Chapter Two

Elsa Arendelle brushed her fringe to the side and opened her locker. She put in one file and took out a pile of books for her next class. She glanced in the mirror in her locker and sighed. Elsa's pale blonde hair was tie back in a bun, with her fringe brushing against her eyebrows. Her skin was pasty, and her eyes were blue. Altogether, she looked nervous and nerdy - not a great match.

Elsa shut her locker and was about to step out into the corridor when curly-haired Merida and sports-geek Astrid came walking down the corridor. They walked past her and Elsa stepped out and watched them as they continued down the corridor. She wished she could laugh and joke with girls like them. All she really wanted were some friends, someone she could relate to. Her little sister never understood how lonely she felt. At home, Elsa's parents were really nice, but she often shut herself in her room, shutting them out. Anna didn't understand either; she had plenty of friends.

"Sorry, um, excuse me," said a voice behind her.

Realising she was standing in everyone's way, Elsa turned around, about to politely step to one side. That was when she saw who that voice belonged to. Jack Frost stood there in his grey and white check hoodie, and for a moment, all Elsa could do was take in the fact that he had just spoken to her. Their blue eyes connected for that moment, and Elsa felt that flutter in her chest that she always felt whenever she saw Jack.

He was with his friends Thea Fairy and Peter Cottontail. Both Thea and Peter had tanned skin and a few freckles across their noses, though Elsa remembered that they were half-siblings. Their birthdays fell in the same academic year that they might as well have been twins - they were both in eleventh grade. Thea's eyes were a purple-blue, and Peter's were green. All three of them were bikers, and also did snowboarding and skiing.

He flicked his white-blond hair out of his eyes and gave that awkward half-smile. "Sorry, you're kind of standing in the way there," he said.

"Sorry," Elsa mumbled, stepping to the side. "By the way, I'm-" But Jack hadn't heard her and was halfway down the corridor before she could say, "Elsa."

Elsa sighed and watched as Jack went off with his friends. She knew people like Merida and Astrid wouldn't have any trouble talking to boys. She wished she was the same. But whenever Elsa tried to speak to Jack, her throat choked up and her mouth went dry. He had always walked away before she had gotten the chance to say anything. Elsa knew he didn't even know her name. Elsa sighed, and headed off to class.

In eleventh grade, and one year older than her sister Anna, Elsa was studying Chemistry, Architecture, and Art and Design. She went to her Chemistry lesson, still wondering about Jack. How would he ever notice her? Still pondering the subject after class, Elsa headed off home, barely even hearing the bell ring. Why couldn't she be popular? It wouldn't be too hard - just a change of style and attitude.

Elsa locked herself in her bedroom and tore open her wardrobe. She threw all of her clothes onto her bed, and then decided to change them. Cutting up some and adjusting others, Elsa completely changed her smart, tidy style.

"Elsa? Are you alright, honey?" said her mom from outside the door.

"I'm fine, Mom," Elsa replied. "I'm just doing some… homework."

Mrs Arendelle considered this. "Okay, honey. Will you come down for dinner?"

"Yeah, Mom, I will," Elsa told her. Then she heard the footsteps descend the stairs and she continued her makeover.

Elsa searched in the dark depths of her wardrobe and found a packet of hair dye. That got the cogs turning in her head. What was more of a change of style than dying your hair? She got everything ready in her en-suite bathroom, before she almost changed her mind. Taking a deep breath, Elsa instead decided to put streaks in her pale blonde hair - only later, so her parents could see it in the morning.

"Elsa? Are you in there?" Anna called from outside. "I was wondering if you wanted to hang out or something. Do you?"

Elsa sighed. "No, Anna, just leave me alone," she replied. She didn't like to shut her sister out, but she didn't feel she could be the right sort of role model to her. It was better for Anna to learn from their parents, and not from her.

"Okay…" said Anna, before her voice disappeared.

Elsa flopped down on her bed and got out her laptop. She opened her Facebook tab and clicked on Jack's profile. He had posted a new picture - a selfie with Thea Fairy and Peter Cottontail. Thea and Peter were half-siblings, and Jack's closest friends. Elsa sighed as she looked at Thea's blue-black hair with its colourful streaks. But then she reminded herself - tomorrow, things would be different.

The following day, Elsa walked into school, holding her head up high. She wore a tank top covered in blue sequins, white cut-off shorts which faded into blue and blue Converse. Her hair was in a messy braid over her shoulder, with blue streaks throughout. She carried her files and folders in her arms, trying to seem like she didn't care that she walked alone. Nothing would bring her down now.

"Hey, Elsa, right?" said a voice beside her locker, complete with that Scottish twang.

Elsa closed her locker. "Yeah, that's me," she said, facing the ginger girl. "And you're Merida?"

Merida laughed. "Yeah, that's right," she said. "My friend Astrid was just wondering if you wanted to join the girls football team."

Elsa gave a nonchalant shrug, but inside she was ecstatic. Finally, she was being noticed. "Maybe," she said. "I'm not really sure I'm the football type."

"You probably are," said Merida, "only you don't know it yet. Should I tell her you're thinking about it?"

"Sure," Elsa replied.

"The meeting's in the gym tomorrow," said Merida. "Maybe we'll see you there."

Elsa smiled as Merida walked off. First day with her new look and she was being talked to by the popular girls. That was pretty satisfying. Had it all been worth it then?

Walking out of school that day, Elsa felt the happiest she had been in a while. Not feeling invisible felt incredible, and she finally felt free. As she paused to tie her lace, Elsa overheard a conversation between Thea and Peter by their motorbikes.

"Where's Jack?" Thea asked. "Shouldn't he be here by now?"

Elsa felt a twinge of jealousy. She wished she was as close to Jack as Thea was.

"I don't know," Peter shrugged, shaking his head of blue-greyish hair.

"I thought we were going to the motorcross centre today," said Thea in confusion.

"He's probably just running late," Peter replied. "Do you want to head off now? I could text him, the little idiot."

Elsa smiled at that last comment, but was taken off guard when she was knocked over from her crouched position. Looking up, she saw Jack standing above her, holding out his hand to help her up. She took his hand, ignoring her skinned knees, and stood up again. "Sorry," she muttered, returning to the shy version of herself.

"Don't be," said Jack. "Sorry for knocking you over. I'm Jack, Jack Frost."

Elsa winced as her knees stung. "I know," she said. "I mean, hey. I'm Elsa… um, Elsa Arendelle."

"Are you hurt?" Jack asked. "I could go with you to the nurse."

"It's fine, really," Elsa replied.

"Are you sure?" Jack didn't look so certain.

"Your friends are probably waiting for you," said Elsa. "I've only got a couple of blocks to my house."

"A couple of blocks?" Jack repeated. "That's quite a bit of walking. Hey, why don't I give you a ride home?"

Elsa swallowed. Jack Frost had just offered to give her a ride home. On his motorbike. "Well," she hesitated, "I wouldn't want to be a pain…"

"It's fine, honestly," Jack assured her. "My friends can wait a while."

"Really?" Elsa dared to ask.

"Really," Jack said. "Come on, you can use my helmet." He handed her his blue helmet and she clipped it into place.

"Frost, what are you doing?" Peter asked.

"I'm giving Elsa a ride home, Cottontail," Jack replied, pulling the hood of his blue hoodie up as some form of protection in the case that he happened to fall. "I meet you guys at the motorcross arena."

"We'll see you there, I guess," said Thea. "Bye!"

"Bye guys," said Jack, getting on the bike. "Sit right behind me, okay?" he told Elsa.

Elsa got on the bike, her stomach doing somersaults. It felt like a dream, a really good dream. She definitely didn't want to wake up.

Jack started the motorbike up and set off, sending Elsa's nerves through the roof. "Put your arms round my waist," he yelled over the roar of the engine.

Elsa did as he said, clinging on for hope of not falling off. Jack set off down the road, following Elsa's directions - an occasional, "Left here!" or "Right!" It was such a good ride, that when it ended, it felt like it was over in seconds. Jack pulled up outside her house, and Elsa got off.

Unclipping the helmet, Elsa passed it back to Jack and adjusted her bag straps on her shoulders. Jack hesitated, standing by his bike, holding his helmet in his hands. He swallowed and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down in his throat. For once, Elsa realised, it was Jack that looked nervous.

"Hey, I was wondering," Jack began, rubbing the back of his neck, "Do you want to, um, hang out sometime?"

Elsa smiled, though inside she was rejoicing. "Sure," she said, and their blue eyes connected once more. She held his gaze and added, "I know a pretty good burger bar downtown."

Jack grinned. "Cool," he said, "How about Saturday?"

"Sounds good," Elsa replied. "I guess I'll see you in class?"

"Yeah, I guess so," said Jack, though he was still grinning.

"Thanks for the ride home," said Elsa, starting to feel awkward.

"It's okay. Sorry for knocking you over," said Jack.

"It's okay," said Elsa, repeating his words. She laughed then, something she hadn't done in ages. "I'll see you around then."

"Sure," said Jack. He pulled his hood down, clipped on his helmet, which still smelt of Elsa's cinnamon shampoo, and got back on his bike. "'Till the next time, Arendelle," he said with a grin.

Elsa laughed again. "'Till the next time, Frost," she called after him as he started to drive away.

Elsa went into the house and dropped her bag in the hallway. Her mom gave a curious smile as she saw her daughter looking truly happy for the first time in months. "What's got you all smiley?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing really," said Elsa. But she was still smiling madly.

Anna came in then. "Nothing?" she asked, shutting the front door. "I saw you outside with a boy, Elsa."

Elsa's cheeks flushed a bright red. "Um, it's nothing, Mom, really," she said.

Anna gave a smirk. "Sure it is," she said.

"I've got homework to do," said Elsa quickly, before going to her room.

Later, after putting some antiseptic cream on her knees, Elsa opened her laptop again. Jack hadn't posted any new photos yet, but on her notifications, Elsa noticed that she had a new friend request. It was from Jack. Elsa clicked accept and smiled. She could hardly believe Jack was noticing her.

Elsa tidied up her room a bit and then returned to her laptop. New message from Jack Frost, it read. Elsa opened it up. It read:

Sorry again but I'm looking forward to that pizza. See you around :)

Elsa smiled. Things were definitely looking up. She had the possibility of new friends if she decided to join the girls football team, and Jack Frost was already messaging her on Facebook. Things couldn't possibly be better.

OK, so I'm back with another chapter. Not sure if you guys liked the last one but I did get a few reviews and hopefully this one is OK too :) Anyway, I'm doing each chapter about a different character (and therefore a different pairing) so I'll get back to the Rapunzel/Eugene story in a few chapters. Thanks - please read and review - and tell me what you think!

Ginger xx