Disclaimer: This work of fan fiction uses characters from Rise of the Guardians, The Guardians of Childhood, and Frozen which are trademarked by DreamWorks Animation, William Joyce, and the Walt Disney Company respectively. The author of this story claims no ownership over them. The story the author is telling is of her own invention and it is not purported or believed to be part of the canon storyline. This story is made for entertainment purposes only. The author is not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story.
Baby tonight, have a good night
Our first text and phone call that
Was filled with awkward moments.
Our highly anticipated first date,
Why did I bite my nails? Why was I so nervous?
Coffee – BTS
Bridge – High Highs
Minute in E Minor
Elsa's Monday afternoon passed with little on her mind but the constant whirl of the physics equations she needed for her final tomorrow and the longing to take a break and play a video game. But then her quiet study session was interrupted by the warm, sweet smell of freshly baked goods wafting through her bedroom door.
She stood, stretching after sitting in her desk chair for nearly two hours and padded out of her bedroom and into the kitchen, following the heady, rich scent. The large kitchen in the apartment Elsa shared with her sister was in a state of complete disarray.
The island was covered in flour, chocolate chips, colourful sprinkles, pecans, walnuts, candy cane pieces, and a tonne of icing sugar that spilt over onto the cherry hardwood floors. In the middle of it all stood Anna, crouched on the floor in front of the oven, watching her cookies rise.
Kristoff was with her too, rinsing and shoving a mountain of dirty plates, bowls, and utensils in the dishwasher with practised calm. He sported a large, white handprint on the front of his green polo-shirt as well as a couple of swipes across his cheek and forehead. Anna was similarly decked out with a powdery handprint on the back of her navy-blue sweatshirt and a dusting of flour in her pigtail braids.
"Oh hey, Elsa," Kristoff greeted, spotting the older sister creeping cautiously into the room. "How goes the studying."
"Pretty well," Elsa replied. "Until the smell of sugar called me down to investigate."
She eyed the coffee machine in the corner of the room, deciding that another cup of caffeine would help fuel her way through another hour or two before she needed a gaming break.
"Are you done your exams, Kristoff?"
"Almost," the business student replied. "I have one more exam in finance tomorrow; then I'll be done."
"Shouldn't you be studying?" Elsa asked.
"Yeah, but she roped me into baking," Kristoff said, pointing at said girl still hunched over the oven. "And if I wasn't here, your kitchen would have exploded. Besides, I had enough time to study. I think I should be okay."
Elsa chuckled, tip-toeing her way through the mess of sprinkles and icing sugar on the floor: she really didn't want to bring a trail of sugary footprints back to her room.
"What are you two baking?"
"Everything," Anna answered without even looking up. Apparently, she got the baking bug from Marshmallow. "Wanna try some, Elsa?"
Elsa had managed to make it over to the coffee machine, choosing to brew a pod of a holiday blend that Anna must have picked up from the grocery store.
"What do you have?"
"By 'everything', Anna means sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, shortbread cookies, peppermint candy park, and brownies," Kristoff listed, pointing at the dining room table that was filled with colourful plates and containers of sweets. "She's also has gingerbread cookies in the oven – and she's still not done baking for the day."
"I'm going to a Christmas Party that my classmates are hosting," Anna explained, taking her eyes off the oven now, waddling over to the breakfast bar and sitting down. Elsa glanced down at her younger sister's feet, eyebrows raising at the fuzzy, white knee high-socks that were crusted with sprinkles. "We're doing a cookie exchange."
"I see."
Elsa took her mug of black coffee with her to the dining room table, eyeing the tray of the gooiest chocolate brownies she'd ever seen. They rivalled Marshmallow's greatest creations – and that was something. She immediately grabbed a plate and took two large squares of the decadent dessert, joining her sister at the breakfast bar.
"Also, with Mama and Papa coming to visit, I thought it would be nice to have a stash of sugar ready. You know Papa loves desserts."
"When are they coming again?" Elsa asked.
"Saturday," Anna answered.
Kristoff also decided to take a break, pouring himself a glass of milk, brewing a cup of Earl Grey tea (Anna's favourite), and bringing the entire plate of chocolate chip cookies from the dining table to the breakfast bar with him.
Elsa had already finished with her first square of brownie and was considering if a chocolate chip cookie on top of the second square would lead to the worst sugar crash she'd had in a while.
"When are your exams over again? Anna asked.
"Next Monday," Elsa answered. "I only have two more."
"Do you wanna go out for dinner on Sunday then?" Anna asked. "I know you'll be at the library all day."
"Actually," Elsa started. "I – uh – already have dinner plans."
"Oh, okay," Anna said, reaching for a cookie. "With who?"
"Jack."
Kristoff snorted, covering the already messy table with milk and cookie bits.
Anna froze with a cookie halfway off the plate. She dropped the cookie.
"Wait – what," Anna hissed. "Jack. As in. Coffee-shop Jack."
Elsa nodded. "I forgot to tell you, I – uh – saw him at the university on Sunday. And. Well. We – I guess studied together? I got him some stuff from the café and – yeah. We didn't talk much, just studied. But he texted me afterwards. Um, he wanted to study together next Sunday too – and asked me out to dinner."
Silence. Well – as silent as the kitchen could get with Kristoff hacking out half his lungs.
Then Anna explodes.
"How could you keep this from me, I'm your sister!"
"I forgot, I had an exam the next day!"
"How could you forget. You've been pining this guy for months."
"I have not been pinning him!" Elsa retorts. "And it's only been a couple of weeks – I just – I think he's cute!"
"You are going through, right?" Kristoff asked, having recovered from his bout calmly (he's always the collected one) started cleaning the table now.
"Yes," Elsa said. "I said I would – but well – it would depend on if I get all my studying done – education means more than – "
"Oh, for god's sake, Elsa," Anna said. "You could write the exam right now and get a solid A+. You already said yes, so you have to go. Oh my gosh, I have to tell Olaf and Marshmallow, they'll be ecstatic. Finally!"
Anna snatched her flour-covered phone from where it sat beside the oven. "And Marshmallow can't yell at me, 'cause I didn't interfere this time!"
"Wait. What do you mean this time?"
Poor Kristoff, who had just settled down with his glass of milk again choked and Anna nearly dropped her phone.
"I, uh – "
"She means – "
"I mean – I was planning on interfering, I would never – "
"Anna."
"Sorry, I really have to make this really important phone call," the younger sibling cried, scrambling out of the room and up the stairs. "Love you!"
Elsa blinked, watching her sister disappear with a cloud of flour behind her.
Then she turned to Kristoff.
"So," she started. "Seems as though you knew of this plan as well?"
The poor man gulped, grinning guiltily. "I – uh – beg for your forgiveness, ma'am. It was all your sister's idea!"
Elsa sighed, waiting for him to continue the unquestionably long story.
It was Friday afternoon when she saw Jack again. The café wasn't as busy as it usually was and she had decided to help Olaf and Marshmallow by picking up the extra shift to cover for their part-time staff that had gone home for the holidays. It was only Olaf who decided to stay and lend her a hand in the kitchen.
There was little left to do in the café. The counter was clean, the pastries display and cooler well-stocked and organized and all the tables were clean. Elsa didn't bring her textbooks today, using the time spent at the café as a much-needed break away from the books. But that left her bored, and with the sun's rays bright and warm against the café's high ceiling window, Elsa was beginning to yawn.
She was going to pull out her cellphone and flip through her texts when the windchime sang. She glanced up, blinking the drowsy-ness away until her heart did a flip inside her chest and all the sleepiness was swept away with a bout of adrenaline.
It was Jack accompanied by another tall, dark-haired man – Aster was his name, as Elsa recalled. She smiled, meeting them both at the cash register.
"Hello," she greeted softly.
"Hi," Jack returns, almost shyly. The white-haired man gestured for Aster to order first. The older man stared at the menu above Elsa's head then down to the display of all the things that Marshmallow had made.
"Can I get the flat white and a cranberry scone," Aster ordered.
Elsa nodded, clicking it into the machine.
"I'll take care of his order," Jack said. "I'll, um, get the ice Caffé Mocha and the toffee cookie."
Elsa grinned, wondering if the drink was Jack's official new favourite. After he paid, the pair trudged over to the corner of the café on the first floor, settling down at a white square table. Elsa had a smile on her face the entire time as she made the drinks, pouring shots of espresso and foaming milk. She picked the largest of the scones for Aster and the cookie with the biggest chunk of milk chocolate for Jack.
She placed the order on a tray and took it over to the men.
"Thanks," Aster said, as Elsa placed the drinks on their table. "Elsa, was it?"
She nodded.
"How's your hand?" he asked.
"Oh, yes, it's much better now," Elsa replied, lifting her left hand. The cut on her palm was healing nicely, fading into a thin, pink line.
"Thanks again," Elsa said, smiling at Jack. She met his eyes, and he quickly looked away with a hurried, flat upturn of his lips. She could see his cheeks turn a faint pink – like he was blushing. Her grin grew wider, and she too turned her face away before anyone could see the red blooming on her skin.
"Enjoy," she mumbled quietly, and returned to the counter, cleaning away at the table that was already clean.
A bit later, the café began to get busier, and Elsa enjoyed that, enjoying the whirling of the coffee grinder, the packing of the grounded coffee to make shots of espresso, and the concentration needed in multitasking the busy environment surrounded by the smell of coffee, chocolate, and sugar. Aster had left an hour ago but not before ordering three more drinks (one of himself, one for Jack, and one for a friend who apparently had a grudge against sugar for what it did to teeth).
Jack had stayed and like always, pulled out his laptop.
Elsa was just starting the closing duties when she saw him out of the corner of her eye.
"So, um," Jack started, "about dinner, is there a place that you'd like to go? I don't know if you want to stay close to campus or not."
"Um, I don't mind," Elsa replied. "I usually drive to school. I could drive us to the restaurant and give you a ride home – if you wanted."
Jack looked surprised, but nodded to himself, "That would be great. Okay."
"Okay," Elsa repeats. "So. Um. It's a date."
(She tried to make it casual, trying not to let her heart leap out of her chest.)
Jack's eyes widened impossibly large and a smile formed on his lips. Not the smug smirk from the first time they spoke (of course, Elsa knew his name), and not the small smile that played with his features when she rambled on (he wasn't a spy, his hair colour suited him), but a genuine grin that was all teeth.
"Yeah," he breathed.
"Elsa, can you give me a hand in the kitchen?" Olaf cried, which was followed by a resounding thump. Elsa winced, quickly stepping towards the door leading to the back.
"I'll let you go," Jack said, shrugging his messenger bag over his shoulder. "I'll – um – text you the details."
"Okay," Elsa replied, stopping in her steps and raising her hand in a small wave. "Have a good night."
"Yeah," Jack replied, shoving his hands into his pockets and shoving the door open with his body. "You too."
The cold air brushed against Elsa's skin, and goosebumps rose on her arm as a pleasant feeling settled in her chest: a contentment and excitement.
It would be her first date.
"Elsa?"
"Oh, coming, Olaf!"
[Jackson Frost]
Saturday, December 17th
Jack Frost: Dinner around 5 – 6 pm? 6:45 pm
Jack Frost: When will you be on campus? 6:47 pm
Elsa: Sounds good. 7:12 pm
Elsa: Maybe 1? 7:12 pm
Jack Frost: Okay. I'll see you then. 7:15 pm
(Elsa found herself running to Anna's bedroom, tossing her sister the phone, and collapsing onto the bed in glee.)
Then, when Sunday morning came about, Anna bounded into Elsa's room, pulling open her closet and shuffling through her clothes. Elsa, who slept in after being unable to fall asleep last night and decided to stay up late binge-watching an entire season of some British TV show with some of Anna's baking, sat up groggily.
"What are you doing?" Elsa mumbled. "Are you borrowing my clothes again?"
"No," Anna said. "I'm choosing your outfit for your date today."
Elsa blinked, suddenly awake. She had forgotten about her plans in her half-asleep daze.
(As one does, when awoken from sugar-induced dreams.)
She clumsily rolled out of bed, shambling out of the bedroom and into the bathroom to wash up while Anna played around in her closet.
"What do you say to wearing a skirt?" Anna yelled.
Elsa walked back into her bedroom, toothbrush in hand. "Anna, it's negative 30˚C outside. I am going to spending most of the day at the university studying; I want to be comfortable."
"Fine," Anna huffed. "What would you wanna wear?"
Elsa shuffled through her closet, pulling out a pair of skinny black jeans and an oversized turtleneck sweater in ivory cream.
"Ooh," Anna said with a nod of approval. "Those jeans make your legs go on for miles, and the sweater looks great on you."
The strawberry-blonde returned to the closet, pulling out a light grey wool trench coat and tossing it onto the bed along with the rest of the outfit. Elsa nodded approvingly, returning to the bathroom to finish her morning regiment.
"Wear your hair down," Anna suggested, following her sister to the bathroom.
"No," Elsa said, words garbled around her toothbrush. "The wool is going to make my hair static-y."
Anna grumbled to herself, waddling back to Elsa's bedroom.
"How about a bit of jewellery, these earrings are super pretty!" Anna called, "And maybe some make-up?"
Elsa sighed this is going to be a long morning.
The eldest sister managed to leave the house about an hour later after Anna had roped her into dusting her eyelids with a soft mulberry purple, applying mascara, and putting on a pair of silver dangling snowflake earrings. The younger sister also made Elsa take a bag full of the cookies to share with Jack and his sister.
When Elsa finally reached the campus, it was almost 1:30 pm. As she made her way to the engineering lounge, she wondered if Jack would still be there.
(What if he thought she stood him up. What if this was all another sugar-induced dream?)
But when she rounded the corner, the familiar table appearing before her eyes, so did the head of white hair. He was leaning over, nose in book, twirling a blue highlighter between long pale fingers, and clutching tussled bleached locks in one hand with brows furrowed in frustration.
He was dressed in his usual colours: dark washed jeans and a pale blue sweater.
(Looking gorgeously handsome as ever.)
Jack glanced up when he saw her, that disarming smile appearing again.
"Hi," she whispered.
"Hi," he replied. "I, uh, I was wondering when you were coming."
"I'd be here a lot earlier," Elsa explained, dropping bag in the chair opposite to Jack's. "But my sister insisted that I stay so she can pack some sweets – she's been baking."
Elsa opened her bag, taking out the multiple paper bags and clear plastic bags tied off with colourful ribbons, handing them to Jack.
"They're for you and your sister – and Aster," Elsa said.
"Thank you," Jack said, looking a bit taken aback. "Um, thank your sister for me as well."
"I will."
Elsa sat down, pulling out her laptop and textbook to continue her last-minute cramming.
"So, um, what are you studying for?" he asked.
"History of landscape architecture," Elsa replied, "my final is tomorrow."
Jack paused. "I hope I am not taking away from your time studying for dinner – "
"No, it's fine."
"We can always do it another day – "
"No," Elsa said suddenly. "No, I – I was looking forward to it."
She looked away, blushing.
"Me too," Jack replied quietly.
Then they both fell into silence staring at their books and computers.
(She stole occasional glances at him now and then, smitten by the way his lips fall into a pout when something on the pages frustrates him and berating herself for even considering: 'what would his lips taste –')
A couple of hours later, Elsa's morning coffee was starting to wear off as her eyes began to droop and she could no longer focus on the small words on her screen. Jack had disappeared a little while ago asking her to watch his stuff (as if she wouldn't). She wanted to head down to the café and make something sweet, but she had to wait until Jack returned.
So, Elsa put her head down, closing her eyes for just a moment.
She must have dozed off, feeling comfortable in the hazy swirl of the smell of coffee close by, the darkness behind her eyelids, and the consistent scratching of pencil against paper close to her ear.
Wait – what.
Elsa shot up, the light in the room blinding her for just a moment before her vision cleared. Jack sat in front of her, pencil in hand and teeth pressed against his lower lip as if he was trying not to smile.
She had dozed off. In front of him. Were there marks on her face from laying on her keyboard? Did she twitch in her sleep – mumble something incriminating? No – wait. Did she –
"Was I drooling," Elsa asked, wiping away whatever could be on the corner of her lips hastily.
"No. But you were snoring."
"Oh my gosh," Elsa whispered, cheeks flushing brilliant pink.
"I'm just kidding," Jack said. Now the smile impossible to hide.
(She now wonders why anyone could think that this boy was mysterious and aloof.)
"I also got you coffee," he continued, pointing at two paper cups sitting between them. "You had a Caffé Mocha last time, but the coffee shop downstairs didn't have it, so I got you a peppermint mocha."
She smiled. "Thank you."
When 6 o'clock rolls along, Jack slams his books shut, shaking his head with the quiet remark that he cannot read another word.
Elsa nodded in agreement, stretching her arms over her head. They pack up their stuff, Jack finishing first and hovering beside Elsa with his hands stuffed in his pockets of his down jacket.
"I parked my car in the underground parkade by the science department," Elsa said.
Jack nodded, following Elsa as they left the Engineering Lounge.
The sun had set beyond the horizon when they left the building, painting the sky a soft hazy blue-black. Their breaths fogged in the cold, night air, footsteps crunching snow underneath them.
Elsa's car was a small, navy-blue sedan – a gift from her parents on her 21st birthday. She quickly unlocked the doors with the remote in her jacket pocket.
"You can toss your stuff into the back if you want," she said, opening the driver's door and sliding inside. She quickly started the engine, blasting the header and placing her bag in the back seat. Jack joined her a couple of minutes later, having put his bag neatly on the floor of the car behind the passenger seat.
He pulled the car door shut and put his seatbelt on, brushing his wind-blown hair down with one hand.
"So, where are we going?"
"There is a place that serves nice Mediterranean inspired food – tapas and stuff. And there is a good ice cream shop that opens late next to it. We can go grab something afterwards – if you have time – if the sweets that your sister makes haven't rotted your teeth yet."
"I'd love some ice cream," Elsa said. "I can never get enough sugar."
She pulled out of the parking lot, following Jack's short directions to the restaurant, it wasn't too far away from the university, and parking wasn't too hard to find. But she found herself distracted on the road, wheel clutched tightly in both hands as she tried to keep her focus on the roads.
She never noticed before, perhaps because the café was where they always met had the overpowering scent of coffee and chocolate, or perhaps because she never was in such close-proximity to the man: Jack wore cologne.
Something woody, like pine and warm like incense. It was not overpoweringly strong, it didn't assault her senses but rather lingered in the air like a quiet afterthought.
"It's just on the right over there," Jack said, pointing at a large sign flashing the word 'Barcelona'.
She pulled in, and after parking and turning off the engine, opened the door with Jack in tow.
The restaurant was brightly lit with incandescent lights; simple oak wood tables lined the first floor and second floor, a bar sat in the corner where a bartender laughed brightly while mixing a drink for a customer. The place wasn't packed, but it wasn't empty either, just small groups of friends or couples enjoying their Sunday together on a cold evening.
"Table for two?" the host asked, seeing Jack and Elsa enter.
Jack nodded as the host led them to their table and handed them a menu.
"What do you recommend?" Elsa asked, scanning through the long list of tapas ranging from fries, to wings, to ribs and veal, and cheese.
"Hm," Jack murmured. His brows furrowed then he glanced up.
(Lips pouting – and again – Elsa must drive the insistent thought out.)
"You don't have an aversion to any foods, right? No food allergies?" Jack asked.
"No," Elsa replied, shaking her head. "I'm not good with spicy food though."
"Me neither," Jack replied. "But, I have been told that I'm a bit of a picky eater."
They ordered some drinks (a hand-crafted soda for Elsa and a glass of wine for Jack) and a couple of tapas (calamari, truffle frites, and some sort of deep-fried cheese), falling into an uncomfortable silence as the fact that that this was a 'first date' settled in.
"Favourite colour?" Jack asked suddenly.
"Uh, white," she answered.
"Mine's blue," he replied.
"Siblings?"
"Just my sister, Anna."
"Me too, her name is Emma."
Slowly, they fell into an easy conversation, nursing their drinks over the food as they continued to fire questions back and forth.
"Played any sports?"
"I figure skated when I was younger," Jack said. "Went to some competitions too, but then I had a bad landing – broke my ankle. I never really felt the same on the ice again."
Jack covering the bill for dinner, but not after an argument with Elsa which ended up with him agreeing to let her buy their ice cream later.
Then she drove him home, finding out that he lived in a quiet residential neighbourhood.
And before her courage deserted her, Elsa leaned in to kiss him on the check.
(Despite the distraction that his lips posed.)
The redness rose to his face again, perhaps aided by the alcohol that he had at dinner. He shuffled awkwardly out of the car, almost forgetting to grab his bag before turning around and asking her to text him to let him know that she's home.
[Jack Frost]
Sunday, December 18th
Elsa: I just got home. 7:53 pm
Jack Frost: Good. 7:57 pm
Jack Frost: Thanks for the ride home again. 7:57 pm
Elsa: Np. I had a good time. 8:00 pm
Jack Frost: I did too. 8:07 pm
Elsa: Favourite season? 8:15 pm
Jack Frost: Winter, you? 8:17 pm
Elsa: Same. 8:18 pm
Jack Frost: Night owl or morning person? 8:20 pm
Elsa: Night owl. 8:21 pm
Elsa: I am death in the morning. 8:21 pm
Elsa: What about you? 8:21 pm
Jack Frost: Neither. Sleep doesn't come easy and leaves far too quickly. I'll sleep when I'm dead. 8:23 pm
Jack Frost: Too much? This is why I don't have many friends. I say weird things, too socially awkward. 8:30 pm
Elsa: No, I found it kinda poetic. 8:32 pm
Elsa: In an oddly cynical way. 8:33 pm
Jack Frost: Secret obsession with gothic romance literature, remember? 8:39 pm
Elsa: never thought that you'd be interested in that 8:40 pm
Jack Frost: I never thought you'd be a gamer. Seriously, you've played most of the AAA games that came out this year. 8:42 pm
Elsa: I'm full of surprises 8:50 pm
Jack Frost: can't wait to be surprised 9:01 pm
[Sis]
Sunday, December 18th
Sis: just got out of restaurant. Mama and papa wanna go see the venue for the gala before heading home. 8:45pm
Sis: how was date!? 8:46pm
Elsa: we went to a Mediterranean tapas place and then had ice cream after. It went well. 9:01 pm
Elsa: He's adorable 9:02 pm
Elsa: asked me out to a second date already 9:03 pm
Sis: HELL. YES. 9:05 pm
Sis: I told you from the very beginning that you'll get him 9:06 pm
Sis: actually. I told mama and papa, they think you should invite him to the gala. 9:06 pm
Elsa: What? 9:07 pm
Sis: come on, what do we even do at the gala but sit, do some small talk and and hijack the dessert section anyway. 9:08 pm
Sis: I'm inviting Kristoff, you should have a date too. 9:08 pm
Sis: I'll think about it. 9:15 pm
[Jack Frost]
Monday, December 19th
Elsa: how did your exam go? 3:56 pm
Jack Frost: just finished 4:32 pm
Jack Frost: it wouldn't stop 4:32 pm
Jack Frost: just end me now 4:33 pm
Elsa: you're a lot more dramatic that I thought 4:43 pm
Jack Frost: and you're not very sympathetic 4:47 pm
Jack Frost: I'm at the university still, do you want to go grab an early dinner with me? 4:47 pm
Elsa: sorry, my parents are here, promised to go out with them 4:50 pm
Elsa: you're done exams right, lets go for brunch tomorrow 4:50 pm
Jack Frost: okay 4:54 pm
Elsa: I'll come pick you up at 10:30am? 4:57 pm
Jack Frost: can't wait 5:00 pm
[Jack]
Tuesday, December 20th
Elsa: hey, so, there is this Christmas gala that my parents do, I was wondering if you wanted to come, as my date? 3:05 pm
Jack: I'd love to. 3:05 pm
Beta-Read by AurelianRebels
Author's Note: Elsa would totally be a gamer. She'll totally be found on the console in their living room spending an afternoon playing a video game. Oh, heck yeah. She's in the middle of playing Final Fantasy XV in this universe. Also, the TV show that Elsa's binging is Sherlock (courtesy of AurelianRebels). Jack is totally a literature nerd; he loves the old classics like Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Jane Austen, and the Bronte Sisters.
I hope that you have enjoyed this chapter, I tried out a different style of writing, adding asides in brackets to change up the styling. Also, texting was also a lot more important and thought out in this chapter than it was in the other chapters.
Also, Kristoff is so whipped for Anna.
WE ARE APPROACHING THE END OF MINUET HERE GUYS. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THE DAY! ONLY TWO MORE PARTS LEFT. HERE WE GO!
Until next time,
Cordially,
EireneHarmonia