You're safe when you're with me

Yes, you are

It started as such a small thing and now I'm under the table scared out of my mind. Pretending I'm anywhere but here. Why? I'll tell you. You remember how my sister wanted to play hopscotch? Well Jack made the board with my help even if I wasn't sure we should or you know be playing at all. Sure it's what saved her life but it was also how Jack died.

It was what we were doing before the last time I was any kind of safe. The fact that we were gonna make everyone play just to apease my sister was a funny thought all in its own. As I imagined papa North playing Hopscotch. I giggled into my hand as I thought such a thing.

Then I heard my brother laughing he seemed to know what I was thinking. The guardians loved when we did that. When I saw Onyx lift an eyebrow I whispered what I had been thinking into his ear as he chuckled in return and told his sisters. Not soon after we began our game.

Mary and I decided Jack should go first. But we hadn't played in a while so his aim was a little off. That and we were on different material. It landed near the 6 but not directly on the path but close enough. I'd never played real hopscotch before I never got to do a lot of things with my siblings.

I wanted to watch how to do it first. From what I remember it seemed like a lot of hoping. I saw that single spaces were hopped on by one foot two spaces both feet you hop over the rock go to the end and turn back and try not to switch feet. My brother is very good at balance.

I tilted my head like a confused dog. He pretended to trip halfway through. But I cringed. The last time he pretended to do anything dangerous was to try and cheer up Mary and I to get off the ice. How at first we smiled because he was silly and the next....

He saw the way I stood packed in like a sardine. My arms brought in close to me and terrified look on my face. He frowned back and then did actually fall over when he grabbed for the "stone." IDK if I wanna play I backed away from him. Can I just watch? I mean I guess so he looked at me confused.

What's wrong what happened? I saw the way you cringed when I..... I pretended to fall. What's wrong Jack the others began to ask. I'm sorry Farrah I was trying to be funny. I know it's just that Mary and I were the last ones to see you alive one moment we were smiling and laughing at you making a fool of yourself pretending to fall and then you really did.

And I was once again not safe anymore. We had no no one to protect us. Not that I did for the longest time. I've never played real hopscotch before but IDK if I like it. Farrah he tried to reach for me. But I pulled away. I curled up in the chair knees pulled up with my arms wrapped around as I watched.

I watched as my sister went next it hadn't gotten far and she was really good at it the only thing I noticed was that she switched legs on the way back but it seemed to my brother it didn't matter. Once the game really got started Bunny was upset because they had made everyone play except me and Sandy.

He understood why not me but was upset why not Sandy. Tooth had said she had never played before and I'd said I hadn't really ever played before either. Mary had been so excited to try and watch Tooth play hopscotch for the first time as I looked up with a small smile.

Or how papa North thought he had won the game until Jack knocked him over keeping his spot on the naughty list. Which he had worked hard for apparently. As I rolled my eyes. Onyx sat with me when it wasn't his turn. Competing against Jack as if it were that kind of game.

I ran and hid under the table when Bunny felt the game was stupid and we'd been playing a while and that's when got upset that Sandy wasn't playing either because he had been dragged into it. At first he hadn't argued with Jack when he tried to tell Mary he wasn't playing but then Jack stood his ground.

Yes you are! He scolded Bunny. Something in his tone made any arguing die out even if he had grumbled and muttered over the need to play. But now he'd called the game stupid he understood why I didn't wanna play and had no problem with me not playing but he yelled at Jack when Jack scolded him how he was gonna make him play even if he had to force him.

When Bunny raised his voice at Jack and they started fighting it wasn't hard to see how Jack flinched when Bunny called the game stupid. This game saved my little sister's life it isn't stupid Jack had yelled back. And now you know why I'm under the table. And then Mrs. Bennet walked in.

She said something about getting Jack and I something. And then stopped at what she saw. What's going on in here?! She asked them. They both said he started it as I cringed and covered my ears whimpering staying out of the way. She didn't care who had started it as she looked around possibly looking for me.

She told them there would be no fighting in the house as they apologized. What are you looking for mom? Jamie asked her. Where did your sister go? She asked Jack. She's hiding under the table she's scared he leaned against his staff a frown on his face. Which is another good reason why not to fight.

Yeah I know he frowns again. Jack I didn't mean.... It's ok he cuts Bunny off. It's ok he shoves his hands in his pockets as he takes a step back. It wasn't hard for me to see how he had flinched yet again. Jamie's mother bent down under the table to help pull me out. It's ok sweetie the fighting is over.

I was shaking like a leaf. As Jack tried to get closer to me. I cringed and flinched. I don't like when you fight and raise your voice. I whimpered at him. I'm sorry he laid down his hand for me. It's ok it's over now. You're ok you're safe when you're with me I promise.

He wiped the frightened tears from my eyes as I shook trembling in his arms. His hand running through my hair a hand on my back. I'm sorry. Sh sh I'm sorry it's ok. Don't be scared it's ok. Mary broke the silence asking what she had for us. Oh I uh noticed your siblings weren't wearing shoes so I got them some.

Jack and Mary thought it was funny that she got Jack shoes. He had never worn shoes a day in his life avoided them like the plague. And I didn't like black or brown mens boots. So at least they weren't that kind of shoe. She was worried about his feet getting hurt or frostbitten which was ironic and funny.

I had never worn a pair of shoes a day in my life either but for different reasons. First in my past life I was never given any or had any made. Or my father threw or kicked me or stomped on me or did all these things to me with shoes but the only ones I didn't like were black or brown work boots.

And I told her this she asked me if I wanted to come try some on. How they were nice and soft said the shoes said that they were like walking on a cloud. Less pain and hurt at least on your feet. That is really nice of you thank you so much. Are they too big too small? She asked.

They were a light blue with snowflakes with fur on the inside. And they were squishy and set off a cooling on the inside. They're really cute and really nice. They fit great I think. They don't hurt or fall off. And they go well with the winter spirit theme. After all we're both winter spirits so none of this really bothers us but it was so nice of you.

Though she was disappointed that Jack didn't want his but didn't push as our parents didn't make him wear shoes either. A fight he seemed to win against him and they had worse things to worry about those things just didn't matter. Eventually the topic changed again to Jamie asking about the blizzard outside.

Jack told them that we had to go do rounds of making places snow Onyx and his sisters said they wanted to come too safer to travel in numbers. Jack was hesitant at first but I said yes for them to come. I would feel safer if we went as a group because we never knew what could happen just the two of us.

Nothing good as it seems. He warned the others if something happened to his sister he was holding them responsible. So instead Ms. Bennet decided that they should play a nice board game instead while everyone suggested things. But I wish we knew then what we knew now.