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Chapter 8

I was so nervous I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest. I don't consider myself very good at socializing and meeting the Guardians was something that seemed to require a lot of it. But I continued to walk down the winding staircase with Jack with my staff in hand and my chin up high. I can do this.

I half expected them to be standing there in a line waiting for us to come down, but they weren't. We walked in to the control center and they were talking amongst each other...like nothing was going on...like Death wasn't out there with his new buddy Pitch Black to possibly destroy us. I followed closely behind Jack as we walked in front of the group. There was a large man, with a big booming voice talking to a woman with brightly colored feathers and leaves, then there was a much smaller man sleeping on a golden cloud near them, then there was...something.

"Hey guys!" Jack said in an excited manner as he raised his arms up with a smile on his face. "Did you guys have fun exploring the globe when you could have just listened to me to begin with?" There was a slight edge in his voice as he twirled his staff nonchalantly between his fingers. I stayed a few feet behind him, not sure if announcing my presence was the best idea.

"Jack! We're glad you found her!" The tall man was jolly, seemingly unaffected by Jack's rudeness. I was a bit taken a back to hear his Russian accent, I'm not sure why.

"Oh my gosh! This is so exciting!" The feathered woman clapped her hands together and continued to flutter a few feet off the ground. I couldn't help but stare at her, she was very beautiful. She suddenly looked behind Jack and we met eye contact. I quickly looked down in embarrassment.

"You must be Sara!" She said as she quickly flew past Jack towards me. I backed up a step and tightened my grip on my staff. Instinct...still not used to socializing. She saw that and backed up once again by the rest of them. I felt bad, I didn't want to upset her. When I glanced up at her though, she was still smiling.

Jack glanced back at me with worried eyes. He took a few steps back and leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"Sara, everything will be okay. I promise we're going to help you. You don't need to be afraid." I looked up at his charming smile and felt myself relax. I gave him a small smile and went to stand in front of the Guardians with him.

"We are all happy to see you!" The big man exclaimed as he took a step towards me. He then spread his arms wide, "So, do you like my workshop?" He looked down at me with a twinkle in his eye. It was warming, and I knew I was going to like him.

"Yeah," I responded, "It's truly amazing. With the yetis and..." I paused and suddenly looked up at him in shock. He continued to smile as he stroked his long, white beard. No way...

"I know! Big place, lots to take in but-"

"No it's not that!" I interrupted then quickly felt bad, "Sorry," He gave me a warm smile as he continued to gaze at me, "It's just that...well...um...you're Santa Claus?" Jack snickered next to me at my amazement.

"Yes!" He boomed with a smile as he backed up next to the rest of the Guardians, "But please, call me North." He was intimidating, but kind. I guess I should've put two and two together. But I still felt a genuine smile return his as he leaned against one of the control panels.

"And I'm Tooth!" The feathered women flew closer to me and looked at my staff. "Wow...it looks like Jack's. But not obviously." So she's the Tooth Fairy. She then began to laugh and I couldn't help but smile once again. She was sweet, and I was kinda excited to have a girl to maybe talk to.

I looked up at Jack just to see him already looking down at me. He was smirking, and I felt a strange flutter in my chest. I quickly looked away as my checks grew red. Was I getting sick? Then I felt my mouth being forced open.

"Your teeth are amazing! As white as Jack's! I didn't even think that was possible..." I glanced over at Jack as Tooth continued to poke her hands in my mouth.

"Okay, Tooth. Stop the inspection." She looked up at him then quickly closed my mouth.

"Sorry!" She exclaimed then flew back over by North. I rubbed my jaw and glanced over at Jack. He just smiled at me and gave me a shrug.

"Hey Sandy! Sandy wake up!" North said as he lightly nudged the golden cloud near him. The little man slowly sat up and looked over at me. He smiled and gave me a wave. I returned the smile and also gave a wave. "That's Sandy." North said to me. Sandy stood up and made his cloud dissapear. He's the Sandman.

Then the large, fuzzy thing stood up from the post it was leaning against. He was twirling a boomerang and started to walk towards me. I nudged Jack and stood on my tiptoes to whisper in his ear.

"Jack?"

"Uh...yeah?" He said glancing around in confusion.

"What's up with the big kangaroo?" Jack looked at me in surprise, then started laughing so hard I jumped back in surprise.

"Hey! What's so funny!" Oh, the kangaroo is Australian. I guess that makes sense.

"She...she..." Jack couldn't get the words out as he was holding on to his side and leaning on his staff for support. I continued to just awkwardly stand there, not sure what was so funny. I glanced at the other Guardians and they didn't seem to concerned.

"She thought you were a kangaroo." Jack said as he finally stood up and had calmed down.

"Kangaroo!" He then turned and glared at me. I felt myself shrink from under his gaze. "I'm a bunny." He growled. He then began to stalk towards me, I took a few steps back.

"Bunny-" I heard North start, I then saw Jack quickly step in front of him. His staff was slightly raised as he held it in his hands. Bunny? Oh...shit.

"Get out of my way Frost." He said in a menacing tone. He was inches taller than Jack, but Jack didn't seem to care.

"So you can maul her? Nah I'm good." Jack said as he poked Bunny in the chest with his staff. Bunny glared at him and looked ready to smack him when I decided to chime in.

"Bunny!" Everyone looked over at me. I stood up tall and walked toward Bunny. "You're the Easter Bunny," I continued, "I'm sorry for the mix up. I was confused. It won't happen again I promise." I was a foot away from him now. My heart was bearing frantically as he continued to glare down at me. After a few seconds he walked back over near North to lean against the control panel. I sighed in relief, my heart beating quickly. That was terrifying...the Easter Bunny doesn't exactly have a fluffy personality.

"Anyway!" North began to relieve the tension in the room, "Sara, I assume you've met Jack?" I turned and looked up at Jack. His blue eyes were alight and he gave me a small wave.

"Yes, I have."

"Fantastic! Now we can get down to business." I suddenly became nervous. What if they didn't believe me? What if they thought that I was actually working with Death? What if they refused to help me?

"Y-you," I cleared my throat and took a deep breath to keep my voice steady, "You mean Death?" North looked at me surprised. Then glanced at Jack.

"I see you have already been filled in bu-"

"Okay I didn't know anything about him and I don't know how he knows me!" I was talking quickly, my nerves getting to me.

"What do you mean?" Tooth asked as she came over next to me. She put a hand on my back, trying to soothe me.

"I didn't know he had this creepy obsession and apparently he's been stalking me for a while and I don't know why and he grabbed me by the lake and I freaked out and Jack saved me and it was REALLY scary...not that I get scared that's not something that happens often and-"

I jumped when Sandy suddenly threw his golden sand past me, barely missing my face. I then realized he wasn't aiming for me.

"Ow!" Jack yelled as he rubbed the sand out of his eyes. I looked at Tooth who was continuing to flutter next to me, she looked confused. Glancing around at everyone else, I realized they were all confused.

Sandy pointed at Jack and then created a question mark over his head. I turned toward Jack and he scooted over toward me.

"You didn't tell her did you?" Bunny said as he stood up and glared at Jack.

"Tell her what?" He asked. Then a sudden realization seemed to take hold of him.

"Tell me what?" I asked looking up at Jack, then at Tooth.

"Fuuuccckkkk." Jack muttered under his breath. What was going on.

"Are you serious Frostbite?" Bunny growled.

"Okay in my defense a lot happened that was unexpected...like dangerous stuff...so I just kinda forgot?" Jack said with a smile at the end.

"What were you supposed to tell me?" I asked a bit louder. Everyone remained focused on the argument between Jack and Bunny and didn't seem to hear me.

"You forgot? You're telling me that you just forgot to tell her?" Bunny said as he walked over to Jack.

"Well at least I found her!" Jack said lightly poking Bunny in the chest. He obviously wasn't scared of a fight, which at this moment was very idiotic.

"Okay, both of you need a time out." North said trying to cut in between them.

"No! Why don't we let Frosty here explain to her what he should have told her in the first place?"

"Tell me what?!" I practically yelled it this time, still none of them seemed to hear me.

"You know what Kangaroo? Why didn't you go and find her? MAYBE THEN NOTHING WOULD HAVE GOTTEN SCREWED UP?" Jack had some major balls I'll give him that.

"Jack-" Tooth began as she flew over to there small group.

"Don't you dare call me that." Bunny growled.

"I'll call you whatever I want," Jack then leaned up as close to his face as he could, "Kangaroo." Wrong move.

Bunny sudden drew his boomerang and Jack raised his staff. North quickly went between both of them while Tooth hovered over head trying to calm them down. All there voices mashed into one making for a loud and strange scene. These were the Guardians?

I looked over at Sandy with my eyes wide. He just shrugged his shoulders and gave me a small smile. So this was normal? I looked back at the scene and suddenly felt annoyance grow the more I watched.

"Hey!" I yelled. The once again weren't listening. I looked over at Sandy who began trying to get there attention as well.

"Guys!" They still kept bickering, and I felt my annoyance reach its peak.

"HEY!" They finally all stopped and looked at me, "WOULD YOU ALL SHUT UP AND TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON?" Jack was the one who finally stepped forward after a few seconds of silence.

"Well...I kinda forgot to tell you-"

"What? What do you need to tell me that's so important?" I asked with my voice raised while giving him my best glare. Though I'm sure the anger on my face turned to fear when I heard the voice that rose up behind me.

"Well my pet, it seems you are the new Guardian."