Chapter 3: Tooth
It had been months since North had 'accidentally' uncovered Jack's secret. It was spring, and the flowers were blooming beautifully. Although Jack normally hated spring, he had just picked up a newfound interest in drawing flowers. He was currently on the middle of sketching a field of daisies and sunflowers and orchids and tulips. A bit of sunlight peeked out of groups of clouds. Although it was eternally cold in the North Pole, it seemed warm to Jack, who, naturally, was used to colder temperatures.
The teen reached over to beside him and picked up a beautiful blue, layering blue over blue to make the perfect sky blue. He had originally made a colored pencil that had the perfect sky blue color, but it had been reduced to a stub, and he had no choice, but to, although hesitantly, throw it away. The Guardian had no money, as he had no need for it, and instead of working to earn money to buy colored pencils, opted to, instead, make his own.
Jack would carefully carve out bark from a willing tree, after, of course, he asked the tree's spirit. Then, he would find the color he wanted from any natural source, juice the color out, and use his ice magic to solidify the juice. Finally, he would glue the tree's bark around the solidified color using his frost as a colorless glue. Usually, he would have to find different colors and mix them to create the desired color. He loved to create his own colored pencils, as he would not have to spend money, or stick to one color because his desired color was not available, thus creating an atmosphere of freedom.
'I have to make a sky blue color again.' he reminded himself, as he perfected the features of the now complete drawing. As he scanned over the drawing, he felt as though it was not complete. Then, he remembered what he had forgot with a blush, picked up his charcoal pencil, and began to sketch the missing piece. The teen had an indefinite sense of balance, and it definitely showed as he perched on the rock that overlooked the snowy field.
A flutter of wings disturbed the young Guardian's thoughts. 'Tooth!' Jack thought, as he moved to cover his sketchbook. "Hey Jack!" Tooth greeted cheerily. "Oh, hey Tooth." Jack replied, struggling to cover his sketchbook. Tooth looked over Jack's side. "What's that?" she asked curiously, moving to see it better. "Um..." Jack stuttered. "It's nothing." He blushed. Tooth tilted her head and crossed her arms. Jack knew what came after this. She was planning a strategy to take the sketchbook. He had seen this face just before she took the cookies Bunny usually stole before dinner. The Spirit could not stop it, but he could minimize the damage. He flipped the page of the sketch of Tooth fluttering over the field of flowers, and right as Tooth took the old sketchbook, it fluttered to a harmless page-a sketch of an intricately designed sky accompanied by a vast desert, colored by sandy yellows and crimson reds. "Wow." Tooth exhaled. "Did-did you make this?" she stuttered. Jack blushed. "It isn't that good... I mean it's just a desert." Jack rambled, embarrassed by Tooth's compliment. He scratched the back of his head in the most adorable way-at least, in Tooth's eyes.
Tooth began to blush. Had Jack always been this... well, cute? Her barely noticeable blush slowly deepened to a vermillion red. Jack cleared his throat. "Um... Well, you're really good." Tooth stated, somewhat bluntly, hoping, wishing to break the heavy silence. The wind passed by Tooth, ruffling her feathers, and flipping the desert sketch to the page Jack had been so desperately trying to hide; a sketch of a field of flowers, a realistic sky, and Tooth, roaming gently over the field. Her wings seemingly moved in the drawing, her feathers ruffling in the most realistic way. One hand was frozen in the movement of picking a white daisy. Jack's eyes widened and he blushed crimson.
"Wait... I can explain!" Jack said, as Tooth stared, agape, at the sketch. "Jack." Tooth said softly. The boy bit his lip, waiting for the raging response. "It's... Magnificent!" The Guardian of teeth exclaimed. Jack's jaw dropped, but he quickly snapped it close. "Is it?" Jack said, laughing nervously. "Yes." Tooth answered with a smile. "Why'd you choose me?" she asked, curiously, flipping the pages of the 300-year-old book. Most of them were sketches of Tooth. Tooth watching a young girl, Tooth exchanging a tooth for a coin, and Tooth flying over the vast London sky on a winter evening. Jack couldn't hide it any longer. If he was going to ever do it, he might as well do it now. There was nothing left to hide. "Tooth, I really..." the rest came out in a mumble. Fortunately, Tooth had an amazing sense of hearing. She blushed, "Jack, I like you too." They both looked away in embarrassment. "That...that went quickly." Jack said. "How-how did we get from sketching to this?" They began to laugh. "So...I guess this is the part we kiss?" Jack asked, blushing slightly. In reply, Tooth grabbed him and pressed her lips to his. Jack didn't argue. Tooth's lips were soft and sweet, but Jack's were chapped and cold. Hesitantly, they pulled away, flushed and smiling. "It's time for dinner. We better get back." Tooth said softly. Jack grinned, mischief glinting in his eyes. "I have a better idea." he said. The wind whisked them away, only the whistle of the wind as evidence of their presence.
A/N: I cannot say how sorry I am. So as an apology, I am going to post 2 chapters today. Again, so sorry! Please review and favorite. Thanks for your continued support!