Hey! It has been ages since I've written the first chapter... So no one probably remembers this story. Still, here you have the second chapter. Please enjoy.
"Hey." Her voice is oddly soft, she doesn't sound angry, not even a little bit and it makes Elsa frown.
"Hey, Astrid." Elsa greets her back, she puts her key to the table calmly. It was still too early but it seemed like the blonde-haired girl was waiting for her.
"Webothneed to find a new job, but let's have a break for a week, shall we?" Astrid suggests in a relaxed tone, she puts her hands on her hips, slightly tilts her head and focuses her gaze on Elsa so carefully as if she is trying to solve a case.
Elsa breathes out and nods. She really has the best friend of the entire world, Astrid doesn't push her to talk, she always soothes her and also helps her, even though she is really curious. She doesn't ask why Elsa has resigned from that awful job.
Elsa starts to taking her coat off and decides that she should have a shower. She can still smell hisscent, the peppermint scent that somehow calms her... She has to get rid of that scent before she gets used to it.
"You know that you can tell me everything, right?" Astrid blurts out abruptly, she always reminds Elsa that she is not alone. She is grabbing her books and tidying her desk.
The platinum blonde nods once again and smiles, shows how much she loves her friend by that tiny little beautiful smile. "I know."
She cleans the counter gently and timidly as if she is cleaning a baby. Her movement is hesitant but delicate, she does her best to make the counter shin, she wants to see her reflection when she looks the counter.
A woman's hand touches her pale hand, caresses it with a friendly manner. She doesn't startle, she knows to whom the hand belongs to. Elsa raises her head in unhurriedly, rests her gaze on her best friend.
"Are you okay?" Astrid asks without trying to hide her apprehension, she is raising her eyebrows.
"Yeah... Just tired." Elsa replies and sighs. Her hand stays still when Astrid pulls her hand back.
She is really tired, she is not lying. It was one am in the night, she has morning class tomorrow... Oh, the things she is doing for money.
"I can take care of your shift if you want to go home. There is only one and a half an hour left anyway." Astrid suggests, is being the best of the best friend in the world, as always.
Elsa shakes her head off. She silently fiddles with the swab. "No... It is fine. Thank you." she offers a warm, but a sad smile to her friend.
The blonde-haired waitress doesn't say anything, just purses her lips apologetically, she probably feels bad about not being helpful to her. But to Elsa, just the presence of Astrid is enough. She always somehow makes her feel better.
Astrid leaves the counter after, they both return to their work, are determined to not to get scolded from their new boss. The two of them were jobless for a couple of days, but luckily they found a job at a cafe, which is open for 7/24.
Clink.
Elsa moves her head to her front to greet the new customer... He has snow-white silvery hair, captivating and steady blue eyes, sharp features that someone will never dare to forget.
The platinum manages to not to drop the cup of coffee, she immediately lends a customer's order. Her gaze locks on the counter as she begins to wipe the counter again.
He stands in front of her, she can feel his breath tingling her nose, she knows he is staring at her.
"How can I help you, sir?" she asks kindly, eyes are still on the counter, she just refuses to see the handsome, extremely desirable man.
"We have to talk." the man, once, her favorite customer, retorts with a soft voice.
Elsa eventually raises her head and stares at the man. His features are nervous, his blue eyes are gentle, yet serious at the same time. He seems... desperate. So desperate to talk with her.
"My shift ends in one and a half hour." the platinum blonde retorts while she is wiping a glass, her gaze is focused on it instead of him.
He quietly sits down on the bar chair which is in front of her. "One cappuccino, please." he orders kindly.
It is so weird that he orders something instead of alcohol. She readies the cappuccino and gives it to the man while she is looking at his beautiful eyes, and he is glancing at her back. "It is on the house." Elsa let outs a shysmile and pushes her hair back.
The man smiles her back... His smile isn't forced, fake or bitter. It is tiny, hesitant, but so soft and beautiful. It is the first time that his smile isn't fake.
Elsa knows she is in deep trouble when she feels the warm tingle in her heart, which gives shiver down her spine.
The platinum blonde wraps herself up around her coat tighter, her body was shivering a little because of the cold. At least, her teeth aren't chattering.
"I assume Eugene told me that I work here?" Elsa questions him with a kind tone, her eyes gently focus on the attractive man.
The man... Jacklets out an apologetic smile as he closes his eyelids. He looks so peaceful while the wind slowly hits his face, swallows his handsome features. Elsa has goosebumps when he opens his eyes. Eventually, he answers her question with a calm nod.
She really should talk with Eugene about the earlier incident... Elsa exhales, it sounds shaky and troubled. She says nothing while they are staring at each other attentively. She doesn't desire to speak, she is afraid of dispelling the atmosphere. Looking at him is magical, she just wants stays like this.
"Thank you... For taking care of me." Jack blurts out, his voice is barely heard.
"There is no need to thank me."
The young man frowns. "Of course there is. I was seriously drunk that night and you took care of me, didn't take advantage of me." he justifications, he seems dumbfounded with that cute frown of his.
Elsa lets out a light snort, simply shakes her head in disagreement. Jack raises his eyebrow in confusion, but then he relaxes and just shrugs in response.
"You... You were too kind and considerate. And you kinda lost your job because of me. I want to pay back to you somehow..." he proposes with a polite tone.
Suddenly, Elsa's blood runs cold. She feels swallowing reflexively, she can't help but begin to shudder, definitely not because of the cold. "You don't understand, do you? I didn't give you alcohol in order to save you... I did it for myself. Every time I gave you a drink, I felt as if you were dying and I was the one who was killing you. I felt like a murderer. I just wanted to get rid of that awful feeling."
Jack knits his beautiful once again. His confused face is so adorable and charming. Elsa feels terrible for her sudden outbreak, she doesn't want to offend him, or worse, to hurt him. However, she has to be honest. "I am not an angel who wants to save you, Mr. I am a human. And like any other human, I am selfish... I have enough problems in my life, I don't want to deal with yours. You owe me nothing." Elsa continues with a tired tone, her words are harsh but the plain, painful truth.
She has to say it before everything gets too complicated. She can't allow that, she doesn't want to ruin her have-already-been-messed-up life. She shouldn't get used to the sight of this young man, even though she desperately craves for it.
Once her bitterness vanishes, the platinum blonde realizes that she has been shivering due to the cold. Her teeth are chattering, she is hugging herself in order to warm up herself a little. Her lips are probably a bit purplish... How embarrassing.
The handsome man sighs in disappointment. "It seems like you are pushing me out again." he comments, his voice is also crestfallen.
Elsa abruptly drops her gaze to the ground, feels ashamed of herself. "If you really want to pay back to me, please stop drinking yourself to death and deal face with your problems with a sober mind." she advises him and shifts her soft and worried gaze back to him.
Jack clears his throat as he rubs the back of his neck, almost in embarrassment. His tender gaze gives Elsa goosebumps once again. "Then, I guess that's a goodbye... Still, may I ask your name?" he tilts a question towards her all of a sudden, leaves her speechless.
"E-Elsa." Elsa manages to stutter out.
Jack's lips curl up in fondness. "Goodbye, Elsa." He puts his hand on coat's pocket, turns around and starts to walk away from her, then disappears into the darkness.
Elsa hates the fact that all she can do is to gape from his behind.