So far, Hatsu Yukiya, RandomKrazyPerson, likhitata, and Writeous have figured out what my plans for the sequel are. Okay, Writeous was the one who figured it out. I actually told the other three on my own. Also, Maddie Seth got like 50% of it.

Five minutes. That was how long it took. It took five minutes for every student on campus to know that one of the school heartthrob's hair had been viciously damaged over the weekend. Of course, Jack wasn't surprised by the outcome it had on everyone else, especially when it came to the girls. However, that did not mean he had to like what he had to endure with the Robinson triplets.

"Jackson~! The three of us just wanted to let you know that we still love you, no matter what your hair looks like!" Jo Robinson addressed sweetly as she and her sisters found Jack at his locker.

"I kinda stopped caring about my hair problem already," Jack stated. "Thanks for the comfort, but I'm fine."

"How'd it even happen?" Flo Robinson asked rather curiously.

With a sigh, Jack explained, "My bangs were bugging me so I tried to cut them by myself. That clearly didn't work out well."

Bo Robinson gasped dramatically. "Oh my gosh, why would you ever try to do that?! Your hair was perfect the way it was! That's such a shame!"

Just a month ago, Jack would've appreciated the attention he was currently obtaining. However, now he was learning the hard way that there indeed was such a thing as too much attention. Being popular sucks, he thought quite sourly.

The triplets probably would've continued on gushing over Jack and his 'perfect' hair, but thankfully for him, he was saved by the intervention of none other than Cici, who was carrying a box of candies. "Hey Jack," the blonde grinned. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No, I got time for you," Jack assured, flashing a toothy smile of his own. He turned back to the three other girls, who were now glaring daggers at the newcomer. "Okay then," he spoke nervously. "Maybe we should go somewhere else if neither of us want to be torn to shreds by angry women."

Once the two were a safe distance away from Jack's clingy fangirls, Jack cut right to the point. "Alright, so what's up?"

Cici held up her box of chocolates. "I made truffles from this chocolate mix I brought back from Italy. I have another box in my backpack. Wanna try some?" She took off the lid.

Jack took a truffle and popped it into his mouth. After a few seconds of chewing, he nodded and commented, "They're really good. Did you seriously make these? I mean, not that I'm saying I thought you were a bad cook, it's just that they taste professional."

"Oh, stop with the compliments," Cici laughed. "If you want, I could give you my second box. I made more than enough for today."

"You sure about that?" Jack tried his best to not let his sweet tooth get the best of him.

"Of course I am. I wouldn't be offering if I wasn't." She took out the other container of chocolates, opened it, and picked up a truffle. If Cici wasn't going to have any second thoughts, then Jack wasn't going to complain. He opened his mouth, letting Cici feed him.

While chewing and savoring the chocolatey, rich goodness, Jack held up one finger. "Right. I'll eat the rest later. No more feeding or some girl will get the wrong idea and we'll both be in need of medical attention. You saw how it was with the Robinsons."

Cici nodded understandingly, closing the box and handing it to Jack. "Go ahead and eat all of them today if you want to."

As Jack stepped foot into math class, the first thing he looked at was the teacher. She was busy at her desk writing something that he did not care to know about. His eyes were continuously fixed on her as he made his way over to his seat. The reason he was watching her was because although she was reasonably lenient most of the time, she held a strict prohibition against food in her classroom. He wanted to sneak at least one more truffle before he had to suffer by the evil prospects of what were known as theorems and postulates. Carefully, he took one of Cici's homemade chocolates and put it into his mouth, still paying undivided attention to where his teacher's eyes were looking. Fortunately, she did not notice him. Unfortunately, Cody, who had already been in his chair, did.

"What was that?"

"What?" Jack played innocent, trying to subtly chew his chocolate so the teacher won't suspect him of eating when he shouldn't be.

"Don't play dumb. You just shoved chocolate into your mouth." Cody narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"They're just truffles my friend made for me," Jack said, holding up the box, its lid not completely shut. "Just don't tell Ms. Ramirez, alright? I get into enough trouble everyday—"

At lightning speed, Cody had taken a truffle and put it into his own mouth, not even acknowledging Jack's stunned look.

"...You could've just asked for one, you know," Jack muttered, closing the container the right way this time.

"These are good," Cody remarked, sounding more surprised than necessary and also ignoring Jack's side comment. "Who made them?"

"Cici Sanders did," Jack replied. "She's apparently really good at this cooking stuff."

"Tell her to make more. I like them. I want more."

Jack almost immediately noticed the change in Cody's tone of voice from a bored, uninterested teenager to an immature, stubborn toddler with an unhealthy sweet tooth. He raised an eyebrow at that. "You mean...you want more?"

"Didn't I just say that?" Cody opened the box again, then closed it after taking another chocolate.

"Well, yeah, but..."

The bell rang, cutting Jack off from whatever he was going to say. He quickly stowed away his food, which Ramirez still hadn't noticed he had out. The teacher stood up and began the lesson, but Jack was hardly paying any attention. He kept on sneaking glances at Cody throughout the entire hour, which the latter paid no heed to. Maybe these sweets were the key to getting through to Cody...

Anton felt more conflicted than he had in a very long time. When was the last time he felt this troubled? Around seven or eight years ago when Samson first started shaping up to be the person he was today. Which clearly was quite a while ago.

"You know, if you wanna leave Samson, then leave Samson."

Anton wanted to leave Samson. That was his number one desire.

"Trust me, if you stay with him, you'll regret it eventually."

Anton had a bad gut feeling that was telling him that Jack was right about that. He was sure one day Samson would convince him to do something way off the deep end and he would wind up having second thoughts about it.

He rounded the corner, and sure enough, Samson was at his locker. He was scowling about something, obviously in a pretty bad mood. Anton remembered back then, his friend was optimistic about everything.

"He may be the only childhood friend you have left, but friends can change."

Ain't that the glorious truth. Anton took a deep breath and approached the boy who used to be his best friend. He was going to try and take Jack's advice to him yesterday. "Hey, Samson—"

Samson slammed his locker shut and stared hard at Anton. "Did you get it yet?"

"What?" Anton was confused.

Samson groaned and slapped his forehead. "The news for the paper! The dirt on Overland, remember?"

"Oh yeah, I remember," Anton lied. No, I completely forgot. Crap.

"Well? Do you have it?"

"...No," Anton admitted, then rushed to defend himself. "It's hard to find embarrassing stuff about Ja— Overland! And we already covered all the stuff about how he's thin as a twig!" No offense, Jack.

"Well if that's how it is, then maybe I should just make up something about him then! Are you sure you can't find anything?" Samson asked.

"No! No, I promise you I'll find something," Anton promised without thinking. What the hell are you saying, Anton? "There's gotta be something embarrassing about him that has yet to be uncovered. If I don't get anything by the deadline, feel free to make up something fictional. Just...yeah," he finished off lamely.

"Alright then." Samson seemed satisfied. "Get it to me by Thursday afternoon. I'll still have time to BS what I write even if you give me the news that late. I'll see you around."

Samson left, leaving Anton standing there, replaying over and over in his mind what had just transpired.

"I'm sorry I have to word it this way, but Samson's already not your friend anymore. You're just his servant."

"Goddammit, I'm such a pushover!" Anton's back hit the row of lockers behind him and he slumped. "Why can't I just say no?! It's just a two-letter word! What in the world is wrong with me?!"

It was after school, which meant another meeting for all three periods of the performance art class. As the sixth period chatted with each other as they waited for the other two periods to arrive, Zander and Jack were stuck listening to Spencer's griping.

"...So then I said, 'Okay, whatever you say,' but deep down I was thinking, 'Don't tell me what to do, you wench!' I swear, she hates me for no reason!" Spencer complained. "She's a teacher! If she doesn't like me, then at least put up with me!"

Jack looked at Zander. "How did we get into this subject again?"

Zander shot him a look back. "You were the one who had to ask him what history homework was. Never bring up that class if you don't want Spencer to talk about the skanky teacher."

"Mrs. Beemer does seem to hate him," Jack mumbled.

"She doesn't hate him for no reason," a fourth voice joined the conversation and Anton stepped in. "At the beginning of the year, Spencer—"

"Are you really going to tell them?" Spencer whined.

"What?" Zander pried, intrigued. "What is this little secret that Spencer has never told me even though we're twins and supposed to tell each other everything?"

"He was tossing around a baseball when he was walking around the neighborhood one afternoon—"

Spencer groaned.

"—And he somehow ended up throwing it at an open window of one of the houses and it hit the vase of flowers on the sill—"

"I couldn't help myself!" Spencer protested. "You know those times when you're throwing and catching a ball by yourself and for some reason, your arm spazzes out and you find yourself throwing it somewhere you don't want to throw it..."

"—and the pet cat happened to be inside underneath the window and the vase landed on her and she died," Anton finished the story. "Did I mention that this was Mrs. Beemer's house?"

"...Wooooow," Jack deadpanned.

"Am I supposed to burst out laughing or be sympathetic?" Zander snorted. "That was a stupid move, Spencer."

"Okay, so she doesn't hate me for no reason," Spencer muttered. "But that was back in September! She should learn to let go of grudges."

"You killed her precious pet who she regularly showered with love," Zander pointed out.

"How do you even know that happened anyway?" Jack turned to Anton.

Anton shrugged. "I get around."

"Or he just likes waltzing around the little gossip corner until he gets something juicy and can rub it in the poor guy's face," Cody remarked rudely, stepping in.

Anton glared. "Did anyone ask you?"

"I don't need asking. The best thing about me is that I'm not afraid to offer my honest opinion of you."

"Look, I'm not in the mood to fight with you right now, so save whatever you have to say for next time," Anton snapped, then stormed off.

"What's got him so testy?" Jack wondered.

Cody shrugged casually. "Dunno. I came here for some more chocolates, by the way."

"More?" Jack frowned, then sighed. "Fine." He took out Cici's truffles and opened the box. "McCarthy won't care about eating."

"So you're taking advantage of my consideration in giving you chocolates to hand them over to someone else?" Cici spoke teasingly, also appearing.

"What? No!" Jack defended. "He was the one who ate them without my permission and got obsessed with them! He wants more, by the way."

"It's true," Cody agreed, losing his usual sarcasm. "They're good. Really good."

Cici blinked for a moment, then nodded. "Right, thanks. I'll make more for you. I like making candies anyway."

"And we didn't get any chocolate?" Zander mock gasped, feigning offense. "That's cruel."

Spencer just looked plain jealous.

"Can I have some chocolate?" Jamie asked innocently.

"Yeah, sure—" Jack held the box out for Jamie to get a truffle from, but then realized who he was talking to and withdrew the chocolate-holding case, leaving the disappointed younger boy's hand outstretched into empty air. "What are you doing here?!"

Jamie blinked. "Oh. I didn't feel like walking home alone today so I decided to join you. Your teacher let me in, but you were so engrossed in talking with your friends that you didn't notice. And I still want some chocolate."

Jack sighed and held the container out again. "Take some."

"Hey, it's your cousin!" Cici noted cheerfully. "Hi Jamie!"

"Cousin?" Zander and Spencer questioned in unison.

Anton ended up coming back to the group. "So he's the guy who my sister always talks about?"

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Jamie, who had been concentrating on eating Jack's chocolates, did not hear what Anton said.

"Nothing."

Jamie shrugged. "Whatever. Aren't you guys supposed to be, I don't know, working instead of talking? This whole project thing sounds too big to be lazing around for."

Noticing the glares his friends (along with a few other people who were listening in) were giving the poor middle schooler, Jack took Jamie's arm. "Jamie... Maybe we should talk outside."

Once they were standing outside in the hallway, Jack said, "Remember when we were at Cici's house and she told you about everything going on right now and she said all of us were struggling? Well, we're still struggling."

"So you don't know what you want to do for the play yet?" Jamie caught on. "And you guys don't like it when a boy seven years younger points that out because that's a blow to dignity?"

"Exactly," Jack confirmed. "If I wasn't in there to take you out there, some bastard would've utterly destroyed you. So you're welcome."

"You know, if you're really stumped, then why don't you base your play on something that has happened to you? That's what I would do," Jamie advised.

Jack looked dissatisfied. "You sure about that? I doubt that any of us have lived any abnormal lives."

Jamie simply gave him an unimpressed look. "Really."

"What?" Jack frowned. "What'd I say?"

"I'm just thinking that you're beginning to forget who you were before all this high school business started," Jamie deadpanned.

Jack paused for a moment, his face lighting up when realization hit him. "Oh yeah! Jack Frost! Totally slipped my mind." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Don't ask me how I did that. I'm a dummy."

Jamie smirked smugly as they went back inside the classroom. Jack immediately went over to his friends, who were now all helping themselves to Cici's scrumptious chocolate.

"Guys! I know what we should do now!" he shouted excitedly, not noticing his chocolate being stolen until a moment later, then irritably pried the box from Zander's hands. "And stop eating my stuff!"

Not paying any attention to losing the access to Cici's chocolates, Spencer asked, shocked, "You know what we should do now?!"

"Hell yeah!" Jack grinned.

"Thanks to me," Jamie added, but was ignored.

"Then go tell Crystal and she'll tell all of us what your idea is!" Anton spoke, then muttered, "If your idea's good enough, at least."

"Trust me." Jack smirked. "It's more than good enough."

"I heard my name being said?" Crystal appeared.

"Crystal! I need to talk to you about our play idea! In private," Jack added.

"Sure." Crystal took Jack to a deserted corner where nobody would be looking in their direction. "What's up?" she asked quietly.

"I got some inspiration." Jack smirked, then explained his idea to her. She listened intently, and her eyes grew wider and wider during the passing minute as Jack's ideal plot developed into the conclusion. The idea was perfect, and that was definitely what they were going to do. That was the bottom line.

Crystal practically dragged Jack up to the front of the room, cupped her hands around her mouth, and said in a loud and clear voice, "May I have your attention please?"

The room silenced, the attention on the acting group representative of the class.

"Jack here has come up with what I think is an excellent idea to what we should do for our play." Cici smiled and motioned towards Jack. "I think he deserves the honor to be the one to explain."

Jack took a deep breath and began, "Middle school is often considered the transition from an innocent child to a more grounded person, and it's often the place where little kids realize that everything they ever believed in was wrong and the truth is actually something much deeper. For example, the birds and the bees or how Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are myths. I'm going to be focusing on the latter."

"Then why mention the birds and the bees?" a classmate named Fernando Chavez muttered with a strong Spanish accent, not meaning for Jack to hear (He heard).

"Fernando, please, just be quiet," Jack stated, completely unfazed, then continued, "Boys and girls will all stop believing in their childhood heroes at one point in their maturation into adulthood. But I was thinking along the lines of bringing back that dream where every single legend is real."

"And get them stuck thinking that they're real forever?" Fernando interrupted again. "Yeah, right."

"Fernando, shut up," Jack said, shooting a side glance at the Colombian. Besides, they're really real. "Besides, I wasn't thinking about anything cheesy like showing a big, red, jolly man cheerfully delivering gifts and a fluffy, little bunny pooping out eggs wherever he goes. I'm talking about stuff kids start being interested in in the sixth grade. Like actual fighting."

"And? You're not making any sense."

Jack, having absolutely enough of Fernando's little side notes, took off his right boot and chucked it at him, hitting him in the face.

"Ow!"

Jack paid no attention to the dirty boot print now on Fernando's cheek and how he was now shoeless on one foot. "What I'm trying to say is that we could group the Easter Bunny, Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and the Sandman together as the Guardians of Childhood who protect children until they reach the stage when they stop believing. The plot is that the Nightmare King, otherwise known as the Boogeyman, tries to overthrow them and implant fear into the world without happiness, hope, or wonder to interfere. The Man in the Moon, who the Guardians all worship, instructs them to gain a fifth member, the Spirit of Winter, Jack Frost." He smirked at the impressed, wide-eyed looks he was getting from everyone. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jamie grinning from ear to ear. "So. How do you like that?"

"I like it." Anton was the first to speak up. "We unite all those mythical beings and create something darker out of all of them. Pretty nice."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with him," Cody sighed.

All silence around the room was broken as murmurs arose, agreeing to the idea.

"Well I think all of us seem to like the idea," McCarthy spoke up from her desk. "It's official then. That's your play. Make it the best it can possibly be. Judging from that summary, I'll be expecting it to be perfect."

Jack looked around the room, a huge grin spreading its way across his face. He caught Jamie's eye, winked, and gave a thumbs up. Jamie returned the favor.

"So, you had something to do with his sudden inspiration?" Spencer asked him, catching the mental communication between the two.

Jamie shrugged, trying to look modest. "A little."

"Not bad, Bennett." Zander smirked.

"I second that. I'm deciding that I like you. Just stay away from my sister if you don't want that to change," Anton added loftily.

"What was that?" Jamie asked, not picking up completely on what the older boy said.

"Nothing."

Remember how I said that things will get dark next chapter? I lied. It's the chapter after that.

Moving on to poll news: Parental Care is currently in the lead. (Are you guys sure you want that one to come first?) with 7 votes (No, seriously, you guys want that one?), Afterlife has 6 votes (I personally like Parental Care but), and Icy Universe and The History of Destruction (I know for a fact that it'll end up being a pretty controversial story) are tied with 4 votes each (because you guys have no idea who's going to be the dad).

Review replies:

Lovepuppy316: The fact that you even thought that Sophie wanted to urinate in front of Jack astounds me. Really... Just really? XD It was because of my ex-friend (Supreme emphasis on the ex) that I found out what erections were. Yes.

Randomness: If you're already calling me a devil for cutting his hair, you're going to call me Satan once you see how this story is going to end. -cough- Anyway, I'm glad you noticed Jack's personality change. It's a contributing factor to the sequel ;D Don't give up on trying to figure out what the sequel is about. Hint: As the title Powerless Guardian is referring to Jack's powerlessness, what would Forgetful Guardian be referring to? It's not that hard to figure out if you're picking up on the subtle hints I'm continuously dropping. By the way, you didn't ask a stupid question. I felt that way too when I began writing, but eventually it just came naturally. However, sometimes I still have trouble figuring out how to start the chapter, which is why the beginnings of these chapters can seem unbelievably crappy at times ._.

pearlsofwisdom: Unless if he has some kind of disease that prevents his hair from growing out, I'm pretty sure it'll go back to the way it was.

Guest: They'll pop up again soon, so just be patient. But I can guarantee that they are.

Dream Theme: Hm... I don't know, judging by the events that occurred in this chapter, is the play going to based on RoTG? And yeah, it's his vibe. It'll be explained in the end why she was so quick to trust him.

Maddie Seth: In Response to Your Response to My Response to Your Response to My Response to Your Response to My Response to Your Review: I'm not backing down either. 1. It's A, but you only got like half of it. 2. When I was 6, I cut off all my bangs and ended up like an egghead for the next couple of years. I have bangs again though. 3. Funnyish is just another word to add onto my own vocabulary. Don't forget epicker, epickest, funnytastic, etc.

Moonstar Daughter of Hades: Just...look it up on Google or Yahoo. Results are bound to pop up.

Hatsu Yukiya: you reviewed asdfghjkl -cough- Anyway, what's your idea for a free one-shot?

MagicGold34: I'm the one who's imagining the possibility that Jack might secretly be a woman, so now I'm thinking of him with this really over-the-top feathered hairpiece clipped on the side of his head. Who's the one who needs to go to the mental hospital again?

GhostGirl58: My inspiration? I actually thought this idea up during one of my usual daydreams. Humanity by Rand0mSmil3z might have somewhat contributed to it though.

Review!