A/N: i really want to start writing a series of rotg oneshots and my new multi chapter fic but im working on this already ;_;

Chapter Ten

Jack and Sandy were standing side by side while they poured resin into molds. In the few hours that they've been working, they had already reached the halfway mark of their goal. They even put dye in the resin to make assorted colors. Tooth was across from them doing the same while the sound of Aster bickering with North could be heard in the background.

"That's too Christmasy mate, make 'em blue."

"I think Easter could use more red. There's too many pinks and blues and-"

"Are you thick headed or somethin? It's Easter!"

It seemed that every twenty minutes a conflict would spark between the Russian and the Australian. From color schemes to the size of the egg, Aster was being very picky. He wanted this year to be perfect, and he had no intentions to allow a portion of the eggs look like Christmas decorations. Aster knew that Sophie would be participating in the egg hunt this year, and she loved colors. Anything that was bright in rich in vibrant colors attracted her as if she was a moth to a fire.

"North what did I just say?"

"What's wrong with them now? I'm only making them green."

"Exactly! That's regular green as in dark and like a forest or the grass. They need to be light green or else nobody will be able to find them in the grass or trees."

Jack rolled his eyes in annoyance. Leave it to Aster to flare up about the different shades of green. He looked over to Tooth and asked her if North and Aster were always like this.

"They do this every year. One prefers a certain holiday over the other and when you put them together, it equals nonstop disagreements. After a while you get used to it and they're just fussing at each other." she explained to him. "They're actually pretty good friends and it's not like they intend to get under each other's skin, it can just happen. Besides, it's just a bunch of light hearted arguments."

Sandy nodded on agreement with Tooth while Jack just stared at them.

"Really? They do this every year?"

"Yeah. You should see them during Christmas."

"But they've been segueing about colors for at least half an hour now. Don't they ever take a break?"

"Sandy and I really have no role in it, so we just let it solve itself."

"But why do they get so defensive about Christmas and Easter?"

"Well..."

Tooth was about to tell Jack a long story about North and Aster's opinions on the two holidays when Sandy tugged on Jack's sleeve.

"What's up Sandy?"

The shorter teen pointed across the room to a shelf located high up on the wall that towered over various other shelves beneath it. A stack of containers rested on top while a counter was placed below the shelves.

"You want me to get that?"

Sandy nodded once again. Being only four feet tall and eleven inches, he was too short to reach the top shelf himself. The stepping stools were upstairs and Jack was the third tallest person in the room. Normally he would ask North or Aster, but there were occupied in arguing with each other at the moment.

Jack walked over to the shelves and climbed onto the counter. "Do you want me to get you a stool?" Tooth asked him. " I don't want you to fall..."

According to Tooth, Jack had already taken a few nasty spills today. She didn't even know that he fell out of a tall pine tree earlier.

"I don't need a stool Tooth, I can reach it just fine."

Jack's left hand was clutching the top shelf while his right hand extended upward. He didn't even take notice that the shelf was beginning to shake under his grip. North looked up and saw Jack standing on the counter reaching for the top shelf and his big blue eyes took notice that the shelf his hand was placed on began to tremble as if it were to fall. "Jack watch out!" he yelled over.

North's booming voice startled Jack and the shelf above him finally gave away and all of the containers and products sitting on top of it began to fall. Not wanting them to fall on the ground, Jack reached out to make an effort to grab everything that was falling. His left hand wrapped around one open container which he used to catch two small bottles of paint. Jack's other hand grabbed a bowl used to mix paint in and a few more smaller cups landed in it. A small bucket was falling and he used his left foot to hook under the handle and he then used that to catch the bottle of resin that Sandy had asked for.

Not one thing on the shelf had dropped, and it was all due to Jack's quick thinking and reflexes. Balancing on his right foot, Jack stood on the counter with his hands full and a bucket hanging off of his foot. Three out of four of his appendages may be holding something, but he still couldn't believe that he had caught everything.

Jack glanced over his shoulder and smiled at Tooth.

"See Tooth? I told you that I didn't need a stool."

The other four teens stared in amazement and it wasn't until Jack had attempted to move did everything come crashing down. Jack cringed at the sound of everything he was holding drop onto the ground nosily.

"Smooth move, ya show pony."

"No one asked for your opinion, Kangaroo."

He may have made a mess, but at least he had gotten the bottle of resin for Sandy. Jack just brushed off the little incident since he was used to making a mess of everything ever since he was born. He even made a mess of his parent's marriage because he was the source of all of it. Jack picked up the bottle of resin and held it out to Sandy who smiled as he took it. Aster just rolled his eyes knowing that they would now have to pick everything up but instead he just walked off. "Well, we might as well clean this up." Tooth said as she bent down to pick up the mess. Sandy, North, and Jack did the same and one by one they placed everything that had fallen onto the counter.

Tooth was on her knees next to Jack as they collected what was left. "I thought you were really cool back their Jack. You have awesome balance and good reflexes." Tooth complimented to him. "Where did you learn to do things like that?"

Jack's icy blue eyes looked up at her as he responded.

"Well, I've had a lot of free time on my hands in my life, so why not learn how to balance?"

The two teens weren't even looking at the ground anymore. Engaged in a small conversation, Tooth and Jack were making direct eye contact. Without looking down, both of them placed their hand on the same container. Both of them felt each other's touch and they looked down before pulling their hands away.

"Wow Jack, your hands are really cold."

"Sorry, they're naturally like that."

"No not that it's a bad thing!"

"Yeah, I know what you meant. You were probably just startled by how cold they were."

"Yeah."

Tooth awkwardly smiled at Jack who did the same to her. His pearly white teeth were showing which only made Tooth feel even more flustered. How many awkward encounters were they going to have today? There was already the accidental kiss, but now they're hands keep ending up together. It was as if the universe was playing games with them. Maybe it was a sign? No, that would be silly. Just because they came in close physical contact a handful of times in the same day didn't mean anything. Besides, it was all on accident.

She liked him, but he probably doesn't like her back.

Does he?

How would he even know?

They just became friends today.

Although, Tooth has had a crush on Jack for a while now, and she would have to pace herself. If Tooth just rushed into things that may make Jack uncomfortable. Isn't he still trying to adjust to being in a group of friends? He doesn't need some teeth obsessed girl making a move on him. Besides, Tooth doesn't have enough courage to do that anyway.

Jack got to his feet and shuffled over to the opposite end of the room and away from Tooth. That was another weird encounter. Why would he always have an awkward moment with Tooth? He never had trouble talking to Pippa, and she was a girl. However, Tooth was Jack's age. Jack could handle being around Tooth normally, but it was just during those times where she was blushing at him where his brain just felt stupid. What was he even supposed to do? What did that even mean? Nobody told him anything about stuff like this. Maybe he was just embarrassing her? That was most likely the case.

/

It was a Friday night, meaning that the five teens were able to stay up late. Their parents had grown accustomed to their children hanging out like this, and nobody would miss Jack at the orphanage. Ms. Dawdson hated Jack and she didn't care what he did outside the orphanage as long as it wouldn't end up with the police knocking down their door.

They were all growing tired as they worked into the night. None of them took too many breaks besides small snack breaks when Mrs. Bunnymund would come down the steps with a tray in her hands. Whenever she did this, Jack did his best not to look greedy when he would eat something. He skipped breakfast and the only thing he ate for lunch was a single apple.

Jack glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost eleven at night. Sandy had dozed off about an hour ago while North had decided to take a quick nap. Did they always work this late? Jack looked over to see that Tooth was falling asleep as well and Aster yawned in the corner of the room. There were times where Jack would stay up past midnight, but he didn't always work for hours upon hours making eggs with resin.

"Aster it's almost eleven. Don't you think that this is a good stopping point?"

"Hold on, let just finish this one last egg and then we'll turn in for the night."

"You said that twenty minutes ago!"

Aster sighed. As much as he hated to admit it, Jack was right. The five of them had been working hard and they were ahead of schedule. He could really use some shut eye anyway.

"We could stop here for the day."

"Glad you finally made your decision."

Jack and Aster were the only two people awake in the room right now. Just a few minutes ago Tooth had fallen asleep so now no one was around to listen to their conversations. Aster looked over all of the progress they had done. They only needed to make fifty more eggs and they still had one more week to finish them. All in all, he was very satisfied over how successful they were.

Jack ran a hand through his white hair. He's been pouring resin into molds for hours today and has fallen on his arse at least three times at school. He had a feeling that he would them in the morning tomorrow when he would wake up but he would deal with that later. What mattered now was that he wanted to go to bed.

Is this really what these people go through just for a holiday function?

Did they actually spend over ten hours working after school?

These people must be crazy to work this hard after school, but Jack kinda liked the craziness. If they just spent ten hours stuffing candy into store bought plastic eggs, that would be boring. At least he had some fun making the eggs himself. Besides, working with Aster and the others wasn't so bad. It gave him something to do.

This was way better than sulking in a dusty old attic or doing homework.

Jack sat on top of one of the tables and stared down at today's products. Aster sat next to him and they both stayed in silence until the Australian started talking.

"Listen, Jack,"

"Yeah?"

Aster paused for a second and took a deep breath before continuing.

"Listen mate, 'bout today at school,"

"What about it?"

"I, I'm sorry for those things I said back in the hallway. They weren't the nicest things to say-"

"Yeah, you were pretty mean back there, but-"

Jack fiddled with the draw strings in his blue hoodie. He stared at the ground and ignored Aster's gaze.

"I guess I wasn't the nicest to you either Ka-"

Jack shook his head.

"I was kind of a jerk to you in the past, and then there was that whole thing during freshman year. Sorry about that."

As hilarious as it was knowing that Aster had worn kangaroo boxers that day, it was pretty mean of Jack to do something like that to the Australian.

"But listen Aster,"

"Hmph?"

"Not that I'm trying to rub salt on the wound, but why kangaroo boxers?"

Aster pushed Jack off the table and the boy fell onto the floor. Instead of glaring back at his antagonist, Jack just laughed.

"Okay, I guess I deserved that."

"Ya got that right ya jerk."

"I'm not the only jerk here you know. I mean, you're in the room right now aren't you?"

Aster scoffed.

"Guess so, Frosty."

The taller boy got off the table and put an arm around Jack's neck. He then turned and gave Jack a noogie with his fist while he smiled. It didn't take long for his victim to squirm out, but they were both in good moods by the time it happened.

"See? You're a jerk too, Kangaroo."

Jack only wished that they were outside so that he could throw a snowball at Aster. Alas, they were not outside, they were in an underground basement with three slumbering teenagers.

"Listen up ya gumby," Aster said. "if ya wanna get back home before eleven, ya gotta wake up North and everyone else. 'Bout time for you all to head out and back to your homes. Ya parents are probably worried sick about ya."

Jack sucked in a deep breath. That's right, they don't know he doesn't has parents. He hasn't told them that he has no family or that he lives in the dusty old attic of the town's orphanage. If North was going to drive him home, maybe he could skip out and walk home? He's been out later than this, so he could navigate his way back to the orphanage in about twenty minuted depending on how dark it was.

"Frosty? Did ya hear me?"

"Loud and clear Kangaroo."

Aster walked over to North who was snoring loudly and started to wake him up.

"North! Rise and shine mate! Ya got people to drop off at their houses."

The Large Russian was startled awake by Aster and he blurted out something in Russian before calming down. North's outburst woke up Tooth but Sandy was still fast asleep. Jack walked over to Sandy and started to shake him. "Time to wake up Sandy," he said. "We have to go."

Sandy didn't even acknowledge Jack, he just rested peacefully. North joined Jack as well knowing that a small shake wouldn't be enough to wake up the golden haired boy. "Sandy is a very deep sleeper. Let me handle this Jack." he told Jack.

"Sandy,"

"…"

"Sandy,"

"…"

"WAKE UP!"

Jack's heart skipped a beat at how loud North's booming voice had turned and Sandy yawned as he finally woke up.

"Ah, good to see that you've finally woken up Sandy. Now come, it is time to go home."

North and Sandy both passed Jack as they began to walk near the room's exit.

"Jack? Aren't you coming?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah hold on, North."

Jack waved goodbye to Aster and soon he was walking up the stairs with the others. Each step he took was one step closer to North's car, every step closer to North's car was one step closer to North taking them home.

One step closer to Jack having to tell them he's an orphan.

Tooth looked over to see that Jack was staring down at the ground as he followed them out Aster's front door. "Something wrong Jack?" she asked him. "You're just looking down."

"I'm fine Tooth, I'm just thinking about some stuff."

"What kind of stuff? Do you want to talk about it?"

"Stuff that would take way too long to explain."

It was pitch black outside, and there would be no way that Jack could find his way on a night like this. There was snow on the ground and the roads were hidden in the darkness that succumbed them, leaving Jack with fa slim chance of walking back to the orphanage. North turned on the headlights in his car and the sound of the engine roaring caused Jack to turn around. Because of the lack of light, he only saw a silhouette of North's car since he just walked right past it earlier.

He may not be nocturnal, but Jack didn't need to have night vision to see that Tooth and Sandy were already loading into the vehicle with North. "Are you jut going to stand there Jack?" North asked. "It's too dark out here and too cold so you might want to hurry up and come in."

"Listen, North, I've been in situations like this before."

"And?"

"I think I'll just walk home."

"Nonsense!"

Before he could protests, Jack felt North's arm grasp the back of his hood. He gagged as the Russian tugged back on the clothing and pulled Jack into his car.

The lights in the van shone brightly allowing Jack to have a glimpse of the interior. He gazed around at the decorations on the inside as well as the fabricated seats. Did he smell pine? Jack looked over to see the two air fresheners hanging from the mirror as the doors slammed shut. North climbed in as well and looked back as he drove out of Aster's driveway.

This time Tooth was sitting in the back with Jack while Sandy sat up front. "You should buckle up." Tooth said to Jack. Knowing that it was too late to bail out, the orphan reluctantly searched for his seat belt. Where was his seat belt anyway? Jack didn't have time to ask because North made a sharp turn that flung Jack to the side. He was caught by Tooth and Jack was now sitting on her lap as North recklessly zoomed down the road.

Their eyes met and the two teens stared deeply into each others bright irises. Jack opened his mouth but then closed it not knowing what to say. Instead, he just muttered "sorry" under his breath before returning to his seat. Tooth watched Jack finally find his seat belt and she heard the click of it as he strapped in. That was the second time that he's fallen on her, weren't boys supposed to fall for a girl and not on her? The thought was quickly pushed to the back of Tooth's mind as she softly smiled at her secret crush and turned to look outside the window.

Other than North yelling at some people jogging at night, the ride was silent. Jack and Tooth stared out opposite windows while Sandy was dropped off at his home ten minutes ago. The white haired orphan was half asleep when the car came to a screeching halt in front of Tooth's home. Tooth climbed out of the car and took one last glance at North and Jack.

"Bye guys!"

"Bye Tooth!"

"Bye."

Jack watched as she slammed the car door and ran up to the front porch of her home. He could only see that she had a massive home that was as big as a palace judging from its outline made in the night. Now he was alone with North, meaning that it was time to come clean.

"So where do you live Jack?"

"It's not that far. We should be getting close if you drive straight for a while."

Jack was doing as much stalling as he could. Luckily North just followed his directions and he began to drive straight and away from Tooth's house. They passed under dozens of flickering street lights allowing Jack to see Tooth's neighborhood.

Had she always lived this close?

The orphanage was in the next neighborhood over, how could he have not seen her house before? Jack always wandered off around town, he should have seen her home before.

"Okay, stop here."

North pushed on the breaks and they stopped on the street with very few homes lined up around it. He looked around at the small neighborhood and saw Burgess Orphanage, four surrounding homes, and a path leading to the town's park as well as the forest behind it. North didn't know that Jack lived so close to the orphanage, that must be pleasant since he can see so many kids each day.

"So which house is your Jack?"

"You'll see soon enough."

Jack pulled his hood over his head and shoved his hands into his pockets. Silently sliding out of North's car, he walked through the snow and up the path to the orphanage. He figured it was much easier to show North that he had no family or parents rather than telling him.

Even though his back was turned, Jack could still feel North's blue eyes staring back at him without a word. At least the others weren't around. Walking up to the front door of the orphanage, Jack placed his hand on the door's frozen handle and pulled on it.

Locked.

Jack banged his head in the door. It was almost eleven at night, all of the orphans had a curfew if ten. How could he forget that he was an hour late? Now he had to get into his room the other way in front of North. Ms. Dawdson never gave Jack a key, so he had no choice but to use another method of entering.

North watched Jack bang his head against the door. It was actually a sad sight to watch this. Not only was Jack alone at school, but to not have a family either? North had no idea that Jack was an orphan. Why didn't he tell them sooner? Maybe it was because they all ignored Jack until now. What made matters even worse was that it looked like Jack was locked out on a chilly night like this.

The frosted headlights on North's van provided enough light for him to see Jack scurry around to the back of the building. What was he doing? Did the orphanage have a back door?

"Jack? What are you doing?"

North climbed out if his car and he took a few steps to where Jack was.

"Why didn't you go inside?"

"They're locked and I don't have a key."

"Can't you just knock?"

"No. Ms. Dawdson, the grouchy old caretaker, hates me and she'd just slam the door since she's most likely in bed right now."

"Do you want to come back to my house? I'm sure my-"

"No really North, I appreciate the offer, but this is actually no big deal. I stay out late all the time."

Jack ran off to the very back of the orphanage and he placed his foot against the gutter drain running down the side. It wasn't until he started climbing it did he realize that North was still there to witness him. Jack sucked in a breath wishing that North wasn't watching him scale up the side of the building via drain pipe.

"Now listen, they don't know I do this so please North, don't tell anyone this is how I get in, please."

Climbing along the drain pipe and opening his window was how he snuck in and out of his room. If North rats him out, then his life would get a lot more dull. Sneaking in and out was only half of the fun, once he was in or out he was free to do whatever he pleased. Another thing he did was sneak out of his window and climb to the roof of the orphanage where he could stargaze whenever he couldn't sleep. If Ms. Dawdson found out about this, she would put bars on his window. Jack was anxious at what North would say but was surprised when the Russian let out a jolly laugh.

"You are just full of surprises sent you Jack? You should know I'm no tattle tale and this is where you live right? What do you want me to do? Bust you for sneaking into your own home?"

Jack smiled down at North and thanked him.

"But really North, please don't tell anyone that I do this. The curfew here is way too early for me."

"Don't worry my friend, we all have secrets that should not be told."

North smiled back at Jack and watched the boy open a window and climb in. He saw Jack's hand stick out and wave goodnight before the window was pulled down. North couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Jack. Was this really how he got into his home? By sneaking in?

The Russian let out a small chuckle and turned around to his car. Today had been amusing for him seeing Jack pull off his balance act back at Aster's house and now this? With all of the amusement that went on today, North felt like Jack was about to make their lives a lot more fun.

A/N: okay so i wont be able to update for the next few days because i go on spring break on friday and ill be away until tuesday