Seasons Unite

Chapter 1: Jack Frost

The dismissal bell of Jefferson High rang out loudly, announcing the end of school for the rest of the weekend. Teens of all ages ran outside, relieved to be out of class. The very first snow of winter had fallen, casting a white blanket over the world. After a long day of studying, the chance to be outside was a welcome relief. One toss of snow was all it took to start a full blown snowball fight. It was every man for himself.

Jamie Bennett, a seventeen year-old boy with unkempt brown hair and dark brown eyes,  bounded down the steps of the school. He wore a green, long-sleeved shirt underneath an unzipped grey vest. His red sneakers left a star print in the snow as he hurried over to the park where his friends were throwing snowballs.

He looked around in wonder at the clean, white snow. It was a welcome contrast to the normal dreariness of Burgess. It was more fun to walk home from school in the snow rather than the grit and grim of muddy streets.

Jamie smiled as the snow started falling again. He tilted his head back and stared into the cloudy sky, watching the snow fall slowly to the ground. A small snowflake floated down and landed on Jamie's nose, melting immediately from the warmth.

Winter was Jamie's favorite time of year. Whether he was out playing in the snow with his sister or huddled under a blanket sipping hot cocoa, he always enjoyed the cold months. And when the snow came down hard and everyone had to stay indoor, Jamie found that it was the perfect time to read in the comfort of his bed, one of his favorite activities. But the part he loved most about winter was that his best friend always came to visit once the first snow had falling.

A snowball hit Jamie in the back of his head, breaking his train of thought. The impact knocked his fir-lined hat off of his head and into the thickening snow beneath him. Picking up his hat, Jamie turned around to see who had thrown it.

A few feet away stood a boy not much older than Jamie. His hair was a silvery white, sticking up in spikes. He had strikingly blue eyes that sparkled with merriment, and a big, bright smile that was filled with a perfect set of white teeth. He wore a blue hoodie that was decorated with frosty designs and a pair of brown pants that clung to his skinny legs. His feet were left barefooted, despite how cold the ground was. In one hand he held a long wooden staff with a crook in it, intricately marked with blue veins that resembled frost on windows.

"Jack Frost!" Jamie exclaimed happily. He rushed over and gave the Guardian of Fun a friendly hug, excited that he was back for another winter season.

Jack laughed. He tousled the other boy's hair playfully with his hand. "Good to see you again, Jamie," he said with a crooked smile that was higher on the right side. "What's it been, a couple months?"

Jamie smiled back. "It seems longer," he admitted.

Jack nodded in agreement, but his eyes were now focused on the snowball fight that was taking place. Jack was a fun loving boy and was never one to turn down a good game. Leaning closer to Jamie, He smiled mischievously and said, "Are you ready for some fun?"

Not waiting for an answer, Jack summoned the wind to his side and his feet lifted off of the ground, making him float like the falling snowflakes around him. Gripping his staff tighter, he ran it over a patch of snow. Perfectly round balls of snow appeared where the staff had been, providing ammunition for the snow battle. Jamie reached down and grabbed one.

As Jamie began pelting his friends with the snowballs, Jack formed a new one in his hand. With a smirk, he pulled back his arm and, swinging it forward, shot one of the other teens in the shoulder. Jumping with glee at his perfect aim, Jack created another ball, then flew to another position, striking another kid.

A few of the kids noticed that Jack Frost was there playing with them and they shouted out a greeting to him. Jack laughed and greeted them with a snowball to the face. The kids laughed, too excited to see Jack again to care about the cold snow melting on their faces.

The majority of the teenagers, however, couldn't see Jack. Only kids who believe in the Guardians were able to see them. Not having many believers, Jack had felt the effect of this the most. After all, Jamie had been the first human to believe in Jack Frost, and that was only ten years ago, a dark contrast to Jack's three-century life. Jack still felt an empty space in his heart whenever he saw children grow up and stop believing in magic, even if they had never been able to see him in the first place.

Jack pushed aside the unhappy thought and threw a snowball at Jamie, hitting him in the chest, knocking him to the ground.

Jamie laughed hard and tried to catch his breath. He sat up and leaned back on his arms. Jack Frost flew over and laughed too. The snowball fight slowly ended as children went back home or gathered to talk with Jack.

They had only been talking for a few minutes before Jack looked up to afternoon sky and saw a faint green light.

The Guardian's emergency signal!

Saying a quick goodbye to Jamie and his friends, promising to visit them again soon, Jack flew off towards the north for a meeting of the Guardians.