(Back to Skyla's POV)
After the very eventful night, Skyla had trouble sleeping. It was one thing that Jack told her he loved her, but when he left the bracelet had started acting up again. It was obvious that he'd tried to control it, but something must have distracted him.
Unsure of what was happening, or what he was going through, she tried not to let it bother her. It was weird having that type of connection to someone. To have that connection with him? It was both comforting and concerning. If she let her emotions get out of hand at the wrong time, something bad could happen.
'I guess it's training. practicing how to control even my inner emotions. I used to be so good at that!' she reasoned, 'I must be losing it'
She'd been up only long enough to get dressed when Lauren knocked on her door, "Hey, Sky? Can I come in?"
"Yeah, Lau." she replied, turning to the door. The red-head walked in and she smiled. It was unusual of her house-mate to be up so early on a Saturday, and it was obvious what she wanted to talk about.
"Do I need to ask about last night?" she asked, sitting on the bed and examining a nail, "Or will you just tell me the good news?"
Leaning against the wall and facing Lauren, Sky immediately told her, "He told me, okay? I was so surprised."
"I bet! So did you tell him back!?" When Skyla hesitated, Lauren frowned, "You didn't? But, I know you love him, too!"
"I told him. He sort of forced it out of me. I do love him, I think. But I also really love Brandon. It's not like I would leave him for a spirit that won't stick around. That won't grow old with me. Or, older at all."
"But... What if you two are true loves? Will you really give that up?"
"True Love? You really think that's a thing?" Sky asked, unconvinced.
"Of course it is. Soul mates and stuff are on of the only things I know for sure. Love will always find a way, Sky."
"Well, love found a way for you. Even if it's not... Romantic love."
"That's it!" Lauren exclaimed, jumping up from the bed. Skyla, startled, watched as the red-head rushed over and put her hands on Sky's shoulders. Her brown eyes sparkled with some brilliant idea, "Skyla! Maybe it's the same for you!" Confused grey eyes waited for her to continue, "Maybe you love them both in different ways! They'll understand, if you just explain it to them!"
"What do you mean by that? 'They'll understand'?"
"When you dump Brandon!" she dead-panned.
Sky's eyes widened, pushing Lauren away, "I'm not dumping Brandon! He's the sweetest! And he loves me probably more than I know. He understands me, and is always putting me first and-"
"Yeah, yeah. Okay, I'm sorry. But you do love Jack, right?" Skyla nodded, "Then you have some stuff to figure out. I'll leave you to it. Unless you want some help for once?"
"No, I'm fine. If Jack comes by keep him busy? I need some time."
"Got it. Good luck, girl" Lauren closed the door behind her as she left and Sky could hear her sigh.
'What does she expect from me? It's like my whole world is changing and she wants me to put love first?'
Texting Brandon, she told him to give her some more time to think. She also told him that she loves him, too. 'What better time to tell him than now?'
Laying backwards on the bed as she usually does, she listened to music while going through everything in her mind. It was calming, made her focused. But then when she needed a quick distraction she could just sing along.
It went on like that for a while before something tapped her arm. It was furry and she almost expected Lauren had started a new fashion trend. She opened her eyes, a sarcastic compliment on her lips. When she saw Bunnymund, Sky twisted away and ended up falling off the other side of the bed.
"Ow," Turning off her music and throwing her mp3 onto the bed, she slowly stood up and faced him. "Why is the Easter Bunny in my room?" she asked. Looking around, she noticed he was alone.
"I came here to talk about Jack. You probably already knew that." hopping into the center of the room, Bunnymund watched her carefully.
"It's the only reason anyone talks to me anymore," she sighed. It was a slight exaggeration
"I hear you helped him with Lauren." Sky nodded and he continued, "I also hear you stole him away from her. Are you his friend or ain't ya?"
"I.. I am? What are you talking about?"
"He's in love with Lauren. Why did you get in the way of that?" he pointed a paw at her accusingly.
"I didn't mean to get in the way! I didn't think I did! He told me he's not in love with Lauren. I mean, he loves her, but-"
"If he loves her, then why's he tellin' me it's you he's in love with?"
"Maybe you should ask him?" She flinched and stepped back as he stepped forward again. "Look, there are different kinds of love... He loves Lauren and, surprisingly, me. In different ways."
"You don't seem too happy about that."
"Of course I'm happy. It's complicated."
"What was your name again?"
"Skyla."
"Skyla. I need you to back off. He may think he loves you; but it was Lauren he came here for. He wouldn't shut up about her. Can you tell me, honestly, that there is none of that left in him?"
"..." Skyla hesitated. "Of course there is. They love each other, but they aren't in love."
"But you're in love with him? Only him?"
He stepped forward again, and Skyla hit the wall. "There- there is someone else. I didn't know about Jack's feelings and Brandon is-"
"I don't care." he stressed, "Jack thinks you're the one now. If you don't feel the same about him, then don't lead 'im on. If you hurt him, I won't forgive Guardians won't forgive you."
"I don't know what to do, Bunnymund! This isn't simple!"
"Yes it is!" he yelled. "Either you love him or you don't! There can't be any doubts, and there can't be any one else! Back off, Skyla," he told her again, stepping forwards, "before you get someone hurt."
"You don't scare me, B-Bunny." she cursed her voice for faltering but continued, "I'm trying, okay? Just give me a break. And-"
"Skyla!" Jack Frost came in through the window, rushing over to stand between the two, "Bunnymund" he said, facing the rabbit, "what are you doing here?"
"I'm here on business, Jack. Trying to keep her away from you." straightening up, he backed away a bit.
"Why would you do that? I thought you understood-"
"She doesn't love you, mate. There's someone else."
"I know there is." Jack said, stepping back and grabbing Skyla's hand, "I don't care."
"You should, mate."
Gripping his hand tightly, Skyla looked up at the Winter Spirit. "Jack. Bunnymund is really serious about this."
When he looked down at her, she could see the concern on his face, "Sky, don't worry about it. You love me right? So everything will work out."
"Jack," Bunnymund spoke up, grabbing their attention "She won't choose you. No matter what gifts you give her," he gestured at the bracelet, "It won't make her love you more than him."
"I'll try anything, Bunny-"
"Stop. Both of you; stop!" Skyla let go of Jack's hand and pointed towards the window "Can you both just go? I'm trying to understand what you're both going on about, but with all the arguing it's really difficult. Give me some time to think, would you?!"
"Told you," Bunymund commented. Skyla glared and he opened a hole in her floor, "Come back to the Pole, mate. There's nothing here for you. This was all a mistake." he sighed, jumping into the hole.
"Was it?"
Without looking at Jack, Skyla replied, "I hope not."
"Is he right? You won't ever choose me?"
"No. He's not right at all. This isn't easy, Jack. I feel like I'm being torn between two paths. If I take the path of only loving a Guardian... There's the ageing thing, then you'll never be around... Bunnymund hates me. We're not exactly on level playing fields. Am I making sense?" she asked, finally turning.
Tears brimming his eyes, Jack told her, "If you want me to leave you only have to tell me to. I've caused you enough trouble and-"
"Jack. I love you. I don't want you to go, but I don't want you to stay just because you're in love with me. There's more to life than-"
He held up a hand. Swinging his staff, he froze the chair in the corner. "On that first night, all my thoughts were about Lauren. You were just some person who could see me. I wanted to use you to get to her and that's it."
He stepped forward and continued, "Later, after I left, the idea of you being around for a while sank in. I liked it. Every moment I spent with you after that only made me like that idea even more. Made me like you more. I don't know when I fell in love with you; but I know I realized it that night I spent on your floor.
"I did watch you sleep that night. When I turned the lamp off, I kissed your forehead and tucked you in. It was so simple; but it changed everything." Moving close to Sky, he put his hand on her cheek "If you're not pushing me away, I'm not letting you go."
Skyla closed her eyes. Placing her own hand over Jack's she sighed, "I never want to push you away. But I can't leave Brandon, and I don't want to hurt you."
"We'll figure something out for the immortality thing. You can travel with me and see how every part of the world looks when Winter get's it's hands on it. The other Guardians might not like you at first; but they will. Lauren probably told you how little they liked me at first."
"At first?" she laughed softly, opening her eyes, "I heard it took 300 years."
"It did. But you're a lot easier to get along with than I am. Give it a couple of decades. They'll come around." he grinned at her and moved his hand away.
Dropping her arm back at her side, Skyla looked at him seriously, "Jack, what do I do?"
"You, for once, stop over-thinking everything. You've already stressed about this enough; just let your heart decide."
"...My heart isn't very smart."
"Good. Then maybe you will choose me."
Smiling, Sky shook her head, "You're not that bad, Frost."
"Not quite 'I love you' but it'll do" the spirit grinned again and moved his staff behind his head, resting it on his shoulders, "Take a joke, Sky"
"No, no. That was funny." she admitted.
"Are we okay?" he asked. Skyla nodded and he mentioned, "If Bunnymund comes back call for me. With the-"
"Bracelet? I mean, unless you have a cellphone you never told me about. So what'll be the speed dial? Panic? Anger? Or should we make it a joke and use Hope?"
"Annoyance will work. And it'll be easy when the kangaroo's around" Jack smirked, swinging his staff off his shoulders and walked to the window. "Did he tell you anything? Anything I haven't yet?"
"He really wants me to stay away from you. But, no, I still haven't really figured out what's happening. I'm getting close, though"
"Good. See you later, Sky."
When Jack left, Skyla went back to her music until, eventually, she had to go to work. Divum was playing again so there wasn't much more to do than serve drinks.
"Skyla, can we talk?" Daniel asked eventually. The two were behind the counter. For the moment neither had anything to do. "Actually, I'm going to talk. You're going to listen. And you don't have a choice." he waved a finger in her face.
"Then talk." she said, swatting his hand away.
"I can tell you're going through some stuff. New boyfriend and... Honestly, I have no idea what you've been up to. You're stressing yourself out though. And while I hate to add to that; it's really important that I tell you this."
It took a while for him to come out with the words, and even longer for them to sink in. Skyla didn't believe them. She scolded him for joking with her.
Then she heard from other sources that it was true. That the Nephilim was closing.
She was the last to know, and it pissed her off. Enough that she knew Jack would notice, but she didn't care.
Brandon had known since the day he asked her out to lunch. He found out that they wouldn't have that connection together and wanted to make a new one so they wouldn't have to say goodbye. That's what he told her after she texted him.
Josh, the owner of Dark Roast where Brandon works, was one of the first to know aside from those directly involved. Though the Nemesis of Daniel; the two were actually closer than the best of friends. He was the one who told Brandon.
It was closing in a couple of days; and Skyla realized she hadn't been given any shifts for them "This is my last night?"
"Yeah. Sorry, Angel. I tried to save it for you."
"No, I'm sorry. This place was the only good thing going for you."
"Hey!" Daniel playfully punched her arm, "That isn't very nice. Now what you do tonight is up to you. Go home, stay and work, or pick up the mic at the end of their set." he nodded towards the stage. Divum was almost done playing.
Skyla thought for a moment "...Remember that guy from my show last night? Aaron, I think. Taylor Swift obsessed?"
"Yeah, you only knew one song and left before you could sing it." he replied
"I know a few more now. It's only been one day, but I sort of grew attached to one in particular."
"Too bad he's not here, then. Need some time to get your outfit together?"
"Can I not? I was thinking of ditching as soon as I finished." Daniel nodded and Skyla went to grab her purse.
As Divum passed her on their way off the stage, they each patted her back and said something about it being nice working together. Stepping up, she didn't know what to say. She wasn't Angel this time; she was just Skyla.
"Hi, everyone. I'm Skyla, and I'm in the mood to sing a little something. Sort of at the request of someone, but-" noticing the unimpressed stares of the crowd, she gave up. "Okay then. Uh, I guess this is Come In With The Rain by Taylor Swift."
She sang, nervous at first. As the song went on she became more confident until finally she got into it completely.
The world around her faded and she let the music flow through her. Pictures of Jack Frost kept popping into her head, and she welcomed them.
It was the last time she would ever sing there at the Nephilim, and she was fully aware of that. It was likely the last time she would ever be inside the Nephilim again. With no shifts there wasn't much reason for her to come back. It would only make leaving harder anyway.
Daniel would keep in touch, she knew. They had been mostly co-workers but since they've gotten so close it wouldn't make sense for them to simply cut ties.
When the song ended, Skyla simply said "Goodbye" and grabbed her purse before walking off the stage. If the crowed cheered, she barely heard it. Her mind was set solely on getting out the front door.
"Sky? What happened?" Barely a block away from the Nephilim and Jack floated down in front of her. "I sort of- You know."
"Yeah. Umm," she breathed out, "the Nephilim is closing. And I was the last to know. But I would rather not talk about it"
"Maybe we should? You're trying to keep it locked inside, but you're slipping. Skyla-"
"Jack. Seriously." walking faster, she was thankful that the spirit actually dropped the subject.
Back at the house, Lauren was already dead asleep. Jack followed Sky up to her room and waited outside the door while she got changed. Letting him in after putting her pyjamas, she crawled into bed and turned on the lamp while he shut the door and turned off the ceiling light.
Sitting on the edge of the bed Jack asked her, "Want to talk about it now?"
"No. Want to spend the night?"
"Yeah. I might take a pillow this time, though." he said, standing up and moving to the other side of the room. Looking out the window he mentioned, "I bet you-know-who hasn't-"
"Jack." she sighed. "Let's not talk about that either."
"...Sorry."
"Also... I didn't mean spend the night on the floor... There's more pillows up here anyway," she mused.
It took a moment for it to sink in but he turned slowly and stared at her. She was sure there were a tear or two trailing down her chin, but she ignored them. Walking next to the bedside table, Jack placed his staff against the wall and his hand lingered on it a moment.
"Are you sure? I know you mean in an innocent way but.. Isn't it still a big deal?"
"It's fine, Jack. I just need you to stay. And- and be close. Please?"
He laughed softly and joked, "No need to beg. I want to, anyway."
In no hurry, Jack moved next to the bed and lifted the covers. Skyla scooted over to give him some more room. Laying down beside her, he let her rest her head against his shoulder. When he put an arm around her she relaxed into him, "You're really cold you know. It's nice"
"...Thanks. It's all natural, too." she could hear him smirk.
"Shh. Let me sleep, would you?"
"Yeah. Goodnight, Skyla." he kissed her forehead, "Sweet dreams."
NOTES:
Ugh, okay.
Really, it's late and I'm tired.
The last couple chapters have been written the day they were posted so
If it seems rushed or anything
That's my excuse
Thanks for reading
Review, review, review!
Love y'all *hearts*
(PS. I had a bunch of trouble with this chapter not posting properly. Hoping it was a one time thing!)
