Nicole's P.O.V

I woke up, groaning and hiding my face under my blankets. My cheek still stung fiercely from last night, and from the dull ache on my skin, I was going to have a nasty bruise there, as well as on my face and temple, where my head had hit the wall with painful strength.

It had been three days since I watched Jamie and Sophie, and my father had gotten back last night. He was angry, drunk, and blood stained his knuckles. I knew he had been in a fight, but chosen not to say anything. I'd gone to bed early, around four in the afternoon, just to avoid him, and I had fallen asleep. He had called for me and I didn't hear him, causing him to storm into my room, yank me up by the hair, and proceed to 'punish me for my wrong doings.' He'd left the room soon after, muttering something about having to do 'all the work around here', and I, dizzy from my battered head, collapsed in my bed, unconscious.

I sat up wearily, looking around and trying to still my lagging vision. I listened intently for any sounds, but there were none. I stood up and, holding onto the wall, I made my way out of my room, down the hall, and into the living room. I looked out the window to see the car was gone. I didn't even bother to look for a note, he never left one.

I felt tears prick my eyes. Why? Why did I have to be stuck with a father like this!? Why wasn't my mother here to save me! Why didn't I have the guts to run away?! Why do I have scars to prove how worthless I am!?

I slumped and my knees gave out. Why? All my life I'd had no friends, had no real family. Not since I was three years old anyway, and I don't even remember what my mothers face looked like! How sad is that?! And I'd never know. Had I done something wrong? To deserve this? Well, it must have been bad, whatever it was.

I stood up and wiped at my eyes before making my way to the kitchen for something to eat. I'd gotten food from the store before dad got home, and I hadn't gotten to eat anything since lunch the day before, so my stomach was growling and I was light headed from my (most likely,) concussion and from lack of food. So I pulled out an apple and got a glass from the cubboard. Well, I say glass, but it was a plastic solo cup. Maybe my father would finally get a job and be able to pay for some real dishes and other kitchen-ware. As well as clothes that fit me, and a regular diet of good food and not just some crap you get at a convenience store.

I walked back to my room, munching on my apple, and rummaged around in my bag for a pair of clothes. I finally found a pair of knee length shorts and my usual blue sweater. Stupid ugly thing. It was the only piece of clothing I owned that was too big for me. Huh. Maybe I could get a small job and buy some new clothes from a Salvation Army or something.

I threw my apple core into the small trash bin in the corner of my room and sighed as I slipped my "baggy" jeans off. "Baggy" because they were a bit tight around the thighs and the waist was smaller than a belt of a three year old. Okay, so maybe I exaggerated, but you get the point.

After a few minutes of struggling, ("These-god-damn-fuck-ing-SHORTS!") I finally got the shorts on and huffed as I put on my sweater. I drained my cup of water and closed my bedroom door behind me as I left. I shoved my bare feet into my too-small shoes and left the house after setting down my cup. I wouldn't be gone for long, just a quick walk, before my dad got back. If he came here and I was gone... Well, let's not get into that.

I watched my breath curl up into the air and smiled. The cold air soothed my stinging bruises and calmed me down. I wasn't used to such clean air. I was always in some big, disgusting, polluted city. New York, LA, New York again... I wished we could stay here, but it probably wasn't going to last long. I mean, it hadn't been two weeks yet, and my father had already gotten into a fistfight. He'd probably had too much to drink at some bar and cheated while gambling. If only he'd crash his car...

I shook my head. No, I couldn't think that way. No sane person wishes for someone to die! Right? Ah well, I can't control it. I mean, no one can control their desires. It's... it's just not possible. Believe me, I'd tried. I'd tried to not believe in Santa, and the Tooth Fairy, and Jack Frost, and so on. But, y'know, I just couldn't stop. And now look, Jack Frost flew me back to my house! Take that society! Ha! Now, if only-

"Hey Niki!"

I squealed and jumped backwards in fright. Speak of the devil. Jack's grinning face had dropped in front of mine, and he was hanging upside down in midair. I looked around to make sure that no one had seen or heard, but no one seemed to be out. I sighed in relief. I didn't want to look like a lunatic in my new town. I opened my mouth to greet my fast friend, but I stopped when he frowned. He twisted around and landed on his feet before tenderly touching my cheek. I flinched.

"Geez, what happened to your face?" He asked, his voice holding concern. I looked away for a moment before feeding him the same lie I told Mrs. Bennett.

"I, uh, I walked into the door frame. It was really funny, I like, flailed around for a minute or two and-"

"You did not walk into the door frame unless you carefully positioned yourself for impact."

"... Maybe I did."

"Doubt it."

"I'm masochistic, didn't you know?"

"I highly disagree with that statement."

"How do you know if I'm not?"

"Because you got your hand slammed in the door two days ago and you screamed like a banshee."

I rolled my eyes and kept on walking. I knew Jack was following me, so I responded, my voice defeated. "I'd rather not talk about it, kay?" I heard his footsteps close behind mine and I waited tensely. I silently begged him to drop it and, thankfully, it seemed like he had.

"Why didn't you show up yesterday? Jamie and I waited for you." He asked. I cringed. Right, I was supposed to go to the woods with the two of them, but dad came home in that state and...

"S-something came up. I'm sorry." I felt him grab my wrist, stopping me. I turned around, a fake confused expression adorning my stinging face. "What is it?"

Jack's blue eyes pierced my green ones and I resisted the urge to look away.

"What happened? Did someone do this to you?" He pressed. I felt a tightening around my lungs, that awful feeling of fear and suffocation. That fear of someone finding out. I forced a grin and shook my head.

"It's really nothing serious. I was helping my dad with a shelf, and he accidentally swung a piece of wood into my face. It doesn't even hurt that much."

I felt pretty good about that, that sounded believable. A moment of silence hung in the air between us as Jack contemplated my story. Finally, after what seemed like eternity, he shrugged and let go of my arm.

"Okay. I believe you."

I resisted the urge to heave another sigh, seeing as that would be too suspicious, and instead, I made a fist with my hidden hand. I looked up at Jack as we walked.

"Changing the subject, why are you walking with me? I'm not going anywhere in particular." I added. Jack ran his hand through his hair and mumbled,

"I was bored... Jamie's at school, and as much as I'd like to go and cause some trouble, I know that one of the kids would be blamed for it, so... Yeah. That reminds me, why aren't you in school?" He asked. I cringed. I shouldn't have asked why he was here. I should have also had an answer prepared for this particular question. What could I say?! All the schools around Burgess were public, so they were free! I would've just needed to pass a test and-

"Niki?"

I blinked. I took a moment, faked a laugh, and said, "Sorry, I space out sometimes. I, um, I don't do well with people, so I don't go to school anymore, I just dropped out in... fourth... no, sixth grade, was it? Anyways, once you're sixteen, no one can make you go, so I'm fine." I stepped on a patch of ice and slipped, yelping with surprise as I fell to the ground. I landed hard on my tailbone and whimpered as I glared up at Jack, who was obviously trying to hold in a laugh. I stood up, rubbing my butt.

"You knew that was there, didn't you, you asshole?" I snarled, blinking away tears of pain. Jack snickered and 'tut-tutted' me.

"You'd better not use that language around Jamie or Sophie."

"'You'd better not use that language around Jamie or Sophie.'" I mocked him, using a nasily, high voice. "Jamie's almost thirteen, he's probably already swearing. Loosen up a bit. I know you want to." I teased, my eyes narrowing in challenge. Jack smirked.

"Fuck you."

"Well, fuck you too. Damn, you have such a dirty mouth!" I faked a scream and ran like my life depended on it as my new friend attempted to attack me. I was breathing heavily by the time I got to the park, and I ran deep into the trees, trying to find a hiding space. I looked over my shoulder as I ran, and saw that Jack was no longer there. Had I really lost him? Wow. I outran the winter spirit!

I pranced about in one spot for a minute before running backwards, to try and hide my real position. I hid behind a large tree and sat down, ignoring the cold snow against my bare legs.

"You looked like an idiot, dancing around over there. What did you think that would do?"

I gasped and flung a clump of snow up into the air, directly above my head, where I heard the voice come from. I heard a laugh and I giggled. I stood up, shivering slightly, and held my hand out to the white haired boy.

"Truce?" I pleaded, brushing snow off my thighs with my free hand. Jack nodded and grinned.

"Truce."

We shook hands and Jack touched down to walk on top of the snow beside me. I, on the other hand, trudged through it, grumbling about my feet being wet and cold. I waas so caught up in trying to magically warm up my feet by thinking of hot things, that I didn't notice Jack staring at me until much later. I glanced up and did a double take, feeling my cheeks heat up.

"What?" I snapped. He looked away.

"Nothing." He answered quickly. I stared and grabbed his arm. He kept his head turned away. I laughed.

"Are you blushing?" I asked, barely disguised humor in my voice. He muttered something like, 'no,' but he didn't look at me. I tugged on his arm. "C'mon, look at me!" He kept his head turned stubbornly away from me. I pinched him.

"Ow!"

"Look at me or I'll tell Jamie that you were checking me out!" I teased him. He looked at me, face now red instead of pink.

"I-I was just noticing that your clothes didn't fit! I wasn't... checking you out..." He trailed off, embarrassed. I blinked and let go of his arm.

"Ah... oh. Y-yeah, we don't have enough money to buy any new clothes, so I don't have a lot of stuff to wear." I picked at the hem of my sweater. "This is the only thing I have that's too big for me." I shrugged and continued to shuffled through the fluffy snow. "But hey, I'm just moaning. 'Ah, poor, poor me. I don't have enough money for food or clothes, sigh...'" I joked. I felt him pull me back. I stopped.

"You don't have enough money for food either?" He asked, seemingly shocked. I sucked in a breath. Shit. I slipped. I forced a laugh and waved my hand dismissively.

"Nah, I get enough to eat, I was just over exaggerating for the effect." Jack relaxed and nodded, letting go of my arm. I clapped my hands together awkwardly and changed the subject. "So. You said two days ago that there was a pond you wanted to show me?" Jack smiled and caught my hand, folding it into his own. I flushed.

"Yeah, come on! You know how to ice skate, right?"

"N-no, not really..."

"What?! Well then, I'll help you out. Let's go!" He started running and I followed, unable to break free from his grip. We dashed through the snow, the trees flying by us, but all I could focus on was the back of Jack's white haired head. I huffed and started to smile when something caught my eye.

Something was winding through the trees to the left of us, leaving slick, oily marks on the trunks. I slowed down to try and see it better, but, as if it had seen me watching, it disappeared behind the next tree it came across. Jack stopped and looked back at me.

"What's wrong?" He asked. I turned away slowly and grinned.

"Nothing. Come on, I need to get back soon!" Jack began to pull me along again, and this time I kept pace with him. But now, all I could think about was that... that thing. That thing that I had a creeping suspicion about. Was it following me? I frowned.

'What the hell is that creepy ass thing?!'