Hope you all enjoy the new Jelsa story! Sorry for any typos
Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Prologue

People always have a lot to say about love. How wonderful it was. How painful it is. How it took them by surprise, how they would die without it, how necessary it is.

But she was always skeptical. Sure, it's powerful and influential and all that jazz, but... So were a lot of other things. Love, at least to her, was a luxury only fools could afford. And she told all of her friends-the few she had- that she didn't want or ever need love. Friendship was better in all aspects, no matter what people said.

And for a good 17 years of her life, she was right.

Chapter 1

The summer before her junior year, her family decided change was necessary. In fact, they decided she should switch schools and embrace the endless possibilities it provided her. A clean slate, they told her. No one knew her history, no one would be scared of her this time around. New friends. Chance.

And they fooled her. She had believed them, and on the first day at her new school, she had the firm belief and fierce hope that somehow, some way, she could do this. That this was an opportunity for her to make tons of new friends, get a boyfriend, join a sport...

And then the first day came. She arrived with a guarded smile. She left almost in tears.

It was hectic. It was unfriendly. It was nothing what she expected it to be. No one cared she was a new student. In some ways, she was grateful. But that also meant no one approached her, or tried to talk to her. She sat in the library during lunch, reading a book. She walked the halls alone, confused and trying to find her way. And at the end of the day, she came out alone, utterly disappointed and crushed. How was she to approach people who had no interest in her? How could she smile and laugh with peers who blindly disregarded her and ignored her?

Her walls were back up. It was stupid of her to let them down, even for a second. She didn't need friends, she told herself. She didn't need anyone. With a new determination, she quickly dried the tears that had leaked out, before her sister could see any trace of them when she came home.

She needed to be strong. No. She was strong. Nothing could hurt her.

She ignored the ache in her chest.

It didn't matter. Not anymore.

...

Two weeks had gone by. They went as she had expected them to; lonely.

No. Not lonely. She had to think positively, Anna always told her. That's right. Rather than lonely, her time was spent in solitude.

It was peaceful. It was uneventful. Ordinary. No surprises. She could easily adapt to it, and fade into the background at school. Classes were easy, students ignored her, and teachers forgot her.

It was how it should be. No one bullied her, gossiped about her, or even looked at her wrong. She was a shadow on a dark night, and she deluded herself into thinking she could continue like this for the next two years. But it was not to be so.

Elsa was in the bathroom stall, about to open the door, when she heard it.

"Hey, isn't there some new chick named Elsa?" A girl's high, nasally voice said.

The sound of water from the faucet splashed, then a response came. "Oh I know who you're talking about! That girl with super blonde hair?"

"Ohmigod, YES!" A giggle.

"Do you think it's real? Her hair?"

"it's totally fake. No one could have THAT light of hair. Right?"

"Yeah! And have you noticed the way she walks? Ugh, so annoying. Like she's a queen we should all worship. God, did you know I caught Michael checking her out?!"

"No way."

"Yes! Like, God what's there to like? it's not like she's even pretty."

Laughter. Elsa's heart pounded. It was possible they weren't talking about her. Elsa wasn't that uncommon of a name, and surely there was another girl who had white-blonde hair... Besides, she didn't walk obnoxiously. She didn't.

"Jeez. Everyone's talking about her, but I don't see why. She acts like she's above everyone else and won't even talk to anyone!"

"I know! If she tried, people would like her better."

The other girl laughed. "Would they?"

They snickered. "True. She's a bitch. Everyone knows it."

A toilet flushed. The girls' chatter faded as they walked out the door to the restroom.

God, Elsa thought. Please let them be talking about someone else. But she knew in her heart that they had been talking about her.

As the day continued, she felt more and more stares aimed at her. Whispers floated about her, rumors being rapidly created.

From what she picked up, apparently she had slept with one of her teachers and got expelled from her previous school. Or, she had been expelled because she had attacked a group of girls who looked at her wrong and sent two of them to the hospital. The less popular belief was that she had caused a school-wide riot... for reasons currently unknown.
Some people thought she had thrown an orgy, got in trouble with the cops, and fled town.
Others said she began a cult.
Her favorite was that she was the leader of a dominatrix club, and punished the naughty boys who dared defy her.

Elsa went from being blissfully invisible to headline news in a day. All because of some jealous girls, and their ridiculous mouths.

The last bell rang, and she picked up her pace. If she got out in time, no one would-

A hand landed on her arm. It was attached to a pale arm, lean and muscular, and led to a face that had her scowling.

Pretty boy, through and through. Even worse, he had the twinkling and mischievous blue eyes to top it all off. Silver hair spilled out from underneath a beanie.

He was boyish, and pretty, and cute, and... oh, 99.9% likely to be a jerk.

He smiled, flashing her dimples and innocence, but she knew better.

"Hi, your name's Elsa right?"

She gave him a tight smile.

"Hi, I'm Jack." He grinned. "I heard you're new here."

Her suspicion was beginning to fade. Usually, they asked flat out. Maybe he was just curious...

"Hi." She paused, considering. "Yeah, I'm new."

He smiled, but it was without malice. "Welcome! How do you like Central so far?"

They had begun walking, and her distrust was fading more and more quickly.

"Um, well, it's okay?" She glanced up at him, risking a small smile.

He laughed. "Yeah, it's not anything great... But if you look, there're some positives. One of them is our football team-they've gone to State for the past few years, so the games are fun."

Her nose wrinkled on its own accord, and Jack must have noticed. "What?! Not a football fan?"

Elsa grimaced. "No, not really. Are you?"

He had a thoughtful look on his face. "Well, I guess you could say I have to be."

What did he mean by that? She was about to ask him, when someone called his name. "Jaaaack!"

A beautiful girl latched herself to Jack's side. Her dark eyes were lined with kohl and her dark mane of hair shone silky.

He smiled at the girl sweetly, and she knew. They were together. Seeming to remember Elsa, he smiled apologetically and brought the brunette around. "Kali, this is Elsa. She's new here. Elsa, this is my girlfriend Kali."

Kali glanced at her, possessiveness darkening her features, but smiled a bright, fake smile. "Hi Elsa."

She forced a smile. "Hi."

The girl turned away. "So babe, did you get my message earlier? I know you said..."

Elsa stopped listening. Well, at least they hadn't asked her to confirm any rumors. Maybe she could be friends with them, or at least Jack. He seemed nice enough.

Someone tapped her shoulder. She looked up, and almost shuddered from disgust. A sleazeball of a guy was smirking at her, and she knew she wasn't going to like what he said.

"So is it true you-"

"Oh hey Michael!" Jack interrupted loudly, and she saw a challenging smile on his face. "You heard about Elsa?"

Confusion furrowed Michael's brows. "I... yes?"

Elsa stared at Jack in horror. Had she misjudged him? Was he about to loudly announce she had an STD or something?

But he smiled at her comfortingly. "Well you heard right; she's new." He turned back to the other boy. "So be nice to her, okay? We don't want a repeat of last year, do we?"

Michael's face flushed red. He was gone in seconds.

From the corner of her eye, Kali scowled at her. She tugged at Jack's arm, motioning for them to go now.

"Hey, so I'll see you in Physics tomorrow!" he called over his shoulder, being pulled by his girlfriend. "Bye Elsa!"

Wait, they had physics together? He had noticed her... she stood still, and watched them go.

Something that felt suspiciously like hope planted itself in her, threatening to take root and blossom. Maybe, it whispered, this won't be so bad.

She sighed. Maybe... but maybe not.

When she got home, Elsa plopped down on the couch. Their parents were on a business trip again, so that left her to do the cooking. Anna sucked at it, even making ramen was a disaster.

Anna wouldn't be back until after cross country practice, though, so she had the house to herself for about an hour. Homework time, then. After that, she'd start cooking some pasta, and then read one of her books. Maybe watch some TV.

...

Anna stomped in, shouting "I'm home! Feed me, I'm starving!"

Elsa looked up from the book she was reading and raised an eyebrow. "Is that how you should talk to the person who cooks your food?"

The petite redhead growled, then pouted. "Pleeeeeease? Please cook me delicious food, dear sister Elsa." She even added a sweet, innocent smile at the end.

She eyed Anna with distrust. "Okay, you can go now."

She grinned evilly, and Elsa laughed. There was the Anna she knew.

"Food will be ready in 15 minutes, you pig."

"Thanks, love ya!" And she was gone, escaping to her room.

The next day, she saw Jack in her first period physics class.

It was hard to miss him. When she walked in, he waved at her enthusiastically... and jumped up.

"ELSA!" His voice was disturbingly loud this early in the morning. His smile, too, was frighteningly bright.

"Jack." Her voice was monotone. She couldn't muster the enthusiasm he seemed to have in abundance.

His arm plopped around her shoulders. She stared at him, suspicious.

"What?" He laughed, eyes crinkling at the corner. "You make me feel so sketch, like I'm about to demand cookies from you."

Elsa narrowed her eyes. "Are you?"

He laughed louder. "No!" He paused, thinking. "Well, I mean... You have cookies?"

She burst out laughing. She couldn't help it; his voice was so hopeful, as if cookies were the only thing of importance in life.

"What?!" His face was indignant. "What? Cookies are perfection! If you made my favorite cookies, you could make me do anything!"

"Anything?"

He nodded seriously. "Yes. Anything. I'd streak naked in front of the school for a batch of those babies."

"Really." She eyed him with doubt.

"Mm-hmm. That's why no one knows what my favorite cookies are. Else they'd have complete control over me."

"Hmm. That's probably a good thing."

"I know, right? Anyways, guess what?"

"What?" But she was distracted. His arm was still on her shoulders. Should she shrug it off?

"There's a party next weekend at my buddy's! Wanna go?"

He smelled pretty good... Wait, what? Girlfriend, he had a girlfriend. Elsa couldn't think about things like that.

"Elsa?"

She started. Oh, right. Party, he was talking about some party. "Sounds like fun?"

He chuckled. "Ah, a skeptic. Don't worry, it'll be chill. Kali and I will help set it up, since it's Kali's brother who's throwing it."

"Hmm," was her only response. Noncommittal was the best way to go.

"Aww, come on! I promised him I'd get a ton of pretty girls to go!" He unleashed his puppy dog eyes full force on her. They were deadly. "Please? It's his birthday bash, so it'd be mean if you didn't stop by."

"Guilt tripping me, huh?"

His smile was unabashed, his dimples out. "If it works."

Elsa paused, debating. She had nothing to do, but... Well. The only people she knew were Kali and Jack. And if the two decided to go off and make out, she'd be alone... And that was dangerous at a party like that. Too many obnoxious guys around who could sense when a girl was alone.

Jack took her silence in stride. "If you don't say yes, I'll just keep pestering you." He smirked. If possible, he leaned in even closer, so that they were only inches apart. "And I get annoying real fast."

Somehow, Elsa had her doubts about that last one. He was charming, but never irritating. And he smelled good.

"Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseple-"

She cut off his begging. "Okay, fine! I'll check it out. But I can't promise I'll stay long."

"Awesome! Sweet!" His arm finally lifted from her shoulders. Somehow she missed it. "Success!"

He started doing a victory class and then went on the ground for some painful looking breakdancing. The class became chaotic as it shouted its approval and laughter. The teacher tried to get everyone to quiet down, and failed.

Elsa sat down in her seat, and looked at his blurred, dancing figure.

She tucked a wisp of platinum hair behind her ear, a smile threatening to break out across her face.