After the play, Jack, Hiccup and Andy left the stage together, heading to the bathroom where they could finally get rid of those ridiculous costumes when a voice called, "Yo, Frosty!"
The silverhead turned on his feet, and a smile formed on his lips at the sight of Wilbur Robinson, slick quiff, cocky demeanor and all.
"Well, isn't this night just full of surprises?" Jack wondered as he waited for the other guy to catch up with them. "Robinson, is that really you?"
"Oh, have you forgotten me already, handsome?" Wilbur cried, placing a hand on his forehead. "Here I thought we shared something special." He laughed and threw his arms around Jack in greeting, then did the same with the other two guys.
"But if anyone has reason to be confused here, it's me, buddy," Wilbur stated, pointing at Jack's outfit. "What's with the dress?"
"You will be surprised to know, William, that this is actually a toga," Jack said matter-of-factly. "And it's a traditional garment worn by men and women back in ancient Greece, you uncultured swine."
"Wow." Wilbur shook his head. "If I didn't know you, I would be tempted to say that you actually sounded smart."
"That's probably Elsa's influence on Frost," Hiccup mocked with a chuckle.
Jack scowled, crossing his arms. "Is not. I'm totally smart on my own."
"And I'm a time-traveler," Wilbur scoffed, and with a frown, he added, "Since when are you idiots all buddy-buddy with the Snow Queen?"
"I work with her in the Student Council every day," Andy reminded the other boy.
"I get you being friends with her," Wilbur conceded and gestured at Jack and Hiccup. "I meant those two lost causes."
"I can hear you, dumbass!" Jack snarled at the same time as Hiccup said, "Eh, it's kind of a long story."
"A lot happened since you left, buddy," Andy said, patting Wilbur on the back.
Wilbur nodded. "Apparently."
"So what are you doing here?" Hiccup asked. "Weren't you supposed to be traveling with your family?"
"Still am," Wilbur replied nonchalantly. "Begged my parents for a detour on the innovation tour so I could honor y'all's illustrious spectacle."
Jack narrowed his eyes. "How did you know about it?"
"Hiro told me." Wilbur scratched his chin and pretended to be deeply immersed in thought. "I believe his correct words were 'Wanna see Frost and Haddock fighting for Astrid fucking Hofferson's hand on stage?'." Wilbur laughed. "I mean, how could I not come to watch it after that?"
"Did you seriously come here just to make fun of us?" Jack asked.
"Yep. Best decision of my life." Wilbur chuckled as he checked his phone. "But I should get going. I just wanted to give you guys a quick 'hello' before I left."
"So soon?" Andy asked. "We were having a little get-together in the kitchen after this. You could join us."
"Gotta take a rain check on that," Wilbur said with a sigh. "The car is waiting outside."
"Well, that's a bummer," Jack complained.
"Ah, but not to worry, my dear." Wilbur pinched Jack's cheek, and the silverhead slapped the former's hand away with annoyance. "My departure shall not be long."
The silverhead frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I'm coming back for the next school year."
"Really?" Andy asked.
Wilbur nodded.
"That's awesome!"
Jack smirked. "Can't wait to have you back, pretty boy."
"Oh, God," All the boys turned at the sound of a girl's displeased cry.
Violet approached the group with her arms crossed over her chest. "What the fuck are you doing here?" she asked, staring at the dark-haired boy.
Wilbur smiled at her. "Hey there, Vi."
The girl's eyes narrowed. "Weren't you supposed to be dead or something?"
"Not quite, just stranded on family affairs." Wilbur chuckled, pulling his hair back. "Congratulations on the play. You were a great Titania."
"Thanks," she mumbled through gritted teeth.
Exchanging glances with the other boys, Andy started, "You know, maybe we should—"
"You take one more step and I'm sending Astrid after you!" Violet snarled.
Hiccup shook his head. "Girl, she's gonna be stoked to know you're referring to her like a damn hunting dog."
Wilbur chuckled, clearing his throat. "I'm the one who should be going anyway." Making his way through the group, he stopped next to Violet and leaned in.
Andy gasped as Hiccup squealed and Jack laughed. They held onto each other for support as they watched their female friend petrified in place as Wilbur took one of her hands, and they roared in delight as the boy gave Violet a quick peck on the cheek.
"See you soon, Violet," Wilbur whispered with a wink.
And they all watched Wilbur leaving until he was out of sight, the boys sniggering and throwing not-so-discreet knowing looks in Violet's direction.
"What are you looking at?" the girl demanded to know, making the boys scatter in a hurry, mumbling nonsensically between them.
"Wait… 'see you soon'?"
"Jack Frost!" a girl called from somewhere ahead of their group.
"Someone is really popular tonight," Hiccup mocked.
"Must be the dress," Andy suggested with a laugh.
"Ha, ha." Jack rolled his eyes. He looked around and found a blonde girl with bubblegum pink glasses rushing in their direction.
"Can I take a picture of you?" the girl asked, her voice rising in pitch as she spoke. She was taller than him, and her big, green eyes sparkled almost threateningly.
"Uh… sure." He had barely spoken, and the hyperactive girl was already dragging him away from his friends to a less crowded corner.
"Meet you guys in the kitchen!" Jack shouted back to Andy and Hiccup, who happily waved in response.
"Honey Lemon, by the way," the girl said, moving him around like a mannequin in search of the perfect light. "From the journalism club."
Jack smiled at her. "Nice to meet you, Honey Lemon."
She giggled and looked at him through her camera. "Just Honey is fine."
Honey Lemon snapped a picture, and the flash momentarily blinded him.
"You're a surprisingly good actor," she said as she took more pictures. "Your Lysander was really dreamy."
"Ah, thanks. We had to improvise our lines, so I don't really know if I made the character justice."
Honey hummed as she checked her camera's data. "I heard. And I think you guys did pretty amazing, given you had no time to prepare at all."
Jack shrugged. "Pretty sure we ended up bantering like we usually do in real life."
"That's what made everything feel so natural." She took a couple more pictures, and Jack attempted to pose for them.
"Well, my compliments to Tooth," he mumbled.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing." Jack looked away, and his eyes happened to land on a blonde girl inconspicuously making her way out the auditorium. She walked alone, and he wondered where her friends had gone…
The direction of his eyes must've caught Honey's attention, as the next thing he knew, she was shouting, "Elsa!"
Startled, Elsa looked around, and her eyes narrowed as she spotted them. He gave her a two fingers salute, and waited as she moved through the crowd in their direction.
"Hello, Honey," Elsa said, smiling at the other girl. "I didn't know you were here tonight."
"Oh, you know how work is," Honey replied, giggling. "I'm helping cover the play for the journal."
"I see." She looked at him, and Jack winked at her, making her roll her eyes.
"Oh, I know! I'll take a picture of you two together!" Honey hurriedly pushed Elsa to Jack's side.
"What?" Elsa's eyebrows furrowed. "Why?"
"You two are one of the main couples in the play, our readers would love to see you guys posing together," Honey explained.
"Is it really necessary?" Elsa asked.
"Astrid threatened to break my camera if she even heard a click near her—"
"Oh, does she know no manners? That savage girl..." Jack scoffed in outrage.
"—You two are my last hope." Honey's lips trembled, and her eyes were pleading.
Elsa sighed. "One picture. And that's it."
"Thanks, Elsa!" Honey happily raised her camera to her face. "Lysander, put your arms around Hermia!" she instructed.
"You have got to be kidding me," Elsa grumbled, glaring at the silverhead.
"Come on, Hermia dearest," Jack smirked, moving so his arm went around her shoulders. Lowering his lips to her ear, he whispered, "We've only got one shot."
She arched an eyebrow as she looked at him, and one of her hands went to rest on his waist. Their faces inches apart, breaths mingling together, she whispered back, "Better make it count, then, my beloved Lysander."
The flash went on, and Jack blinked, being caught off guard.
"You guys make the cutest couple!" Honey squealed, and the pair immediately retrieved their hands from each other.
"Thanks," Elsa mumbled, but Honey had already run off to corner another unsuspecting prey.
Jack sheepishly ran a finger through his hair. "So this is it, huh? The play's finally over." He sighed. "I'm gonna miss being in love with you, Your Majesty."
"You do realize our characters are the ones who were supposed to be in love, right?"
The silverhead groaned. "Do you even understand the concept of a joke?"
Elsa rolled her eyes. "Well, I don't think you have much reason to be upset, seeing as you and your friends have one final event planned for the evening."
"Can't you just say we have a party tonight?"
"If you want to call it that."
"Oh, Arendelle." Jack shook his head. "I am so gonna miss you."
Anna had been looking for her sister after the play ended, but she was having a hard time finding Elsa. It felt like she had been looking for hours by the time Rapunzel nudged her shoulder and gestured at the mop of platinum-blonde hair walking in the opposite side of the room. Hastily thanking her friend, Anna rushed through the sea of students, pushing her way towards her sister.
"Elsa!" she called before she lost sight of the other girl.
Elsa stopped, and that was when Anna realized her sister wasn't alone. That Jack Frost guy was there too. Which shouldn't surprise her, seeing as they had been in the play together. As lovers. Even though Elsa claimed they weren't even friends…
That Jack Frost guy waved at Elsa, making sure to wink at Anna before he left the girls alone.
"Did I interrupt something?" Anna asked as she finally reached her sister.
"No." Elsa snorted. "We were just talking."
"Are you sure?" Anna wondered with a knowing voice tone.
"Was there a reason for you to be looking for me, Anna?" Elsa asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No—I mean..." Anna cleared her throat. "I just wanted to congratulate you. For the play. It was great! I had a lot of fun!"
Elsa chuckled. "Thanks. I'm glad you liked it."
"Really, it was awesome," Anna continued. "Like, you guys improvised your lines, and you didn't lose track of the story, and you kept in character the whole time!"
"That's questionable," Elsa commented. "I broke character a couple of times, and I feel like some of my fellow stage partners did too."
"Well, I didn't notice it at all!"
"I suppose that's a good thing."
"It is," Anna agreed, and as they made their way out of the auditorium, Anna mumbled, "Sorry Dad didn't come."
Elsa sighed. "I'm sure he had good reason not to."
"Still," Anna protested. "It's the first time you do something like this. No matter how busy with work he is, he should've come."
"You and the Choir Club performed as well, and you're upset because Dad didn't come to see my first onstage appearance?" Elsa laughed, shaking her head. "How many of your performance has Dad attended?"
"Th-that's not the point! We're not talking about me right now," Anna shouted with a pout.
"Don't worry about it, Anna. It's fine."
"It's not," Anna mumbled stubbornly. "It is so not fine."
Elsa took one of Anna's hand and gave it a light squeeze. "I understand why you're upset, but it's really not a problem." She smiled. "You came, and that makes me happy enough."
Anna sheepishly smiled as well. "Of course I came, that was your acting debut. And your Hermia? I mean, so cool. And you and that Jack Frost guy? He's so funny, and you're so regal, and you're both so pretty and—"
"Okay, I appreciate your enthusiasm," her sister cut her rambling short. "But I don't wanna hear another word about it."
"But—"
Elsa looked at her with narrowed eyes. "I mean it, Anna. Drop it."
Anna slowly nodded, shoulders sagging, and eyes lowering to the floor. "Alright."
Elsa sighed. "What are you doing tomorrow?"
Anna frowned, unable to understand the sudden change of subject. "Tomorrow?"
"Do you have plans for the city visit?"
Still confused, Anna mumbled, "No…"
"Would you like to have tea with me?" Elsa asked.
"Don't you have plans with your friends?" Anna's mouth immediately shut closed, and her eyes widened as she realized how rude she must have sounded. "I-I mean… I just… you're always so busy and all, you don't have to go out of your way to hang out with me…"
Elsa chuckled. "Relax, Anna. I'm the one who invited you. Of course, my schedule is open."
"Yeah. Of course." Anna nodded, in a mixture of embarrassment and excitement. "My schedule is totally open as well!"
"How about three by the main square?" Elsa suggested.
"Three sounds perfect." The sisters stopped so they could go their different ways.
"All right. See you tomorrow, then."
"See you tomorrow, Elsa!"
Because they had some last-minute arrangements to take care of, many of the drama club members, plus their guests, had to rush through or skip dinner altogether that night. And Tooth, being the true angel that she was, had asked the kitchen staff to set aside some celebratory meal for her dear junior actors and actresses to indulge in after the show was over. What Tooth couldn't have expected was that the little evening snack time she had organized would turn into an average-sized, illicit, teenage party in the dining hall.
"Attention, please!" Jack climbed up a table and, with an arm in the air, waited for the crowd to shut up. As all eyes turned to watch him, he continued, "On behalf of my fellow Performing Arts enthusiast, I thank you all for your presence here tonight." He raised his glass. "Here's to fucking nailing A Midsummer Night's Dream despite the antics of our crazy teacher!"
"And to never doing anything like that again!" Hiccup added, standing next to the silverhead. "No offense, Performing Arts enthusiasts."
Jack pointed at the sky with his index finger. "Hit it!" he shouted, and music started blasting off a portable speaker somewhere in the middle of the crowd.
"Oh, God, they're going rogue," Andy mumbled, slumping down on his seat and burying his face in his hands.
"Relax, Davis." Violet pointed at him with her fork. "You know what all that soda and candy means: sugar crash. Give them half an hour and they'll all go into a beautiful sugar-induced coma."
"One can only hope," Andy grumbled.
"Hey, what did I miss?" Elsa asked a little out-of-breath as she pulled a chair next to Andy.
"Nothing much," Andy answered with a shrug. "They found a hidden stash of snacks in the kitchen, and before we could do anything to stop it, this was happening." He gestured at all the people dancing, jumping, and babbling loudly around them.
"So the usual?" Elsa mocked. "Why exactly are we meeting here again? I thought we were supposed to g o to the kitchen."
"Astrid argued that it would not be very wise to keep those sugar-high morons near ovens and sharp knives," Violet explained.
Elsa hummed and looked at the blonde girl lying with her face against the table. "Good point. Which brings me to my next question: where the hell did all these people come from?"
"Ask our resident idiots over there," Andy said, pointing at the commotion.
She watched the teenagers for a while. Jack and Hiccup sat on a table, laughing together and being the center of attention.
"You know we'll have to end this soon, right?" Elsa asked.
"Yeah," Andy mumbled, munching on his food. "But I'm too hungry and too tired to fight them right now."
Astrid groaned in agreement, but her face remained glued to the table.
"Astrid, are you okay?"
Astrid lifted her head to look at Elsa, eyes heavy with sleep and the half of her face pressed against the wooden surface redded unevenly. "Peachy," she grumbled.
"You look like shit," Violet said.
"Thanks."
"You should go get some rest," Andy suggested.
"I was planning on it," Astrid argued, throwing her arms in the air. "Then this goddamn ruckus started!"
Elsa chuckled. "Go to bed, Astrid, we'll take care of things here."
"I can't just bail on you," Astrid snarled.
"Aw, you're such a loyal friend," Violet cooed, holding her head on her hand. "Even when you're a cranky pain in the ass."
Astrid glared at the brunette with her jaw clenched. "Is that stupid contract still valid? Or am I allowed to punch you now?"
"We haven't discussed ending it yet, so I don't think you are," Andy answered.
"We're in the majority, can't we do it without those two goons over there?"
"Don't be hasty now, Astrid dear," Violet said. "The night is still young, and we don't know what could happen."
"Stop." Elsa rubbed her temples with a sigh. "Don't try to jinx it."
Andy chuckled, rubbing the blonde's back comfortingly. "Speaking of 'not knowing what could happen'…" A smirk formed on the guy's lips. "Wilbur is coming back next year."
Violet choked and had to chug down several gulps of juice to stop coughing.
"The fuck is your problem, woman," Astrid grumbled with a scowl.
Violet narrowed her eyes and glared at the boy. "He's coming back?"
"That's what he said when we met him."
"So it really was him?" Astrid asked. "I thought I'd seen his cowlick in the audience."
Andy let out a chuckle. "He was here alright."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Elsa asked with a frown.
"Oh, just that he didn't stay for long, but he made damn sure to kiss Violet before he left."
Astrid sat up in a bolt. She stared at the brunette dumbfounded. "You kissed him?"
Violet scoffed. "He kissed me. On the cheek." To Andy, she said, "You're an asshole."
"And you let him kiss you?" Elsa wanted to know.
"I was caught by surprise!" Violet argued. "It's not like I wanted."
Astrid snorted. "Yeah, right."
Violet pointed a finger at the space right between Astrid's eyes. "Listen, you pipsqueak—"
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE GOOD LORD IS HAPPENING HERE?"
Jack immediately froze at the sound of that angry voice roaring through the entire room. He looked at the entry and cursed inside his head as Headmaster Nicholas St. North looked back at him, rolled up sleeves showing his intimidating, tattooed huge arms, and dark purple vein throbbing on his forehead.
Jack slid off the table, and as nonchalantly as he could, he went to greet the headmaster. Someone turned off the music, and his words were clear as day when he spoke, "North, watcha doin' here, big man?"
North's narrowed eyes didn't leave the silverhead once. "You will refer to me as Headmaster North or sir, Mr. Frost."
Jack bowed, bending his body forward from the waist. "As you wish, sir."
"Am I to assume you are responsible for this congregation?" the headmaster asked.
"Headmaster North, sir." Hiccup rushed to Jack's side. "This is not what it looks like—"
"Well, it looks like you and your friends are having a party in the dining hall, Mr. Haddock."
"Okay, so it is what it looks like," Hiccup mumbled. "But you see, we were just having dinner, and things got a little out of hand."
"A little out of hand, you say," North mused, his eyes hardening even more.
"Oh, come on, North—uh, sir," Jack said, immediately correcting himself. "It's not like you haven't seen worse. We have done worse."
Hiccup recoiled with a squeal, but Jack's stance didn't waver.
"Yes. You have indeed done worse throughout your years in this school," North agreed with a chuckle. "It does not mean your soiree should go unpunished, though."
Jack shrugged. "I don't even know what that is."
"This is great," Andy mumbled, shaking his head. "This is fucking great."
"Shh!" Violet chastised the boy, and they watched as Jack, followed by Hiccup, approached the headmaster.
"North, watcha doin' here, big man?"
"Man, what the fuck is Frost doing?" Violet asked in a whisper.
"Asking to have his head ripped off the rest of his body, that's what he's doing," Astrid replied.
"Should we intervene?" Elsa asked.
Astrid shook her head. "Oh, fuck no. With luck, North won't even notice us here."
Elsa bit her lower lip as she watched with apprehension the conversation between the silverhead and the headmaster unfold.
"It does not mean your soiree should go unpunished, though."
"I don't even know what that is."
Before she could process what she was doing, she got on her feet. "I think we should do something."
Andy nodded. "Yeah, right behind ya."
"Ah, screw it," Astrid grumbled begrudgingly but followed after the others nonetheless.
"Did you watch the play, sir?" they heard Jack asking.
"I did, Mr. Frost," North said calmly. "And I was very pleased with you and your companions' performance. You have all been working hard, and I could understand much more clearly Ms. Toothiana's pride in her apprentices." North sighed. "It is, though, a bit of a disappointment to see her trust in you disrupted for such a frivolous display of misconduct."
"Sir, if I may intervene," Elsa rushed to the front of the group, standing between the headmaster and the other two boys, and Andy gently pushed Hiccup and Jack back.
"Miss Arendelle," North greeted her with a nod. "I am surprised to see that you are a part of this."
"Yes, I understand that this gathering has blown out of proportion," Elsa admitted, her eyes looking down in submission.
"Sir, we were just tired and got carried away," Astrid explained.
Andy stood beside the two other girls. "And we the Student Council take full responsibility for the troubles our negligence may have caused."
Jack frowned as he watched the Student Council trio stepping up to the Big Man. They were using a lot of words, so maybe he had lost a few things along the way… but it felt like they were… taking the blame?
"What the hell are they doing?" he asked in a low voice.
"Saving your asses," Violet explained. She had her arms crossed and looked with furrowed eyebrows at the law-enforcement threesome in action.
"Why—"
"Very well," North said, and their attention returned to the headmaster. "You will make this room spotless, and you will write Ms. Toothiana an apology letter for breaking her trust to be delivered in the morning."
"Yes, sir," Elsa agreed.
Jack waved his arms widely and pointed at the headmaster. "Whoa—hold on. We don't need you to cover for us," he said glaring at the Student Council team.
"Jack, stand back," Andy pleaded hastily.
"You stand back," the silverhead growled at the brunet. He turned to North and added, "Blame me. It's my fault."
North eyed him for a long moment, and Jack made sure to keep his gaze locked on the man's. "You are more than welcome to share your friends' punishment, Mr. Frost, as are the rest of you, Mr. Haddock and Miss Parr," the man said at last.
"Oh, lucky us," Hiccup grumbled, throwing his arms up.
Jack glowered at the auburn-haired guy to shut him up, then crossed his arms and demanded, "No. Leave them out of this."
"My word is final." The headmaster looked at Elsa, Andy, and Astrid. "As for you three, you will come to my office tomorrow morning so we can have a talk."
Andy nodded. "Of course, sir."
"Nuh-uh! Whatever you have to tell them, you can say to all of us!" Jack protested, gesturing to the six of them.
Silence followed as if North expected Jack to cower. The man narrowed his eyes and waited, but Jack didn't move, nor averted his eyes. Finally, North laughed, rolling his head back.
"As you wish, Mr. Frost." He cleared his throat and smoothed the collar of his shirt. "I will see you all tomorrow at nine."
And with that, North left, letting the door slam after him with a loud bang.
"What the fuck was that, jackass?" Astrid hissed, poking Jack in the chest.
Jack blinked a couple of times to clear his mind. "We go down together," he said, his frustrations dissipating slowly.
"Wasn't that our deal?"