Teenage Dirtbag
...
"Strange to find you here."
Merida stopped tapping her pen to Billy Joel's Movin Out (only because the old librarian played the same album all day, all week, all the time) and tipped her chin up to be greeted with a set of grinning teeth and teasing blue eyes. Funny, she momentarily told herself. It was as though she hasn't seen those eyes for ages. Merida managed a smile, "Frost."
Jack chuckled, seemingly to lean further onto the shelf. "Oh baby, I love it when you scream my name."
She chortled out a snort, rolling her eyes backwards. "What do ye want?"
"Well, first of all." He chose his words and settled down next to her, their knees colliding but Merida wasn't one to shy away from contact. Jack wasn't at all as she expected, and she had to admit: he wasn't entirely bad to hang around with. Sure, there were moments where he'd say things that could easily made the situation a little more awkward than they're intended to be, but his intentions were good. So far, at least. "What are you doing in a library? Are you hiding from someone?"
He squinted his eyes playfully at her, but the curiosity behind it was genuine, and Merida couldn't help but to grin. "Why would ye assume I'm hidin' from anyone?"
"I don't know, anything's possible." He shrugged his shoulders, tilting his head to one side as he toppled his chin over his palm.
She sighed, looking into his blue eyes. "I'm not," she said, a moment later, finally forcing her gaze to drop back on the homework splayed out in front of her. "I'm not hidin' from anyone." She repeated, just in case, and cleared her throat. "Well, not really." I just don't have anybody to hang around with. Both Hiccup and Rapunzel had classes, and without them, she's just another loner in the large school, trying to make through another day. "The library's good. Nobody comes here. The music's pleasant. Enough."
Sometimes.
She shrugged.
"Where are your... friends?" He used the words carefully, as though the meaning behind it was fragile; one wrong move, it'll shatter right before his eyes, and it was evident that he didn't want that. Something squeezed from inside of Merida's chest, realisation finally struck over her, and she gave out a gentler smile.
"Busy." Merida answered with a clip. "They have classes. Hiccup with AP Physics, and Rapunzel with Lit."
"Oh." Jack responded back, his eyes drifted elsewhere on the carpeted floor. "And you're not skipping any classes, are you?"
She restrained herself from rolling her eyes. "What about you? How am I sure yer not skipping any classes?"
"As a matter of fact, I am." His eyes twinkled, and his smile stretched.
Somehow, her own smile almost widened at his, but she kept it into a minimal, pursing it. "Criminal, are ye now?"
"Your one and only." He breathed out a chuckle, "Jack Frost, wanted dead or alive. Sounds kinda good, doesn't it?"
"For skippin' one class? Excuse me, but have ye met Hans?"
He chuckled then, ducking his head. "Oh right," he drawled, but there's a teasing smile hovering about his lips. "Nobody defeats the Mastermind."
"Mastermind? More like a brat with trust issue." She retorted, chuckling a second later when she met his amused stare.
"You know," he leaned back against the shelves. "I wasn't always one to listen much to the rumours...," he began, licking his lips, and there's a thoughtful expression passing across his features while she hiked one eyebrow, interested. "But what they say about you. Well, they're just― they're dead wrong."
"What did they say about me?" Oh, she knew some of the rumours of course, especially the one after she punched that one senior when she's on her freshman year. Her mum had been furious, but her father had been secretly proud.
"No, nope. You're acting dumb." He wiggled his fingers, clamming his mouth shut. "I'm not saying anything."
She laughed then, a little, because even though the library was mostly deserted half the time it's opened, and they're in the farthest corner existed, the rule still applied to them. "Most of them are right, ye know." She told him, once she's calmed down, flipping through a book without even really reading whatever's in it. "The rumours," she caught his eyes, her smiled strained somewhat. "I'm not exactly all sunshine and butterflies."
"No, you're not." He said it intensely, and Merida pretended not to shiver at the way he shuddered the words out ― like a holy whisper directed to her knowledge, and it's only for her. Only for her ― as he pressed his thumb on at the edge of his lips. "You're a great athlete who isn't exactly shy to say what crosses her mind, you're a sister, and someone's daughter, and your favourite colour is green. You have a treehouse which your triplet brothers built with your father when you first moved here which I think is super cool. You have friends, who adore you and annoys you and loves you. You're Merida, and you're not sunshine and butterflies, but hey― who says I'm looking for one?"
She grinned.
"Jack Frost," she said, and smiled, wide and genuine and honest. "Wooin' me. Such a sight."
"Does anyone ever tell you that you're such a tease?" He leaned in and whispered, a seductive expression graced his expression and Merida felt her breath caught in her throat― before she immediately broke the moment when she clasped her books together, unexpectedly, letting out a slightly louder sound than she intended to. He blinked.
"Don't do that," she told, closing her eyes and pursed her lips.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean―"
"No. It's―" Merida opened her eyes again, and was met with a clustered Frost, guilt covering his face and Merida knew that he didn't mean it. "I was just― it's not yer fault. Really. I'm just not good with... that."
"No, don't apologise. Please." He said, "I crossed a line there. I should've known better―"
"It was an honest mistake. Not a big deal here, Jack." She replied back, accent thick and calm, while Jack still looked at her, anxious riddling all over his tensed muscles. She tried a smile, "It's okay."
He closed his eyes, obviously in regret and dragged his face away, until Merida bravely touched his jaw, just to catch his attention. "No, this is good. At least we're honest about this. Let's talk this through. I'll tell you when ye've crossed a line, and ye'll tell me whenever I start bein' a bitch."
"No, you're not a bitch." He bit out, catching her fingers in his palm― squeezing at first, until it turned into a gentler grasp. "You're not your rumours, Merida."
"And yer not yours." She smiled, and slowly brought her hands back to her laps. "I'm glad we've established that."
"Heh," he half-grinned, meeting her eyes, blue with blue.
She stared at him, just stared for a couple of moments, until: "Ye should hang out sometimes. With us. Hiccup, Rapunzel and I."
"What?" His response came out more like a surprised whisper.
"Ay, four of us. Lunch, maybe."
"Are you sure they..."
"They won't mind." Well, Rapunzel won't. Merida shrugged her shoulders. "I'll talk to them. Only... if ye want to..."
"Of course I do," he seemed excited, thrilled, but there's fear hinted there. Like she's offering him a new species he could meet, and the news were something he had always hoped for, just never imagined to happen anytime soon. "Of course I do," he repeated, slower, his eyes dropped momentarily to the floor before he met her gaze again, this time a wide smile creeped over his lips. "Thank you."
"Yer welcome." She replied back, and her chest felt as though expanded, and her whole body felt weightless.
She blamed it on the music as Billy Joel repeated his song for the billionth time that morning.
"You want to do what?"
"It's not harmless," Merida pressed on, and stabbed her lunch with her plastic fork. "And plus, he needs a friend."
"Doesn't he have other people to entertain?" Hiccup retorted, because even though he's (kinda) cool with the fact Merida was friend with his worst enemy, he still hadn't let go of his imaginary problems over him.
"That's the problem― he doesn't." Merida held up her fork, the tips of it right at him.
"I think it's a fantastic idea." Rapunzel grinned, something like an exciting gurgle passed from the back of her throat. "Oh, it's been so long since I've talked to him. I wonder how he's doing."
"He's fine, and you can honestly see that as he skids himself everyday across the hallway to get to Elsa, that little grey-furred chipmunk." Hiccup replied, jealousy painted over his face as he stuffed himself with the yoghurt Rapunzel never really liked to eat.
"His hair isn't grey..." Rapunzel murmured.
"He's not a chipmunk." Merida dryly said.
"Of course you're defending him." Hiccup waved his spoon, still covered with a little bits of the yoghurt, at her. "You're practically dating him!"
"I'm not― just because we're hangin' out, doesn't mean we're datin'." She scowled, "I thought we've made this clear."
"That doesn't make it better." Hiccup huffed out, cheeks reddening.
"Oh come on, Hiccup." Rapunzel begged, big baby eyes fluttering and Merida almost chocked. Manipulations 101? Call Rapunzel. "It could be fun. And just imagine, if you become his friend, wouldn't it make it easier for you to have a direct access to what's really happening between Jack and Elsa? Hmm?"
Merida wanted to roll her eyes― why was the girl so selfless?
Hiccup was quiet, for a moment, but the Scot could clearly see that he was thinking very hard over this. "That's a great plan, actually..."
Merida groaned, "The lad's not a toy, ye guys―"
"You know what," Hiccup was determined. "Invite him over tomorrow. I'm willing to give this a shot."
"Yes!" Rapunzel shrieked, practically jumping in her seat.
Hiccup narrowed his eyes up to her, "You're excited."
"I'm sorry," The blonde couldn't hide her grin, "I'm sorry. It's just― friends. Doesn't the idea thrills you?"
"Yeah. Addictive." Hiccup drawled, a little blankly, and Merida watched him closely (could he be jealous―). "Like nicotine."
She spat him. "Funny."
"Abused. Friendship." He bit out, rubbing the spot where she'd hit him. "Why am I still friends with you?"
"Because ye can't live without me, ye rascal." She grinned, stealing the yoghurt. "Plus, I punched yer cousin once for you. So, ye pretty much owe me, Haddock."
"I thought I've paid it over an expensive gift on your birthday."
"Not enough." She retorted, scrunching her nose playfully up at him. "Ye could do better than that."
"Our whole friendship is a scam." Hiccup chose to cry out, feigning hurt.
"Now, now. Rapunzel here is pretty genuine." Merida gestured, playing along.
"And pretty." Hiccup mentioned casually, meeting the blonde's eyes, just quick enough before she turned away, her face drowned with the colour of red.
After a while, the blonde managed to stammer out, hope bright in her eyes: "I'm really glad I've found you guys."
"Yeah," Hiccup's lips curled into an honest smile, his whole expression warm. "Me too."
Merida managed a smile, staring at the both of them as something surged strongly through her veins, almost shocking her over. "Me too."
And she knew she meant it, every moment before when they're together, every struggle, every little fight and every little dilemma. Hiccup and Rapunzel were one of the best things to have ever happened to her, and she knew, should the strongest of force came and threatened to take them away, she'll fight.
She would.
Somewhere from across the cafeteria, blue eyes watched hesitantly, and smiled.
...
End Note: I wish there were legitimate excuses as to why this update came out later than it should, but there isn't. Besides from the fact that my life is a little hectic right now, I have a responsibility to the readers of this fiction, if, still, you're reading this. And if you are, thank you. I hope I haven't disappoint you so far.
I fear I won't be available for the next few weeks (maybe a whole month) because I have my mid-term exam coming up and it's very important for me to do well. I hope you will understand. Still though, I think I'll try to post another update soon (before the start of my exam, which is next week, 10th of May) if I'm encouraged enough, and if there's time. I'm not promising anything, though. Please do leave a review for this chapter because it will mean a lot to hear some of your thoughts on it. Thank you.
