RotG Half Blood: Chapter Nine

Chapter 9: School, Homework, that is now no more.

Well unfortunately all holiday breaks have to end; now you are back in school which means you could only be with Jack afterschool. You open up your locker and see that Jack slipped a frosty note into locker.

Hey Snow Angel,

I wanted to let you know that Spring apparently is coming early. The groundhog cornered and threatened me that if I let him see his shadow this year he will bury me underground alive. So unfortunately I won’t be able to hang around Burgess for very long. I would be able to fly in occasionally and take you somewhere that still requires winter but I would only be able to take you on weekends. I love you – J.F

Chance Oaks closed your locker door, “What’s up sugar?”

You glare and open the door, “What do you want Chance? Oh and please don’t call me sugar again.” You grabbed your sketch book for the first class in the morning.

“Well one thing I have to ask is who is J.F? And the next question is will you be my friend with all the benefits because you body is just asking for it.” He started to lean in a little closer.

You quickly slam the locker door in Chance’s face making him back away, “No Chance I don’t want to be your friend with benefits.” You close your locker, turn away and take three steps. You turn and face him again, “Oh F.Y.I I have a boyfriend... got it. So get off my back.” You walk to your class with a triumphant smirk on your face.

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Well the only class that was actually did today was art class, you had to make a snow sculpture for the winter’s end festival so the principal gave permission for the art class to have the entire school day to work on it. The teacher went on a vacation and the substitute was a little late. So you had free time to think of a sculpture.

Within 5 minutes of sketching the sub walked in, your jaw dropped open... It was Valentine Hearts luckily he didn’t have wings. You could see all the girls in my class giggle and sigh, Valentine must have a great effect on mortals. You close your mouth and continue drawing. Hearts writes his name on the chalkboard, “Good morning students I am Mr. Valen Hearts, but I prefer Mr. Hearts.” He turned to the class and flashed a smile causing the girls to giggle more, one even fainted. You could only imagine what Valentine was thinking ‘I love doing that.’

After the class was somewhat in order everyone went outside to where the festival was going to be held. You remembered what you had planned and started with the biggest sculpture working your way down. You notice ‘Mr. Hearts’ disappeared to go take a coffee break like some of the rest of the students.

A mischievous smile crept across your face when Jack peered around the work in progress sculpture, “Hey (name) how are you? And what are you up to?”

You continued to work, “I am making a snow sculpture for the winter’s end festival. Right now I am trying to make a bear.”

“You make it sound like there is going to be more then the bear.” Jack came around and stood beside you.

You mischievous smile turns into a grin, “Well there is also going to be a peacock, a giraffe, a stag, a wolf... and a kangaroo.” You smiled hinting where you were going with this.

Jack got what you were doing, “No way, you’re making the Guardians in an animal form. That’s awesome. So which one am I?”

“You are going to be portrayed as a wolf.” You started adding detail to the bear.

Jack tilted his head in confusion, “Why a wolf?”

You stopped and looked at him, “You remind me of a wolf for some reason, and also the wolf happens to be one of my favorite animals.”

“Ah! So can I help you?”

You nod and look around, “Alright but you have to hurry Val... the substitute may come back.” You didn’t bother telling Jack Valentine was the sub. You swear that he is stalking you, but you guess the stalking has to do with the letter your mom sent.

Jack clasped his hands together and stretched outwards, “Ok let’s do this then.” He slammed the end of his staff into the ground. Your sculptures started to take form each one having an animal resemblance of the Guardians. Jack stood back with you admiring the work, “So I’m the wolf, I know the kangaroo is Bunny, who are the rest?”

“Well the bear is North, the Peacock is Tooth, the stag is Valentine, and the giraffe is Sandman.” You hug Jack, “Thank you for helping me.”

Jack kisses the top of your head, “Hey I like to see you happy.” You let go and notice some of the students were coming back. Jack looked in the direction you were facing then turned back to you, “I guess I should leave but I’ll see you later.”

You nod, “I can hardly wait.”

You watch him slowly fly off, unknowing that Hearts was behind you. “Well this is very interesting.”

You jump and turn to him, “Ok, you really need to stop following me you’re creeping me out.”

“Now (name) I am only protecting you. Not stalking you. I also came to let you know that this is your last day of school... remember I said that you need to be trained after Christmas Break. Well I took care of everything your parents know and the school knows that you are going to be transferred to Paris at a new boarding school.” He paused waiting for you to say something.

You blinked, “Wait I’m going to live... in Paris?” Valentine nodded. You didn’t know whether to jump for joy or stand there like a emotionless blob. “Um so when do I get to go to Paris?”

Valentine handed you an envelop, “These are the instructions you must follow, and you can bring your dog if you want, there is a collar charm that allows teleportation to the owner. Where ever you are Desoto will come when you snap your fingers.” You were about to open the envelop but Valentine stopped you. “Open that when you get home.”

“Alright... Valentine?”

He raises an eyebrow. “Yes?”

You shift from foot to foot, “Does Jack know I’m going to Paris?”

“Of course... he doesn’t know the reason you are going there but he knows you will be living in Paris.”

You smile to yourself, “I just wanted to know.”

He looked at the sculptures again, “You did a fantastic job.”

“Well it wasn’t all my doing, Jack helped out with the rest.” Your smile grew a little more. “I’m kind of finished can I go now?”

Valentine walked off, “Yes go ahead you still need to pack your things.”

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You ran to your house with excitement finally something new and it requires not going to school. Jack saw you running he flew beside you, “Hey finished early?”

“Yes I need to pack.” Your voice came out shaky as you ran up to your home.

He looked confused “What do you need to pack for?”

You stopped at the beginning of your driveway, “Um I’ll tell you in my room right now I need to talk to my parents.”  When you got into the house you notice travel bags and suitcases were in the living room. Your family waited in the kitchen.

Your father noticed you walk in, “Hey kiddo we are so proud of you.”

You wanted to know what Valentine said to convince your parents to say yes to this travel experience, “What are you proud of?”

Your Step-mom came up and hugged you, “You were one of the foreign candidates chosen to go to an art exercise camp.”

You smile, “Oh well that’s right up my alley.”

Your brothers smile mischievously, Seth spoke first, “So can we ransack your room while you’re gone?”

Taren snickered, “And jump on your bed.”

You give them a glare, “Um how about... no!” You look at your father again, “This camp is allowing me to take pets... if it’s alright can I take Desoto with me?”

Your dad nodded, “Of course he is your dog anyway, and the man who came here to tell us about the camp said that pets are allowed. Now your ride is coming around in 2 hours so just make sure we packed everything you needed ok.” You dad and the family gave you a group hug. You shake them off and run up stairs. Looking down the hallway you see that no one followed you. Jack pulled you into your room.

You found yourself leaning on the back of the door with Jack’s hands on the door by your shoulders, “Ok (name) are you going to tell me what is going on?”

You take the envelop out of your pocket and open it. There were two letters in it. One addressed to Jack the other to you. You hand Jack his letter, “This is meant for you.” He took it and sat on your bed, you looked around your room seeing if there was any other items you needed to take with you.

“(name) you’re going to Paris?” He looked at you with disappointment like a sad adorable puppy left in the rain.

Luckily you saved the day, “Yes, and...” You look at the letter then pointed to the last paragraph, “Your allowed to be there too.” You look at the set of instructions for you to follow.

Jack put the letter down, “Why does Valentine need you there though?”

You quickly skim the list.

‘List of instructions to follow’
‘#1: If Jack asks why you are needed in Paris tell him I needed a graphics designer for new products I’m selling.’

You turn back to Jack and sit beside him. “Valentine liked my artwork so he wanted me to be his graphic designer for some of the new products he is selling.”  

Jack smiled, “I think you should brace yourself, North may want a graphics designer for toy designs, and Bunny may want someone to help him paint Easter eggs.”

You rest your head on Jack’s shoulder, then giggles erupted from behind you. You put a finger to your lip to tell Jack to stay quiet. Your brothers were still hiding beside your bed a smile crept across your face. You crawled to the other side of the bed and grabbed the twins shirts and dragged them on the bed.

Both looked shocked as they spoke at the same time, “Oh! This isn’t our room.”
The twins tried to get up but you held them down. “Yeah right nice trying to play that card on me.”

Seth spoke, “Hey we heard you talking so we came in to see what was going on.”

Taren smiled evilly, “It was easy infiltrating your room. Why even your winter boyfriend didn’t see us.”

Jack lifted an eyebrow, “Ok so they can see me also.”

Taren nodded, “Yep.”

Seth pointed at you, “We looked at one of (name)’s sketchbooks.”

Jack nodded, “I see so your sister helped you with believing in me.”

Taren sat up, “Yeah! So are you guys like the mushy gushy boyfriend and girlfriend where you need to have lip contact all the time or are you like an old married couple that just holds hand and hugs a lot?

You glare, “What kind of question is...”

Jack picked you up bridle style, “Oh we are the mushy gushy type and we don’t care who we kiss in front of.” He was just about to kiss you.

The twins let out a big, “EWWWWWWWWWW!!! GET A ROOM!!!” and run out of the room.

You yell to them, “I’m already in my room!”

Jack put you down and smiled, “Well I was hoping that would work.”

You nod, “I guess it did.”

He looked to the open window, “I guess I’ll meet you in Paris then.”

“Yes you most defiantly will.” You watch him walk to the window. He turned and said one more thing.

“(name), je t’aime” his French was pretty good.

You smile, “Are you going to tell me what that means?”

His sly smile curled on hip lips, “When you get to Paris you’ll find out.” He leaves flying high into the sky. Soft snowflakes start to fall from the sky.

You laugh blissfully then close your window. “See you there Jack.”