Chapter 11: What's This? Oh, Pervert...Huh?


The rest of the afternoon went without many events; Sally and Jack decided to follow through with the idea of a nice picnic on Spiral Hill in the graveyard, and they did nothing but talk about each other and themselves during that time, discovering new things. They did not need to point out the new spark between them, or the fact that they had jumped up several levels on their relationship.

To Sally's surprise (and relief) Jack had done no more than hold her hand and kiss her cheek; it seemed he had felt her insecurity about having a boyfriend (her first, he had learned) and so he promised himself not to push things more than it already had been.

That evening, the rag-doll brought her meal once more to her room, claiming to her family that she felt she could do more work if she didn't have to repeatedly keep moving around the household. Her father, assuming as per usual that it was to strengthen her already-excellent studies, had whole-heartedly excused her from the table. Upstairs in her room, she and the skeleton had dined on baked-brains with rotten apple cores.

They snuggled as they slept. Just slept.

The next day, which was the beginning of the school week, the couple rose a few hours earlier than they normally would. Feeling completely refreshed and giddy, Sally kissed the prince on the forehead before skipping downstairs to make breakfast. Jack was all smiles as well, and he quickly showered and dressed in his school uniform before patiently examining his new girlfriend's room.

Girlfriend...

He grinned at the thought, heat rising to his cheeks as he remembered the way she had readily accepted his probably-pathetic declaration of love for her. Looking back, he realized what an idiot he must have sounded like, shoving his feelings at her without thinking about what she might've wanted. He was so inexperienced with this kind of love that he had no control over his impulses. Hopefully, Sally did consider him as her boyfriend; no guy would go through all he had just to get her to date him. Jack would never—not in his eternal lifetime—beg for a woman to simply agree to dinner unless he knew that she was the one. His Sally was the one, and he was fully aware of it, so he hadn't minded pleading with her to give him a chance. That was fine.

"What's this?" he sang brightly as he happily danced around the room, imagining his beautiful love in his arms, "What's this? What's this? I must be dreaming, wake up, Jack, this isn't fair! What's this?"

He had no idea what he was singing to, but really, did it matter when one was in love?

Unfortunately, when the beloved's father had heard one's unbridled bliss, then yes, it did matter.

The door was locked, and so it had provided Jack a warning that someone was about to enter the room—someone definitely not Sally.

"AHA!" yelled Doctor Finkelstein as he thrust the metallic door open, eyes bugging out. "I have you—"

He paused. The room was empty, save for all his daughter's belongings. Blinking, he glanced around for a better look, baffled at the fact that everything seemed to be in order. Behind him came hurried footsteps and soon his rag-doll child faced him with a look of pure horror.

"Dad!" she gasped breathlessly, eyes darting back and fort between him and her apparently skeleton-free room. "What are you doing?"

"I thought I heard someone," he muttered irately, rubbing his eyes. "Sounded like a boy..."

"Oh, Father," sighed Sally, relieved, running a hand through her hair distractedly. "I'm sure you just weren't fully awake yet. Why are you up so early?"

"I could ask you the same...but it seems you're making breakfast, and therefore I won't complain." The scientist stretched, turning his back against his daughter and her room. "I'll be up later, then."

When he was safely out of earshot, and Sally had heard his bedroom door open and close, she warily slipped into her own sleeping quarters and secured the lock. "Jack?"

"In here!" came a muffled reply somewhere to her right. Somewhat curious, she followed his voice and the faint thumps accompanied by it, only to find him covered in clothes inside her closet. Laughing lightly, she helped him up, untangling him from various dress and shirts that were haphazardly hanging from his very thin form. There were a few ripping noises, but she tried her best not to seem too disappointed about it.

Jack, however, was quick to realize his carelessness. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so loud and—"

"It's fine, Jack. I'm just glad we didn't get caught..."

"Wait, no. Not done. It was wrong of me to make a mess in your closet, and definitely even worse to destroy your clothes. Can I make it up to you?"

"Don't worry about it," Sally assured good-naturedly, flashing him her sweetest smile. "But thanks."

"No. I'll take you out shopping later, okay?"

"Jack—"

"I'm serious. What kind of a gentleman would I be if I didn't replace whatever it is I damaged? Besides, won't it be nice to go on our first real date?"

Sally blinked once before her face flushed completely. A date? A real date? Her and Jack? Really? "Uhm. Uhm...d-didn't we have a date already? Spiral Hill?"

Jack grinned. "Why, I do believe we did. However, there was no spending involved, and I didn't get to spoil you with gifts. If anything, you spoiled me with your dreadful cooking!"

The rag-doll smiled bashfully. "It—it wasn't that good, though..."

"Are you kidding me? I loved it! It was the best thing I've ever eaten!"

"I doubt that..."

"Don't then. By the way, did I tell you that that's what I'm looking for in a wife?"

"That unfortunate lady..."

"Hey, she could be you soon!"

Though Sally shrugged the comment off for the moment, she would only later realize how precise Jack could really be.


Jack Skellington had never particularly hated school. There, he could flirt with girls, bug Finkelstein, flirt with girls, pull pranks with his friends without ever being caught...oh, and flirt with girls. Very important.

Then Sally came along...and quite frankly, his education had just gotten better. Probably not the way his father hoped...but still...

Contrary to popular belief, he didn't actually have hundreds of girlfriends and lovers as most would assume. First off, he hated commitment. Plain and simple. He always cringed whenever girls referred to him as a loving boyfriend, or when they looked at him accusingly as he wooed other females. It was annoying. At least with casual dating, he could flirt and be with whoever he wanted to without the worry of someone throwing a fit when they saw him.

Undersea Gal was the only girl who openly kissed him, but they were only friends. They tried moving on to the next level, but both could not handle committing.

So no, in his after-lifetime, he had only three real girlfriends, none of which he particularly liked. His last was a pretty demon-girl who simply refused to leave his side. She was tolerable enough, until the rumors of their 'elopement' spread and she whole-heartedly encouraged it. He openly broke up with her during their Historical Halloween presentation in class, and well...they never did get to finish it. The teacher gave him a bad grade, too.

But Sally...

He didn't mind. Not at all. Though, it did come as a surprise on how much he could enjoy the company of a girlfriend. If he was asked a few years ago about being in a serious relationship, he'd have laughed and said the notion was completely preposterous. The rag-doll would never understand just how much of the Pumpkin Prince she had changed.

Presently, the couple walked down the empty street close to each other, after somehow managing to escape her home without any detection whatsoever. Jack carried his school bag on one hand and a duffel bag with his clothes on the other. He glanced at the clock atop a building they passed and said, "You don't mind passing by my place first, do you? I think we'll have enough time."

Sally, who had been deeply in thought about whether or not she was going to be nicer to Jack in school, jumped slightly at being addressed. "Oh—oh, that's fine. Yes, we can do that..."

"It'll be quick. Promise."

"No need to promise anything. It's not like I don't wanna go..."

"My love really is the best!"

"Oh, hush, you."

They jokingly bantered the rest of the way, and Sally was honestly glad that she and the skeleton were finally back to normal (or as normal as they could get). When they reached the Skellington Manor's gate, she stopped short and stared. Wow. That was probably the largest building she has ever seen. Sure, she read books and saw pictures of large, baroque-style castles, but has she actually ever stood in front of one? Nope.

She stood in front of this, though.

"Wanna come in? We have almost two hours before we actually need to get to class," Jack inquired, opening the gate and holding it out for her. His smile was reassuring, but her eyes would not tear themselves away from the large mansion in front of her. It was amazing; dark stone walls that covered the outside, a large front yard, complete with a fountain that oozed green water...it had to be at least four floors! There was no doubt in her mind that it was much nicer than the drabness of her home.

Normally, she wasn't one to be so awestruck by something as simple as a nice building; however, being confined to a single tower (and sometimes one room) for several years really didn't leave her with many opportunities to explore and see the many constructions on Halloween Town. Heck, she gaped at the school when she first saw it—it was probably the largest building in Halloween World!

"What's wrong, Sal? Oh. Yeah, I know, the place's a mess. But don't you worry! It's much nicer inside...except my room. Trust me, you do not want to go there." Jack shuddered in emphasis.

Sally shook her head. "No, it's not that...the opposite, if anything. Your home is absolutely gorgeous."

He simply rolled his eye-sockets. "I'd rather you say I'm gorgeous. Nah, this place doesn't really have much after you've been in it for too long. Maybe you should sleep over," he added brightly, ushering her forward. At the doorstep, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. After the door had been opened, Jack peered inside before stepping in.

"The Skellington household," he drawled in a mock-English accent, bowing to Sally. "Please enjoy your stay and allow us to accommodate anything you so desire."

Laughing, the rag-doll pushed him slightly. "Silly." Nonetheless, she was nervous; she had never been into another's home before, and so she had no idea how exactly to act as a houseguest. For now, she was relying on the manners her father made her perfect.

"You coming?"

"Huh?"

"My room? I doubt you'd wanna stand there and wait for my father to wake up..."

"Oh! Yes...yeah, uhm, of course..."

"I have a puppy," Jack added conversationally as the two began to climb the grand staircase, taking the one on the left side, "his name's Zero. I bet he'll love you."

"Aww, a puppy! That sounds cute." Sally felt her cheeks grow warm when suddenly her right hand was enclosed in Jack's skeletal one.

He, however, paid no mind to her flushing state. "He is. A little goofy, but you gotta love him. Have any pets?"

"Me? Well, there was a sweet stray cat once. He had a most beautiful coat of black fur..."

"Was...?"

"I'm not so sure what happened. One day he just wasn't there..."

"Ah."

"I didn't forget to feed it."

"I'm not saying you did."

"You're smile gave you away."

"I wasn't smiling."

"Yes, you were, and you were giving me a look, too."

"No I wasn't."

"You lie."

"I don't."

"Still are."

"Not even."

"Yes even."

"Blah."

"Hah."

"...hi."

And they burst out laughing. There was no reason at all, really, and it wasn't as if their little tossing of words around was particularly comical, but they couldn't help it.

They were too comfortable around each other.

Chortling, they manage to stumble into Jack's bedroom (second door of the third-floor west wing) and as the skeleton prince politely held the door open for her, she couldn't help but gasp.

Intricate and charming, the room simply screamed his personality. The walls were a dark gray, black lines running throughout as though it were cracked. A humble yet eye-catching chandelier hung from the coal-black ceiling, creating an illusion of a piece of bloody crystal falling endlessly into abyssal darkness itself. Under them, the floor was soft with carpet-like materials, and a light shade of slate. There were two visible doors, one on each side of the room.

It surprised Sally how serious everything was furnished. A large bed stood proudly in the dead center of the room (fit for five) with bedposts that resembled the graveyard fences. On both sides of it were matching nightstands that held a Victorian lamp each.

But what really drew her attention was the large bookshelf that covered almost the whole left wall. Books and books were neatly arranged on every single shelf-no one spot empty. There had to be at least a three hundred.

In contrast, a simple black study desk was meekly placed on the wall perpendicular to the shelf with a worn-out leather chair to match. It clearly stood out the most, but not enough to tarnish the sight of the whole room.

Suddenly, she felt very self-conscious that she had made him stay in her bland old room. "This is amazing, Jack."

"Huh?" When he noticed her awestruck gaze as she examined the room, he crossed his arms. "Sure. You say that about the room and all you call me is stupid."

"No, I say you're a moron-idiot-sicko, don't I?"

"Oh, that makes me feel so much better..."

"What do you want me to say? That you're amazing, too?" Sally's mouth curved upwards.

"Hmm. You know, there'll be something else you'll call amazing soon. If you get my drift."

"...PER-VERT!"

"Hey now—!"

"Moron-idiot-sicko!"

"You're only saying that 'cause you thought it, too!"

"..."

"Wanna try out the bed, then?"

"...if that's where you want to die..."

"That good, eh? I didn't know you were like that, Sal-Sal."

SMACK!

"OW!"

Eh. At least she never felt bad about hitting him.


A/N: HOLY FREAK-IN-A-BUCKET! I wrote a lot...

Hahaha, the origin of that weird saying (see fail above) was from this one fan-made comic I read a while back. I never did forget it.

If you made that saying, please tell me. I'd love to thank you. Hahah.

How's our favorite couple adjusting to their new-found love? Jack and Sally...ah, NUFF SAID.

I realize that I made Jack extremely OOC compared to his portrayal in the movie. He seems unaware of the females in the film, but my Jack is...yeah, I know. And the innuendo! Geez, I'm a perv. But I'm making Jack rep it...mmm.

Update is late. I apologize. I wanna start writing right away after I post this! I really wish the next chap will be up sooner than this one. I dunno, how long should I make this anyway?

Thanks for the reviews! They mean a lot!