Disclaimer: This story uses characters from Rise of the Guardians and Frozen, which are owned by DreamWorks and Disney. Any character that you could link to the images of characters from other DreamWorks or Disney movies belongs to its respective company. Other OCs and the story itself belong to the author. The story is made for entertainment purpose only.

So this is basically a story set on my fantasy of romance in coffee shop and a headcanon of Jack's background story as a barista in modern life. Some light writings of mine to get to know better of my two beloved characters, how they met, how they befriended each other, and yes, how they fell in love.

Though the story setting is mainly around coffee shop, I don't know much about coffee (I don't even drink coffee), nor would I know anything about making coffee. I am doing my best to make it more believable, but if I did something wrong, please correct me. I hope I could make this story as plausible as possible.

No more rambling, enjoy the story~


She didn't expect to like it but she thinks she does.

Elsa might never drop by this coffee shop if it wasn't for Hans. He just got this new job since his brothers rejected him to work at their family-owned company and he still got rent to pay. Though they've been friends since junior high, due to their parents' close business association, Hans can be quite conceited and spoiled to bear sometimes, especially when it comes to work-related subjects. To stop him from complaining more of this 'ridiculous' (according to his wording) part time (he emphasizes) job, Elsa finally gave in to his pleading and promised to come sometimes to keep him company.

She has just settled down at the bar counter—this coffee shop was once a lounge bar, the reason why Elsa never thought of visiting before even after it reopened as a coffee shop, but to her own surprise, the owner of the shop manages to remain most of the decor, especially the extended counter and the big shelves behind it, now stuffed with bags of coffee beans instead of alcohol bottles, and makes it into a cozy and very posh place for coffee, and reading, noted Elsa—when the shop door opens with a soft ding from the small bell hung to its wooden frame. In walks a tall young man with disheveled blonde hair, wearing a white button up shirt tucked in a pair of black trousers under a blue-gray hooded denim jacket, a faded brown canvas backpack slung loosely over his left shoulder. He quickly shuts the door behind him to block the cool damp wind from the late autumn night outside before running a hand through his hair to make it neat. He greets with the old gentleman sitting by the window seat with a big smile then hurries his way towards the counter.

The door next to the counter opens the moment the blonde young man slides himself behind the counter. A man around mid fifty walks in. He's a large man with a broad shoulder. His face looks youthful while all his hair and his well-kept beard, save his black bushy eyebrows, have already turned white. The man catches the sight of the younger man and breaks into a big warm grin.

"Jack! Here you are. In time for the rescue," the older man exclaims in great fondness with a foreign accent Elsa can't quite point out yet.

"Hey Nic! Bully for you! I got your text before I head to Grayson's or I might not be able to make it here," the young man replies in a jovial baritone voice while he sets his backpack and jacket under the counter and pulls out a black bistro apron.

The older man addressed by the name Nic raises an eyebrow and asks, "Grayson huh? He's okay with it right?"

"Sure. Like I would risk to upset the nice fellow." The young man, Jack, grins at Nic as he ties the apron around his waist and reaches for a portafilter. He swiftly changes its filter basket to a blank and solid one in smooth grace before he turns to one of the coffee machines.

"All right then. I'll leave around ten. Just take care of the rest like usual." Nic grabs the papers next to the till and waves at Jack. "Bring me one Irish after you done with that." He points at the copper coffee machine Jack has just runned with hot water and is now putting on the portafilter. Jack nods as he turns the water back on, runs it for a couple second with the portafilter locked tightly to the group head then removes the portafilter to dump out the hot water.

"Make it rich!" Nic says before disappearing behind the door.

Elsa reaches in her backpack and pulls out the book she's been reading lately as nonchalantly as she could as she realizes she's been watching since the young man walked in the coffee shop. She flattens her book open on the bar counter and looks up for a menu. She catches the sight of her friend before spotting any.

Hans walks in from the back of the shop with an annoyed expression on his face. He looks up and sees Elsa. He waves and moves towards her, draping the towel in his hand over his right shoulder.

"Hey," Hans greets her with a smile, a proper and decent smile that he always claims to befit his so-called status as a rich second generation, which Elsa suddenly finds it less convincing to be seen as a smile compared to the blonde young man's.

Before Elsa could return the greeting, Jack looks up by catching the voice of Hans and calls.

"Southworth! Have you cleaned the espresso machine?"

Hans shoots Jack a glare. "I cleaned it when I came."

"Okay, just checking." Jack shrugs then turns to Elsa with a big grin, handing a folded red maroon menu to her. "Menu for the beautiful lady. Let me know what you need whenever you please."

Elsa mutters a thank and takes the menu, watching Jack heads back to clean another coffee machine with the same quick and brief process he did with the last one. He wipes up the machine before attaching a clean and empty portafilter to it and heats up the water to pull a 'blank' shot in a big red mug.

"He's unbelievable." Elsa turns back as Hans starts, "how many times do we really need to clean those? They are just fine."

"Well, I am not an expert, but maybe because of the taste?" Elsa answers half-heartedly, eyes browsing through the menu.

"Ha, like that would make such a difference. Customers might just end up tasting soap if he keeps doing so," Hans snorts, wiping the counter impatiently.

Elsa glances up to the left to see if Jack heard the comment, and sees him remove the portafilter off the machine and empty the water in the red mug. He catches her probing gaze as he turns to get some coffee beans from the large shelves behind the counter, with an amusing smile placed across his affable features, he gives Elsa an understanding wink before heading back to the coffee machine.

Mentally sighs to herself, Elsa looks back at the menu, humming occasionally at Hans' ongoing grumbles. As she reaches the bottom line, she quirks an eyebrow in confusion.

She looks up to ask Hans instead finding him called by a couple from the sofa seats in the back corner of the shop. Hans sends her an apologetic glance and walks off towards the couple. Elsa glances back to her left, holding the menu and seeing Jack lock the portafilter, this time filled with nicely grounded coffee, to the group head, adjust the preheated red mug under the filter and start the machine to brew.

Not sure what to address him, Elsa only manages a hesitant "Er..."

Jack looks up and smiles. "Jack. Jack Frost. Anything you need?"

"Yes, um... Jack, I'd like to know what the last order means." Elsa points to the bottom of the menu.

"You've just asked the right question," Jack beams. His eyes twinkle. He takes a glance at the machine as the dripping coffee slowly turns pale and inconsistent. He turns the water off before looking up at her. "Our very house special. Literally 'order what you want as long as we can make it.'" He gestures one hand at himself while removing the mug onto the cooking counter and does a facetious bow. "The very best of the 'Polar Light' at your service. How do you like your coffee, my lucky lady?"

"Elsa, just Elsa please. And I, well, I don't really know much about coffee."

"Okay Elsa, what do you like for regular basis?" Jack queries. Submerging the steam wand in the milk pitcher, he turns the steam on full and deliberately tilts the pitcher upward. Two of his fingers press against the wand, not once flinch as the high-pitched hissing sound dies down and the milk starts steaming. Just as the hissing sound turns into low groaning, Jack turns the steam off, lowers the pitcher and slides it onto the counter. He glances up at Elsa with an arched eyebrow, mutely asking the question again.

Elsa snaps out of her watching Jack making coffee before stammering her answer. "Oh, me? Um... Mocha, I supposed."

"Ah, like chocolate or cocoa, do you?" Jack asks as he wraps a damp cloth around the wand to clean the milk off.

Elsa nods. "Yes, both."

Jack nods in understanding while leaning down to fetch a bottle of booze out of the lower cabinet. Elsa catches a glimpse of the blatant label on the bottle, saying Irish Whiskey. Jack carefully pours the right amount of whiskey into the coffee mug as he continues to ask. "Any favorite beans? No? How about the roast degree?" He glances up again when he meets with Elsa's silent respond and laughs as he sees the confused expression on her face. "Sorry, occupational corruption. Light or strong I mean."

"Light would be fine."

"Any other special preferences? Caramel? Cinnamon?"

Elsa can't help but laugh. "Are you a perfectionist of coffee or what?"

"Well, I am trying my best to impress the beauty of the house." Jack smirks before straightens up with his hands on his hips. Looking at the coffee he's been working with with a content smile, he turns to Elsa and says, "gonna go get the old man his drink before he breaks down under depression or something. I will get you your special when I get back."

"Okay," Elsa replies with a small smile. "By the way, I love cinnamon."

She sees Jack's eyes widen a bit in amusement as if he doesn't expect her to answer-neither does she actually-before turning back to her book.

She hasn't even finished one page when she hears Hans ask, "want some? Extra from the ones I made for the couple."

She looks up as Hans places a plate of roast sandwich in front of her. She shakes her head. "I've already had some breads on my way here. I would be just fine with a coffee."

"What do you like then? Mocha or cappuccino?" Hans asks as he moves toward the coffee machine.

"Jack said he would make me a special," Elsa says. Hans' face pulls down into a frown as soon as he heard her addressing the other boy by his first name. Elsa closes her book as she sees Hans' drawn face. Not a good day for reading I suppose, Elsa sighs.

"Jack? Really?" Hans demands. "First-name basis already? He is not some good guy you should be friends with."

"He seems quite okay to me."

"Oh, sure he is," Hans scoffs. "Menu for the beautiful lady. I thought you hated people hitting on you for your looks."

"I still do."

"Then how about Frost?"

"Well, first, I didn't feel like he's trying to hit on me," Elsa catches the sight of Jack sliding back behind the counter from the corner of her eyes and lowers her voice, "and second, I am just intrigued by how much he seems to love making coffee."

"He and his coffee rubbish. That's just his trick, to impress some chicks for his liking."

"Hans," Elsa presses.

"I mean, please, all he does are just cleaning the machines, grounding some beans and letting the machines do the rest work."

Elsa sighs. It is always hard to make Hans understand that there are so much more 'decent' jobs than being the CEO of a big company. He couldn't even understand, or at least tried to understand, when Elsa dropped her Business Management program at college after her parents passed away in a car accident and applied for Jewelry Arts and Design as major instead. He insists he understands though, but never stops trying to convince Elsa to take her old courses back. Elsa has long stopped discussing any related subject with Hans after several fights they had during the said period. And she doesn't plan to change her mind anytime soon.

"I guess I should just leave then."

"Elsa!" Hans exclaims. "Sorry okay, I would just stop. You already come near an hour late and I only got about half an hour left. I can drive you home if you would just stay a bit longer."

"Thanks, but it just occurs to me that I've got one more draft to finish. Due before midnight. Group work." That's a half-truth. She does have said work, but the due day isn't tonight. And Elsa doesn't plan to tell. "I would text you when I get home." She shoves her book back in her bag, pulls on her jacket and stands up from her seat.

"Elsa.."

"I am fine. Just let the one who loves to clean the coffee machine do the deed if you really hated it."

Slinging her bag over her shoulders, she waves him goodbye before heading to the door.

The cool wind brushes in through her hair as she opens the heavy wooden door. She wraps her jacket tighter before walking out the coffee shop.

The door clicks shut behind her after a soft ding and a thud as Elsa turns right. She doesn't come around these blocks often enough to be familiar with the exact way to get home. She used to settle herself at the chain coffee shop about three blocks away from this one for her study and sketching. That one is much closer to the apartment she lives with Anna. She looks up at the copper shop sign written 'Polar Light' in a rough and edgy calligraphy. At least she is sure to take right.

Just as she's about to reach the apartment door second next to the coffee shop, Elsa hears the dim ding sound she's heard several times today.

"Hey Elsa!" a voice calls.

Elsa doesn't expect anyone save Hans would come after her, so it surprises her when she finds out it is Jack.

She can't help but simply stare as Jack takes a few long strides towards her. She watches him hand her a take-out cup of coffee no bigger than a Starbucks' tall.

"You forget your coffee," Jack smiles. "I didn't make it big lest you don't like it."

Elsa takes the coffee as she takes the first close look of the boy in front of her. He is quite good looking if Elsa would admit to herself. His blonde hair, still a tad disheveled, has a stream of silver color, making it look more light in color than average. More like hers, but still, different. His smile, the one grabs her attention all night, spreads in a beautiful and genuine curve. High cheekbones and clean jaw lines might guarantee a good looking man, but not enough when compared with the pair of blue eyes looking down at her. They're darker than icy blue but lighter than sapphire. Another similar color she's greeted everyday in a mirror but unique in its own way. They are warm.

She blushes a little as she sees the amusement creeping into the pair blue and quickly manages a thanks.

"Not at all. I really hope you like it," Jack says and adds sheepishly, "um...I also add a little, just a little, whiskey, you might not even notice, but hope that can help you sleep better."

Elsa is surprised, really surprised. "How did you know?"

"I didn't imply that you have dark circles or something, I mean you look good despite of that...arrgh never mind," he rubs his face with one hand in frustration and shoves another hand in his back pocket nervously. "Just try it and see if you like it. I would act cooler next time. Get home safe." Jack waves and hurries his way back in the shop.

Holding the cup tighter, Elsa brings it up to her lips and takes a sip. Warm rich liquid fills her mouth with a tender sweetness. She moans in satisfaction. The layers of flavors of cinnamon, chocolate and the coffee bean she can't recognize linger and dance in her mouth and up to her nostrils. The slightly spicy taste of whiskey enriches all in an elegant, laid-back way and makes her body feel warmer.

She takes another sip of her coffee and starts walking home.

It doesn't occur to her till she gets home: she didn't pay for the coffee.


Hope you like it. Please let me know how you think of the story. Feel free to follow, favorite or review! I would be more than happy to have you join me on this story.

LuAnn