The gust of cold wind wasn't exactly a good sign for her. She could hope that maybe she was wrong. It wasn't often she wanted to be wrong.
The gust of wind meant one of two things. The first being that it was simply cold. At the moment, it could've been just that. The weather. It was chilly this time of year in Canada. Then again, she would argue it was mostly chilly there, no matter the time of year. But one could tell it had been snowing earlier.
And then, of course, it could've been Jack. She knew Jack had become accustomed to "flying" with the wind. And of course with the previous snow and frost, it wasn't too hard to believe.
So when Jack had arrived at the scene, she wasn't too shocked. Just annoyed.
As she watched the girl on the street, she couldn't help but feel sorry. A truck had swerved on the street. Raven wasn't sure why. Most likely to avoid some creature, no doubt. In the process of dodging it, though, he lost control. It want difficult to figure out why, either. The sleet on the road sure made things difficult. What confused her the most was why the woman was out so late. If she hadn't been, the truck certainly wouldn't have hit her. So Raven felt sympathetic. Not for the lady. Oh no, not at all. More so for Jack.
It was odd to say the least. A woman has just died, and she was feeling sorry for Jack. There was no doubt in her mind that if she street wasn't so slippery, things would've turned out better. She knew Jack was the cause of that as well. She could still see his intricate design of ice particles on the road. They were beautiful, no doubt, but she knew it was reckless of him.
Jack had now appeared beside her. He was quiet, not that Raven blamed him nor complained.
Raven was not affected by the death. She had seen it many times and even assisted more than enough times. Like the girl at the hospital, this woman had to go. She didn't make the rules. Just enforced them.
Jack, on the other hand should be more affected. She casted a glance his way, seeing his sullen look. It was a foreign expression. So, yes, she felt sorry for him.
"So this is a normal thing for you?" Jack asked. He still didn't look her way. He just watched as the men covered the woman with some sort of sheet.
"Yeah," Raven mumbled, "you get used it."
Jack shifted uncomfortably. She could see why, though.
Don't get the wrong idea. Raven still didn't like Jack. She tolerated him, she supposed.
"If it makes you feel any better," although, she doubt it would, "she wasn't married."
Jack turned towards her in confusion. "Why would that make me feel better?"
"She didn't leave anyone behind." Well, she could've lived with relatives or siblings, but Raven chose not to mention this.
"Yeah, I guess." Jack looked down, frost and snow littering the ground. "I'm just not so sure that's good."
Now Raven was confused. Jack truly was a puzzle. Maybe not one she wanted to solve, but a puzzle nonetheless.
"Before I was 'Jack Frost,' I had a family. And, sure, I may have left them behind, but I know they remembered me. Even if I couldn't remember them."
Raven bit her lip. Jack certainly did have more essence than she had originally given him credit for. "They cared for you." She turned towards him. "That is what you're saying, right?"
He shrugged slightly. "I guess."
Raven stayed quiet. She had never seen Jack so sullen. It was unlike him. "How did you know anyway?" She turned towards him, a confused expression on her face. He was now facing her as well, a blank expression painted on his. "About her, I mean."
Raven stared at him. He really was perceptive, she would admit. "I've been doing this for a long time, Jack," she told him, "You pick up on some things." She lifted up her left hand and showed Jack. "No ring." She put her hand back down. "And she is quite old. I don't think she would be any time soon."
His eyes widened before he gave Raven a sly grin. "That's not very nice, you know. You're like, 400?"
Raven almost wanted to smile at his teasing. A serious Jack was not something she was accustomed to. She gave him a slight smirk instead. "I'll have you know that I was supposed to be married off 412 years ago. Before I became Death, I mean."
Jack then had a curious look on his face. Damn. This boy just had too many emotions for her to keep up with. "Really?" he asked. "What was he like?"
Raven pushed her hair back behind her ear, but to no avail as is fell back in her face. She sighed. "It was an arranged marriage. I can't say I liked him too much." She tried pushing her hair back again. Again, a failure. "He was someone you'd like."
Jack chuckled. "Great guy, I bet." He gave her an amused glance as she once again pushed her hair back. "You should get a headband or something."
She gave him an annoyed look. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." Raven rolled her eyes.
"So, Rae. If I may ask," Jack leaned on his staff, "Why didn't you like me before? "
She raised an eyebrow. "Before? Who's to say I still don't?"
Jack gave a little smirk, "Aw, c'mon. You know you love me."
She gave a blank look. "Okay. Fair enough. In that case, why don't you like me?"
Raven clenched her scythe, giving him a dark look (something she was very good at). "Jack, really, it doesn't matter."
Jack's lips curved downward now as he stood up straight. He gestured towards the street with his hand, a flashing light very obvious on the road. "Is it because of this?"
"Jack, no. That's ridiculous."
"But that's what you told me. Remember?"
Yes, she remembered. Oh, how could she forget?
"Jack, it's silly. Just forget it." Raven turned away from him, trying to force the conversation to an end.
Jack stayed quiet as well. As she took a quick glance at him, she could tell he was very bothered by this. And that bothered her. Contrary to popular belief, she did have compassion for others.
So she shuffled on her feet and cleared her throat. "Jack," she started quietly, "I just feel a bit" Oh, how could she say this in the least humiliating way? "...jealous."
She waited. She was sure he would laugh in her face. Jealousy is a completely petty emotion, she could admit.
Jack just continued to stare as if he was processing this. Raven frowned at him. Then he smiled. Soon after he started guffawing.
Raven rolled her eyes and pushed her hair back. Simply childish.
"Really?" he asked, that ridiculous smile still etched on his face. "But I thought I was 'childish' and 'incompetent' to you."
Raven sneered. She had to stop feeling sympathy for others. She would like to avoid situations like this. "You are."
"Okay, but really. What are you jealous of?"
"Nothing." Raven pushed her fallen hair again. "Just that everyone seems to like you." She started to twiddle her thumbs. "You're the guardian of fun."
Jack just stared at her. "Yeah. I'm pretty amazing." Normally, Raven would have been angered by this comment, but he had said it in such a monotonous voice she couldn't be.
Raven fled. She brought up her scythe and left as quickly as she could.
Hey. Sorry guys. This is a shorter chapter.
In case you haven't noticed, I've started naming my chapters.
So I don't know when the next chapter is coming. I have finals soon (actually my first day of finals is tomorrow. I really should be studying)
Honestly, this is not my favorite chapter.
But, review anyway guys! (My AN is longer than the chapter!)