A/n: I wish I had a lot more time to work on these, I feel like I'm ruining my own story by writing it. Also, this chapter is boring but I felt like it was necessary. I'm starting a more exciting chapter right now to make up for it. I also wanted to thank everyone that has reviewed, you didn't have to but I appreciate that you took the time to do it and it makes me happy!
.:09:.
Jack was awoken by a sharp, loud knock on the door. His eyes snapped open and he tried to sit up, only to find something heavy and irritated groaning against his shoulder. Another knock sounded from the door, and Jack grabbed at Sophie's hands as they knotted tighter in his hoodie.
"Sophie, time to get ready for school." He heard Sophie's mother call gently from the hallway. Sophie groaned and buried her face in Jack's shoulder.
"I'm not going!" She yelled against him, her voice muffled and cracking from sleep. He was almost afraid to move, his hands around her small wrists as she struggled to stay asleep clinging to him.
Sophie's mother laughed. "I'll give you ten minutes and then I'm sending your brother." Jack could hear her footsteps moving off down the hall, and he looked down at Sophie carefully.
One of her vibrant green eyes slid open to glare at him, and he slowly let go of her wrists and leaned back a little nervously.
"Uh, good morning?" Jack mumbled awkwardly. Sophie smiled and finally let go of his hoodie. She sat up, ruffled her messy blonde hair, and yawned.
"You scared me at first, I woke up around 5 a.m. and there was some deathly pale boy sleeping on my bed. Then I was like, 'oh, it's just that weird old creeper Jack Frost again' and went back to sleep." She laughed and rubbed at her face. Jack pouted a little and hugged his knees to his chest.
"I'm not a creeper." He muttered.
"If you say so." Sophie giggled to herself and wandered toward her bedroom door.
He heard muffled talking out in the hallway, and he realized he should have used that moment to make his escape. Footsteps pounded in the hallway, someone was walking with a purpose and he knew just who it was. Jack resigned himself to his fate and ran his fingers through his hair nervously as Jamie poked his head around the doorframe and scowled. He opened his mouth, then shut it again and glanced down the hallway. Apparently the coast was clear, and he looked back at the boy huddled rather sadly on Sophie's bed.
"I can't believe you slept with my sister." Jamie whispered accusingly. He tried to hold a straight face, but his resolve slipped and he grinned slyly at his own joke. It took a moment, but Jack got it and felt the uncomfortable sensation of his face warming up. He grabbed a pillow and smashed it against his own face as he groaned in embarrassment.
"You know it wasn't like that! I liked you better when you were an innocent child…" Jack said sadly.
Jamie checked the hall again, then slid into the room and snuck over to the bed. He kneeled down in front of Jack, resting his elbows on the bed and leaning over to peer up into Jack's downturned face. His features softened when he saw the pain in Jack's eyes, and he inhaled deeply.
"Okay, out with it." He said softly.
Jack hugged Sophie's pillow, and it took him a few moments to realize he was enjoying the scent of her hair more than actually taking comfort from it. Finding his awkward situation made even more awkward, he flung the pillow aside and let out a cry of frustration.
"I saw Pitch last night. I… talked to him." Jack mumbled somewhat brokenly.
"Pitch is still alive?" Jamie asked with wide, furious eyes.
Jack's gaze snapped over to the young man, and he immediately realized his mistake. He slapped a hand over his face and sighed.
"I am a terrible Guardian…" He mumbled angrily to himself. Jamie waved his hand in the air, either to say he was a fine Guardian or it was off-topic, he couldn't tell.
"You talked to Pitch? What did he say? Is he up to something?" Jamie pressed urgently.
"Well, I'm not sure. He made me feel… really bad. Like I was sorry for him…" Jack said vaguely. Jamie leaned forward, his eyes growing wider as he silently pressed the uncomfortable winter spirit for more details.
"I guess it was just, some of the things he said, I knew how he felt. I remember feeling that, I remember feeling alone, and I know what it's like to be hated for what I am… I just… I dunno, I guess I needed a friend, and I knew if I tried to sit by you while you slept you'd punch me." Jack muttered.
"And you thought I wouldn't punch you for trying to cozy up to my sister while she was asleep and defenseless?" Jamie gave him a flat look. "You can't tell me the boogeyman isn't up to something horrible when he drove you to my sister's bed with one conversation."
"God, will you just forget it? I wasn't trying to corrupt your sister! I just wanted a hug…" Jack growled angrily. Jamie lifted one hand and poked at Jack's cheek with an amused grin.
"You are so embarrassed you look like you're alive." Jamie snickered. Jack slapped his hand away and scowled.
"Jamie, sweetheart… Who are you talking to?"
Both their gazes snapped to the door where Jamie's mother was standing. She looked concerned, and Jack's anger faded into amusement.
"Mom. We've been over this. I'm talking to Jack Frost." He stared at her seriously and held his hands out palms up as if to say 'what do you want from me, woman?'.
"Jamie, you're scaring me, honey." She replied softly before backing out of the room.
Jamie stood up, sighed heavily, then pointed accusingly at Jack before stalking out of the room. Jack rubbed his temple, then rolled off the bed and snatched his staff from where he'd left it on the floor. He felt awkward enough for one day, he didn't think he could handle facing Sophie whenever she wandered back into her room.