A/N: Just to clarify, the previous chapter took place moments before chapter 14 History Lessons. There were hints here and there but sorry if it still wasn't clear...

Chapter notes: Not much to say (for once lol), except that I had a lot of fun writing this one. Hope you all enjoy reading it just as much! Please let me know what you think!

Never Let Go

Three weeks.

That was how long it had been since he'd last seen Jack. It was certainly possible the winter spirit was simply busy from his duties - it was almost Christmas after all - but somehow, Jamie seriously doubted that. Only once, the Guardian had skipped out on him for more than two weeks, and he had made sure to let him know beforehand.

No, it had become painfully clear that Jack just wasn't visiting anymore.

Tears pricked Jamie's eyes, which he immediately, angrily swiped away. He didn't know who he was angry at more- himself for being so damn impulsive or Jack for just up and leaving him with absolutely no explanation. Sure, maybe the other teen might have been disgusted at the thought of a relationship between two guys, but hadn't they been friends first? Didn't he deserve something more than just a stuttered apology?

"Jerk..." Jamie whispered into his arms, staring at the puff of breath that materialized in the cold air. He didn't know why he'd come out here - if anything, he should've stayed in his room in case Jack decided to stop being so stubborn and came back. But for some reason the thought of just waiting again, alone in his room, was unbearable this time. He'd just end up stewing over his thoughts and working himself into a bitter mood.

Instead, he'd aimlessly wandered around campus, hoping the fresh air and lazily falling flurries of snow would help clear his thoughts. But of course, he'd gravitated towards the frozen lake where Jack had given him his first skating lesson and ended up moping anyway.

My only skating lesson. Jamie couldn't help but think bitterly as he glared across the shimmering ice. Hadn't the Guardian promised him they would do that again? So where was he now?

Suddenly feeling defiant, he abruptly stood up and resolutely walked towards the edge of the lake. Carefully, he stepped onto the frozen surface, feeling his boots struggling to find traction against the ice as he slowly made his way towards the center.

He didn't know what he was doing, skating on a lake out in the woods, without even wearing proper skates, in the dead of the night. Maybe he just felt he needed to move, do something to dissipate the hurt and anger that had built up over the last few weeks. But the more he slid across the ice, seeing and feeling the tiny flurries of snow hitting his face, the more he was reminded of a grinning winter spirit, teasing him about how bad he was at keeping his balance.

Jamie suddenly skidded to a halt, glaring up at the sky with tears in his eyes, not even bothering to wipe them away this time. "You promised me!" He burst out angrily. "You promised you'd teach me how to skate, you promised we could do this again! Does that mean you lied when you said we would? Was everything you told me a lie?!"

He had no idea why he was screaming about the skating lessons, of all things. He should've been yelling about why Jack had just left him, why they couldn't still be just friends, why they couldn't even have one last talk before Jack left him forever, why why why...but what did it matter? It wasn't like the Guardian was actually out there to hear him. He'd never be there anymore, he'd never get to see him again...

Slowly, Jamie sank to his knees, placing his palms against the ice to stare at his blurry reflection. He squeezed his eyes tightly, the hot tears almost scalding against his cheeks in contrast to the sharp, biting cold.

A sudden rush of wind ruffled through his hair, followed by a pair of pale, bare feet landing in front of him. Jamie quickly looked up to see an uncomfortably shifting winter spirit, and a conflicting mix of joy and anger bubbled within him.

"Jack!"

The pale-haired Guardian quickly took a step back as Jamie stood up to meet him, hands held up in an almost defensive gesture. The sight only made Jamie angrier, and he rushed forward, barely managing to keep his balance on the ice.

Of course, things didn't quite go as planned, as Jamie felt himself slipping almost immediately. So instead of grabbing his friend in a firm hug, what resulted was a painful collision that sent both boys crashing to the ground, Jack's staff digging painfully into Jamie's side. An apology was the last thing on his mind however, as he shouted down at the shocked Guardian beneath him.

"Why are you always trying to leave me? Why can't you stay for once, and just tell me why..." He trailed off, choking on his own words. "I'm sorry about the kiss, okay? If it disgusted you, I-"

"No!" Jack shouted so suddenly, Jamie was startled into silence. "It wasn't because of that! It's just..." He paused again, looking away. When he turned to meet Jamie's gaze once more, his ice blue eyes were filled with anguish. "Did you ever think about what this could mean? I'm immortal, Jamie. I'll never grow old with you, I'll never be able to love you the way a human can. We can't just go out to the movies, hang out with your friends, or...or go to family dinners. Most of your family and friends won't even be able to see me! Even if I'm there with you, you'll still be alone!" At those last words, Jack struggled to escape from Jamie's grip. "And let go of me!"

"Why! So you can fly away again?" Jamie responded just as heatedly. "How is it fair for you to say all that, without hearing what I have to say?"

"I didn't-"

"And how is it fair that you decided all of that for me, huh? Isn't it my choice to make, whether I want that life or not?"

Frustrated at his unsuccessful attempts to escape, Jack shouted the only words that came to mind. "Well, do you?!"

"YES!"

A moment of dead silence followed the resounding shout as Jack was rendered speechless, only able to stare up into determined chocolate brown eyes.

When Jamie finally spoke again, it was with a soft, gentle voice as if he was afraid to disturb the sudden stillness that had overcome them. "Give me some credit, Jack. Of course I know you're immortal. And since when have we ever done normal things together anyway? If anything, I should be worried that you wouldn't want to stay with me once I'm all old and wrinkly."

"I wouldn't care what you look like-"

"But you think I would?" Jamie interrupted. "I don't come across as that shallow, do I?"

Jack couldn't help but give a small smile at the puppy dog look now directed at him. Encouraged by the gesture, Jamie continued hopefully. "So can't we just give it a try? Please?"

For a few seconds, Jack didn't respond, only staring up at him with those intense blue eyes. Just when Jamie was starting to get a little worried, the Guardian suddenly let out a delighted laugh and wrapped his arms around the brunette. The winter spirit hesitated only a fraction of a second before leaning upwards, capturing his lips in a surprisingly warm kiss.

Jamie immediately responded, snaking his hands through pure white locks of hair and drawing the other teen even closer. He hardly cared or noticed that doing so brought forth a sudden wave of chills - all he could focus on was the single heated point at which their lips were joined.

In the back of his mind, he knew they still had a lot of things to work out, both together and on his own. Being in a relationship with an immortal being was going to be quite tricky after all, and would undoubtedly come with a slew of uncertainties neither of them had thought of yet. But lying there on the freezing ice, snow gently whirling around them as they continued to kiss, Jamie only tightened his hold around Jack and fiercely promised to himself that he would never let go.