"You went out the city slicker?" Patrick's tone was drenched with distain. "Why?"
"Because he asked." Jadis' response was blunt. "You know, how you just did right now? And easy on him, just because he's a city slicker doesn't mean he's bad. He just…I mean, alright, he's a bit loose with his money and has a bit of an ego, but there are far worse things."
"Yeah, like thinking he can buy you."
"I set him straight before anything could happen." Jadis frowned. "Anyway, that implies that I would let him buy me. You think so little of me?"
Patrick picked up the axe and nearly dropped it. "What?! No! Of course not!" He brought the axe down to split the wood. "You're too smart for that."
"Mm." She grinned as she watched him. "A Porsche though. Out of all the cars…and you said it just…started up without touching it? Strange."
"Mhm. You went on a date with a liar."
Jadis gave him a dull stare. "Who isn't?" She held her hand out. "Here, I'll cut some of the wood if you want to go warm up inside."
"Yeah, yeah." He turned to hand her the tool when snow crunching was heard. They both turned to look, holding the axe as someone walked around the cabin.
"Jack!" Jadis exclaimed with a large smile. "Back so soon?" Last night he had dropped her off, ensuring she got inside, before leaving. She offered him a place to stay given the weather, but he shrugged it off. "Glad to see you didn't wrap your pretty self around a tree." Patrick gave her a look. She blushed.
The man raised a frosty eyebrow at the pair. He wondered if there was something between them. If so, he would be quick to cut whatever it was. "The snow cannot hurt me." He smiled. "Cutting firewood?"
"Yeah." Jadis nodded. "A few more logs and we should be good."
Patrick leaned against his truck which he had driven around to the back to load the wood. "Going out to the city again?"
"I was going to ask Jadis out again tonight, yes." Jack's tone was as warm as the snow beneath them.
Jadis brought the axe down, splitting the log. She looked between the men, catching on quick. Oh boy. "Actually Jack," she rest the axe on the ground and leaned on it, "I had plans tonight. There's a local dance happening in the town hall a few miles south." Pause. "Wanna go as my date?" She grinned.
Patrick spun around, stunned. It hadn't been discussed, but it was implied that they would go together – as friends. For Jadis to just ask Jack on a date…Patrick started to load some of the firewood in the bed of his truck. If the woman noticed, she gave no sign to it.
This pleased Jack more than her question.
"I'd love to. Will I be overdressed?" He glanced at his suit.
"Hm, a bit...but it's the holidays. Who cares?" She smiled as she turned to split more wood.
Patrick shook his head. "We're good here." He said a bit coldly. "See you tonight." He shut the truck and took off within a few minutes.
Jadis frowned and shook her head, setting the axe at the edge of the cabin. "Hm. No matter. Dance is a few hours away…I'm making rabbit stew. Care to stay?"
"Of course." He adjusted his jacket as they headed inside. Shoes off and door shut, Jadis went to the kitchen. "It actually smells good."
Jadis laughed from the room. "Yes, surprised? I'm a good cook, almost as good as I am a hunter." She poured them two bowls and then grabbed some water for the pair of them. Chai tea would be made later, she decided.
They ate in silence, both relishing the taste. When their bowls were nearly empty, Jack finally spoke. "So, you and your neighbor…?" Whatever his name was, he couldn't recall. It didn't really matter, honestly, since he would win Jadis from him.
"My neighbor?" She looked up, setting her bowl aside. "Oh, you mean…? Gods, no, no, no." She laughed softly. "Nah, we're friends. That's it. He's a bit too…no. Just friends."
"He seemed a bit…jealous earlier." Jack purred the second to last word.
Jadis stood and collected their plates. "Hm, he thinks you're a no-good city-slicker who thinks you can buy me." She grinned, enjoying how her honest answer had his smile falling. "I told him otherwise, but you know how stubborn men can be." As she went to place the dishes in the sink, she called out, "Virgin or spiked chai tea? I have rum."
"Spiked, if you please." Jack stood. As before, he had taken the seat furthest from the fire. "Is the town hall far?"
"No," Jadis said as she made the drinks, "about ten miles or so. Which dances do you know?"
"Waltz, freestyle, Latin…"
"Fantastic." She smiled, excitement coursing through her veins. "Waltz is my favorite."
"You realize you have to let the man lead, don't you?" He smirked as he stood at the doorway.
Oblivious to his location, Jadis worked on the tea. "Yup. Heard it requires a great deal of trust to let someone lead you. You can tell by a person's ability to follow, not just them saying they trust you. Should be interesting to see if I trust you or not." Half joke.
Jack, however, mused on this. Maybe after the dance he would ask her to join him as Mrs. Claus then. If she trusted him to lead in a dance, surely she would trust him to lead in life.
She wore the same dress as the day before. Jack knew he should feel a bit annoyed at that but…well, his own suit as no room to talk. So when they arrived at the town hall, he opened her door and felt incredibly smug. All the eyes were on him, on her, on them. The car, the gown, the woman…and who could resist the desire to gaze longingly and with envy at him? He was a magnificent specimen, after all.
Jadis was grinning as she took his hand. Once the door was shut, she slipped her arm around his. It was thrilling. Once they were inside the hall, she estimated about sixty of so people so far, not including the band. Everyone wore casual but clean clothes – their Sunday best, Jadis had snorted.
Patrick was nowhere to be seen.
An upbeat song was starting to play. Jack leaned forward and spoke into her ear, "I also know how to swing dance." He offered his hand.
Jadis looked up with a smirk. "You're on!" She took his hand and followed him to the dance floor. Their smiles matched as they started dancing to the music. She could feel eyes on them and envied him for his ability to be alright with the stares. It made sense given his career. Alas, she lived in a cabin in the middle of 'nowhere'…she wasn't too fond of people like he was.
Still, dancing with him made her forget there were others. It felt amazing! She was laughing every now and then, her heart ready to burst at the excitement and thrill.
The song ended, but her delight knew no bounds. The band announced that they would be taking a small break. Taking Jack's hand once more, missing the flash over his eyes, Jadis walked with him to the refreshment bar.
Taking two cups of spiked cider, she placed one in his hand and smiled. "Do you often dance on stage for your audience, Jack?" She inquired as she took a sip.
"Not as much lately," he admitted as he copied her action, "I wouldn't want to rob anyone of my spectacular voice after all."
Jadis giggled and nodded. "Yes," she winked, "it would be a crime."
Before either could speak further, a new female voice rang out from the side. "You realize its Christmas, not Halloween right? Oops, sorry, those aren't costumes are they?" The pair turned to see a brunette with her date and a couple other women on either side. Her tattoos and his hair. Jadis bristled alongside Jack.
"Hello to you as well Cat. Edd, Rose, Ashley." She greeted coolly. "It doesn't have to be Halloween to be a witch, as you sure know." Jadis offered a sarcastic grin.
Jack looked, insult aside, entertained at this little catfight – pun intended. He took a sip of his drink. Cat seemed amused as well. "I'm sure. Aren't you going to introduce your new date to us? I think we would have recognized him by the…suit if we had met before. New in town?"
The man spoke. "I'm Jack…Claus. I'm visiting from up north to locate a partner for the company I own."
"Like, marriage partner?" One of the women asked from behind.
Jadis snorted. "Not everything in life revolves around marriage, you realize."
"That's what I would say too, if I had lost my boyfriend." The other woman 'whispered'.
Jadis gripped her cup tighter. "Assuming you ever had one. Come on Jack, the band is getting back on stage. More dance." She reached out to take his hand and was surprised when he took hers first.
As they passed them, almost to the dance floor, Cat called out, "Look on the bright side Jadis! Your new date is already half-frozen, so he won't be in as much agony as Dave was." Her face went pale and her grip slackened, her walk slowed.
Jack put his drink aside before taking her own and doing the same. His arm wrapped around her waist. "Fresh air does wonders." He told her matter-of-factly. She nodded faintly before they walked outside. As they did, he spared a glance over his shoulder at the group they had just encountered.
How strange, he thought. What was all of that about? And what is the story about the ex?
When they were outside, Jadis pulled her hand away and crossed her arms. She paced. When he final opened his mouth to inquire, she spoke, "Don't. Just…don't. I don't want to talk about it right now, not tonight. I don't want to ruin tonight with tales of ghosts. I just…need to take a moment."
He raised a brow but didn't budge. Oh, his curiosity was screaming. He resisted for the moment though, knowing this would act in his favor soon enough. When her pacing slowed and she was shivering, he cleared his throat. "You look cold. Care to warm up with a dance?"
Jadis' scowl met his charming grin and slowly melted away. She sighed softly. "You're right…a dance sounds good." She took his arm but paused in their steps. "I'm sorry about…this. And the attitude."
An idea struck him suddenly. His grin grew wider. "How would you like to play a little prank on them before the night ends?"
"Hm?" Jadis raised a brow and looked at him. "How so? They'll know, or at least suspect it's me…us."
There was a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Trust me…they'll never see it coming."
If magic was how to win her over, so be it. Jack Frost was known to be a playful spirit, as well as any…sprites he may have. And revenge was always fun, wasn't it?