Rise of the guardians- Modernized: Chapter 3

Rise of the guardians- Modernized

A collab AU with Chocolatevampire123

Chapter 3

Several hours passed, and Jack had grown bored. He had headed to get his schedule from Professor North, the guidance counselor and his psychology teacher, got it and then tried to socialize a bit with some of his old friends from the hockey team, then had enough time to climb a tree or two, and Skype with his mother and little sister. Needless to say, he was feeling pretty bored. He didn’t really feel like setting up his room yet; especially when he could it later that night.  Jack tugged at his jersey and sighed irritably.  He was growing impatient with how long it was taking Seraphina to unpack and get back to him. However, he couldn’t really get to upset with a young woman such as her. He always found her quite… “Intriguing”. No one knew much about her; or where she came from. She rarely mentioned her parents; nonetheless converse that much with others. Seraphina was always known to sort of stick to her studies and to not be much of a party animal. Although, she could sometimes become aggressive and competitive; but rarely. And although Jack found her personality and her mysterious backstory interesting and pleasurable; what he liked was her beautiful smile and patient heart; along with her flowing long black hair.  Just something about her smile made his heart skip a beat or two; and oddly enough he didn’t mind it.

Jack’s trail of thought had ventured off elsewhere when he began to imagine Seraphina flashing her pretty pearly white smile at him. He shook his head violently and ran his fingers through his shaggy brown hair. He chuckled to himself softly. “Whoops…” He said to himself; blushing rather harshly.

Jack tried to shove the thought aside and began to make his way down to the other end of the building. He shuffled his feet softly in the dirt  and sighed. When all of a sudden he felt like he was being watched. He glanced over to his left where a single tree stood. Leaning up against the tree was Aster. In his hand was a wooden paint brush and in the other was a freshly carved boomerang.  He was glancing down at it, and gently applying the paint where it was needed.  His green eyes weren’t focused on Jack; but he was well aware of presence. He sighed softly and glanced up at the teen. “Been a long time hasn’t it? The toilet paper incident in the college art room last year…. Easter Sunday wasn’t it?”

As playful as Jack was, he found it a golden opportunity to mess with his teacher/coach. He smirked playfully. “Bunny!” He cried playfully before pausing and shifting positions; “You’re still not mad about that… are you?”

How dare that punk address him so disrespectfully and not pay a heed of care for the mess he had made last year and nearly broke several pieces of equipment.

Aster snorted softly to himself. He leaned forward; the anger beginning to bubble up inside him again. He had very low tolerance for Jack’s antics and cocky attitude. But because the teen put a lot of effort into Hockey, he was going to let it slide. He paused and swallowed hard. “Yes…” He began, “But this is about something else.”

Jack blinked. He was puzzled by his coach/art teacher’s remark. He had always known for his coach to be a bit “odd” in his terms, and yes the two didn’t always see eye to eye; but even for Aster to pause in the middle of a statement like that was a little out of the ordinary. Jack cocked his eyebrow and shifted his weight onto his other leg; showing he was a bit confused but ready to hear what Aster had to say.

Aster rolled back on his heels and leaned up against the tree once more, directing his eyes once more on his woodwork. “You said at the end of last school year you wanted to be the team captain in hockey is I correct?”

Jack felt his heart skip a beat. For two years straight Jack had been trying to win Aster’s respect and expectations and become the hockey team’s captain/leader.  At the end of last year, Jack had confronted Aster about considering it, but he had never gotten back to him about it until now. Jack bit his lip in hopes his coach was going to finally let him and nodded slowly. Only to quickly respond, “Yeah that’s right.”

“Yeah?” Aster said rather sternly; showing he wasn’t pleased with mildly disrespectful tone and response.

Oops! That could’ve been worded better.

Jack brought his pointer finger to his lips and bit on the knuckle of it. Aster sighed dryly but shrugged it off. ”Well kiddo, I thought it over; and if you honestly want me to consider this you got to pick up your game.”

Jack felt his stomach plummet and the insides of him begin to burn with frustration. He bit harder on his finger and made a sort of growling noise in his throat.  Aster could tell the brunette wasn’t pleased with the response he gave him.  He stepped forward towards Jack and frowned. He knew the little rebel was about to make an objection to his response/ He brought his hand up to prevent Jack from speaking. He sighed dryly before looking up at Jack in the eyes. His rather relaxed yet firm expression shifted into a rather gentler look. Jack huffed, stuffing his fists into his jean pockets and rolling back onto his heals carelessly. He got the response to his question even if it wasn’t the one he wanted, and now he really didn’t want to hear much more from Aster. He was disappointed and frustrated, but he knew he’d probably hear it big time from him later for running off like irrational teammate.  Not to mention it would be certain he wouldn’t get the position as team captain. D it would be best to just listen to him.

Aster smirked slightly and said in his rather thick Australian accent, “Before you start fuming over my response; let me explain what I mean, mate. Don’t need to get your hair in knot or anything. “

Jack wrinkled his nose, showing his distaste, but quickly shrugged. Still leaning up against the tree, and now slightly fidgeting with his paintbrush and boomerang Aster’s somewhat smug expression faded into an expression that showed a rather deep sense of care and concern for the teen. Jack cocked his eyebrow but paid no heed to it. “Listen, Jackson-“

“It’s Jack…”

Aster blinked and processed the kid’s rather blunt request. He nodded slightly and spoke again. “Listen Jack, You are a very good hockey player; an excellent one actually. But you are far too cocky to be placed as that respectful role. A team captain needs to be a leader of the team, and has to help lead the team into victory with every game they have that season. Although you know the plays, and all the methods I’ve taught you, and play extremely well; you’re cocky attitude and occasional poor sportsmanship holds you back. And more over, you’re disrespectful to me; your and the rest of the team’s coach. If you want to be team captain, Jackson, you’ve got to tone your cocky attitude down a couple notches, learn and apply the concept of what it means to respect others, and you’ve got to come to every practice with positive attitude and clear mind so you’re ready to get kick the opponent’s tail in the games.  And finally, you’ve got to look out for the rest of the team members and be willing to help and/or lead them to the championship as just not a teammate, but as a trustworthy and reliable friend. Got all of that mate? If you do those, I’ll reconsider your request. ”

Jack blinked, and then chuckled softly as he ran his fingers through his shaggy brown hair. He tapped his foot on the ground, thinking over Aster’s remark. It made sense to him, and it didn’t seem that high or hard of a request to fulfill; even if he didn’t appreciate how his teacher took his playful attitude as a way of being cocky or disrespectful. But he didn’t want to argue with him anymore. He was getting bored of talking to Aster, and wanted to go and check up on to see how Seraphina was doing. Jack smiled softly and gave Aster a thumbs up, nodding at the same time. “Got it, Bunny.” He said playfully before turning on his heels and walking off.  He turned back after walking a foot or two and noticed his coach’s frown. He laughed, “I’m joking, Coach. Lighten up and have some fun!” He cried out with a chuckle before completely jogging off, leaving Aster still at the tree.

Aster stood there for a moment in silence. He sighed quietly before shaking his head. “Oh boy…” he muttered to himself as he began to head back to his art room.

Upon heading up the stairs, he caught a glimpse of Toothiana walking by the door. Although he had just met her, something about her just made his heart skip a beat. He swallowed hard and remembered what Nicholas had said to him during the ceremony about how he had a thing for her. Aster bit his lip and grunted; completely denying it being the case.

She’s just a pretty lady you just met; nothing more; nothing less. You’re just trying to be polite.

He watched quietly for a moment as Toothiana stood at door of the staircases, looking down at a slip of paper. She looked a bit puzzled. She most likely was lost again and was trying to find her way with the little school map pamphlet. He sighed softly and walked up the stairs towards her. “You lost again?” He said softly to her.

Toothiana looked up at him and smiled upon recognizing his face instantly. She chuckled and her cheeks turned a light rosy shade along with her pearly white teeth showing. “I’d hate to admit it; but yes I am.”

Aster chuckled and gently removed the slip of paper out her hand. He crumpled it up into a ball and tossed it into the trashcan behind him. She blinked in puzzlement. He smiled at her, “Don’t worry, I’ll show you around properly. Getting a tour of the place is much better versus walking around all by yourself with a goofy paper as your guide.”

Toothiana cocked her eyebrows and then a small giggle escaped her lips. She had only had met Aster a few hours ago. And just by from knowing him in the time frame that she had, she was beginning to see him as quite the softy under his tough guy behavior; she liked that. Although he could act tough, blunt and even a bit firm around the other teachers and students, when she was around her, he was quite the gentleman. Perhaps it was in his nature to be chivalrous towards females, or perhaps he was just being extra polite to her. Either way she greatly appreciated it.

Toothiana brushed her bangs out of her eyes slightly and smiled. “Very well, Aster, please show me.”

Aster felt his heart skip a beat over the sight of her gracious smile once more, and seeing her beautiful violet eyes practically light up with happiness.  He swallowed hard and itched at the stubble on his face, avoiding her eye contact briefly. He cleared his throat and motioned for her to follow him. Toothiana chuckled and followed in behind him. “We’ve really got to stop making this such a habit of ours.” She teased gently as they walked along.

Aster laughed at her remark. “I suppose you’re correct about that, Sheila.”
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Twenty minutes later and Aster rounded the corner and swung open a door. “And finally, this is the main room you’ll find me in aside from the gym; my art room.”

Toothiana scooted passed Aster and gasped. The room was very organized for an art classroom. Shelves were bare and ready for art sculptures. The drying cart was empty but ready for students. The materials were all nicely put out,  but in one little part of the room was a single table covered in paint and wood shavings from where Aster had been carving out the boomerang that was now in his back pocket. Toothiana continued to gape at the scene as she began to walk about the room. Out of the corner of her eye a small painting caught her eye. There, in the back corner by Aster’s small desk, hung a beautiful painting. The colors were bright to match the spring-like appeal, the strokes were easy thin strokes, and the overall detail was beautiful. Toothiana grew wide eyed as she looked up at it. “Aster….. Did you paint this?”

Aster leaned off the wall and walked up to Toothiana, glancing upward at the painting. “Yeah, it was sort of a summer project I set myself to do before school started up again I suppose. I wanted to catch the spring-like scene. ‘Cause you know Spring stands for new beginnings, new life, new hope and second chances.”

Toothiana watched intently as Aster said those words. Something about his little explanation opened up a bigger perspective on him for her. She felt her cheeks flush softly. “Woah….” Was all she managed to squeak out after hearing him talk. “That was really deep, and your painting…. it’s gorgeous.”

Aster blinked and stared up at the painting. He tilted his head slightly and glanced down upon the young woman. Seeing her so greatly entranced with his hard work made his cheeks darken and his heart begin to race. Aster was about to say something else to her, when Toothiana glanced down at her watch and excused herself from having to leave him abruptly,  but explained she had a meeting with the principal in a few moments so she had to leave.

As soon as she was gone, Aster took a huge breath of air and sighed softly to himself. Toothiana was quite the woman, and he was now beginning to sense that he was smitten over her. But he couldn’t blame himself. She was just so beautiful all around, both in her personality and in her looks. And because she was beautiful in both contexts, he thought more of her than any other female.

To him, she was better than any masterpiece of art, she was perfect.

~End of Chapter 3~