Skyla stayed in her room after that. While she wasn't sure why she was keeping away from them, it just felt like something she needed to do. Just take a break from everything.

Then she got a call from Daniel asking her to work that night. Another night with planned entertainment. Sky got changed into her uniform just before dinner time and left without a word. When Lauren texted her asking what was going on, she simply replied that she'd been called in to work.

There was still some time until the nights entertainment showed up so it wasn't busy when she got there. Getting to work right away, she avoided thinking much on the day's events.

The usual customers came and went; and eventually started to wait around. "So who's the band that's playing?"

"A much more reliable band, anyway." Daniel responded to Sky's question, "'Divum', I think. You'll like their sound. Hey maybe they'll even let you sing for them"

"...I would need a lyric sheet" she said thoughtfully.

"Skyla, I was joking"

Looking back at him, Sky considered it for a while, "I know. No, I know. Think they would though?"

"Maybe. In the mood for some attention?"

"Something like that."

When she had the opportunity, she did ask the band if they would let her sing with one. "Just one song? Please" she asked. They agreed on the condition that she sing as 'Angel' and handed her the sheet for their second song.

Gladly, she hopped back to work to get some things done before they started. Listening to them setting up made her even more excited.

Moving cautiously through the gathered crowd while Daniel introduced the band and Jen, one of the other employees, watched the counter, Sky went to the back room to change. As she found out; Daniel had been shopping.

"'A new dress for your new confidence'" she read from the attached tag, "What in the- Oh, it's actually cute. ...I'm not used to strapless though."

A more natural shade of brown than the last one, and a bit shorter only going mid-thigh, it was more modern and looked like a prom dress.

Sky tied her red ribbon around the bracelet Jack had given her and loosely braided her hair, entwining it with the gold-colored rope she usually used as 'Angel'.

"Good to go, then." she said to herself, posing in the mirror.

Stepping out of the back room she ran into one of the more loyal customers, "Woah. New look for angel?" he asked

"Yeah. You like?" she twirled, smiling brightly.

He smiled back and looked thoughtful for a moment, "I like it. Definitely. Taking over the stage soon?"

"Sharing it, actually."

"Great. See you soon"

As he left, Sky stared back at him, 'maybe I should be Angel more often'

It was a short ways from there to the stage; so she waited for their first song to end. watching the crowd and smiling, she saw how much everyone was enjoying themselves.

Just then she saw them. Jack and Lauren. 'What the- What are they doing here?'

"And for our next song" Skyla made her way towards the stage as they began their announcement, "we have someone with an even better voice than mine coming up!" some people in the crowd laughed, even Jack and Lauren.

Reaching the stage, one of the members of the band took her hand and lead her to one of the microphones while the lead singer raved, "It's the Nephilim's very own Angel!"

Beaming with confidence, Skyla looked to the crowd and said to them, "Hello, everyone! If you don't mind, I'll be joining the band for one song."

Jack cheered out loud, taking advantage of being invisible. Lauren shrugged and smiled.

As the song began, Skyla decided just to have fun with it. She grabbed the microphone and amped up the crowd, gesturing mostly to the band to keep them in the spotlight.

When the front doors opened, she barely noticed. The harmony between her and the band, Divum, was incredible. Skyla was so into it! But there, at the door, stood Brandon and a friend of his she'd never met.

'Since when is this place so popular?'

Keeping up with the rhythm, she tried not to think about what Daniel would say later.

Brandon spotted her and stared, smiling like he was so happy to see her up on stage. Sky's already smiling face brightened.

Too soon, the song ended and people cheered. "The amazing Angel, everybody!" The lead singer exclaimed as Sky bowed slightly.

Leaving the stage, she thanked them again for letting her join in then waved to the crowd before disappearing through the hallway and into the back room.

Once she was changed Sky went back to the front and, ignoring Jen, started back at bringing orders out.

"Hey, Angel. Haven't seen you in a while," Brandon smirked.

"Demon," she replied curtly. Turning to his friend and placing his drink down she warned, "It's hot, be careful"

"He knows it's hot, Angel. He can handle it."

Sky looked back at the blonde, "I don't want to be responsible if it turns out he can't, Demon." Leaning closer she asked, "What are you even doing here? Daniel-"

"Is wondering the same thing." just appearing, Daniel put a hand on Sky's shoulder, pushing her away, "But I've chosen not to care. Sky; get back to work"

And she did.

Still glancing between Daniel and Brandon now and then, Skyla did her best to keep up with the crowd. The band was doing great. They took short breaks in between, and made a few jokes. They were perfect.

When Jack and Lauren finally met up with Skyla, the band's set was almost over.

"Since when do you sing up there? I thought that was a one time thing like a month ago?"

"Actually, she was up there on her own last night. She says it's not a regular thing."

"Guys, it isn't. I don't know what got into me, I just felt like it was something I had to do. Thought it would take my mind off other things." Smiling, Skyla hugged the red-head and then held her at arms length, "I didn't know you two would show up?"

"Yeah," Lauren answered, "I couldn't think of anything to do and this was fun so... Is that okay? Me showing up at your work was never an issue before."

"It's fine. You're both welcome whenever."

"That's the same guy, right?" Jack gestured over towards where Brandon was sitting, "The guy that dropped you off earlier?"

"Shh! It's- He works at a competing coffee place and the owners take our rivalry serious." she tried to explain. Lauren looked a bit confused and Jack was staring at her, expectantly. Sighing Sky continued, "Where I'm 'Angel' he's 'Demon'. It's a weird gimmick thing. Daniel would be pissed if he knew so don't say anything."

Jack nodded.

"Sky, don't get yourself in trouble. Not for a boy" Lauren shook her head slightly.

"Some boys are worth it, Lau. Him, though?" she looked back at Brandon and saw him smiling over at her, "..."

Giving up, Lauren dragged the Winter Spirit away, "We'll see you when you're off work!"

When the band finished and the crowd started thinning out, Brandon walked over. Skyla folded her hands together and leaned over the counter, "Can I get you something?"

"Angel. I want to ask you and your boss something." he was much better at being expressionless than Sky.

"Wh-wha?!" her jaw dropped open.

"And here he comes so," pushing her mouth closed, he turned his head to greet Daniel, "Hey. Got a minute?"

"For you?" Daniel looked him up and down, "No"

"I'm here on a peace mission."

"From your boss?"

"No... He has no idea I'm here. It's about Angel."

"If it's about Angel; I don't want to hear it. Whatever you have to say can be nothing but trouble" he stated, walking behind the counter.

"Actually, I'm curious. Let him speak." Sky spoke up. Daniel didn't say anything.

Leaning closer to Skyla, Brandon started again, "I don't mean to cause any trouble. For either of you. I wanted to ask," he looked to Sky for a moment before straightening up and turning his full attention back on Daniel, "Can we be excused from the feud while we're not on work hours."

Sky tilted her head to the side to get a better look at Daniel. He'd stopped what he was doing and just stood there with his back to them.

As if he'd finally weighed all the options he turned to look at them. Glaring at Brandon he inquired, "What are your intentions with my angel?"

"To build a positive relationship apart from our personas."

"Why?"

"I like her. She's interesting" he flashed a smile at Sky, "Like I said, my boss doesn't know yet and I don't think he'd care."

Setting his eyes on his waitress he asked her, "Is this what you want, too?"

"..." she just nodded, still shocked at what was going on 'After one lunch da- I mean, after going to lunch one time? The worst that will happen is Daniel saying no. He wouldn't fire me over this. Wouldn't even get mad since it wasn't me making the request. I hope, anyway'

"Daniel? May we?" Brandon asked once more.

"...Go ahead. You two can make your own choices. But," he began before either could get a word in, "If you hurt her, Demon, if you do anything inappropriate; I will deal with you myself."

Daniel left to deal with customers then.

"Oh. My-"

"Don't start sinning already, Angel"

"Oh no! You're already starting to rub off on me!" she smirked.

"So. Friends?" he asked, tilting his head and smiling sweetly.

"Yeah. Friends." straightening up, Sky looked around, "Hey, where'd your friend go?"

"He was just here to make sure I went through with this. It took a lot of courage okay" he added when Sky chuckled

"No, I know. I never would have done it"

"Never?" He put on that pouting face of his.

'Damn, he should be an actor or something', "Maybe not never. Hey, I don't know if you're worth it yet" she put her hands up mock-defensively.

"Angel," he smirked, "I'm worth it."

After that Skyla had to get back to work so Brandon just left with a promise to text her in the morning.

'What a night! I could get used to this!'

The smile never faded as she walked back home. Since that first night when Jack had shown up, the only times she'd gotten chills or felt a cold breeze was when the Winter Spirit was in close vicinity. Tonight was no exception as the air was still warm, and the street lamps cast a golden glow on the pavement.

'There's no way Lauren is still up. She's got to be exhausted after everything she's been through today.'

"I've been through a lot, too," she whispered to herself, stopping and staring up at the sky, "If things settle down I have no idea what I'll do, though"

Searching for the moon, she saw only a patch of it's light shining through the clouds. It was as if it was directed at something.

'that's really weird'

staring at the stream of moonlight coming down, she tried to pinpoint where it might be. Guessing it wasn't far, she followed the light over towards the park she'd often visited.

When she got there, she walked through the shadows in the trees and, for reasons unknown to her, stayed as quiet as possible. It was colder the closer she got to the field, and e resisted hugging her arms and opted for holding on to branches to steady her unsure footfalls.

'Is Jack out here?' she thought curiously as one of her hands touched against a bit of frost. She was nearing the edge of the tree line and could just see the field ahead of her.

There, not far from where she stopped, was Jack Frost 'he's freezing plants again' she thought, smiling. Flattening herself against a tree to watch him, she noticed a hole from in the ground form near where Jack was floating. Resisting the urge to call out to him; Skyla thought of what it could be.

Going through all of Lauren's stories in her mind, she figured there could only be one explanation.

'The Easter Bunny'

Just like that, the giant rabbit hopped out of the ground. Jack touched ground in front of him and they exchanged short greetings before a silence fell over them.

"Any news?" Jack asked

"Not yet, mate. We're working on it still. How about on your end?"

"...No, nothing."

"You're hiding something"

Watching them, Sky was becoming even more confused by the second.

Turning his back to the bunny and running his hand through his hair, Jack sighed, "It's not going how I expected it to. I don't know"

Taking a step forward, Bunnymund narrowed his eyes slightly, "Jack, this is important. Tell me what's happening"

"I will but you can't mention it to the others." he turned back, watching the other Guardian's expression carefully.

"I won't tell, mate. I'm here to help, if I can."

Nodding, Jack relaxed slightly, "It's not how I imagined it. I thought it would be perfect. I would have her back and we would get back to our old friendship but even better!" he paced around, ranting his feelings, "It's not like that, though"

'He's talking to the Easter Bunny about Lauren? Why is that any of his business?' Sky's grip on the tree tightened.

"I still like her, and she likes me. A lot. But it doesn't feel the same. It doesn't feel... right. We spent the day together and there were times when there was just silence that neither of us could fill. She would talk about her life sometimes; and I have nothing to say about mine.

"I want to stay by her side; this is what I've wanted for so long! It's just- I don't know!" he dug his staff into the ground, frustration etched across his face.

'I shouldn't be listening to this... He would tell me if he meant for me to know it'

"Mate, you have to calm down. It's been a day. You two still have a connection, you're just in shock, or-"

"Bunnymund... It's okay. I'm not giving up." looking at the pookah, Jack smiled, "I'm over-reacting. There's no way anything's really changed."

"Well..."

"What?"

"Nothing. IF there's no news, I should get going." he gestured back where his hole had been.

Jack nodded.

'I should go, too. If they notice me here, it won't end well.' cautiously turning and takingone slow step away she heard the bunny hopping back into the hole. Soon after, it seemed like Jack had gone back to freezing things.

He sighed, and Sky looked back.

"Nothing's changed, right?" the Winter Spirit looked up at the moon, "It's still Lauren, isn't it?"

Skyla had had enough and turned again to make her way home, 'what the-'


NOTES:
Still in Hawaii! So that's why it's taken me till midnight to post this!
Thanks for reading!
Review, review, review!
Love y'all *hearts*