A/N: woohoo i have one exam left on monday :D
so on friday i went to my 8th grade dance and i had so much fun.
Chapter Twenty Five
Tooth could hear the sound of shifting fabric. Whatever Jack must be giving her, it must be in his pants pocket. Her heart was soaring knowing that Jack had gotten out of the way to give her something special, but what could it be? She was actually surprised when he said he had a gift for her because she and Sandy were the ones supposed to give him the dolphin charm necklace.
Sandy woke up from his nap to see Jack sitting next to him. He had never seen the albino out of his blue hoodie before, and his sleeves were pushed up to his elbows leaving his forearms on display. Jack's arms were just as pale as the rest of him, and they were so meek and scrawny. He didn't seem to have any kind of muscle or fat on them.
Jack's hand was in his pocket and Sandy watched him pull out a small, glistening trinket. He was smiling as he pulled out what was a shiny locket on a silver chain. It was even polished and the sun light entering through the car window was reflected on the surface, lighting up the area where it was being held in an array of gold.
Wasn't Jack supposed to be penniless?
Sandy knew how Jack had no money whatsoever and no way to earn it, but the locket he was holding seems to be the most expensive thing he's ever seen. Something as valuable looking like that belongs in a sunken treasure chest. Sandy would ask Jack later where he received such a piece of jewelry.
"Alright Tooth," Jack said as he held the locket close to her. "You can open your eyes now."
Tooth instantly removed her hands from her face and gasped when she saw what Jack was holding in front of her. It was a locket, and not just any locket, but a beautiful one that she could see her own tiny reflection in. But what she couldn't believe was that this dazzling locket was for her especially. Tooth was overall stunned by Jack's gesture and she could only stammer out a response.
"Jack I…I don't know what to say."
"You can say that you like it."
"Like it? It's amazing! I can't believe you'd give me something as nice as this!"
"Why? Too overrated? "
"No no! It's perfect! Where did you even get something like this? It must have cost a fortune!"
"Well, I was cleaning out the attic, and there's some neat stuff in there. You see, I came across this locket and I can't just let something like this be a dust magnet, right? So you know, I figured you'd like something like this. It seems fitting to your fashion style and think of it as a thank you present, for yesterday."
Jack reached over and hung the locket around Tooth's neck. It seemed to fit her almost perfectly, and the chain's length made the actual locket dangle in the middle of her chest. The golden ornament even matched her makeup and the hoop earrings she was wearing. He smiled.
"Looks good on you."
"Thanks, Jack, I really love it."
"I thought you would."
Aster was sitting in the front and could hear the entire conversation between Tooth and Jack while they made doe eyes at each other. He had to give Jack credit, though. The reflection from the locket was even visible from the front seat. But they did not have to act as if they were in a romance movie. "If you two kiss, I'm gonna puke." he said to them. He was already feeling sick enough from North's driving, he did not need two of his friends acting all lovey dovey behind him.
Sandy laughed at how Tooth and Jack immediately stopped talking and blushed at each other. He decided to mess with his friends by making kissy faces at both of them and already flustered enough, Jack and Tooth simultaneously yelled, "Knock it off!"
Both of them uncomfortably glanced at each other after that. Now they were talking in sync, and it was weird.
Jack made sure to keep his eyes plastered to the car window for the rest of the ride to school. No matter how badly he wanted to gaze upon Tooth wearing his locket, he resisted. If any of the guys caught him gawking at Tooth, they would only jest at him and blow his cover by making it obvious he liked her.
Tooth opened her locket and found it empty inside. A variety of ideas swarmed around in her head as to what she should put in it. Since it was a gift from Jack, she wanted to place a picture of him inside, but then it'd be too obvious she loved him. Perhaps she could resize that picture of her, Jack, and Baby Tooth making silly faces at the camera…
When she would get home from school today she would have to remember to edit the picture on her laptop. Her locket couldn't be empty for long; she had to fill it with a memory!
Aster was continuously jostled in his seat. He swore that North's driving would be the end of him one day. It was a complete enigma that he wasn't pulled over by a police officer yet. Glancing at the rear view mirror, Aster saw how Tooth and Jack were now keeping their distances from each other, and averting their eyes. Sandy was sitting with them, but had no intentions to bring them close together.
Tooth had made all of them swear that they wouldn't tell Jack about her love for him, and Aster would remember to keep a close eye on their newest member too. The way he was always blushing around Tooth and acting nicer around her than usual was way too suspicious to ignore. He was sure that Sandy had noticed too. North may be the only person in the car unaware of how they were acting and even if he wasn't watching the road he wouldn't notice that something was up with Jack.
/
North parked the van when they reached the school. Aster was relieved to step out of what he called "The Christmas Deathtrap" and stood a few paces away from it.
"The bell doesn't ring for another ten minutes," North stated while looking at his watch. "So we have some time before school starts."
Everything happening around him was flying over Jack's head. All of the noises were just background music to him, because his mind was elsewhere.
To him, being in love with someone was strange. No matter what he was thinking or doing, his mind always strayed back to Tooth. He could be defusing a nuclear bomb on TV and the sweet sound of Tooth's laughter would be the only thing he was thinking about. Her appearance was distracting enough, but now he could barely keep his eyes off of her now that she had his locket on. Except now. All of his friends were hear and Jack didn't want to stare at Tooth in front of them so he avoided his eyes from everyone. He didn't even notice that most of the gang had gone inside.
Sandy tugged on Jack's sleeve and brought back his attention to the world. He held up his notepad, displaying his message.
Do you want to come inside?
Jack looked around.
"I think I'll stay outside."
Sandy took out his pen and wrote his response.
Then I'll stay out here with you.
"You don't have to do that, Sandy."
But I don't want you to stand out here all alone.
"Oh, okay. Where did everyone else go, anyway?"
Aster and North went inside and Tooth went to go talk to one of the teachers.
"Alright then. Thanks for staying out here with me."
Anytime, Jack.
To be honest, Sandy found it unnerving when he saw Jack all alone. He looked so lonely, and he was so quiet and indifferent by himself. The whole thing was a major contrast to his character when he was around his friends. To see someone so playful and rambunctious reduced to a hallow shell of what he is depending on who he was around concerned Sandy greatly. He was sure that he was the only one who noticed how Jack was a completely different person when he was alone.
The two boys stood outside the school and waited together. Even if it was physically impossible for Sandy to mutter a single word, Jack felt better knowing that someone close to him was at his side. "Hey Sandy," he started. "Do you wanna talk about something? You know, just to pass the time."
Sandy shrugged and wrote on his notepad.
What do you want to talk about?
"I don't know."
Being antisocial and alone for so long, Jack couldn't start a quality conversation if his life depended on it. He was better off talking to a wall because a wall wouldn't judge him. Then again, the wall may judge him if it fell on top of him but walls don't fall that easily.
School will be over in a few months, got any plans after graduation?
"I don't know, probably not. You?"
Going to college.
"Really, now? Are all of you guys going to college?"
That's the idea. Tooth is going to study to be a dentist, Aster is pursuing a career as a painter, North wants to be a toy designer, and I want to be an oneirologist.
"You want to be a what?"
Oneirologist. A person who studies dreams.
"Oh, I get it."
What about you?
"To be honest, I don't have anything about careers planned out at all. I don't even think I'm going to college."
Jack leaned on the bike rack and hung his head. He had no future, no money, no job, and he'd be lucky if he were able to stay at the orphanage a little longer until he gets enough money to afford a place of his own. The only source of shelter he can afford right now is either some place abandoned and condemned or a cardboard box on the street.
"Everyone knows what they're doing after high school…and then there's me. I have no idea what I'm going to do with my life. I don't even know what I'm put here for or what I'm supposed to do."
The clouds calmly drifting above his head caught his attention. They were so tranquil and at ease, Jack wished that he could fly up and join them to clear his mind. His knuckles were turning white from the anxious feeling coursing through him knowing that there was nothing he could do to change his hopeless future after high school.
Pitch had always told him that his friends would eventually abandon him, is this what they were talking about? Did he know that Jack would be left behind while his friends went to college?
Senior graduation was months away meaning that Jack only had a few months left to spend with his new friends. Once again, his mind was in a slum but this time he wasn't wearing the hoodie purged with childhood nostalgia. He was wearing the clothes Tooth bought him. The hoodie his mother gave him was left on his bed back at the orphanage and Jack couldn't help but feel longing for it. Sandy poked him with his notepad and brought him back to reality, again.
Something wrong? If it's about what you'll do out of high school, don't sweat it. There's still time left to get everything set and I'm sure you'll figure out something by then. Just like they always say, the journey is better than the destination.
Jack's shoulders relaxed and he eased his bone crushing grip on the bike rack he was sitting on.
"Thanks, Sandy. But it's actually nothing really. I was just thinking about some stuff but thanks for the advice anyway."
Smiling to his friend, Sandy gave Jack a thumbs up. Jack answered with a scoff and ruffled Sandy's hair. When the bell rang they walked inside together and were oblivious about the set of eyes that had kept watch on them the entire time.
A/N: blaargh. short chapter is short but you know what i saw? I was scrolling through my dash on tumblr (my blog is scorpiocious in case you want to know) and I SAW FANART FOR THIS FIC ASKGLGHSTLT. it was really amazing and it was the scene from chapter 6 when jack fell on top of tooth and they got flour everywhere. seeing that really made my day :D