Chapter 1 Monopoly
Jamie Bennett was having a fantastic time this wonderful crisp march night, it was one of the last days of spring break and the cold was starting to disappear a little more each day to reveal a warm spring ahead.
But that didn't keep his best friend Jack Frost from visiting him.
Jack lay across from Jamie, sort of floating a few feet above their game board, while the young boy squatted above the multi coloured game, contemplating his next move.
Jamie happened to notice the winter spirit was having a great time with this odd little game so far, it was all about buying properties and getting money from them to the point where you ran the whole game. There were quite a few rules and regulations to follow.
But that seemed to be what Jack enjoyed most, partly since he broke just about all of them.
At this point the game had fallen apart and Jack was revilng in the destruction.
"ok…ok !'' the young boy snickered,'' You just landed on my square…now Jack frost the leader of monopoly.''
''Yes my good chap?'' Jack scoffed trying to put on a playful accent.
Jamie giggled,''for once you actually have to pay me something.'' With that Jamie wore a smug expression holding out his hand expectantly for some multicoloured money.
Jack snickered as a playful glow entered his ice blue eyes and he crossed his arms.
''Alright then…. I'm robbing the bank….''
Jamie's lips curved into a smirk as he rolled his eyes, shaking his head.
''You ….. you can't rob the bank!'' Jamie snickered.
''why not?'' the winter spirit shot back, that mischievous trademark grin sliding onto his face.
''Because…it's against the RULES, although you really haven't been paying much attention to any of them.''
''Jamie, I'm Jack Frost…I do what I want. At this point you should know that better than anyone.''
''That doesn't apply to the game Jack,'' Jamie sighed smiling, ''will you at least give me one chance to make any money?''
Jack groaned eyeing his large collection of bills in his hand, teasingly rubbing them on his cheek in a showing off sort of way. ''I don't know, you see I'm kind of strapped for cash right now Jamie.''
Then like a flash Jack swooped downward and snatched three 500 dollar bills from the box below.
Jamie's eyes grew wide,''HEY!'' Quickly he got up and began to jump for the few pink bills,''Give those back!''
''I don't know…''Jack sighed just slightly above Jamie's reach,''I kind of need them.''
"NO you don't!'' Jamie laughed.
''Well I have to pay you back!'' Jack argued.
That's when Jamie stopped jumping like a trained seal for fish and gave Jack this expression of fake annoyance that the spirit couldn't help but find endearing.
"Jack.''
The winter spirits finally looked up from his stolen cash and gently rubbed it against his cheek teasingly.
''mhhhhhhhh?''
The boy shot his hand backward without looking, pointing out the pile of multicolored money where Jack once was at the game board.
Jack looked over sort of shrugged like he didn't understand
"what?''
''Jack there is literally nothing left, you have all the money in the game.''
The white haired teenager was silent for a moment.
''Well Jamie it's not my fault our monopoly world has fallen into an economic crisis, you should be more careful with your spending habits..''
With that Jamie shot upward and jumped onto Jack in midair, making the teen let out an unexpected yelp as he fell onto the boy's blankets below.
As they crashed down Jack let out a crisp laugh and immediately dropped the money from his hand.
"You're such a jerk.'' Jamie giggled, staring down at Jack who was contorted on the floor from his fall. The 18 year old let out a chuckle his eyes sparkling mischievously,''hey you were the one who suggested monopoly.''
With a smirk and in a split instance Jack grabbed Jamie and flipped him on his back, before leaping on top of him himself and started tickling him under his armpits making Jamie let out a series of bewildered laughs.
"Jack stop!'' Jamie gasped squirming under the older boys weight, "Let me go!''
Jamie struggled in an attempt to escape, but Jack held firm, tickling Jamie even more.
"Please! Jack!''
''Not until you say Jack is the coolest monopoly player who ever lived." Jack grinned.
''what no!'' Jamie gasped attempting to push Jack off him.
"I can't let you go if you don't say it!''
''Let me go!''
''no.'' Jack answered promptly.
"Stop!''
''You got to say it!''
"NO!'' Jamie laughed, squirming. With a swift kick Jamie managed to wiggle from Jack's grip and proceeded to leap onto of the teenager tickling him furiously.
"Stop you little cockroach!" Jack laughed desperately, trying to cover his armpits from Jamie's frenzied finger tips.
Jamie smirked and slipped past teenager's hands, causing Jack's crisp laugh to become more frantic.
"Stop already! I've learned not to rob banks!" Jack giggled, trying to stop himself from squirming too wildly.
"NO way! This is payback for that monopoly game."Jamie tickled the teen harder causing Jack to gasp for breath, unable to control his body's contortions.
''I'm Sorry already!'' Jack gasped tears springing from his eyes,''stop it!'' In the chaos of the struggle Jack lost control of one of his feet and plunged his pale foot into Jamie's side, making the child let out a yelp as he fell off the bed.
Jack swiftly sat back up and threw himself closer to the side where Jamie had fallen,''Jamie, are you okay?'' the teenager asked anxiously.
Jack went flying backward as he felt an overpowering force knock him back onto the covers of Jamie's bed. Blinking, the guardian peered upward and found Jamie smiling at the foot of his bed, large pillow in hand.
''Yeah i'm fine.'' Jamie smirked, a playful glare sparkling in his eyes.
A slow smirk spread across Jack's pale features as he snatched the pillow below him and held it forward like a weapon.
''Ohh, you're going to get it now. I forgot how hard it is to remove cockroaches.''Jack rushed forward and attempted to hit Jamie's side, but the child quickly dodged and rolled away.
''You should have figured that out after you hit me with that sofa.'' Jamie laughed and rushed forward to smack Jack with his pillow, only to miss his target entirely as Jack darted from his position to another.
The pair pillow fought aggressively, each vigorously dodging and weaving in their dance-like movements. Jack managed to hit Jamie a handful of times but found himself being hit just as often or a little less. Jack noted the improvement in Jamie's dodging and speed, compared to the first time that they had ever pillow fought, it was a massive improvement compared to his skills he had possessed only a few months ago. With a wild laugh Jamie threw himself at Jack with his loaded feathered pillow, causing the teenager to let out a yelp of surprise as he tumbled onto the bed, during his small fall Jack brushed against some of Jamie's mysterious creature books that were teetering on the edge of his night table. The pile of books swiftly fell, leaping from the table top cliff like lemmings into the ocean below.
There was a loud thud as the books hit the floor, causing both boys to cringe at the sudden noise.
"Jamie, is everything alright up there?'' The concerned boy's mother asked.
Quickly Jamie squeaked back,''sorry mom, just knocked some books off my table.''
''What are you doing?''
''ERRR…'' the boy stuttered and sort of looked at the floor clearly searching for some sort of excuse. Quickly Jack mouthed the words ''mime practicing'' and immediately Jamie blurted it out, last second realizing what he just said.
''what?'' said the obviously confused mother.
Jamie glared at Jack and the teen shrugged and chuckled.
''Just dancing mom.'' Jamie responded quickly.
There was silence for a moment.
''ok, just be careful…'' Jamie's weirded out mother replied.
Once they heard her footsteps walking away Jamie turned to face the smirking Jack,''seriously Jack? Is mime practice the first thing that pops in your head?"
''What? I thought you loved that sort of stuff.''
With that, Jamie hit Jack with his pillow making Jack burst out into laughter as put one arm up defensively attempting to block further blows. Jamie giggled seeing the spirit's reaction before he threw his pillow to the floor, taking in some deep breaths as he sat back down next to the teenager. Jack grinned at the boy playfully, with a soft grunt Jack lifted himself from the covers and sat up in a sitting position next to Jamie. With a swift movement, Jack gently pressed his knuckles into the crown of the brunette's head giving the child a playful rustle of his hair. Giggling Jamie smirked and pushed the spirit away.
"I can't believe you made me say that to mom." Jamie chuckled.
Jack's eyes narrowed playfully at his friend's accusation,"Hey, that's not true, I didn't 'make' you say anything."
"You might as well!" Jamie snorted.
Jack rolled his eyes, "Jamie, Jamie, Jamie. I understand, deep down you really do want to become a mime, it's okay, I understand that right now you're just lashing out.."
Jamie snorted and playfully elbowed Jack, which he quickly returned. Both boys laughed until Jamie heard the faint buzz of his cell phone on his crowded nightstand. The child's giggling subsided as he reached his entire body forward towards the top of his bed, straining to grasp the device like he was a little monkey reaching for fruit.
"That must be Rocky or Tina," Jamie grinned, finally snatching the tiny cellular device in his grasp,"I bet they want to know if we're still meeting up tomorrow."
"You bet." Jack nodded, grinning.
Still smiling, Jamie unlocked his phone and his new messages quickly popped up on his small screen.
It was almost like someone had slapped the child, Jamie's smile disappeared in a heartbeat and faded into a shy frown, removing any sign of joy from the young boy's face immediately.
Jack's smile dissipated instantly seeing the faint fear that had now invaded Jamie's expression. The boy stared down at his phone, his eyes slowly becoming less wide and instead becoming a more depleted half mask. Half expecting what he might see, Jack darted closer and glanced at the recent text messages faster than Jamie could react.
Jack caught a faint glimpse of a couple hateful comments from anonymous looking profiles, Jack felt his blood boil.
"Hey creep! Looking forward to seeing you in school soon! Watch your back!"
"Hey Jamie, because of you our group couldn't meet up this week, why are you such a crybaby?"
Jamie quickly blocked the accounts and turned off his phone, his face faded to a nervous expression.
Jack frowned and shook his head, "You know, you can tell your mom about that.."
Jamie shrugged and avoided Jack's gaze,"there's no point, those accounts are just burners, besides, even if I did somehow prove it was them, they would just get angrier and target me more."
Jamie stayed silent for a moment, causing Jack's body to stiffened, his grasp tightening on his staff. Jack paused and thought for a moment, before patting Jamie's arm.
"Hey, remember March break isn't over just yet, we still have tomorrow." Now grinning Jack slyly played with the staff in his hands,"Besides I might just have a surprise for you when we meet up with everybody."
Jamie's eyes widened as he quickly turned to look at the grinning spirit.
"What is it?"
Jack chuckled watching the boy's eyes sparkle with curiosity, the fear and anxiety once present drowned by excitement.
Jack leaned against his staff and smirked,"wouldn't be much of a surprise if I told you now, would it?"
"Come on Jack," Jamie moaned, "at least give me a hint."
The teenager smiled and shook his head ruffling the boy's hair playfully. "You'll like it, that's my hint."
"That's not fair, that's not a hint at all!"
"Jamie, we just finished a game of monopoly where I robbed the bank to pay you, at one point did it seem like I was playing fair?"
Jamie laughed and smiled, elbowing Jack lightly in the ribs. A spark of remembrance ignited in Jamie's face as he swiftly rushed downwards causing Jack to jump surprise by the boy's sudden movement.
"OH, I just remembered something," Jamie dug through the pile of books by his bed,"I was hoping you could give this to Bunny."
Jack felt his eyebrows raise as he watched the boy fish among his collection of note books, sketch books, and mysterious creature books, until he finally yanked out his jett black drawing pad. Leaping back on the bed he quickly flipped through the many sketches he had created. Finally, Jamie ripped one page from the book and handed it to the winter bringer next to him.
"This is for bunny," Jamie smiled shyly, "I thought it looked alright."
Jack softly took the page from the child allowing himself to scan over the colourful sketch. The teenager admired the detailed illustration of the guardian of hope surrounded by a group of colourful eggs in his Easter burrow. It was striking the amount of detail that Jamie had incorporated into the sketch despite only seeing the guardian a handful of times during the past year after their battle with pitch. Somehow the boy had remembered the unique markings on bunny's fur and the unusual wiry look of the rabbit's eyebrows. For a moment, the faint flickers of anger towards the rabbit after their recent fight disappeared momentarily. Jack chuckled softly under his breath and turned to look at the boy watching him excitedly. The guardian dipped his head and confronted the anxiously awaiting boy.
"Jamie, he'll love it, you've really outdone yourself."
Jack felt his heart melt seeing Jamie's smile spread ear to ear.
"I kind of thought it was pretty good, I just didn't want to get ahead of myself."
Jack chuckled, eyeing the intricate patterns and designs on each egg surrounding the rabbit,"Nonsense, your sketches are fantastic."
Jack gently folded the drawing into four squares, before sliding the artwork into his back pocket for tomorrow.
Jamie beamed, "do you think we could see him soon?"
Jack gave a heavy dramatic sigh, ''I suppose if you're bored of me, we could go see that oversized nervous wreck of a rabbit…''
Jamie softly punched the spirit's shoulder,''Very funny mister dramatic, I would never get bored of you.''
Jack's eyes twinkled michiviously, ''I don't know, aren't you his biggest fan or something?''
Jamie smirked and rolled his eyes,''Come on Jack, you know that title goes to sophie.''
Jack snapped his fingers and pointed towards Jamie in acknowledgement, ''touche!''
Jamie sighed and crashed backward onto his bed,''I'm so jealous, I can't believe she got to see Bunny prepare for easter last year.''
Jack sighed,"yeah it was pretty impressive. I'd suggest you see it this year but bunny's even more neurotic than usual."
Jamie raised an eyebrow and turned to peer at the teenager, his expression slightly more anxious,"so you weren't kidding around when you called him a nervous wreck?"
Shaking his head softly Jack twiddled the staff in his hands,''Well he's not a nervous wreak per say, he's just frustrated with me, I don't think I should ask him for any favours for a little while.''
Jamie blinked,''is he still mad at you?''
Jack shrugged, staring at his staff nonchalantly, ''it's not a big deal, he's just upset because of the storms, it's also getting closer to Easter and he tends to be stressed out getting ready for it. "
Jamie stiffened and bit his lip, his eyes trailing towards the ceiling.
"You mean the storms you made for me right?"
Jack's eyes widened and he turned around quickly to find Jamie gazing shamefully up at the ceiling.
Jack felt guilt wreck his conscience as he watched the child's face flood with guilt.
"I'm sorry I got you in trouble." Jamie whispered.
Jack quickly pulled himself closer to the child. "Jamie, you know that's not your fault. We talked about this. Bunny was mad at me, not you. I chose to do it."
A few faint tears sparkled in Jamie's eyes, swiftly the boy wiped them away and sat back up. "I know, but I hate knowing you got in trouble, it was a lot of snow days just to avoid some kids at school."
Jamie blinked back more tears as he frantically wiped away at his eyes. Jack watched the boy helplessly, his saddened heart begging him to pull Jamie into a hug.
"Why do those older kids bully me? It's not like I did anything to them." Jamie bit his lip, his body quivering,"maybe they're right, maybe there is something wrong with me.."
Upon hearing that sentence Jack quickly leaned forward and pulled the boy to his chest. Jamie froze slightly in the teenager's embrace, not expecting the intensity of the teenager's squeeze. Peering upward, the 11 year old caught sight of Jack's worried eyes scanning him over, his lips strained into a concerned frown. Jamie felt his eyes bubble with tears once more, frantically the boy scratched at his eyes and hid his face.
"Jamie, there is nothing wrong with you." Jack whispered softly.
Jamie sniffed and pushed his face into the cold navy blue fabric, frantically trying to cool his burning face. Jack's chilly hand began to circle the boy's shoulder comfortingly, allowing Jamie's sniffling to subside.
"I feel like I'm a burden." The boy muttered into the folds of Jack's hoodie.
Jamie felt a soft hand firmly pull his chin upward to confront the serious expression of the guardian of fun.
"You are not a burden, Jamie you're my best friend." Jack said unblinkingly.
Jamie's eyes widened, the fiery heat finally leaving his face.
"I'm your best friend?" The child whispered in disbelief.
Jack's serious expression soften, and a smile spread across his face as he smirked down at the wide eyed boy.
''Of course you are, you silly head.'' Jack pulled the boy into his chest, giving him another soft squeeze. ''I'd be so bored if I didn't have you to hang out with.''
Jamie smirked in Jack's grasp and slowly wrapped his own arms around the teenager, his tears drying on his rosey cheeks.
''You're such a creative person Jamie, your the best writer and sketcher I've met.'' Jack breathed comfortingly.
Jamie smiled and squeezed Jack back, causing Jack to chuckle softly.
''Besides,'' suddenly Jack noggied the child's head,''a weirdo like you needs someone to look out for them.''
Jamie snickered and pushed the teenager away,'' yeah right, I can look after myself, thank you.''
Jack raised his eyebrows and gave a Jamie a playful glare,'''excuse me, who saved your butt from crashing into that tree last week?''
''Says the one who was steering the slead.'' Jamie retorted smirking.
''You were fine, your nose didn't bleed that much!'' Jack shouted in protest.
Jamie let out a little laugh once again, pure cheer in the beautiful sound, before he rubbed his eyes and let out a tired yawn.
Turning over the white haired teen peaked over his shoulder and glanced at the clock, his eyes widen in surprise,''man, it's almost midnight.''
Jamie blinked in surprise,''wow, I…I can't believe it's THAT late. I'm not even tire….''But before the boy could finish a much larger yawn escaped his lips.
Jack chuckled and stood up, smiling down at the exhausted 11 year old boy, who was rubbing his eyes fiercely, just barely able to fight his tired body's wishes.
''I think we should get to bed buddy.'' Jack smirked.
Jamie nodded in response and yawned again, slowly clambering over the covers of his bed and pulling back the dark blue blankets. Jack watched from the side allowing Jamie to adjust his pillow, before he lied down on the soft mattress. Smiling, Jack stepped forward and pulled the soft blankets up to Jamie's chest. The teen smiled at Jamie for a moment, before patting his shoulder and gently rising upward, quickly grabbing his trusty blue and brown staff. The spirit was about to open the window to leave into the night sky, when a small voice stopped him.
"Jack?'' Jamie asked blinking in confusion,''where are you going?''
The teen gave him sort of a confused expression,''I'm heading back to North's place, I'll be back in the morning.''
Jamie sat up and gave him a sad sort of expression,''oh…'', he said rather disappointed.
Jack held his hand over the window handle, his hand floating in midair as he gave Jamie an uncertain look.
The boy bit his lip,''do…do you think you could stay here tonight….?'' Jamie stuttered, clearly hoping he would with all his might.
A slow smile spread across the young spirit's face, and he finally pulled his hand away from the frosty window, giving Jamie a warm smile.
The boy looked slightly upward, seeming somewhat sheepish.
Jack snickered,''Sure…. Why not, less traveling anyway.''
A great big smile exploded across Jamie's round face.
Jack snickered seeing his friend's reaction and leaned his curved staff against the small lamp table, turning over to Jamie, Jack grabbed one of the extra blankets at the edge of Jamie's bed. Throwing the blanket to the ground next to the bed, Jack began to adjust himself over the fleece fabric, allowing his lanky body to rest on the puffy material. Jack let out a content sigh as he began to lie his head down, while Jamie watched in confusion as the spirit made himself comfortable on the floor.
''Jack?''
''Yeah?''
''What are you doing?'' Jamie snickered peeking down from his bed.
Jack blinked and rolled up on his back facing the child,''I'm getting comfortable, is that a crime?''
Jamie giggled,''no, but you can sleep on the bed you know.''
Jack blinked in surprise, causing the child watching him to chuckle as he pulled the blankets beside him downward, allowing space for the spirit to crawl in next to the boy.
Jack hesitated, his frozen body ridged with momentarily confliction as he just stared at the bedside. Jamie's smile faltered seeing the spirit's hesitation, cocking his head in confusion Jamie gave the spirit a concerned look.
''What's wrong?'' Jamie asked innocently.
Jack blinked again waking from his thoughts,''oh, I'm just..''
The teenager stuttered, and rubbed his neck tentatively,''I've just been having some bad dreams recently, I just don't want to wake you up if I have one.''
Jamie blinked,''What are the dreams about?''
Jack shook his head and sat upward giving Jamie a reassuring smile,''nothing terrible, it's no big deal.'' Smirking Jack crouched, coming face to face with Jamie,''You sure you can spare the room?''
Jamie smiled and moved over immediately giving Jack a grin,''get in here already.''
Jack chuckled and crawled on the side of the bed, positioning himself furthest to the side to allow Jamie most of the bedside. Despite the space given, Jamie quickly moved closer to the teenager and cuddled himself into the winter bringer's chest, nestling his head over Jack's heart. Jack stiffened in surprise, not expecting the child's hug, his eyes wide as he allowed Jamie to adjust himself. After a moment Jack's body relaxed and he smiled, gently placing a comforting arm around the child.
Jack reached over, switching off the lamp and slowly knelt back on Jamie's pillow, feeling it's comfortable form wrap around his lower neck.
Both of them were quiet for a moment as they both stared upward, gazing up at Jamie's glow in the dark star stickers, which always fascinated Jack. They did that for a few moments before Jack heard Jamie speak again.
"Jack?''
''Yeah Jamie?''
The boy was silent for a moment,''Do you think those kids will start pushing me into the lockers again…when the breaks over I mean..?''
Jack paused remembering the child's final couple days at school, where the boy had described being intimidated by the bullies who always seemed to be following Jamie and his friends around. Despite not specifically going up to the boy and his friends, Jamie had felt extremely uncomfortable, always sensing that the older kids were watching him each time turned his back. Jamie clutched Jack's chest tighter, which snapped Jack out of his odd trance and Jack immediately wrapped his thin arms around the boy, in a protective and loving embrace.
''No one's going to hurt you buddy,'' Jack whispered clutching Jamie even tighter,''Not as long as i'm around.''
A slow playful smirk soon rose on Jack's face,''Besides…''
Jamie turned upward to look at him.
''I'll freeze them into snowman if they go anywhere near you again.''
Jamie giggled and snuggled closer into Jack's chest, making Jack himself chuckle.
Slowly Jack lay backward and began to close his eyes as he felt Jamie's warm breathing lulling him into a peaceful rest. Jack passed a glance downward to the young child, with his rose cheeks and chocolate brown hair, Jack smiled and squeezed him a little tighter. Jack sighed and brushed Jamie's rich brown hair reassuringly, a more determined expression written on his face.''I'll always be here.'' Jack whispered, feeling Jamie's head rest on his chest,''promise.''
As the minutes passed Jamie's breathing began to slow and become more deep, and Jack could start to feel his own eyelids start to droop heavily, making it harder and harder for him to see the faint glow of the star stickers above. Jack sighed and finally began to shut his eyes, letting sleep take him.
''Jack?'' Jamie whispered, quite clearly almost asleep.
''Yeah?'' Jack answered, sounding just as tired.
Jamie's deep breathing continued for a moment, almost tricking Jack that he had fallen asleep, but then after a moment Jamie spoke quietly,''your the coolest monopoly player who ever lived.''
Jack blinked his wide eyes for a second, before yet another warm smile spread across his thin lips. Peeking downward towards his chest he found Jamie finally asleep, clutching his stuffed rabbit in one hand and laying the other out on Jack's torso, quietly breathing.
Jack smiled and gently ruffled the young boy's hair, being careful not to wake him up, before he himself lay his head down on the cool pillow, shutting his eyes lightly.
With a content grin on his face, Jack clung to Jamie protectively, feeling the love he had wished for, so many years had finally been granted. As Jack felt himself start to sink into one of Sandy's dreams, he breathed in a wonderful sigh of relief feeling someone so close to him was near. As Jack finally floated to sleep with his heavy breathing soon matching Jamie's, a warm feeling of remembrance burned into his chest, it felt like he had his sister back. Jack clutched Jamie softly in his sleep, as the two boys snoozed peacefully, dream sand floating around them, no nightmares insight.