Sorry for the late update, I've been plagued by a horrible case of writer's block for a whole week and I decided to lay off writing for a while, but when I came back….well I ended up having bad grammar problems as well. Please ignore the mistakes or feel free to point them out, it'll really help me ;)
I own nothing. New gorgeous cover belongs to Sophiefarts/Arcanabreak on Tumblr
"Pippa get dressed for school now" Jack ordered as he yanked out a carrot from the refrigerator. "Gotta go feed your rabbit"
"Oh no" the girl suddenly gasped, her hand over her mouth.
"What is it?" he asked, making his way to his room.
"I just realized I haven't been playing with Bunny for so long, how is he doing?"
He paused halfway through the stairs and chuckled in amusement. "He's getting fatter, I tell you that."
"Well he's adorable like that!" Pippa exclaimed happily, bouncing after him.
"Yeah, when he doesn't bite," Jack added, rolling his eyes. "Now come on, hurry up and get changed, we're gonna be late."
"It's still too early you know" she pointed out, a wide toothy grin stretched across her features. "You're just saying that because you want to see Tooth."
"No!" Jack snapped back immediately. "I've got plenty of time with her; she's in all my classes, besides I have something important to do…"
"With Tooth" she added, nudging her brother playfully.
Jack rolled his eyes again, "Just go get changed" he said and entered his room hurriedly, shutting the door behind him. He raked his fingers through his messy hair, leaning back against the door with a frustrated sigh. The strange feeling that kept him awake all night still pestered at his heart and he is pretty sure that it wasn't about his crush on Tooth anymore.
True he wanted to leave early to spend more time with Tooth before class starts, but he also wanted to visit his history teacher Sandy aka Mr. Sanderson, the only teacher Jack has ever liked. Unlike all the others, Sandy was kind and gentle. He doesn't have a temper, only showing annoyance when things get too out of hand. Despite being mute, he was a nice company. Jack would always go to him whenever he was feeling lost, and he would always be there for him. It's been a while since they had a face-to-face conversation with one another. Jack used to visit the teacher every day before school but ever since he realized his feelings for Tooth, things have been so complicated.
He thought it would be best to have a chat with Mr. Sanderson, especially now when he couldn't properly fathom all his emotions.
Jack brushed his bangs away from his eyes and lazily trudged across the room, towards Bunny's cage that was placed on the side table by the window.
The rabbit's ears flickered, hearing the faint sound of floorboards creaking.
He reached in the cage and nudged the hare lightly. "Come on, time to wake up" he said, his tone soft but tinted with playfulness. He waited for its grassy green eyes to open before picking it up by the scruff.
He sets it down on the table and stroked its fur lightly. "Yeah, I know I haven't been exactly very nice to you these months." He continued his fingers trailing down its small spine. "But it you haven't been trying to bite off my finger, I would have been." He gave an amused laugh as he saw the rabbit's ear twitch with what could be annoyance. "Well I guess it's my fault too, I haven't been exactly very nice." He shook his head, a smile painting across his features. "You know it is not normal for rabbits to bite either." He teased and broke off the tip it the carrot, sliding it over to Bunny who nibbled at it immediately.
"Jack! I'm done!" Pippa announced, her voice muffled by the thick wooden walls between them.
"Alright! Go wait downstairs" Jack called, tossing the rest of the carrot inside Bunny's cage. "As much I would like to stay here and pet you all day, I gotta go."
He returned the rabbit back inside the cage and patted it one last time on the head.
It made Bunny wonder why Jack became so affectionate. Something was wrong. very wrong. As a Pooka who has been on this earth for more than seven-hundred years, he knew something bad was going to happen and this was just an omen…
"Alright, let's go" he swiped his car keys from the kitchen counter top and drew in a shaky breath. He couldn't understand why he was so nervous. Normally the cold never bothered him, but no w his hands felt bitingly chilly, they were beginning to shake.
"Come on" he nudged his sister outside and turned off the lights, locking the door behind him.
"So…" Pippa started along the pathways. "What are you gonna tell Tooth?"
"Uh…" he shoved his hands in the pouch of his hoodie. "I don't know, hi?"
"It can't just be hi! You have to tell her how much you enjoyed last night and tell her that you love her."
"Does there really have to be rules there too?" Jack asked, bemused, tilting his head at his sister.
"Yeah….well no…it all goes in different orders, although you shouldn't rush the love you thing cause it might scare her off and she might never talk to you again. oh and you should avoid those cheesy clichés and those lines from novels—oh and talking about starting a family, you should definitely avoid that-"
"Woah, slow down there!" he held his palms above his head. "I told you I'm not there yet and I still have a lot of things to work out, sorry to break it to you little lady but all that stuff will have to wait."
"Like what?"
"Like collage"
"Oh….that stinks…."
"Bitter reality right?"
"Yeah….how am I supposed to start working on my romance novel of you guys now?" she jived, earning a boisterous laugh from her brother. "Well that's gonna have to wait."
She hummed, crossing her arms as Jack opened the car door for her.
He climbed in the driver's seat and started the car and Pippa bundled herself in the back seat, still looking weary from waiting up all night for him.
Jack fisted his hands on the steering wheel, gripping it tightly until his veins shown visible against his pale skin. Why did it suddenly feel like the first day of school again?
Then he drove off in a moderate pace, watching the light snowflakes drift with the gentle air, fogging up the glass.
"So, is she here yet?"
"I don't think so" Jack said, glancing at his phone. It was still early and the normally busy hallways were almost empty. "Why don't you go with your friends, I still have some things to do."
"Alright" she said her goodbyes and trotted off to the other side.
Jack headed towards his locker and got all the books he needed for the day. He fished out his phone again, checking if Tooth had sent him a message, but his inbox was still empty.
He shoved his phone in his bag and gave a frustrated sigh. He had a lot to tell her…a lot…
He slung his bag over his shoulder and prepared to scuff away, although his gaze suddenly averted to the door beside his locker, which was North's office.
He pursed his lips and stood in front of the wooden door, his hand on the knob. Maybe it would be best to talk to North. The man was like a father figure to him, considering his father was never around to give him guidance most of the time.
He hesitated and drew back hand from the knob. Perhaps North might be busy at this time, seeing there were times when he'd snap at his employees for not knocking before entering.. He gathered his things to leave, when the door suddenly clicked open and he found himself face-to-face with North—well almost. He only reached up to the man's shoulder.
"Ah, Jack! What are you doing here? Don't tell me you got yourself into trouble again" he was greeted by the man's usual jolly features (when he isn't stressed out) bright blue eyes contemplating his flushed red cheeks as his mirthful smile disappeared in his long beard. He ruffled Jack's unkempt maple hair fondly and patted him in the back.
It felt like the touch of his father and he had forgotten that a long time ago. The teen flinched a little, relishing the warmth that wound around him like a cotton blanket. "Uh….no I was just passing by, thought I might stop and say hi….my locker's right here anyway.
"Ah" North hummed, giving his beard a thoughtful stroke as he scanned the boy's face carefully. Dark bags that hung under his half-open lid shown clearly against his ghostly pale skin like he had been deprived of sleep for days. "What is the matter Jack? Is something troubling you? You look like you haven't been getting any sleep."
"I'm fine" Jack shook his head casually, shrugging his shoulders. "I've just been feeling a bit strange."
"Are you sure?" North pressed, reaching a hand to feel the teen's temperature which was surprisingly cold, it made him wonder why he wasn't even shivering.
"Yeah, I'm fine" Jack leaned away from the touch and shifted under the man's gaze. His cold hands stuffed inside his pockets.
"Well, come on inside." North gestured inside and pushed the door open wider.
Jack chewed on his bottom lip hesitantly, shuffling his feet around. 'But…aren't you busy?"
North waved a dismissive hand. "No, I have a free schedule today; I was just heading out for walk. Now come along." He slid around Jack's shoulders, ushering him inside.
The first thing that welcomed him was the redolent scent of peppermint that pervaded through the air. North's office somehow looked a lot more different than when he last visited, no longer draped with tattered black curtains that once kept the sunlight from breaking. The room glowed with a bright eerie that made it seem like it was warmed by a firelight.
"So" North began, leaning against the thick wooden doors behind him. "Is there something you would like to talk about? Has something happened?"
"Nothing bad happened" Jack assured, raising his head to meet North's eyes. "It's just that a lot has happened to me the passed few days, I guess I'm just having trouble getting used to it that's all. Change isn't a normal things that happens in my life. I never did like it when things change but….I really like how things are changing right now."
North caught glimpse of a smile that slowly painted its way across Jack's expression and he smiled too, seeing the boy happy was the only thing he wanted, especially when they were only here temporarily. "It's good that things are going very well for you, as long as if you have something to talk about, feel free to come to me."
Jack nodded, his maple eyes glittering with mirth. "Although now…" he continued, running a hand through his hair. "I feel so strange, I mean I'm really happy but…I feel scared too, scared of something…"
"I know that feeling my boy." North placed his hands on the boy's small shoulders to keep him reassured. "I too am not a big fan of change. When I am used to things, I want them to stay like that, but big changed happened to me and I too was afraid."
"For…what?"
"I was afraid I might loose everything at once, and that is probably what you are feeling now my boy." He gave him a smile and rubbed his back comfortingly. "It will go away soon."
They both slipped into a state of comfortable silence, either of them speaking or moving from their places. Jack stared out the window absently, watching the fluffy clouds flash by in a slow waltzing pace. It was getting late and first period was about to start. He snapped out of his daze and tore his eyes away from the window to meet North's once again. "I…gotta go now…" he said, walking rigidly to the doorway like he wasn't completely ready to leave yet.
He turned back to North, dipping his head in a simple goodbye. "Thank you for everything." He looked back once, twice, before shutting the door completely.
The thick wooden doors muffle out the clamor that filled the busy halls, leaving nothing sounding but the silence of the ticking clock. North sighed, crossing his arms. It's too late matter what they do, they are only gonna end up hurting the boy.
"Hey Sandy!" Jack called joyously and knocked on the open door, diverting the teacher's attention from his lesson plans.
The petite man waved at him, always with the warm smile he wore everyday. He nodded his head, silently welcoming the boy to come in while pulling out a chair beside him.
"I see you have been busy" he said through his silent gestures once the teen had settled down on the chair by his desk.
Jack chuckled "Yeah, things have been a little complicated. Sorry I haven't been visiting as often as I did before."
Sandy smiled and nodded his head in understanding, saying it was alright. He fiddled with his pens around his desk, not knowing what else to say to the boy.
Jack looks up at him through hiss messy brown bangs and awkwardly heaved in a breath through his gritted teeth. "So what has been going on with you?"
Sandy looked back at him, a smirk pulling slightly at his lips. "Same old teacher life, there's nothing interesting going on, but I'm interesting about what's been happening to you."
"There's nothing big." Jack said shyly, pushing his bangs away from his eyes, a light blush streaking across his face.
The petite man gave him a look of disbelief, his smirk widening. "Find anyone special?"
"Well I've gained some new friends." Jack retorted in a barely audible tone, avoiding his gaze which was uncharacteristic for a prankster like him.
"It's about time." He teased, arching his brow at him.
"Hey!" Jack protested pettily like a grousing child whilst Sandy chuckled silently to himself, hiding away his face behind a notebook.
He grew paler, his fingers digging into the fabric of his hoodie, begging his blush not to grow deeper as he watched the man nearly topple over his chair from laughter with an un amused look.
Jack crossed his arms with a fake glare and Sandy eventually grew out of his fit.
"Actually there's something I don't really understand yet." He puts in hopefully and peeled up his eyelids to look at his teacher.
Sandy leans in closer, silently telling the boy he was listening and Jack sighs, drumming his fingers idly on the wood as he slips into deep thought. "I don't know what I feel about this kind f change. I like it a lot actually but, I also feel a little uncomfortable."
"It's normal Jack, you are just coping because you are not used to change."Sandy pointed out and planted a reassuring hand on Jack's shoulder. "I know there are times when change can turn things worse but there are some changes that can completely change you in a good way."
"So…it's normal to feel this way?"
Sandy bobbed his head in a nod. "It will go away soon."
"Hm…" Jack plopped down his seat, slipping into another trance. "You know sometimes I don't even feel like this is really happening." He murmurs distantly, more to himself than to anyone else. He played with the loose string on the sleeve of his hoodie, arching it around his fingers in a toying manner.
Sandy widened his smile at him, "It's good to see you find joy from something else other than tricks"
"But that doesn't mean I'll stop yet." Jack quipped immediately and they both erupted into hearty laughter.
It took almost 5 minutes for their laughter to die down. It was then Jack checked the wall clock and pushed his chair back. "Hey, I gotta go" he told Sandy as he stood up.
Sandy chuckled again, this time with playfulness. "And where are you off to now?"
"To…go talk to…my sister…" he stammered, his hand already reaching for the knob.
Sandy pretended to roll his eyes at that.
"Well…I'm going now….goodbye." With that he immediately darted out the door, his thoughts whirling dizzy.
Pippa said it was lovesick, North said it was fear of loosing something and Sandy said it was adapting.
But there is only one way for him to find out.
He raced through the empty hallways, his eyes darting around in searched for Tooth…
Great lights, it's hard to believe but OMG! This story reached a hundred reviews O.O *faints*
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT GUYS, THERE IS STILL A LOT MORE TO COME!
Spoiler alert, Jack is going down that lake pretty soon *grins evilly* there's only one chapter left though *cue angsty music*
P.S please excuse my horrible grammar, I've got nothing else to say, I'm just gonna sit in the corner and cry now…..
Sorry, having mood-swings again….
Caithlinn13: Thanks for being such a loyal reader, come here and give me a hug Q_Q wait….am I creeping you out? Perhaps Tooth might end things with Jack, perhaps she doesn't get the chance too, but what I can guarantee now is….someone's heart is definitely gonna be broken, into clattering bits MWAHAHAH ahem…
Dracon867: Yeah, and Jacks gonna be like "I'm dating the Tooth fairy? Pinch me I must be dreaming" XD
RJguzman318: Well I bet I just disappointed you all with my horrible writing *cries hysterically* I NEED A HUG. NOW. Ahem, never mind me…maybe Jack becoming Jack frost WILL stop hi, from asking Tooth…..darn it, you made me think of something really cheesy…
Sol's Darkness: You are very much welcome :) by the way, nice pen name
Book girl fan: Yep, it's a great idea….if only I can start working on it sooner….and then I'll get distracted again and not update this story for like two months….never mind Q_Q I hate my laziness *cries again*
Akizaki14: that's pretty much it :D although about the whole prom thing, lemme give you a hint, it's gonna get cheesy XD
AGR2016: Jack is gonna die alright….then things get angsty, then awkward, then angry, then angsty again. That's pretty much it lol
Grayember13: Thank you!
Malica15: Well, it's good to know you got that off yours shoulders, but you shouldn't be just a lonely person who loves to read stories, you'll end up like me who sits in the corner of my room moping because I have bad grammar *cries* Yeah….we all want Jack to die, it gets exiting from there and things get a little to awkward as well lol
Idrc1718: Yeah, either that or all of you just crave for angst, either way…it's all gonna work out anyway XD opps, spoiler alert.
Nagnagnag: Whops, sorry for so much rainbow snow cone Q_Q Jack will die soon….wait, is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Guest: lets just hope I don't lose interest or quit on this cause I tend to do that….a lot.
Meow meow meow: HOORAY FOR THE 100TH REVIEWER *shakes your hand like a maniac* oh my gosh I never thought I'd reach this far *celebrates* BUT I DON'T SESERVE THIS, I AM A HORRIBLE AUTHOR *cries* enough of my drama. I'm so sorry, even if I can't resist the puppy dog eyes, but there will be one more chapter before Jack meets his ultimate fate XD