Footprints In The Snow

III. Tolerance

:|| Posted above: "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. ||:

Finally, I thought as my eyes flutter open.

It's my last day of being grounded, and I am so excited to get out into the forest again, to run my fingers over the trees' bark.

Mom also prohibited me from using my bow, which gave Zeke a reason to be smug. I still hate him, though.

I fling the blankets off of me and sprint to our washroom. After taking a warm shower, I throw on some new clothes and jog outside, preparing for my morning run.

Before I get very far, I hear a familiar voice,

"Morning Larkspur!"

I turn around and see Jack walking towards me, a wide grin on his face.

"Hello," I greet.

Jack raises a blond eyebrow at me. "What's with the formalities? I thought we were friends."

"Just because we're friends doesn't give me a right to be a slob, Jack," I retort, beginning to run again.

I hear footsteps behind me, followed by Jack's voice. "Zara, wait!"

Irritated, I stop and spin around to face him, crossing my arms over my chest. "What?"

" I was thinking, that since it's the last day that you're grounded, and tomorrow you'll probably spend all day in the forest, that we could do something special today. I honestly have no idea what we do, but as long as I'm with you, it'll be fun." He smiles sheepishly at me.

I feel heat rush into my cheeks, then try to cover it up with a scowl. "You're a hopeless romantic, Jackson."

Jack chuckles lightheartedly, "You're so cute when you're embarrassed!"

"Shut up," I mumble, then I speak more clearly, "Let me know what you want to do when I get back."

Jack moans. "Do you have to run?"

"Do you have to be such a nuisance?" I spit.

The green-eyed boy visibly winces.

"Sorry." I immediately regret my retort. "I don't know why I'm so mean."

As if my apology has some magical healing properties, Jack smiles momentarily. "I guess that's one of your defining characteristics."

I scoff and throw a friendly punch into his arm. "Jerk."

Jack grins and he wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his side. "Let's go."

"Where?" I ask.

Before Jack can say anything, Zeke comes into my peripheral vision.

"What do you want, Zeke?" I snap before he has even opened his mouth to talk.

Zeke's dark brown eyes widen. "I just wanted to apologize."

"You think that just saying 'sorry' will make me forgive you for accusing me of having sex with Jack and taking away my hunting privileges for a week?" I force a sarcastic laugh.

I see Jack look down at the ground his tanned face reddening.

Zeke growls. "It's something he would do."

Securing my arm around Jack's waist, I guide him towards the market place, but my annoying brother follows.

"You can't say I'm wrong, Zara," Zeke protests. "It is something he would do."

I grit my teeth together, resisting the urge to spin around and punch Zeke in the nose. After walking a while, we've crossed into the market, but Zeke is still following us.

I spin around, holding out my hand. "Back up,
Ezekiel. You're outside of your boundaries."

Zeke lets out another inhumane growl, but he steps back into the neighborhood, and even as we walk away, I feel his cold stare on the back of my head.

"Your brother amuses me sometimes," Jack finally says, breaking the awkward silence.

I roll my eyes. "Ezekiel is one of a kind, let me tell you."

Jack laughs softly. "Yeah, I bet."

The heat hasn't completely faded from my cheeks as we approach Kaia's bakery.

The dark-haired girl is kneading a ball of dough into a wide circle. "Hey guys."

"Hey, Kaia," Jack says, removing his arm from my shoulders. He walks up to her and reaches a long arm towards a plate of buns next to Kaia.

Before Kaia can say anything, Jack stuffs the bread into his mouth and sits on the counter across from a fuming Kaia.

"Jackson!" she scolds, irritation coming off her in waves. "If I catch you stealing one more time, I swear I'll . . ." She shakes her fist at him, flinging a chunk of dough into his face.

Jack dodges the dough and makes a face at Kaia.

"You guys are acting like freaking five-year-olds," I say.

"And you're acting like a feeling forty-year-old mom! Stop bossing us around and have some fun!" Jack tosses a bun to me.

My fingers close around the bread, which is still warm. "Where did you—"

"Jack!" Kaia screams, smacking the back of his head with her head. "Cut it out!!"

Jack smiles and her and snatches the bread from my fingers, shoving it into his mouth.

"Jack," Kaia scolds again. "There are starving children in the world and you're acting like a freaking pig!"

"There's a starving hold in front of you," Jack counters, swallowing the bun.

"Get out of my shop!" Kaia orders, pointing to the exit. "Now!"

Jack rolls his eyes and grabs my hand, pulling me towards the exit. "Whatever, Sparkles."

"What kind of nickname is that?!" Kaia demands.

"Your hair sparkles in the sunlight, so . . ." Jack sighs and leads me down the street.

I feel Kaia's piercing gaze follow us down the gravel road. We stop at chunk of land, littered with logs for furniture and things like that.

"So, Larkspur, what do you want to do?" Jack asks, sitting down on a log.

"Run around in the forest," I mutter.

Jack forces out a fake laugh. "Ha ha ha. No."

"Why not?!" I demand.

"Because your mom would kill me, Zara!" Jack says, flailing out his arms for a dramatic affect. "And Zeke would . . . . He would give me a fate worse than death."

"They can't hate you more than they already do," I point out. "And plus, I wouldn't let my heartless brother lay one fat finger on you unless he goes through me first. Which is very unlikely."

Jack raises an eyebrow. "Wow, Larkspur," he says, feigning tears, "That was so heartfelt, I can't even begin to—"

"Yeah, yeah," I interrupt. "Now would you shut up and help me?"

A grin spreads across Jack's face. "It would be my pleasure."