Hi there! :D Back once more for you guys (:

Now, a reviewer gave me a good idea for background-story-stuff, so that's what's gonna happen :D

Enjoy!

Chapter 10: Jack

"Hey, Elsa. What's up?" I smile at her through the camera, glad someone invented Skype.

"Hey, Jack. Oh, nothing much, really. Trying to get some homework done for Wednesday, but the words doesn't want to leave my fingers, it seems." I laugh a little, shaking my head.

"Or really? I thought you were the one in class who got A's on everything, and made homework for fun." I tease, and she snorts with a smile.

"Come on, Jack. You know me! I'm not the teacher's pet." She smiles, looking straight at me. I roll my eyes, shrugging.

"Yeah, whatever. But, it wasn't actually not why I wanted to call you… You know it's been the best week ever, since our date, right?" I sign it a bit slow, so the slightly bad connection can cope with it. She nods, urging me to continue.

"Well…. we've been together every single day, both out in the public and at your place. And… I've been wondering for a day or two now… How… how did you become deaf? It's completely okay, if you don't want to answer." I halt in my signing, and just end up writing most of my ramble in the message bar underneath the screen. As Elsa's expression shows she's read it, she looks back up at me, pulling her lips a bit to the side.

"Well…" Her speaking voice cracked trough my headphones, taking me by surprise.

"As I said, it's okay if you don't want to talk about it."

"No, no, it's not that. It's just been so long since I've talked about it." She smiles, looking straight into the camera. I smile weakly back at her.

"Take your time. I have all day, if that is what it takes." She smiles warmly at me, taking deep breath.

"It all started when I was almost three years old. We were driving somewhere outside. It was dark, closing in on winter, I think. I sat in the middle back seat, and mum was pregnant with Anna." She hesitates a bit, as she remembers.

"I… I remember a song… I can't remember the lyrics, but the tunes… They're unforgettable. I remember it being played in the car and… I really liked it. I jumped around in my seat, jamming along with the artist. I slightly remember mum's laughing voice, and she told me to settle down a bit, but I wouldn't. I loved the music too much. Dad was just smiling all the time, looking out on the dark road." I smile at her retelling, and giggles at her description of her mother's voice. It really must be hard, not being able to hear her own mother's voice. Or… anymore, at least.

"It all happened so fast. Another car came from either side of us and… I remember a scream, an airbag, and then everything got black. I've never heard a single thing since. I woke up in the hospital, not knowing where I was. I shouted out for my mum, but I couldn't hear myself, so I thought nobody could hear me. I was so confused for around a year, until the specialists had taught me and my family how to sign." She says, staring down the second things got serious.

"Elsa, I…" I typed it to her, for I knew she wouldn't look up. She quickly glances at the message, sniffing once.

"Yeah… I had a tough childhood. I got extremely careful and very isolated. After Anna was born, it got better. I loved my little sister, and she was so happy, even though I could not hear it. I still can't believe that I've never heard my sister's voice. And… after one fateful afternoon, stuff got worse again. Anna was very young, and had just learned how to walk by herself. I was almost five, and big enough to take care of my sister at the playground on the park, while my parents sat a bit away from us. She climbed up the ladder to the slide, and she fell and broke her arm. I never heard any of it… Her cry out for help… the scream in agony as the bone broke… If I just been able to hear her, I'd… I'd been able to help her down…" She stops for a few seconds, controlling her breath. I frown, feeling a rising urge to be there with her, and hug her so tight, she'll disappear in my arms.

"I blamed myself for what happened that day. Afterwards, I never wanted to go outside, I never wanted be with anyone. At sometimes, not even my own mum. I didn't want to hurt them in any way possible. I just wanted to be by myself, in my room, where I knew that I could stay safe, along with others staying safe."

"Stuff got a bit better, once I started a Felton. I started in the grade school department, and that's where I met Astrid. I was extremely shy, very secluded, but Astrid… She was so cool. She was the cool kid in my class, and every girl wanted to be her." She smiles at the memory of how she met Astrid.

"One day, I was sitting on a swing, and a big guy came over and started to mock me for my insecurities. And then, Astrid came by, almost beating the kid. She yell- no signed- bad stuff at him, and smiled at me. We've been besties ever since. She showed me, that it'd okay to around other people. I don't put them in danger, by being around them." She continues to smile, even though her retelling is over.

"I feel really sorry for you, Elsa. Though, I'm really happy, that everything turned out good, but… I just can't imagine what it must've been like, growing up deaf."

"Trust me, you can't imagine it. It's… better forgotten than remembered, at least for me." She smiles weakly, pulling on her shoulders. I smile gently back at her, staring into her beautiful blue eyes for a few minutes.

"Hey, Els?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you." I smile, enjoying the way the words leave my lips, and how oddly smooth the signs form on my fingers.

A whole week, we've dating, getting to know each other better, and just…. hanging out as much as possible. Now, Ice hockey has been taking up most of time after school, but that didn't stop us from still seeing each other almost every single day, deepening our friendship – I mean, relationship.

It's still a bit weird to think that I have a girlfriend. Now, I know that I've been with Tooth, but it was a brief thing. It didn't last for more than a few weeks, and I we just agreed that we were better off as friends.

But Elsa… She's amazing. Wonderful, no… Angelic.

In truth, no words can describe her, nor the joy I feel for her being mine. She's actually mine.

And I just told her. I poured it all out in those three words, and few signs.

On the other side of the screen, a wide warm smile and a blood red blush appear, and I can't help but giggle a little.

"Not used to hearing that, I'd wager?" I say, gaze still locked with hers. She only shakes her head, barely moving.

"But, it is nice to know, Jack. Really." I can only smile at her shy statement, though the honesty is shining through.

"Jack? Can I come watch you practice tomorrow? It's we-have-no-classes-together-day tomorrow, and I have a date with Astrid a lunch." I smirk a little, bearing a mischievous glint I the eye.

"A date, you say? Why Elsa, is there a reason for me to be jealous? Already? My god, and I just declared my love to you." I smile, and she laughs aloud, and the sound of her joyful voice makes me a little dizzy.

"No, Jack, don't worry. Astrid's not into girls and vice versa." She blinks, shuffling with a pencil.

"But, sure. We practice for a few hours after fifth period. Just pop by anytime you want." I smile, while signing what I can. I really have to practice more often.

"Can we also then, make an ASL-date? Or a double-date with Hiccup and Astrid?"

"With Hiccup and Astrid? Sure, but they aren't a thing, aren't they?" She asks, looking confused at me.

"Well, I've heard that Hiccup confessed, and then they chose to forget all about it, and just 'move on as if mothing happened'." I shrug, looking at my phone as a message ticks in. It's from Hiccup.

Hey Jack. Just wanted to let you know that Astrid and I are having an ASL-lesson Friday afternoon. I know it's in the middle of practice, but do you think you could say something to Hans and coach?

Sure, np. Actually… Can Elsa and I join you? I've just proposed Elsa the same idea. I look up from my phone, quickly briefing Elsa of who and what I'm writing.

"Yeah, I'm sure Astrid doesn't mind. After all, we're both your teachers." She jokes, and I smile at her. I return to the phone, telling Hiccup, that Elsa approves of Friday.

Cool. Astrid also just typed back. It seems like we have a double-date on Friday! We leave after sixth period, right?

Yeah. I'll just text Bunny to tell Hans that we can't make it.

Gotcha. See ya!

I put the phone down, returning to my skype-call with Elsa.

"We have a date on Friday. Hiccup's place after school." I inform, and Elsa nods.

"Oh, wait, doesn't Hiccup have a dog?" She asks, tapping a bit with her pencil again.

"Yeah. You allergic or something?"

"No, not at all, I love dogs. I've just been told from Astrid, that he's a bit secluded." She says quietly.

"Oh, yeah that. He can be a bit… judgmental when it comes to new people, but when he knows that he can trust you, he's the biggest sweetheart you've ever met, trust me. Hiccup will let you know how to greet him properly." I say, smiling reassuringly at her. She smiles back, looking straight at me for a while.

"Well, I really should get going with my homework." She says, tapping with the pencil again. I nod, pulling on my shoulders.

"Yeah, sure. I'll talk to you later." I rest the mouse over the hang-up button, looking at her for any further last-minutes-comments.

"Oh, and Jack? I love you too." She smiles, before hanging up herself. I stare dumbfounded at the camera for a little while, while Elsa's last words imprinted themselves on the insides of my skull. I never thought I could be happier already but…

She loved me back.

Soo, Elsa's background story is now out! With this new chapter, I've needed to edit a bit in a few chapters, the first one being one of them. I'll edit the chapters right after uploading this, so if you're checking and it's not updates, then don't fret, it's on its way. (:

Don't forget to love and review!

See ya!