Chapter 21. Feelings.

It was strange, really. What had happened? Elsa thought as she eyed Jack for the fifth time the past half an hour.

She and him were currently inside. She was doing paper work, while he was drawing in his own frost on the window-pane.

He was so focused, didn't glance once at her. Not like he had done the past week. His change of emotions were weird. He went from happy to serious, from sad to flirtatious.

Flirtatious.

Elsa couldn't remember once where Jack had ever flirted at her. Not before this very week, at least. What had happened? she thought again.

She shook her head and turned her attention back to the small pile of papers on her desk. As she did so, she didn't notice her best friend's eyes looking over at her. A small smile formed on his lips as he let out a quiet sigh. His eyes held an unreadable look. It was strange, really.

Elsa huffed and blew a strand of hair out of her face. She knew when all this had started.

The first day of snow.

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(A week earlier.)

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''SNOWDAAAAAAY!'' Jack yelled as he flew over Arendelle and spread his fantastic and magical snow, according to him. Laughter could be heard from every corner of the kingdom, as children ran about, trying to spot the spirit of winter.

Elsa opened the window of her sleeping chambers looking outside with a tired look on her face. It was only eight o'clock in the morning. She sighed a happy sigh as she spotted her friend flying around in the air, fractures of snow following him. He was laughing. She always loved his laugh. His laugh kind of always reassured her, calmed her. She laughed with him. He couldn't hear her, of course, but she was, she was laughing.

The young queen looked down at the town square, where some children ran, some played in the snow, some played with Olaf and Sven. Yeah, as soon as the first snowflake fell—Olaf and Sven was the first one's out.

How she knew that?

She heard the complaints from the workers of Arendelle. Yelling that if the snowman and the reindeer continued barging the doors open the way they always did—the doors would fall off.

She shook her head and returned inside, leaving her window open. She found her dress hanging on a hanger on the outside of her closet. She grabbed it and spotted her shoes next to her room divider. As she walked over to grab them she felt a gust of wind coming from behind her, followed by a chuckle.

'''Morning, Snowflake,'' Jack greeted.

Elsa picked her shoes up and turned around to face him, a smile on her face. ''Good morning, Jack.''

She walked over to her dresser. ''You're in a good mood today,'' she noted.

''Yeah, I am. I always am when I make it snow. I dunno, I just feel free,'' Jack explained.

''Yeah, I know the feeling. It's great, being free, I mean.''

Jack spun the end of his staff in the carpet as he looked down at his feet sheepishly. He cleared his throat, ''Soooooo...''

''Soooooo, what?'' Elsa asked. She already knew the question.

''When're you gonna turn that dress blue?'' Jack asked, looking slightly up at her, pointing weakly at the dress in her arms.

Elsa stifled a giggle as glanced down at her dress before she looking at him adoringly. ''Um, I don't know, Jack. I was thinking about right now.''

Jack's head popped up to it's usual place as his eyes lit up with excitement.

He looked adorable.

Elsa blushed at the thought. She cleared her throat, I, uhm, just need to put the dress on and everything first. I'll—I'll be right back!'' She said as she darted into the bathroom.

She heard Jack chuckle from the outside, followed by an ''Okaaay...''

She didn't like his tone. What was happening to her? Jack was her friend. Her best friend, in fact (after Anna, of course). She shook her head as she placed her shoes on the floor and started to change out of her white nightgown.

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Jack sat on the dresser, playing with his staff when she walked out of the bathroom. The redness from her cheeks gone. Yes, he had noticed.

He watched as she walked over to her closet and hung her nightgown on a hanger inside. She turned around after she had closed the closet door again and smiled nervously at him. She gave him a quick nod, which he smiled at as he eyed her closely, ready to see what his Snowflake was capable of.

Elsa brought her hand over the bodice of her dress and out in a half circle around her body. The dress turned back to it's original, icy-blue self with a swoosh. The capelet lost it's pink flowers as the transparent cloth got it's frosty snowflakey-pattern back, it blew slightly behind her. The shoes turned from green to blue and the pink snowflakes in the queen's french braid turned to the same icy-blue as her looked down at herself, spinning around as she eyed her work. Nice. She brushed imaginary dust off of her skirt as she sheepishly stole a quick glance at Jack, who still sat on the dresser.

Well, she meant it to just be a quick glance, but she found herself staring back at him. His mouth was practically on the floor as he looked at the beautiful icy-dress.

''What?!'' Elsa asked, breaking the silence.

Jack was completely frozen, she noted. As she was about to open her mouth again to ask him what was wrong, his eyes shot up to her face.

''Wow,'' he breathed after a good five seconds.

Elsa looked at him in confusion as she took half-a-step closer to him, slowly. ''What?''

Jack blushed as he sucked a breath in, avoiding her gaze.

''Jack, what's wrong?''

It took a moment before he answered her. ''N-nothing's wrong, Snowflake.''

Elsa walked closer to him, her arms crossed over her chest. ''Then, what is it?'' she asked carefully.

''It's, um, just that...'' he trailed off.

Elsa looked up at him in question. He took a deep breath before meeting her gaze once more. ''You're amazing, Elsa.''

Elsa leaned a little back, his words sinking in. Amazing? And he looked so serious when he said it. Had he meant it. Really? She bit her lip nervously looking down at her hands as she slid her palms along her elbows and clasped them together in front of her skirt. She glanced at him quickly as she said her next sentence: ''Thank you.''

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(Present.)

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And that had been it. The start of Jack's weird change of emotions. He had become more serious.

That day, that very day. She hadn't been able to hang out with him. He had been understandable, of course. He, too, had a busy day in front of him. The first day of snow, a snow day. The kids needed him.

As for herself, as it was the first day of actual winter in Arendelle, she had a meeting with the council. Needed to talk over the plans for this winter. Christmas, and what-not.

Elsa didn't think that something bad would happen at that council meeting. She had always known that some of the men in her council were sexists, but she never knew that they all would stoop so low as they did. But she had always known that at some point in her life she would have to get married. Just not so early and not through the way the council men had decided on.

Through suitors...

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(A week earlier.)

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Elsa walked down the hallway, ready to face whatever her council members were ready to talk about. Discuss new trading-partners? Argue more about her cutting trade with Weselton. What they should do to prepare for the winter? Any plans for christmas? She didn't truly know. The meetings were always kind of random, but they went fine—they did.

She had built a better relationship with the council after the whole incident that July at her coronation. They had apologized for teaming up with prince Hans—against her. And they had forgiven her for freezing the whole kingdom. Yet she knew. She knew that they could never have a good relationship. But they could have a formal one, where they respected each other.

The guards opened the doors for her, and she quickly thanked them as she walked inside the large room. The men inside the room turned towards the door, grunted and stood up from their chairs as the spokesman announced her. ''Queen Elsa, OF ARENDELLE.''

Elsa walked over to her seat at the head of the long table, on the other side of the room. The guards closed the door as the spokesman walked outside, giving the royal council privacy.

Elsa moved her chair back as she stood before it's seat. She forced a smile, ''Good day, gentlemen. You may be seated.''

The men didn't need to be told twice. They happily sat down at the beginning of the word 'you'

Elsa groaned inwardly as she sat down, as well. She looked at each of the men's faces as she slightly gulped. She always forgot how terrifying it was to have these meetings. She wasn't very good at reading people, so—

Don't worry, you've got this! she cut herself off.

''As you might have noticed; today is the first day of snow in Arendelle,'' the queen began. The men nodded, so she decided to continue. ''I know that there will be needed a new schedule for what ever we are going to offer our trade-partners this winter. But I think that if we follow the schedule my father—''

She was cut of by one of the men clearing his throat. ''—ahem!''

The queen eyed him closely. The man opened his mouth again. ''My queen, if I may?''

Elsa gave him a nod. What was going on now?

''I know that since it's winter it is important that we, as you said, find a new schedule of trading, but that has already been taken care of.''

WHAT?

Another man opened his throat. ''Yeah, the schedule is always planned out at the beginning of a new year, around February to March.''

WHAT?

''We, actually called you in for a meeting to discuss suitors,'' the council man from before said.

WHAT?

''S-suitors?'' she choked, trying to control her anger.

''My queen, let me phrase it for you—''

As the man started the sentence, Elsa noticed a striking color of blue, brown and white outside the window behind the man. Jack Frost.

Elsa didn't know how Jack knew, but he was always there when she was feeling uneasy. How did he know, actually?

The spirit of winter looked at her from the outside of the window. His gaze unreadable. He looked over at the window and sent a strong gust of wind towards it, knocking it open. He flew inside, the council men unable to see him. Those fools didn't believe in anything.

The others in the room, the men turned around towards the window in shock.

''MAID!'' One of them shouted. Bjørnar. Bjørnar Johannsen. An arrogant son of a bi-

One of the maids quickly walked inside. ''What can I help with, sir?'' she asked.

''Would you be so kindly and close that window?'' he asked.

The maid nodded and quickly closed to window. She faced the man again. ''Something else?''

''No, that would be all, thank you. You may go,'' he said.

And the maid did.

''Needing a maid to close a window? What a lazy prick,'' Jack said as he walked closer to Elsa.

''Now, as I was saying,'' started the council man that were going to tell her about her suitors, once more. He was one of the oldest ones in the council. Grey hair, a big nose with a weirdly shaped mustache under, a wrinkled face, not very tall, either. His name was Halvor. Havlor Hagen. He had been known as her father's right hand. Her father had trusted him to take care of her when she was to become queen. Well, it mostly seemed that he was against everything she did, but, well...

''You're young queen Elsa,'' the man said slowly.

Excuse me?

''And very beautiful,'' he continued.

''Yes, yes—gorgeous,'' another council man said.

''Extremely stunning,'' said another one.

Beautiful? Gorgeous? STUNNING? Was that it? Was that the reason? The worst reason she has ever heard of, that was for sure.

Halvor cleared his throat. ''And it would be best for the kingdom to have a king. An-older leader, '' he spoke cautiously.

''A king?'' Elsa questioned.

The man looked at her a little uneasy. Clearly, he didn't want her to freeze him. Coward.

''They are all ridiculous,'' Jack called from next to her.

Elsa had almost forgotten that he was there.

''Yes,'' Halvor choked.

''And why is that?''

Another man opened his mouth. Sivert was his name. ''Well, it may calm the people a little. Reassure them that they are in good hands?''

What is wrong with these men, seriously?

''Well, according to what I already know, the people already think that they are in good hands. And they are. I am taking my duties very serious. Arendelle is my first priority,'' Elsa said.

''We know that, your majesty. But we're thinking for the future. If you were to get married now and to form an heir to the throne, well, the kingdom would not only be, well, in better hands—''

Are you kidding me?

''—but also have their heir—their future. We will all be able to breathe out and take it easy, knowing that all the drama would be over?''

''Drama?'' Elsa sneered. This was enough.

The council men were all quiet, all listening to her.

''That's right, Elsa. Show those chauvinistic pigs who's in charge here!'' Jack cheered.

''From what I've understood so far is that you mean that I need to get married because I am young and beautiful,'' Elsa scoffed, ''And that I need to see suitors because I need to reassure the kingdom's future from DRAMA?''

She almost spat in their faces. She was angry, how dare they? Her father had promised her long ago that she was to choose who she would want to marry, herself. Her choice. Out of love. Not because it was her duty.

''But queen Elsa, you're a woman! It is your duty—''

''Woman?'' Elsa roared. ''Is that supposed to offend me?!''

The council men gulped.

Jack froze as he watched. He had never seen Elsa so serious and so angry before. She had only been sweet and teasingly around him. Never serious and angry. Somehow, Jack felt a strange feeling as he looked at the snow queen he had watched grow up. He had just never realized that—

''I would return the slap if I took you for a man!'' she ended.

Jack grasped his chest, where his heart was beating rapidly underneath. He felt it skip a beat. His cheeks reddened.

—she wasn't so little anymore.

He watched as her mouth formed words. He couldn't hear them. All he heard was his heart, beating underneath his palm.

He followed her as she stomped out of the room, down the hallways and into her room. She stopped in front of the window as her shoulders tensed. Jack watched her from the door as she began to shake. If it was fear or anger, he didn't know. He eyed her closely, and let go of his staff when he heard her sobs. He walked straight towards her, grabbed her shoulders—turning her around. She had tears streaming down her face, her lip trembling. She looked at him in shock as she cried. He grabbed the back of her head with a palm and buried her face in his chest. He moved his other hand to her back and stroke it up and down, trying to calm her down. He leaned his chin on the top of her head as he felt her grab onto the cloth of his hoodie on his back, she clung to him, like usual, her sobs slightly muffled.

''I'm scared,'' she sobbed. He heard the difficulty of her forming words. It was always like that when you cried hard, the words came out in sharp sobs, almost like you couldn't breathe.

''And I'm here,'' he sighed, starting to brush her hair under his palm, as well.

They stood there for a while, hugging. Elsa cried as Jack tried to find out what this new feeling he was feeling for the girl he had known since she was three years old was.

.

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(Present.)

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Elsa looked up from her papers. Jack stared at her with his hood over his head. When he noticed her gaze looking back at him he blushed and grabbed the strings of his hoodie with both hands and dragged them so the hoodie closed and shielded his face. He then turned around, embarrassed.

Elsa, too, blushed and looked back down at her papers. She was done with them, actually, but decided to wait for a while to say anything to her flustered friend.

She felt like the two of them had grown both closer and more distant the past week. There was these feelings she couldn't figure out, and she knew that he felt the same way, too. Confused. Happy. Emotional. Just—combined.

What were these feelings?

Okay, I know, I know. It's been over two months.

I know I promised at least one chapter a month. But I've been busy.

It was christmas and I spent time with my family, so I didn't really have time to write.

Then, when school started again in January, I had a lot of tests and stuff. Plus, it was one of my best friends birthdays at the end of the month, so I had spent a lot of time making a video for her. (Which I am very proud of, btw cx)

But now, today, February third, I had time to write a chapter.

I decided to kind of let Elsa ''retell'' what had happened on the first day of snow in Arendelle, to kind of move the story forward.

Basically she had been noticing Jack's emotions changing more than usual. That he seemed to be troubled inside. She, too, was kind of troubled herself. So, now both of them are trying to figure out some feelings they've gotten over the past month or so.

Jack has noticed, really noticed that Elsa isn't the young kid he used to tutor, to visit, cared for, anymore. She is a grown up woman. And he feel himself getting attracted to that. So, he has started getting more flustered, looking more at her (checking her out) and flirting at her. (I haven't written that part, but in future chapters we'll see Jack flirting at Elsa. Elsa's response to his remarks will be a secret for now.)

Soon, the Jelsa fluff will happen. For now, we'll just have this hugging and being there for each other-part. Cuddling, definitely cuddling in the future! 3

I don't know when they'll lock lips, but I know that it won't be long until they do. Maybe chapter 25 or 30, 'dunno yet.

But after they have confessed and stuff, the real story will begin. I just kind of have presented it, yeah...

But I have lots of ideas. But for now things might go a little slow. I don't know how I'll do it, but I want some time for Elsa and Jack to realize that they are meant to be.

But for now, we'll have them as they are. Flustered and confused. (Secretly crushing on each other.)

''I'm scared.''

''And I'm here.''

As usual, I haven't read through this because I'm a lazy potato and, well, don't want to. But if there's some grammar mistakes please ignore them, I will show up in the future to fix them up! c;

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :D

REVIEWS ARE FULLY APPRECIATED!

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~TAS