I came around a long while later, my head pounding, and very much sore. I couldn't even open my eyes, I felt like I, in that moment, had lost sense of all my body limbs. I couldn't move, but I was in ways glad I couldn't as I heard two people talking. Jamie and Jack.

"What do you mean 'she just fainted'?" Jack asked, he sounded frustrated and very much concerned. I felt warm inside that he was concerned for me, but then I remembered the dream and what the man had said. I was a distraction for Jack, and right now it seemed important that he kept his guards up. There was something dangerous and evil out there trying to destroy Jack and the others.

"I mean, we were just talking and she dropped to the ground!" He retaliated. He sounded very annoyed with Jack, which I found strange. Why would Jamie be annoyed with Jack? Both of them were just looking out for me. Ugh, I sort of wished they wouldn't look out for me- don't get me wrong, I was grateful, but I'm well capable... Sort of.

There was an eerie silence between them both, and I didn't like it.

I forced my eyes open, expecting light but no, it was dark. The room was dimly lit and I thought of the room where that man had been. I choked down my fear, and with much effort, hauled myself up, resting my back against the wooden headboard. Jack and Jamie turned their attention to me (they had been glaring at one another... Very strange) shocked to find me awake now.

Relief swept across both their faces. "Sophie! Are you okay?" Jamie asked, rushing to my side. I opened my voice to reply, but found I could not speak, my voice was too hoarse. Jamie realised this and picked a cup off the night stand by my bed and handed me the glass. I gulped down the water, my head still very sore.

"Sorry," I apologised, feeling quite embarrassed. Jamie waved off my apology and again asked how I was. "Uh, my heads sore, but I'm all right. I think I was just dehydrated."

Jamie furrowed his brow together; he didn't believe me at all.

I found my eyes looking over at Jack. He was gazing at the ground, he looked very confused. I recalled how the boys were staring at each other as though they were enemies- they were far from enemies. I wondered what had happened between them and naturally, curiosity got the best of me as it always did. I straightened up and cleared my throat which felt like sandpaper at the moment.

"Why were you two glaring at each other for?" I asked them both. Jamie squirmed looking a little embarrassed. Jack looked up but he wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Well, we were just talking about you... and something sort of... accidentally, uh, may have come up," Jack looked like he was blushing, and suddenly my cheeks felt like they were burning from humiliation. I looked at Jamie who looked like he would rather be anywhere but here.

"And what right do you have giving out to him for as though this is his entire fault?" I snapped at Jamie, trying my hardest to hide my embarrassment. I just hope that my voice sounded confident because right now I didn't feel like that at all. Ugh, how the heck did I kissing Jack come up at all? Jamie looked up and simply shrugged his shoulders. He shrugged his shoulders! Oh, when I have energy I will thump that boy silly. Yes, I know we're close and I love him, but sometimes Jamie needed to mind his own business. What? Did he think I was going to grow up alone or something? He had girlfriends before Pippa and I kept out of his personal business, so he should do the same for me... Even if Jack is a close friend of his.

"Jamie David Bennett, you are unbelievable!" I found myself standing up- not very smart. Jack had to catch me so I didn't fall to the ground. I steadied myself and thanked him, but holding onto him wasn't going to- wait... with a horrible feeling rising up inside of me, I pushed Jack away from me, my eyes wide with alarm. The voices were gone, but what they said before I fainted suddenly rang through my head... I was just being a distraction to Jack... I was the bait in this sick game of that man and I wouldn't allow Jack to be hurt. He saw the alarm across my face.

"What's wrong, Sophie?" He asked his eyes full of concern.

I turned away from him, not daring to look him in the eye. I needed Jack to be safe, and alert if they were going to be attacked. I had to tell him, but something stopped me- it was like my head was telling me not to, but it wasn't me. It was like somebody else was warning me against it.

"Plus, what happened between Jack and I was stupid and I shouldn't have done anything like that," I muttered, just loudly so Jack and Jamie could both hear me. Jack's arm, which still had me steadied, slipped away. Whatever you may say, I could still feel the warmth of where he held me.

"Ya, I feel the same way," he sounded sad... No, not sad, hurt.

I turned, but Jack was gone. I bowed my head feeling horrible and guilty. "Jamie... Would you please leave my room?" I said, threatening to cry at any minute. There was a shuffling sound and then the sound of the door closing. I was alone. I fell to the ground and tucked my knees up to my chest and began to sob. Why hadn't I told Jack why I said what I did? What was stopping me from telling him he was in danger? I could have protected him, but instead I pushed him away just after we kissed... I couldn't bear to think of it, it hurt too much.

But I remembered how his cool lips felt against mine, unsure at first and then eventually giving in. How I wanted him here next to me, but now he was gone and he would probably never return to me.

Ugh, why was I crying so much? No matter how much I tried to stop, I just couldn't.

Light filled my room as dawn approached. I felt mad that there could be beautiful light when I felt dark, cold and empty.

There was a knock on my door- my mother.

I forced myself off the ground where I had sat all night regretting my stupid decision. But as long as Jack and the others were safe, I didn't regret it too bad.

I opened the door, making sure my eyes were dry before doing so, but my mother could see right through me. Her expression softened and she walked into my room, not needing my approval (though it would be appreciated, mom).

She sat on my bed and patted the spot next to her. Reluctantly I sat beside her, trying to mask my upset expression.

"What's wrong?" She asked me, her voice soft and calming. I relaxed a little with her beside me. I couldn't tell her, could I? Maybe I could bend the truth a little to make my story believable.

"Mom, I pushed someone away, just to protect them, but I can't tell him it's to protect him... He wouldn't understand or he might think I'm crazy, and now he's mad at me and I don't know hat to do!" I sobbed.

"Boy troubles," she sighed, her hand rubbing my back comfortingly. "Maybe you should be honest with him, and tell him. Who exactly is this boy, anyway?" Damn, I was praying she wouldn't ask that.

"Uh... Jack," I said.

She frowned at how uncertain I sounded but let it go. "Boys are insane when it comes to girls, dear. Take your father for example," she said. "When we started dating he was so insane and protective of me that it would hurt both of us, but we pulled through because-"

"You loved each other," I finished with a smile.

"Exactly," she hugged me.

I wanted to be honest with my mother, but I couldn't tell her the truth without me sounding insane. "Mom, my situation is way more complicated than it sounds..." I sighed.

"Meaning?" She raised a brow in question.

"I... I can't tell you. You wouldn't believe me if I did," I admitted.

"I would hope I didn't bring my daughter up to be a liar. Dear, you can tell me- I'll know if you're lying or not. You are my daughter after all," she smiled at me. I felt a lump in my throat. I loved the idea that she would believe me, but I knew deep down that she wouldn't.

"I... want to tell you, really," I promised. "You won't laugh or think I'm a liar?"

"I promise," she said.

I gulped... Well here goes nothing. "Jack... Well, Jack isn't an ordinary boy. He... He sort of got in an accident when he was eighteen..." my mom didn't seem bothered by this- wait until she heard the next part. "Mom, that was over three hundred years ago- wait, let me finish! Jack woke, after everybody believed him dead. He woke and found he could do amazing things, like make snow, ice and frost." I emphasised the frost in hope my mother would guess what I was saying.

She looked awkwardly at me, unsure of what I was saying. She wasn't sure to believe me or not. Ugh, my story sounded way too insane.

"Dear, are you all right? Do you need a doctor-?"

"See! I knew you'd think I was lying!" I exclaimed. "Go ask Jamie! And Pippa! We all know Jack and the other guardians!"

"Guardians!?"

"Santa, Bunnymund- the Easter bunny, and Sandy and-"

"Honey, enough of this nonsense!" My mother scolded me. I scowled at her.

"Go on then! Go ask Jamie! He'll tell you!" I shouted. "This is why I didn't tell you!"

My mother did the most shocking thing ever, she actually called Jamie. Jamie came walking into my room; he looked like he heard us shouting at one another.

"Jamie! Tell her Jack is real and so are the other guardians!" He looked at me uncertain. I gave him a hopeful expression.

"Soph? The guardians? Are you okay? Did you hit your head?"

I felt my heart break into a million pieces at that very second. My own brother... How could he do that to me? My eyes flooded with tears.

I couldn't control myself as I began to thump Jamie.

"You! You idiot!" I shouted, tears pouring down my cheeks. My mother tugged my arms back; her expression was fierce and scary. I gulped.

"Sophie Bennett! You are grounded!"

I turned away from them both and wept on my bed as my mother closed the door. The following morning I couldn't even recall what had happened; only that I was furious with Jamie and my heart longed to have Jack as company again. Ugh, now I know how those girls felt in my stupid love stories that I read. Well, this sort of Sucked. I didn't want to be like them, I always found them pathetic.

Ugh, well this was just infuriating!

Hey! Ha, thanks for all the awesome comments again! It really does mean a lot! Ha, I'm glad you guys like Sophie's character in this.. I wasn't sure at all! Anyway, sorry for this lame and seemingly pointless chapter, but something happens in the next one so I needed this one! :3 haha, please review for more guys! XD