Life had changed so quickly these past few months. First you met Jack Frost, which that on its own turned your whole world upside down. Then you met North, Tooth, Bunny and Sandy, and you loved them all not just for everything they do for the children of the world but also how they cared and would check in on you whenever they could. Then you met Meg and Raul, they've quickly become your closest friends, though you could deal without Eric, he creeps you out most of the time.
Out of all the great things, there were some awful things. Aunt Emma passed away almost two months ago now. You couldn't help but miss her, she was the only family you and Ryan had and now she's gone. Ryan has been living with the Bennett's since she passed because you're not old enough to be his legal guardian yet. He's adjusted to the move pretty well so far, you figured that its easier because he gets to live with his best friend. Though Ryan has been pretty upset that he doesn't live next door to little Christine anymore. At least Ryan has adjusted better than you have. The house is pretty lonely now, you missed Ryan waking you up if you slept in, and your routine of making him breakfast, lunch and dinner, and in some ways you haven't been too healthy, you always prepared regular meals for you and Ryan, but now that he isn't here you found that you've been snacking more, eating at weird times and skipping meals all together. Meg and Raul have been by your side through all of the changes, and you were thankful for that. You've been spending less time archiving down at town hall and more time at the community center helping with costumes and sets for the children's theater program.
Jack stayed with you a full week after Aunt Emma's funeral but he finally had to leave when the southern hemisphere was having a heatwave in the middle of their winter. Jack owed all of those kids a snow day. You could tell that he hated to leave you but you put on a smile and told him you'd be here when he comes back.
You dressed in a loose fitting black tank top with a maroon bandeau bikini underneath, black shorts and converse. You decided to leave your hair down and completed your look with a tattoo choker. You were about to grab your bag and head out for the day when you heard your phone buzzing.
"Hello?" you asked.
"Happy Birthday Sis!" Ryan yelled into the phone.
"Awe thanks kiddo, hows camp?" you asked.
"Its so much fun! I learned how to use a bow and arrow yesterday and last week cupcake learned how to swim, Christine won the talent contest and the twins are going to be in the camp play…" Ryan continued to rattle off all of his and his friend's accomplishments. You smiled just hearing his voice, and its good to know he's doing well at camp, you were worried with everything thats happened. "You're coming to pick me up next week right?" Ryan asked.
"Of course, I'm riding with the Giry's but Mrs Bennett is gonna drive us home" you replied.
"I can't wait to show you around the camp"
"Me either"
"can you hold on for a second?" Ryan asked, you agreed, then you heard Ryan say "Ok guys ready? then he came back on the line and said, "Ok Lacy listen" you waited a moment before you heard a chorus of kids sing happy birthday to you. Once the song was done Ryan came back on the line. "I gotta go sis, we're going horseback riding today"
"Have fun, I'll see you next week"
You said your goodbyes and hung up the phone. You grabbed your bag and headed outside and over to Meg and Raul's
Ms Giry was outside gardening, or at least she was trying to, it looked more like she was battling the weeds. You waived to her and she wished you a happy birthday and told you head right inside.
Once inside you called for Meg and Raul. You heard a loud thump followed by a masculine groan. Seconds later Meg yelled that she'll be down stairs in a few minutes. You waited patiently in the living room, looking at the familiar pictures scattered around the room. While Ryan's second home is with the Bennett's, your second home is with the Giry's. You noticed a new picture on the mantle, you stood up and walked over for a closer look. The photo showed you, Meg and Raul sitting at a table at the latte lounge laughing.
You smiled and turned back to sit on the couch but you were startled when you came face to face with Eric. You unconsciously frowned, still hating to be around him.
"Hey birthday girl" Eric said.
"um… hey" you replied.
Eric looked at you for a moment, it sort of made your skin crawl, before he sat back on the couch and said, "So you got any plans for tonight?"
You looked away, pretending that the photos on the mantle were the most interesting thing in the world.. "Anna is taking me out to dinner" you replied, it wasn't a complete lie, Anna is taking you out to dinner tomorrow.
"Or you could come to a party with me" Eric offered, "It will be way more fun."
"No thanks"
"why not, you never do anything fun" he nearly snapped.
You narrowed your eyes into a glare, you didn't owe him an answer, thankfully Meg came bounding down the stairs followed by a sleepy Raul before Eric could annoy you further.
"Happy birthday girl!" Meg nearly yelled as she pulled you into a bone crushing hug. Raul visibly cringed at the sound of her voice- he's definitely not a morning person. Once Meg released you she turned to Raul and said "Can we give her our gift now? I don't want to wait" She whined.
Raul was about to fall back asleep on the couch when the sound of his sister's voice knocked him back to reality. "Um wha..?" he mumbled.
Meg sighed. "He's hopeless" Then she rushed into the kitchen without a word. You gave Raul a confused look to which he replied, "She's just excited to give you your gift." Meg returned a few moments later with a gift bag tied closed with a ribbon. She offered it to you and impatiently waited as you carefully opened it. Usually you'd tear open a gift little a kid on christmas morning but based on Meg's reactions this proved to be more amusing. Even the sleepy Raul caught onto what you're doing and snickered.
You were in awe at this gift. Meg and Raul got you the paint you've been wanting, along with new brushes, a new sketch book and a set of oil pastels. You looked up to see your two friends smiling faces, you were speechless.
"Art supplies? Thats an awful gift" Eric mumbled. You narrowed your eyes into a glare. "Now she'll waste more of her time on that crap."
"Keep your opinions to yourself" Meg snapped as you nodded in agreement.
"Yeah no one asked you" Raul agreed. "Besides have you seen Lacy's work, its amazing."
Eric just shrugged in response. Meg rolled her eyes, "Ignore him, he's just grumpy the college girls won't pay attention to him." This caused Eric to glare at her while you and Raul snickered. "Anyway, let get going?"
(Jack)
"Jack?" North called from the doorway of the little workshop he's allowed you to call home. "It's time you come out, its been three days"
"No can do North, I'm almost done" You replied.
"I should hope so, " He said as he put a plate down in front of you filled with cookies. "At least have some cookies." You gave North a disgusted look to which he replied. "No need to worry, The yetis make them."
You sighed in relief and appeased North by taking a bite out of a cookie. Those yetis do make a good cookie.
"What are you working on anyway?" North asked curiously.
"A gift for Lacy, today is her birthday" you replied. You held up the snowflake pendant you've been working on. It was made of some North's special Christmas snow, it would never melt, but you couldn't get it right. You've made an unimaginable number of snowflakes but this one needs to be special. North looked at it thoughtful then saw your disappointed face.
"What is wrong?" North asked. "Lacy will love it" He added dramatically.
You frowned, "I just want it to be perfect" you replied as you crushed the snowflake pendant into a snowball once again, then flattened it to begin again. North handed you a pair of scissors, you looked at him curiously but North just motioned for you to use them to make the Snowflake. Part of you was confused because you're a winter spirit, making snowflakes is kind of your thing, but it is North and humoring him wouldn't hurt. You took the scissors and cut up the Christmas snow with them, after examining the Snowflake pendant for a moment you realized it was perfect, it was exactly how you wanted it to be.
"See, better?" North questioned.
You nodded, "Its perfect" you replied. "But how did you know the scissors would work?"
North shrugged, "Kids cut snowflakes out of paper, I think perhaps it would work on the real thing"
You couldn't help but laugh, it was so simple. Now you're wasting time, today is Lacy's birthday and you still need to finish up the gift and get to Burgess. You picked up the pendant, you took a deep breath and an exhaled watching the snow turn to ice within seconds. You smiled a toothy grin proud of your work.
(Lacy)
You were a bit grumpy as the four of you headed to the lake, mostly because Eric decided to tag along and you were in not happy about it. You humored him for Meg and Raul's sake but he still really makes your skin crawl. Meg fell into step with you and nudged your shoulder getting your attention, you looked at her curiously.
"Sorry" she said sincerely as she gestured towards Eric who currently had Raul in a headlock. "I don't know why he's like that around you"
"Its alright" you told her, it was a bit of lie but you didn't want her feeling bad, after all it isn't her fault, he invited himself.
Once you got to the lake, you took a moment to admire it, it was a decent sized lake with a small river that lead to and from it so the water was constantly moving in a gentile current. You frowned for a moment as you recalled how Jackson Overland became Jack Frost, but you didn't let it linger while an awful tragedy happened here, Jack always reminded you its still his favorite place especially because he met you here.
Raul laid out a large blanket that could easily fit you and your friends comfortably. Meg started to play some music from her phone while you sat down on the blanket and instantly began drawing. Raul and Eric almost instantly tore off their shirts and kicked off their shoes before diving into the lake sending a splash right at Meg who proceeded to yell at them before settling down next to you.
"whats today's inspiration?" She asked.
"Currently, that squirrel" you replied holding up your quick sketch.
"I feel like its going to leap off the page" Meg complimented. You smiled at her but she continued, "You know its our senior year and theirs their great school, its only 3 hours away and it has a great fine arts program for you and a theater program for me and Raul"
You thought for a moment, things were so different now, maybe you could go away, Ryan has been living with the Bennett's for the last few months, but its only another year before you can be his legal guardian. Upon seeing your face Meg continued. "Just promise you'll think about it, it would be a great opportunity to get your art work out there."
You sighed in defeat, "I'll think about it."
After a while you finished up your squirrel drawing before deciding its time for a swim. As you took off your shirt you heard a familiar sound that instantly brought back memories of being tossed in a sack and thrown into a portal to the North pole. You looked up just in time to see Jack high up in the sky float out of a portal from one of North's snow globes. You couldn't help but smile.
"Did you hear that?" Meg asked curiously as she looked around.
"What?" you questioned in genuine shock, you soon relaxed when you saw that she was looking around but not seeing Jack or the portal.
You saw Jack land in the woods nearby, he knew better than to show up where people might think you're crazy. "I'll be right back" you called to Meg before turning and rushing off. As you rushed off you could hear Meg calling out to you but you ignored her, too excited to see Jack.
You finally found him sitting lazily in a tree, he looked so out of place in the middle of August in his threadbare pants, and blue hoodie. His skin as pale as freshly fallen snow seem to glow in the intense sunlight. As you approached he hopped down, you didn't want to think about how stupid your smile must look.
(Jack)
You didn't expect Lacy to run to you when you showed up. You didn't want to disturb her when she's with her friends and you'd knew you'd have all the time in the world to spend with her tonight so you were pleasantly surprised when you saw her heading towards you with a gorgeous smile on her face. You were also very surprised to see her attire, you weren't too familiar with summer clothing but you could definitely get used to this.
"Jack you came" Lacy said happily she pulled you into a tight hug, you instantly wrapped your arms around her.
"Of course I did Snowflake, I promised you didn't I" you replied with a mischievous grin as you pulled away just enough to see her face, but Lacy pulled you back into a tight hug, your body tensed for a moment before you relaxed back into the hug. Lacy had her face buried in your chest and rested your cheek on her head as you whispered "Happy Birthday Snowflake."
"I'm so happy you're here" you could hear her mumble. Seconds later she added, "You're so cold" with a laugh.
It was true, you could feel the gooseflesh spreading across her back and everywhere else you touched. "You're so warm" you chuckled. "I think I got the better end of the deal." You loved how warm Lacy always felt, touching her is the only time you feel warm, not that you mind the cold.
"I knew it! I knew that boy had to be real!"