*~* Chapter 5

Jack burst from the snow, gasping for breath. "You have GOT to be kidding me!"The wind was being a butthead and wouldn't listen when he called. He had somehow inconveniently forgotten his staff, which leaned against the couch at North's. And he couldn't dive down fast enough to reach her level. So as a last minute resort, he focused his energy on his hands and blasted a snowbank on the ground underneath of them to land on. What a freaking pain in the neck. Literally. He stretched his neck sideways, trying to relieve the pain at the top of his shoulder. He must have pulled something in his arm.

Then he remembered that it was the same hand that emanated that light when he touched Venia. He flexed his fingers.

"Whoa, I feel like I just got hit by a meteorite," he heard Venia mumble as she stumbled her way over to him.

Glaring at her out of the corner of his eye, he brushed the snow off his sweatshirt. "Not a meteorite, but some of the same repercussions."

She suddenly stiffened. "I thought you said you weren't going to drop me!"

His eyes widened. "Hey! It's not MY fault!" Seriously, she was going to blame HIM for falling? "And you said it wasn't a huge phobia of yours."

"Well, when you're a little scared of something and then are thrust mercilessly into it, your fear of it escalates quickly. You said you wouldn't drop me! YOU are the one who can fly!"

His arms flew out in exasperation. "Who was the one that was kicking me in the stomach, clawing at my face like a cat trying to get on top of my head?!"

"This was YOUR idea in the first place, Frost!"

"So, I guess that EVERYTHING is my fault then, huh?" His cheeks felt something close to lukewarm.

"I don't know about that, but apparently you're just like everybody has always said you are. A trickster!"

His eyes narrowed. All this woman knew about him was about his teasing and prodding. Forget about the joy and fun he brought to people. No, all anyone ever liked was to associate him was with trouble. This lady had Some guts. He turned his back on her and put his hood up, walking away. Interesting how everyone always resorted to that when something went wrong.

He heard her huff from behind. "What, are you going to leave me down here? North's is way up there!"

He stopped, not even looking behind at her, stating bitterly, "FYI, there's more to me than just a fun-loving fool. I actually have a heart." His eyes lifted to the cliff that loomed above them. North's castle, palace, workshop, hideout, whatever you bloody wanted to call it was way out of reach for a flightless person like Venia. In fact, the only way you could get to it was by tunnel or flight. "How'd you get there to begin with?"

"Bunnymund," she replied smugly.

"Wait," he frowned in confusion, facing her. "You mean, you don't have a way of transporting anywhere?"

"If I did, I wouldn't still be standing here talking to you, frost-butt." She smirked.

Jack glared at her, chewing his lip in thought. The snarky delinquent inside wanted to leave her out here, but the gentleman knew he would never do something so cruel. Of course he would take her back up. However, there was only one way to doing that, and he knew she wasn't going to like it. And if it ended up like just now, he wasn't going to either. Maybe it was best to just leave her here..

"Grab my chest."

She stepped back away, "No no.. Y-You will just drop me again!"

He continued to glare with dark, dull eyes. It was hurtful to be accused as a liar and be viewed as a nuisance. But heck, after flippin' 300 years of it, what else could you expect. "Grab. My chest."

Finally realizing that this was her only ticket of getting back, she rubbed her arms in nervousness as she walked closer. He could smell her sweet aroma as she stood in front of him, gathering up her courage. His eyes lulled closed as he paused in his breathing. Then as quick as she held on, he took off for the sky.

Jack's feet didn't touch the sill until she let go of him and stumbled forward through the window. "Didn't drop you, did I?"

"Jackass," she hissed, getting up from the ground.

Jack rolled his eyes under his hood, walking past her and retrieving his staff. What an idiot he was. "Sounds like someone needs to learn how to have fun."

She stood on her feet. "You really are just like what all I've heard about you."

"Oh really?" He rubbed the bark on his staff with his thumb.

"YES! You're a big pain in the butt!"

His jaw clenched as tears clouded his eyes. "Yes, thank you. We just went on a dang flight. You're the one who screwed it up."

"I told you I was afraid of heights; and what do you do? You go and pull a stunt like that by- well, what the heck was it anyway?! All the light, and the loud sound...?" She blinked expectantly at him.

Jack looked up, leaning on his staff. He hadn't the foggiest idea what that was. He brought out his hand and found not a trace that anything had happened. "Listen dude, I don't know. That's never happened before."

Venia now appeared more curious than angry. "But all you did was touch me!"

"Hmm... I dunno. I really don't. But I..." His eyes closed. Guilt pricked his heart, gnawing on the already tender soul. "I'm sorry, okay? I seriously Did NOT mean to drop you.. You slipped off of me, I grabbed you, white light explosion. End of story."

She puffed a blonde-white strand of hair from her face. "You bein' serious?"

Tempted to tuck the strand behind her ear, Jack nodded. "Dead serious. No tricks, no foul play."

She sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. "It's okay, Jack. But I don't wanna fly anytime soon, alright?"

Jack nodded in understanding.

"That white light hurt, you know? I am very curious about it. Do you think it was me or you?"

"Like a new-found expression of power?" He shrugged. " I suppose it's possible. But I'm not all that anxious to try it again. My arm still stings," he trod to the globe room, glancing around for any sign of life.

"Me... Neither..." She trailed off, eyes bulging from her head. "What is that thing?!"

The globe spun at the same pace it always had, the golden continents dazzling with bright lights. The world was still full of them, Pitch's short-lived reign having been over for more than half a decade now.

"Believers," Jack said, a huge smile growing at the word. "Those are all the believers in hope, joy, and peace. The folk of the world who are young at heart, children or adult."

"I must have been one too!" She commented excitedly.

He nodded. "Yup, as was I at one time. They come on and off. When one light goes out, another replaces it nearby."

A frown lightly tugged her brow. "Why do they go out?"

Jack's breath hitched. "Well.. They grow up, or some bad influence puts it out, or.. death.." He swallowed hard.

"Huh."

Jack glanced sideways at her, observing her delicate features. His eyes traveled down, taking in the graceful lining of her neck that lead to the green material of her shirt. She wore very ordinary looking clothes-a pair of blue jeans, high tops, and the green long sleeved shirt. It was then that it hit him how modern looking she was. All the other spirits had older clothes of a significance that dated back centuries.

"Forgive me, but..." he pressed his staff against his lips a second, forming the words. "You said that you have believed in me since you were young, eleven years old... It was only about six years ago that kids started to believe in me..." His eyes quickly turned to hers.

She blinked a few times. "Yes, well... I'm a fairly new spirit."

"I knew it!" Jack thundered in triumph, jumping into the air. "Ha ha! I knew it! No wonder I couldn't remember you! I'm like, 'After three centuries of hearing about all these spirits and Guardians, why can't I remember her?'"

She chuckled weakly. "Yup."

A door from somewhere slammed shut, making them both jump. They chuckled at themselves. "So.. You're not too much younger than me? In the physical body state I mean."

"Nope, I'm not much different than you, Frost." Her tone was flat, almost emotionless.

Jack wiggled his toes, his head swimming with billions of more questions. But he did 't want to pry. He had a mess of issues with his past as well. Putting them from his mind, he pulled his sweatshirt over his hand and stuck it out towards her. "We didn't exactly get off on the right foot today. Let's forget it ever happened and move on."

A sheepish smile grew on Venia's face. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have acted so jerky."

Jack slightly shrugged. "I guess you had a right to. It did kinda look like I just dropped you, from your perspective."

She chuckled, pulling her sleeve over her own hand and taking his that way. "Deal."

And they shook on it. Jack's smile softened, his eyes venturing to look into her grey eyes as Venia looked up into his own. "You're awake!" a voiced boomed from the door.

The two teens jumped, their covered hands breaking apart. "North! Do you have to creep up on a person?!"

"Of course, Jack. How else I know if you is sleeping or awake?" He chuckled to himself. "Breakfast anyone?"

Jack turned to Venia, a glint in his eye. "Wanna have some fun after breakfast?"

Her smiled faltered. "It isn't anything like just a few minutes ago, is it?"

Jack smirked. "No, doofus. No more falling from the sky."

She wiped invisible sweat from her forehead. "Glad to know."

Oh, how she wished she could wring Jack's throat.

"FROST! YOU'RE NUTS!"

Jack's laughter echoed through the ice cave, bouncing off the walls. With a "FWAP" he gathered the slack in the reigns and slapped them against the reindeer's hide. "Whoo hooooo!"

The reindeer threw themselves forward at a faster pace. How he managed to steal them from under every nose in the pole surprised even himself. Jack had harnessed every reindeer (with Dasher as the exception, he wouldn't leave his stall) and lead them out to the sleigh. With several clicks, they were hooked up and ready to go. Grabbing Venia's sleeve, he hauled her butt to the sleigh and plopped her down.

"So, you're going to have to get used to heights if you're going to hang around me." She opened her mouth to protest, but he held his hand up against it. "Nope, not a word. North says to keep an eye on you today and relieve some stress off you're shoulders that you apparently have in your life. So, as the first order of business, you will learn to fly." And with a "Yeehaw", they took off down the icy tunnel, bursting through the cave's opening.

Venia clutched the seat of the sleigh, much like Bunnymund did all those years ago when the Guardians took their first trip on the sleigh together. Jack shook his head and nudged her playfully. "Relax, chick. It becomes more fun when you're enjoying it."

"Well, I supposed this is better than having your ribcage and appendages as the only thing to hold on to in the air," she said, eyes shut tightly as the reindeer ascended upward.

"Now, I do have one tiny confession to make." Jack slapped the reins again.

"What is it, Frost?"

"We Guardians have a cheating habit in our ways of transportation. It helps us get around easier." He pulled a snow globe from the pocket of his sweatshirt and held it out to her. "This is a snow globe."

She cracked an eye open, finally releasing her death grip on the wood to take the globe.

"Whisper any location you wanna go, and then throw it ahead of the sleigh."

Venia thought for a moment, watching Jack's elusive expression of curiosity play on his young face. They bounced around as the sleigh took a sharp twist, causing them both to slam on the backrest and Jack to grip the reigns tighter.

"Say, 'Pond of Burgess'," Jack suggested.

Venia licked her lips and whispered the words, then cautiously threw the snow globe at the head of the reindeer. A gigantic, swirling whirlpool opened as wide as the excitement of Venia's eyes. Jack grinned and cracked the whip, sending them into the door between worlds.

They happened upon the snowy landscape of Burgess sure enough, right by the pond. Pulling the reigns to the left, Jack directed the sleigh just before hitting a solid oak tree. Then with a thud and a lot of sloshing snow sideways onto the surrounding trees, the sleigh hit the ground the instant the reindeer were halted.

"Have you ever driven one of those before?" Venia asked, her legs shaking as she stepped off to the ground.

Jack shrugged. "Once or twice, maybe." He walked up to the leading reindeer and stuck a finger in its face. "Stay." The reindeer snorted.

"Whoa, smooth landing, Jack," someone said from behind. Venia instinctively whipped out her dagger.

"Shut up, Jamie," Jack whined, giving the young man a high five. "You can barely drive your mom's car. What're you doin' out here?"

Jamie rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "Just taking a walk. Who's this?"

Venia looked to Jack, lowering her dagger. "I'm Venia."

"Venia?" Jamie smiled, bowing at the torso.

Jack chuckled. "Yeah, she's my tutee for the day."

Venia put her hands on her hips, a smile on her face. "Excuse me?"

"She needs to learn to like heights," Jack sadly shook his head.

"Oooooh," Jamie drew out. "You a new Guardian?"

She shook her head. "No, just a newbie, period." Her foot kicked up a puff of snow.

"With no mode of transportation," Jack added.

"Hey," she pointed the dagger at him.

Jamie huffed. "Get that away from Frost, dude." He pushed the dagger down from Jack's direction. "That's unsafe. And you hurt him, I hurt you."

She sighed, putting her dagger in its sheath. "Nice to know that I don't appear very threatening."

Jamie snorted. "Dressed like that? Nuh uh."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Okay, so we're not here to sit around and talk all day." He scooped some snow from the ground in his palm. "Lets play war."

Jamie was then hit in the head with a hurtling snowball. The teen laughed and bent down to form his own, gaining another hit on his bent behind.

"Oooo, Jamie! I think I just hit a twenty-pointer!" Jack called out.

"Dream on, Frostball!" Jamie hurled a ball the size of his fist at the other teen.

Jack leapt out of the way, getting hit at the base of his calf. "Sorry to tell ya this, man, but that one was a little weak."

Jamie laughed. "A little warm up is good for the arm. We'll see who's the last one standing, the one who's outdone himself?" He dodged a snow bullet. "Or the smart chap who took it slow and steady?"

"Going slow will get you now where in this game!" Jack quipped, throwing a snowball with a curve to his wrist.

"STOP!" Both boys froze in their positions, arms full of readied snowballs. "Can't I get a word in?"

Jamie cocked an eyebrow. "Venia, why don't you join in?"

"I thought he was going to take me to see Sandy and Tooth," Venia recalled with clarity.

"Oh yeah," Jack face-palmed.

"Hold on there, we were in the middle of a game, people," Jamie reminded them.

Jack shrugged reluctantly. "A promise is a promise."

"Well, I'm not trying to cause trouble. I just wondered if maybe we all could go visit them," Venia clarified. "It would be twice the fun."

Jamie put a hand on his side. "I got football practice in half an hour. I don't have time to go visit them right now."

"We could go fast," Jack suggested, wiggling his eyebrows.

Venia shook her head. "Nuh uh, you're not going to fly me around like a load of cargo on a run away train." Jack laughed.

"Why don't you just stick around till I have to go?" Jamie asked.

Jack bit his lip. "We could.. But I'm not sure when Bunnymund is leaving. He's due somewhere sometime today." Jamie and Venia peered oddly at him. Jack huffed, "I dunno what it was all about! I just overheard him saying something about it last week. I figured we might be able to catch him if we tried."

Jamie's cocked brow didn't waver. "Alrighty then, Jack, as fishy as that sounds. I say we settle it over a game."

Jack smirked. "You've hung around me haven't you?"

"For too many years," Jamie added. "Okay, the object is to cross the road without slipping on the ice on their butt. If I can do it, then you stay here. If Venia can do it, you go to the Warren."

Venia looked on past the two boys at the main road that peeked out at the edge of the woods. "That one?"

"Yup," Jamie nodded, heading towards it, the two spirits following him. He pointed to Jack. "But YOU can't play."

Jack's hand rose to his chest. "Why not me?"

"You're too good with ice," Venia smirked. "Okay then," she sighed as she surveyed the blacktop. "This shouldn't be too bad." But she suddenly jumped back when a hissing sound emanated from the staff in the hands of the boy standing beside her.

"Not anymore," Jack smirked, finishing a thick coat of ice over the road, spreading out past where the eye could see for good measure.

Jamie blew his bangs out of his eyes. "Nice, Jack. Okay! Ya ready, Venia?" She nodded, shaking Jamie's hand in good sportsmanship. Jamie yanked his hand out of hers. "Gosh! Girl, you're cold!"

Venia looked down sheepishly. "Yeah, my skin is cold. Don't ask me why though, I haven't the faintest idea."

Jack turned toward her, eyeing her curiously. "Where-?"

"You up, Jamie-Boy?" Venia shouted above Jack's beginning question. Jack blinked, his curiosity only stirred even more.

Jamie didn't have to be asked twice. "Sure am, woman!"

He strolled up to the edge of the snow, analyzing where snow met blacktop... Or rather, ice. Jack noticed that there were only two lanes that they had to cross. He watched as Jamie held his breath, hovering an extended foot over the blacktop. Then with careful precision, he placed his foot down.

"Whoo, go Jamie!" Jack whooped.

Jamie gave a light bow with his head before continuing. He was doing rather well, and Venia actually thought he was going to make it. But about a foot before the other side of the road, Jamie's toe slipped when he placed it down too gently, causing his balance to tip and his other foot to lose traction. His legs flew out from underneath of him as he plopped to the ground hard on his bottom. Venia and Jack couldn't help but laugh.

"Very funny, folks!" Jamie yelled sarcastically. He attempted to pick himself up, only to fall again, hitting hit knees. Jack walked over the iced road with ease, lifting the 15 year old from it. "Your turn, Venia."

She swallowed. She never remembered doing anything like this before. Paranoid, she looked to the left and then to the right for traffic. Jack snickered when she repeated this action a few times.

"Come on, this road is hardly ever used except by residents," Jamie whined impatiently. "Get a move on!"

Asking herself just how stupid she was, she stepped out on the ice.. and didn't fall. Jack's smile grew wider as she took it step by step, without falling. "Yahoo! Go Venia!"

Nobody saw the uncontrolled car. Nobody heard the car. Not until it was right on the edge of the horizon, its tires squealing as they fought to grip the road. In what felt like slow-mo, Jack and Jamie watched the car slide right into Venia. Her expression was wordless, a mere deer-in-the-headlights look. The shock then turned to self defense as her face twisted, waiting for impact. The impact that never came.

Jack's jaw dropped and Jamie's hand flew to his mouth in awe as Venia simply disappeared, the car struggling right through where she once stood as the driver continued to go about his way trying to gain control on the ice.

When it disappeared over the other end of the horizon, silence settled on the two teens. Jack floated over to the road, waving his hands around the spot Venia had stood. "What the heck?" he whispered under his breath.

Jamie peered around the area, scooting around in the snow, and blinking a million times per second. "Jack... What was that all about?"

Jack ran both hands through his hair, his breath shaky as he exhaled. "I dunno, Jamie, I-... I don't know." His panic increased as he only saw an empty space and no reappearing Venia. "Oh, Jamie, we gotta find her! Where in flippin' heck did she go?! Where Could she go?!"

Jamie's voice was soft. "I'm not sure, dude." He jumped at the sound of his name being called. "Aw Jack, I gotta go. Football practice."

Jack nodded weakly, taking a few steps back. "O-okay, Jamie. I'll see ya later."

Jamie sighed, biting his lip. "Jack, listen, I'll fake an injury and come home as quick as I can, okay? I'll be home really soon!" He ran through the woods to his house.

Jack pinched his nose, holding his breath, and scratching his neck. Wha-.. Where did Venia go?

*~*~*~*~*~*G*~*~*~*~*~*

So, finals are coming up (*hysterical crying*) and I'm kinda in the dumps. Please be patient with my updates. :)

And btw, I have neglected to put disclaimers on these chapters. So, what the heck, you KNOW I don't own all this. If I did, you would be seeing a movie or tv series or something or that nature on your tv screen, not an entry of fanfiction on your computer screen. So, in other words, i don't own any of this. Haha!

Also, a HUGE shout out (YAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!) to oOWhispers in the DarkOo. This person is awesome and been so supportive in my story so far. So thank you so much!

And to anyone who has read this, thanks :) Please review! I would love to hear a good/bad analysis from you. :) Please?