Chapter 10: Education

"That kiss was definitely better than that other girl's..." Jack commented softly while running a hand through his snowy white hair.

I smirked. "So, you admit that kissing random girls was a stupid idea to get rid of the curse? You have got to at least have feelings for the person you kiss. Remember Snow White and Prince Charming?"

His crystal blue eyes bored into mine. "Did you have feelings for me?"

Wait. Jack only heard the last few sentences of my 'last words' when he woke up. Then, he must have heard that part.

"Why don't you decide, Jack?"

"I think I am Snow White and you are Prince Charming. Biting the apple symbolizes the part where I cut off my emotions entirely and Santa cursed me. The time that Snow was in her coffin shows that my time is running out to reverse the curse. When Prince Charming kissed Snow, she came back to life. So, why isn't my curse broken?"

I chuckled for a few seconds of his unique perspective. "Are you suggesting that I am a man and you are a girl? Well, either you haven't developed genuine feelings of love or I only care about you in a brotherly way. Maybe even a mix of both."

Jack looked thoughtful. "I should go back to the couch and try to rest."

When he was about to leave, I captured his wrist and pulled him back.

I said a bit too loudly, "Wait!"

He arched an eyebrow while I explained, "Can you stay here until I sleep? It is kinda hard to fall asleep when someone just tried to kill and rape me."

Jack's eyes widened. "Did The Boeyman control me and use me to kill and... rape... you?"

I nodded. "I'm so sorry, Rosa."

"It's fine. No need to apologize."

I jumped on the bed and snuggled under the blanket. Jack sat on the other side and I was leaning against the bed post.

"Thank you." I rested my head on his sturdy shoulder.

"No problem. Try to sleep now," he carressed my hair.

I closed my eyes. Darkness emerged but I felt warmth. With a smile, I diminished any thoughts of Boogerman and drifted off to sleep.

"I think I love you, Rosa," his tender whisper made all the nightmares run away to another victim.

Bright sunlight leaked through the window and I woke up like a zombie coming out of its grave. You know how in the movies the actors wake up with a huge smile and look perfect? Well, for me, I wake up with a frown and messy hair.

I yawned and stretched. My back still felt stiff and I stood up and did a few more stretches. Jack was mysteriously gone. What if The Boogerman takes control of me? Will I be strong enough to resist his evil clutches?

A shudder racked my body as I sleepily trudged to the kitchenette.

"Good morning!" Everyone chorused at my arrival.

Patrick was cheerfully drinking hot cocoa, Layle was chewing off beef jerk aggressively, Dark was gingerly sipping his chocolate drink like he was afraid Jack poisoned it, and the white-haired boy held his hot cocoa in his hands.

"Hey, how come you guys didn't get me hot chocolate?" I questioned playfully.

"I'll get one!" Patrick happily announced while grabbing a mug that read 'I 3 SNOW' in big block letters while quickly pouring the precious hot cocoa. Steam flew off from the mug as I held in my hands. The warmth it was radiating felt good. Real good.

"Hey, Dark, what are we gonna do now? We already informed Santa about Myth and the Great Prophecy. Do we just stay here and relax? I would like that," the curious werewolf questioned while grinding the beef jerky in his sharp teeth.

"Honestly," he sighed before continuing, "I don't know. 'Once defeated enemies rise,' sound like The Bogeyman is only one of the many villains to step up and cause terror. We should all be suspicious of unknown beings and more conscious of our own actions."

I smirk. "So, basically, you're saying we should all turn into paranoid freaks that judge others by their appearance and attitude?"

Everyone laughed except Dark who was frowning. "Well, if you say so, then perhaps," the dark angel crossed his arms in irritation.

Layle remarked, "Good one!"

I high fived everyone except the excluded dark angel who was once again serious. "Seriously, we should actually consider that we all may be in grave risk of death. Evil lurks in every corner nowadays."

I rolled my green eyes. "We get it, Dark. We aren't little children who don't know how to spell 'conclusion'."

Patrick innocently raised a hand. "Actually, I don't know. Education is only given to the royals or wealthy people."

"What! So, in the future, education is not free! You guys don't realize how lucky you are!"

Jack smiles in realization and shook his head in belief. On the other hand, everyone else was staring at me like I just grew two heads.

"No, you should be grateful that you get education! We barely even know the countries of Fantasia or the history or math." Layle argued.

I raised an eyebrow. "Seriously, you don't know. Ever heard of Canada? Antarctica? France? England? How about the biggest country, Russia?"

Blank stares is what I got as an answer. "Oh, c'mon, everyone knows China!"

The same response. Maybe education does have its advantages. When ones does not know China, you know that they have serious education issues. Especially since almost everything has that 'MADE IN CHINA' label. I have underestimated the future of being all 'technological' and 'futuristic'. Earth is gonna turn into a fantasy world! Humans will evolve into vampires, werewolves, angels, dark angels, elves, and so on!

We will no longer group people by races but by creature! The Irish will become leprechauns, Chinese will become dragons, Canadians will become Eskimos once again, and Americans will turn into superheroes! I'm not trying to be racist, but these are my personal thoughts. If I spoke my mind, I'd be in a lot of trouble.