Chapter 2: Growing risk
The two minutes that followed were a blur. There was a sudden rush of pain searing through her knuckles after taking a swing at the guy's nose. There was blood and a lot of swearing. The guy bent down, covering his broken nose and his friend tried to take a look, attracting the attention of the crowd. Before he could stand up and do anything about it, Elsa felt a hand grasp on hers, pulling her away through the party, far away as possible from the commotion. She saw the familiar sight of silver-white hair lead her through the crowd and for some reason she felt safe.
They ran upstairs, and Jack opened the door to a balcony. She held the railing, wondering what to say to him. "Thank you," was all she managed to pull out.
"Why are you thanking me?" he asked with a smile. "It looked like you had it all under cover."
"Maybe I shouldn't have resorted to-"
"Standing up to a douche bag who was harassing you? He deserved what you gave, Elsa," Jack assured. "Don't doubt your actions. You did what you had to. Now he'll think before annoying, not only you, but any other woman as well."
It warmed Elsa's heart to see someone appreciate her instinct. "Thanks, Jack."
He grinned. "You're feistier than you look."
Elsa rolled her eyes. "I was taking martial arts at the boarding school."
"You are full of surprises, Ms. Winters," he commented. He ran his hand through his hair, his face slightly turning red. "By the way, I wanted to apologise for making you uncomfortable during lunch, which was never my intention."
A pang of guilt hit her. "You don't have to apologise. I am overall an uncomfortable person." She shuffled her feet. "I'm still feeling overwhelmed. This is all new territory for me."
"I understand," he consoled. "Baby steps, right?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I guess."
There was a few seconds of silence before Jack opened his mouth to say something, but closed it immediately. He stopped for a moment, probably trying to coalesce his thoughts, and tried again. "I like what you're wearing."
Elsa felt her cheeks burn, her mind screaming at her to remain calm. "Anna thinks it's inappropriate for a party."
"I actually despise what most girls label as 'party clothes'," he said with a sigh. "It's cool that you choose to do 'you', without letting the circumstances change that."
Elsa's phone beeped, alerting her with a message notification.
Anna- OMG you broke Gaston's nose! Elsa, where are you?!
She sighed and replied back that she was with Jack. Jack, meanwhile, was looking at her inquiring eyes.
"That was Anna, worried about me. She's not going to let me hear the end of this," Elsa explained, stuffing her phone back into her pocket.
"Why would she upset with you? You are not at fault," Jack said, shocked.
"She'd probably say that I should've used a better way to resolve the issue," she began. "A way that was less... Emotional."
Jack still had a shocked expression written across his face.
"You probably know why I got sent to Germany. Anna's worried that I might display evidences of rage again, giving my family reason again to put me back there, or anywhere else for that matter," she said in a low voice. "It was with deep persuasion and reasoning that I was finally able to come back. Anna is just scared, and she has every right to be."
There was a pause during which Elsa avoided Jack's eyes, so that he would not see the tears pricking in hers. She didn't expect Jack to understand; why was she even explaining this to him?
"I hate whoever did this to you, and Anna," Jack spoke up, surprising her. His face was more concerned and tensed. "You were 10 and the worst thing that could happen to a child happened to you! Your parents were gone! Elsa, you were at an age where you were a kid, but you were developing deeper understandings and emotions. You were confused and lost, and you responded in a way you could; not doing so would've resulted in a situation much worse. Elsa, you needed love then, and support. Anna was younger; her viridity helped her comprehend the situation in an easier way than you. I don't know how they could send you away! It was wrong and they think you have healed, but I know deep inside that the wound has only deepened." He took Elsa's hand in his, taking her by surprise by she didn't pull it back, her palms finding some missing warmth in his cold grasp. "But now you're back with your sister in your hometown. Think that things are only going to get better. Enjoy and never second-guess your instincts. Be yourself and don't cover your emotions. You have every right to let go."
Elsa listened with her mouth slightly open. It was as though he read her mind; he knew her pain. He understood so easily that it shocked her. She met this boy only hours back and, here he was, helping her to renew her confidence and releasing her trapped emotions. Most people didn't see the evil behind the decision of certain members of the family to send her away ; but Jack, as he said, hated it. She felt warm and accepted. Her own sister doubted her instincts but Jack applauded her for them. A surge of happiness and relief rushed through her body as she smiled uncontrollably. "Thank you, Jack. That means a lot."
He let out a soft chuckle. "Psychology classes." His gaze shifted towards the door. "Do you want to head back in?"
Do we have to? "Aren't I on the wanted list?"
"It's alright. I'll be with you, and let's huddle up with the others, as well," he reassured, as he steered towards the door and she followed. They found their friends at the bar. "Here she is! Our Empress, defender and destroyer!" Hiccup cheered as Elsa took a seat beside Astrid. She huffed disapprovingly.
"I would've have given the world to see that loser get bashed," groaned Kristoff and the others nodded in agreement.
Elsa noticed Jack standing a few inches behind her, as if shielding her from any unnecessary attention. She smiled to herself, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear shyly. The smell of his mild aftershave lingered around her because of their close distance, setting the butterflies in her loose, as she fumbled with Astrid's purse trying to divert her attention.
"Elsa, tell us what happened, please!" Flynn begged, his arm across Rapunzel's shoulder.
"I'd actually be happy if we dropped it," Elsa politely declined. "It's not something I'm proud of."
"Oh, come on! That oaf deserved it!" Merida declared, clearly proud of her.
"Anna probably doesn't think it was the right move," Elsa said in a low voice, glancing at her sister who was dancing with her boyfriend.
"She's just worried because Hans and Gaston are friends, and it might have damaged his image of you," Rapunzel added. "Not that his view really matters, but that's what's bothering Anna."
"If you ask me, Elsa must give Mr. Sideburns a fistful as well," Kristoff said, with a smirk. "Such a fraud."
"Okay, cool it, Romeo," said Merida. "No need to wipe out the competition for good."
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "Competition?" She grinned at Kristoff. "You like Anna?!"
Kristoff eyes grew in surprise. "I-uh-umm-I mean, I don't know if it's like 'like, like', you know," he stammered.
"Of course he doesn't like her," Flynn began. "He loves her."
Kristoff turned red while Elsa let out a giggle. "That's a shame, though" she told him. "I would've approved you as a better fit for her than that guy."
"We all think the same," Rapunzel said, nodding her head.
Elsa sighed, her heart filled with guilt. She was to be blamed for Anna's lack of judgement since she was never around when Anna probably needed her the most; to complain, to vent or for advice. She knew Anna had grown to be more open and cheery to cover the hurt she went through over the years, but Elsa feared someone would take advantage of her innocence.
"A margarita for the lady," the bartender said as he broke into her thoughts, placing a glass in front of her. An expression of confusion grew on her face which he obviously read. "The guy over there requested it for you."
Elsa and the others turned in the direction he pointed. Across the hallway in the den, a guy with blue eyes and thick, wavy hair smiled at her as he raised his glass.
"Oh my God, I think Eric has a thing for you!" Astrid claimed, holding Elsa's shoulder.
Elsa pushed the drink away. "I don't drink. "
Flynn looked flabbergasted. "Not even once?"
She shook her head. "I have too much respect for my body to do that."
"What are you going to do?" Rapunzel questioned, glancing at Eric. "He's still looking at you."
"How do I let him know I'm not interested?" Elsa implored. Suddenly, she sensed Jack shift behind her. He took a seat at the empty stool beside her and reached for the glass on the counter. Tilting his head back, he chugged the drink down his throat. Elsa observed as his Adam's apple jerked with every gulp and small drops of the drink escaped his lips and rolled off his jawline.
He placed the glass down and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "That's how."
Elsa, again, was left dumbfounded by him while Rapunzel looked over at Eric. "Okay, he looks pretty upset."
"He's walking away!" Merida exclaimed, as she snorted with a laughter. "What a wuss."
"That was a bit extreme, Jack," Hiccup stated. "Now he and his friends are going to think you two are together."
Elsa blushed and stared into her lap while Jack causally brushed it off. "Don't be stupid, Hic. He's probably upset because his fat ego is hurt since no one says no to him." He looked at the bartender. "A round of beer, please, and..," he stole a glance of Elsa, "one virgin mojito." Elsa thanked him with a smile.
"There she is! The b***h that punched me!" a voice roared behind them as they finished their drinks. It was Gaston, with purple under-eyes and a bruised nose. The people turned around to witness the commotion, making Elsa uncomfortable.
"Watch your mouth, Gaston," Flynn warned, getting off his seat.
"Or what? Can't you losers see what she did to my face?" he screamed, stepping closer to them.
"If you'd ask me, she didn't do enough," Jack retorted, meeting his height. "Now, leave us alone."
Gaston simpered, his bulging hands on his hands. "This is my party, Frost. I'm going to ask you to leave."
"Gladly," Kristoff said, putting on his Jacket. "Come on, guys, let's go."
As they walked past the crowd, Elsa's hand was grabbed by Gaston, yanking her towards him. "LET GO!" she demanded, catching the attentions of the others. Jack immediately rushed to her aid, pulling his hand away from hers and pushing him by his chest.
"This isn't over, Elsa Winters," Gaston growled as she walked away with Jack. "You will pay!"
"We'd like to see you try!" Kristoff yelled back as they exited through the door. They gathered around Hiccup's car. "Hmm, 'Kicked from a frat party' ticked from the bucket list," Hiccup pointed out with laugh.
Elsa bit her lip. "I'm sorry, guys. This is because of what I did."
Flynn laughed. "I was actually waiting for an excuse to leave."
Rapunzel twitched her nose. "I think my nostrils died from the smells in there."
"What about Anna?" Elsa asked, remembering her sister who was still inside.
"She's probably going to be in there till the end. It is her boyfriend's party," Astrid admitted. "Merida, we can drop you back at your place."
"Do you'll want to grab something to eat?" Kristoff offered.
"I think we'd better call it a night. Tadashi and Honey Lemon have already left," Rapunzel said, scratching her sleepy eyes. "Elsa, you can ride with Flynn and me."
"Thanks, but I think I'll wait for Anna," Elsa responded, occasionally glancing at the frat house to see if her sister would arrive.
Kristoff shook his head. "She'll be long. Leave her a message and head home. You can't stay out alone."
"I'm not comfortable with leaving her behind, though," Elsa admitted. "Especially in a place like that."
"I'll stay with Elsa until Anna comes," Jack volunteered, surprising her.
Rapunzel smiled at him, almost teasingly. "Oh, you will?"
"Yeah. You guys carry on," Jack said, standing beside Elsa.
The others passed weird smiles and glances which she found disturbing, but didn't ask anything. Astrid and Merida climbed into Hiccup's car, while Kristoff and Rapunzel joined with Flynn in his car. "You have practice tomorrow, Frost. Don't wait up too late," Flynn called out with a wink, before speeding off. Jack let out a heavy sigh and sat on the curb. "Are you hungry?"
Elsa shook her head and leaned against the hood of her sister's car. "How long do you think she'll take?"
Jack raised his shoulders to his ears. "I don't know. She might even spend the night."
Elsa's eyes grew, enraged. "What?!"
Jack laughed. "Come on, Elsa. She's an eighteen-year-old with her boyfriend and alcohol every where she turns."
"Don't say that! Anna is innocent and she's careful with her decisions," Elsa retorted, her heart banging against her chest.
"So, if you believe that she is careful with her decisions, then trust her in whatever decision she makes tonight," he said softly.
"I'm going to go to get her," she claimed after a few seconds of silence. Jack immediately bolted up in front her. "Are you crazy? You'll ruin your bond if you do that; she'll be embarrassed, you'll be embarrassed, she won't trust you anymore. Just believe her."
As much as she hated it, she knew Jack was right. She buried her face in her hands; what right did she have to confront her sister? She was away for most of Anna's life and, now, when Anna was a grown woman, completely able to take care of herself, she felt the need to appear in her life as a guardian. How stupid are you, Elsa?
"If it bothers you that much," Jack said, clearly reading her upset expression, "leave her a message."
Elsa nodded and reached for her phone. Hey, how long will you take for you to leave the party? she sent.
She sighed and looked away from the screen, finding Jack gaze on her with an amused smile on his face. "What?"
He grinned. "Nothing. It's just Anna used to tell us about how uptight you were. I didn't believe it was to this extent."
Her mouth fell open. "What? I'm not UPTIGHT!"
"See, there it is again," he pointed out, his lips curved in a crooked smile.
She blinked, realising her mistake. She forced herself to loosen her face and her tone. "I'm not uptight. Sometimes, I just worry," she said in a calmer, gentle voice.
He chuckled. "I'm just messing with you."
She frowned at him and looked back at her phone. There was a message from Anna.
"I'll be a while. I promised Hans to help him clean up. It might take another hour or more," she read out loud, relieved that her sister didn't plan to stay overnight. "Why is she cleaning his mess?"
"Another reason we hate Hans," Jack stated. "Are you going to wait till she comes? It's almost 11."
"You can go, you know," she said, coolly.
Jack shook his head. "I'm fine, but it seems like a waste of time just sitting outside while she's having fun inside." He looked directly into her eyes. "Let me drop you off."
Elsa bit her lower lip in hesitance; Jack was right that there seemed to be no point of waiting for her sister when she was going to late for longer than she thought. But, riding back with Jack? She didn't think it was the right thing to do, considering what ever feelings she was having towards him was only going to grow the more time she spent alone with him.
Jack stood up and brushed off the dust from behind his jeans. "Come on," he urged, leading her to his dark blue 2014 Ford Mustang GT. Elsa thought it was beautiful, a kind of car she would've owned. Taking a seat after Jack opened the door for her, she pulled the seat belt over her, satisfied with the click she heard when she locked herself in. As Jack started the car, she typed into her phone to let Anna know she was leaving. Jack is dropping me back home since it's getting late. I'll be waiting for you.
"You do know where my house is, right?" she asked as Jack drove off into the street.
He grinned. "I've been friends with Anna since high school. Of course I know where it is."
She turned to catch a glimpse of him, but ended up staring. His wild hair gave her 'bad boy' vibes but his eyes were kind and innocent. He used one hand to steer and the other gripped firmly on the gear. He could be easily described as 'perfectly handsome'. Elsa wondered if he had a girlfriend or how many girls fangirled over him. The night made his blue orbs shine even brighter, making her insides squirm. Okay, this isn't supposed to be happening!
"You know, a picture would last longer," Jack said coyly, making her blush.
"I wasn't looking at you," she lied. "I was looking at the view on your side of the car."
Jack took a quick glance of his left. "Yeah, the sight of continuing lines of suburban houses is a view to die for," he whispered sarcastically.
"Drop it," she groaned, determined to change the subject. "You know so much about me, thanks to my blabbermouth of a sister, and yet I don't know much about you."
"What do you want to know?" he asked, his eyes on the road.
She tapped her chin with her finger, wondering if she should ask the question she had in mind. "Your hair. It's not your natural colour, right?"
Jack chuckled softly, a sound her ears very much enjoyed to her displeasure. "No, it isn't," he stated. "It was from a dare back in the beginning of high school. I was going to change it back, but everyone loved it so much that I continued to keep it."
"What's the real colour?" she found herself inquiring.
He looked a bit hesitant. "It was brown." Her imagination drew up the image of him with chocolate hair and blue eyes in her mind. Still cute. Stop it, Elsa!
"Tell me about your family," she quickly asked, in an effort to change the topic.
"My family?" he repeated. "Okay, like you, I have a sister. Her name is Pippa and she's nine. She's funny, smart and can be really understanding for her age." He smiled. "I don't know what I'd do without her."
"And what about your parents?"
"My mum is a biology teacher. She's the older version of Pippa; in looks and personality. Man, her soul is so free and she's so caring and considerate," he went on, his husky voice holding so much gratitude. "She's my pillar. If I am anything today, it is because of her." His smile suddenly vanished and his face stiffened. "My father is a retired Military officer and he's currently running a sports equipment store. We don't really get along that well, but I'm fine by the relationship we have." He forced a smile. "What was life like in a boarding school?"
"It was okay, I guess. I had to change rooms only twice over my nine years there," Elsa recollected. "Plus, rooms had to be shared with another girl as well."
"That sounds fun," Jack said. "When Hiccup and I were younger, we used to wish that we could be at boarding school, and bunk in the same room and didn't have to hear our parents' nagging all the time."
"Actually, I never cared to make friends with any of roommates, since I was so hopeful that I would be leaving soon," she whispered, earning a sympathetic glance from him. "Also, the girls were these snobbish rich girls who spent hours shopping, gossiping or using every opportunity to spend time with the boys from the guy's section."
"Didn't you interact with any of the boys?" Jack asked.
"Please, the closest male interaction I had over the years over there was when the school's male nurse had to check my ear for an infection," she murmured, turning to look at the view outside.
Jack snickered. "Didn't any guy try to ask you out? Or have crushes on you?"
Elsa shrugged, surprised by the question. "Umm, I think I've got asked out a few times, which I immediately shut down of course. I don't know about anyone crushing on me; boys are just a distraction, anyway."
"Well, you're definitely turning heads here," Jack said. "There were guys practically drooling when you walked by."
She gulped, feeling her cheeks burn. "That's unsettling. Why would you tell me that?"
"You're just so oblivious to every thing around you!" he remarked. "I feel like you don't realise your worth."
"I don't really care about the guys, because like I said they are-"
"A distraction," Jack finished for her.
"Exactly," she said. "What is your experience with girls?"
"Well...," he began, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, "So far, I've had two girlfriends; one was this girl who's in another college now, and the other was Rapunzel."
Hearing her name surprised her. "Rapunzel?"
He nodded. "Yeah, it was back in high school. She was a junior and I was a senior. We flirted back and forth for a while and then I asked her out."
"Then what happened?" Elsa dared herself to ask.
"We dated for a couple of months and realised that it wasn't working out for both us. The initial attraction disappeared and we started to grow apart, our differences coming in between us. We decided to end it before it went on to ruin our friendship."
Elsa was silent for a while until she processed it. She wondered if, hypothetically, Jack and her were to date, would he be the same with her as he was with Rapunzel? Would he bored with her after a while? Did she want to risk getting hurt or watch her feelings be manipulated? Elsa, he's just a friend. Nothing more. Nothing less.
"You okay?" Jack questioned, noticing her zone out for a few minutes.
"Yeah," she assured, relived to see her house in the distance. "Thanks for the drive, by the way."
Jack pulled over by the driveway. "You don't need to thank me."
"I'm going to go now," she said, avoiding his gaze so her heart wouldn't feel tingly again when his eyes would stare into hers. She stepped out of the car. "See you at college, Jackson."
"Yeah, you too," he said out loud as she shut the door and walked to the front door, desperately fighting the urge to look back at him.
...
Jack watched from his car as Elsa waited for her grandmother, wondering what had caused her sudden change of mood. She held her hands behind her back, impatiently staring at the door. Jack wished with all his heart for her to turn to see him once before he leaves.
It seemed like hours before her Grandmother opened the door for her. Jack, disappointedly, started the engines again, but he noticed Elsa stop at the doorway before entering. She turned and waved to him, making him want to scream triumphantly. She closed the door behind her and Jack drove off again, smiling to himself. He was incredibly happy with what she did today; thought she looked graceful and petite, her actions proved that she was an absolute boss. Most girls would've given in or asked for help if they were in the same situation as her, but Elsa handled it on her own. Though it was only a day since he met her, he knew he was developing an attraction towards her. She was exceptionally beautiful with a strong personality. He knew there was more to her that she was masking behind a shield, but he was keen on getting know her better and showing her to a better life.
He arrived at his home, parking his car in the garage. Walking through the door that led to the kitchen, he opened the fridge, eyes scanning for something to eat. Hmm, leftover lasagne.
Placing it in the microwave, he leaned against the counter, letting out a loud yawn. Hearing someone walk downstairs, his back straightened, praying that it wasn't his father. To his relief, Pippa bounced into the kitchen in her Hello Kitty pyjamas. "Hehe, I scared you didn't I?"
He ruffled her hair. "You little minx!" The microwave beeped and Jack took out his dinner, placing it on the table. He grabbed two forks and handed one to his sister. "Where's mum?" he asked, stuffing his face with a mouthful of lasagne.
"She's grading some papers, I think," she said with a glance at her brother. "Dad's asleep."
"Good," Jack muttered.
"How was the party?" Pippa asked curiously.
"Oh, the same," Jack replied, unable to hide the smile that crept over his face, remembering the moments he spent with Elsa.
"What's up with dorky face?" Pippa teased.
"Sometimes you forget that I'm your older brother," he said, holding back a grin at his sister's remark.
"Don't change the topic," she ordered. She twisted her fork between her fingers. "It's a girl!"
Jack was both fascinated and shocked by the nine-year-old's depth of perception. "Why would you say that!?"
"I've watched rom-coms, and they all have that stupid smile," she pointed out.
"Firstly, what the heck are you doing watching rom-coms at this age? And, secondly, I smiled because I had a good time," he countered.
"Mum let's me watch with her if she's feeling lonely," she said. "About the girl, you'll anyway end up crawling to me to ramble about her." She smirked. "I'll wait."
...
Elsa tapped her pencil against her notepad, thinking of the perfect sentence to conclude her report. It was obviously a draft since she had to type it again on her computer. She glanced at the clock; 8:30am. It was a rainy Sunday morning and Elsa had been up early to catch with any work she missed with the help of the tutes given to her by the faculty. She spend the previous day unpacking and going to visit her great grandfather.
There was a knock on her door. "It's open," she called out. Anna walked in, dressed in her nightdress and her hair in an absolute mess, making Elsa grin. "Elsa, did you already take a shower?"
"Umm, yeah, I've been up since 6," she stated, spinning on her chair to face her sister who fell onto her bed.
"Gosh, Elsa, behave like a normal human being and wake up at noon on a freaking Sunday!" she screamed, pulling a pillow under her head. "Your pacing and shuffling and whatever you were doing woke me up."
Elsa joined her on the bed. "I'm sorry, sis. It's not my fault these walls aren't sound-proof."
She rolled over to face her. "Yeah, I'm just being crazy. I'm not a morning person."
"I can see," Elsa said softly, stroking her sister's hair.
"You were so busy yesterday. I hardly got to see you," Anna groaned. "And you left to visit Pappie without me."
"Well, it was payback for stranding me at the party on Friday," Elsa retorted with a wink.
Anna immediately sat up. "Oh my Gosh, I never got to speak to you about that!"
Elsa cupped her face. "It's okay. I'm just messing with you."
Anna shook her head. "Yeah, not about that! You left the party with Jack!"
Elsa grimaced at the sound of his name. "He just offered a ride back home."
"Did you get close with him?" Anna asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Are you crazy?" Elsa declared, throwing at a cushion at Anna's face. "He just drove me back home! That's it!"
Anna sighed dreamily, resting her head on her fists. "I so ship the both of you."
A puzzled frown grew on Elsa's face. "Ship?"
"Elsa, have you been living under a rock!?" Anna questioned, her hands over her mouth.
"Well, I was trapped abroad in isolation," Elsa sassed.
Anna's expression fell. "Okay, fair enough. Shipping someone means the desire to see two people in a romantic relationship."
Elsa's eyes enlarged with shock. "What?! Why would you want Jack and me to be in a relationship?"
Anna held her sister's hand. "Because the both of you are so alike, and he clearly likes you. He's never looked at anyone the way he looks at you."
"Anna, you're getting way ahead of yourself," Elsa started, getting off the bed. "I met this guy just a day before and I haven't even seen him since."
"So what?" Anna retorted. "True love doesn't need time. It just happens."
Elsa let out a chortle. "True love? Anna, don't jump the gun. I have so much work to do, and I cant let one boy ruin all of it for me. The emotional risk is too much."
"You wasted enough time hiding from the world when you were abroad," Anna whimpered. "Now you have me and our family; let go and have fun."
Elsa shook her head as she sat on her chair again. "The reason I came back is to prepare myself for the responsibility left behind for me by our parents." She smiled at the picture of them on her desk. "I can't let them down. And...," she whispered, turning on her chair, "I need to do something about the people who sent me away and are still trying to sabotage my life."
Anna's eyes flickered in shock. "'The people who sent you away'? You mean, our family?"
"I mean the person who initiated the idea," Elsa stated.
"Uncle Weselton?"
Elsa winced at his name, as she nodded in reply. "He will pay for what he did to us."
Anna hugged a pillow to her chest. "Elsa, are you an evil person?"
Elsa laughed. "Not evil, but definitely cautious."
"So, what are you suggesting, sis?"
Sitting up straight, Elsa furrowed her eyebrows. "Obviously, the only reason anyone would do such a thing to us is if they have an eye on what we have; Pappie's company. Uncle Weselton is not related to us by blood, since he is Aunt Matilda's husband, therefore having no compulsory reason to share a bond. He could either have been asked by another family member to do such a thing or for his own personal benefit, hoping the company could go to either of his sons, which is highly unlikely." She took a deep breath." I'm suggesting that the people who separated me from the picture may have something to do with Mama and Papa's sudden accident."
Anna, in shock, covered her mouth with her hands. "Elsa, that is a very strong accusation!"
Elsa shushed her. "Keep your voice down, or Grandma might here you."
Anna gulped. "Do you realise the weight of your words? Elsa, this is our family we're talking about. We can't think such things."
Elsa smiled at her sister's innocence. "Family or not, sins take place, Anna. There are news all over the world about families even killing each other over inheritance. It's one of the curses of being born into an affluent family. We have to always be on our toes."
"Are you sure about what you're saying?" Anna asked, fiddling with the fabric of her dress.
"It's a theory, Anna, and I hope to prove it now that I'm back," she replied. "I have to, for our parents."
Anna blinked back her tears.
"You can't tell anyone about this, okay?" Elsa said, reaching for her sister's hand. "This has to be between us."
Anna nodded. "I want to be with you on this. We can be like these cool detective sisters!"
Elsa let out a soft laugh. "Okay, Anna, but no one can know, okay? I'm going start looking for enough evidences to reopen the case."
"Won't the others be furious when they find out in the end?" Anna asked.
"I don't care. All I know is that my parents were murdered and I was separated from the people I cared, and I want answers," she declared, "and revenge upon the person responsible for all of it."
Anna opened her mouth to say something but there was a soft knock on the door. Their grandmother opened the door, with a bright smile on her face. "Girls, breakfast is ready."
"Good, I'm starving!" Anna said excitedly, following her outside.
"I'll be down in a bit," Elsa called out, turning to her computer. She opened the company's website, smiling at the statement under the logo. 70 years of excellence. 20-year-old Pappie had arrived in the states from Norway, without much money or hardly knowing any English. Working more than five small jobs, he used to his earnings to start small construction projects with the help of few loyal friends. His company grew over the years, making him one of the most successful businessmen in the area. He married Elsa's late great-grandmother, Arianna, also a Norwegian, and had six children, her grandmother being the only girl after five boys. Her grandmother married in her early twenties, giving birth to two boys, Elsa's father, Adgar, and her Uncle Kai. Unfortunately, just five years after their marriage, her grandfather died in war, which made Pappie take her widowed grandmother under his wing, even providing him with the house they lived in now. It wasn't shocking, but it did bring enrage, when Pappie wrote down company to the first born of Grandma's children, and if in his absence, it must be passed to his first born, being Elsa; a female child, when there were more eligible males in the family. Pappie's sons and grandchildren argued and debated with him, but it was of no use since his mind was already set on it and the document had been legally sealed.
Elsa knew that there were many enemies within her family. As much as she hated the misfortune the inheritance had brought upon her family, she was ready to protect it and take it up for her father. As a kid, she would visit the company with her father; the employees loved her, being the CEO's daughter, and her father would let her twirl in his big, leather chair and play on his computer. He would explain to her the importance of her future role in the company, which she was too young to comprehend then but now she did. Her Uncle Kai was holding the reins of controlling the company until she was ready to pass it on to her.
She knew there would be more obstacles after this. She was trapped for too long, but now she was back. Her goal was to bring justice to her parents' death and prove herself to be the best for the company and Pappie had every right to believe in her.
"Elsa!" she heard her sister scream from downstairs.
"Coming!"
...
Jack drummed his fingers against table, occasionally glancing at the door. It was Monday, and Jack was in Professor Sweet's psychology class, which he knew Elsa was taking too, thanks to Merida. He hadn't seen her since the night of the party, even though he met with Anna and the others twice since then, as "She had to study," he recalled Anna say.
"What is your plan exactly?" Merida nudged him. "Are you going to keep staring at the door until she arrives to run to her and hug her?" Hiccup grinned while Astrid pretended to barf.
Jack rolled his eyes. "Stop it, guys."
"Isn't that her?" Hiccup exclaimed.
Jack spun his head in excitement, and she was no where to be seen. He hit Hiccup with his notebook, who was laughing so hard along with Merida and Astrid.
"She doesn't seem to be interested in dating, dude," Astrid pointed out. "She's never had a boyfriend."
"I didn't say I want to date her," Jack muttered. "I just want us to be friends."
"That's how they start," Merida said. "Soon, you'll be developing feelings for her and when she doesn't return them, you'll be crushed. Jack, she never had a normal childhood. Do you think she'll feel for you in that way?"
Jack ignored them and laid his head on the table, his eyes still on the door. The red head had a point though; Elsa probably wouldn't reciprocate the feelings he would end having for her. She just seemed so different; her confidence, her protective nature and her grace. He was so used to seeing the same type of bimbos around university that it shocked him to see a girl as Elsa; so poised and elegant, but still fierce at heart.
"There's your princess," Merida pointed and Jack lifted his head, his heart tingling and his stomach squirming with butterflies. Her hair was loose, which she tossed over her shoulder as she entered the class. Her white t-shirt with blue and pink horizontal stripes were tucked in a high-waist skirt that reached till below her knees. Her eyes met with Jack's for a second and she acknowledged him with a small smile, before joining them at their row as she sat beside Merida.
"Hey, Elsa, how was your weekend?" Astrid asked, leaning against the table to meet Elsa's view.
"It was good. I caught up with the week's work and visited some relatives," Elsa stated, taking her study material carefully from her book bag. "Isn't the class supposed to start now?"
"Yeah, but the Professor is running late," Astrid replied. "By the way, do you want to get signed up for track today? I'm going to go over after lunch."
Jack watched as Elsa thought about it. "Yeah, that would be good."
"What about swimming?" Hiccup asked, and Jack kicked him from under the table.
She shook her head. "I don't think I'd be comfortable. Swimming in the boarding school was only around girls."
"What do you have to be afraid of? You have an amazing body!" Merida commented, making Elsa blush.
Professor Sweet walked in and commenced with the class. Jack enjoyed his teaching; he was funny and made a subject like psychology easy to learn. After two hours, he assigned a small project for them to do and dismissed the class. Jack signalled his friends to hurry up and go so he could leave with Elsa. She patiently arranged her things into her bag and stood up, walking towards the entrance. Jack followed her, wondering what to say.
She stopped outside, looking at the PDF of her schedule on her phone.
"Hey," he said, walking up besides her.
She looked up. "Oh, hey," she said in a soft voice.
"What do you have next?" he asked, putting his hands into his pockets.
"Umm, Economics," she replied. "You?"
"HC-2," Jack replied.
"Cool," she stated. The two stood awkwardly, the silence between not making things better.
"I should probably go," she finally said, tugging at her bag.
"Yeah, me too," Jack said, and, as she walked in the opposite direction, he called out to her. "Elsa, wait!"
She spun her head as he jogged towards her. "Yeah?"
"I never got your number," he said, gathering up all the courage in him.
"Yeah, you never did," she said with a grin.
He handed her his phone. "Can I?"
She nodded and typed her number, and she smiled into the camera, snapping an image of her for the contact picture. "Only for school stuff or emergencies, Frost," she warned him, giving the phone back to him.
"Yeah, of course," he agreed and she waved bye, hurrying away to her class. He glanced at the picture she had taken; it was perfect.
Hope you enjoyed that! I know its actually shorter than the first chapter, but I promise the next chapter will be longer( since I'm almost done writing it) and more... Eventful?
Make sure to follow and review! (:
Until next time!
Jelsa all the way!