Chapter 3: First day views

Let me start off by saying thank you to Dottedmind and Sharkohen for being my first reviewers! You were guys were so nice to take the time. And everyone else who left me a review. Thank you, you were all so nice. Let me know how I can improve and I'll try to keep it interesting. Okay here's chapter three.

Jack Frost's POV

I've been having nightmares again.

It's always the same thing. I wish my subconscious at least had some originality. I came here to get away from the memories and my surroundings, but it seems you can't get away from your dreams.

My roommate Sandy was up way before me, he actually woke me up at 7:45. Uh, didn't he know classes didn't start till 8?

Unfortunately I didn't know how to tell him through sign language.

After I showered, I remembered I had no idea where my classes were. I locked the dorm room and started the tedious task of trying to arrive on time.

I walked down the hallway, studying the completely uninformative maps they gave us at orientation. There aren't many students left, and the ones that are around I don't want to ask and look like the lost freshman loser. I'm standing there, looking like the not lost freshman loser, when a girl turns the corner and rams into me.

I reach out and grab her elbows to steady her. "You okay?" I ask.

She pushes her bangs out of her eyes and looks up at me.

Whoa. I know everyone thinks the first thing that runs through a guy's mind when he sees a girl is how pretty she is, but you just couldn't help it with this one, the first thing any sane guy would think of is something on the lines of either "duh…" or an impulsive "will you marry me?" I'm not ashamed to admit I thought of both.

She abruptly pulls out of my grasp, and backs away looking almost stricken. Was she hurt or something? "Hey-"I start.

"Oh, no I'm so sorry. I keep doing that. I'm such a klutz, I'm sorry. I-"

"Whoa, whoa." I hold up my hands. "It's okay, it's okay, I think I'll live."

She blushes, the color coming up evident on her pale skin. "Sorry…"

I laugh, I can't help it. "Hey, I've seen you before, haven't I? You were that girl that was checking me out yesterday."

I meant it as a joke, but her face burned so red I thought it must have been psychically painful.

"I- I wasn't- I didn't-"

I grab her shoulder this time. "Hey, I was kidding."

"Oh. Right." She stares at the floor, looking more embarrassed than me the time I forgot I was throwing a party at my house until everyone showed up.

"So… I'm Jack. What's your name?"

"Elsa."

"You're kinda a spaz, aren't you?"

Okay so maybe not the best or nicest thing to say to a pretty girl you want to impress, but I swear it just slipped out.

But I'm actually glad it did when I see her straighten her shoulders and suddenly narrow her eyes.

"What? I'm not a spaz."

I laugh again. "You sure? You did just freak out twice in like 20 seconds."

"I'm not a spaz!" Elsa rolls her eyes. "Whatever."

"What class are you in?" I ask.

She stares at me suspiciously. "Singing."

"Oh, too bad. Would have l liked to watch you spaz out in my class. You look like you would be pretty entertaining when things get stale."

Her mouth drops slightly. Like she can't believe I'm actually talking to her like this.

"How old are you? You're so immature."

"I'm 21, but I've been told it's more fun to act your shoe size than you're age."

She rolls her eyes. "I don't have time for this."

"Ooh, cold. I think I liked you better when you were blushing and spazing for me."

Another blush spreads across her face. "I have to get to class. And I hope you do to."

It was my turn to turn red. "Uh… actually. I'm lost." I wave my class map.

She snatches it from me. She runs her finger around the map. "You're in a director's class, right?"

I smirk. "So you know a lot about me?"

She rolls her eyes. "It's down the next hall, take a left. The door should be labeled." She thrusts the map back to me. "I need to go."

"Thanks. I hope you run into me again, spaz."

She practically scowls at me as she turns on her heel, but I'm sure I still see her blush again.

I chuckle again. Elsa. I like that name.

I walk into the director's class. All of the students are already there. I drop into an empty seat next to Hiccup.

He leans over and punches me hard in the arm.

"Ow," I say, even though Hiccup hits like a girl and it didn't hurt. "What?"

"That was for being late and making me save a seat for you for a half hour like an idiot."

I laugh. "Dude, the idiot part was that you got to class half an hour early."

He punches me again. "What were you doing? Sleeping or video games?"

"Sleeping," I say.

The whole reason I'm even at this college is because of Hiccup. We used to direct home videos back in Burgess all the time. Hiccup sent in a reel of videos we had shot and directed together and was accepted last year. He spent all year trying to convince me to enroll the next year. And now for better or worse, here am I.

I lean back in my desk and scan the other students. In front of Hiccup, two girls we met yesterday are sitting in their desks in deep conversation.

"Hey, Tiana, Jasmine." They turn around.

"Hey, Jack," Jasmine says.

"Morning," Tiana says. "We were just talking about what kind of production we wanted to direct for our mid-term exam."

I blanche. "What? This is the first day! Are you seriously thinking about mid-term already?"

Tiana tilts her head. "Why not? It never hurts to get a jump on things. Ooh, Jaz, we should talk about what lights we wanna use for finals."

"Ugh. Stop, just stop. You'll both give me ulcers."

Hiccup laughs. "Jack's never been about planning for the future, in case you couldn't tell."

Jasmine tosses her thick ponytail. "Well Tiana and I are planning to be the youngest female directors to win an Oscar, and we so got this." They high five each other.

Just then the teacher walks in. I'm surprised to see it's a woman. She's pretty, slender, and kinda middle aged. She introduces herself as Ms. Anita. Jasmine and Tiana seem to be in awe of her. Bet she hasn't won an Oscar though.

She starts off describing the evolution of directors over the years and my eyes wander to the open window. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was a kid, so my mind tends to wander quite frequently.

But ever since that day, it's been wandering to only one thing. It appears my disorder has a one track mind with no originality as well.

All I ask is for one conscious free day. It wasn't even my fault. If only I hadn't gone out on the ice that day. Then I really would be the Jack everyone thinks I am. The carefree, slacker Jack, who never worries about anything other than having fun.

If only I hadn't gone out on the ice that day, then I wouldn't be living this lie.

After class ends, I push Hiccup into the hallway as he gets caught in another production powwow with Tiana and Jasmine.

"Hey, hey watch it," he says shoving me off.

I laugh. "So when are you going to introduce me to that lady friend you've been telling me about?"

Hiccup rolls his eyes up to the ceiling, looking slightly embarrassed. "As soon as I can be sure you won't embarrass me in front of Astrid."

I shake my head. "You're a wimp."

"You're a wimp." Hiccup shoves my shoulder again. "Got coaching class. See you at lunch."

"Yeah. Later."

He jogs down the hall, he runs pretty fast for a guy with a fake leg. I always tell him he's way faster with the prostatic leg than he ever was with his real one.

I find my locker and switch out my book for another, when my phone buzzes.

Ugh. That better not be my mom. I open my phone and read the message.

Unknown: Jack, Jack, Jack. So glad to see your friend finally convinced you to enroll here at Higher Arts. Been waiting for you.

I look at the number. Blocked. That's weird. Why would someone text me and block their number? I text back.

Me: Sorry, who is this?

Unknown: Oh, you don't know me, but I imagine you will soon.

Okay? Well it seems like a weird way to do a prank, but I'm all for joke. I text back.

Me: Okay. But if you want to amuse me, you've got to do better than that.

Unknown: Really? Well, how about this? What happens when you send two friends, and one of them is a coward, out onto the ice? What happens to the second friend? Can you tell me that, Jack?

My stomach twists. Sweat breaks out on my forehead. Strange, I almost never sweat. Is this person for real? My phone buzzes again.

Unknown: Amusing enough for you, Jack?

My stomach clenches even tighter. I lean my shoulder against my locker to support myself, while my ADHD brain whirls a million miles a minute in a thousand different directions.

Had someone else been there that day on the ice? Who was this person?

Another buzz. Unknown: I know you're disturbed, Jackie boy. And yes I know all about the time on the ice. Unfortunate, unfortunate. Don't fret I won't let it… crack. Lol. But seriously Jack, I'll be your confidante… for a fee. Just do the simple tasks I ask like a good little boy and your secret will remain just that.

My mouth is so dry I have troubling swallowing.

Me: What tasks? What are you talking about?

Unknown: In due time, Jackson. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Don't worry we'll talk about it all soon. We'll be in touch.

After that nothing. I didn't get any more texts from Unknown. And so I was left alone with my thoughts. Great.

He knows about me. Someone knows. What was he going to ask me to do? Whatever it was, would I do it?

Ttt. Stupid question, Jack.

Of course I would. I would do anything to keep that secret. That's when my stupid, always reliable conscious decides to butt in.

Anything? That sounds pretty strong, Jack. Are you really willing to commit more unspeakable actions to keep this one safe?

I hate myself, because the answer is "yes." I would do more wrong so I could keep pretending to be right.

After all that is what murderers do.

Okay sorry if this seems redundant, but I had to establish a little bit of backstory for the characters, so as to set the stage for the future reveals. I think I'm going to do a three character arc, you know pick three characters at a time and have their run ins with Unknown. Important note: NOT every character I write in perspective will have a secret. Those characters will have considerably shorter chapters.

Also if anyone is wondering why I made the characters so old, it's because it's been enough years for them to learn to conceal the guilt and effects of the trauma, but not so much that they were too young to be accountable for their actions.

On a side note why don't you guys let me know what you think our Elsa, Jack, and Ella have done? I already know, but tell me what you think and maybe I can use your ideas for other characters. I would like to hear what you think.

As always please leave a review on your way out. You're awesome!

P.S. Sorry for this sucky, short chapter, I kinda rushed. I think next chapter Unknown will call in some favors, so maybe that will make up for it. At first I thought this would be a long fic, but I think I can do it reasonably.

P.P.S. My computer is on the fritz so I might have to try to use my warranty and if I do you know how long that can take, so if I don't update regularly it's not because I fell off the grid, lol.

See you guys! Bye!