Summary: Jack hates to see Vlad looking down and always tries to find a way to cheer him up.
Characters: Jack, Vlad, and Maddie
Written: December 2013

Frost

Jack frowned at the frosty response he got out of his friend when he greeted him as they crossed paths on campus. He was heading toward his physics class, and if he knew Vlad's schedule, which of course he did - they were best buds and roommates after all! - his friend would be off to his calculus class. Okay. Maybe that could explain the coldness in which he spoke. Who wouldn't be grumpy about having to go to boring old calculus? It was a total yawn fest.

"Hey," Jack said, putting on a cheery grin as he hugged an arm around Vlad's shoulders, walking beside the man and ignoring his own need to get to class. It was the day before the Christmas break, and most of his professors were either just assigning work to do over the break or letting them all goof off, not bothering to teach much of anything today. "What's the problem, buddy? You can tell me anything that's got you down."

They had been good friends - the best of friends! - ever since they first dormed with each other freshmen year. After that, they got an apartment together for their following years at the University of Wisconsin. They shared pretty much everything, so when Vlad wouldn't talk to him about something, it really hurt him. He hated seeing his friend looking so down and glum and not knowing what to do to fix it.

Vlad shook his head. "It's nothing. Forget about it. You should get to class."

"I can be a bit late. If it means helping out my dear old buddy!" Jack's grin widened, but it did little to cheer up his friend. With a sigh, he drew his arm away from Vlad. "It's about Maddie, isn't it?"

"What?" Vlad sputtered, gawking at him in shock. Yup, Jack knew that would be the case.

"What's the problem?' Jack tilted his head, hoping he could prod out the root of the problem. "Can't figure out what to get her?"

"Well," Vlad frowned, glancing away as he rubbed at the elbow of one arm, "there is that."

"Hey! You know what would be a great idea!" Excitement filled Jack's voice and danced in his eyes. "We should invite her to stay with us during the Christmas break! It'll be great!"

Vlad's brow wrinkled as he frowned at Jack. "I don't know that that's a good idea. I mean, our apartment is kind of a mess, and there's still that whole funky smell that we don't know where it's coming from. I'm still betting there's a dead rodent in the walls."

"So we clean up a bit. A little cleaning never killed anyone."

Vlad lifted an eyebrow at him and snorted. "Jack, when was the last time you ever cleaned anything?" Then his mouth pulled downward. "You expect me to do all the cleaning, don't you?"

Jack laughed nervously as he looked away. "No, of course not! Ha, ha." When he turned back to Vlad, he gave him a light pat on the shoulder. "Come on, man. Maddie loves you just as much as I do. I'm sure she won't mind a bit of a mess." Vlad, however, didn't look very convinced.

"Oh, hey, there you two are!" Maddie jogged down the path to them. Her cheeks were a rosy red, and her frizzy hair was tucked mostly under the knitted cap she wore.

"What's up, Mads?" Jack asked when she reached them.

"I was planning on going home for the Christmas break," Maddie explained. "But, ugh! My sister invited her boyfriend, and I can't stand that jerk! I really don't know what she sees in him. If they ever got married, I doubt it would last." She glanced between them, hope entering her violet eyes. "All my friends seem to be going home for the holidays, and I don't want to stay alone in my apartment."

"But you have a ninth degree black belt," Vlad blurted out, and Jack nudged him in the ribs with an elbow.

"Which I plan to use to kick some serious ghost butt," Maddie agreed firmly. "But," she frowned, "it's a lot more creepy being alone in an apartment if someone tried to break in. So are you two staying here this break?"

After Jack gave him a nudge, pushing him forward a step, Vlad fumbled but eventually said, "Oh, yeah! Of course we are. If you like, you can stay with us. Though I have to say, our apartment isn't that neat."

"Oh, thank you!" Maddie wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'm sure it'll be fine. I'll see you two later tonight." She skipped over to Jack and gave him a hug and a kiss too. After a quick goodbye, she hurried off to her next class.

"Did," Vlad glanced Jack's way with his cheeks looking a touch redder than before, "you know that was going to happen?"

"I might have," Jack admitted, grinning. "Though I'm pretty sure she was just using not wanting to be alone in her apartment as an excuse to spend Christmas with us. Oh, and if you're still stuck on a gift idea, I saw a pair of ghost earrings at a store downtown. I can show them to you over the weekend." He gave Vlad another pat on the shoulder before he turned to head off to his physics class. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he started whistling that song about Jack Frost nipping at his nose.

Mals42: I'm glad you think it was good. =)

Linzerj: There's just something about Valerie and Danielle that makes me go, "Aw! They're too freaking cute together!"

Above the Winter Moonlight: Thanks! =) I definitely promise there will be Clockwork! I can't say when exactly, but I do have an idea for at least one of the themes, and my list has him in about four pairings. I really like the idea of Fright Knight and Dora. XD But I also really liked that idea of Danny and Dora together that I wrote. That was a fun idea. Ack! Pandora is another one of those characters I seem to always forget about!