The Darkest December:Chapter 7 (JackFrostxReader)

   You sit on the sofa in the Bennetts' living room, back against the arm of the couch. Jamie's journal rests on your stomach and leans onto your angled legs. The cover is simple - royal blue with his name scribbled on the top in black marker. It is impossible to tell whether it's recent or from an earlier time. Jamie's handwriting seems to get worse with age, unfortunately.

   Your hesitant fingers idle at the top corner of the journal as a pang of uneasiness finds its way back into your mind. Maybe I shouldn't do this... There has to be at least 27 friendship rules I'm breaking by doing this. I shouldn't be invading his personal thoughts. Slowly, your fingers begin to recede.

   But I just went to all that trouble to get it again, your brain refutes. I risked stepping on another rotten piece of food. It would be ridiculous not to read it now!

   Just as you start reaching for the notebook again, the "angel" of your logic speaks up. But what if Jamie walks in and sees me reading it? He would never trust me with anything again. I don't want to betray him, do I?

   Read the book, your mind coaxes.

   No, don't read it.

   Read it!

   Don't read it!

   READ IT!

   "UUGH!" shout and fling the notebook a good 10 feet to your side. It hits the ground with a whack, flopping near the dormant fireplace, its pages exposed in a papery flutter. The book is open, revealing black chicken scratch and some sort of sketch behind a folded corner. You urge yourself not to look at it; to simply walk over, pick up the journal, and put it back in Jamie's room like nothing happened. And you do just that...

   Until your wandering eyes catch sight of a pair of rabbit ears poking out from under the folded edge.

   A pair attached to a certain human like rabbit.

   You pull back the edge of the paper and reveal a large sketch of a bunny standing on his hind legs. The oval gems in his bracers and floral-patterned fur betray his stern demeanor and battle-ready stance. Odd, you think, tracing your fingers over the crisp lines of a midair boomerang. This looks just like the drawing Sophie made earlier...

   The top of the page is titled, "E. Aster Bunnymund: a.k.a. The Easter Bunny".

   The Easter Bunny? Why in the world would Jamie write a journal about the Easter Bunny? Is that his big secret?

   You sit yourself down on the floor, crossing your legs like a kindergartener.

   You flip through the pages madly, skimming over many childhood legends and stories. A rogue bandit with a jolly smile. A fairy with fluorescent feathers. A plump, sleepy man.

   Your agile fingers pause at one of the later chapters: "Jackson Overland Frost". On the paper stands a youthful teen with a cocky smirk and wild hair. He leans on a cane of sorts, his bare feet crossed over one another. I don't ever remember you being some big childhood figure, you contemplate.

   A scratchy jingling at the door brings you back to reality. Quickly, you scramble to your feet and stow the journal behind a pillow just as Mrs. Bennett enters the house.

   "Hi, Mrs. Bennett," you say. She doesn't even look your way, rather tossing her keys onto the counter and plopping herself onto the couch.

   "Mrs. Bennett?"

   Her only response is a muffled groan as she rolls onto her side, covering her bloodshot eyes with her coat sleeve. Her large purse topples to the floor heavily. She begins to snore softly.

   You approach with caution and whisper her name again. Nothing but louder snores. You tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear and place the back of your hand on her forehead, heat radiating onto your skin. She coughs suddenly and you flinch, pulling your hand back. Must have been some meeting.

   Seizing your opportunity, after writing a note to Jamie explaining his mother's sickness, you snatch the journal from the pillow and dash up to put it back where it belongs.

   You crack open Sophie's door slightly before heading back downstairs. Her gentle smile is highlighted by her tiny nightlight. Her chest rises and falls calmly, Abby still at her feet. You smile to yourself as you close the door once more. Before you take another step, you hesitate. You could swear you hear something ruffling in the distance. A muted fluttering, maybe? You shake away the thought and move on. It's just in your head. Nothing could really be flying around in Sophie's room...

   Could it?