Austrian: Hope you are doing well. I've finally managed to make a quick update. Bis bald!
A/N: Sorry for putting my nerd side on Elsa. However, in my opinion, history is one of the most enjoyable lessons in my school, so...
Before she sits, she predicts that the wooden chair is probably uncomfortable. Surprisingly it is quite okay. So as soon as she sits, she let her features relax. She does not do anything for five minutes, just nervously fiddles by tapping her nails on the wooden table, tries not to make eye contact with people as she gazes at the entry.
When she accepts the fact that her date is going to be late, she simply sighs but then her lips curls up with sudden joy. She quickly opens her backpack and takes a book. She glances at the cover for a moment, then with shaken hands, she begins to continue with the reading.
As the minutes pass by, the platinum blonde doesn't get mad about her date's very late arrival. She is too busy with reading a very interesting history book while the smell of coffee is lingering around her nose, giving her an opportunity to loosen up even more.
For her, this is happiness, this activity is the best thing in the world that makes her satisfied most. An intriguing book and a cup of delicious coffee.
"It seems clear that the Arab East still sees the West as a natural enemy. Against that enemy, any hostile action-be it political, military, or based on oil-is considered no more than legitimate vengeance. And there can be no doubt that the schism between these two worlds dates from the Crusades, deeply felt by the Arabs, even today, as an act of rape."
"Elsa!"
"Ah!" Elsa screams in the middle of a god damn café, causes people to send a curious glance at her.
The platinum blonde blushes immediately, begins to tremble slightly as she realizes the awareness... She loathes people's unnecessary attention on her. She raises her and directs her blue eyes at the person, who she has been waiting for. "Jack!" she hisses, "Why did you yell?!"
The young, handsome pulls a chair and places it right next to her, then sits quickly. He locks his beautiful, mesmerizing blue eyes on hers and offers her an apologetic smile. "I've been calling you for the fifth time, Elsa... You didn't hear me because you were too focused on your book. What are you reading?" he reasons, then moves his head down to see what she has been so focused on.
Elsa turns into red again, immediately closes her book and shoves it inside of her backpack. "It is just a history book that I've been skimming... I-I am sorry, I isolate myself from the real world when I read a book." she stutters out, mentally facepalms herself when she acknowledges that she is babbling.
Jack lets out a soft, fond smile and suddenly pulls her into a tight embrace. He brushes his lips against her forehead and whispers, "I am sorry for being late... I had a very important meeting. It finished late, much more than I had expected."
Elsa is totally burning, her throat is too tight, she can't speak because of the sudden affection. It is not that she minds it, she is just... Embarrassed. "You are late and it is only our second date, Jack Frost." she teases him, tries to dismiss her stupid, pathetically unwarranted shyness.
Jack slowly pulls away and grins sheepishly while he is rubbing the back of his neck. "Again, I apologize." he says, seems like really meaning those words.
Elsa shrugs to brush it away. "It is fine." she simply says and purses her lips, tries to avoid being awkward.
Jack offers her a kind smile as his eyes shine dazzlingly and luminously. "Are you free this Saturday night?"
Elsa nods calmly. "Yes. My work finishes at 5 o'clock." she informs him while her eyes are utterly focused on him.
"Great! I... Well, I have to attend a 'business ball' for my work on Saturday. I was wondering... If you'd like to come." Jack invites her while he is scratching his neck nervously. He is obviously tense.
Elsa swallows, feels her heart is beating faster within every passing second. She licks her lips and tries not to quiver but unfortunately, she fails. She can't even let out a weak, forced smile.
She hates this... That awful, horrible, fucking pressure on her chest... She is so tired of feeling insecure and nervous all the time. Why the hell can't she socialize like a normal human being anyway?
"Elsa... You are trembling." Jack states, there is a hint of apprehension in his tone.
"I-I've gotta go." she barely mumbles those words, has already been standing up to run away. He catches her wrist, holds it not too tightly but not too softly to let go. "Jack... Please... Too much people." she whispers weakly, her legs are wobbling now.
"Let's get out of here, then." he offers with a calm, collected voice. He grabs Elsa's backpack and wraps his left arm around her waist to support her.
They leave the café with rushed steps, she leans in his touch with a shameful expression on her face. She does not want to seem like a pathetic, weak person in front of him.
Jack gestures her to his car but Elsa ceases him. "I want to get some fresh air." she mutters under her breath and stands still, her features are tired and blasé.
"D-Do you want me to leave you alone?" Jack asks hastily, he is still holding her waist protectively.
"No... I am so sorry for being like this." Elsa blurts out as she averts her gaze from him. She stands still, accepts his touch but does not make a further movement.
For a brief moment, he stays silent. "Don't apologize for being yourself." he states quietly, raises his head to see the sky. He looks pensive, sad even.
Elsa sighs as she let out a shaky breath, her lips are trembling so badly. She has an urge to cry but she isn't going to allow herself to do that. "I hate the crowd." she informs him quietly.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Elsa shakes her head. "There is nothing to talk about." she replies bluntly.
Jack raises his eyebrow but doesn't persist. "Alright... Wanna walk?" As soon as she nods, he begins to walk with excited, fast steps, drags her along.
They stroll for a while. Elsa let him take the lead, she doesn't resist. Soon, they enter Central Park. After a couple of minutes, they manage to find an isolated place. The weather is cold after all. Jacks sits on a bench, gestures Elsa to join him. The platinum blonde doesn't comply and sits next to him, their legs are barely touching.
Elsa bits her bottom lip. There is a deep, comfortable silence between them. Although she isn't bothered by it, she finds out he isn't even attempting to speak. Jack is a very joyful, witty guy who enjoyed speaking, exactly the opposite of Elsa. She knows, she is sure that he was a lively, outgoing, social guy before whatever happened to him. Nevertheless, even this version of him is more social than Elsa.
"I've always been like this."
Jack's eyes grow bigger, he obviously wasn't expecting her to talk. He keeps his mouth shut while he is resting his beautiful eyes on her.
"People have called me shy, timid, socially awkward... Well, those are kind words to describe who I am. I am anti-social. I am actually overcoming it but still, I do have anxiety attacks from time to time... Shortly, I am a loser."
"You are not a loser."
"Astrid is everything that I have. She is my first and my best friend. I am also befriended with her boyfriend Hiccup, her other close friend Merida, my cousin Rapunzel and Rapunzel's boyfriend Eugene. Those five are my only friends. Nevertheless, before college, I only had Astrid and Hiccup."
Elsa stopped, she is inhaling and exhaling loudly, hardly. She isn't looking at him, no, her gaze was fixated on the ground. "I am sorry. None of this is your business and yet I've been keeping bothering you with my problems." Elsa babbles out, then groans in irritation. She is such a fool!
She can hear him chuckling, he isn't attempting to hide it. "You are strange, Elsa. I adore it."
Elsa doesn't give any reaction, just stares at the trees with an emotionless expression on her face. Nonetheless, she looks unhappy.
She doesn't want to be weird. She wants to be normal... She doesn't want to blow up her chances... "I would like to go to the ball with you, Jack."
Jack sends her an apprehensive look. "You don't have to."
Collecting enough courage, Elsa reaches out for his hand and squeezes it lightly, his palm begins caressing her skin. "I know. But I want to."
Jack stays silent for a moment. Then he unexpectedly turns his head and locks his blue eyes into hers. "Hey Elsa?"
"Yes, Jack?"
"You make me feel alive."
A knock. "Elsa."
"Leave me alone... Please." she begs, is still desperately trying to stop her shiver.
She hears the knock on the door once again, stubbornly waiting for her to open it. "Elsa..." Astrid whimpers, her voice trails off as Elsa senses her concern.
Nevertheless, she is stubborn too. "Go away."
"No way! I will break the freaking door if you don't open it! You've been locked in the bathroom for two hours!"
Elsa's breath hitches while she is finally realizing her condition. She is sitting next to the toilet, her arm is placed on the toilet cover. She is trembling, it seems like her shudders doesn't plan to stop. Her legs feel weak, she knows she won't be able to stand up. So, she begins to crawl toward the door. She raises her quivering hand and manages to open the door.
"Oh Elsa."
Elsa simply let go. She doesn't have the energy to move or stand. Luckily, a pair of arms prevent her from falling, they are wrapped around her in a motherly way. "What's wrong?" Astrid raises a question quietly.
"Nothing. I just have a terrible headache." Elsa lies immediately even though she knows that Astrid isn't buying it.
"Haha, aren't you a comedian?" Astrid replies with a dry sarcasm. "Seriously, Els, I need an explanation."
Elsa pulls her legs to herself, leans in her best friend's touch, her dull, lifeless eyes focus on her knees. "I'm tired."
Astrid doesn't respond by speaking, but she grips her tighter. Elsa feels relieved that she doesn't have to explain further. She has a way with words, however, only when she writes. She is not good at expressing herself by speaking.
Nonetheless, in the end, she knows she has to clarify a few questions. She still hasn't told Astrid about Jack. Her best friend deserves to know but Elsa becomes tense whenever she imagines the moment. Astrid would definitely be not pleased by the fact that Elsa is dating an alcoholic.
Either way, she simply blurts out: "I date an alcoholic, who is an old customer of mine. He also happens to be Eugene's best friend and the heir to his mother's company. Today, on our second date, he invited me to go to a business ball with him. After our date, I... Well, I may have had an anxiety attack." Elsa explains, eventually turns her head to see Astrid's face.
"You had fucking what!?" Astrid roars, grits her teeth while she is frowning.
"Don't worry, I am taking my pills." she replies hastily, quickly and drops her gaze to the floor.
"You haven't had an anxiety attack since you were eighteen... God Elsa, you will be the death of me! Why do you date an alcoholic?!" Astrid furiously exclaims, makes a punch and digs her palm with her nails, probably doesn't even realize it because of the anger.
Elsa is still averting her gaze away from her. "Because... I-I... I kinda like him." she stutters out, her cheeks are burning.
"I... Dammit, what if I can't protect you this time? You are my best friend... my sister, everything that I have, besides Hiccup... I can't bear the possibility of seeing you her hurt anymore." Astrid explains, her anger vanishes somewhere in her speech, the pure concern, worry appears.
Elsa nuzzled into her chest... Her mother used to hug her like this too. She has missed this comfortable feeling. "Even if I fall, you will always be there. Even if he hurts me, I can take it, Astrid, because I have you. As long as we have each other, we can do everything." she soothes her best friend.
Astrid starts to stroke her hair to show her affection. "Tell me everything, in detail."
Elsa smiles sincerely. As she recalls the events between her and Jack, even though most of them are not happy ones, she doesn't feel so tired anymore.
He makes her feel alive.
I hope you liked the chapter, please write a review, I love you all!