Chapter 3 done, yes!
I'm glad I got this chapter out this week because next week I won't be here to update anything, most likely. I'm going to Florida for a week starting Friday, so I'm doing my best to update as many of my ongoing stories as I can before then. I hope it compensates for my week of absence.
This chapter focuses on Jack's home life, kind of like how I did Hiccup's last chapter. I hope you like this one, guys.
After Hiccup left, the remainder of Jack's shift was pretty dull… and annoying. Not that he took that much joy in spying on her and Felix, whoever he was to her, while they were here. The boy with bleached hair finally had a chance to sit down at the counter and do some homework, since business became slow, but then the boss just had to come out and find something else for Jack to do.
Jack's boss, Harry, was a tall, lanky old man with a beard that seemed to get whiter every day. He walked around the library every now and then throughout the day, as if to make sure no one made off with any of the books. And every time he took this stroll, he would ask Jack for the list of checked out books, go over it and then slip back into his office around the corner. Jack quickly learned not to say anything to him unless he was spoken to, but he knows one word to describe his employer: scary.
"Overland," Harry's voice uttered in its usual hushed rasp "the science fiction section is a mess. Go clean it up." He ordered before retreating to his office again. Once he was out of his boss' ear shot, Jack huffed and bounced to his feet.
So, Jack spent until a half hour after his shift was supposed to be over re-organizing the sci-fi section of the shelving. It wouldn't have taken so long if he hadn't fallen off of the step ladder and nearly brought the shelf down with him, gravity taking the books that were already back inside of it. Other than that little spill (thank God that Harry didn't seem to hear it or he would have flipped) this activity was rather droll. But hey, how much fun could stacking books possibly be? Especially after doing it twice.
Long story short, Jack couldn't wait to hop in his car and get home. Even Harry had left by then, so Jack had to lock up before he went his way… again. Why am I always the last to leave? He internally moaned when he finally locked every door in the building, got in his car (the only one left in the parking lot) and drove home.
The very moment Jack walked through the front door, he was greeted by the warm yet worried eyes of his older sister. "Jack!" She engulfed him in a tight embrace, causing him to drop his backpack.
"Anna…" Jack choked "I can't breathe." She let go and Jack gasped for air "What was that about?" he chuckled as he tore off his hoodie, revealing a plain blue t-shirt.
"You're home late again." She complained "You know how mom is about curfew." She moved a few rainbow colored locks of hair behind her ear "You're lucky you beat her home."
Jack sighed "I know, but Harry held me up for something again. I swear my life would be easier if she would just bump curfew up a half an hour."
"You and I both know the likelihood of that happening." She giggled. Walking into the kitchen, she called "There's still some leftovers from dinner, if you want them. I bet you're starved."
"Only a little." Jack joked. He followed his sister through the doorway and found a plate already made up for him, waiting for him to help himself to it on the table. "You're the best, Anna."
She smiled "I know. Now eat something." She walked to the doorway and turned back to her brother "And remember to brush your teeth when you're done." Then, she strode upstairs.
Jack chuckled at the last part, but happily complied and sat down to eat his long awaited meal. Typical Anna, Jack mused. He heartily gulped down every morsel of the chicken and mashed potatoes provided to him; he clearly didn't realize how hungry he was until the first bite entered his mouth. After pretty much licking the plate clean, Jack trudged up the flight of stairs and turned the corner into his bedroom. He plopped into his desk chair and finally set to work on his homework, without distractions.
Without distractions, that is, until he heard a familiar voice call out "I'm home!"
Yes you are, mom. Jack smiled Good thing you're not the only one who was late tonight.
It wasn't long before the unofficial head of the Overland house poked into the doorway of her son's room and greeted him. Jack turned to face her, smile on his face. "How was work today?" She casually asked. Jack's head fell back and he let out a moan "Come on, it can't be that bad." She tried to hold back a laugh.
"I'm just tired." He clasped the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"I take it you couldn't do your assignments at work today, huh?"
"You have no idea." Jack groaned.
His mother smiled "I'll leave you to that, then. Don't stay up too late, Jack."
"No promises." He replied before she disappeared behind the wall.
Jack continued his work for about an hour after that and decided to take a quick break. As usual, the house was still very much alive at so close to eleven o'clock at night. With his parents' wonky work hours, especially when his dad wasn't away on business, the family was often awake past midnight; it was the only time they could find to be together and they took it in strive. Anna had now made a habit of staying up past then nightly, seeing as she had mountains of homework herself from dental school. So, he decided to try to sneak into her bedroom and bug her for a little while. This act didn't go unnoticed though, as her pet bird started to sound an alert to her master the second Jack's foot came into her sight.
Anna turned from her pile of books and hushed the brightly colored parakeet before acknowledging him "What do you want, Jack?" She interrogated "I'm really busy right now."
Jack smirked "What? I can't take a break from my homework to watch my big sister do her homework?"
Anna rolled her eyes "Whatever." She scratched down another answer on her paper "You and your friends have any plans this weekend?"
"Nah." Jack sighed "Jamie has to watch his sister, the girls are having one of their days and Claude and Caleb are going to visit family."
"Great," Anna muttered "So that means you'll be bothering me all weekend, right?"
"You just read my mind." Jack exclaimed. He mulled over the statement "Wait, why is that a problem? You usually don't care."
"I have a project to work on and I'd really appreciate it if I can concentrate on that." Anna explained "So, if you must entertain yourself by bugging me, please do it sparingly."
"I'll do my best." The two sat in a silence for a few minutes before Jack's pocket light up with the glow of this cell phone. He took it out and the screen showed an unknown number. "I have to take this." He stated as he speed walked back to his own room and stared at the number. He took a breath and answered "Hello?"
"Jack…?" His eyes widened at the jittery tone "It's, uh… It's Hiccup…"
"Hey," Jack tried to mask his excitement "what's up? I didn't expect you to call this late."
"I'm not keeping you up, am I?"
"No, I'm always up at this hour." Jack replied.
"Good." Hiccup's voice began to relax "So am I."
"Well, alright." The tension on Jack faded too "Now answer my first question."
Hiccup giggled "I just finished up my homework and I thought I'd finally put your number to use. Sorry it took me awhile; life's kind of hectic over here."
"It's fine. At least now I know I didn't creep you out or anything."
"How do you know that?" Hiccup intrigued.
"Why would you call someone who you thought was a total creep?" Jack playfully asked.
"To tell him what a creep he is, obviously." Hiccup countered.
Jack chuckled "You got me there." He paused "Wait, then he would just have your number and he'd just harass you even more."
The two carried on with their very witty and sarcastic conversation for close to an hour before Hiccup's ever more frequent yawns finally called her to sleep. They hung up after Hiccup promised that they would talk again, either over the phone or at the library. Jack's smile stayed plastered on his face as he stared down at his cell phone. He found that he really liked talking to Hiccup. She always had something to say and she was so funny and smart and she always had a comeback to whatever joke that Jack tossed at her.
There was the fire in those meadow green eyes; there was the spark that he saw in them. Once she was comfortable, the shy barrier she had put up collapsed with every word she spoke, every laugh that left her lips, every smile that he knew that he made her crack during that conversation. If only he could have been sitting across from her while they talked, so that he could see that fire ignite the meadows and give them so much more life than even Hiccup knew that they had. Those eyes revealed so much more about her than she knew. Those little blazes in her irises are what caught Jack's attention and he planned on keeping it on her for as long as he could.
"So, who were you talking to?"
Anna's voice made Jack jump in his seat "No one you need to know about right now."
"Was it a girl?" She pressed forward as she sat on the foot of Jack's bed "Sure sounded like one to me." Jack gave her a confused look "I'm pretty sure you can thank your maxed out volume for me hearing her." She crossed her arms and smirked "What's her name?"
Jack leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Henrika."
Anna nodded "Where'd you meet her?"
"At the library." Jack answered "She took out a book and we started talking about it and I gave her my number."
Anna thought about her next move. "Is she pretty?" A very mundane question, yes, but she had to hear his answer.
Jack ran a hand through his bleached white hair. "Very." Anna leaned forward, searching for details. Jack sighed again. "She's short- well, shorter than me. She looks like she's covered in freckles… they look like they're as brown as her hair… and she has really green eyes, like grass."
Anna rested her chin in her palm. "Hmm…" She looked over his expression while he talked and noticed a light daze in his eyes. Her smirk softened to a smile. "You like her, don't you?"
"Yeah, I like talking to her." Jack began to twiddle his thumbs "But we haven't really known each other that long yet, so…" he trailed off.
"You want to get to know her first." Anna finished.
Jack nodded. "Now… can we keep this between us? I don't want mom or dad freaking out because of this. And don't tell Emma-"
"Don't tell me what?" Anna and Jack turned to the doorway to see their younger sister standing there with her arms crossed.
"Nothing!" Jack quickly spat out.
"I know it's not nothing." Emma stated "What's going on?" She glanced at Anna for some kind of confirmation.
The eldest Overland started twirling a deep brown lock of hair "Jack likes a girl and he wants to keep it secret from mom and dad until he learns more about her." Emma smiled.
Jack groaned into his hands. "Why'd you tell her?"
"Stop being a baby;" Anna swatted at him "she was going to find out anyway." She turned back to her younger sister "You wouldn't mind keeping that secret, would you?"
The younger girl excitedly nodded, her smile growing. "It's about time, Jack." She cheered "I was starting to think I'd be the first one to date around here."
"I've gone on date before, you know!" Anna protested.
"Yeah, but there was never a second date and we never got to meet either of them." Emma affirmed.
"Well, who says Jack's going to get a second date?" Anna counteracted.
"Whose side are you on here?" Jack exclaimed.
"Relax, Jack," Anna put a reassuring hand on his shoulder "If you ever need help with this, we're here for you." Jack smiled at her and she returned the gesture.
"Yeah." Emma interjected "I want to meet her. I mean, she must have something if Jack I'll-Never-Find-Love Overland has interest in her." Jack stuck out his tongue at her and she answered with showing him her own.
"So mature, you two…" Anna rolled her eyes.