Hey guys, so, things are kinda going slowly so Imma start getting into the heavy actions. Love the suggestions, but I'm afraid Imma have to say that for most things, I have some ideas of my own, but keep them coming, I just might find one I like better ;P
It had been a week since Jack had found out, now. He kept meeting with Anna every weekend, but they rarely ever talked. Mostly, they were just happy to have each other's company. Especially since Kate seemed to be completely weird with Jack.
It was like they were strangers again and they hadn't even met. He wondered if this was what she was like back at her old school.
Don't get him wrong, Kate was one of his only real friends, but he didn't like her like that. There was no one that could replace the first one he lost. That may sound pathetic, like he really needed to move on, but there was something inside him that refused to let go.
Still, he wanted to know what was up with Kate.
Hiccup wanted to know this as well.
But, unlike Jack, he did something about it. Maybe because he Kate was his best-and-only friend, but, either way, he cornered her in her dorm and made her sit down and explain.
Lately, Kate had been saying everything she wanted to say in her head, like she normally did, but this time, it was even worse.
"Alright, Kate, spill." Hiccup said.
She sighed. "Nothing's wrong, Hiccup."
"Kate," he said, raising his eyebrows.
Of course there's something, you idiot! Can't anyone tell?
"Hiccup, stop looking at me like that, please, I'm perfectly fine."
Uh oh, extreme formality. That's a definite sign. Please notice.
"Kate, I know something's up. Please tell me."
"I'm fine, Hiccup," Kate pressed.
Help me, please. I'm so confused.
"I'm here for you, Kate."
She said nothing.
I know, Hiccup, and thank you, you're really my best friend ever, thank you.
"And you know who else is?"
Kate sighed, looking away.
Please no.
"Jack is."
Kate stopped, looking at him.
Don't you dare-
"I can go get him."
Hiccup Haddock you wouldn't dare.
"I will interrupt his track meet just to drag his sorry ass over here."
Kate laughed inwardly.
Oh Hiccup, if only you had the guts to do that.
"Okay, well, you've forced my hand." He got up, walking to the door.
Holy shit, you're serious!
Her eyes widened and she ran to close the door.
She shut it in his face, flinging him back.
"So?"
Kate sighed, leaning against the door.
"Spill."
Thank you.
"Fine." She said out loud.
Hiccup sat cross-legged on her bed and she sat down heavily next to him.
"Okay, well, Kate's short for Katrian-"
"I know that."
She glared at him. Don't interrupt me, young man.
"As I was saying, but Katrian isn't my real name. It's only my middle name."
"Why is this important?" He asked, getting impatient.
Will you shut up and let me explain?
"Because it is, now, before I moved here, and before I moved there, I was...somebody else. But my parents died in a car accident, and nothing was the same. So, when I moved, I wanted to recreate myself. So, I have to tell you, this is not my real hair color," she said, pointing to her chocolate brown french braided crown twist bun.
"What?" He asked, confused.
Kate sighed. She went to the bathroom.
"Wait, don't leave!" He said.
Idiot.
"I'm not. It's part of the explanation."
She got to the bathroom, washing her face with some water. The bronzer came off easily, showing her pale complexion.
She stared at the mirror for a second.
Was she really going to reveal everything?
Yes. It's time. And if you don't want to tell Jack or Anna, might as well tell someone you can trust.
But could she trust Hiccup?
Of course! He is your best friend.
She sighed, walking back out.
"Whoa, you're really pale," Hiccup commented.
Thank you, Einstein.
"Yeah."
Now for those pesky contacts...
She sighed again. Then, she reached up, taking off her color contacts.
"You have blue eyes." Hiccup noted.
She nodded, sitting back down.
"I'm gunna guess blonde hair?"
Again; nod.
Very pale. Almost white, but natural looking.
"I'm sorry, why is this important?"
"Because I when I wanted to recreate myself, I wanted no trace of who I was before. I never wanted that part of my life back, even though I left behind a lot. It was better that way..." She trailed off.
"I see. Where did you used to live?"
She whispered the Godforsaken place, but he didn't hear it.
"What?"
"Arendelle." She said louder.
"Oh. Jack's from Arendelle."
"Yeah. I remember him." She said it faintly, but Hiccup missed the emotion in it. Luckily.
Luckily? Are you sure?
"Oh, shut up."
"What?" Hiccup was slightly taken back.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean you, I just...am going crazy."
"Oh. Well, the rest of the story?"
"Right. That's pretty much it. Everything was just too painful to carry, so instead, I dropped it all to become someone else."
"Well," he said. "If you ask me, that seems harder than carrying it all around."
She looked up at him.
"Well, it's just, you left behind the ones you love. You sacrificed everything. It seems kind of selfish if you ask me."
Well I didn't.
But I am. But I also can't face the past. I'm just not strong enough.
Conceal it, don't feel it.
But you don't have to conceal.
Yes.
You don't have to be erased.
I.
You don't have to hide.
Do.
"Okay, I need to go," Kate announced, getting up and briefly petting Nevara.
"Wait," she froze. "Okay, you've told me just about everything."
Just about? She raised her eyebrow.
He got up.
And held his hand out.
"Hi, I'm Hiccup Haddock. My real name's Harry, but no one calls me that anymore." He smiled.
Kate looked hesitantly at his hand.
Go on.
She gave a small smile.
"Katrian Hope. My real name's Elsa, but I don't call myself that anymore."
She shook his hand.
"Well, nice to meet you," he said.
She ran back to the bathroom to reapply her makeup and put in her contacts. She just about left.
"Oh wait. Hiccup?"
"Mm?"
"You...you can't tell anyone."
"Of course."
"And you can't call me by...that."
"No more than anyone calls me 'Harry.'"
"Hiccup..."
"I know."
Kate sighed, looking down. "But swear on your life that you won't tell anyone."
"I swear to the Gods."
"...Especially...Jack..."
"What? Why?"
"Just promise!" She snapped.
"I promise."
She stared at him again.
"And when I make a promise, I don't break it." He said meaningful.
Satisfied, she walked out.
"I'll be holding you to that." With that, she left to the practice room.
Now didn't that feel good to let it go?
Yes it did, she agreed. But I can't let it go. Not now. Not ever.
Baby steps...
Hiccup, on the other hand, was completely unsure on why she didn't want him to tell Jack. He understood on everyone else, but she had specifically said Jack. He wouldn't, either way, but it was confusing. But that must have been hard for Kate. She didn't have anyone to turn to. He knew the feeling. His own father practically hated him. He wasn't strong, buff, and combat-talented. Nor would he ever be, but he was turning out alright, right?
Most certainly not in his father's eyes.
He walked back to his dorm, loosening his tie as he stepped into the room.
He found quite an odd sight.
His roommate was laying down in a dark room, just staring blankly at the ceiling, completely flat.
"Uh, hey, Jack?" He greeted awkwardly.
"Hi." He replied dully.
"Um, okay." He said, setting his things down.
He got a drink out of the fridge, then sat down on his bed.
He sighed. He had already played therapist once today, what was one more?
"So...what's wrong with you?"
"Everything."
Well, it was more progress than he had had with Kate.
If he could call this progress.
"Care to explain?"
"Nope," Jack said, popping the p.
"This was stupid." He mumbled to himself, going to turn on the lights.
He got a glass of water, walking back to the main room.
"Just remember, you brought this on yourself." Hiccup warned before dumping the water glass's contents onto his roommate.
Jack jumped up, sputtering. "What the hell?"
"I said you brought this on yourself." Hiccup shrugged.
Jack grumbled something else that Hiccup probably didn't want to hear anyways.
"Now explain."
Jack laid back down, the wet bed already forgotten. "I've lost her."
"Who?" Hiccup asked, very interested.
He looked over, seemingly surprised that he had said anything at all. Jack looked back up at the ceiling. "No one."
"Jack, don't make me," Hiccup grabbed the glass again, getting up.
"I'm explaining, I'm explaining!" Jack got up again, sitting upright.
"Okay, when I was growing up, my neighbor was my best friend. She and I did everything together. Then, one day, she shut me out, and, I never knew why. Until a while ago." Jack had used almost those exact words to someone else he could remember at the moment, but it made sense so he simply repeated it.
"Apparently, she and her family got in a bad accident, where her parents were killed, and her sister got amnesia. Her sister remembered nothing. When she found out that her parents had died, the sister thought that her older sister had died as well. The girl was heartbroken and simply shut me and everyone else out. Then, two weeks later, she moved away and I never saw her again." He sighed.
"And a while ago, her sister and I did a little digging around-"
"What kind of digging?" Hiccup asked suddenly.
"Oh, you know," Jack said suspiciously. "But anywho, we found out that she got adopted to a family somewhere and she's not coming back."
Kate hadn't said anything about a sister, but I wonder...their stories match.
"What was her name?" He asked, clearing his throat. Curse his lying abilities. He could keep secrets no problem. Lying? Not so much.
Jack sighed again. He and Kate had this little thing going on with themselves, he decided.
"Elsa Summers." He said.
Hiccup could have fallen off the bed.
He did, in fact.
"Hiccup! Are you okay?" Jack looked over the edge of the bed.
"Oh, yeah," he groaned. "You know, pain, love it!" He gasped.
Jack tried to keep his laughter in but failed miserably.
"I'm perfectly fine, thank you," Hiccup retorted.
"Ahem, sorry," Jack said, sitting tall.
Hiccup sighed this time. But...why wouldn't she...maybe I could...
No. I promised.
Sorry Jack.
"I'm really sorry." He said.
Jack shrugged, brushing it off.
"It's okay. People leave. No big deal. Honestly, you're the only person I've ever told about Elsa. It's not that big of a deal."
But Hiccup could see that he was more trying to convince himself than Hiccup.
Jack awkwardly wiped his hands against his uniform.
"You're not...gunna tell anyone about this, right?"
"Got it, lips are sealed," Hiccup said, demonstrating.
Jack laughed nervously. "Thanks. You're a good friend."
"What I'm here for," he said, smiling.
Jack left, then.
Hiccup relaxed, falling on his bed face-first.
Why did people have to be so damn complicated?
Kate headed to the practice rooms.
She just had to run into Jack.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry!" She said, getting up.
"Oh, hey Kate," Jack said.
"Oh, hey Jack. P-please excuse me," she said, walking away.
"Kate, wait," he said.
Conceal, don't feel, put on a show. Make one wrong move and everyone will know.
"Yes?"
"Please stop."
"Stop what?" She said, stopping and looking concerned.
"What's wrong." He didn't ask.
Everything, Jack.
"I can tell."
Can you? Can you do something about it?
"Why do you shut everyone out?"
I don't want to. Reach for me, I'm drowning. Save me, please.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to make you feel like I'm shutting you out. There's just...some stuff going on."
Oh God, help me Jack. I'm so deep in this hole I can't get up by myself.
He blinks a few times. He looks concerned, but he drops it, walking off.
Kate breathed a sigh of relief.
No matter how much I want you to now, you can't really know. I'm sorry.
She fixed her bun, walking on.
When she reached the beloved piano, she ran her hand over the keys. So smooth and comforting.
She opened it up, playing the first song that came to mind about her situation.
Her inner self was singing and Kate was along for the ride.
How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb
Without a soul my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it and lead it back home
She sang slowly, letting each note reach its full potential. She wished that she could express herself in more than just a song already written, but she wouldn't allow herself.
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
Kate felt like Evanscene's lyrics fit her. It sure felt like she was trapped in an nightmare. She couldn't reach out even if she tried, but she wished that Jack would save her. But that would ruin everything.
Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
Kate continued to sing slowly, but she felt very emotional. It was almost pleasurable. It was the one time she would allow herself to really be what she wanted.
Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love, darling
Only you are the life among the dead
She closed her eyes as she sang the next part. It was a little faster and her fingers flew across the keys.
All this time I couldn't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
Jack had bleached his hair, but she still should have recognized him and avoided him from the start. It would have been much easier that way.
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Without a thought, without a voice, without a soul
Don't let me die here
There must be something more
Bring me to life
She opened her eyes. If one looked close enough, they could probably find the faintest of blue behind her brown eyes.
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
Her fingers danced across the piano as she played a small harmony part.
Bring me to life
(I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside)
Bring me to life
As the song concluded, she brought her fingers back to her side gently, bringing what little comfort she could.
Unbeknownst to Kate, Jack Frost slipped away into the shadows, heading back to his own practice room
Haha so, I deleted the Fanfic Survey, so now I don't exactly know where the reviews for the real chapter 16 starts, so Imma start somewhere and sorry if I skip you.
Rinrinlizzie02: nooooo, she's just gunna go through the whole story hiding who she really is and then she dies alone, unhappy -_- haha, sorry, couldn't help myself. But anyways, thank you and I will try not to disappoint!
ATA: don't worry, it won't. I'll have a lot more time in summer for updates :)
Livia Toric: thank you so much!
toomanyfeels: lol don't worry, I'm pretty sure we all do. My schedule when I'm done with my real life: take a shower, go on Fanfic.
Jewelaria Rosha: haha thanks
nyc4me: we shall see...
Shimmer Shine: exactly!
Snowman: oh. My. God. Who are you and what have you done with Snowman! Lol, jk, but had to comment on it. And firstly, you want a teenage girl to describe a slightly older teenage girl as 'woman'? But I did take your suggestion into account! Just with a few minor thingies here-and-there. But, actually, being a writer isn't that hard. Hopelessness, actually, it was a very short chapter but glad it was soulful ^-^
RinRinLizzie02: hello again, thanks
parker: I'll see
AhsokaTano11: again, wow. I'm surprised. But I am glad, nonetheless :)
ATA: apologies if I don't use it, I have some ideas for it. Don't worry, they'll be very dramatic ;)