Disclaimer: "I do not own Rise of the Guardians, Brave, or any other Disney/Dreamworks/Animated films. All rights belong to Dreamworks, Disney, etc."
Chapter 3 Snow Globes
Mary patiently waited by the window, checking to see any cars that might match to the one her brother described. She frequently checked the time, counting down the minutes. It was already close to 7:30am, and there still was no sign of Merida. Jack kept calling her cellphone, occasionally letting out swears when she didn't answer. Knowing her, she was probably still asleep, forgetting all about their arrangement. At this point, he would have to drop Emma off on his own—not like the girl couldn't afford to be late, but still. He tried calling her once more, only to receive her answering machine.
"You reached Merida, sorry I'm not here to answer right now, but if you leave your name and number, I'll do my best to get back to you as soon as I can."
"Come on, Merida, pick up the phone," he said, hanging up the machine.
Emma jumped off the windowsill and walked over to him with concern. "Maybe she can't pick up the phone right now because she's driving?"
He scoffed, "Not likely." He put his phone down, giving up for now. "If she's not here by 7:40, we'll just leave without her."
"Have you tried texting her?" Mary asked.
"I've tried everything imaginable, Emma," he answered with a sigh, "Go figure the girl would give me trouble like this. Even last night she couldn't give me a break. I have to go shopping with her later; do you know that? The girl isn't even a girl as she is a hot mess. We'll probably be running around in circles trying to figure out what to buy for each other."
She giggled from the use of his words. "She sounds perfect for you then."
He blushed and glared at her. "Emma, that isn't even funny. This is Merida we're talking about."
"Yeah, and you talk about her more than anyone else. Even if your words are mixed with insults most of the time—you got to admit—it's a little strange that she's constantly in your thoughts," she answered with a sly grin.
He was caught off guard by her statement, ignoring it completely to be true. This wasn't a love story—this was reality. They weren't going to fall in love, or ride out into the sunset—things like that don't happen between people like them. They hardly even got along, and despite theories that might say otherwise, he just couldn't imagine Merida falling for a guy like him. All he did was test her nerves, and she made clear she didn't want a guy in her life. How could he ever be attracted to a girl who was basically the opposite of his type? It just wasn't possible. Even so, why was he actually willing to try? Sure, it was for his story, and maybe deep down, he thought it could be fun. He didn't want things to get heavy, not with her. People like them would only find someway to screw it up. They weren't like the film when Harry met Sally—they were just a dysfunctional pair made from a drunken cupid.
He countered the argument by being honest, going against her thoughts.
"Okay, I'll say this much, she is attractive; as far as first impressions go. Deep down though, she's nothing more than a spoiled brat who burns everything she touches. I don't think she even knows what having a boyfriend is even like. All I see is an abusive relationship thick and through. So as soon as this little charade of ours is over, we'll be nothing more than colleagues again."
"So you say…" Emma whispered, "I still can't wait to meet her."
"Looking at the time, I say this morning isn't your chance."
"Trying calling her again!" she commended.
"It's no use, just look at the time already!"
"Just do it, Jack!"
"Geez, why are you so eager to see her?"
She put her hands on her hips. "Why did you easily agree to be her fake boyfriend?" she asked.
"Stop changing the subject, you know why!" he fumed, pointing his finger at her.
"That still isn't enough, now just call her, or I'll really be late for school!"
"You are so going down for this later," he muttered, hopelessly surrendering to her demands.
Mary beamed happily from her success in outwitting her brother. It was always such a rare opportunity, claiming it each time when it was available to her. There was no way Jack was going to avoid Merida that easily. She could tell from the tone in his voice last night when he picked her up he had a good time visiting her. In a way, it's probably what spooked him. She knew her brother all too well not to be honest with his feelings. Behind that trickster of a smile was a kind heart, one he never liked to expose often unless it was in her company. Despite his effort trying not to seem attached, there was something she could sense when he spoke about Merida. It was almost like he couldn't keep himself away, no matter how much he tried. Maybe it came with the perks in being her assistant, but he just had this aura about him that spoke differently. Call it love or hate, but those two were bound to go somewhere down this road. It was only just a matter of time before fate will take its course, and when it did, she could only hope they were prepared for it.
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Merida mumbled in her sleep, wiping some of the drool that managed to slip passed her lips. Her eyes cringed in annoyance at the ringing she believed to be her phone. She tried searching for it with her hand, keeping her eyes closed the entire time. It was at that moment she realized the written note inside her hand. She opened her eyes, ignoring the sound of her ringtone to examine it. She cringed from the sunlight's gaze, carefully reading the message she believed to have been given to her by Jack.
'Remember to pick us up by 7:30am to take Mary to school.' The rest of the note was their address.
At that moment, her eyes slowly grew into saucers.
"Shit!" she shouted, her accent thick with panic.
She checked the time, reading it to be nearly pass 7:30am on her cable box.
"Oh Christ!" She dashed off the couch, not even bothering brushing her hair.
She changed her shirt and brushed her teeth, not really having time for anything else. She checked herself inside the mirror, passing her appearance with a shrug. The clock now read close to 7:40am, causing her to rush in faster. She took off out the door, not even bothering to make sure she had everything.
She bit the tip of her nail. "God, I hope I'm not forgetting anything…oh!" She slapped her forehead and ran to grab the note with their address. "Can't leave without this!"
She closed the door to her apartment, locking it from the inside. She sprinted down the hall for the stairs, not bothering to waste any time. It was a good thing she was kept in shape, because she made it down to her car in seconds flat. She couldn't even bother to call Jack to let him know she was on her way. She unlocked the door to her car, jumping inside while turning on the ignition. Not even bothering to look, she pulled out and prayed she wouldn't get pulled over for her speeding. In the meantime, her phone kept ringing, receiving text messages here and there asking where she was. Luckily she recognized the street where they lived, not really needing her GPS for directions.
It wasn't like it was a big deal to her, after all, this was only part of her scheme in convincing her mother that her and Jack were in a relationship. Even so, she felt like she owed it to them for agreeing to help her out. There was no way they were going to pass as a couple if boundaries weren't crossed. It wasn't like she expected to fall in love like some cliché romance novel—such things were unworthy of her time. Jack deserved someone who could actually treat him right and be equal to his standards. As much as she would hate to admit it, he was handsome—pretty—but handsome. Someone like her, who could only scheme in making him miserable wasn't even worth it. There were more suitable girls out there for him, and to be with someone like her, he would only be wasting his time. It wasn't like she was easy to deal with—she's always been like that.
Stopping at a red light, she began to wonder how Jack was able to put up with her attitude. Granted, he had his own shenanigan moments she could criticize about, but still. Either way, it was best not to dwell on it; too many feelings into the matter would only make her doubt herself. And last time she checked, she was Merida DunBroch—leader of her own department at Guardian Fate. It wasn't like she needed a man to get through the day in telling her who she was—much less that person being Jackson Overland.
After the umpteenth call, Merida picked up her phone, parking her car directly across the street from their address.
"I'm here!" she exclaimed.
"Well, it's about time," Jack said through the other line, "I was beginning to think why you even got a phone if you never answer it. Were you driving?"
"Yes, how else would I have gotten here?" she sarcastically replied, "I just parked across the street from you."
She could hear his sister in the back, telling him that she 'told him so'.
"I doubt you got up early and got stuck in traffic, but we'll be coming down now, keep the car running," he advised.
"Will do," she answered bitterly.
Merida hit her back against the seat after hanging up, blowing out a curl from her face. She waited with a pout, not even bothering to care if she looked like a slob. When she thought about it, she hadn't really showered since yesterday morning. She sniffed her armpits, checking to see if she smelled.
"Nah, I think I'm fine," she stated confidently.
Just then, a knock came from her door, spotting Jack with his sister. She unlocked the car, letting them inside. Mary climbed in through the back, noticing the multiple files and garbage in the back of Merida's car.
"Just push whatever is back there aside," Merida said gently.
"You sure?" she asked.
She nodded genuinely with a smile. "It's perfectly okay, most of the stuff back there is junk anyway."
Mary did as she was told, putting on her seatbelt after taking her seat. Jack sat pokerfaced next to Merida, studying her appearance with amusement.
"Nice bed hair there, Curly Sue. It looks fluffier than usual."
She glared at him. "Just tell me where to go."
He looked around their area, pointing behind them. "You got to go back that way, it's not far. Luckily we'll actually make it in time, despite a certain someone being late."
Merida pulled out of her parking area, ignoring his jab towards her tardiness. "Whatever, just say that we're even from yesterday, Mr. Peppermint."
He shrugged, not really paying any mind. They kept silent, grudgingly looking away from each other in fear of actually letting down their walls. Mary shifted her eyes back and forth between the two, becoming quite curious of the strange chemistry they had. Most girls she saw Jack with would be nervous or fond of his good looks and charm; she noticed though that Merida was different. It was almost like she was calm around him, almost like she wasn't afraid to pick a fight. When it came to her brother, Mary knew he liked a challenge, especially when it came to testing his own wits. She giggled with amusement—it looked like he finally met his match.
"By the way, it's pleased to meet you, Mary," Merida said with a smile, scorning Jack for his rudeness, "Your brother hasn't even introduced us yet."
He crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, I figured you were vulgar enough to do it yourself," he answered spitefully.
Mary playfully hit the back of her brother's head. "Don't mind him, Merida. He can be very forgetful at times."
Merida gave out an affectionate giggle, falling for the girl already.
"He can be, can't he?"
"Yeah, and just to let you know, I definitely love your hair," she said.
"Her mop of a hair?" Jack asked in disbelief, "You can get eaten alive by that thing."
Mary kept her chin up. "Well I think it's pretty. It reminds me of roses."
"In a bush," Jack added mockingly.
"At least I don't care what I look like," Merida defensively countered.
He chuckled, finding that aspect about her quite inspiring. "That is true. It's one of things I admire at least."
Taken by surprised by that little confession, Merida almost lost sight of the road. She wasn't used to such a compliment, especially from someone who she thought hated her. Her cheeks became rosy, expressing the sudden rush of blood in her stream that was affected by his words.
Jack snapped her out of it though. "Hey, red light!"
Merida immediately slammed her foot onto the breaks, causing all of them to jolt forward in alarm. She let out a huff, biting the inside of her cheek in humiliation over her moment of weakness.
"Geez, were you daydreaming or something?" he asked scornfully.
"No, I was going to press the breaks! But you shouting out of nowhere freaked me out was all! " She answered fumingly.
"Well, at least we're almost there. We should be in front of the school as soon as you make this left turn," he said.
"In the meantime," Merida turned to Mary and asked with concern, "Are you okay?"
She smiled with a nod. "I'm fine."
Merida sighed with relief, patiently waiting for the light to turn green. When it did, she made the turn and parked in front of the school. There were a lot of students already making their way into the building, making it just in time before the bell rang. She shifted the gear into park, allowing herself to become distracted by her thoughts. Perhaps it wasn't a good idea for her to get close to them like this. It felt strange—she hadn't even asked Mary how she felt about everything yet. She truly was only thinking about herself through this ordeal than them. She practically forced Jack to be a part of her mess; so how could she not expect her to be upset?
Mary opened the door to leave. "Bye Jack, see you later!"
"See you, Emma. Have fun at school," Jack said.
She turned to Merida, waving at her. "I'll see you later too, Merida."
"Oh, yeah, sure," she answered hesitantly with a smile, "Take care."
She closed the door and ran over to her friends. Merida fondly stared off after her—to think Jack was raising her on his own—it was quite an astonishing feat.
"I must say, you've done a great job, Jack," she said without thinking.
"What was that?" he asked.
"I was referring to your sister, you're a real good guardian."
He eyed her suspiciously with a cocky grin. "Well now, is that supposed to be a compliment?"
She scrunched her lips. "Don't read too much into it."
He shrugged and chuckled softly. "Wouldn't dream of it."
"So what now?"
"This is the part where we go shopping, Sugar Bear."
"Eww, what kind of nickname is that?"
"It's a rather cute one. I think it fits you quite nicely."
She scowled at his humor.
"You don't have one for me?" he asked curiously.
"No, why would I? But I'm sure I'll find something vile for you to have."
"Oh, you're such a charmer."
"Let's just go already." She sighed.
They looked around, finding most of the students to have gone inside. Merida pulled out from her space and figured they would start by the market. They kept to themselves for the most part, Merida being the first to break the silence.
"So, how old is your sister Jack?" she asked.
"Well, she's not twelve," he answered musingly.
"Just tell me." She sighed irritably.
"Nine, if you really want to know."
"How long have you been looking after her…you know…since your parents died?" she asked, hoping she wasn't making him uncomfortable.
"Since she was four, why?" he asked.
"Oh…"
"Oh?"
"It's nothing," she said, shaking her head, "Sorry, I was just wondering. I didn't mean to pry."
"Wow, you're apologizing now too? You're really being sweet this morning," he said suavely.
She couldn't help but feel insulted by his accusation. "Do you really think of me that heartless?" she asked, raising her voice.
He was stunned by the hurt in her voice. "Relax, I was only kidding."
She frowned and decided not to speak any further until they arrived at their destination. It was so unlike her to be sensitive over a comment like that, but she couldn't stand the thought of being a monster. She remembered calling her mother a beast when she was young—knowing someone might actually see the same thing in her—it hurt.
Jack studied her expression the entire time with concern. He honestly didn't expect his remark to get to her like that. A part of him wanted to say something, but his pride got in the way of him doing so.
For the remainder of the ride, they just kept to themselves. They passed glances at each other, quietly contemplating on what sort of gifts they would get for each other. Jack wouldn't want it to be easy, and was actually curious what might actually make her smile. The same couldn't be said for Merida though who was restless about it. It's not like she had relationship experience like Jack; so how the hell would she know what to buy him? The fact that he's a guy, even made it that more difficult.
They parked when reaching the square with Jack offering change into the meter. It was pretty crowded for a Friday, making their little adventure almost like a hunt. Merida looked over all the brand-named stores, contemplating which to start with first. They should really shop together if they were to get this done quickly—shopping wasn't her forte anyway. Jack, however, proposed a different plan in mind.
"Okay, we can meet back here in two hours," he said.
"What?" she asked in alarm.
He smiled at her. "What? You didn't honestly think we should go shopping together?"
"Well, I did…think that," she confessed hesitantly.
"It be more interesting if we split up to shop, get to see what our relationship is really about," he explained.
"There is no relationship, just business," she berated anxiously.
"Don't be such a baby. I'm sure you don't need to hold my hand for something simple as this," he teased.
"Simple?" she exclaimed, "Just because you have flock of girlfriends at your feet, doesn't mean I'm capable of this!"
"Merida, you're more hardheaded than that," he said, "Think of it as a challenge. Whoever gives the most meaningful gift, owes the other dinner."
"Then I'm going to lose for sure," she muttered, blowing a strand of hair off her face, "I'm not one bit romantic, so how the hell am I suppose to know what to get?"
"I'm pretty sure that's not the case," he said with reassurance, "You'll figure it out, you always do."
He flicked her nose, going off towards the opposite side. "Catch you later, Fuzzy."
She squinted and yelled out with frustration. "Jack, get back here!"
Completely ignoring her, he waved his hand out and disappeared amongst the crowd. She received odd looks from her sudden outburst, blushing tremendously in embarrassment before swearing for revenge. The buildings towered over her, hiding her shadow from the sun. Guess she had no choice but to do this on her own. If there was anyone who was going to owe dinner, it was going to be him for leaving her like this. Sure she had doubt that she will actually succeed, but she had to try—no way she could miss her target now.
She took off towards the opposite direction, setting out for her hunt.
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Jack looked over his shoulder actually surprised to see that Merida wasn't following him. He chuckled to himself in amusement—the girl's pride was fiercer than he thought. Despite her reluctance, she was still willing to follow through. This was going to be fun, now he knew for sure that he couldn't hold back. Each shop he passed held no real significance towards the personality she held, or interest. The common accessory shops ideally for women did nothing to prove the fire she held. Merida was a female, but she definitely was no ordinary woman—she was going to be a challenge to please. Hell, he should just go out and buy her a weapon from some black-market alley shop and be done with it already.
He shook his head though—that just wasn't him. Jack had respect for women like Merida, despite her superiority complex. As much as it pained him to admit it, he did think she deserve something special.
That's when he saw it—right in the corner of his eye—a snow globe. There was an ornament of a red-haired girl inside. She was wearing a traditional renaissance dress, her hair a mess of curls that reminded him of Merida's. Trees with little bits of snow falling off them surrounded her. Her eyes were closed with a smile on her face, standing peacefully over a lake that was painted frozen. The design around the base was gold, showing off a hint of red to match with the color of her hair. It sat out in display inside a shop he wasn't familiar with. He scanned from outside the window, finding all source of odd trinkets inside. Everything read "Half-Off", so he was pretty sure there was good sales inside.
He felt suspicious, but decided to venture inside. "What do I got to lose?" he asked with an unpleasant sigh.
He passed through the door, a soft bell ringing above him. The store held a strange scent of wood mixed with mold, tickling his senses right away with uncertainty. No one seemed to be around, not even customers—maybe this was a mistake? He looked around the shelves, finding the shopkeeper to have a weird taste in bears. They all looked handcrafted, dust covering the air from the sunlight that beamed from outside. He stepped back in alarm when meeting a stuffed crow—it's eyes piercing straight into his soul.
Not long, it cawed, startling him instantly in a panic. Jack almost fell back from the sudden sound, letting out a yelp of surprise. Soon an elderly woman appeared, swatting the crow away for scaring such a valuable customer. The clothes she wore were old fashion and moth-eaten—he wouldn't even be surprised if she was a witch in disguise. She was short, and her nose stuck out like a beak. She patted his chest with a flirtatious grin, invading his personal space with a loving gaze that shivered his very core.
"Sorry about that!" she said, a little too cheerfully, "Didn't know we had a guest."
"Uh…" Jack took a moment to compose his thoughts, feeling a bit uncomfortable by her stare. "Are you the owner of this shop?" he asked skeptically, getting straight to the point.
"Yes, though my hobby is wood carving, I'm known to sell many things," she answered humbly.
"Yeah, you have…" Jack looked around and finished uncomfortably with a crooked grin, "…quite an eccentric collection."
"Ah yes, I do acquire good taste in what I make," she responded proudly with a hand to her chest. "Now dear, what is it that you're looking for?" she inquired curiously, her eyes large with wonder.
"Well, I'm not sure. I'm looking for a gift for someone," he said, hesitantly rubbing the back of his neck.
"Judging from your tone, it must be for someone you really care for," she said with a devious smile, "A lover perhaps?"
Jack blushed heavily from the accusation she made. "No, nothing like that!" he exclaimed.
"Well, would the dear like something like this?" she asked, giving him a carved ornament of a bear dancing on it's heels, "Or perhaps this!" she shouted in excitement, revealing more decors with bears on them.
Jack scratched his cheek nervously, not wanting to sound rude towards her choice of fetish. "No, I was actually thinking something similar to the snow globe you have out on display from your window," he said while examining the shelves with disappointment, "But it seems like you don't have anything else around here that's similar to it. Is possible to buy that one?"
"Oh, that old thing?" she asked distastefully, "It's not for sale."
"What?" he asked with disbelief, frowning deeply with his arms stretched out in annoyance, "Then why have out for display if it's not for sale?"
"Do you honestly believe everything is for sale in these stores? Much less, if you could actually afford it?" she questioned slyly, studying his face furiously for an answer.
He glared at the woman as if she was judging him. "How much is it then?" he asked.
"$500 dollars," she answered bluntly.
"What? Just for that?" he blared.
"I did say it was old, didn't I?" she queried, "What makes you think you're worthy enough to have such a thing, boy? Just because you're handsome, doesn't mean you can have it."
"I may not be worthy to have it, but there is someone I know who is," he defended somberly, firmly tightening his lips.
She noticed the glint of determination in his eyes. "Hmm, so it is a lover then."
Jack didn't even have the patience to deny it. "Look, isn't there someway to lower the price? Even just a bit? I mean, this girl is impossible to please, and I just need something to shut her up and know she'll never have me as just some guy who's willing to do everything she says, take her out on dates, or give her everything she needs. I'm not that guy, okay! I'm just someone who somehow got stuck with her, who wants to win a bet of who's buying dinner as payback for all the shit she's putting me through!"
Jack's rambling startled the woman, her own pet crow gawking in alarm.
"That is the most beautiful confession of love I've heard in years," she swooned, "In that case the price will be $485, my final offer."
Jack gaped at the woman with disbelief. He slapped his hand across his face and let out a restless sigh—he wasn't getting anywhere at this point. The woman was obviously mad, and negotiating with her seemed impossible—like fifteen dollars off really made a difference.
"Screw it, better than nothing," he said, surrendering quietly.
The wood carver rubbed her hands together with success. "Excellent! You have made a young woman happy, including myself."
Jack took his wallet and handed the woman his credit card. "Here you go."
Her crow actually snatched the card from his hand and slid it through the machine himself. When the receipt printed out, he passed the card back to him. Jack stood stunned from the whole ordeal, his mouth gaping open the whole time in bewilderment.
'This place is weird,' he mentally mused with a twitched eyebrow.
The shopkeeper in the meantime went to fetch his item, treating it with care. She handed it to him, directing her finger at the knob underneath the base.
"This is more than just a ordinary snow globe, lad. It's also considered a music box. The song comes from an old Scottish lullaby called "Noble Maiden Fair". It's a very rare item, if I do say so myself."
"Is that so?" he asked, "It's perfect for her then."
As if to test it, Jack carefully turned the knob in order to hear the tune. Right away, he imagined Merida singing it. The melody was familiar, like he heard her sing it many times before to herself while at work. She would be concentrating on something, and out of nowhere, start humming the same tune he was listening to now. Somehow, it soothed him, bringing him back to his own childhood with his parents—one he thought was lost.
"Thanks, Granny." Even though it was expensive, Jack did appreciate the help.
She gabbed his hand, looking right through him. "If you look deep enough, some things will be easier to understand than you think. Keep that in mind, young man." She gave her hand out. "Here, let me put that in a bag for you."
Jack did as he was told, still trying to decipher what she meant. She carefully wrapped the globe inside a box and pushed it into a plastic gift bag. There certainly was an unearthly aura about her, almost like she knew things that no ordinary person would believe. As odd as the shop was, he didn't regret coming inside. Jack took the bag from her and nodded with a smile to show his gratitude.
"Have a good day," she said, grabbing some woodcutter tools from the side, "Pleasure doing business with you." She sat down and skillfully began to carve into some wood, mindlessly singing to herself.
"Same here," Jack answered with an awkward smile, allowing her to resume her work.
He soon made his way out the door, sighing with relief when returning to the streets. "What a strange woman," he said.
Looking at his phone, he realized he had more time to spend. Now probably would be the best time to buy the stuff her mother would be expecting when it came to romancing her daughter. True, it wasn't her thing, but it was the least he could do—not like flowers or box of chocolate was going to kill her. Wouldn't hurt either to buy some sexy lingerie for her; at least so he can have his kicks.
"Hope Merida had better luck than I did," he said, "I just hope she liked what I got her."
He strolled over to the closest flower shop he could find, anticipating her reaction—more importantly—what she bought for him.
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Merida looked at gift she had just bought for Jack inside the bag. The face she wore grew sour with disappointment from the purchase she had made. She truly was hopeless; what she held was proof enough. A lava lamp—that was all she had to offer. What sort of present was that? She wouldn't be surprised if Jack just faked dumped her now for her lack of creativity. If only she could do better, but what the hell do you even buy for a guy? They weren't exactly simple; besides maybe offering them sex; but there was no way she was giving him that. Since sex wasn't on the table, taking him to a baseball game would probably be the next best thing for a guy. When she thought about it though, it really didn't seem all that sentimental. It has to be something really worth charming to his character.
She sulked where she stood, biting the inside of her cheek. She had an urge to scream out in frustration, but held herself back in order not to make a scene. Jack was practically a child than an adult—he was a rumbustious youth at best. She held the same type of nature—the only difference being—she held that freedom to herself. There was never a person around she cared enough to share it with, her family being the only exception. Other than that, she was pretty much guarded, keeping her weaknesses to herself. However, now was the time to bring down those walls—anything that will help her survive in being with him. They had to trust each other, and buying a gift was the first step in doing that.
Too bad for her—she failed at it.
'Just what could I get that would make him happy?' she mentally asked, 'This just won't do.'
There was no point in just standing around and brooding about it, so she began to walk instead. Hopefully, if she was lucky, she could find something else that will please him besides a cheap lava lamp. Nothing seemed interesting enough from the stores she passed. The windows reflected her disappointment rather than the items that were kept on display. There were a few antique shops, but nothing really stood out. Jack was rather picky when it came to music, so no point in going to a record store. When she thought about it, he was pretty much a simple person. The only problem being, she wasn't.
"Is there really nothing else here?" she berated hotly.
A glint caught her eye, causing her to squint. It disturbed her vision, leading her eyes to the source where it was coming from. Right across the street was a toyshop, the logo to the store bold and bright with the words "Santa's Workshop" written across. It was large, containing all types of gears and toys inside that gleamed brightly for any child's imagination to see. The colors that came from inside overshadowed the street, casting rays of rainbows that spread even to her eyes. Merida considered in going inside, hoping this was her chance to finally buy something worth giving to Jack. She looked around at all the other bland stores, deciding to take the risk.
She walked across the street, avoiding the cars that passed by. When she got closer, music could be heard. It chimed joyfully with trumpets and drums, reviving the youth inside her with excitement. She entered inside, instantly avoiding a plane that flew overhead. It was like being inside Santa's playroom, celebrating Christmas morning. Everything was lively, and children could be seen playing and giggling with the toys that were kept on display. She looked around in awe, and felt like she was in a dream. Trains passed through loops, traveling through the shop. Action figures could be seen prancing around as if they were alive, entertaining the children while they waited for their parents to finish shopping. It was enough to make any person happy, causing Merida herself to smile.
She strolled over a line of baskets with plastic weapons inside, becoming curious over the selection they had. Her eyes widened with delight when she spotted a toy bow in one of the slots.
"Wow, this takes me back," she said, lifting the fake weapon inside her hands, "Maybe I could get something like this for Mary."
She traced her fingers along the curve, remembering her childhood. She once had one just like this from her father when she was young—that was back when she used to live in Scotland. She never realized how much she missed home until now. Archery was her passion—to think it's been that long since she held one. She gripped the toy close to her chest, remembering the time when she would practice out on the field with her horse. She would wake up every morning, galloping through the hills with the rush of adrenaline inside her veins. It was like she could almost smell the meadow of her homeland, seeping into her like she never left.
Soon, a large and bulky man appeared behind her, smiling slyly at the fascination she held towards the plastic bow. His beard was white as snow, traveling down his large belly with laughter bubbling inside.
"Seeing anything you like, dear?" he asked aloud, startling her.
Merida panicked and almost took a swing at him, but stopped when noticing the friendly look in his eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just looking," she said with a short nod. She studied his features, blinking rapidly in bewilderment. "Um, are you the owner of this place?"
The man laughed aloud with pride. "Indeed I am."
She smiled awkwardly. "Wow, you really do look like Santa Claus."
"Most seem to believe that I am, especially the children," he mused. He titled his head and observed the bow in her hands. "You seemed lost in thought earlier, hope I didn't disturb you."
"Oh no, I was just remembering some things from back home," she said.
"Home, huh?"
"Yeah, originally I'm from Scotland."
"I see…that explains the accent. I know the feeling though, I'm from Russia."
"I had a feeling you were," she said with a warm smile, "Your accent sounded familiar."
"What's your name?" he asked curiously, "If you don't mind me asking."
She was wary at first in telling him, but did so anyway. "It's Merida."
"Merida…" he whispered her name as if to test it, "You seem to be around my nephew's age."
"Is that a fact?" she asked, "Hope you're not looking to pair me up with him."
"He's quite a ladies man, but you seem like the type that would be perfect for him," he explained with a cheeky grin.
"You have a weird sense of humor, old man," she said with a soft hum of laughter, "Sadly, I'm looking for a gift for someone. So I'm afraid I'm taken."
"Too bad, the boy really needs a gallant woman with your type of flare," he answered with disappointment, "Can't blame a old man for playing matchmaker. The boy is nothing but trouble, but I try to set what's right for him."
"Sounds like someone I know, believe or not," she humored.
"So what exactly are you looking for?"
"I'm not sure exactly. I was thinking of getting this bow for his sister, but honestly, my main goal was to find a gift for him," she said, hanging her down in shame, "All I was able to get was a lava lamp, which isn't really anything at all."
He lifted his eyebrow peculiarly at her. "You're really not good at this, are you?"
She gave a disgruntled sigh. "I never really had a boyfriend before," she admitted quietly, "So yeah, not sure how to go about this. He can be such a child to the point I question how old he is. I guess it's the reason why I thought to try and find something more suitable for him here. We just started dating, but it all just seems complicated."
The man known as North thought deeply over her situation. He was quite intrigued over the similarities his nephew Jack had with this man she was with. If they really were alike, this would be easier than he thought.
"You must really love this person to feel that way," he said, hugging his stomach, "I can feel it in my belly."
"What?" she practically shouted in alarm, her whole face matching the color of her hair, "It's not like that!"
"Then why are you dating each other?" he asked, becoming baffled.
She rubbed her arm, pouting irritably at the blush that just wouldn't go away. "Like I said, it's complicated."
"Either way, I think I got just the thing." He walked over to some boxes, selecting one amongst the top.
"Will this do?" he asked, hanging it up for her to see.
Merida examined the box curiously with a hint of doubt in her voice. "A town set?"
He came up to her face excitedly, his eyes sparkling with wonder. "One that comes with a rocket train set!"
"Uh…" Merida stared at him incoherently, deciding to amuse him. "I guess it seems cool enough to give him."
He roughly patted her back and handed the box over to her with a smile that was too perfect to break. Merida beamed at the man, sensing a bit of her father in him.
"And I'll give you the bow for free," he soon added.
"What? I can't do that." She was displeased with the idea, wanting to pay for it herself.
He waved his hand, disregarding her concerns. "Trust me, it's on the house. I'm glad my shop caught your attention enough to come in. You came in on your own so that must mean something. Are you sure you don't want to try dating my nephew?" He nudged her arm.
She giggled, balancing the box and bow in her arms. "Sorry, afraid not. The guy I have is a handful enough."
He shrugged, letting out a snort. "Had to try again to make sure." He took the bow from her, scrunching his lips at the weight of it. "Let me get you a better one with the complete set. This one is usually for display only."
"Oh, that would be great! Thank you!" she exclaimed happily.
He laughed joyfully and gave her a wink. "I'll just pack them up for you, and you can be sure to pay the elves at the front."
"Elves?" Merida inquired.
"It's what I call the workers, don't worry, I don't mean elves literally," he hollered in amusement.
Merida played along with an unconvinced chuckle. "Uh, yeah, sure." Though somehow, it wouldn't surprise her.
She gripped the box inside her hands, occasionally losing her grasp from how large it was. It was pretty heavy, but she managed not to drop it. She hoped Jack would like it, caring more on his reaction than their bet. For some reason, imagining his face light up in seeing her gift actually pleased her. As soon as that thought left her mind though, she panicked in humiliation. She caught herself blushing, shaking her head wildly from the delusional thought.
"As if I would care what he thinks," she muttered.
"Merida!" The jolly shop owner called out to her from the cashier, "We're ready for you."
"Oh!" She turned her head and quickly made her way towards the front.
She passed the box over the counter, allowing them to ring her up. The price wasn't too bad, given the circumstances. They put all her belongings inside the bag, passing it carefully to her.
"You sure you can carry all that?" he asked.
"I'm stronger than I look," she said, her expression soft with reassurance.
"I hope things go well with you and your boyfriend," he said.
"Huh?"
"You mentioned you guys just started dating, so I wish you luck."
"Oh, thanks, though I won't need it," she said, her eyes becoming downcast.
"Why do you say that?" he asked with concern.
"It's just…I have a feeling we won't be lasting long anyway," she answered uneasily, giving out a shrug like she didn't care, "So luck doesn't really matter to me."
"Don't say that," he said, "You never know."
"I know for sure about this one though."
"If that's the case, you can always look my nephew up."
She laughed at his persistence. "Nice try, but that's still not going to happen. Either way, I appreciate all your help."
She gave him and his co-worker a short nod and began to take her leave.
The man gave a humble wave. "It was nice meeting you, Merida."
"Same to you…. uh…" She stopped to ponder his name.
"North," he answered, crossing her tattooed arms across his chest.
Merida halted her breath, recalling the name somewhere before.
'Isn't North Jack's uncle's name? I don't quite remember. Oh God, I hope not! Though last time I checked, Jack wasn't Russian, so maybe not.' She was left worried at the possibility, knowing it would only cause problems if it was.
She shook her head though, having more pressing matters to intend to. They bid farewell to each other as she made her way back out. The air was a little bit warmer, suggesting it to be noon. She checked the time, finding herself to be late.
'Jack must be back at the car by now,' she mused, picking up the bags from sagging onto the floor, 'I guess I've done all I can, time to head back.'
She kept North's words inside her head when it came to her current relationship with Jack. It wasn't like she wanted things to work out between them. They weren't even a real couple, so why bother? They barely could get along as it was. When she was around him, everything just seemed complicated. Never would she have thought they would be together like this, not with him of all people. Fate had a weird way of putting him inside her life—so she decided to do what was best for them both—deny it.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jack leaned against the car, slowly casting his gaze over to the time that was left on the meter. There was only two minutes left, and Merida was still nowhere to be found. He was getting bored, wondering if he should add more quarters into the meter until she arrived. Luckily he wasn't standing too long, but he was getting anxious. He never was one who could sit still, always needing to be on the run. After a moment, he slipped some change inside the machine and let it run for another twenty minutes. It was best to play it safe so she wouldn't get a ticket. Honestly, he didn't know why he cared. The girl was more trouble than she was worth—all for one book.
"Jack, I'm here." Her voice appeared, breaking his thoughts.
He looked up and caught a wisp of her hair blowing in the wind. "Took you long enough."
She fumed, her cheeks blowing up like a tomato. "Well, excuse me for trying to find something nice for you."
"Aww, how sweet," he said, pinching her cheek.
She swapped his hand away, placing the bags down onto the floor. "Not like carrying it was a picnic either."
"Yeah, seems like you went sort of big on this one," he said, trying to see through the bags.
She hid his gift behind her though. "Wait until we get inside the car."
He sighed with annoyance. "Fine, let's just hurry up. I want to see your face from what I got for you."
"Oh yes, sexy lingerie and flowers are the perfect things to buy for a woman," she answered cynically.
"Well, when you put it that way, sure," he countered defensively.
"You're so predictable, I should have known," she said, shaking her head.
"Hey, that's not all I got you, I got something special too," he said.
This made her curious, dropping her harsh demeanor into a softer one. "Is that so? Hard to believe."
"Just unlock the doors," he huffed.
She reached for her keys, pressing the switch to unlock it. The car gave out a beep, giving Jack the signal in opening it. They both got in, adjusting the bags into the back for them gain room. It was quiet inside the car when they closed the doors, blocking out the noise from outside. Merida didn't turn on the engine yet, finding they still had time. She sat comfortably where she was, anticipating Jack to speak first.
When he didn't, she took the initiative instead. "So, should I show you what I got you first, or should you?"
"Well, I'm not one to be rude, so, ladies first," he said, directing his hand towards her to present what she had.
She grimaced at the cliché act of courtesy, sighing nervously in response. She reached behind the back for her bag, handing it over to him with a light shove. Jack opened it and brought the box out in awe. His eyes glimmered like that of a child, turning the package to each side in order to inspect the details. Merida waited anxiously for him to say something, not sure if his feelings were out of false glee.
She bit her lip. "Look, I know it's lame, but…at least I think it's better than a lava lamp," she said.
"Merida, no, I…." he stopped to smile at her, "I love it. I never had one before, and it's something I always wanted. I'm just shocked you actually got something sweet for me. And you're right, it is better than a lava lamp, though that would have been cool to have too."
She gave him a perplexed look. "Oh, well, good…. because you got that too."
He looked back inside the bags, laughing softly in amusement when he found it. "Well, at least it's a blue one," he answered gratefully.
"I wish I did a bit better though. I sort of had help selecting yours," she gracelessly confessed.
"Hey, it's okay," he said, smiling handsomely, "I mean, you could have done worse."
His compliment caused her to be suspicious. "You're being awfully nice, which is weird. You must be up to something."
"Hey, I'm always nice, you just never been nice to me. Not like I need an agenda to prove that," he countered, "I mean, it's not like you're a Disney princess to be fond of, not with that attitude."
She fumed quietly to herself, quickly losing her temper. "You can be such a dick, do you know that? I can't believe women you've dated picture you to be this perfect prince, when you're nothing but an asshole who only does things for his own entertainment of fun."
"Oh, and you're any better?" he asked.
"Just give me my damn gift," she demanded hastily.
"Fine! Here!" He grabbed his bags, tossing it to her.
She roughly pulled out each item, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh look, flowers, how original." She soon lifted a piece of lingerie, blushing heinously at it with disgust. "Uh, great, it's like you weren't even trying at all." She shoved it back down, too embarrassed to even look at it.
"Just get to the bottom of it. I have more class than that," he barked, "Can't even take a joke," he quietly grumbled.
She glowered at him, following his demand. Her hands grazed over a small box at the bottom, lifting it up gently for her to see.
"Be careful, it's fragile," he firmly instructed.
"What is it?" she asked.
He shook his head in disbelief. "Just open it and see."
She twisted her lips in annoyance, but did as she was told. She unfolded the lid, expecting something vile inside—like a dildo telling her she should get laid—she wouldn't be surprised. What she did find though was totally something beyond her wonderment. The snow globe in her hands was beautifully decorated with a metal material that was ancient beyond her years. She cupped it gently, examining the design with large eyes of admiration. She was speechless, trailing her fingers around the sphere while shaking it lightly for the snow inside to fall.
Jack gazed at her intently, offering to speak, "It's a musical one. There's a knob you could turn from underneath it."
She flipped it over, beginning to turn the switch. It only took it a few seconds before the melody inside of it started to play. Merida was immediately stricken with emotions from her childhood, her mother's sweet lullaby echoing inside her deepest memories. She tried so hard to blink back the tears that began to form in her eyes, but alas, it was futile. The last thing she wanted was for Jack to see her like this—to see this side of her. He was too distracted by the set of bow and arrow she got for his sister to realize tears were cascading down her face. Her lips quivered with resistance, her chest tightening with a strain of sobs that just didn't want to come out.
"Hey, who's this for? Did you actually get this for my sister?" he asked, laughing lightly, "If it is, then great. It's all I need, another you around the house." He turned to her, getting worried from how quiet she was. "Merida…?" he asked, her whimpers instantly causing his walls to come down.
"Jack…" she whispered his name inside a wavering plea.
"What is it? What's wrong?" he asked in alarm, "You don't like it?"
Before he could even get an answer, she burst into tears. Jack sat stunned and confused, clearly lost for words. She cried silently to herself, wiping her face rapidly for the waterworks to stop. Jack patiently let her emotions settle, allowing her to cry. To think he would get something like this without even knowing what it would mean to her. Truly, he deserved more credit than she thought. After a couple of more minutes, she was able to calm herself down.
"How embarrassing," she stated dully, "Can't believe I broke down like that."
He chuckled lightly, feeling relieved. "You're telling me. What was that all about?"
"It's nothing," she mumbled, "Just consider yourself lucky that you won the bet."
"Wait, I did?"
"Wasn't me crying obvious enough?"
"I guess, though I still don't know why."
"Call it nostalgia from my childhood," she gently confided.
"So, I win?"
She sighed irritably. "I suppose so."
"Doesn't mean your gifts weren't great, Merida. Despite our bickering, I really did enjoy them."
"Well, I guess that's a relief in some sense. Since you know I'm not good at this sort of thing."
"As long as we're trying, that's all that matters. Though I got to say, you crying like that sure took me by surprise."
"Glad my tears were able to entertain you," she said with disdain.
He laughed. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just…it was a nice side to see. You shouldn't be ashamed to show it more often, especially to someone who isn't me."
Blood rushed all around her cheeks, cursing his charms. Why did he have to go and say something like that? The only reason she chose him for her scam was because she thought he wouldn't care. It would have been easier for her than allowing him to expose her like this. She gripped the stirring wheel, turning on the ignition.
"Let's just go, we wasted enough time here," she said, flicking on the engine.
He lay back with a grin. "Whatever you say, Sugar Bear."
They placed their gifts away, remaining to stay silent after that. By the time they were on the road, Merida's blush subsided—vowing to never let it happen again.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
They reached Mary's school an hour early before her release. It was a quarter to 2:40pm, giving the pair nothing to do but to wait. Since their arrival, Jack was fast asleep. Merida kept playing with her phone, stealing glances at him. His eyelashes were pretty long, making his features look quite gentle. For a reckless guy, he sure knew how to groom himself. He breathed calmly inside his sleep, keeping his arms crossed with his head propped against the window. Merida wanted to laugh, becoming memorized by his face. Usually in movies, it was the guy watching the girl sleep, not the other way around. He looked at peace though—like a modern sleeping beauty.
To think he was her "boyfriend" during her family's stay was honestly quite strange. Before all this, he was probably having hundreds of girls waiting for him to return their calls, each yearning for his attention. Yet, here he was, doing everything he could just for his book to be published. The ticket for them to reach their personal goals was sure going to be a difficult one. A certain limit of effort had to be made, especially from her. In the end, that was the whole point for them to "hook" up in the first place. Hopefully they could manage it long enough for them to get there.
Soon the bell rang, disturbing the quiet atmosphere they were in. Jack groaned in his sleep, waking up sluggishly while trying to recollect his thoughts of where he was. He looked over at Merida who smiled mischievously at him.
"Had a nice nap there, sleeping beauty?" she asked.
He grinned deviously at her. "Were you watching me this whole time? Like what you saw did you?"
"Oh please, don't flatter yourself," she snapped.
"With my résumé, sweetheart, you learn to realize what you got," he told her, smirking devilishly with pride.
She shook head with disbelief. "Yeah, a list of diseases helps me a lot."
He straightened himself up while ignoring her remark, trying to spot his sister amongst the crowd of students that were coming out. "So once you drop Mary and I off, what are you going to do? You can always stay over to have dinner with us, if you like," he suggested, gazing gently at her.
Merida shrugged indecisively. "Thanks for the offer, but I think I'm just going to go home. Have a lot to prepare for this weekend. I think I'm just going to pick up your stuff and drop them off at my place and call it a day."
"This weekend is sure going to be fun," he said with a yawn.
"Remember, from this day forth, we got to act like we're a legitimate couple, minus the sex," she sternly advised.
"Aww, but those are the best parts," he playfully moaned.
"Like I said, not going to happen," she growled.
"This relationship is going to suck."
"Then it'll be easier for the both of us," she confirmed firmly.
They soon heard a knock by one of the windows. Mary waved at them, catching their attention to unlock the door. She opened it and got inside, noticing the bags in the back. She got excited, wondering if there was anything for her.
"So, what did you guys do today?" she asked eagerly.
"Just a bit of shopping," Merida answered.
"Had a good day at school?" Jack asked.
She nodded. "Yeah, it was great! How about you guys? Did any kissy stuff happen while I was in school?"
Merida gasped in horror. "No!"
Jack snickered from her reaction. "No, nothing like that; but she does owe me dinner."
"How that happened?"
"Well, we sort of made a bet and she lost. She got you something though, a toy bow and arrow."
"What? Really?" Mary asked excitedly.
Merida blushed and bashfully scratched the side of her neck. "It's nothing special, it's just something I used to have when I was a kid. I thought you might like it."
Jack pointed at one of the bags. "It's in that one."
His sister immediately dug her hands inside the bag, pulling the box out. "I can't wait to try it!" She beamed.
"Just try not to break anything inside the house," Jack warned.
Merida's lips spread into a devious grin. "Yeah, just use your brother as target practice; I know I would."
Mary giggled from the idea. "Finally, revenge for all those snowballs."
The newfound bond between the two stirred a mix of warmth and concern inside Jack. They had to be careful not to get too attached; if they do, someone was bound to get hurt. Merida tears was enough today for him to panic; he didn't want it to get any worse.
"Alright you two, let's just head home already," he scornfully announced.
Merida creased her face in annoyance. "What's with you all of a sudden? Forgot to have fun?"
"I'm the definition of fun, but I'm also hungry. So let's just go on our merry way already before my stomach starts eating itself," he moodily declared.
Merida switched the gear into drive after turning on the ignition. "Fine, Mr. Grumpy pants. We'll go home."
The ride was uncomfortably silent after that, which worried Mary greatly. She could see the tension of uncertainty between the two. When they left this morning together, all they had was animosity towards each other. She wondered if something happened that caused them to seem uneasy about their feelings for each other. They did seem closer than before, but she guessed that was the problem.
They got home through the rush hour, gathering what was theirs in the back before getting out. Mary turned to Merida with a hopeful smile.
"I'll see you later, Merida. It was nice meeting you. Hope we can spend more time together soon," she said.
"That sounds nice," she answered, her smile faltering slightly, "You take care."
Mary ran up the stairs, opening the door on her own after waving goodbye. Merida glanced over at Jack during this time, waiting for him to speak.
"Thanks for the ride, Merida" Jack mumbled, avoiding her eyes, "I'll just go upstairs real quick to get my stuff and bring it down for you to take home."
"Jack…" she spoke, gulping sharply, "…I never got to thank you for the gift, or for your help. I know it doesn't really mean anything, but…it means a lot to me. Sorry if I offended you in any way. It's just, I'm used to us being, you know, us."
He caught her gaze, offering her a smile. "Heh, don't get the wrong idea, or else you'll go soft on me," he lightly joked.
"I think that's something you don't have to worry about. I'm too good for you anyway," she said.
"Yeah…you are," he whispered, catching her off guard.
He soon shook his head, dispelling the atmosphere between them with something more discreet. "Well, let me get my stuff, so I can play with my train set already."
She gave a hopeless sigh. "God, you're so immature."
"At least I'm not horny with a copy of 50 Shades of Grey in my house!" he called, rushing up the stairs.
She blushed and shouted after him. "Not so loud, you idiot!"
He entered inside the duplex, laughing aloud for everyone to hear. Merida sat back, fuming quietly to herself. His antics could be so crude sometimes, especially when it involved her. While deciding to wait, she turned and spotted the snow globe that was tucked neatly beside her. It truly was beautiful, instantly washing away her anger. She took the glass sphere out, and shook it gently. The snow particles inside fell over the girl that was on top of the ice, creating a halo all around her. Merida smiled gently at the effect—keeping Jack in mind.
For there was also times like these, when he could just make everything glow.
End Chapter
Kiome-Yasha: "CRAP! This was a long chapter! I hate making long chapters, so much WORK! I still hope you guys enjoyed it though :3. Next chapter, the DunBroch family finally comes in 8D!"