The past three weeks had been some of the happiest of Jack's life. Despite the secretive nature of their relationship, he and Elsa had still managed to engage in some normalcy. Small acts such as sitting together in class with their hands entwined under desks, stolen kisses in the corridors of their university, text messages during the days when they were apart and long hours spent chatting online. The small daily actions were crucial to keeping their blossoming relationship together.
He had started to joke that Elsa was becoming quite adept at lying about her whereabouts on the weekends. Elsa preferred to refer to her actions as 'stretching the truth.' She maintained that all she had been doing, was telling her parents that she was meeting students as part of a study group. She had pointed out that it was true, the people she was meeting with were students and sometimes they did discuss their subjects. Her tone would always get serious and she would hold up her hand and wave it about as if to further her point. Every time she did so, Jack would laugh and pull her close to him. He would nuzzle his head on her shoulder and wait until she relented and swatted him for getting her riled up.
Their friends had continued to be supportive of the two of them. Lana had gone to visit Elsa at work the day after their first date. Elsa had told him later that evening that Lana had refused to leave the counter until she had received a full report on their date. Jamie, on the other-hand, had taken to joking about being the fifth wheel. He'd pointed out that his friends were now coupled up and would relax with their bodies connected, be it by lips, hands or just simple touches while in his presence. Despite their happiness for Jack, Fred and Jamie had continued to tease him for being lovestruck. They had claimed that he was even more of a 'lovestruck puppy' now that the object of his affection had fallen for him.
Elsa let out a content sigh as the scent of the bubble bath filled the room. The sound of the radio playing a soothing tune in the background was helping her feel relaxed. Closing her eyes, she let her mind wander as she tried to figure out her plans for the weekend. She knew that she had work and study commitments, but she also needed to find some time to sneak out to see Jack.
She had returned home less than forty minutes earlier. After parking her car in the garage, she had slowly entered the kitchen. Her walk had been slow and stiff. Jack had insisted that they went ice skating. She had not had the heart to tell him that ice skating was not one of her skills. It had only been after her third fall that he had decided to step in. He had helped her to her feet and had declared her incapable of skating without his assistance. He had then led her around the rink with his arm wrapped tightly around her waist. Once they had finished skating, he had leaned in to prescribe a series of kisses, which he had said would help with the healing.
Any plans that she'd had to enter the house unnoticed, had been thwarted almost instantly upon entering the kitchen. She had found the kitchen and dining area abuzz with noise when she had entered. Anna had invited Rapunzel, Flynn and Kristoff over and the four of them were gathered round a table competing in a game of Pictionary. Elsa had paused long enough to greet them. They had invited her to join them for the next round, but she had politely declined and cited a date with the bath tub and homework was on the cards for her.
In the privacy of her room, she had emptied her bag. Her eyes had caught sight of a text from Jack. It had been a simple message to remind her that he had no more hockey games and would be free to see her on Saturday afternoons if she could sneak away.
Blinking, she shook her head as the relaxing tunes that had been playing, made way for loud, brash radio adverts. She frowned as she noticed the warm water had now cooled. Biting her lip, she glanced at the clock and noticed that she had spent far longer than she intended to in the bath. Sighing, she reached down and pulled the plug.
Elsa let out a loud grin. She felt her shoulders slump as she slid her key into the front door.
Her day at work had been exhausting. She had been left in charge of training the two new staff members. They had replaced Collette's position with a woman named Marie and had hired Rapunzel's partner, Flynn, to work part time. Despite the fact that both new members were lovely, it had been tiring and Elsa had been forced to manage training them as well as serving customers.
She had only just left work when Jack had called. He had wanted to catch up with her, even it was only for a quick walk around the park. Reluctantly, she had declined. She had stated that she was overtired from the week and had promised to make time to see him on the Sunday.
He had sounded dejected when she had declined, but had soon perked up with the promise of seeing her the following day.
Pushing open the front door, she made her way into the house. The sound of the TV playing could be heard. She poked her head in the lounge room and stifled a laugh as her eyes caught sight of Anna, who was sprawled on the couch while watching Mean Girls for the umpteenth time.
She leaned against the doorframe and moved to loosen her hair from its tie. "Don't you ever get bored of that movie?" she asked. "You've seen it well over a hundred times."
She watched as Anna reached to pause the movie before turning to face her. "It's not possible to get bored of the classics, Elsa," she sang before poking her tongue out.
She laughed before turning to smile at her sister. She had to admit, the movie was quite good. Her and Anna would often curl up and watch the movie together. They would grab a large block of chocolate to share and turn the sound up while quoting their favourite lines.
"I know," she teased. "I still remember the time when you decided that we all had to wear pink on Wednesday. Thankfully, that idea only lasted a month before you got bored of it."
"Only because I ran out of pink!" Anna shot back.
She watched as Anna paused before her smile faltered. Frowning, she bit her lip as she wondered what had prompted the sudden change of expression in her sister.
"Dad is looking for you," Anna warned. "He's been in a foul mood all afternoon. So, good luck. I have no idea what it's about though. Sorry."
She could feel the lump forming in her throat and gulped. "It's probably work related," she suggested and ran a finger through her hair. "Thanks for letting me know."
"Elsa," her mum called as she poked her head into the room. "Honey, your dad is looking for you."
"I heard," she murmured, giving her mum a bleak smile. "Any idea what it is about?"
Her mum shook her head. "I think that it's probably best if you speak to your father," she said glumly. "He's a bit worried about you."
"Okay, well I will head to my room. I want to get changed first," she said.
"That's fine. I'll let him know you are home," Lillian smiled.
Elsa nodded. Turning on her heels, she climbed the stairs and entered her room. Opening her wardrobe, she pulled out a comfy pair of jeans and her green hoodie. She quickly slid the new clothes on and tossed her work clothes into the clothes hamper.
A knock on the door caused her to jump slightly. "Elsa," the monotonous tone of her father called from the other side. "We need to talk."
Gulping she opened the door. Her father stood with his face flushed and his arms crossed. She stepped back and beckoned for him to enter. Without saying a word, he brushed past her and perched himself on the corner of her desk. She watched as he turned to stare at her before beckoning her to take a seat.
"Elsa, I have a few concerns," he began. "Your mother and I have noticed a change in you over the past few weeks. A change that we don't necessarily appreciate. Your attitude towards your work and studies has dropped and we are - "
Furrowing her brows, she turned to stare at him. "Dropped how?" she interrupted.
Clearing his throat, Walt continued. "As I was saying. We have picked up on a few subtle changes. You have started to go out to a few too many study groups and have given us only the basic information. You've also come home a bit later than is appropriate. As far as work has gone, you have changed shifts for no apparent reason and have refused to stay back longer when required. Frankly, Elsa, this behaviour is not acceptable for a future CEO. It certainly isn't appropriate behaviour for my daughter"
She could feel the frustration building. "Not appropriate?!" she protested, raising her hands up in defeat. "All I do is work and study. I have no life. Sure, I have changed a few shifts, but I haven't missed hours. I have still completed all my rostered hours. You are really going to get mad at me for changing a few shifts and joining a study group?
"Elsa," Walt warned. "I suggest that you watch your tone. I will not be spoken to like this in my own home."
She turned to stare at him. She could feel a surge of adrenaline coursing through her, brought on by the exhaustion and anger that she felt. "Fine, I'll leave," she snapped.
Opening her wardrobe, she pulled out a pair of sneakers and slipped them onto her feet. She then turned to grab her phone, keys and purse and tossed them into her handbag.
"Leave?" repeated her father. "You will do no such thing. Honestly, Elsa, what has got into you? You're a good girl. I know it, you know it. However, this behaviour of yours is not good."
"A good girl!" she cried and turned to face her father. "You really believe that I'm no longer a good girl because I dare join a study group and made one mistake in coming home late. Face it, Dad, I have far less freedom than Anna. She gets to study what she wants. She works less hours than I do and she actually has a social life. I get none of that despite the fact that I am the oldest and have always done what you've asked me to."
She watched as her father clenched his jaw in anger. Tightening the grip on her handbag, she brushed past him. A part of her could not believe the way she was acting. She knew that it would only make her situation worse, but she didn't care. She couldn't care.
She caught her mum's curious gaze as she raced down the stairs. She paused momentarily to offer her mum a bleak smile before continuing.
"Elsa Kim Blanchard, you will get back here right now," boomed her father as he thundered down the stairs after her. "Your mother has dinner cooking. You will not disrespect us."
Spinning on her heels, she caught his gaze and glared at him. "I guess that my dinner will have to wait in the oven because I'm done. I need to get out of here. I've had a long day and a long week. I'm exhausted. Besides, clearly I'm nothing but a big disappointment, so consider this me giving you yet another reason to be ashamed of me, Dad," she snapped.
Turning her back on him, she continued on her path. Behind her, she could hear her dad angrily speaking to her mother. She heard the pleading tone in her mother's voice and knew that she was trying to calm her husband down. Shaking her head, she noticed a flash of strawberry-blonde hair flying out of the kitchen as Anna scurried out of the way.
Digging in her handbag, she pulled out the car keys. She could hear her father shouting her name, but she didn't dare stop. Instead, she pulled open the front door and slammed it closed behind her before storming towards her car.
It wasn't until she had turned around the corner from her home that she realised she'd stormed out with nowhere to go. Sheepishly, she pulled the car into park and rung Jack. To her relief, he picked up on the fifth ring.
'Hey,' his sounded down the phone.
"Hey," she sniffed and wiped back a tear. "I know that it's last minute and all, but can we please catch up? I need to see you."
'Of course, meet me at the Regent cinema complex car-park in Corona. I'll leave right away,' Jack replied, the sound of his keys jingling could be heard in the background.
"Thanks, she murmured. "I'll see you soon."
Jack grinned as the familiar sight of Elsa's blue Honda pulled into the cinema car park. He exited his car and waved her down. He still couldn't believe that she had called him so suddenly. When they had spoken earlier, she had sounded exhausted and he'd been left to believe that she was planning on relaxing. However, the surprise had turned to concern when he had noticed the tremble in her voice.
He watched as she made her way to him. Lifting her head, she gave him a weak smile. It was obvious to him that she was trying her best to appear composed in front of him. He waited for her to get closer before he made his to her.
"Come here," he coaxed as he reached his arms out to pull her towards him.
Willingly, she obeyed and threw her arms around his neck. He leaned down to press a kiss on her forehead before tightening his grip on her. They stood in silence for a few seconds while he relished in the feeling of holding her in his arms. He heard a few sniffles escape from Elsa as he stroked his hand through her hair.
A minute later and she moved her hand to stroke through his hair. "I had to get out. I can't stand it," she cried.
He sighed. Reaching his thumb out, he wiped at the tears that had formed in her eyes. "Get your handbag and lock your car," he muttered. "We're going for a drive."
Jack had heard the soft sniffles which had come from Elsa as they drove. Whatever had happened at her home had caused her to be upset and he was not happy. Reaching over, he had opened the glove compartment and had pulled open a small pack of tissues to hand to her.
He had driven aimlessly. He hadn't even realised where he was going until they had reached the foot of the hills that lined the city's eastern suburbs. Expertedly, he had driven his car around the winding roads and had passed the exit points for various small towns. He had driven for thirty minutes. In that time, Elsa had remained quiet, save for a few waning sobs. He had tried to cheer her up by telling her a few lame jokes. Each joke he told, he would laugh a little bit louder as if it was the funniest thing he had heard all day. To his relief, that had seemed to have done the trick and Elsa had ceased sobbing and had reached her hand over to lightly squeeze his leg.
After thirty-five minutes of driving, he had pulled the car into park on a hill which overlooked the city and suburbs. He had released his seatbelt and had clamoured into the back seat before pulling Elsa to join him. He'd then wrapped his arms and legs around her while she had laid back against his chest.
"When you're ready," he murmured. He shifted his head to press a soft kiss to her jawline.
"Jack," her voice cracked. Tilting her head, she looked at him.
He sighed as he took in the sight of fresh tears in her eyes.
He tightened his grip on Elsa as she burst into tears. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to her cheek. He felt her hands reach up and grip at his hoodie as she bunched the fabric under her fingers. He brushed his hand through her hair and listened as she replayed the argument with her father as well as the pressure that she felt to be perfect. Biting his lip, he couldn't help wishing that he could do more for her. Suddenly, all the quirks that people associated with her made sense. For all her life, she had been striving to be the perfect daughter and meet her father's standards.
"Why can't Anna do more?" he asked as he trailed a finger up her arms. "She's smart, friendly and is just as capable as you are."
Shaking her head, Elsa turned to look at him. "Anna's too happy and too free-spirited. I could not let her be raised like I was. She would hate the corporate life - sitting down in long meetings, swamped with paperwork. No, that's not the life for Anna," she explained.
"So, you're telling me that you would rather be miserable yourself. You would prefer to work long hours in a career chosen for you than face your father. You've lived for 21 years of your life in a situation where your only friendship and socialisation came from your family and the fake bullshit that goes on at business functions. Hell, you even have to lie in order to go out and have fun with me and our friends," he reasoned. "Elsa, that is not a life. You deserve happiness as well as Anna. You know it, I know it and Anna knows it. You can't tell me that she is happy about this!"
He heard Elsa let out a loud sigh as her hands moved down to grip his own. "I know," she admitted. "It is what has to be done though, to keep Anna happy. Surely you would do the same for Emily?"
He blinked. Suddenly, it was his turn to let out a loud exhale. He rested his chin on Elsa's head and tightened his grip on her hands. "I would," he agreed. "I owe it to her. After all, it is my fault that she has grown up without a mother."
Elsa felt the shift in Jack's attitude. It had been instantaneous. His calm, soothing voice had changed to melancholy and his body had stiffened. Sitting up, she turned to face him and noticed that the normal twinkle had disappeared from his eyes. She shuffled back to lie against the locked door. She reached her hands out and pulled him to lie against her chest. He had provided her with the comfort that she needed and now it was her turn to do the same for him.
"I'm not sure I understand," she whispered as she brushed a hand through his hair.
Jack let out a loud sigh. His hands ran absent-mindedly up and down the length of her legs. "It's my fault," he began. "My mum's death. I'm the reason that she died. It was my cousin, Thia's, fifteenth birthday. Mum asked me to hold onto her present while she was busy with Emily. Only thing is, I was too caught up with my stupid action hero toys and I forgot. It was only when we got to my uncle's house when I realised that I had left the present at home. Mum decided to go home and get it…"
He paused to choke back a tear before he continued. "She was crossing an intersection when an idiot in a speeding car ran a red light. If I hadn't left the present at home, she would never have been on the road and Em would still have our mum."
She let out a gasp as he finished his story. She had known for a while that Jack's mum had died in a car crash and had left him to be raised by his aunt and uncle. However, the circumstances surrounding his mother's death had always remained a mystery. "How old were you?" she asked as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.
Jack paused before moving to grip at her elbow. "I was ten and Emily was two," he replied. "We moved in with my uncle immediately. There was never any doubt in his mind that we would live with him. I was a complete brat for the first few months. I treated them like shit. The only one who was safe from my moods was Em. She was my one saving grace. I think part of the reason my uncle got me into hockey was so that I could channel my mood in a more positive way."
Elsa frowned. She cupped his chin and tilted his head so that he was forced to look at her. "Jack, you were ten years old. There is no way that you were in anyway responsible for what happened to your mum. The fault lies with the driver who broke the road rules and hit your mum, not you," she reasoned.
She felt Jack wriggle so that he was resting his head on her chest. His fingers curled up in her hoodie. They sat in silence for a few minutes while she brushed her fingers through his hair.
After a while, she caught sight of the beginning of Jack's lopsided grin forming on his face as his eyes flicked between her chest and her eyes. "I like the view from here," he smirked.
Groaning, she leaned down and swatted him. She shook her head before tilting his chin slightly. Leaning down, she pressed a kiss to his lips. She felt him break the kiss. Frowning, she watched as he moved out of her grasp so that he was leaning against the back-seat.
She cocked her head to look at him and noticed the smirk that had appeared on his face. Within seconds, his hand had shot out and pulled her so that she was straddling his lap. One hand reached to press on the small of her back while the other cupped the back of her head as he tilted his head up to kiss her. Wrapping her head around his neck, she pulled herself closer to him. She felt his tongue brush against her lip. Parting her lips, she gave him the access that he wanted.
They kissed for a few minutes before the need for air forced them apart. Pulling apart, she rested her forehead against his and stared into his eyes. She could feel his hands caressing her as they trailed the length of her torso. "You make everything better," she murmured.
Jack frowned as he pulled the car into a car park in the Corona cinema complex.
After spending ninety minutes curled up in the car with Elsa, they had both agreed to return home. The time spent together, as well as the travelling time had meant that it had been close to three hours since Elsa had stormed out of her home in anger.
The drive back had been quiet. He'd realised that Elsa was worried about going home and having to face her angry father. Leaning down, he had gently squeezed her leg and had reminded her that she could always text him and he would ring her, or he'd happily get online to chat with her.
He had tried to lighten the mood as they pulled into the cinema car park. He had seen the sign advertising the latest animated movie and had reminded her that he expected to see the movie like they had planned. She had chuckled slightly at his enthusiasm before she'd let out a sigh.
"We're here," he said glumly.
Opening his door, he ran around the other side to open the door for her. He wrapped his arm around her back and pulled her to rest by his side. He could feel her slowing down her pace as they walked towards her car.
Sighing, he leaned against the driver's side door of her car. He pulled her to rest against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. "Tell you what, I'll follow you home. Once you get home, I will head off. You will be okay. Remember, I'm only a phone call away," he murmured.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her head to look at him. He could see the sign of fresh tears in her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Anytime, baby," he remarked. "Besides, it's not been that bad a night. I did get to rest my head on your boobs. I've wanted to do that for years!"
"Jack!" she scolded. She leaned back and placed a playful punch on his arm. "You always have to go and ruin a sweet moment!"
Chuckling, he turned to smirk at her. He moved his arms to tighten his grip on her. "Yeah, but that's what makes you love me," he teased.
She turned to look at him and he noticed that her eyes had returned to their normal bright appearance. Slowly, she stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms back around his neck. Standing on her tippy-toes, she leaned in and kissed him. He reacted immediately and tightened his grip on her as he returned the kiss.
He felt her break the kiss before she let out a reluctant sigh and rested her head on his shoulder. Her eyes glanced up at him and he knew that she was delaying going home.
"Go," he urged. "Trust me, you have to go now, or else I won't be able to let go of you."
Elsa nodded. Reaching up, she pressed one last quick kiss to his lips before she climbed in her car. He shut the door for her before heading to his own car. Slipping the key in the ignition, he started the car up and pulled out of the park. He wove through the streets as he followed Elsa to her home. Once they reached her home, he flashed his lights and waved to her before leaving her to return to his own home.
A/N- Thank you all for your wonderful, supportive reviews. It seems we all liked the events that happened in the last chapter which makes me happy. I had a lot of fun writing that chapter. It took me a while to research and write, but it was a lot of fun. Hope you all have a wonderful week.
Keep Calm and Ship Jelsa.