I tried all day to avoid Jack after last night and even spent the whole day in my room, only coming out to go to the washroom and that was it. Hunger started to settle in at about noon. My room window overlooked the back of the house and the ocean and I noticed what a nice day it was outside. It wasn't fair I had to be the one hiding because Jack wanted to be an asshole. Screw him, I belonged here as much as he did.

Determined, I ruffled through my bag for my swim suit and pulled out a tiny baby blue two piece bikini. Then I noticed a silky pair of night wear in a light pink color. Mortified, I grabbed my phone.

"Why is my bag full of lace and silk?" I accused Anna on the other line. Back home in Boston she was my best friend and we've known each other for ever. Before leaving to Emeralds, I stayed at her place and got her to help me pack.

"I thought with you going up there who knows what could happen!" She giggled on the other line.

"It's not like that here, and I don't even wear this kind of stuff." I rifled through the bag more. It was a short shorts and crop top galore.

"Els, be real for a moment. I know you said you were over Jack, but a little bit of a tease doesn't hurt – at least not you." Anna was notorious for being a flirt. She had brown hair and green eyes and a body of a model.

"No, I'm serious. I'm over Jack."

"Well, Hiccup is a mighty fine back up don't you think?"

I had to tell her again, that these were actual people and not toys. These boys I cared about in ways she could never understand. The summer she came out here when we were fourteen showed just how truly I cared for them. That summer was a mistake and that's when I realized my outside world didn't belong at Emeralds.

Elsa. Fourteen.

I was excited to bring my best friend ever to Emeralds, though she would only be staying a week. With Anna around I might actually be able to join in on what the guys do. She would make me look good in their eyes – more grown up.

"You're going to go swimming in that?" She looked at my faded blue one piece.

"Yeah, we're just going to be around the guys. Plus I don't want them to make fun of me for wearing something too skimpy." Like you, I wanted to say but held my tongue.

Anna twirled around in a green bikini. She looked really good in the suit, I had to admit. She was the first of both of us to have to wear a bra when we were twelve and she has rubbed it in my face ever since.

But now, she stayed at an A cup size while I continued growing to a C cup. It was so embarrassing, for the longest time during the summer I wore tension tape around my chest so the boys wouldn't make fun of me.

Even now, I wouldn't dare show that much skin. Although the offer of Anna's yellow polka dot bikini was tempting.

"You're such a bore, how're the boys going to notice you?"

"I don't care if they do or don't. I wear that and I'll never hear the end of it by Fin." I grabbed a towel and we started walking downstairs to the patio.

"So you don't care if I go for Jack?" I knew she would pick Jack. Who wouldn't?

"Be my guest," there was no way she was getting his attention. Not ever. I was actually kind of relieved she was going for him - he wouldn't give her the time of day.

She did a little happy dance, "alright mr. tall dark and handsome, you're mine!"

"Just don't hurt anyone, okay?"

"Calm down Elsa, I'm here to have fun." She winked.

In the end it didn't work out that way. Jack paid no attention to Anna, but Hiccup did. And for the week she was there, they were with each other everyday. She just got there and already she had forgotten about me. They woke up early and held hands down by the beach. That summer I was so mad at her, she was suppose to be there as my friend but instead she was slutting it up with Hiccup once Jack wouldn't give her the time of day, just like I knew he wouldn't. On the morning of her last day, I followed her out to the beach. Sunrise touched the ocean and the water turned to gold.

And while the colors were shimmering, Anna was kissing Flynn. At first I didn't get a good look at him, I thought it was Hiccup. But, there stood Anna and my brother kissing in the sunrise.

"First Jack wouldn't give you attention. And I guess Hiccup wasn't good enough, but my brother!" I shouted and they jumped apart.

"E-Elsa! It's not like that, you know I've always liked Flynn!" She gave me her 'please follow my story' look but this time I wouldn't. I was too mad to play her puppet anymore.

"How could you? You're suppose to be my friend! And as far as I knew, you hated Flynn and thought he was annoying!"

"No! I've always liked him." She glanced nervously at my brother who said nothing.

"Go home, Anna. It was a mistake bringing you here." I walked off the beach, sand flying behind me as I went faster. I heard Anna trying to catch up to me calling my name but she never caught up.

When I made it to the porch, Hiccup was sitting on the deck of the pool. His head was down as he stared at the water.

"I wish you never brought her here," he said once I joined him poolside.

"Yeah, me too."

Anna and I continued to be friends, but not best friends. After that summer we were just old friends.

-.-.

I reminisced about that summer as I lounged out on the pool deck in the pale blue bikini, courtesy of Anna. I just finished a swim and decided to get some sun. I hadn't even heard Jack walk into the yard when I glanced at him he had his surf board under his arm.

"Is that the last yogurt cup?" He asked, when he walked up to me. He was dripping wet and in a black body suit.

"I thought there was more," I said suddenly guilty. I really had thought there was one more in the back of the fridge.

"Well, that's the last of my stash then. Are you hungry?" Just as I was about to say no, my stomach betrayed me and grumbled. Jack grinned and opened the sliding door.

"Put some clothes on, we'll head into town."

Instantly I was nervous. I pulled over a tan, loose fitting crop top and a pair of jean shorts. I only accessorized with a pair of sunglasses, and glanced at myself in the mirror at the door by the bottom of the stairs.

Oh my gosh, these shorts were so short. I know girls pulled them off, but my legs were still pale from the sunless winter in Boston. While waiting for Jack at the mirror, I fiddled with the hems trying to pull them down so they wouldn't show so much backside, but then they showed too much stomach!

"That's different," Jack rounded the corner with his keys in hand. His sandy blonde hair was in a dismay around his head and he wore a loose fitting black shirt with a pair of khakis. Of course Jack would notice my different clothes, he noticed everything.

"Well, people change their styles you know." I put my sunglasses over my eyes so he couldn't' see that I checked him out. I always remembered he was pretty bulky but now he looked like he's leaned out quite a bit. Maybe it was just because it was off season for hockey, nonetheless he still looked good in a t-shirt.

Stop it Elsa! You're mad at him, remember! I mentally yelled at myself and couldn't help but notice Jack doing an all over glance at my outfit before we walked outside.

"It looks good on you," He said as we closed the door behind us and made our way to the car.

The car ride was quiet, which I enjoyed. Jack mentioned at one point that Hiccup and Val would be here at the end of the week. It was only Tuesday, I sighed. Another couple of days alone with Jack, maybe the younger me would have been all for this. But now, I'm pretty nervous. I really tried to make sure I had no feelings for Jack after the funeral. I didn't want any of them anymore.

~.~.~

First thing I ate when we got into town was a mushroom burger combo with fries and a strawberry chocolate milk shake from Fish Stixs on the boardwalk. This was how I knew summer was really here because mom and Val would always buy me the milkshake combo and we would walk to boardwalk while the boys played games at the arcade. I loved the salty sea smell here, and it was always lively with people.

I stopped in front of one of the carnival games. It was new and looked relatively easy, all you had to do was balance a little ball in a dip.

"Lend me five bucks, I wanna try!" I claimed a machine and Jack fished out a bill mumbling something about me being a kid. I ignored him and tried to get the carnival attendants attention. She young worker turned to us suddenly and oh my was she gorgeous! I've never seen such long healthy hair before, hers almost ended just before the middle of her back. She was wearing a tight little black tank top with light pink shorts that were shorter than mine - if that was possible.

"Just one round?" Her voice was sing song like and her green eyes instantly flickered to Jack and stayed there.

"Please," Jack ignored her and stared at me as I released one of the three balls. I teetered it on the rails before making my move - but it was too fast and the ball missed the dip and fell off the rail. Damn, I didn't think it would be that fast and difficult! Within ten seconds all the three little balls were gone.

"Wow that sucked," Jack grinned at me and I gave him a dirty look.

"It's harder than it looks, jerk!"

"Yeah! You should try to win her something, mr. hot shot!" The girl - I read her name tag which said Zel - leaned over the counter towards Jack. Her small boobs were practically hanging out of her low cut shirt now.

"Is she your girlfriend?" Zel winked at Jack.

"No, we're -"

"Yes," Jack glanced over at me, grabbing my waist and pulling me in close. I almost recoiled from the sudden touch of his flesh on my skin.

My mind was reeling, I suddenly was very dizzy. Did she say girlfriend? I'm not his girlfriend, why didn't he tell her that? It's obvious she's drooling over him.

"I'll take ten dollars," Jack handed Zel a bill and she jumped up from the counter.

"This guy right here has been our most popular item, I bet she'll love it! It's only two wins." She was pointed to a little fuzzy white chipmunk with a pink nose. He had a long fluffy pink and white tail that was made to look like a camouflage design. I had to admit, he was kind of cute.

Jack was patient with the game. A lot more patient that I was that's for sure. I watched as Zel, who we found out her real name was Rapunzel but thought it was lame, leaned over the counter, practically leaning into Jack. When he finally landed a successful win she would squeal and jump up.

"Just one more!" She leaned over to him again and when he landed the second ball she clapped. I found myself jumping up and clapping as well. I was actually kind of excited to have the stuffy in my collection back at the beach house.

"Alright, one cute squirrel coming up," Blondey said as she turned her back to us and bent down, looking for a new stuffy in the heap under the carnival table. I glanced away thinking Jack would be enjoying the view, but instead he was looking at me. He smiled when our eyes met and stuck out his tongue in a teasing way which made me smile uncontrollably.

Stop, just stop it, I coached myself but I couldn't keep the grin away.

"And tada!" She said, presenting Jack with the bear she gently pushed it into his chest and let her fingers rest there for a moment before sliding them away.

"Come again!" she waved to us as we departed.

I didn't want to say anything. Not bring up what had happened back there. Did Jack know her from somewhere? Was he trying to avoid her? Why would he act like that - now from the grocery store and the whole way home he hasn't said a word to me at all.

It wasn't until we got inside with our small bag of groceries he told me he was going to shower and then head out.

"What happened back there?" I finally had the courage to ask after he got out of the shower. I waited patiently in the hall for him to come out of his room. He was dressed up again, a gray linen shirt with jeans. Jack shrugged.

"If you wanted to go for her you shouldn't have said I was your, well that we were a thing. Because we aren't."

"What if I wanted it to be true?" He was suddenly leaning into me. His voice was like dark velvet then and my heart jumped slightly, like impending danger was ahead. Those blue eyes stared through me at that moment. I was rendered speechless as Jack moved closer to me. His lips were almost touching my skin just by my ear.

"Or maybe you're still naive and believe everything I say."

I pushed him away then and he was grinning. "Jerk, can't you just give me a real answer?"

He pondered for a moment, "where would the fun be in that?"

It was just like Jack to end things with a riddle and leave me feeling confused. I realized before as well, that this is all I was to Jack. A hopeless girl helplessly in love with him so he could toy with her over and over again. Well I was tired of being that toy. I refuse to let him use me and abuse me. In my room, I grabbed the squirrel stuffy from the cabinet and threw it across the room. Winning this stupid thing was a mistake, going out today with him was a mistake. I hated how he thought he could always reel me in, screw him!

I glanced at the cabinet full of stuffed animals to a little brown bear holding a chocolate kiss. His name was minty and I pulled him out of the cabinet. He was the first stuffy Jack had ever won me at the carnival. But it came with a price that I hadn't realized I was about to pay. I was twelve when I had my heart broken here. It was the first time I realized Jack was capable of hurting me so much. I squeezed minty hard as the memories flooded through mixed with tears.

^.^

Authors Notes: I hope you're still finding it interesting! This chapter was so fun to write, I find writing Jack as being playful is easier than him being stone cold. I hope all the back and forth's aren't too confusing just yet! Don't worry, we'll be coming to an end of them very soon! I know this chapter is a little early, but I had some time on my hands and thought I would publish it.

Please keep letting me know what you think, this is a different writing style than I'm use to (as the story unfolds it'll be changing ever so slightly) but let me know if it's effective!

Things are about to get very interesting next chapter! See you all then and please review and rate!

XoXo Cassie