1
Jack Frost Overland couldn't help that he was never on time for history.
"Sorry I'm late, Mr Thatch. I had practice."
Usually hockey practice was in the afternoons but the players would often have to come in early before school for strength and conditioning. Jack wasn't much of a morning person but at least it gave him an excuse to show up late to class.
"As long as you-", the teacher looked up from the textbook. He promptly sighed, "You know the rules, Overland. Hoods down."
Jack sighed dramatically and complied. Small gasps rippled throughout the room and two girls from the front of the class giggled. They complimented, "We love the new hair, Jack."
His ego stroked, Jack flashed them a smile, "Thanks, Cindy. Snow."
Jack ran his fingers through his new silver white hair and turned his attention to the teacher, "Thatch. What are we thinking?"
Amused, Mr Thatch replied, "Remarkable. Almost as white as my wife's."
"How's Kida, by the way?"
Milo Thatch was by far the most interesting teacher in the school to Jack and the only one who didn't mind his tardiness too.
"She's doing just fine. Getting back to the origins of Atlantis who can tell me-"
He stopped in his tracks, set down the book and raced to the computer, "Ah, dammit. Roll call. I always forget. Take a seat."
Jack laughed, "Just put us all in. We won't snitch."
"Ha. Ha," Mr Thatch flatly said, "Now, do we have Elsa Arendelle?"
The room fell silent. Did Jack hear that right? There was no way.
The last time he saw her walking through the halls must have been freshman year or something. Surely the school knew how to update their system. He wasn't the only one in the class to notice as Belle even stopped reading her book at the mention of the name.
Mr Thatch looked up adjusting his round glasses, "No? Okay, absent. Overland you must want me to get fired."
Jack grinned, "Never."
The classroom door opened and Jack smelt a whiff of soft perfume. Standing next to him was Elsa Arendelle, tall and slender with her platinum blonde hair in a french braid. Her flushed cheeks and nose were as pink as her lips and she had wisps of hair tickling her face, showing she must have come here in a rush.
Elsa apologised, her voice agreeable and sweet, "I'm so sorry for being late. There was traffic."
Mr Thatch replied, "No problem. Feel free to take the seat between Jack and Belle."
Elsa nodded and walked straight to her seat without taking a look in Jack's direction. Always ever aloof. Jack took his seat shortly thereafter and snuck glances at Elsa the entire lesson. She either didn't notice or was very good at pretending not to see Jack. Before Jack could decide how he was going to get her attention, the bell had rung and Elsa was out the door.
The lunch bell rang and Elsa felt relief. Finally she would be able to hide away in the school library and enjoy her lunch with a new romance novel she had been waiting to read. After a couple of years of being homeschooled, she forgot how draining it was to constantly be around people.
Her novel would have to wait because as soon as she left the classroom someone was waiting for her.
Madame Cruella De Vil.
Her new figure skating coach since coming back to school. She was an intimidating, tall woman with a gaze that you swore stared straight into your soul.
"Elsa, I request your attendance for tryouts today."
"Oh, sure. Why?"
"You are our best skater and most promising candidate for Worlds. It wouldn't be a good look for you to not show up. Remember you're not just an athlete but a brand."
Elsa tried to not roll her eyes thinking, That was a nice way of saying commodity.
Madame De Vil continued, "I'm assuming that you're up to date with the competition season and the training plan. It was in the email. I expect you to show the standard we expect from our competitive team. I hope for a promising batch this year. Last year we only had Wendy."
"I'll be there," Elsa said, hoping that was the end of it.
Madame De Vil smiled coldly, "Excellent."
As fast as De Vil had appeared, she quickly disappeared. Probably to go be ominous somewhere else. Madame De Vil was supposedly one of the best of the best but there were some rumours that Elsa couldn't shake off about her. Apparently her training hours were long and gruelling and she had a tendency of targeting students she disliked by tormenting them until they break down or getting them to quit the sport altogether. She hoped that as long as she did was what was expected and stayed in top skater form there shouldn't be any problems.
"There you are!"
Anna and Rapunzel had snapped Elsa out of her daze.
"Where are you going? The cafeteria is the other way," Anna asked pointing behind her.
Elsa replied, "The library. I'm just going to have lunch there."
Rapunzel asked, "Are you sure? We could even eat outside, it's so nice."
"Um...some other time, maybe."
Anna pouted, "What? It's our first day in high school together. Please."
Elsa smiled, "I'll see you later. I've got some things I need to get done."
Before either girl could get another word, Elsa walked off. A small pang of guilt hit her but Elsa quickly dismissed that feeling. It's for the best, she grimaced.
"Jack, what if I'm not good enough?" Pippa whined.
He shrugged, "Just stick to hockey then."
"Hey, this is serious."
"You already know how to skate. What's the big deal?"
Pippa frowned, "Yeah, but not pretty like those girls."
"Hockey is way more fun. Who cares if it looks pretty? Nothing's better than scoring."
Pippa rolled her eyes, "You just don't understand."
They reached the doors of the rink where Tatiana, or Tooth as everyone else called her, was waiting for them.
Jack smiled, "Tooth. What are you doing here?"
Tooth hugged Pippa, "I obviously had to come support little Pippa's tryouts. I'm so excited."
"Thanks! I've been practising all summer for this."
The three headed inside with Pippa quickly branching off to join other girls who were trying out. Tooth looked around and pointed, "Hey, I see Aster!"
He was hard to miss. Easily the biggest guy on the team or whatever room he's in and he has yet to stop growing. Tooth rushed over and ruffled his sandy blonde hair. Aster was sitting with Hans. Jack didn't consider him a friend but being on the same team meant they spent time together anyway.
Aster asked, "Where's Coach?"
Jack replied, "Practice got pushed back for the figure skating tryouts."
Hans scoffed, "What a waste of time. They couldn't do this after ours?"
"At least we'll get to watch Pippa. She's been so nervous I'm sure she'll do well." Tooth said.
The group looked over to where Pippa was. Madame De Vil was talking and they were all listening attentively. Jack had never seen Pippa so concentrated.
Hans looked around for something to do. On the bench next to him he noticed someone's belongings spread out. Among them a pair of ice skates and an open bag with some books spilling out.
He walked over and grabbed one smirking to himself, "Is that a secret diary or something?"
Tooth nervously laughed, "Hans, no. That's so bad."
The bag looked familiar to Jack but he couldn't pinpoint where he had seen it. Hans skimmed through the pages, occasionally stopping to read a few lines.
Aster asked, "So? Did you find anything?"
Hans waved the book above his head and threw it towards Jack, "You're good at snooping. Find something interesting."
Jack awkwardly caught the book and it promptly got snatched away. He turned to see a stone faced Elsa. If looks could kill.
She crossed her arms, her words laced with venom, "Don't touch my stuff."
"It wasn't me."
It didn't matter to her. She was furious. Didn't these people have any manners? Who just goes through someone's stuff? Elsa debated going off but that thought was quickly dissolved once Madame De Vil voice rang through the rink.
"Elsa! Come and demonstrate the first routine."
Aster and Hans burst out into laughter and Elsa's face morphed into disgust. She muttered under her breath clearly unimpressed and gathered her stuff. She stalked off pushing past Jack. This was not the impression Jack hoped to make.
Aster commented, "You should have seen your face Jack."
"She's still such a bitch. No surprise, there," Hans added.
During biology in freshman year, Hans and Elsa were partners. They bickered constantly and it seemed the dislike hadn't subsided. Hans knew what to do and say to push every single of Elsa's buttons.
Jack said, "You were going through her stuff."
"Why are you defending her? You trying to hit?"
Tooth asked, "What?"
"You're so dumb sometimes," Jack said.
Aster pointed, "Look, they're starting."
They were all on the ice in a line save for Madame De Vil and Elsa who were in the centre of the rink. Soon Elsa started doing tricks that the girls would try to copy one by one. No one made it look as easy as Elsa did. Her style of skating was the epitome of grace and fluidity. Even Hans who always had a smart comment to make was momentarily captivated by her on the ice. Madame De Vil started talking again and Elsa went around talking to every individual. Jack watched Elsa and Pippa converse. Pippa must have been still nervous, she pulled the same lost face every time she started rambling. Elsa's mouth curved into a warm smile and then adjusted Pippa's form.
This entire session Elsa's face was either neutral or in a scowl and having his sister be the reason she smiled made Jack's insides feel warm. If Pippa could do it then he must be able to as well.