Jack has been at the North Pole for two days now and hasn't left his room since. Yes, he was hungry, but he didn't feel like socializing and being forced to tell his secret.
He forced himself out of his bed. As he sat with his feet on the floor, he looked toward the door, shook his head, and walked over to the bay window.
He sat on the bay window's wooden seat and exhaled as he looked out. He brought his right hand up to the glass and touched it with his index finger creating a small frosted figure, like he did of Sandy last year, of Isabelle.
"What happened, Isabelle?" Jack asked out loud to himself. He stared at the small frosted figure with sadness still present on his face. He was about to bring the figure to life as he did a year ago with Jaime's frosted rabbit when he saw the moon suddenly come into view from the left of the window; its light glowed into his room.
Jack looked at the moon with fear. Was Manny the cause of Isabelle not being able to see him?
Was he in trouble?
How soon were North and the other Guardians going to break down his door to yell at him for trying to get his crush to see him?
"Man in the Moon, please don't be mad at me," Jack pleaded. "I couldn't, can't help but want to be with Isabelle. I don't want to stop being the Guardian of Fun, believe me. It's just," he looked away from the moon, trying to keep his tears from forming again, "I want something more added to my never-ending existence." Jack looked back at the moon, "Is that too much to ask? Or is it, all I'm good for is bringing fun to kids?"
Jack looked at the small Isabelle form, put his hands underneath it, and concentrated with his eyes closed for five seconds. The Isabelle frosted figure jumped into his hands.
"When I'm with her I, I don't feel so alone." He took a breath and blew it out, "I know I'm not alone anymore, but what I mean is, I want more than just friendship." The frosted Isabelle curtsied as if acknowledging his words.
Jack made a small smile, then said to Manny, while still staring at the figure, "out of so many years of trying to get a girl to see me, she has been the only one who ever gave me a chance and not run away thinking I was some sort of evil spirit or a demon.
"I, I just want a taste of what couples have." Jack looked back up at the moon, "Is that too much to ask?" He repeated.
The moon's light dimmed and moved out of view as it continued right.
Jack watched the moon slowly leave his sight. He knew that the moon's specific movements and actions were Manny's way of responding to them. But Jack was at a loss for what Manny was saying.
The moon's beam was to get Jack's attention to acknowledge that Manny did know what was going on.
But dimming and moving away, was that Manny's way of not wanting to hear any more about an immortal falling for a mortal?
Was Manny telling him not to pursue and move on?
Jack wasn't sure, but he knew, in his heart, that he couldn't just let her go and leave it at that.
Besides, he promised Isabelle that he would return. Which was precisely what he planned to do.
Isabelle sat on an orange cushioned chair on her back porch, an untouched glass of Coca-Cola on a small round table to her left.
She paid no mind to anything around her, for she was in her own world. She was heartbroken.
She spent the past couple of days still trying to figure out what happened: Was she incapable of believing fully in mythical beings?
Was there some kind of force keeping her from seeing a magical being that is only meant to be seen and believed in by kids?
Are immortals not allowed to fully interact with mortals?
Isabelle missed her Winter friend. But for the life of her, she couldn't understand why she felt more for him; She only saw Jack for the shortest time. Maybe it was his personality that she noticed through his snow and frost?
She smiled at that. Jack's frost designs were gorgeous! Remembering the way he created the patterns for her in the shapes of hearts made her heart jump, forcing her to place her hand on her chest and inhale. The frost he created for her inside her home has since disappeared due to the heater.
Even the life-sized Jack dissolved on its own, though it was outside.
But both memories stayed firm in her mind's eye.
Isabelle rose from her chair and walked to the snowmen; they were still well preserved.
She looked at Jack's; his work was so clean and well-rounded. There were no flaws in his creations. Her own snowman was more oval compared to Jack's.
She looked up at the sky and asked aloud to herself, "Will you come back to visit me, or have you moved on because I'm a failure in being able to see you?"
A cold chill hit her nose.
"Jack?"
Wind whipped around her then hit the nearby trees.
"Jack? Have you come back?" More trees rustled in the wind. Isabelle gave a sigh of disappointment. I should have figured it wasn't him. It's been two days, she thought to herself. Walking back to the porch, she grabbed her soda and turned the doorknob.
Jack made it to Isabelle's house and saw her walking up the three steps to her porch. He saw her hand grip the doorknob and begin to turn it as if in slow motion.
Jack landed behind her before she could open the door fully from its latch and touched the doorframe with his crook, creating that same design he made inside the house days before, but with extra hearts.
"Jack?" Isabelle turned her head to the left. The pattern began from that side, so she figured he was standing there, and she was right, for there was a nip at her nose and a snowflake hovering.
She smiled widely. "You came back."
The snowflake twirled around her head as an answer. Isabelle's smile faltered, and she looked down at her feet, "I thought you decided I wasn't worth your time. I—"
Jack interrupted her by using his wind to point her toward the window. He frosted it and began to write. I guess we were both depressed about what happened. Though I don't know what happened, and not sure if you'll ever be able to see me again, I couldn't…wouldn't just walk out on you. You're my friend, and I never want to lose you. Jack re-frosted and continued, I hope we can remain friends for a long time. And you'll never tire of me for being invisible.
"I was depressed…Still am. I'm new here, and I failed to keep my first friend visible to my own eyes." Isabelle leaned her shoulder against the wall. "I should be happy. I found my own place, and my online shop is doing well until I have a physical store somewhere in town. I know there are other people around that I can make friends with, but something is bothering me about you."
About me?
"You're all I think about."
That bothers you? Jack was at a loss. Did he do something wrong?
"Not like that, Jack. It's in a good way. I mean, you chose me, of all people, to hang out with. And that's special to me. I want to know why I was the one chosen."
Jack's heart pounded in his chest; he could even hear it through his ears. He was too scared to tell her his true feelings for her. It was too soon, so he came up with an answer he hoped she would take as the whole truth.
I thought you seemed like a pretty cool person to hang out with. Thought I'd take a chance on you.
"I guess what you told me a few days ago on this subject still awaits for another day to be answered?" Isabelle sighed in exasperation.
Guess his answer wasn't believable enough.
Please don't hate me.
"I don't hate you, Jack. I just wish that a simple question could be answered."
In due time, I promise.
"You want to come in?" Isabelle asked, holding the door open.
Sure. Jack could hear in her voice that she was persistent in wanting him to still answer that one question. And he knew she was probably catching on to what the answer could be, but he wasn't giving in just yet.
