Guardian of the Frost

11: Snowballs

EMMA'S POV

***

"I see! So that's why it rains." I press my nose hard on the car window as rain pours heavily outside. Beside me Jack smiles and I grin at him.

"Congratulations Emma. Now you won't have to believe in the clouds crying anymore." He ruffles my hair and I stick my tongue out.

"But the clouds do cry Jack. I mean, they're like humans. Campmaster Jude told us that when clouds are happy, they make rainbows. When they're mad, they make thunderstorms." I say but Jack just shakes his head and touches my nose.

"Little monsters should not always believe everything they hear." He wags his finger but I try to bite it, to which he dodges. "Not this time little monster." He winks at me then tickles me. 

"Excuse me sir," We stop as we notice that across us a man in black suit leans forward. It's kind of spacey in this car. Or what mom calls as a limousine. "But we would like to inform you that your things have already arrived at your dormitory." I notice that the man has a wire attached to his head which is already creeping me out. I mean the limousine is cool with the matching television set and free sundaes but it's very silent and the two men in black suit who haven't moved even an inch everince the car left home, are really scary.

"It's okay Emma. They won't hurt you." I hear Jack speak up and I look at his warm smile. It is only then that I realize I've been squeezing his hand. I let it go and smile back at him. Suddenly, the men aren't so scary anymore and everything's okay. Jack looks at the men and although he says everything's alright, I feel his muscles tense. "Okay. What about the flight?"

"What do you mean by flight Jack?"  I ask and Jack's face is that of...shock. "Why are you shocked Jack? Are you...are you..." I feel my heart beat faster. "ARE YOU GOING SOMEWHERE JACK?! ARE YOU LEAVING ME AND MOM?! ARE YOU -" Tears start swelling in my eyes as I look at Jack hard. Maybe that's why last night eversince we got back from camp, Mom's been crying and Jack just locked himself up in his room. He never went out when I called for him to play. He never went out when I brought him dinner. He never went out when I said that I was sad. And that's why I slept outside his room, so that I'd be the first person to make sure that he's okay. And so when he opened his room early in the morning, I quickly hugged him. But then he said that he was going for a ride and despite Mom's complains, Jack said I could go. And now I'm beside him in this fancy limousine. But then...he's leaving us?!

"Jack! I thought you weren't going to leave me. You promised didn't you? You promised that you wouldn't leave me.. You-" I punched him hard in the stomach. He doesn't budge but instead he laughs. I get mad some more. "DON'T LAUGH JACK AS IF THIS IS SOME JOKE! IT'S NOT OKAY? STOP TRYING TO MAKE THINGS LESS SERIOUS JACK!" My voice echoes inside the limo and there is silence. Then, I feel Jack ruffling my hair.

"Hey Emma, don't cry. I'm not leaving you and Mom. I promised didn't I? So stop crying. Only clouds cry, not monsters. Especially my little monster." He wipes my tears and I can't help but smile.

"I'm not a monster." I grin as I hug Jack. Somehow, everything feels so much better with Jack. It has always been like this. When I fell from the monkey bar, he was there to save me. When I broke Mom's vase, he was the one who took the punishment. Nobody dared to bully me becaus Jack was always there to protect me. Always. And that's how it will always be. But just in case -

"Jack, pinky promise?" I assert and he is taken aback.

"Where did you learn about that Emma?" He scratche his head and smiles as I extend my pinky.