What up guys :D So 2 updates in a week but what can I say? I'm starting to love writing this story too much :D To:-
A Little Red Fox: Uhm, I'm not sure if she has a fear of mutts but it is interesting to see the nightmares taking different shapes than the usual horse one xD
Little Wolf Girl: OMG, you did?! I'm absolutely in love with The Cab too :D Yeah, same here, most of my friends just roll their eyes if I ever mention that Jack Frost is real and they tell me to go and crush on a real guy but nah, I'd rather crush on Jack ;)
winternightlullaby: Yes, that's why :D I figured this story needed a twist in it and voila! Mysterious Jack protecting the welfare of the reader :D
Snowtiger: Uhm, basically Jack just revealed himself? Thanks for your lovely review (the exceptionally longgg one) it made me smile :D
walawala koala: Ermahgerd, Chet is kinda scary 3: But I updated now! So... Please don't eat me?
THORina2245: Yeah, if any guy touched me like that too I'll punch the living daylights out of him but I just needed to add more drama to this ;) Aww, thank you! I love Imagine Dragons too, their music is just too epic :D
xXAngel AlliXx: Thanks! Don't worry, the romance part is coming soon so stat tuned!
Guest: Aww, really? You'd buy my book? Wow, so didn't expect that but thank you! :D Lol, maybe I'll do that if I have the time :)
WhitishBlack: Thank you so much for your kind words! Lol, I shall be waiting :P
Thanks to Majestic Emo Brick, a few guests, likhitata, FrozenGamer27, Pinkbubble13, Spirit of Music 123, SickHappiness,MadriElla21, Abbey Grimm Dawn, I-Shadow-ReaderI, SilverTear01, and ChellyErinClark for all your lovely reviews :D And if I miss anyone, just know that I'm now typing with heavily sleep induced eyes so consider this a feat for an almost half dead person to do :P
Oh, and Happy Easter to those who celebrate! The Lord has risen, Alleluia! (If you're wondering, yeah, I'm a Catholic :P) Listen to:
Deny- Default
You stared at him with wide eyes before snapping, your (e/c) eyes blazing with unbridled fury.
"How dare you?" you half whispered as Jack looked momentarily confused.
"How could you do this me? Then talk as if you know me or my father," you hissed.
Jack's bright blue eyes widened. "N-No (F/N), I didn't mean it like that, you saw who I really am, you just have to accept it and that is the truth," Jack emphasized.
You hung your head down, covering your eyes with the palms of your hand, your breathing turning shallow.
"What's going to happen to me if Pitch finds me?" your voice muffled by your hands.
Jack was silent and you stared up, looking at him defiantly, daring him to tell you the truth just to add to your already strained façade.
"He'll kill you if he could. He has a special vendetta against your dad, the kind that makes Pitch want to hurt even his family members. Especially his daughter," Jack said that last part with a hoarse voice.
"Why couldn't he find my dad?" you asked, admitting that even if the reasons may be selfish, you still felt that your 'dad' would be better off handling this than you.
He'd definitely be the better choice.
"Because, your father is up in the moon as we speak, protecting it," Jack explained, his voice soft. "And Pitch isn't welcomed on the moon," Jack added.
"Does my mum know about this?" you asked, finally remembering your poor mum who might or might not have known about this.
"I think she has inkling that your dad might be involved in something more but if she did, I guess she just ignored it," Jack said thoughtfully.
"And why you? Why were you sent here to protect me and not my goddamn father?" your voice sounding like a hoarse whisper.
This was the breaking point.
You could literally feel your brain implode from the overload of information.
One wrong step and you might find yourself spiraling towards the dark depths of over thinking.
Jack took a deep breath, sensing your increasing worry. "I volunteered and because I was the most… Equipped to help you," he answered.
You nodded your head numbly, finally satisfied with all his answers.
"After all this time," you said and your voice sounded far away even to you.
"I thought he had abandoned me," you said as your broke whisper made the winter spirit look at you with compassion.
"Your dad? He wouldn't," Jack said comfortingly.
And, you broke.
Your tears streamed down your face uncontrollably as you sobbed and wrapped your arms around your body to hold in whatever shred of self control you had left.
You had always thought your father had abandoned you and when you were younger, you always had hope that he would come back.
As the years past, you found yourself growing weary and shutting off to the thought that he might ever come back.
And here was a supposedly mythical cold boy telling you that your dad was indeed alive and he had never even abandoned you at all.
That he was away so that he could protect you.
Damn this, you thought angrily as you swiped your tears away.
You felt Jack's cold arms wrap tentatively around you but you didn't even care much less lean in. You were too far gone to even comprehend what was happening.
"It's going to be okay," Jack murmured.
You pulled back, rage clearly written on your tear streaked face.
"No it's not!" you yelled out and the look of shock that graced Jack's face nearly made you feel guilty.
"My father whom I thought had abandoned me long ago and probably died is somehow 'alive', I'm actually a half spirit, a raging mad boogeyman is after me and a boy whom I thought couldn't even stand 5 minutes in my company turns out to be my 'protector'!" you breathed in deeply.
"What kind of sick joke is this?" you spluttered sarcastically.
The winter spirit lowered his eyes in what looked like shame.
"Tell me how I don't find this a sick joke" your voice a whisper now from your previous rage filled scream.
"I- I can't (F/N)," he said softly, his mouth set in a hard line.
"Get out," you whispered.
"What?" he asked confusion plain on his face.
"Get out of my room," you said, this time stronger as the look of confusion on his face turned to a look of hurt.
"But (F/N)-"
"Just get out," you said through gritted teeth, screwing your eyes tightly shut.
A sigh could be heard and when you opened your eyes, Jack was already gone.
You heaved a temporary sigh of relief as you sank to the ground, your head once more in your hands.
The remainder of your tears streamed uselessly down your face as you walked to your drawer and took out a locket that your father had left behind.
You traced the engravings on a shape of a crescent moon, remembering how you would wear it of you ever felt scared and wanted your father beside you.
It always made you feel as if he really was with you.
This locket that once gave you peace now only brought a surge of anger and helplessness through you.
You fisted the metal charm in your hand and hurled it across the room.
It clattered harmlessly and bounced off the walls, glimmering in the moonlight like a pair of dejected eyes.
You gave an involuntarily sob as you threw yourself onto the bed and blocked out the thoughts of Jack, your father or the confusion you felt.
You don't know if you had slept at all the whole night, but when you opened your eyes, it was already daylight.
You cracked one eye opened, your head feeling like lead.
You groaned and found out that it was the last day of school. You contemplated skipping school since you felt like crap but you didn't want to mess up your records.
Ah, screw it, you thought rebelliously as you got dressed and walked to the bathroom.
In the huge mirror, you found a paler, haggard version of yourself in the mirror and you frowned. You splashed warm water on your face and the water felt good against your tired face.
You decided to go out for some coffee as you really needed a latte now.
You drove your Jeep in silence as you rounded to your nearest Starbucks, your head buzzing with the thoughts of last night. You felt mildly guilty for pushing Jack out harshly but then again, what does one say to a guy whom you thought had no interest in your existence suddenly come out and say that he was here to protect you?
Absolutely nothing.
You won't say anything to him at all.
You then remembered that just a few days ago, you had found that ice rose in your Jeep, and you figured how Jack was probably the one who took care of you when you were out cold from all the hard liquor.
Your heart throb as guilt once again took over you.
Just give him one more chance, your conscious whispered to you and you frowned, considering but then you realized that Jack must've been hurt by your rejection last night and the guilt intensified even more.
You parked your Jeep and found that the coffee shop was only mildly crowded and you heaved a sigh of relief. You didn't want to spend the morning fighting with other customers for elbow space.
"One latte please," you asked the lady working behind the counter.
She gave you a bright smile and nodded. She went behind to prepare your drink and after she handed you your coffee, you paid her and found a seat near the window.
The sunlight filtering in felt good on your face and the warm coffee in your hand made you hum with warmth.
Just as you were about to take a sip, you noticed a familiar mop of brown hair entering the shop and you nearly spat your piping hot coffee out.
Inconspicuously, you sank deeper into the plush chair as you saw him ordering.
Your heart was beating a rapidly in your chest as he turned around with his drink and your eyes caught his.
A myriad of emotions flitted in his blue eyes; shock, guilt and hurt.
You quickly looked down, letting your (h/c) hair cover a part of your vision as Jack disappeared behind a veil of your hair.
A few tensed moments passed as you saw his feet shuffle and then he turned to walk out the shop.
You heaved a sigh of relief when you saw that he was nowhere in sight as you laid back and sipped your coffee.
"Skipping school too?" a voice cut through your reverie as you nearly choked on your coffee again and whirled around to find Jack giving you a small smile.
"How'd-" you asked then remembered that he could turn invisible if he wanted.
"Never mind," you mumbled and the silence fell upon the both of you again.
Jack sighed as he gestured to the other chair beside you. "May I?" he asked quietly as if dreading that you might reject him again.
You nodded, your throat tight as the brown haired boy took a seat next to you, his fingers fiddling with his cup.
"I-" you both said at the same time as you flushed and gestured for him to start first.
"I'm so sorry for dropping the bomb on you like that last night," he said as his blue eyes reflected his sincerity.
"And I should also apologize for how I treated you the first time I met you," Jack said softly.
You had opened your mouth to say something but Jack raised his hand to stop you. He wasn't finished yet.
"I was trying to protect you but I wanted to remain 'invisible' to you so that you could continue on with your life like nothing happened," he explained and as he said that a hint of regret sparked in his eyes.
You nodded, feeling numb. "So that's why," you mumbled and a sheepish grin graced his face.
You took a deep breath. "And I'm sorry for the way I treated you last night, it wasn't fair and it was mean."
He shook his head in denial even before you were done.
"I deserved it, I acted so callously and I should have known the magnitude of what I said would have a strong effect on you."
You flushed as you remembered your temper induced attitude last night.
Jack gave you a mischievous grin at your bashfulness.
"But damn girl, can you scream," he said in a joking tone.
You gave him a mock glare as he raised his hands in surrender.
"Just saying," he amended.
You would never say this out loud, but the change of Jack's previous elusive attitude and his now friendly one still left you a little bit shocked.
"Wait, I need to clear up a few things first" you said, absentmindedly worrying your bottom lip.
Jack shook his head in amusement.
"If you just promise to not start yelling at me in public then yeah, sure," he said with a grin.
You groaned as you dropped your head in your hands.
"You're never going to live this down aren't you?" you said around your hands.
"Nope" Jack said as he accentuated the 'p' with a humorous glint in his eyes.
You glanced up. This was your moment to rethink about everything he said with a clearer mind.
"Why is Pitch not invited back to the moon?" you asked in a conspiratorial tone.
Jack thought for a moment. "It's because he too was once after Tsar Lunar, the Great Spirit who resides in the moon and is one of the oldest guardians'. He wanted to turn him into a Fearling, much like the mutt that attacked you," he clarified.
"He's just not invited. Period. And that's why your dad remains untouched by him."
You nodded and took a sip of your latte.
"Okay, next one, how did you know I was stalking you?" you asked.
The reaction from Jack was one that you did not expect.
His face flushed but his gaze was steady. "Do you really want to know?"
You nodded now intrigued by his reaction.
"Alright, don't freak out," he warned. "But I was following you too," he admitted.
Your reaction wasn't one that he expected too.
"Aha!" you said in a triumphant tone. "I knew it, the ice rose and the frost was a dead giveaway," you said with a smirk.
Jack looked shock. "You received the ice rose?" he asked and he had the nerve to look happy.
You bit back a smile. "Yup, it's still in my freezer."
He nodded, looking strangely relieved.
"But Jack, if you wanted to keep yourself invisible from me, why'd you leave me things like this?" you asked, curiosity coloring your tone.
He shrugged but his eyes burned with something intense which he tried to cover up with his nonchalant gesture.
"I guess I wanted to figure it out," he said evasively and you guessed that he had another reason to it but didn't push it on him.
"So you did take me home?" you asked as a ridiculously huge grin adorned your face.
"The night of the party I mean," you clarified.
You then schooled your features into something indifferent hastily.
Jack rolled his eyes. "Yes, and you were just so damn heavy," Jack joked as you glared at him.
You looked down at your body but felt miffed.
"Hey, am not," you retorted, sticking your tongue out at him. "I didn't ask you to carry me home," you joked but his expression remained serious.
"You didn't," you gasped.
Jack nodded, albeit a little sheepishly.
"How?" you asked dumbly.
"Well, you do remember how I could-" he looked around the slightly crowded coffee shop before leaning in and whispering.
"Fly," he said in a half whisper and your eyes alighted with understanding.
He stood back, a grin on his face. "So that's how," he said.
You nodded a look of understanding.
"And the Jeep after the party?" you asked, this bit of sudden information hitting you.
It's not like winter spirits could drive right?
Jack smiled his secretive smile as you tried to ignore the fluttering in your stomach.
He gestured again to the bracelet.
"It comes pre-pack with the abilities of a regular mortal too," he said as your eyes widened in shock.
That was one heck of a silver band he had there.
Jack then suddenly leaned up as he looked at you with excitement in his eyes.
"Hey, (F/N), are you free tonight?" he asked with a huge grin on his face.
You fought back the urge to perk up with excitement at what sounded like a potential date.
Jack leaned in again, secret mystery smile in its usual place.
"Do you wanna go flying tonight?" he asked in a hush whisper as you couldn't contain your smile at his exuberance.
"Heck yeah I do," you whispered back, your grin of excitement mirroring his.