1. Jamie's Babysitter
Jack's POV
A while ago, I would only come to Jamie's house every now and then due to the fact that I was now a Guardian and had 'responsibilities', whatever the heck that meant. But lately, I was coming more often, always at night. You see, the reason was because his mother was working more often and he probably felt alone sometimes....
Okay, so I'll admit that's not the only reason. Yeah I'm visiting him, but he isn't the only one I want to see. Since his mother had been working a lot during the night, she had hired a babysitter to watch over Jamie and his little sister. At first I was really upset because she would constantly make him go to bed when we were trying to have a good time. Who would ruin a child's fun? That was inhumane! However, the more I came over, the more I realized my opinion of her had been wrong.
This girl's name was Amelia Henson. She was about seventeen years' old, had strawberry blonde hair, and was really set on putting Jamie to bed at exactly eight. Despite her being strict on rules, she ended up being a really fun person. I was seriously surprised by how odd her change in personality was. Even Jamie was dumbstruck for some time when she dragged him outside in the middle of the night and started a snowball fight. At first I didn't know the reason why she did that, because I had just come back from the North Pole, but Jamie soon explained it to me.
Apparently he had a nightmare, which were rare considering Pitch was long gone. It had scared him so much he couldn't go back to sleep and Amelia decided to have some fun to take his mind off of it. I still remembered watching from the neighbor's roof as she tackled him to the ground and rubbed the snow into his face. There was a feeling in the pit of my stomach that was unfamiliar to me. For the first time in two years, I wished someone could see me.
It was too late, however, because she was too old. There was no way she'd ever see me so I made myself alright with that very fact. I settled with messing with Jamie, and watching Amelia as if she were an old friend I no longer spoke to. But hey, why was I talking about this? Nothing I was saying actually bothered to make sense even to me. I actually didn't know how the thought crossed my mind. All I was doing was messing with Jamie in his room as quietly as possible due to it being one in the morning.
"Jack, can you do that thing where you make pictures come off the window and look cool?" Jamie asked, hugging his pillow to his chest. His large smile and the way he was leaning towards me told me he really wanted to see that little trick of mine. I rubbed the back of my neck and chuckled, "Okay, okay." I jumped off his bed and went towards his window. With a quick wave of my hand, the window began to frost over and with my index finger I drew out Baby Tooth. After that I pulled the image out and Jamie watched with excitement as the ice fairy darted around his room at full speed.
Jamie's laugh of delight was a bit loud, though, because a random banging rang through his room. "Jamie, you better be asleep. I sent you up here hours ago!" a half laughing, half serious voice said behind his door. We both looked at the beam of light coming from under his door and saw Amelia's shadow hovering around it. I glanced at Jamie just as he slammed his hand against his mouth. He looked at me with a slightly scared expression. I burst out into laughter myself knowing she wouldn't hear.
As soon as her shadow left, Jamie sighed in relief and fell back onto his bed in exhaustion. "You're lucky she can't see you, Jack, because if she could, you wouldn't come over anymore." he muttered. I laughed some more and swung my staff around my neck and let my wrists hang from it. Jamie shot me a look at my enjoyment then stuck his tongue out. I rose an eyebrow and looked down at the little nine year old. "Excuse me for a moment."
He sat up quickly, "Jack, what are you going to do?"
"Nothing that concerns you...yet."
"Jack, no!"
I flung his door open and he scrambled to his feet to chase after me in an attempt to stop me. The one and only Jack Frost was a bit too fast for him, though. I flew downstairs and stopped short of entering the kitchen were Amelia stood over the sink washing dishes from the dinner she gave Jamie and Sophie. Her back was to me, just the way it should be. Quickly I blew cold air into my hand and formed one of my special snow balls. "Jack, please!" Jamie hissed silently as he crept up behind me. I turned my head slightly and shook my finger at him.
Before he could say anything else, I flung the snowball at the back of her head. Instead of hitting her, though, it hit a metal pan that Amelia used to her defense. She turned around and her flaming brown eyes passed through me and looked at Jamie. An evil smile grew on her face, "Jamie, I told you to go to bed!" She charged forward and grabbed the little boy with ease and began to spin him around. I leaned against the wall and watched with a hint of envy as she hugged him tightly. "And who brings in snow just to throw it at people?" she laughed.
I tilted my head and wondered just how she knew that snowball was coming for her. Yeah, it hadn't been the first time I've attacked her from behind, but when did she become skilled in blocking them? That was new. I'd have to step up my game now.
"Next time I'm using the sink to soak y-" Amelia couldn't finish what she was saying because just then the front door opened and we all heard, "Amy, I'm back." Quickly Amelia shushed up and put Jamie down. "Hurry to bed so she doesn't catch you." she whispered in his ear. Jamie nodded, shot me one last look, then darted upstairs. Instead of following him, I trailed behind her curiously. "How were the kids?" Jamie's mom asked, taking off her shoes. She looked a mess, but that was to be expected.
"They were great! Sophie fell asleep instantly again."
"You're the only one who can put her to bed without tiring her out."
"I try my best. How was work?"
"It was work, thanks again. How much do I owe you?"
"You don't need to pay me today! "
"Amy, please."
"I'm serious. You didn't know you'd be called in tonight, I'm free just this once!"
"...Thanks."
Amelia smiled at the middle aged woman who wore a look of humor. "Anyway, how was Jamie? Did he actually go to sleep?" she asked. I smirked and leaned on my staff, waiting for her answer. "You can say that." That was the answer I was expecting. It fit her personality really well.
She took a glance at her watch and gasped, "I need to get going!" Quickly she ran to the couch and stuffed her things into her backpack before going to the door to put her shoes on. Jamie's mom yawned, "Thanks again! Be safe on your way home!" Amelia gave her a little salute along with a wink. "I always am." she teased. She slipped out the front door without another word and Jamie's mom locked the door behind her. Before she closed the window, however, I slipped out myself.
I flew to the house's gate and watched as Amelia waited for the lights to go out before heading left. I grasped my staff tightly. She always went right. What was she up to at one in the morning? Curious, I followed after her, just to be safe. It didn't take long when I finally realized she was heading towards the lake where I became a Guardian. She had never done this before. I would know, I followed her a lot when I was bored. So what was she doing today?
Upon stepping on the border of the frozen lake, she sat down in the snow and began to go through her backpack. She threw things out and dug all the way inside where she pulled out a pair of ice skates. Now this was going to be interesting.
When the skates were on properly, she used the ground to help herself to her feet and slid onto the ice. Once balance was gained, she began to skate around. Was this all she was doing? That was a bit boring. I was almost about to make myself go back to Jamie's to see if he was still up. But before I made a single move, Amelia began to do twists and turns I had only seen once before. Now this was what ice skating was supposed to be! I sat comfortably on a tree branch and continued to watch as she moved her arms and legs in a graceful fashion. How come I had never seen this before?
The confusing feeling I had was returning as I watched. It was painfully uncomfortable yet enjoyable all the same. I had to get rid of it, though. But how would I do that? The only thing I could think of was to mess with her. And I knew just how to do that. I hopped down from the tree and let the wind catch me as I sped it up. Best thing to happen, she falls into the snow and gets a look of confusion. Worst thing to happen? She hits the ice.
