Hello again everybody, so I know it's been a while since I've updated. I'm sorry, but I've been super busy. I got promoted at work so I have more responsibility, I've been volunteering to try to better my chances for graduate school, I'm preparing to upcoming surgery, and I recently had to put down one of my dogs due to a horrible sickness. Pancreatitis in a dog is horrible, my poor baby boy, RIP Little Bear.
So I'm more than sure you guys expecting Genie to become an actual Genie. I admit, it wasn't my intention at first. I just liked the fact that Jaime and Sophie rhymed a little so I wanted to make my character's name rhyme too.
Little warning: there is mention of possible self harm in this chapter.
Shout out to my reviewers: Where'sMyPenn (several times), AwesomeFangirlOtaku01 , freegirl333 , 2 guest, Lou, Aramoorn ,
Disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the Guardians in anyway.
15 years later
Jack's POV
Here I stood once again, looking over the ledge of a cliff that was positioned right at the Pacific Ocean. The bouquet of flowers I held in my shaking hand moved in sync with the light breeze. Purple lilacs and pink roses. Her favorite.
Even now, 15 years later, I still remember. No matter how much I try to forget, I just can't. Everything I knew about her seemed to be permanently engrained into my brain. The more I try to forget, the stronger the memories become.
As if I'm not suppose to forget.
I wish I could though. It would make life so much easier; and to think, I have to suffer the rest of eternity like this.
Looking down at the flowers for the 20th time in 2 minutes, I smirked and chuckled at the random memory that passed through my mind. When Genie was younger, she would always say that she hated the color pink; said that it was too girly for her. She'd even gone through a random Goth stage in her late high school years that transitioned into college. Despite this facade she tried to keep up, I would always catch her eyeing the pink roses when she would walk the sidewalks of her college campus.
Once, she even took a picture of them with her cell phone. Whenever she was alone, she'd stare at that picture for hours; her fingers would then trace the screen, following the delicate contours of the beautiful flower.
Deep down, I think she always liked the color but held too much pride to admit it.
The smirk on my face was immediately replaced by a frown, my eyes moving from the flower to the 'grave'.
I can't believe it's been so long since I lost the love of my life. 15 years….15 long years.
While the rest of us were forced to move on with our lives, Genie was forced to lie in the ground. It wasn't fair.
Not one bit.
She deserved a life. A chance to finish school, see Jaime and Sophie grow up, maybe get married…if I was lucky, maybe it would have been to me.
Yes, I, Jack Frost, would have happily married the human Genie.
This ledge served as her grave. Just as Pitch requested, it had the perfect view of the Pacific Ocean. There was no tombstone to indicate where she was though. It was just a big mound that eventually molded perfectly with the rest of its surroundings.
Anybody that somehow manages to pass by here would never know that there was a decomposed body under here.
It's been so long, would there even be a body?
The only reason I could even find this place is because Abril had showed me the day after she buried Genie.
That stubborn spirit wouldn't leave me alone at all. I've lost count of how many times I wanted to punch her for her persistence.
But I also wanted to hug her and thank her. She's been the only one to deal with my horrible mood swings and not judge me one bit.
That day I had put up a huge struggle. I wanted nothing to do with the Guardians, with Man in Moon, or with Abril. Like a moody teenager, I just wanted to be left alone to mourn in my own way.
Alone.
While the rest of the Guardians, including a now regular sized Bunny, were cleaning up the mess that was still left over from the battle that resulted in Genie's and my capture; I had locked myself up in the room that had been hers for the short time she had stayed with us.
It was probably my imagination playing tricks on me, but I swear that the pillow still held the faint smell of her perfume. Cherry blossoms. Ha, again, there are the pink flowers.
While the Guardians were more than understanding of me wanting to be left alone and respected my wishes, Abril refused to follow the status quo.
She went as far to pound on the door for 3 hours straight. Well, I thought it was her pounding on my door. Turns out, she had recruited whatever remaining elves that were kicked out of clean up duty and got them to do her dirty work, while she was sitting across the hallway against the closed door to my room.
*Flashback*
"Abril! Go away!" I yelled from my position on the bed. I laid front side down on the mattress, my face buried into Genie's pillow. The pillow still smelled exactly like her, but it was now covered in wet spots.
My tears just wouldn't stop.
I couldn't stop no matter how hard I tried. I just watched the girl of my dreams get killed…by me.
The scene played in my head over and over and over again.
Seeing my icicle pierced her skin, seeing her blood fall from her onto the snow, seeing her body fall to the ground, seeing Pitch be the first one to get to her.
Even thought everybody was yelling, I don't remember a single word said.
But I do remember watching her breathing get slower and slower, until her chest just stopped moving completely.
The blood continued to drop out of her wounds.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Repeat.
"Make it stop." I yelled into the pillow, my hands gripping the hair on the side of my head. My eyes were burning up as more tears produced.
My chest began to heave heavily, my lungs contracted uncontrollably, the bile in my stomach threatened to come up.
"I just want to forget you." I found myself whispering.
The pounding on the door was getting louder by the second; Abril just doesn't want to give up.
"For the last time, leave me alone!" I yelled at the top of my blazing lungs, hoping that the stubborn Fool's spirit would get the hint. I let out an exaggerated groan as I let my head drop back down onto the pillow.
Truth be told, there was another reason I locked myself up in this room. It was keeping me from going to find Pitch and get some form of revenge.
Problem with that is that no one knows where he went. He had disappeared soon after giving Abril Genie's lifeless body; he didn't even bother to tell Hal or Liam where he was going.
Now despite my desperate screams for the pound to stop and to be left alone, they continued. Geez, Abril can be an annoying pain in the butt.
She made me reach my breaking point.
I floated off the bed and towards the door. After landing back on my feet, I unlocked the handle and pulled the door open full force, enough to break off the doorknob in the process. Great, now I'm going to have to fix that.
I was fully prepared to scream at the April Fool's spirit until I noticed that no was eye level with me.
Instead, Abril was sitting across the hallways, away from the now broken door.
"About time you opened the damn door, I was getting bored."
"How did you…" I then felt some pounding against both my legs. Looking down answered my unspoken question. Some of the elves were hitting my shins while some of the others just smiled and waved up at me.
"It's amazing what elves would do for a few kisses on the cheek." She grinned before sliding forward on the floor towards me and shooing the elves away.
"Yeah, I know. That's how Genie…" I couldn't finish that sentence. Anytime I even mentioned her name, my eyes would burn even more; how that was possible, I'm not sure.
"Jack…" Abril was now sitting cross-legged at my feet. She tugged on the bottom of my pants, indicated that she wanted me to sit down with her. Feeling defeated at this time, I just plopped down onto my butt in front of her, sitting crossed legged as well.
From this point of view, I was able to see Abril's face more clearly. I could see how her eyes were glazed over from the tears and how she had marks running from the corner of her eyes down her cheeks. There were even a few tear stains on her clothes.
"You know, the others got the hint. Why couldn't you?" I fell sideways until my head hit the railings on the door. My body suddenly felt physically drained, unable to hold itself up.
"Because I don't think you should be alone right now."
"I shouldn't be alone? Or do you not want to be left alone?"
"As someone who has mourned the loss of a loved one before, I'm able to be alone. You, on the other hand, have never felt this kind of pain. So you really shouldn't be left alone."
"What? Do you think I want to hurt myself or something?"
"Do you?" Her question caught me off guard. It would be pointless to lie that the thought had crossed my mind the second my icicle slashed its way into Genie's body.
I wanted to feel that kind of pain, just to know what she was feeling in her last moments. I had been so close to making that icicle and placing it over my heart.
Being reunited with my Genie….how nice that sounds.
"Well Jack?" She pressured me on, obviously getting worried about my reply. She placed her hand on top of my knee, urging me to continue on.
Out of nowhere, this feeling of panic crept up on me. Part of me wanted to push Abril away and seclude myself back into the room, possibly carry out my dark plan; the other part was suddenly scared of being alone. I wanted to reach out to Abril, throw my arms around her and beg her not to leave me right now.
The part of being alone won.
Before she could comprehend anything, I launched forward and hugged her tight. My face buried into the crook of her neck.
"I lost her Abril." I whispered as I started to cry once more. My eyes shut close, trying to stop anymore of these god damn tears from coming out. "I lost her, the one person I care about more than anything in this fucked up world. The one person I loved more than my own life. She's gone. And the worst thing of all, I did it. I killed her."
That word kept repeating itself in my head.
Killed. Killed. Killed. Killed.
It was like the worst mantra in the world. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get it to shut off.
"I want it to stop. Make it stop Abril. Please." I begged her.
"No matter what I say, I know you'll never stop believing that yourself."
"Is there anything else to believe? To prove me wrong?"
"Genie did it on her own."
Her words stung me.
With all my heart, I wanted to believe that it was some unknown force that made Genie do it. Step onto the field during a huge battle. I had even gone as far as to think it was Pitch who did it. But the look he had on his face when his arrow pierced her also. That look said it all.
Pitch loved Genie almost as much as I did. He would never put her in harm's way like that.
I know I have to accept it. Genie did it on her own.
"I know she ran into the field on her own. But I didn't know until it was too late. I couldn't stop the attack." By now, my crying had turned into full out wailing. My screams were so loud that they were echoing off the walls and no doubt making Abril's ear ring.
Pretty sure the other Guardians could hear me too.
"Alright Jack, I was honestly not thinking of doing this but you've left me no choice. Come with me." Abril stood up suddenly, grabbing onto my hand to pull me up with her. Reluctantly, my body complied.
From behind her back, she pulled out one of North's traveling snow globes.
"Where are we…"
"Genie's grave." She whispered into the globe, a small picture of roaring waves showed up inside the globe. Her actions were so fast. The next thing I knew, she threw the globe and pulled us through the portal.
Normally, I would be fine from the rough transportation. But all the crying and my upset stomach made me feel like I was going to puke.
"Ok, if you're going to throw up, go over there. I worked hard on this grave and you won't ruin it."
I shook my head while forcing the bile to return back into my stomach, my chest and throat were stinging from the acidity but eventually it went back down.
Once I was sure I was ok, I took a better look around. We were standing on a ledge that was overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The waves were roaring furiously and the wind was so strong that Abril's dress was flowing well above her hips, but I wasn't going to say anything.
"Hopefully it looks ok." I heard Abril mumble to herself.
Right near the edge of that ledge, I could see a large mass of dirt where she was staring at. This was Genie's grave.
"Sorry, first hole I've ever dug. And I don't know how to make a tombstone but this need to be an invisible grave so…." She mumbled while looking over the grave.
"Yeah, I know. I know." This was becoming even more surreal by the second. Here I am, standing over the grave that held Genie's body.
"North thought you shouldn't have known for a while, but I decided not to listen to him. I think you do need this. Now you can come whenever you want to talk to her. I'm sure she can still hear you."
"I don't even know what the first thing I'd say to her is." I shoved my hands into the pocket of my hoodie, feeling embarrassed at my statement.
"Whatever pops into your mind. Just don't keep it all in Jack. I know it's easier to bottle up your emotions but it isn't healthy." She turned around and began to walk away from me. "I'll wait for you over here. Don't think you want to do this with me around."
Her footsteps were getting lighter until the point where I couldn't hear them anymore, not over the wind.
"Well…Hello Genie…"
*End Flashback*
Not sure how long I stood there but after getting that first awkward sentence out, my body felt heavier. My emotions were now all bundled up in my stomach and I had to get them out.
I started to yell at the grave, telling Genie how angry I was at her, asking her how she could do that to me. At some point, I think I even told her that I hated her.
After those words left my mouth, I felt like vomiting again. Quickly, I took it back. I didn't hate her.
No matter how mad I was and still am, I love her.
"Now I had no idea I'd run into you here." That dark sarcastic voice rung out. I didn't even bother to turn around, already knowing who it was.
Pitch Black.
About 5 years of living in almost complete silence, Pitch had decided to turn back up onto the scene. He started to pester Abril about where Genie's grave was. Abril held on for a good week, not letting any information slip; until she got tired of seeing black sand all over her room that North had given her.
I believe the moment she gave in was when Pitch said he was going to camp out in her room until she gave him the information he wanted. While he said that, he had begun letting sand fall from him when he was lying on Abril's bed.
"You know, that saying's gotten old. You say it every day." Yes, I come to the grave every day. But I only bring flowers on Saturdays. Just because it was Genie's favorite day, it was the day she would normally sleep in and then order pizza for dinner.
"I have no other way of approaching, Do I now?" Pitch was now standing right next to me. In his hands, he held a bouquet of black roses.
At the same time, in perfect unison, we both laid the bouquets down onto the grave. We bowed our heads for a few seconds, reciting our own 'prayer' in our heads.
"Two men, desperately in love with the same woman, even after all these years. It would make an awful movie." Pitch mumbled once he was done with his moment of silence. His was always shorter than mine.
He waited patiently while I finished mine.
"Pathetic, isn't it?"
"Remember how Genie said she hated romance movies?" I found over the years that while Genie was with Pitch, he had gotten to know her well also.
It wasn't all about the sex.
Pitch has said that the thing he actually misses most is their conversations they would have at night when he was resting with her.
"She hated them because they were so unrealistic, she didn't believe in love at first sight."
"Not like the other women, was she?" Pitch turned to head away; he never stayed long; just a few minutes. Guess the memory was too much for him. "By the way, don't you have some other place to be, Jack?"
"I still have time, but before you go. I need to ask you something." This question has been bothering me for years now, and I had to get it out.
"I guess I can spare time for one idiotic inquiry, go ahead."
"You've never shown any interest in any women whatsoever. Truth be told, I started to think that you were either gay or asexual. What was it about Genie that made you…well…you know."
"Now the asexual part I can believe but what in your wrong mind would make you think that I was gay?"
"Just that time you approached me about joining you. Saying the whole 'cold and dark' go well together thing."
Now that reminiscence made the bad shivers go up my spine.
"When I said joined, I meant we would form a powerful team. An allegiance of sorts. Trust me Jack; if I were gay, I think I could do better than you."
"I don't know if I should be relieved or insulted. Now get back to the question."
"It was so unfair. To have to be cast back into the shadows while you and the other Guardians got to run around all free with your little friends. That night, I fully planned to end that child's life once and for all." The hand holding onto my staff twitched, if he said one worse thing about Jaime, we were going to have a battle right here. "He ruined everything for me; he needed to be dealt with. But when I saw Genie sleeping there, so peacefully, something in me started to ache. I've seen pretty girls before so I was use to that. Then her eyes opened and she saw me. You of all people must know the joy of finally being seen. Being noticed."
I knew what he meant. When Jaime had been the one to see me after all that time…
"She became your personal Savior."
"She became something that I could cherish and worship for the rest of my pathetic life. It was a split second decision, but I decided that I couldn't live without her. So I acted, tried to take her from myself. You know how the rest of the story goes."
"If you had to do it all over again, would you?" Pitch stood there for a few seconds, his fingers laced behind his back and he was deep in thought.
"Go now Jack. Little Jaime must be getting worried." Great, no answer. I looked down at the watch that Jaime had given me and noticed that Pitch was right; I needed to leave right now.
"He's not so little anymore."
With that being said, I took off into the sky. Yelling for the wind to take me home. He knew where home was.
Once there, I easily navigated through the city until I came to the college dorms where Jaime had been living for the past 4 years.
One of the windows was wide open, there was my entrance. Gracefully, in Jack fashion, I landed on the windowsill.
"Where's my tie? I can't find my tie!" Jaime had his graduation gown over his head while running around his room in circles. No wonder he couldn't find his tie, who would in all this mess? Piles of clothes were scattered across the room.
Was I this messy when I was a human teenager?
Oh, who am I kidding? I'm still messy as an Immortal.
"Why bother wearing a tie? It's going to be covered up anyway with that weird gown thing." Jaime stopped dead in his tracks, pulling the gown off his head. His smile, if possible, got even bigger.
Nothing much has changed of Jaime. He was still the adorable kid with the brown hair and eyes. Except he didn't have that gap in his teeth anymore, all his adult teeth were in. Tooth was a little sad about that, he was one of her favorites.
His hair is a little longer, kind of shaggy looking.
The little kid grew up to be a man.
Genie would be so proud.
Jaime was graduating college, I'm still unsure what exactly his degree is in but he's told me that he wants to study up on Mythology. Funny how being friends with holiday spirits formed his way of thinking.
He was just like Genie, all grown up and still believed in us. Sophie was the same way; she's really attached to Bunny.
"Jack! You came!" He ran over to me and pulled me inside his room. We stood in front of each other, taking in the scene.
I just noticed that Jaime was now taller than me. Dang it.
"Of course I would. No way would I miss one of my best friends big day."
"It's not a big deal." He rubbed the back of his head, all embarrassed.
"Not a big deal? Do you know how many times I found you passed out at your desk at 3 in the morning from studying too much? Just makes me glad I never had to go through any of this."
"With your attitude, you probably would have flunked out in your 1st semester." He smirked at me.
"Aha, that was so funny I forgot to laugh." I stuck my tongue out at him.
After searching a bit more, Jaime had been able to find his long lost tie. It was wrinkled pretty badly from being balled up for the past, what, 4 years? Satisfied, Jaime went to stand in front of his mirror and struggled to make an actual tie. I'd help the poor guy but even I didn't know how to do that.
"Wish Genie was here." I heard Jaime mumble more to himself, while he looked over at the single framed photo that was next to his bed. It had been that same Christmas photo that showed Genie in that revealing dress; the one I caught Jaime looking at years ago.
It couldn't be kept a secret forever. Her parents eventually found out that she never made it to the college she claimed she was going to. Not long after waking up from their forced coma, they filed a missing person report with the cops.
For the next few months, I would visit Jaime every night after visiting Genie's grave. I asked her to put some form of advice or comfort in my head before I went to see her brother.
He had a hard time falling asleep, so I'd just sit next to him on the bed and let him cuddle up to my side. Just how Genie use to do for him.
While he slept, he held that same picture close to his chest.
After a whole year of searching, the missing person case had gone cold. They had absolutely no leads and couldn't find a body. They had made up a theory that Genie actually ran off to meet some random guy and got married. That she changed her name because she didn't want to be found.
It was a very extravagant ridiculous story but hey, it worked.
Her parents had to accept the hard truth that Genie was never coming back. Her father began to blame himself, saying that he pushed her too hard in school that maybe she ran away because of him.
Her mother tried to make him think otherwise but it was set in stone.
Her parents explained everything to Jaime first, since he was the oldest. He was silent, not sure how to process it. He asked to be excused and went outside. I was waiting for him, acting like I was just taking a stroll and decided to drop by.
As expected, the poor kid broke down. He clung to my hoodie and cried out loud. The neighborhood echoed from his screams. That night, I stayed with him and Sophie.
For such a young girl, she understood more than she let on. That night, both she and Jaime crawled into Genie's bed together. Each of them held a small picture of Genie.
Together, they cried.
Sophie asked if there was any way they could get Genie to come back from the dead. Jaime calmly told her there wasn't.
Once I was sure that the parents were asleep, I joined them in the bed, letting them use me as a pillow.
After that one night, Genie's family didn't foot back inside that room. For years, they left everything the same way it had been. The bed was unmade from when the kids laid there, books were scattered across the floor, drawers were pulled open, all from when Genie packed in a hurry.
Dust had accumulated on everything, it was so bad that I thought it would just been a better idea to just renovate the whole place.
Eventually, an older Jaime and Sophie gained the courage to go back inside and make Genie's bed and clean up everything. They finally accepted that Genie wouldn't be there physically anymore but that didn't mean her spirit still couldn't hear them.
Whenever something exciting happened to them, they would run into Genie's room, sit on her bed, and talk out loud as if she was really there. And when I say they, I mean the entire family. Jaime's acceptance into college, Sophie's first real boyfriend, her father's promotion at work, her mother's successful opening of her own bakery.
Again I say, Genie would have been so proud.
"She's always here with us bud." I walked up behind Jaime and placed a hand on his shoulder. Then I placed my hand holding my staff over his heart. "Here. She'll always be here… and here." I removed my hand from his shoulder and pointed my index finger at his head.
"Those memories will always be there."
"Thanks Jack. It would have been cool if you had met her, you would have loved her." He had no idea how true his words were. It didn't take much for me to hold back my tears, these past few years it had gotten easier to just let it slide.
I didn't need to cry anymore.
Just like them, I had accepted that I would never see Genie again.
Genie's POV
"Alright girl, I got us a big tub of popcorn and some fruit punch to share. But you better be sure you drink some, I have a tendency not to share my drinks. Ask just about anybody who has gone to the movies with me."
Abril and I currently sat at the very top of the dome where not only was my little brother graduating, but so was a member of her family. Which one I'm not sure, she has a lot.
"Well first off, I'm the same way with popcorn." I pulled the huge bucket out of her hands and placed it on my lap. "And second, how on earth did you get these without being seen?"
"I have my ways." She took the straw into her mouth and took several big sips, I'm pretty sure she just downed a fourth of that cup.
"That's what scares me." I grabbed onto a fistful of popcorn and placed it all in my mouth.
"You wanna know what scares me? That huge mouth of yours. How do you put so much into it in one go? Guys must have loved you. " I lightly punched Abril on her arm before trading the bucket for her cup and taking a few sips.
"Don't know. I've always had a huge mouth. And no, guys did not love me, I was too boring."
"Your words, not mine. Give me back my drink."
"Our drink."
"Your popcorn, my drink. Now give it." I rolled my eyes before doing a trade once more. She continues to take several big sips until it looked like half of the drink was gone.
"You better go get a refill if we run out before this thing is over."
"How long do graduations last anyway? I've never been to one."
"Me neither. But I'm guess about 2-3 hours."
"2-3 hours?!" Her mouth dropped opening, giving me a good view of her now bright red tongue.
"Duh, it's college. And we're not leaving until we hear our kids' names get called out, so get comfy."
"Oh crap, I am gonna have to get a refill." Before she could fly off, the lights were cut off and the generic graduation music started playing.
Our feet swung back and forth as we dangled high up. Funny, it turns out that both Abril and I use to be afraid of heights but once you gained the ability to fly, that fear goes away.
Our eyes continued to scan through the huge sections of students, looking for the ones we came to see. Both of us jumped in our seats with joy when we found my Jaime and her family member, which happened to be a girl.
"Our babies aren't babies anymore!" Abril and I put aside our snacks for now to hug each other. While we were both super proud, we were also sad. It sucked knowing that we couldn't go down there to give both of the kids a hug.
To give them kisses on their cheeks and tell them how proud we are and how much we love them.
I placed my head on Abril's shoulder; she could sense my change in demeanor.
"It's super hard. I absolutely love my job but sometimes, all I wish I could do is have one more day with them." She placed her head on top of mine, her attitude changing also.
Now normally, once someone says 'I wish', my powers will go into full effect. Like the genie from that old Disney movie I use to watch all the time with Sophie, I had to follow a set of rules. My wishes couldn't kill people, couldn't make anyone fall in love, couldn't bring anyone back from the dead, and couldn't wish any form of harm on anyone.
The first three I wouldn't worry about, since kids don't normally think that big. But I often did encounter some that wished that someone they knew would 'get a boo boo', as a lot of them put it.
Oh, and my powers can't work on Immortals.
"And I wish I could give that to you, my friend."
"No worries girl, we'll both watch from afar, together."
Over the past 15 years, Abril and I had gotten even closer, if that was even possible. She became my absolute best friend. Through everything, my ups and downs, she is there to comfort me. And she's let her shield down to let me comfort her too.
I don't know what I would do without her.
"Abril, is that you?" Both of us perked up instantly at the sound of that voice. Shit, we had totally forgotten that Jack was planning to come to this event too. Before both of us could run away, Jack had flown over to us and took a sit on Abril's other side.
"Jack, what's up dude?" Abril non-chalantly bumped fists with him, while motioning for me to get moving.
"Nothing much. Just here, watching Jaime graduate." Shoot, there is nowhere for me to fly away without him seeing me.
"Nice of you to come for him."
"Well, he is one of my best friends. And plus, I have to be here to represent for Genie."
"I'm sure she'd appreciate that."
"I stopped by her grave earlier. Left some more flowers. Pitch was there too."
Abril had told me that she showed both Jack and Pitch where my fake grave was. Then I found out that both of them would visit around the same time. I was kind of happy that they seemed to be on civil terms with each other but I hate that I'm still living this lie.
"Hey, who's this?" Jack suddenly noticed my presence there. Damn, I've ran out of time to fly away.
"Oh this, this is a new Immortal. Man in Moon just created her and I'm showing her the ropes. She was nice enough to accompany me here since I already had plans. Jack, meet Jewel."
I didn't need to look up to know that his eyes were roaming all over me. I wish I could read his mind, but boo hoo, my powers won't grant my wishes either.
Total rip off.
During my distracted thinking, Jack had flown around Abril and landed on my other side. I kept looking down, acting shy. No doubt if I look up, Jack will figure it out in a heartbeat.
He's not a dumb guy.
"Jewel huh? How come I haven't heard anything about a new Immortal birth? Normally Man in Moon likes to make a huge announcement."
My face turned towards Abril, hoping that he'd get the hint and just go away. But he wouldn't. Next thing I knew, he had placed his index finger under my chin and guided my face up to meet his.
Scared, I did the only thing I could think of: close my eyes.
"You look so familiar." He mumbled to himself, but loud enough for me to hear him.
"Hey Jack, would you do me a big favor and get me a refill?...Hello….Look Jack, it's Jaime!" Abril was throwing out every excuse she could think of to get Jack away from me; but he was so insistent on figuring out who I was that he had totally stopped paying attention.
I had discussed this kind of situation a long time ago with Man in Moon. I told him that I decided if I ever met Jack again, I would tell him it was me, as long as he asked. Man in Moon didn't think it was a good idea.
But hey, his last idea got me killed so I have a hard time following anything he says now.
"You're pretty like a Jewel, but I'm guessing that's a nickname. Right?"
I just nodded my head.
"So how about telling me your real name?"
"I'll give you a hint." I felt his body tense at the sound of my voice. "I'm the Spirit of Wishes."
"Jack…" Abril once again tried to get his attention; luck was not on her side today. Neither was it on mine.
"Spirit of Wishes...wow, so like a…" His finger fell from my chin. I opened my eyes to look into his. Even though they were a different color, he could still tell that it was me. His eyes were wide open in disbelief, and his mouth hung wide open as well.
"It can't be…No way…How…" He couldn't get a single question out.
"I'm sorry. I need to go. Enjoy the rest of the popcorn." I grabbed onto my bucket of half eaten popcorn and practically shoved it into his face. The unexpected force I used was enough to knock Jack off the beam we were on. He was falling backwards for a second but caught himself before any children in the audience could see him.
Finally spotting an open window, I took off full speed, not even telling Abril where I was going.
Truthfully, I didn't know where I was going either. I just knew I needed to hide from Jack. I really didn't know how to approach our sensitive subject.
Oh hey Jack, so remember all those years ago when you and Pitch thought I died? Well, surprise. I've been brought back from the dead. I've known for a while that Man in Moon was going to turn me into a spirit because I'm supposed to eventually become a Guardian.
Yeah, I don't see that talk working out in any way.
The streets and buildings were passing by me in a blurry vision. My eyes were darting side to side, trying to find somewhere to hide for now.
From behind me, a snowball flew past my shoulder, barely missing me by an inch.
Wow, Jack's aim really got worse over the years. He would have been able to hit me with it a long time ago.
Ok, Genie, focus. Find a place to hide now!
"Wait!" He was getting closer.
"Jack, slow down! We need to talk!" Abril decided to join us too. Well, mainly to calm Jack down.
"Let go Abril, I need to go. I need to see her."
As if a gift from Man in Moon, an empty multiple storey building came into view. A sign at the very front let me know that the building was going to be demolished in the upcoming days. Which means it's abandoned and no humans should be there.
Score!
The building was already barren of any life or furniture. It would actually be a fantastic place to hold a haunted house attraction.
Hearing the other two Immortals getting closer, I rushed to find a good hiding place. I ran throughout the whole building, looking for a storage closet of sorts. Lucky for me, at the last second, I found one.
Because right when I shut the door, I heard the two pairs of footsteps heading in my direction. I placed my ear against the door to hear their conversation.
"She came this way, I know it."
"Slow down, I haven't worked out in years." It sounded like Abril was taking a few deep breaths.
While Immortal bodies stayed the same no matter what, it was still a good thing to exercise. Something that both Abril and I hate doing.
"Slow down? Earlier, you were telling me to calm down. How can I slow down, calm down, anything down, when I just found out the Genie has been alive this whole time?!"
"Well…"
"What have I been talking to all these years? Is there even anything in that grave or is it all dirt?!"
"Well…"
"You lied to me Abril, Genie lied to me. Man in Moon lied to me, should I add anybody else onto that list?"
"Bunny, North, Tooth, and Sandy." I guess Abril was trying to put the blame on other people besides her. Unfortunately, it just made Jack even angrier.
"What?!"
"Wait a second, Bunny and North always knew. Tooth and Sandy found out along the way because North tends to talk in his sleep and Tooth walked in on Genie one time in my room…"
"She's been at home this whole time?!" I think Jack is about ready to have a heart attack, is that possible for us?
"Shit, I shouldn't have said that."
"Genie! I know you're in here! We need to talk!"
"Jack, I need to know one thing before we continue on looking for her. Are you planning to hurt Genie in any way?"
"What kind of guy do you think I am? I would never hurt Genie."
"That's all I needed to know. Genie, please forgive me."
I was thrown completely off guard by Abril addressing me. Why is she asking me to forgive her?
That's when the door was suddenly opened, making me almost fall face first onto the floor. Except another body was shoved into me, causing me to fall backwards instead and the body to land on top of me.
"Both of you need to sort this out because I'm tired of being in the middle!" The door was then slammed shut. "Seriously, I feel like a child who is stuck in the middle of my parents' divorce. This isn't any fun whatsoever." I heard her mumble to herself.
Well, Jack wanted to find me, and now he found me. Which reminds me, how did Abril know I was hiding in this storage room?
"Got you." Jack pushed himself up a little, to where we could now look each other in the eyes. He kept his body on top of me, to keep me from running away.
So I had Jack on top of me and Abril guarding the door. There was no escape for me now.
"I don't know how to start this conversation." I admitted to him.
"Why? Why did you hide? Why did everybody else know but me? I thought I was important to you too."
"Jack, you're very important to me. Probably the most important person in my life."
"Hey!" Abril yelled from her position outside the room.
"Shut up Abril, you put me in this mess!" Jack calmly waited for me to continue talking. He did deserve a big explanation, so I better give it to him.
"Look Jack, it was all pretty much Man in Moon's idea. Remember that one time I went to meet him, he let it slip that I was suppose to become a Guardian. Basically, he let me knew that I would eventually have to give up my life. But we didn't know how at the time. During the battle between you guys and Pitch proved to be the right moment. The darkness in all your hearts was growing by the second and I had to do something. The only way for it all to stop was for me to be out of the picture, since I was the whole reason that battle started."
"You still could have told me you were alive."
"Really? And ruin the peace? You and Pitch are talking now, right? And even though Pitch is still causing nightmares for children, he hasn't made any new creatures for his army. He lost the power to make Night Terrors and all. Tell me how that all would have changed if it came out that I was alive?"
"You have an answer to everything, don't you?" Oh great, he was being sarcastic now."
"No I don't. Just the questions you've been asking me."
"Well, here's my next one. Do you know how mad I was with everything? Genie, I even wanted to forget you. I yelled at your empty grave that I hated you. Do you know how much it hurt to see the girl I love be killed by my hands? It practically destroyed me, I wanted to die!" He yelled into my face.
"I'm sorry, ok. That's all I can say and I have no idea how else I can fix it. I'm sorry I lied. I'm sorry I left you. I'm sorry that I avoided you because I was too scared to face you. You have every right to be made at me and hate me."
"I don't hate you. I forgot to say I took it back." He lowered himself down further until our foreheads were touching.
"How can you not hate me after everything I've put you through? Jack, stop chasing after me. You can find someone better, someone who will love you."
"Are you saying that you don't love me anymore?"
"No!" I quickly blurted out. I wanted to tell him that over 15 years, my love for him grew. To the point where I actually kind of stalked him. That I grew a little jealous when I saw him alone with the other pretty immortal girls.
But it wasn't right for me to feel that way. I left him.
"You still love me?"
"It's not right."
"I don't care if it's not right. Because I still love you, even after everything you put me through. I can't stop loving you."
"Well, you shouldn't." I don't know where my strength came from, but it was enough to push Jack off me. He didn't get far, just enough for me to get my body up. "Abril, open the damn door!" I stood up to my full height and walked over Jack to get to the door.
"Have you two made up yet?"
"No."
"Then no can do. Kiss and make up already. You love him and he loves you. That's all there is to it. So what if all that shit happened? Jack seems to have forgiven you, so why can't you forgive yourself?"
"It's not easy when all the decisions you made affected the whole freakin Immortal world….what's going on? I'm being cornered. Was this a set up?"
"No, just perfect timing. Look girl, you made some mistakes. We all do. But eventually, we need to let go of it. Stop punishing yourself."
"Exactly." Jack spun me around to where I was facing him once more and pushed me up against the door. "I forgive you Genie. And I love you. So please, love me back, ok?"
Before I could disagree with both him and Abril, Jack had pressed his body tight against mine. His lips began to kiss their way all across my face, starting at my eyelids.
"My beautiful Genie, choose me." His lips met mine once more, and it did feel like they belonged there. It felt like…
Like I was home.
Sorry if this seems rushed guys, I really wanted to get this chapter out because all of you deserve it for sticking with me for so long.
This is not the end though. There's still about 2 more chapters coming out. So please bear with me a little longer. We're almost done.
Thanks guys, please leave me a review, even multiple ones. They make me so happy.