Chapter Two:

They had barely made it around the block when Jack felt the familiar rush of cold that signified that someone, or perhaps something, wanted to talk. Jack sighed, then glanced at Aster who appeared to be consumed in his own thoughts. The cold came back, even more insistent. This time Jack answered, knowing exactly who it was. "What do you want Manny?"

The troublesome ghost appeared, with his tweed jacket that was still covered in his experiment gone wrong slung over his arm. "Now is that any way to greet your dear old uncle?"

"Just give me your ominous riddle and go. I have school and Aster gets embarrassed when I'm seen talking to thin air." Jack hitched his backpack higher on his shoulder, and began to walk faster.

"Fine then," Manny huffed and caught up to Jack, "just tell that older brother of yours to watch out, Pitch is a nasty piece of work. He always has an agenda."

"Thanks Manny." Jack muttered sarcastically to the now empty air.

"What'd The Lord of Explosions have to say today?" Aster asked as they approached the school.

Jack rolled his eyes, "Just more cryptic warnings and riddles as per usual."

Aster stopped just outside the entrance, "I'm not going to be home tonight. So I need you to go straight home, lock the door and don't leave. Do you understand me?"

Jack nodded.

"Alright good, there should be leftover something in the fridge," Aster looked at Jack and then noticed what was off, "And put your shoes on, I don't need another note home."

Jack grinned before slipping his sneakers out of his bag. "Bye Aster."

Aster shook his head and began to walk away, "Bye Kiddo."

Jack watched his brother leave before turning around around and running straight into Jamie Bennett, a sixth grader, and his little sister Sophie, a preschooler.

"Oh hey Jack, I was just looking for you, "Jamie shoved a plastic container filled with half-moon cookies, "Mom made these for you, she remembered how much you loved them."

Jack's face lit up, "That's awesome! Tell your mom thanks for me."

"Yeah well, you know, my mom still gets worried about you. Even though it's been over a year since you moved out."
Jack smiled, remembering his last foster family. He had lived with the Bennetts for two years before Aster turned eighteen. They had been the nicest family Jack had ever stayed with, and they still had dinner together on occasion.

"Come on, I'll walk you two to class and you can share my cookies." Jack opened the container as he walked into the school.

"Cookies!" Sophie bounced excitedly around Jack's feet.

The trio had just walked into the building when a voice rushed up to greet them. "Did I hear someone say cookies?" Tooth came up from behind Jack, ruffling his shaggy brown hair, and plucked the cookie right from his hand.

"Hey! That was my cookie-" Jack's protests were cut short as his best friend popped the whole treat into her mouth.

"Well it's gone now," Tooth laughed, "that was good, tell your mom for me would you Jaime?"

Jaime nodded as he headed down the hallway to his sister's classroom, Jack and Tooth continued climbing up the stairs. They chattered mindlessly about school and homework, before finally reaching their classroom and settling in for several hours of hard work.
The final bell rang, and a mass of students came pouring out of the doors. Jack and Tooth stayed close, walking out to the parking lot together. They had known each other for four years now, and had become close friends.

"Toothiana!" Tooth's mother called from her car.

Tooth rolled her eyes and began to walk slowly to stretch out the time, "I really hate that name, just because my mom's a dentist. Now she wants me to be a dentist too!" Tooth threw her hands up in exasperation.

"Well what do you want to do?" Jack questioned, even though he already knew the answer.

"I want work for the DEA, like my dad did, and maybe I'll find the bastard that killed him," Tooth said fiercely, cutting herself off and changing the subject as they reached her mother, "Bye Jack." Jack received a hug before she climbed into the passenger seat of the car.

"Bye Tooth." He whispered as the car pulled out and headed east.

Jack turned the opposite way and started walking home. As soon as he was out of sight of the school, Jack began listening for Manny. He was not far away. The ghost appeared and Jack pulled out his half-moon cookies with a smirk, "Hey Manny, look what I've got. Your favorite kind of cookie."
Manny said nothing, only frowning before disappearing. As soon as his uncle left, Jack was overpowered by wave after wave of cold as every ghost in Burgess assaulted him with one word. "Aster." Each ghost pushed and shoved him down the street in a swirling mass until Jack finally fell to his knees. He was instantly surrounded as the cries of "Aster"grew louder and louder. Panicking, Jack dropped the cookies, scrambled to his feet, shoved the ghosts aside, and took off sprinting to the place where he knew Aster would be having his initiation.