Talking to the Moon (Jack Frost/Rise of the Guardians fanfic)

Center

[A/N: OKAY FIRST OF ALL, I DEEPLY APOLOGIZE. I realize it has been quite a long time since I last updated, and I've been keeping some of you rotg fans waiting and waiting.  I've been getting notifications and I decided since I have time this winter break, to finally UPDATE this chapter that I have so wrongfully been dragging on and on for the past months or so. School is my writer's block. I PLAN ON FINISHING THIS STORY. I'm going to shut up now and let you get on, that is if you've read this message so far, so without further delay, enjoy this short but sweet chapter.]

"Does that mean I can fly?" I managed to get out while Jack shook me, my hair flying everywhere.

He laughed and stopped to raise an eyebrow.  "Nat, it all depends on your center."  I let my head fall in exaggerated disappointment.  "Hey." He said softly to get me to look at him.  "Even if you can't fly, you can still get to places with me." 

I rolled my eyes and turned away.  Quite the womanizer he is.  I'm surprised he doesn't have a girlfriend yet, considering Tooth seems to be dropping some major hints.

"I would like that actually." I try not to give away my smile while I internally fangirl.

I don't want to come off as borderline obsessive considering he saw me blush earlier.

"But how do I find my..center?" I look down at my calloused palms, hoping to find some answer there.  Jack comes up behind me and claps a hand on my shoulder. 

"That's what I'm here for." His eyes crinkle at the edges and I resist the urge to hug him. 

Hey, just because I can't have him doesn't mean I can't appreciate attractiveness.  Not to mention taking advantage of the moment.  I hesitate for a split second,  glancing at his cerulean eyes, as if asking for permission.

But he's already glanced away, and now it's too late.

"How did you find your center?"

Jack laughs and widens his eyes. "It's a looong story. Trust me."

"I got time."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Uh huh.." I nodded at Jack, not believing a single word.

"It's all true." He nods back, as serious as ever.

I pause and think about everything he just said.

"So from what you've just told me," I peer into his face to clarify, "Pitch tried to kill all of you."

"You are correct."

"By crushing hopes and dreams."

"All of them."

"In the entire world."

"Yes, Natalia."

I squint at him.

"Right."

"If you're so disbelieving, how can you see me?  That's a question I'd really love to know the answer to." He retorts after heaving a sigh.

"I'd answer that if I knew, I really would." I say truthfully.  I couldn't remember my biological parents which made that hallucination incident all the more interesting.  Could they have really looked like that?  Or was it merely a figment of my imagination? "I never really knew my parents, and didn't stick to one household long enough to be told enough about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, etcetera."

"Oh." Jack looks puzzled and his dark brows furrow.  He scratches his chin and stares at me, as if looking for an answer somewhere on my face.

I stare right back at him, searching his bright blue eyes.  I wonder how he looked before he became a guardian?

"Wait!  I know!" He jumps into the air, simultaneously twirling on his staff.

"You know how my parents died and the reason I can see you?"

Jack stops to throw me a bewildered expression.

"No," he lets out slowly, "but I know a way we can find out."