Jack didn't come back during Sky's work hours. She hadn't expected him to, really.
Picking up some groceries on her way home, Sky kept her eyes open for any sign of him. 'He wouldn't just leave. Maybe for a day or two, but not for long. Right?'
The sun was still bright in the sky. That was Skyla's favorite part about Summer. The longer days. It was only around dinner time, and there were still a lot of people outside.
Waving to the neighbours, The Kitchersons, she quickened her pace to the front door, 'The trolls are out'
Sky's a nice person. She is. But The Kitchersons were the exception to her 'judging people' rule. They'd caused trouble for her and Lauren a few times before. Noise complaints and such. They were grumpy people. Just a husband and his wife. There'd been a debate between Lauren and Sky on which they thought was rudest. They reached an impasse.
Making it through the door and kicking her shoes off, Skyla called out, "I'm home!"
A short "Welcome Back!" reached her ears when Lauren called to her from the living room.
Heading to the kitchen, past the room her house-mate was in, Sky gladly put down the bag of groceries. It wasn't a big bag, but it was a pain to haul them all the way from the store.
When she started putting the items away, Lauren appeared in the doorway. Seeing her eye the bag, Sky placed the iced tea mix on the counter. Lauren smiled and set to work making a jug of the stuff.
"Anything interesting happen at work?"
"No"
"...Can I ask a question?"
Untying the ribbon in her hair and letting it spill over her shoulders, Skyla shrugged, "'course"
Lauren stared, "First; I'm jealous. Your hair looks good long. Second," she began before Sky could argue, "and I know this is crazy but... Did it snow last night?"
Skyla froze. 'Did Jack- No, he wouldn't have. I hope' "It's the middle of Summer, you know. Why? Did you see snow?"
"...Well, no. It was just really cold. Haha, I guess I was just hoping it was... You know who."
"Jack Frost? What if it had been?"
Lauren thought about the question while putting the iced tea into the fridge. She was deep in thought; obviously caught off guard, "It's... The middle of Summer. Why would he be here?"
"You tell me. Does he have any reason to come here?"
Lauren's eyes widened, "The hell are you talking about?" She crossed her arms and pushed past Sky, around the small table and back into the living room.
Following her, Sky thought about confiding how it had been Jack Frost. That he was here for a reason. She thought better of it when Lauren turned up the volume on the TV, closing herself to conversation.
'I wonder if she would believe me if I told her'
"Go have a shower or something, you smell like coffee" rolling her eyes at Lauren's comment, Sky decided to do just that.
A while later, she was eating dinner with Lauren in front of the TV. Neither said a word, they just stared at the screen. The silence was becoming a problem now. Skyla wants to help her, but isn't doing a thing to. 'I am pathetic'
"Sorry about, you know, being so tense earlier. You've never really asked me anything like that. I was surprised." they looked over at each other.
"..." Sky didn't know what to say. It's true, she'd never asked about Jack Frost. There was never a reason to. Lauren told her more about those 'Guardians' than she thought she'd ever need to know, "It's okay. It was random of me"
"Yeah, it was. To answer your question, though," Sky waited for her to continue, "The only reason I could think of is that someone was in trouble. He knows so many kids now, there's no way he could remember all of them. I was just one of many, a personal visit is far beyond the reaches of my dreams"
"Lau..." Sky couldn't help herself. She put her plate down and wrapped her arms and Lauren. It wasn't immediately reciprocated, but eventually the red-head did the same, "Lau, there's something I should tell you."
"Don't you dare go chick-flick on me" her grip loosened around Sky, getting ready for what she was about to be told.
Sky laughed, "Actually, life is a chick-flick right now," noticing Lauren shift, she took the hint and let go. Lauren looked at her uncertainly as she continued, "You're the main character, Lauren."
Lauren looked at her like she was crazy, "You're not serious. You're joking with me, right? What is this about," She balled her hands into fists, biting her lip, "Is this because I mentioned the chocolate thing this morning? Or is it about last week, I already apologized for that! And this is so much worse; you know how I feel about this stuff!"
"Lau-"
"No! Don't talk to me!" She stormed off and soon after Sky heard a door being slammed upstairs.
'Good going, Sky. I thought you were more direct with refusing people, but damn. Sabotaging their chances. That's great. Oh, and you're also going to have to find a new place to live. Wow. Someone start the slow clap'
Trying her best to ignore her own thoughts, Sky set her mind on cleaning up. It wasn't late yet, and she was sure Lauren wouldn't come out of her room if she knew Sky was still around. Putting on her shoes, Skyla called up to her, "Lauren, I'm going out! Probably to a movie or something! Be back later!" She grabbed her bag and out the door she went.
"I've really screwed up", she repeated for the fifth time on her way to the theatre, "I didn't mean to"
The only good things playing were a romantic comedy and some new horror movie. 'I really don't need the nightmares but that other one will probably cause more'. She considered it and decided it was best to go for the romantic comedy. 'Maybe, if it's good, I can learn something from it.'
Nearly two hours later, and she'd learnt nothing.
'What a waste. The sun should be going down in an hour, and Lauren won't go to bed before then. I just need to give her more space.'
She decided to just walk around. Not big on exploring, Sky soon found herself back in her neighbourhood There was a park nearby, and a field just beside it. It's one of the more popular spots in the area. There weren't many kids out, and the ones who were still there were getting ready to leave. One group, just a couple of years younger than Sky, were playing soccer. Everyone was happy and having fun.
'Then here comes Skyla. The downer who's soon to be homeless'
Picking a bench overlooking the field, she took out her MP3 and started a random playlist. She stayed like that till there was at last no one around.
On peaceful nights like this, when she had such a reason to stay out late, Sky would lay down on the grass right in the middle of the field and look up at the stars. Not many were visible but the ones she could see made her smile. 'The little lights in the darkness' as she called them.
It was easy to forget her problems under those stars. The music in her ears drowning out all thoughts, the lights in the sky reassuring her that darkness isn't all there is.
Closing her eyes for a while, she knew she would fall asleep if she wasn't careful. 'I'm so comfortable though how could I get up'
It wasn't until cold fingers nipped her nose that she turned off the MP3 and opened her eyes.
"Hey, sleepyhead. Get kicked out of the house?"
"Something like that" she sat up, watching as the Winter Spirit crouched in front of her, "What are you doing here?"
He smiled, "I was on my way to see you. Thought maybe we could have another brainstorming session."
"Well, that's great. But I think the plan might be off"
Jacks eyes widened and he sat down heavily on the grass, "What happened? I thought you were going to help us?"
Looking at him sadly, Sky told him everything. Her doubts, the way she'd upset Lauren... It was the only thing she thought she could do.
The minutes passed, and finally she finished. Watching him carefully for any change of expression she admitted one last time, "I want to help you and Lauren. But I don't know how"
He sat there, his staff resting beside him. 'There's his thinking face again. He's really concentrating'
"Skyla..." He said after a long while, "We can still do this, right?" His expression was begging for an answer, pleading that it be something positive.
'Dammit, how could anyone tell him no? It's possible. But that's up to Lauren. If she'll give me another chance.'
Pushing her hair behind her ear, Sky reached over and placed a hand on his knee, "We can try."
Jack was shocked at the touch but breathed out in relief, placing his own hand over Sky's, "Thank you. I don't want to let her go again."
Sky smiled at him, ignoring how she shivered at his cold touch, "I'm going to give Lauren some time to cool off. When she's ready to talk to me, I'll bring up the subject. Promise."
"Wouldn't it be easier to prove that I'm around? It would at least make her more curious and who else would she talk to, but you?"
"That's true, "Sky went quiet, thinking of how it could play out. A minute later, she was getting sick of all the planning. All day it's been all she's done. 'I need a break'
"Okay. Do that. Start small, okay?" she pressed her fist against her forehead, trying to fend off the headache that was building, "She already suspected something with the cold air around the house. After that fight, she'll probably deny most signs that you could possibly be around."
Jack smirked, "I am around"
"I know. And you know what I mean. Slow and steady, for the time being. If she gets suspicious enough, she'll bring it to me. Hopefully."
"Sounds like a plan. Why couldn't you think of that earlier," He stood up slowly, "It would have saved me a lot of stress"
Watching him stretch his arms out, Skyla was unconvinced. 'He looks like he just got back from the spa. Relaxed and... Well, good. I'm the one that's been stressing all day!'
"I'm kidding, Skyla. Take a joke" Jack winked at her childishly.
"I can take a joke, Frost." she grinned back.
"Then, can I walk you home?"
"Of course" she replied, grabbing her purse.
After helping her up, Jack grabbed his staff from off the grass and pulled her along through the field. They didn't say anything, just walked quietly. It was a comfortable silence, and Sky wasn't going to be the one to break it. It was always colder when he was around, that only made sense. But Sky barely even noticed as they made their way back to the house.
The porch light was on, and that was it. Lauren had gone to bed.
Turning to Jack as she reached the door, Skyla saw his smile. 'It's like he's looking back on the past again. Or maybe... Maybe the future. No pressure on me not like I'm the only go-between he has'
"You're staring, Sky."
Shocked out of her thoughts, she turned her attention to looking for her keys.
"Sky..."
He was leaning against his staff when she looked up. Staring right at her with a smirk on his face.
"I, umm" She fumbled with her keys, dropping them at his feet, "Oh, damn" She bent down to get them. So did he, as she realized when their hands touched.
One eyebrow up and the smirk still plain on his face he commented, "Can't let a gentleman pick up your fallen keys?"
"Sure, can you find me one?" Sky returned the smirk, glad the interaction hadn't been made awkward.
Straightening up, Sky put her key in the lock and turned. The door swung open and she turned again to look at Jack, "Thanks for walking me. Let Lauren have a break tonight, okay? Start tomorrow, if you want to."
"I do. Are you working the early shift again tomorrow?"
"No, I have the afternoon shift."
He nodded, "Go on. Get some sleep."
"Yeah. Goodnight"
"Goodnight"
Sky closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment. The sound of the wind carrying him away reached her ears and she smiled, "Good luck tomorrow, Frost."
NOTES:
The chapter title 'The Holiday' is a joke. Taken from the movie, which is a chick-flick, and very centered on Winter.
Okay I don't know what else I needed to say so
Goodnight ;)
Love y'all *hearts*
