Chapter 29: Broken Words
The smell of oil soap and lemons engulfed Jack's nose as he followed Pitch into a shop. "Where are we," He asked behind the taller man. "My piano shop," His teacher stated bluntly. "What seriously?!" Jack asked wide eyed. His head motioned left and right a few times in excitement. He continued to hear Pitch walking, even though he had stopped and ran to catch up. "Hey slow down I wanna look around. How big is this place? How many pianos do you have? Wait, wait what's your oldest piano?" Each question was filled with excitement and came out in a breathy tone. "My, my, he certainly hasn't change a bit now has he," A female voice chimed beside him.
Jack froze, he knew this voice. This voice was from his past, before the accident, before Emma. "Emily," the teen questioned in a bit of awe. "Wow he is good," The women smiled. Pitch cleared his throat, "All those questions will be answered in due time. And of course he is, he learned from the best." The black haired women nodded, "I agree. Mr. Bunny did a fine job whipping you into shape." Pitch frowned at his daughter, merely laughed. That laugh sounded so strange yet comforting to Jack. He remembered being 5 years old and staying up all night with the teenage girl. Piecing the memory of her back together brought back the image of curly black hair and eyes as yellow as the setting sun. She'd taught him about the stars and galaxies, told him stories of galactic guardians and star pirates. When he turned six she went to college at the early age of 18, to study Astronomy and Elemental Geography. Jack hadn't seen her since then. He followed her laugh with a smile on face. "It's good to see you again Emily," He smiled. "Same here Jack. My you've grown. Why if I were 12 years younger I'd_"
"Be talking to him the same way you are now," Pitch interrupted. Emily frowned and pouted at her father, while Jack snickered. A smile returned to her face as she too began to laugh. Pitch simply shook his head at the two and returned to the back room of the shop. Jack cleared his throat and got her attention. He glanced away and felt his cheeks reddened slightly. "Seeing as we haven't seen each other in years…you think I could ya know… see you now?" He asked holding hold out his hands wearily.
Emily smoothly took his hands and placed them on each side of her face. "I'm forever sorry for not being there for you during your accident," She spoke softly. He gently touched her cheekbones, grazed her long eyelashes, curly bangs and equally wavy hair. His fingertips barely grazed her thin lips and soft skin thinking, "Like father like daughter." He chuckled, "Like I wasn't getting spoiled enough for almost a year." She laughed "I wouldn't have spoiled you. Teased and taunted maybe." She smiled and Jack arched an eyebrow at her. Emily couldn't hold her laughter and rolled her eyes, "Ok perhaps a bit of spoiling, would've been in order." Both broke into laughter at the thought. However, Jack froze when his hand grazed over a healed scar going down her neck. He frowned, "What happened here?" Emily felt his thumb rub the scar, "On one of my rousing geographic adventure we wandered upon a pack of wolves." She explained and rolled her eyes. "Whoa, were you hurt? I mean more than just the scar," He asked worry in the tone. She shook her head, "No more than that, but I can't say the same for you. You look like a war survivor," Her British accent rolled off his ears, making him chuckle. "Yeah I was sorta jumped today at school," He shrugged. She gave a dramatic gasp, "The beasts! Want me to handle'em," She whispered.
Jack smiled and shook his head, "No thanks_." Pitch popped his head out of the back room. "Jack's attackers were promptly suspended from school for two weeks. A punishment I personally found to be a bit to lenient on Manny's part." His daughter laughed, "Oh come now father, your punishment would give the children nightmares for weeks." He smirked, "Well I'm sure such punishment would have them acting right in no time." Jack and Emily laughed at the older man. "So what brings you the shop," Emily asked. "Well after such an experience Jack's lost focus on his senses and emotions. I thought bringing him here would help," Pitch explained. Emily smiled, "I didn't know you had so much faith in me father." Pitch rolled his eyes at her sarcasm, "Yes well with such faith I presume you'll be able to watch him and the shop when I'm not here." She saluted him, "You most certainly can." He nodded at her with a smile, then turned to Jack. "Now you may pick any piano here and play any tune of your choosing. It doesn't matter how long or what kind. Each day this week you will come in after school and play." Pitch instructed clearly as Jack began to walk around and each piano he walked by. "How will I know when to stop," he asked motioning back to Pitch. "When I see fit, as usual," The teacher replied bluntly. Jack huffed a chuckle and nodded.
The next day he woke up earlier than usual. After his meditation and training he went to school alone. Walking down a lightly crowded hallways he heard the sound of fast fierce footsteps coming his way. He knew it wasn't Dagger and they were two soft to be Snotlout's. He arched his eyebrows and spoke, "Mer_" he was cut short thanks to a loud slap across his face. The contact echoed through the halls causing multiple students to look at them. The stinging on his face was minimum compared to his shock. Her voice was shaking with anger, "Stay away from Hiccup."She said coldly. It took a moment for Jack to reply. He frowned, "What_" Merida interrupted, "Ye heard me! Stay. Away from him. He's been going through a lot even before ye showed up! And... And ever since ye got here he's been getting worse! I told him not to trust ya so much, but he told me ya were good! That ya were 'is friend! That I could trust ya like him and Punzie, and I tried! But look at where that got us! Hiccup's hurt, his bloody dad is being twice as hard on him, and Rapunzel's scared silly of you getting hurt and Dagger harassing' er! Ya think your help'n but your not! Your just making a mess of things." She released a breath she felt like she was holding in. "Stay away from mah friends. Try at least keep that promise." Her voice was harsh and Jack was frozen as he heard her walk away.
It felt like hours before the teen found his voice again, even when he did, he didn't use it much. Jack went through the day in a trans like state, doing the usual things he had to during the day. His brain was attempting to sort things out while his body was on auto pilot. At the end of the day he made his way straight to Pitch's shop.
As the last school bell rang Hiccup and Merida waited in the usual spot for the others. Rapunzel came jogging out the class to the two. ' Afternoon guys! How'd your day go?" She asked with a smile. Hiccup shrugged, "As good as it could go I guess. Not ready to head home though." Rapunzel gave him a sad smile, "I'm sure it'll all work out in time Hiccup." The brunet nodded, "I hope so." Merida cleared her throat, "Why don't we head to my house? We could get some homework done, hang out and stuff." Rapunzel smiled and nodded," Yeah, that sounds fun." She stopped and looked around with a soft frown, "Where's Jack? I'm sure he'd like to come." Hiccup glanced around too, "I though he was with you today." The blonde shook her head, "I wanted to talk to him. He was acting a little weird today." She said softly. Hiccup attempted to reassure her, with a weak smile, "Maybe he just needed some time to himself. I know after yesterday he was pretty beat up_" Merida elbowed his side, "I mean not that beat up... Physically" He shrugged. Merida elbowed him again as Rapunzel looked down worried. "How are you... Physically," she asked with a little smile. Hiccup replied as the two walked to Merida's car.
As the red head followed she couldn't help, but feel her gut twist at the guilt churning inside her. After she saw Hiccup's recovering black eye and busted lip, her emotions got the best of her and she said all those horrible things to Jack. However, as guilt began to fill her, the red head wasn't quite ready to apologize and knew deep down she didn't know how to confront the boy, or tell her friends what she had done.
So. I'm back!And i'm bringing drama with me!
Review and Read on guys.