Chapter 11:
I would like to start off by saying a massive thank you to fellow writer and budding technical illustrator CassadraChan who kindly designed my new cover for my story!
I fell in love with the image instantly…it's a great piece of artwork! If you would like any designs just PM CassadraChan :) she will definitely impress you with her talent! Do not forget!
Now, I would like to apologize for the late update…I couldn't as I was away from home. So here is your deserved chapter! Ps: this isn't a new chapter…had to edit it though! Chapter 12 to be posted soon!
Chapter 11:
Elsa darted out of her bed, early in the morning. She stared at herself in the mirror, with a severe bed head. Grabbing her comb she tried to coax the tangles in her platinum blonde mess to straighten out. After thirty minutes she managed to sort her hair out and coil it into a bun. She exited her house, before her uncle and sister were up, grabbed her worn out messenger bag and rode her bike to Stella's café.
When she arrived, Elsa placed her bike against the wall at the back of the café and entered from the door at the back which led into the kitchenette. Stella, famous for her homemade pastries. She inhaled the scent and grabbed a cookie from the tray. She savoured the chocolate in her mouth and Stella laughed at her barista. Today, the chocolate seemed to be bursting with flavour, more than the usual kind. Possibly because they were warm, just out of the oven, or else it was because of Jack.
She smiled as she remembered the night's previous events. She was still daydreaming that tonight was her very first date. She couldn't help grinning, whilst she served countless cappuccinos to the clients that popped in the café.
"Elsa, you seem in a good mood today." Stella said, grinning.
Elsa blushed slightly and turned to help another customer while Stella, a woman in her forties, smiled at her barista, whom she had grown to love as if she were her own daughter. She watched Elsa intently as her barista's eyes gleamed, checked her phone from time to time. However, today she was more focused, smiling at every customer that came by.
Suddenly the chimes rang again. Elsa glanced at the door, her lips gently playing a smile. Stella eyed her barista as she realised the source for Elsa's positive mood. It was Jack, he strode in towards the counter, his shock of white hair earning glances from the sitting customers. He sat down in front of Elsa and ordered a coffee. Elsa couldn't help grinning. "Why are you here exactly?" she teased.
"To make sure befriending you wasn't a dream." He smiled, his blue eyes shining through hers.
"Well now you've confirmed," Elsa said handing Jack his cappuccino. She watched as he scooped the froth off his coffee first. Elsa handed him a cookie. "Taste Jack." She winked.
Stella watched her barista from the corner of her eye, whilst pretending to be busy. She couldn't help smiling at Elsa from time to time. The girl deserved to have a smile playing on her features, which before she never had. Jack finished his coffee. "I have to go, Elsa. Um…about tonight, at seven…" Jack said, his pale face becoming redder by the minute. "Of course Jack, where are we going?" she asked.
"Not going to tell you, it's a surprise." He grinned. Elsa pouted but laughed. "Fine, you can tell me the dress code at least." Elsa suggested.
"Smart." Jack winked.
Elsa's eyes widened. She didn't know if she had anything a part from casual clothes or ball gowns back at home. She managed to save the situation by laughing. It didn't come out as a hearty laugh but she hoped Jack would just play off her behaviour as nervousness.
"Why do you have to leave so soon?" Elsa muttered under her breath. Jack's acute hearing picked it up. He smiled gingerly, his handsome features lighting up as he realised that Elsa truly did share his same feelings. "My uncle wants an explanation for my behaviour." Jack grimaced. "It won't be easy." Jack said, his handsome features clouding. "It's under control, trust me."
"I'm not convinced. Wish to share?" Elsa asked. She didn't await a reply, she glanced at the clock and noticed it was time for her break. She asked Stella politely and Stella smiled. Elsa took off her apron and left the café with Jack. Jack wondered how Elsa could read his expressions so well. He was impressed, they had known each other for a week and yet they seemed to know each other as well as old friends.
They sat down on a nearby bench and watched as the quiet city started waking up. People bustled here and there, but did not pay any attention to the two teens sitting next to each other quietly, just watching the world pass by. Elsa broke the uncomfortable silence that had settled over them. "Wish to share, Jack?" Elsa asked softly.
"No…I mean, yes of course." He sighed. "North is blaming me for the past week's sudden weather change." Jack blurted out. "He now wants an explanation of why I changed the weather…as you know, it settled down yesterday." He continued, his face flushed, not daring to glance at Elsa.
"But it's my fault, not yours. Thanks to you…I managed to stop affecting the weather, Jack." Jack said nothing. "What are you going to tell North?" Elsa asked.
"I have no clue," Jack continued, biting his lip. "I'll come up with something." Jack said, brushing it off. He stood up and was about to leave.
"Jack…I cannot let you get the blame for something you didn't do. It's my fault, I should apologize to North myself." Elsa called out. Jack turned around. "No Elsa." He said. "It's fine, I'll think of something. Don't worry Elsa."
"Jack, please. It's best if we go with the truth. He might have to know…one day." She whispered, clasping her hand into his.
"I'm not sure. I don't want him to get angry at you. It wasn't your fault…he might not understand that, you know." He said, his blue eyes gazing intently into her own.
She did something she didn't usually do. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "I want to talk to him, Jack. He might help me with my powers, don't you think?"
"I'm helping you already." Jack huffed. "Don't you trust me?" He waved angrily. "You did well yesterday didn't you?" he said, frowning before folding his arms against his chest.
"Jack please…I didn't mean it that way. Jack, all my life I've been persuaded I was useless. I grew up believing there's no hope for me. Now there's you, you are my hope Jack." She tried to persuade him. "It's just that I don't want you to carry this burden and I don't want you to suffer the consequences of something you didn't do." She said, tears gently sliding down her face. "I wouldn't bear it Jack, if we couldn't meet anymore just because you get grounded because of my cursed emotions. So please Jack, I beg you, I have to speak to him." Elsa said, breaking down in front of Jack.
Jack bit his lip and ran a hand through his hair, Elsa was so considerate, caring and compassionate. He smiled at her but she had already broke down in front of him. He took her in his arms. "Elsa please, I'm sorry. I just want to protect you." He breathed in her hair.
"It's ok Jack," she cried in his hoodie. She broke from his embrace, her eyes red and Jack reached in his pocket and gently blotted the tears that had stained her perfect features with a tissue.
"If you want to meet him, we should go now." Jack told Elsa.
She looked up to him, "It's ok Jack…I mean, I don't want to barge into your house and everything." She said, blushing furiously.
"I've got an hour of work left," Elsa began.
"I'll wait for you." Jack said, they entered the café after a lot of convincing Elsa that she looked fine. He sat down in his usual booth and tried to get some work done however he was too captivated by Elsa to think. He just sat there, pretending to be focused and instead watching Elsa intently as she rhythmically prepared countless coffees with extreme diligence. In her apron she looked beautiful, like the queen she was, Jack thought. From time to time, he caught her eyes and turned round blushing furiously. She just giggled at him and when he had enough courage to stare back at her he gave her his signature grin which accelerated her heartbeat so much she felt faint.
Stella eyed the two knowingly. She nudged Elsa, "Dear, you seem very happy today." She said smiling genuinely. Elsa smiled and blushed. "It's ok. He looks charming dear. You deserve to be happy." She said glancing at her watch. "You can leave Elsa." She patted her shoulder and winked. Elsa was about to protest however she knew she couldn't convince Stella easily.
She took off her apron and Jack noticing, stood up and decided to wait for Elsa outside. Elsa was outside in a jiffy and she grabbed her bike, Jack grabbed his own and together they rode off to Jack's house.
-Line Break-
Elsa followed Jack inside the house, she suddenly felt overwhelmed; however any nervousness soon disappeared. "Jack?" A female voice rang through the hall.
"Say hello to Tooth," Jack huffed. A vivacious woman tumbled into the doorway and hugged Jack. She peered into Jack's open mouth and nodded. "Ooh is this your girlfriend! Haven't you been busy when I was away?" Jack blushed. "Please tooth, relax she's just a friend." He said, shielding a red Elsa by his broad shoulders.
"You've got lovely teeth dear." Tooth nodded, after persuading Elsa to let her examine her teeth. "Meet the tooth fairy." Jack said, irritated by Tooth's behaviour.
"Shall I get you a drink?" Tooth asked Elsa. "Jack's a lovely boy, dear." She said, patting Elsa on the back. Jack shot daggers at his aunt and Elsa's blush deepened. He face palmed himself, regretting his decision of bringing Elsa along.
They were in the hallway when North strode down the stairs. Elsa glanced at him and swallowed. He approached Jack first. "Jack I thought I told you that today you had to give me an explanation, not bring a girl over." He said glancing at Elsa. "Are you Elsa Winters, Miss?" he questioned. Elsa nodded in response.
"Well, I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave. Jack and I have an issue to solve." He said glaring at Jack. "Come upstairs now Jack." He said turning on his heels.
"Wait," Elsa called out after summing up all her courage. "I have to speak to you sir." She whispered, her voice faltering. Jack glanced at Elsa, wondering what she was about to do next.
"Sir…about the weather…it was my fault, not Jack's." she said.
North let out a sarcastic laugh. "Jack persuaded you to come over and try and convince me not to ground him, seriously?" he said, glaring at Jack.
Elsa sighed. "Fine, if you won't let me explain, then watch." She suggested. She waved her hand and ice permeated out of her fingertips and from her heels and penetrated around the house, freezing every single door and furniture. North stood there, gaping. She formed a cloud inside the house and very soon it started snowing. North was awestruck, he glanced at Jack and back at Elsa. Tooth, Aster and Sandy had joined the trio in the hallway and were also dumbstruck with what they saw.
"I'm sorry Jack." North managed to whisper.
"It's ok." Jack nodded.
"But how did it happen?" North asked.
"It's a long story sir," she said. North invited Elsa into the sitting room and Sandy brought some coffee for the group. Elsa began narrating her story, right from the beginning. They were awestruck and Jack sat next to her all throughout. He listened carefully and often pated her, just for her to feel safe.
Once the story was over, North got up. "We have to help you control your powers." He concluded.
"Jack already is," Elsa blurted.
North looked over to Jack. "I'm proud of you my boy." He said, grinning widely. Jack sighed and turned to Elsa giving her a smile.
"With your amazing power," North said, "I was wondering whether you would like to become a guardian Elsa."
Elsa's jaw fell open, "Who me…I'm not good enough sir." She said, shaking her head.
"We will see about that." North grinned. "Jack, tell Elsa that guardian practice starts tomorrow. Manny has prepared me for the arrival of this powerful girl. She must be the one." He smiled, handed Elsa a snowflake formed broach. When she put it on it glistened brightly. "There, you are now truly an official guardian Elsa." He said smiling. "Jack is no longer alone. Welcome home." He grinned. "Now let's celebrate!"
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to leave a review! Sorry for the late update!
Cu Gemini :)