Winter's New
Artemis looked around her room panting. She had what on record could have been the worst nightmare she had ever dreamed, sitting up she wiped away the sweat and found herself unable to remember what the dream was about. She mentally slapped her self and took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly. She groaned slightly, breathing was supposed to calm you, yet her heart beat kept racing.
Opening her closed eyes, she looking down her bed sheets to where the moon's light shown on a particular object. It reflected into her eyes with a mixture of different colors, mostly shades of calm blue. Which would make sense since when she picked it up to investigate it, it was the large frozen snow flake she had found when Jack first took her to his world. She admired it and then noticed it was now tuned into a necklace, she smiled lightly as a card was on her bed. She picked it up and it was covered with the pictures of the little elves she saw at Norths place. Inside it simply read, "Early Christmas Present" Signed North
Artemis smiled and immediately forgot why she had woken up in the first place. Winter was almost over for her, Jack would always leave after Christmas, then come back once or twice in January and early February. Even if winter was supposed to end near March, it had always ended when Jack left. Making her decision, Artemis climbed out of her room and down the her stairs leading to the kitchen. Her intentions were clear on what she was going to do, both sides of her argument could object, but it was her decision.
~~
"Artemis?" Caitlyn's voice rang through the door, she sighed and waited. Shuffling brought her attention back up to Artemis's home, the door opened and Caitlyn gave a sound of disgust as she looked up and down at Artemis.
"Are you planning on wearing that to school?!" She asked as if not wanting to be anywhere near her. Artemis wore her run down pajamas with a hoddie that covered her face.
"N-no...I'm sick Caitlyn, I'm not going to school" Artemis stated simply, snorting in and wiping her nose, Caitlyn gagged and falsely said goodbye leaving hurriedly. As soon as Artemis was sure she wasn't going to look back, she lifted her head revealing her perfectly healthy face. Artemis smiled and walked back inside her home. "One down, 3 to go" She thought to herself. All night long she had been writing and processing lies she would be telling everyone. So far she had Caitlyn believing she was sick, and she intended on it staying like that.
Now all she had to do was contact her parents, who were traveling the world on their voyage to seek herbs that could completely cure the flu in one dose. It was a weird dream, but Artemis didn't let that get in the way of them fulfilling it. Her parents were somewhere deep in the frozen mountains right now and would be back in a week or two for Christmas, not even bothering to call them, Artemis played out a carefully written letter. Before placing it in its big white envelope that read out her parents names, she re-read the following in her own handwriting.
Dear Mother And Father,
I have decided to go studying abroad a cruise that our school had funded for a selected few of students. I know you always wanted me to do something I wanted for a change. Rather than stay and learn from nannies, teachers and others while you both enjoyed your dream.
So I'm going on this trip, I promise i will not fail and let you both down. I will write, call anything that you want once you read this letter.
Remember the first time you both left to travel, I broke down crying, well now i just hope you both will be stronger than i was.
There isn't much more to say other than thank you for letting me live the life i wanted to, while it may not be normal. Please just believe that the Guardians will be watching over you too.~
~Artemis
P.S~ Don't tell Caitlyn or any of my friends, they will resent me for it~ I told Caitlyn i was sick, thank you for keeping my secret~
And with that, Artemis enclosed the letter in the envelope, wrapping it with ribbon. She tried her hardest not to let her tears fall, yet they did. Still she smiled as she put the letter on their bed and walked out. Sniffling to herself she went back up to her room, changing her clothes and started to pack. Careful not to rip anything with the shiny snowflake that fell around her neck. She glanced around once or twice, scared that if Jack came it would ruin the surprise. "Two down, just one more left" She repeated the thought in her head over and over again as she shoved her clothes in her small suitcase bag. Glancing down the hall she groaned, another bag for toiletries!~