times the thought crossed her mind. Doing so wouldn't give her Jack. And it wouldn't be what he wanted anyway. He wanted her to live, move on...have a family. Rose knew that she wanted that. But right now all she wanted was him. They fit together like puzzle pieces, bringing out the best parts in each other. She missed him more than she thought humanly possible, the memories of their time flashing in her mind like a never ending movie. Flashback after flashback of his lop-sided smile, his light chuckle, the feeling of their lips touching. Guilt was a storm inside her, ripping and tearing at her more with time. She clutched the ice statue in her hands, fingers absentmindedly trailing across the delicate features, memories flushing her head again. She remembered the nights when the rage filled her, and she'd slam the statue off the wall and floor repeatedly, but still it didn't break. She was glad of that now, she didn't have much to remember Jack by. No photos, or voicemails, only memories and the little gifts he gave her. David knew there was something wrong, but she never told him what. She knew he was worried, she could hear him murmur to himself about the house, and once he even tried to give her a book, begging her to read. To do something. Anything part from stare out the window. No, she couldn't tell him. He wouldn't believe her anyway, the tales of the Guardians were exactly that to him- tales. Besides, this way it could protect him. If Pitch or some other thing out there knew that he knew...Rose had read enough books to know what would happen. She was glad for the space he gave her, she didn't feel alive enough to even talk to anyone else. She was just empty, a broken shell of the girl she was with Jack. He'd stormed into her mediocre life, filled it with something real, something more, then left, leaving behind pain and tears. Rose knew it wasn't his fault of course, if anything it was the man in the moon's. And hers. It tormented her every second to think of what she'd done to Jack, breaking his heart and laughing like it was a joke. Honestly, it tore her up inside. She'd hurt the only one who ever thought more of her. He saw past her quiet book-girl demeanor for who she really was. He saw beneath her, the fear and her loneliness, and he stayed with her. He saved her. He loved her. And she destroyed it all, because she loved him too much to keep him. For the first month, it snowed. It was gentle, and soft, and it seemed mournful to her, in it's light decent. She would awake to snowflakes on her windowsill, or patterns n the frost, a reminder that he was still there. However, as time passed and the bags under her eyes got bigger, the snow no longer was gentle. It was gaining power, becoming wild and ruthless, and the snowflakes disappeared.
Jack sat on the branch of the tallest tree, his face blank. He closed his eyes slowly and opened them, anger and sadness swirling inside him. His chest felt empty, like there was no heart in there. Just space. Emptiness. One year without her. One year of pain and torment, the broken shards of his heart disintegrating as he remembered each poisonous word that left her mouth. He hated her, but he loved her. Stuck in a vicious cycle of wanting to take her in his arms and kiss her, or freeze her heart. Jack shivered. No matter what she said to him, no matter how much she hurt him, he'd never kill her. He loved her. A difficult, painful forbidden love at that, but still the only real love he had. As the days passed for him, Jack found the self pity inside him give way to anger and self loathing. A freak. That's exactly what he was. Why did he ever think she could really love him? He used to leave snowflakes on her windowsill, a sign he was still there. Still cared. Not anymore. He excluded himself from everyone, and everything. The only thing he could feel was the numbness inside him, like a giant pit. Nothing could fill it. Not even the laughter of kids, or the smooth caress of Tooth's hands on his cheeks, her voice whispering sweet nothings in his ear. He gave up on even trying to feel anymore, for the only emotion he could feel was pain. It coursed through his veins, anger and dejection bubbling in him like a volcano. So he shut them off. When he couldn't feel, it made it easier. His mind no longer thunk of her, he was no longer trapped by emotions. But switching off his emotions had a downside: he no longer cared about fun. The snow he cast now wasn't light and soft, instead it was heavy and wild, blowing ferociously with the heavy winds. He iced the roads and pavements with an ice that never melted. In his depression, cars crashed, and people were lost in his storms. The kids no longer laughed when they saw snow, the very sight of it terrified them. Jack could feel the guilt inside him, demanding to be felt. But he pushed it down with a sigh. Let the guilt through, and he'd let the loneliness through as well. If he did that, he wasn't sure how long it'd be until he could fix himself. Even if he somehow managed to, the guilt would probably destroy him anyway. Jack sighed and tapped his staff on the trunk of the tree. He wished he could go back. He wished it was all a lie, that he could just go to her window, sweep her up and fly away to a world where they could make their own decisions. Angrily, he stared up at the moon.
"Why did you have to do this?" He seethed. "I-I'm stuck here, not knowing what to do, or even...or even who the hell I am! I thought she was the one...the one for me..but it wasn't true. You knew that didn't you? And you let me fall in love with her! Why? WHY?!"
Jack let his head fall back as his chest rose and fell silently. He didn't know he was crying until the tears rolled off his face, onto the collar of his electric blue jumper. A voice entered his head, quiet and distant, ringing with authority. I knew nothing, Jack Frost. It was your own fault you fell for her, do not take your anger out on me. Remember, I am your creator, and I could kill you faster than a blink.
Jack scoffed. "Why don't you? Just do it. I don't even care anymore. I don't think I can live like this anyway. I can- I can feel it all inside of me. So much pain...What choice do I have?"
You must stop this, Jack. The storms, your rage-it's killing people. Remember your center. You've shut yourself away from everything that matters; you friends, the children, everything. Stop this.
Jack gave a humorless laugh that gave way to a few sobs. He pulled his hood over his head, wishing the blackness would swallow him up. "I know it's killing people. Innocent people. I hate myself for what I'm doing, but I know that...that if I let myself feel it all, i'll destroy me. I-I'm not ready yet. I feel like it's all bubbling up inside me, ready to burst through and consume me and I-I don't know if...I don't know if I can survive that."
He waited for an answer, but none came. Manny was gone, just a fading voice in his head. Jack groaned in frustration and punched the tree trunk, surprised to find his hand go right into it. He sighed, the energy leaving his body like water out of cupped hands. He pulled his arm out roughly, the ragged edges of wood ripping through his sleeve into his skin. The blood poured down, but he didn't care. It was barely painful to him, just a dull throb. He ran a hand through his hair and squeezed his eyes shut, opening them again after a few seconds. Just as he was about to leave, his eyes caught sight of the frost around the remains of the trunk. It wasn't his usual style of swirls and leafs, no, it was something else. It was roses.
Authors note: I know I said this would be the last chapter. I lied. There's at least two or three more. Sorry, thanks for the reviews, I hope you ejoy the story.