Disclaimer: I don't own Rise of The Guardians. Dreamworks does.

Chapter 8

I didn't know what I was feeling right now.

Was I in shock?

Was I in disbelief?

Or was I in fear?

All I know, whatever I was feeling was making froze where I was standing. I just stand there, staring at Ben in shock.

It just couldn't be…

There's no way…

Summer…

"Jack?" Sara's voice broke through my trance. I blinked and look around to see everyone was staring at me. My cheeks turn pink. "O-oh!" I had to chuckle in embarrassment. How long was I staring? "Sorry about that." I held my hand up in front of Diane's boyfriend. "I'm Jack."

Summ- I mean Ben grabbed my hand and shook it. A hidden cold chill went through my spine as our skin touched for a first time. "Ben Dempsey."

-#####-#####-

I couldn't help but sigh in relief the moment my back was pressed against the train seat.

I never wanted to be away from anywhere before than that moment.

We spend the whole day at the theater. The whole day waiting for Diane to audition for the play; the whole day with Diane's boyfriend: Ben Dempsey A.K.A. Summer's doppelganger. Even worse, I had to sit next to him the whole time we sat in the auditorium, trying my best not to show my unsettlement in front of him and my friends.

"You ok?"

"Huh?" I didn't realize I put my hands on my face until Sara spoke. Boy, was I really mentally exhausted?

"I'm fine, just tried."

Sean laughed as he sat on the other side of the train. "Tried? All we did was sat all day. How can you be tried?"

I rolled my eyes. Sean came with us after the auditions at the theater were over. Sean said Cindy was going somewhere after she signed up to be a stage tech so she didn't hang out with us as we watched the auditions. Diane and Ben were going to some fancy restaurant to celebrate on Diane's success on getting the lead role. I don't know why they're celebrating so soon? We all don't know for sure if Diane got the part or not. So after our goodbyes, Me, Sara, and Sean went to the train station and a few minutes later, we boarded the city train. The doors were starting to close when Cindy hastily enter the train. She was breathing heavily. A bag with a logo of a local book store I often go to in her hands. "Oh thank god! I made it!"

She blinked when she turn to look at us for the first time. Sean waved at her. "Hey."

She blinked some more before answering. "Hey…What are you guys doing here? I thought you were all staying at the theater until auditions were over."

Sean raised an eyebrow. "Ahhhh… Auditions are over, Cindy."

"Really?" She looks at her cell-phone and realization settled on her face. "Oh! I guess I was there longer than expected." She simply sat down next to Sean. "I wasn't expecting to see you guys after the auditions." She gave a small wave at the other female. "Hey, Sara."

"Hey, Cindy." Sara didn't see Cindy at the audition, so this was the first time she saw her today. "So what happen? What's Diane's new boy toy like?"

I mentally sighed. To be truthful, I was so focused on Ben's similar looks to Summer, I didn't pay any attention to what Ben was like. Maybe Ben was a different person than Summer?

"I don't like him."

…Or maybe not?

I look at Sean as he continued. "There something about him I don't like. I don't know what but I don't like it." Cindy rolled her eyes at Sean's answer. "You said that about every guy who dates Diane, Sean."

Sean shook his head. "This is different, Cindy. I…I talked to him a little bit and while he seem nice, there was something in the back of my mind that kept telling me something wasn't right."

"And that's something was properly saying 'aww man, me and Diane are never going to get back together'." Cindy frowned as she mimicked Sean voice. She poked him in the chest, her voice now normal. "Sean, the reason you don't like this guy is because you're still hung over about Diane and you're still hoping you two can get back together."

"That's not true." Sean growled. Though, we can all see there was some true in that statement. Sean and Diane used to be a couple until they reached their freshmen year in college. Sean took the broke-up pretty hard and wouldn't leave the apartment for days. I couldn't blame him; Diane didn't break-up with him in the kind simple way. Still, he loved her. Its must be hard to move on from your first love. "I mean it, Cindy. There is something wrong with that guy. You just have to meet him and you'll see." She rolled her eyes and look at Sara. "Sara, you met Ben? What's he like?"

"Well…" She starts, a little too shock to be brought into the conversation. These two normally would chat or argued for hours, oblivious to the other people around them. One time, we were at a shopping center and while they argued about something, me and Sara went to the book shop and stayed there for thirty minutes before coming back and they still didn't notice we were gone until Diane shouted she's back from her shopping trip. Their expressions were very funny when they realized they were arguing for an hour as they noticed our new added belongings. "I only talk to him for like a few seconds before the auditions started but he seems nice. However, I don't know him enough to make an opinion on the guy." She said truthfully. Sean frowned at her and Sara frowned back. "Don't give me that look, Sean. I'm only speaking the truth on what I think about Ben. At least, I didn't disagree with you but Cindy does have a point about your feelings for Diane." She gave a sad smile to him that silently spoke 'I'm sorry' to him but he just frowned deeper as he folded his arms to his chest.

"So, Jack?" I look at Cindy "What do you think about Ben?"

"Well?"

Out of the blue, I hear Sean start chuckling under his breath. Cindy stares at her brother with confusion while he starts to smirk at me.

What?

"I don't think Jack can answer that question, CiCi." He said.

Huh?

"Why?" Cindy asked, her confusion increasing by each second that passed. I was getting confused as well. What's so funny?

The confusion disappears with Sean's answer.

"Well, Jack was giving Ben the eye the whole time."

My face went red.

"W-What?" I stand up from my seat, looking at Sean in shock and anger. Cindy and Sara look at me wide eyed. "Really!?" Cindy gasped. "Jack, I didn't know you were like that!" Sara exclaimed in shock.

"N-no." Yeah, that's so believable Jack. I sneered. "Look, I wasn't giving him 'the eye'." Oh god… was I really looking at that guy that long for somebody to think that…that… Sean laughed. "Well, you certainly look star-struck when you first saw him and you were looking at him a lot while we were sitting in auditorium."

"Oh god…" I sit back down, my hands to my scarlet face. Oh god, it really did seem that way. Sean was still laughing at me. "Don't worry, Jack. We'll support yo-"

BANG!

If you're wondering what was that just now?

It was me hitting Sean over and over again with Sara's bag that was sitting innocently between us until now. "Hey!" was the answer he shouted. "Just because you can't accept-"

"For Christ's sake, it wasn't like that!" My face must've been red like a tomato. "I…dammit!" I put my hands to my face for third time in the hour. I didn't want to explain the reason why I was staring at Ben but I didn't want people thinking I was gay!

"Well, what was it, then?" Sara said, sounded curious. I can tell she believed me that I was telling the truth that I wasn't 'into' Ben. Sean on the other hand, was still snickering. "Yeah, what's really the reason why you were looking at him?" Cindy asked.

"I rather not say." I mumbled. It was ridiculous, anyway.

"Oh c'mon Jack, you can trust us. We won't tell Diane. Well, me and Sara won't. I don't know about Sean though, considering she has him under her little-"

"Cindy!" Sean hissed.

"Jack?" I removed my hands from my face and look into Sara's grayish orbs, staring at me with concern. I must really look that distress. I sighed. I was so going to regret this… "Before I say anything, Sean promised me, you won't jump to conclusions."

"Ah…ok." Despite his teasing just a few seconds ago, he was curious.

I was silent for five seconds before I started. "The reason I was looking at Ben like that was because… last night, I dreamt about him." There was silent after that with everyone looking at me with a puzzle look. After a minute, Sean let out a response. "Eh?"

"I know it sound ridiculous but it's true." I decided to give them a more detailed explanation. "You see, for a day or two, I been dreaming of a guy who…well…" I rub my arm awkwardly. "He's a jerk." There is no way in hell I'm defending that guy even if Summer was just fragment of my imagination. "In these dreams, he seems to like to pick on this another guy and last night, I dreamt he was hurting another guy really badly."

"Really?" Sara whispered. "Is that's why you told you were happy to wake up?" I nodded. "That guy who was doing the beatings looks exactly like Ben." Sean's eyes widened. "And today was the first time I ever saw Ben before in my life. So, you have to understand why I was looking at him for a long time. I mean, wouldn't you be in shock if something you dreamt of suddenly sprout out of nowhere?"

Everyone was silent, thinking on what I said. Cindy frowned, crossing her arms around her chest. "Are you sure you never saw him before? I mean maybe you walk by him one time and just didn't know it?"

"I really don't know…All I know that I just met a guy who I've dreamt up a few nights ago." I look down to the floor. "And I don't know why…"

"I know why!" I look at the other male of our group, his face showing determination and understanding as he stares at me. "Jack, don't you see what has happen to you? It's a sign."

Ok, he lost me. "A what?"

"A sign. This shows Ben is not some knight of shining armor. There really is something wrong with him."

I hung my head low. Oh boy… I knew this would happen. Sean may not look it but he does believe in the supernatural. This dream would most likely make him think there some kind of supernatural force around it. A signal of what was up ahead. "This is why I didn't want to say anything." I mumbled under my breath. I started him. Oh great, I started him… I almost told him I also dreamt of big talking bunnies and pretty hummingbird/fairy girls but figure he'll think it was connected to the dream. Cindy sighed. "Sean, just because Jack dreamt of some evil Ben doppelganger doesn't mean-"

"How do you explain how Jack had a dream about Ben when he never-?"

"I don't know. Like I said maybe he-"

"Or maybe he not, Cindy…"

I tune out the rest of the argument. I look at Sara, who suddenly gotten quiet. Her expression shown she was clearly thinking of something hard.

-#####-#####-

"I'm sorry, Cindy. I shouldn't have said anything."

When the train reaches me and Sara's stop, I had to at least apologize to Cindy for giving Sean some motivation to hate Ben. Now, he going to be observing anything he deems as proof that my dream was right and that Ben is some evil asshole. Even worse, Cindy is going to be the one to deal with Sean's accusations.

"That's alright. That idiot was going to see something wrong with that guy sooner or later and besides it's better he 's thinks this was the reason why you were looking at Ben instead of being some lovesick puppy."

I sighed in annoyance. Sean is a nice guy and I can take his teasing but… "Still… I do wonder what's he like? You and Sara didn't give much detail and I can't trust Sean's word on it." She pointed her thumb at her sleeping brother. Sean decided to fall asleep when their argument was over. He was still tried from partying last night. "I don't blame you on that part." I muttered. "I guess our observation weren't enough for you."

"Sounds to me you didn't even met the guy. It was like he was a wall ornament than an actual person." I chuckled at that. The train's robotic voice echoed through the train cart, saying the train will be leaving in two minutes.

It was time to say our goodbyes for now. "Well, looks like the train is going to leaving soon." Sara was already out and said her goodbyes to our friends. "Sorry again about Sean."

"Is ok, really." She winks at me" Don't worry, Jack. I know how to handle my idiot brother."

After that, I said one final goodbye to Cindy. Cindy didn't bother to wake Sean up as we left the train cart. I figure it was properly because he still hungover from the party.

'I wander how she put up with the noise last night? Did she sound-proof her room or did she locked her bedroom and left the apartment?' I thought. Cindy just began living with Sean after she could no longer afford to live in the dorms on campus. I tried hard not to imagine what their home life is like but it's hard. If they can argued this much outdoors, I can totally see them fussing over who left the toothpaste open.

"It is strange…" Sara responds suddenly. I immediately turn to her as we walk home. Sara hasn't said a word since Sean's declaration that my dream was a sign. She was so deep in thought; I was surprise I didn't have to shake her when the train reached our stop. "What's strange?"

She jumped, not expecting me to hear that. "Ah…well… your dream was strange. It's not everyday something like that's happens." I sighed. "I know…"

"Are you sure you never saw Ben?" She asked. I shook my head. "No, I'm certain."

"Have you thought maybe you met him before you lost your memories?" I frowned. I never thought of that but still… "If we have met before, shouldn't he have at least acknowledged me somehow?" Ben would have said something if he did knew me but he didn't. It meant we have never met before or after my memory loss….right?

The conversation ended there and I started to look around the street. The Haven Pines orphanage was located at one of the small suburbia areas in the city. It was in the suburbia area that was near the forest. From where we were walking, I could see the snow-covered trees towering over houses, trying to outmatch the society's unending developments. I smile at the trees. I never told anybody but there were times I do go into the forest. Yeah, yeah, I know going into a dark forest is a bad idea. You could get lost and be killed by wild animals and blah, blah, blah… I hear this same speech from Miss. Miller whenever one of the kids asked her why they couldn't go into the woods. It just being in the forest somehow makes me feels…safe? Happy? Comfortable?

It was hard to pinpoint what I felt the most whenever I was in the woods but I knew it was a pleasant one.

"Jack?" I turn around to see Sara standing in sidewalk. I didn't even realize she stopped walking. She was looking to the ground, rubbing her right foot on the pavement. She looks like a five-year old confessing to her mom she just stole the last cookie in the cookie jar. "This may be none of my business…" She started off. "But I have been wondering this for sometime now…" She looks away from me, her eyes searching words she wants to say. I walked towards her. "What?" I asked. "What is it?"

Finally, she stares at me. "Jack… Jack, do you-"

"BOO!"

From our left side, creatures of different sizes jumped out of the bushes and from behind trees, causing us to both jump in fright of their sudden appearance. Laughter broke out from the tallest monster, a terrifying wolf-man with it's mouth opened, showing it's sharp teeth. The weird part about the monster was it's mouth wasn't moving as it started laugh at us.

It was at that moment that I realized these weren't monsters.

The head 'creature' ripped his 'face' off to reveal a thirteen year-old boy. It was the oldest boy at the orphanage, Charlie Lawrence. "You should've seen your faces" he said as the others took off their masks, all revealing to be the boys at the orphanage. All the boys were laughing as well, not as loud as Charlie but laughing all the same. Sara sighed in frustration; I can hear the sound of her face-palming herself. "Charlie…" She said, her anger rising. This obviously wasn't the best time for a prank.

Charlie was still laughing as he motioned the boys it was time to get out of here. The boys followed Charlie as they run away from Sara, still laughing from committing their prank. "Charlie! Come back here!" She yelled, running after the group of misfits.

When I was left alone in the vacant street, I smile slightly and started to walk -not run- my way home. I can imagine Sara scolding the boys and saying something that the prank could have killed someone. I chuckled at the mental image as I continued my trek towards home. I figured give Sara her fun with the kids before I intervened.

The wind blows past me, its cold breeze was comforting and-

Suddenly, something compelled me to turn around, glancing at every corner, every house and building, every tree and bush…

I was alone. There was no one in the street but me.

I frowned. "I'm properly still being a little paranoid." I whispered to myself. I went back to my walk towards home. I could've sworn someone was following me. I didn't hear anything but I felt someone was here in this empty street with me, following me. I sighed.

I was being paranoid, that all this was. I was just being paranoid.

-#####-#####-

Pain…

That what came first… My body ached horribly from my bruises and burns. I couldn't move at all due to a lot of blood loss. I felt so weak… the snowy ground I was lying on help very little to ease the injuries Summer inflicted on.

Next came smell, I could smell the earth's ground around me and…the trees…the flowers…the animals… I could actually smell everything around me. Then sound came through my ears…birds were chirping their sweet tune. Chipmunks and squirrels munching on their nuts as the larger animals galloped through the area. It was peaceful, quite the opposite on I was feeling... but that peacefulness came to a sudden halt when something dropped on the ground.

"Oh, god…"

Increasing loud thumping sounds quickly came towards me and turn me over so I could lie on my back. I wanted to laugh… I thought all this time; I was lying on my back. Something shook me gently yet firmly... "Jack…Jack…C'mon Frostbite, open your eyes…"

Were my eyes closed? Was that why sight didn't come at all as my other senses came back to my conscious or perhaps it did came first and I just forgot I opened my eyes before closing them back shut?

'….'

I was getting confused…and the talking and the pain weren't helping much…

Reluctantly, I slowly opened my eyes. My sight was cloudy…. But I recognized something…no, someone in front of my line of vision.

I grasp out… "B-Bun-Bunny…"

Finally, my conscious gave out again. I felt my eyes rolled back in my head as I heard Bunny called out to me again.

TBC…

Author's Note: Don't you hate when you don't realized you're staring at someone too long and people get the impression you are attracted to them or someone else? It's has happened to me a couple of times and I figure a bit of my experiences in this fanfic. So, if you felt a bit insulted, I'm sorry.

This chapter would have out earlier but I wanted to add more. I hope the wait was worth it.

Until then…