So, I'm thinking about doing a sister story to this in Jacks point of view. Same story line, but through Jacks eyes. What do y'all think?
To: Matt'sloved9.14.13- I'm super glad you're enjoying it. I try to keep the grammar in check.
To: kitty.0- I'm glad it worked as smoothly as it did. I was pretty nervous about it.
To: MyHeartsDesire- I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Ch 10
The next morning I woke and staggered to my bedroom door. I knocked three times to wake Jack, who opened the door minutes later looking like death warmed over. His white hair stood at angles that would make gravity weep, and his eyes were still clouded with sleep. The shirt was wrinkled beyond recognition, and the shorts hung unevenly on his thin hips.
"Need the bathroom." I mumbled. Jack rubbed a hand over his face and cocked his head to the side. He stood to the side to let me through before walking back to the bed and burrowing under the covers. After relieving myself and brushing my teeth I walked back to find a lump under the comforter.
"Wake up, mate." I told him, sitting on the side of the bed next to the lump. He groaned, and the sound went straight to my libido. He really needed to stop that. I reached over to grab and shake what I thought was a shoulder.
"We need to get going, Jackie. We gotta be at the Pole by eight."
"Time is it?" The lump murmered.
"Nearly seven-fifty." I answered. I shook him again and he flung the covers off of him. To my horror I had not grabbed a shoulder; my hand was on his thigh. How did I miss that? I guessed it was how the blankets and pillows were bundled around him like he'd made a nest for himself. I patted his leg and got up, intent on getting his clothes for him and not thinking about how close my hand was to his ass.
I heard rustling as I left, signaling Jack finally getting up, and footsteps heading to the bathroom. I grabbed his clothes and set them down on the bed before leaving the room, and closing the door. Minutes later he emerged from my room dressed in his pants and hoodie. He shoes in one hand and shirt from last night in the other.
"What's wrong with your shirt?" I asked.
"It got kind of muddy from last night. I don't need it though. I can just wear my hoodie." He said slipping on one shoe, and then the other.
"If ya say so."
"And I do." He smiled cheekily. "Now, you said something about breakfast and coffee?"
"That I did, frostbite. C'mon." I grabbed the keys off their hook, and held the door open for Jack to go through before locking it.
We drove to the shoppe I usually went to on Saturdays and parked off to the side. Jack stood off from the counter looking at the menu.
"See something you like?" I knew what I was going to get: a banana nut muffin with my usual coffee.
Jacks cheeks flushed, making me realize what I'd just said. He cleared his throat and nodded, walking to the counter. "A blueberry coffee cake, and a peppermint mocha latté please."
I stepped up and told the woman my order and pulled out my wallet to pay. Jack grabbed our food and his coffee, leaving mine to me. We sat at a small round table situated by the front window.
"I could have paid for my own, ya know." He said with a mouthful of cake.
"I know. Usually people say 'thank you' when something is bought for them." I smirked at him. Jack returned it and after a sip of his drink said: "Well thank you Mister Bunnymund. You take such good care of your house boy." I choked. My coffee was spewed onto the table in front of me while that little shit laughed like it was going out of style.
"Eat your damn food, ya little twink. Jesus Christ, Jackie." I said between coughing bouts. He just laid his head on the table and failed to stifle more chuckles.
After we ate and got to the Pole Anna came skipping into my office. She went to say something before she caught sight of Jack, but stopped.
"Your sister wants to kill you." She pointed at him. Jack had the decency to look remorseful.
"I bet she does. I'll text her, okay?" He said and dug out his phone, fingers flying over the screen.
Anna gave me a curious look before waving her hand to continue her thought. "Koz and Sandy will be gone 'til Monday, but I really need to go over some things with you and North about the Christmas play. I need you to get in touch with them and let them know that rehearsals start on December fourth, and will be held every Saturday until its debut on the twenty-fourth." She told me, and handed me a file containing a list of adults, and a list of children interested in being a part of the play.
I settled into the desk chair and opened it to the first list and plucked the phone from its receiver. The adults would be easier to deal with right now. A Michael Jennings was first on the list. The preferred method of contact was checked in the 'Call' box. I punched in the number and waited while it rang.
"Hello?" A male voice answered.
"Mornin' Mister Jennings, this is Aster Bunnymund. I work at the Pole and I have your name down to help with the Christmas play we put on every year, is that correct?"
"Oh, yes sir. It is."
"Glad to hear it. I'm callin' to let ya know that rehearsals will be scheduled starting the fourth, and the play itself is scheduled for Friday the twenty-fourth. Would ya still be able to make it?"
"Absolutely. I think what you all do is great. Count me in." He said enthusiastically.
"Well thank ya, sir. We look forward to workin' with ya." We said our goodbyes and hung up. I looked to Jack as I placed the phone down to make a note and noticed he was staring at his phone.
"What's up kiddo?"
"She hasn't answered yet. I bet she's on her way here. Will you hide me?" He asked; actually looking nervous.
"You're damn right I was on my way here! What the HELL Jack!" A furious Emma came stomping through my door.
"Look, Em, I can explain, really!" Jack said, backing up. He shuffled over to stand behind my chair, trying to keep away from his livid sister.
"I waited all night for you to call, like you said you would! I was a nervous wreck! Amy threatened to drug me to calm me down! You could have been dead in a ditch! Or kidnapped and butt raped, and I would never have known!"
"Calm down, Emma." I chuckled. "Jack was with me. He told me his roommate was going to be gone 'til Monday, so I let his stay with me. I promise he was in no danger." She seemed to deflate and wrapped her arms around her middle.
"God Jack I was so scared something happened." She sniffed. Jack hurried to her side and wrapped her in an embrace.
"I'm sorry, Em. Please don't cry. I'm not going anywhere. We're all we got, remember? I'd never leave." He cooed in a low, soft voice. She returned the hug and let out a shuddering breath before pulling back and punching him in the chest.
"You're damn right you're not leaving. I'm still mad at you." She huffed. Jack chuckled around a few coughs that escaped him. He dramatically clutched his chest, staggering backward and hitting the corner of my desk. He slid down the side and collapsed to the floor, gurgling at his defeat. I stared down at him, smiling.
"Don't die on my floor, drongo."
"You wouldn't let me die. You'd save me, like you have all the other times. You're my Bunny in shining armor, remember?" He said and Emma snickered.
"You dug this hole by yourself this time. I really don't see anything to gain from savin' ya this time."
"I'll think of something." He said, finally getting up.
Emma sneered at her brother. "Don't princesses give their knights a kiss to show gratitude?"
Jack glared at her and flushed a rosy red. "Guess it's a good thing I'm not a princess then."
"I did have to carry you like one recently; though I gotta admit- you'd look a might strange in a dress, sweetheart." I offered. Emma guffawed and Jack mumbled a 'screw you, Cottontail' with tiny smile.
"Alright you two, I don't mind ya stayin' in here but I got work to do. So keep it down." I ordered and picked up the phone again.
Three hours and fifty-three calls later I was finished. Emma and Jack stayed quiet the entire time. They spoke in hushed tones to each other, both occasionally glancing up at me; Jack more so than Emma. I caught a few words here and there, but nothing I could make any sense of.
The rest of the day was spent in the office, much like every other day. But I had free entertainment today. Emma was a riot. She picked on Jack as much as he did her. They bickered back and forth, while I laughed. Jack was pouting trying to guilt me onto his side, when my favorite little sprogs burst through the door.
"Mister Bunny!" Sophie screamed. She rushed to me and clambered onto my lap. "I drew this for you in class today!" She held up a picture covered in glitter. It was a little grey rabbit with green eyes.
"That's amazin', sheila. You're on your way to bein' an artist!" I exclaimed. Her little shoulders slumped slightly.
"I won't be a real artist 'til someone buys my pictures. Like how people buy yours."
I leaned over to rummage in my bag. Finding my wallet I sat back up, dug until I found a ten, and a five dollar bill, and then looked at her seriously.
"Would ya be willin' to part with such a beautiful piece for this much?" I asked her, and handed her the money. The look on her face put the sun to shame in its radiance.
"Really?" She gasped. I nodded and placed the cash in her tiny hands.
"On one condition." She looked at me eagerly. "I'd like your autograph, to show I have a real Sophie Bennette original." I said, handing her a pen. She signed her name on the back of the painting, then threw her arms around my neck and squeezed. I bit back a bout of laughter as she let go and jumped off to tell her brother, Emma followed her stating she would be a witness. No doubt to brag about being a 'real artist now'.
Jack laughed and flopped down into an arm chair next to my bookcase, folding his legs under him.
"You're really great with kids." He said.
I leaned back in the chair and smiled. "I was the second oldest of seven. Bein' a caretaker was my job. One I'd like to think I was damn good at."
"God, you really are like a bunny." He sneered.
I chucked a crumpled paper ball at him and returned the sneer. "Don't knock it 'til you've tried it, boy." He flushed. The rosy red crept over his cheeks, over his ears, and down his neck. "That's a mighty fine blush ya got goin' there, Jackie." I chuckled. "Ya can make jokes, but ya can't take 'em?"
He brought his hands to his face, effectively covering it. He grumbled a 'Fuck you.' through a snicker. This whole flirting thing was a blast. He reacted so prettily to it. It was a huge confidence boost to see how I could get reactions like this from him. I rolled to his side and brought my mouth to his ear. I could smell the sharp scent of pine, and spearmint.
"You don't wanna race a rabbit, mate. I guarantee you'll lose." I whispered in a low voice, and watched the goose-bumps rise on his arms with a pleased smirk.
Jack spread his fingers, letting me see one glacial blue orb. "I'll take that bet, Cottontail." He said with a grin full of sin.
It was my turn to blush. Looks like Jackie's not as innocent as he looks.
Tbc!
I really had fun writing this chapter, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!