Protecting Genie

Chapter 10

Genie's POV

Jack and I have been sitting in silence on the bed for a long time now. I thought he was just staying quiet until I finish my two slices of pizza he'd brought me. But I was done a while ago. This silence is starting to kill me though.

"So uh..." I tried to start some kind of conversation but I had no idea of what to say.

"Was the pizza good?" He cut in.

"Yeah, totally. Pizza is..."

"Your favorite. I know." How did he know this? He must have noticed my look of surprise. "I know a lot of things about you." He informed me.

"You have no idea how creepy that sounds." He blushed slightly, causing me to chuckle at his response. "But tell me what else you know about me. I'm curious."

"Let's see: your favorite color is a tie between red, black and purple; you love cookies, as long as it doesn't have raisins in them; you dream of being an author but your family doesn't really support that."

"I'm impressed and creeped out all at once. How do you know all that stuff about me?" I saw him take in a deep breath and slowly let it out; this must mean he's been keeping a big secret from me. He closed his eyes to avoid look at me.

"I saw you playing with Jaime about four years ago, having a snow ball fight in your backyard. I'm pretty sure that's when it all started." He opened his eyes but continued to look down at the floor. "I've travelled all over the world and no girl has ever been able to keep my attention, until you." Geez, I had that same effect on Pitch. Must be a 'dead' guy thing or something.

"It's true that I've always watched over Jaime...but mainly it's cause I wanted to watch over you too. I was determined to get to know you more. Of course, being a spirit, I thought you wouldn't be able to see me. When you left for college, I followed you."

"I know you're trying to make this sound sweet, but all I'm getting is that you were spying on me." I wonder if he could tell from the tone of my voice that I was a little pissed off.

"Trust me, if I had known that you would be able to see me, I would have appeared before you way before."

"You still could have."

"Oh yeah, you're the only one who can see me. Imagine if I appeared in front of you while you were in hanging under your favorite tree at the library; to others, you'd look like you talking to no one."

"Well, I have been told before that I belong in the Looney house so that would have confirmed it for some people. So you spied on me to get to know me. Now that you do, what's your verdict?" I stood up from the bed to throw away the now empty container.

"I love you." Good thing my hand was already over the trash can, I dropped the container in shock, now frozen in my track. He didn't just say that, did he? I mentally calmed myself before turning to face him.

"Excuse me?" My voice was now a bit squeaky from the surprise.

"I love you." Even after hearing his story, I was not expecting this at all, a confession. "I mean, is that so hard to believe? I'm practically attached at your hip, I'm slightly jealous that you're here with Bunny, I had to beg North to let me come see you cause I was getting ready to go insane." He stood from the bed, letting the staff fall from his side.

He raked his hands through his hair, showing his frustration with this whole matter. I better calm him down before he decides to freeze this cabin.

Shaking away my shock, I rushed over to him.

"Jack." I whispered softly to him. "Calm down." I grasped his hands in mine and gave them a reassuring squeeze. He refused to look me in the eye for the meantime.