A/N: So... don't kill me.
Sorry I sort of up and left. Had a lot on my plate, but after reading some of the amazing Jack Frost stories on here, I got the motivation to try again. I realized some chapters overlapped, so I've edited them. I have a few chapters typed up, so hopefully it will keep me going for a while. I'll be alternating between this story and my Hunter x Hunter one, so I don't know how regularly I'll be updating. I'll try to aim for once a month.
Again, really sorry for the delay. Here's a long chapter for you to sink your teeth into. Reviews are most welcome, and lots of smooches to titankisses for helping me out and giving me feedback. You're amazing, and I love you!
Jamie was not amused.
Jack had found him fast asleep after a long day of school and playing with Abby. Finding some syrup in the kitchen pantry, he dripped some onto the unsuspecting victim's eyelashes and used his power of ice to help him out.
"Jamie! Come on, wake up!" Jack said, trying hard not to laugh. It took a couple of tries, but Jamie suddenly sprang up in panic.
"M-my eyes! What's wrong with them?! I can't open them! I can't see!" Jamie screeched, wiping his eyes with balled up fists furiously. Jack howled with laughter, but finally composed himself enough to gently grab the poor boy's wrists.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. It's just syrup. Let's wash it off," he led Jamie to the bathroom and opened the tap, letting the water heat up. Jamie blindly felt for the sink and let the water fill his cupped hands before splashing it on his face and then tried rubbing it off again.
"Not funny, Jack," the boy glared at the guardian, but his sour expression was gone as he continued to stare at the grinning winter spirit. Soon, he was laughing too.
Maleya pulled up to the driveway of Holly's house, unaware of the little tooth faerie buzzing around her shoulder. She threw her purse under the passenger seat and checked her face in the rearview mirror before she opened the door. The car beeped as she shut the door and locked it.
"Mallie! You made it!" Joseph, a brunet in her Calculus class, greeted her warmly. Few people were out on Holly's lawn, and he had been one of them, sipping his cold beer and enjoying a smoke. She smiled at him.
"Sure did," she replied, and was surprised when he pulled her in for a hug. When he stepped back, Mallie caught sight of a familiar black-haired girl bounding down the steps of the porch towards her.
"Pri!" Maleya greeted, and was tackled into a hug by a slightly tipsy Indian girl.
"I thought you wouldn't come!" Priyanka told her, and Maleya laughed as her friend embraced her tightly "I'm so glad you did though!" She pulled back, letting Maleya breathe again. "Ready to party?" Priyanka asked, a mischievous look on her face.
"Sure am!" Mallie said, making her way to the trunk of the car. "And look, I got my own drinks." That had Baby Tooth fuming as she buzzed around Mallie's head, trying to get through to her. What was she going to do? How was she going to stop her?
The trunk of the car opened and Joseph deadpanned. "That's alcoholic-free beer," he stated, unimpressed.
"I am driving?" Maleya told him, and Priyanka seemed to breathe out a sigh of relief.
Joseph looked like he was about to try persuading her, but Priyanka stopped him.
"Stop trying to get people killed, dipshit," Pri told him, and Mallie giggled at her language. "I'm proud of you, Mal," she added, looking the redhead in the eyes. Unbeknownst to them, Baby Tooth gave a nod of approval. Grabbing a beer and lighting a cigarette, Maleya closed the trunk of the car and locked it again.
"So, give me the juice," she began, opening her can with a hiss.
"Nothing out of the ordinary yet. I think Parker tried to make out with Jess- earned him a real slap in the face. Fred's passed out on the couch. Holly's taking a swim with Chloe-"
"A swim?!" Maleya asked, wide eyed with shock.
"Heating," came Joseph's reply with a wink. Maleya shivered. She didn't care if the water was 50 degrees. The air was freezing. She would die before willingly going for a swim in this weather.
"Yeah. So, you've got the eyes for anyone here, Mal? Maybe I can help you," Pri gave her a wink. Maleya was almost happy the girl was less than sober. Priyanka was already nice, and it seemed that if you gave her a couple of glasses of wine, she became even friendlier!
"Hmm…" Maleya thought. "How about Dom?" she said, as she spotted him making his to the other side of the lawn.
"Nu-uh, he's gay," Joseph told her nonchalantly.
"Aw," came her reply. Both Maleya and Pri continued to watch as he made his way to another boy they didn't recognize. When he got there, he gave the lucky guy an Eskimo kiss.
"Naaw!" they both squeaked, dripping with adoration. "I wish someone would do that to me," Maleya chuckled, slightly envious.
"Got you covered, girl," Priyanka told her, before rubbing her nose against Maleya's. When she pulled back, they both started laughing like crazy. Even Joseph joined in. Maleya took a last puff of her cigarette before flicking it to the ground and stepping on it, only to put the butt in her ziplock bag.
"Ready to head in?" Joseph asked, and Priyanka hooked her arms with Maleya's.
"Lead the way, Joe!"
Five hours later, and Maleya was back home. The lights were out- she guessed everyone had gone to bed- so she tried to make her way back to her room as discretely as possible.
Baby Tooth looked a bit frazzled by the events of the night. There had been so many people crammed into a middle-sized house, so it had gotten stuffy and hot. Maleya had danced and mingled, happy to have become good friends with Priyanka and Joseph. She thought it would be hell to find new friends in this little town, but luckily, she was already making progress.
Luckily for Baby Tooth, Maleya had remained true to her promise with her father and drank nothing but non-alcoholic beer and cola throughout the night. She was also relieved to find Jack Frost waiting for them by the door. Jamie had gone to bed a couple of hours ago, so he had been left outside alone, wandering the streets and freezing things over to pass the time. He'd flown straight to the O'Connor's house when he saw the car returning.
"Jeez, Baby Tooth, you look awful," he commented, a sly smile on his face. Baby Tooth glared at him.
"Anything I should be worried about?" he asked her, ignoring the look she gave him, and she shook her head. "Great, you can take a break now. I got you covered," he offered, and he saw her little shoulders droop slightly in relief. With a wave of goodbye, she made her way back to Toothiana's palace, eager to get some rest.
Jack followed the teenager inside, making it just in time before she closed the door, turning the lock with a loud click. She removed her heels by the door and carried them loosely in her right hand by the strap. Her purse was on her shoulder, and he heard her give a hiss of pleasure as her bare feet touched the floor. Wearing heels for 5 hours straight had been torture.
Jack made his way around the girl to face her. Her make up had rubbed off somewhat, and her hair was as messy and untamed as it had been before her shower earlier today. He laughed at that.
"You look like you had fun," he hummed quietly, worried his voice would wake up the sleeping boy upstairs. Quickly, he dashed to the side as she made her way towards the staircase, narrowly missing walking through the winter spirit. He trailed behind her at a leisurely pace, noting how tired she was.
"So how did it go?" he asked, knowing full well he wouldn't get a reply, but deciding to humour himself anyway. She'd made it to her room and he barely had the time to walk in after her when she began to undress. He nearly yelped, turning around so as not to see anything and sighed, exasperated.
"You should at least give me a heads up," he groaned. He felt a horrible feeling of void emptiness hit the right side of his body as he saw her walk through a part of him to get to the door. His face fell as he watched the door shut softly. It was a feeling he would never get used to, even if they came with a spark from her supposedly Thesan abilities. He moved out of her way and was stumped to see that she was now in her underwear, consisting of a black lace bra and matching hipster underwear. He flushed furiously, angry at himself for needing so much effort to turn away. She was really well-endowed.
He wondered how he would explain that to her, if she ever did believe in him enough to strike conversation. "You don't need to change in the bathroom. I've already seen it all," he chuckled cynically at the thought. Like that would happen any time soon.
She checked her phone for the time before placing it on the vanity desk and making her way to the bathroom with her nightdress in hand. Jack put his full focus on the bright light of her phone, trying his hardest not to look at her exposed figure.
Attempting to make conversation with thin air, he said, "I heard you're going hiking with Jamie and David tomorrow… Try not to bore them too much with the latin names, please."
As soon as he finished his sentence, her phone began to buzz softly. Curious, Jack looked at the caller ID. It said "Pri" with a heart next to it.
"Who's Pri?" he asked no one in particular, but the heart had gotten him curious. "Could it be someone you like, Mallie?" he asked, a mischievous grin on his features.
A moment later, Maleya emerged from the bathroom, her face scrubbed free of make-up and her dress covered her body. Jack had to try not to blush at the sight of her bra in her hands. It was difficult to watch over a teenaged girl. He didn't know if he could go through this torture for much longer.
He heard her sigh, and a wave of fresh peppermint filled his nostrils, notifying him that she'd brushed her teeth thoroughly.
"You got a call," he told her, and if he hadn't known better, he would've thought she'd heard him. She checked her phone immediately after he'd said it. Furrowing her brows, she called back, putting her phone on loudspeaker as she looked around her vanity desk for a facial cleanser and some cotton pads. The phone beeped a few times before a girl's voice answered. Maleya obviously had faith in the sound-proofness of her room's walls.
"Maaaaallieeee," came the voice's greetings, and Jack looked at the mentioned girl curiously.
"You're not… You're… Or? Is it…" he was faltering, but he didn't want to jump to conclusions.
"Priyankaaaa," came Mallie's exasperated reply, although a smile graced her lips. It was the first time Jack had seen her smile like that.
"Did you get home alright, babe?" came the voice from the phone.
"I did. Just getting ready for bed. How are you holding up?" Maleya asked, cleansing her pores from any left over make up with the wet cotton pad.
"Joseph is going to be the death of me," Priyanka replied. "He's planking on the balcony right now," she said with a sigh.
Maleya paused slightly. "Maybe you should get him off," she suggested, concern in her voice.
"Yeah, in a bit. Just wanted to say thanks for today. We should hang out more often," Priyanka said, before her voice seemed to grow distant as she yelled at someone in the background. "JOSEPH, I'M NOT TAKING YOUR PICTURE. NOW GET OFF OF THERE BEFORE YOU BREAK YOUR NECK!"
Jack watched as an even bigger smile found its way on Maleya's face. He suddenly felt that she had transformed. He'd always used plain and boring to describe her, but she seemed livelier now… Healthier even… Happy.
"Me, too, sweetheart. We should hang out next week," she suggested, and Priyanka's voice was closer to her phone again.
"Sounds like a date! We can talk more about it on Monday. I need to take this asshole home," she sighed loudly, and Maleya giggled.
"Take care of him for me," she said, and Priyanka laughed.
"Will do. Sweet dreams," and with that, the phone beeped to signify the end of the conversation.
Jack wondered at how intimate the two of them sounded, but he shook his head and tried to think of other things. At least it sounded like she'd made two friends. Sighing, again, she grabbed her brush and tried to smoothen out her frizzy curls, but gave up after a few minutes.
"You need to do something about that hair of yours," Jack laughed as he watched her struggle with her tangles. Instead, she chose to tie her hair in a pony tail and made a dash to her bed, muttering "cold, cold, cold," to herself as she pulled her duvet over her. She dutifully took her pills and set her phone's alarm clock on, before turning onto her side and allowing herself to relax enough to fall asleep.
Jack watched the rise and fall of her chest beneath the blankets and listened to her breathing become slower and shallower as time went by.
He was suddenly more curious about her. Maybe she was more interesting than she let on…