N/A : Hi everybody. Working on chapter 7 now. Should be done in time. :)

Chapter 6

Our feet crunched into the snow as Jack landed in front of the cabin. He dropped his arm from my waist to his side. I stood there beside him, looking at the sky. The moon was climbing, face smiling down on us, shedding beautiful light. I could feel Jack looking at me, my faced turned up at the moon. I smiled inside. The Spirit of Winter looking at me. How 'bout that. I turned to face him, and gave him a quick hug.

"Thanks for everything today Jack. It was definitely one of the most memorable days I've ever had."

"_? I was wondering...it's just that I told you my story earlier... About my family. Could you tell me yours? I mean, you just seem to be out here alone."

Not anymore. I have you now.

"Well, how 'bout I tell you tomorrow, when I'm not so tired? I'm sorry, it's just a long story, and I can barely think I'm so worn out. You wanna come over tomorrow morning? Have breakfast or something?"

I hadn't stuttered, had I? Guess not. He grinned in the pale light and nodded.

"Ya, I'll come here in the morning. What time?"

He planted his staff in the snow and leaned towards me against it. I thought for a couple seconds.

"Umm. How 'bout around like 9am?"

I couldn't believe that I was making breakfast plans with Jack Frost. Definitely didn't think I would ever be doing that.

"Alright. I'll see ya tomorrow morning, then."

He stepped back and left the ground slowly drifting away. Smiling down at me, he gave a short wave before flying off into the night. I stood there for a moment, staring at the wonderful forest that had brought Jack Frost into my life. I felt so happy, so lucky. I actually met the Jack Frost! He was real. He was really real. And he seemed to like me.

The horrible ringing of my alarm clock drilled into my ears the next morning at 7:45. I flopped my feet onto the ground, making a slapping noise as they hit. I half-rolled up out of my bed without much coordination on my part. I was barely concious, and was figthing a small headache. I nearly stumbled down the stairs and had to drag my sore feet into the kitchen. They were still hurting from yesterday's ice skating. And falling. But I wouldn't tell Jack. He would feel so bad. Besides, I would be fine in a couple days. I made coffee first, then started on making some coffee cake. After sliding the pan into the oven, I hurried upstairs to get dressed. When I came down, it was already 8:57. I took out the cake, and the aroma of brown sugar and coffee beans filled the kitchen. I poured two cups of coffee, filled mine with creamer until it was white, and set them on the table. I had no fruit... But it would be fine. I put my hair into a side braid and waited at the table, kicking my legs nervously. I hadn't ever had someone visit my cabin before. Time went by, and when I glanced at the grandfather clock, it was already 9:24. Where was he?

A loud series of knocks on my front door answered me. I hurried over as quickly as I could, ankles protesting every other step, and swung the door open wide without bothering to check. I could feel the cold seeping through under the door and rolling out onto my bare toes. I curled them closer to my feet as I welcomed Jack inside. His hair was white as ever, disheveled and sticking up everywhere. Puffs of air rushed out as he explained his tardiness.

"I'm so... *Puff* sorry _ that I'm late! I just thought that...*puff* I should bring you something or whatever. I don't know, but here."

He set his staff against the wall by the door, and brought his free hand forward. He was holding something. He walked over to the table and set down a handful of wild berries of some sort on a napkin. They were dark violet and each was the size of a good grape. They reminded me of oversized blueberries. I turned to Jack and asked him about them.

"Huh. I've never seen this type of berry before, Jack. It looks good though. Where'd you get them?"

"They mostly grow in a little part of the forest, so I went there this morning. It's kinda tough to find, which is why I'm so late."

He looked at me and offered an apologetic grin.

"They're called snowberries. Or, that's what I call them at least. I don't know their real name or anything."

We both sat down at the table, seated across from eachother. He looked at his mug as if it was filled with gold. He looked up at me.

"Is this... Coffee? It smells like it. I haven't had coffee before."

I nodded, and he took a gulp of the strong black liquid to my surprise. I should have told him to add sugar or something. Too late now. Hopefully he likes it black. As soon as he set the mug down, I could see his face. His mouth was puckered up in surprise at the unexpected flavor, the one that I hated so much. His eyes were screaming for help. I pushed his mug closer to him, trying to indicate that he should just spit it out. He shook his head, got up from the table, opened a window, and spit the steaming hot, black liquid out into the snow. I couldn't help but laugh at him. His face still had a bewildered look on it. I poured him a cool glass of milk, and we sat down again. While he was drinking the milk, cup still held to his mouth, I decided to say something.

"How was the coffee?"

He set the cup down and splutterd milk out of his nose. I definitely hadn't expected that. Maybe a smile or something, but not that. I couldn't stop laughing at him, yet again. It had to be one of the funniest things I had ever witnessed. He sat there helplessly with milk running down his face, dripping onto the table. I gave him my napkin, and he cleaned himself up. Then, he looked up at me.

"What just happenned?"

"You shot milk out your nose, that's what. Am I really that funny?"

"Milk. Out my nose. I can safely say that I've never done that until now. It felt weird."

I gave him a look that said "go on...?"

"And yes, you're that funny."

I sat back in my chair, arms crossed over my chest triumphantly. Knew it.

I gave him a slice of home-made coffee cake, and he took it cautiously. I think the name coffee cake scared him a bit. I explained that it was actually sweet, and took a big bite to prove it. He still looked at the piece of cake on his fork suspiciously. I reasoned with him.

"Look, would I ever trick you?"

His white head looked up at me suddenly, blue eyes questioning.

"What did you say, _?"

"Just said that I would never trick you is all."

"Oh...I guess you wouldn't."

He seemed distant. My question obviously meant more to him than what I thought. Maybe it had something to do with his past. Should I ask him about it?

"Jack, what's wrong?"

"Huh? Oh. It's just that... I said that to my sister once. She didn't trust me about something, so I said that. She said that I 'played tricks all the time'. She was right. It happened at the pond, on that day I told you about..."

He stared at the crumbs on his plate, then started messing around with them with his fork.

"So _. Are you gonna tell me how you came to live out here?"

He was looking down at his plate still when I replied.

"Ya."

I grabbed a snowberry and popped it in my mouth. The skin ripped, and juice that tasted sweet and tart spilled everywhere in my mouth. It reminded me of grape juice and strawberries mixed together. I began to start talking when Jack looked up and grinned.

"What're you grinning about? I'm trying to tell a story."

"Your mouth is covered in purple."

I wiped my mouth off with a white napkin, and when I took it away, it was splotched with purple juice. I continued after looking at my hands. I started fiddling with them.

"I'm an orphan. My parents died in a plane crash. They were on a trip, for their anniversary. On the way back, something happened to the plane. It hit a storm, and something got torn off. Part of the wing I think."

I briefly glanced up at Jack, and he seemed to be in shock. Eyes wide, mouth barely open. I hadn't expected him to be so surprised. I do live here alone. Without parents.

"It was tough to deal with. I was 5. I remember them."

I pointed at a small picture on the counter. It was framed in wood.

"Those are them. I lived in an orphanage for 11 years. As soon as I turned 16, I left. I inherited money from them. And the land here. The cabin was already built, so I thought, 'Why not?'. I've been living here by myself for almost a year. In fact, you just missed my 17th birthday. It's on the 22nd of December. First day-"

"of winter."

"Ya. I guess you of all people would know."

"I'm...sorry about your parents... But I don't understand, why live alone?"

I looked up from my hands at him. He still had traces of nervous shock on his face from earlier, but he was honestly confused.

"Because, I never made any friends in the city. I was a loner, still was, until you showed up."

He looked distraught. Something was up. He knew something I didn't. I couldn't just ask him straight up to tell me though. Maybe I was wrong. Jack didn't seem like the kind of guy that hides things from people. Maybe I'm right. I had no idea. It's still the morning, probably not thinking straight. It'll be fine.

That's what everyone tells you when you both know something's wrong.

N/A : I'll post tomorrow like usual. -Kat :D