Love or Life

Chapter 2

Two days had passed since Jack joined Tooth to fullfill the wish of Anya, a young girl who wished for snow. Since then, Tooth was all that he had been thinking about. The two days were painfully slow. He spent them dotting around America, giving certain places snow and other places just a dusting of frost. However, his mind had been elsewhere as he travelled from state to state. The wind had had to remind him to pay attention; there had been one instance where he'd nearly fell from a roof because he hadn't been focusing.

He couldn't help but wonder, did Tooth want to spend time with him, too? Maybe that's why she asked?

Jack couldn't explain how that made him feel. It was an odd fluttery feeling in his chest...kind of like how he felt when Tooth hugged him before he left her palace. He had been getting these weird feelings a lot lately, and they only seemed to intensify when he was around her. He supposed it was because it was Winter. Jack tended to be much happier when Europe and America had their winter as they were his favourite places. This season was his element and he guessed he was just happy that it was finally here.

The wind knew something was off. It tugged at his hoodie and ruffled his hair. Jack would have to swat it away and tell it that everything was fine, but the wind was stubborn and wouldn't leave him alone. So the long two days passed stupidly slowly and the wind made things worse by being annoying and nosy. Jack couldn't blame it though.

When Jack finally concluded that it wouldn't be weird or strange to suddenly show up at Tooth's palace, he quickly made his way there. He couldn't help but smile as he allowed his feet to touch down beside the pink cherry tree where Tooth had greeted him before. The pond was as beautiful as ever. The reflections were endless and the colours were hypnotic. There was a soft breeze and Jack let out a soft sigh, feeling that same sense of ease and security that he always felt when he was there. There was something about it that he couldn't seem to get enough of.

. . .

The season never changed at the Tooth Palace. It was always relatively warm around a pleasant eighty degress. High on the Yellow Mountain range in Southeast Asia, the Palace was close to the clouds and the sun. Night time was dim and short in length of time. Despite this, the two days that followed felt extra to Tooth.

Even with her many tasks to be done, fairies to order, teeth to chart, it seemed like decades had passed until she could expect Jack to visit again. Her fairies found her on ocassion lost in memories of her own. All of which involved Jack in one way or another. They would fly into her view and have to tap on her to pull her away from her reminiscing. "Sorry ladies. Yes, I am fine. Let's get back to work. Awe look at that beautiful insiscor."Tooth reassured and would resume her work.

Tooth had to resist the urge to rush when she felt the wind pressure change and heard the whispers of her fairies. Jack had arrived. She finished restocking the remaining euro coins she had in her hand and rushed to meet him.

As she suspected, he was waiting by the pond and cherry tree. His white hair a vibrant contrast to the many splendor of colors that surrounded him. No color around him compared to the simplistic appeal that his snow white hair and sparking smile that made her swoon with one glance.

She touched down and bid him a warm smile of her own. "Welcome Jack. I hear Arizona got frost yesterday. Something about kids laughing while their parents used spatulas as impromtu window scrapers." She spoke giggled softly while a knowing grin spread over her lips.

After that she took flight and led him into the cavern of memories. Once they were in she closed her eyes and just listened with her ears, but also her heart. Waiting for a child in need to call out.

A boy's voice echoed. Quick as a flash of lightning she flew and found the canister. Bringing it back to Jack. "His name is Dean he is turning 8 years old tomorrow and he really wants a wooden red runner sled for his birthday tomorrow. But where he lives winter usually stops two months ago. His parents told him snow on his birthday is impossible. He is scared that it won't snow. He is scared he will be sad on his birthday. Let's go show him what it means to have faith and fun." Tooth said taking flight on her way.