The Jock and The Snow Queen CH1

Jack opened the dryer and took out his jersey. He sighed as he thought about the big game tonight. He shook his head and emptied the dryer. He knew North would be wanting him focused and ready to go. Jack loved his adopted father. He was the owner of one of the biggest Toy Factories in the world. His child like mind and ideas were what made his toys so successful. Nicholas St. North was one of the kindest, most downright jolly guys you could ever meet. He adopted Jack about eight years ago when he was only ten. North had tried to be a good father, but sometimes he got so frustrated he had no idea what to do. He had always been there for Jack when he could, but he always told himself that he could be doing more. North lived in a nice house even by his standards. He wasn't one for flaunting his wealth but he had to spend some in the idea of impressing guests. He had always told Jack that “It is not about how much money we have. It is what we do with it that makes us rich.” Jack never did quite understand what he meant. Jack placed the clean clothes in the basket and took them upstairs.

“North my clothes are done if you need to get anything in.” Jack called out.

“Thanks Jack! Will be getting stuff in.” North called out in his thick Russian accent. Jack smiled and went to his room.  Jack had a nice size room all things considered. Frost blue carpet covered the floor. The walls were a snowy white with snowflakes flowed down from the ceiling. A purple and green blur dive bombed his head.

“Who hey baby tooth.” He said ducking away from the small bird, who nuzzled itself in to the crook of ­­­­­

“I missed you too.” He laughed and placed the basket of cloths on the floor and walked over to his bed. He flopped down on to the king size deep blue blankets and sighed.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do baby.”  He said placing a pale hand on his forehead, and earning a small confused chirp from the bird.

“I guess I’ll just have to figure something out.” He said with a smirk and got up and walked over to his window. He looked out onto the warm summer afternoon and sighed. He noticed that there were people moving into the house down the street.

“Huh, I thought nobody would ever buy that old place.” Jack thought to himself. He smiled then he thought of the game.

“It’s going to be a tough game.” He thought to himself. “Berk has some of the biggest players in the league with a tough defense and a pretty decent offence. “ He thought.

“Jack dinner is ready.” North called

“Be right down.” Jack replied and headed down the stairs. Dinner went by rather uneventfully. North began talking strategy for the game.

“So this Berk what do we know about them?” He asked.

“Iron clad defense, and a 50/50 offence.” Jack said.

“So,” North said thoughtfully “What is deal?”

“I think if we run Dallas that might throw them off, but Polar Express would be good too.” Jack commented sipping on his drink.

“I see. Have you seen them play before?”

“No, but I hear their good.”

Conversation went on like that until it was time to load up for the game. North was the Coach of the team so he had to be there early. Jack had gone up to his room to change into his jersey. It was an Ice white jersey with light blue numbers and lines down the sides, with shorts to match. He breathed calmly and closed his eyes. ‘Focus Jack, game time, get your head in the game.’ He said to himself. He couldn't help but feel nervous and tense. 

“Jack let’s go! Time is running out.” North called.

‘Show time.’ Jack thought. Berk proved to be more than a challenge Jack and his team. At Half time the score was 2 to 4 Jacks team behind.

“This has been a great game so far, ladies and gentlemen. The Dragons are really giving the Guardians a hard time. With 2 fouls on their star player Snoutlout, the Dragons have to figure out something soon in order to combat the intense plays our Guardians are putting up. But with the Guardians having three injured players can they pull ahead?” The announcer said over the loud speakers.

Jack’s team was in the locker room getting a prep talk from North.

“Keep strong my friends. One basket and we can win this.” North said excitedly

“It’s that center screen.” One of the players said. “They keep picking off Jack and on to Wilson.”

“I can’t do anything with that number 15 all over me like that.” Jack said defensively.

“Gentlemen please.” North said regaining control. “I don’t care what problem is, it is duty of the team to see that and get him help. Now we will start off with Dallas and go from there.” He finished.

Half way through the third quarter Jack was going up for a rebound when he felt someone pull on his jersey. Next thing he knew he was landing on his shoulder on the hardwood floor causing him to yell in pain. The referees cleared the other players out of the way and North ran over. Jack was holding his elbow and scrunched up in a ball. He was sucking air in through his clenched teeth and moaning

“Jack, jack you OK?” North asked worry heavy in his voice.

Jack nodded still breathing through his clenched teeth.

“Come sit Jack.” North said extending a hand to help him up. Jack took the large hand before him and carefully got to his feet. Jack walked off the court and sat on the bench. North came over and looked over him.

“Jack where does it hurt?” North asked

“Here” Jack said holding his right arm tenderly in his other arm.

“That’s your shooting arm is it not?” North asked sadly.

Jack nodded. North sighed.

Jack sat on the bench holding his head in his one good hand.

‘Oh no, this is going to be a disaster.’ He said to himself. He wiped his head and got a drink. As he did he noticed that there was a boy the same age as himself sitting across the court from him on the other team. He looked just about as bored as you can imagine. He looked across the court and smiled when his emerald eyes meet Jacks Ice blue ones. Jack smiled and focused back on the game. Truth be told he was just as bored as the other kid. He didn't really like sports, but North had insisted and Jack had never seen him more proud or excited. Jack had agreed to play when North was hired on as the school’s gym teacher and coach. Jack shook his head and focused back on the game. His team was ahead by one point. North motioned for Jack to come talk to him.

“Jack do you think you can go back in? Jake is looking exhausted.” North asked. Jack subconsciously rubbed his arm and said

“Yeah I think I can.” Jack said

With that Jack was back in the game. He played well, but his heart really wasn’t in the game. Suddenly he found himself slammed back on the ground, on his bad arm. He gripped his arm and groaned in pain. The referees came over to see if he was ok, but he waved them away standing to his feet once again. His arm was throbbing in pain but he didn't let that stop him.  He was given 2 foul shots. As he prepared for the first he could feel the pain in his arm growing but he made the first basket, and just as he was getting ready for the second he felt his shoulder twinge in pain and his second shot missed. He could feel the pain growing as the night went on but he pushed through it.  The clock was on its last few seconds and Jacks team was down by one point again. Jack had the ball and was at the 3 point line when he heard the crowd beginning to count down. “Five, four, three, two…” Jack wound up and shot as hard as he could at that moment. He felt his arm surge in pain. He grabbed his arm and winced, but focused on the ball. At the sound of the buzzer the ball had gone straight through the net. Jack was hoisted on his teammate’s shoulders and paraded around the gym, with the team shouting his name over and over.

“That’s my boy!” North shouted excitedly. Jack smiled and cheered. He put on a good show, just like he had been doing for years. His team was ecstatic in the showers that night. Jack forced a smile and thanked everyone who congratulated him, but his arm hurt now more than ever. It even hurt him to wear his hoodie over it. He struggled through the pain and wore a forced smile all night. Everyone wanted to say how impressed they were with him, but all Jack wanted to do was find that boy he saw earlier. He scanned the crowd as fast as he could, as often as he could. The brunette was nowhere to be found.

“That was most amazing shot I have seen all season Jack.” North said throwing his arms around Jacks shoulders, forgetting about Jack’s injury. Just as North lifted jack up into one of his bear hugs Jack could see over  

“Thanks North.” Jack groaned. Just then Jack caught a glimpse of brown hair in the sea of people walking out.  Jack wiggled out of North’s grip and tore after, hoping to talk to the mysterious brunette.  He pushed past the congratulations and excited fans. Finally he caught the boy. He was about the same age as Jack with dark brown scruffy hair, that was a bit longer than Jack’s own hair. He had deep emerald eyes and slightly pale skin.

“Hey.” Jack said tapping the boy on the shoulder.

“Hi” The boy said

“My names Jack. What’s yours?” Jack asked

“Hiccup.” The brown haired boy said blushing slightly

“You looked bored on the bench” Jack said.

Hiccup said “Yeah well I don't get to play much cause I'm just a talkin fishbone.”

 Jack laughed and said “No more so than me.”

“Well it was much worse when I was a kid." Hiccup said thinking back.

"Well I can tell you one thing basketball is not your sport." Jack said with a smile

"Tonight was my last official game with the team anyway." Hiccup said Jack looked confused

"They kicked you off right in the middle of the season?"

"No my father and I are moving closer to this city and it would be too far to drive just for basketball. Besides my father said that the new school I am starting on Monday has a really good team anyway." Hiccup explained.

"Have you seen this team on the court?" Jack asked.

"Yup they just beat us." Hiccup said smiling.

Jack thought for a moment “You moved here?" he asked somewhat confused. Hiccup nodded.

Jack smiled “That's awesome!" he said.

"Jack is time to go!" North called.

"That's North, I have to go but I'll see you Monday right?" Jack asked.

"Right" Hiccup said waving goodbye.

The entire way home North couldn't help but talk about how amazing Jack was in the game and how impressive that last shot was. Jack smiled and let him talk. He knew his heart wasn't in basketball bit he would be lying if he said he didn't like the attention it brought him. As North pulled into the driveway jack noticed that next door there was a moving van and people seemed to be unloading their stuff into the house.

"Let's go be neighborly" North said walking over to the next house, Jack following close behind. There they found a tall red haired male, his blond haired wife.

"Hello and welcome to neighborhood." North said to the man.

 “Hello, and thank you." the man said.

"My name is Nicholas North and this is my son Jack.” North said motioning to Jack who gave a wave.

"I'm Fredrick and this is my wife Susan."  Just then two girls came down the stairs. One had long redish blond hair like her parents, with emerald green eyes and light tan skin. And the other, whom Jack found more attractive, had snow white hair, ice blue eyes much like Jack's own. Her pale skin seemed to glisten in the light of the open doorway. Jack was stunned; he had never seen anyone quite like her.

"And these are my daughters Anna and Elsa." Fredrick said. Anna waved bubbly while Elsa blushed and nodded.

"Is anything you need help moving in?" North asked.

"Yes please." Fredrick said with a look of relief on his face. Jack helped the girls while North and Fredrick carried in some of the bigger things. Jack was still babying his shoulder; he tried to find the lighter boxes and stuff to bring in. Sometimes that didn't work out as well as he planned. He picked up a box that had 'Elsa’s room' written on it in sharpie.

"Oh that goes up stairs and in the first room on the left.” Susan said with a smile. When Jack picked up the box, his arm tensed in pain. He forced himself through it and once in her room Jack asked Elsa where she wanted it.

"Just set it on the floor anywhere Jack." she said, and Jack was all too willing to oblige. He set the box down and wiped his head.

"What's in there rocks?" he asked jokingly. Elsa blushed,

"There just my snow-globe collection" she said. Her father had already hung a shelf for her so she opened the box and began to put them on the shelf one at a time. Jack began helping and soon they had all of the perfect little globes on the shelf the way Elsa had specified. Jack knew there was something about this girl he had just met but he knew he wanted to find out more about her.

"So Elsa where did you live before moving to Jasper?" he asked. “Afognak Alaska." she said smiling.

"Wow that's....exotic." Jack said stunned.

"It was beautiful. All that snow, all the wonderful people."

“Sounds wonderful." Jack said.

"Yeah I loved it there." Elsa said setting a few more things on her dresser, that North and Fredrick had brought in.

"So what made you guys move here?" Jack asked pulling up another box onto her bed.

"Well not everybody was as happy with the Alaskan weather as I was," Elsa continued. "My sister Anna told me once that the only thing she hated about Alaska was how cold it was."

"Isn't that like the whole idea?" Jack asked confused.  "That's what I said" Elsa laughed. Jack chuckled.

"Well we had some family troubles up there, with my uncle so my parents just decided to move as far away from him as we could." Elsa clarified.

"Well Jasper Nevada is a great place to come, after Alaska." Jack said sarcastically.

Elsa giggled. “We figured with the drastic change that this would be the last place he would look."

Jack smiled "Well then let me be the first to say welcome Elsa to Jasper Nevada the place people come to disappear." Jack said with a dramatic bow.

"He is so over dramatic." a voice said from behind him. Jack spun around to see Anna peeking around the door frame.

"Jack this is my sister Anna." Elsa said.

"Hi" Anna said blushing.

"Hi" jack said.

"Jack is time to be going" North called.

"Ok North" Jack called back. He then turned to the girls and asked "So you starting school tomorrow?"

 "We still have to get settled but I think our parents had us on for Monday" Elsa said. Jack smiled

"Alright I’ll see you around." Jack said before running down to join North.

"I can't thank you enough Nicholas." Fredrick said shaking the larger hand before him.

"It was no problem." North said smiling.  Jack massaged his shoulder and joined north at the door.

 "Well good night you two." Susan  called out.

"Goodnight" North called, Jack doing the same. Once back in the house Jack immediately took off his hoodie and looked at his shoulder. It was black and blue and even a little swollen.

"That looks pretty bad" north said. Jack stumbled over his words,

"It's not...I mean it doesn't...it looks worse than it feels." he lied. If Jack told the truth his arm had never hurt more than it did at that moment. "I'm sure with some pain meds I'll be fine." Jack said walking up stairs to his bathroom. After swallowing the two small pills Jack took a shower. He let the hot water sooth his aching shoulder. Jack went on with his showering routine, being extra careful of his shoulder. Once that was done he turned off the water and stepped out, wrapping himself in a towel he made his way to his room. Babytooth flew from her perch and landed on his shoulder with a welcoming chirp.

"Hey baby tooth." he said extending his finger. The small bird climbed on to his finger and went with him to his bed. She cocks her head at the odd colors on her humans shoulder, and have a worried chirp. Jack looked at the small bird and said

"It's ok baby just hurt it in the game tonight." Babytooth thought for a moment before deciding that, indeed that seemed like a reasonable explanation and chirped happily. Jack chuckled and placed her back in her cage that was on his nightstand and closed the door.

"Good night Babytooth" he said as he covered her cage and put on his boxers. North came in to say goodnight and once again to say how proud he was of Jack. Jack blushed and thanked North. Once North left Jack

"Tomorrow is the last day of school before the weekend." he said to no one in particular. "Tomorrow I get to see Hiccup again, and Monday Elsa and Anna start. I will defiantly have to hang out with them again over the weekend. Maybe we could all go see a movie or something?" Jack thought out loud before hearing an annoyed chirp. Jack laughed and said "Alright, alright I'm goin' to bed." He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.