Footprints In The Snow

II. Just Friends

:|| Posted above: Azari, or what I imagine her to look like. It's cool if your version of her is different. ||:

I awake that morning, my whole back aching from sleeping on the wooden roof all night. Jack still snores next to me, his lips parted every so slightly.

I prop myself up onto my elbows, realizing Jack's arm is still around me.

The sky is a light gray; I assume it's just past dawn. There is one star I can faintly see.

The rest of Terra Nix calls it the North Star, but I like to think that it's actually Peter, looking down on us like a guardian angel, keeping us from harm.

Oh, how I miss Peter. Him and I were the perfect couple. I loved him, he loved me. His heart was mine, and my heart was his . . . It all sounds kind of corny, but it certainly didn't feel that way when you spent the whole day with your soulmate.

Jack shifts, pulling me out of my thoughts. His green eyes flutter open. "Mhm . . ."

"Morning, Jack," I whisper.

"Hm . . ." Jack closes his eyes, pulling his arm from my shoulder and rolling onto his side.

"Wake up, you big bear!" I grab his shoulder and shake him. "I'm not leaving you on my roof alone. If my mother comes up here and sees you, she'll have a heart attack. Get up!"

Jack lazily bats my hand away. "I'm awake, Azari, calm down, please."

I sigh and turn around onto my stomach, pulling myself up onto my knees. I begin to crawl up and around Jack, and as I near the edge of the roof, I start skidding downwards.

Strong hands wrap around my forearms just as I'm about to topple off the edge. Jack pulls me into his chest, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Why're you in such a rush to leave?" Jack looks at me, confused. "You have all day to hunt, you know." He looks up at me as I climb higher up the roof.

I scoff and wrap my fingers over the edge of the roof. "I want to change out of these clothes and get out into the forest. I don't want to be spending my day on a hard, wooden roof with you."

"Ouch," Jack mutters.

My hair whips in the light breeze as I swing my legs over the edge, slowly climbing down onto the snowy ground.

Jack follows me, his hair sticking out at an odd angle; bedhead. "Larkspur, just calm down."

I'm about to make a sharp, inappropriate retort when my mom and Zeke come around the corner, my mom's brows drawn together in worry.

". . . didn't come home--" Zeke was saying, but he stopped when he saw Jack and I. "Well, well, well. What do we have here?" He folds his arms across his chest.

Mom looks at me, disapproval showing in every inch of her face. "Azari, where have you been all night?!" she demands.

A sigh escapes my lips. "I--"

Jack interrupts me. "She was with me, Calla. My apologies."

Mom's eyes widen. "You two were together . . . all night?!" She turns to Zeke. "How could you have let this happen, Ezekiel? You're her brother! Aren't you supposed to--"

"Mom!" I say, my face hot. "We didn't . . . we didn't sleep together. Well, we did sleep together, but--"

"Holy angels of above!" Mom shrieks, her black eyes widening. "Azari, you are to ask me before you go off doing irresponsible things that that! You're grounded for a week, young lady! You hear me?"