Chapter 17

A few days later, Kristoff, Hiccup, and Jack were standing in line at the cafeteria. As Jack and Hiccup waited for the lunch ladies to hand the food, Kristoff turned around and noticed Anna and Rapunzel walk into the cafeteria. He found himself smiling and giving the sophomore a little wave. Anna giggled and moved past him, her eyes still watching him as she and Rapunzel sat down.

"Kris."

Kristoff sighed and continued to shake the saltshaker.

"Kris!"

Kristoff lifted his his head and looked at Hiccup and Jack, who were both giving him odd glances. "What?"

"Your salad." Hiccup spoke up with a smile.

The blonde's eyes rolled down to his salad, which was covered with a small mountain of salt from his endless shaking. Setting the salt shaker down, Kristoff groaned and moved to switch his food, while Hiccup chuckled and turned to Jack.

"So how's the love life with Elsa coming along? Looks like Kris is doing well." Hiccup nudged Jack on the arm with a wink.

"There's everything but love. She's still pissed." Jack assured him.

"Sweet love! Renew thy force!" Kristoff recited, coming back to the boys with two bags of baby carrots.

"Dude don't talk shit like that around me! People can hear you!" Jack hissed.

Kristoff snorted. "Sorry, I gotta memorize that sonnet for class."

"Look you actually embarrassed the Ice Witch. Why don't you stop being the jerk for once and just sacrifice yourself to her? Do the most unthinkable. Write your apology in the sky or that crap." Hiccup suggested.

"If only it was that easy." Jack shook his head and reached for the ketchup.

When his fingers reached for the bottle, a cold smaller hand came down first, prompting Jack to look up and straight into Elsa's frown.

"Elsa!"

Elsa grimaced and snatched the bottle from Jack's grip. "Gotta be faster than that Frost."

Turning the bottle towards Jack, she squeezed the bottle and let a squirt of sauce splatter allover the boy's face and shirt. Jack groaned as Kristoff and Hiccup choked back their laughter. In front of them, Elsa smiled and gave them a mocking bow.

Jack grabbed his tray and marched the other direction with a scowl. As soon as the boy was gone, Hiccup turned to Kristoff and they both burst into laughter.

"You'll never get bored with those two." Kristoff admitted.

"Never," Hiccup agreed.

The following day, Jack approached the old janitor by the storage closet. The man turned and gave him a questioning glance before Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a thirty.

"Just for today." Jack insisted.

The janitor smiled and grabbed the cash in his grubby hand. Jack grinned as he watched the janitor reach into his overall pocket and withdraw an old CD.

"I can't believe we have to split the rink!" Elsa complained to Astrid. While there was no practice, Elsa still wanted to go to the rink and skate, especially after her icy encounter with Jack yesterday.

Astrid grimaced. "It could be worse, they could be playing crappy music."

"And Mozart isn't considered crappy?" Elsa scowled.

"Well it could be worse." Astrid repeated, circling around Elsa with the puck.

The two girls were on one side of the rink and practicing their new hockey strategies. The other side of the rink was being used for a youth skating group, led by the proper and elegant Mrs. Dunbroch. The sight of the small girls dressed in tight glittery dresses and tights made Elsa squirm. She did not want to think that she used to be one of them and she certainly did not want to remember the memories of being on the ice with a certain white haired boy.

"So hey I was thinking that maybe we could work on the new strategy you told me about." Astrid suggested.

She moved beside Elsa and frowned at her dazed friend.

"Elsa?" she snapped her fingers and Elsa's eyes blinked back to the girl.

"Sorry…what did you say?"

"Are you okay? You've been acting weird all day." Astrid said.

Elsa frowned. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

All of a sudden, the Mozart piece that was playing in the background stopped playing, filling the rink with a strange silence. The figure skating girls stopped and their Mrs. Dunbroch turned to the box where the music was being played. Elsa and Astrid looked around the rink.

"What the…" Mrs. Dunbroch's eyes widened as the bright lights in the rink began to dim.

On the ice, Astrid grabbed Elsa to turn her around. The figure skating girls began to squeal with glee as a figure appeared on the stands. On the ice, Astrid grabbed Elsa to turn her around. The figure skating girls began to squeal with glee as a figure appeared on the stands.

Elsa met Astrid's glance. "What's going on?"

"See for yourself." Astrid chuckled, grabbing her friend's face and turning it to the stands. The moment Elsa's glance fell on the stands, her eyes grew wide.

"No way." Elsa breathed as Jack appeared at the bleachers with a microphone. Astrid tried not to laugh as Jack winked at the girls and began to sing:

You're just too good to be true

Can't take my eyes off of you

You'd be like heaven to touch

Oh, I want to hold you so much

At long last love has arrived

And I thank God I'm alive

You're just too good to be true

I can't take my eyes off of you

Smiling Jack jumped from one of the stands. Elsa, Astrid, and the figure skaters could only stare as Jack move along the stands. Before any of the girls or Mrs. Dunbroch could speak, Jack flickered off the bright lights that lit the rink and a single spotlight fell on the unexpected Elsa. The silence that filled the air was replaced with a catchy Frankie Valli tune.

"Young man is this some kind of a joke?" Mrs. Dunbroch exclaimed.

A questioning look appeared on Elsa's face as she watched Jack move towards her on the ice, his smile reaching from ear to ear as he danced around her to the music. The skating group were all smiles and squeals as Jack pulled out a single chocolate rose from his jacket pocket and held it out to Elsa, who took it with wide eyes and a stunned look.

I love you baby

And if it's quite all right

I need you baby

To warm the lonely nights

I love you baby

Trust in me when I say:

Oh pretty baby,

Don't bring me down I pray,

"I'm calling security!"

Oh pretty baby,

Now that I found you, stay,

And let me love you baby

Let me love you

As the instrumental moments returned, Elsa laughed at Jack's mischievous smile as he reached out and took her hand into his, unaware of Mrs. Dunbroch returning with two police officers. As the officers began to make their way across the ice, Elsa turned and gave Jack a playful glance as the boy began to pull her around the rink, his hand holding hers. When they both noticed the cops though, Jack stopped and grabbed Elsa by the waist, dipping her with a wink. Elsa's smile was genuine as she let him bring her back up and her hands gripped his shoulders.

"You go Frost!" Astrid whooped as the cops grabbed a smiling Jack and began to drag him off the ice rink. Elsa remained in her spot, flushed and smiling wide.

Moving along the ice, Jack managed to free himself from the officers' grips. He began skating large circles around the girls just as the chubby police officer was stumbling and falling from the surprise of Jack getting away. When he fell on his knees, he did not notice Jack appear behind him and smack his rear playfully, making Elsa and the girls laugh.

With his fellow officer down, the second officer caught up to Jack and grabbed the young man by his arms. While Jack was dragged off, Elsa shook her head, her smile reaching from ear to ear as she broke into an excited applause. Noticing her smile, Jack gave the girl one last wink before he finally disappeared through the rink doors.

Later, at the end of the day, Elsa was humming "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" with a smile her face as she put her books into her locker. She still wore her hockey jersey yet she decided to pile her hair up into a messy bun after practice and spray a small whiff of perfume on her neck.

"Whoa don't tell me I'm hearing Frankie Valli out of you!" Anna said, coming up to her sister.

Elsa shrugged and gave her sister a large smile. Her fingers stroked the red foil on her chocolate rose. "I heard it this morning."

"Must've been from the janitor again. Are you going to Starbucks with me and Rapunzel after school?" Anna asked curiously.

Elsa closed her locker, a sudden idea appearing in her head as she looked at the detention room. "Actually there's something I gotta do."

"And what is that?" Anna asked.

"Nothing important, see you later." Elsa winked and moved towards the bathroom.

As the last of the students wandered through the hallway to get to class, Anna could only stare at the closed bathroom door in silent shock. Since when did Elsa hum their father's old love songs? And was that a chocolate rose peeking from Elsa's book?

In the detention room, Coach North closed the door and turned to the full room. The moment the door slammed shut, the rest of the class straightened and sat in full alert as if they were in a military camp. Jack lifted his eyes up from his pencil and he only slumped into his chair, already prepared for North's wrath.

"Welcome to detention everyone." Coach North chuckled, moving from the door and down the aisle. His eyes fell on Shenzi's desk where the girl had half of a sub-sandwich.

"I'll take that Miss." his huge fist crumpled the paper and squished the sandwich. Shenzi swallowed and bowed her head in embarrassment.

Stopping next to Pitch, who sat in front of Jack, Coach North's smile was wicked as he leaned over. Pitch swallowed hard and scrunched in his seat, trying to make himself appear as small as possible.

"What's the matter? You're nervous." Coach North admitted.

Pitch shook his head quickly.

"Then why are you sweating?"

"It's….kinda hot in here sir." Pitch choked out.

"I see, your eyes….are they always this bloodshot?" Coach North whispered with a wicked menace in his tone.

Pitch swallowed loud before nodding his head in actual guilt. "Yes sir."

"Hand over the fairy dust." Coach North's opened palm popped up and Pitch jumped in his seat.

Shaking, the boy slipped a hand into his jacket pocket and dropped a bag of cocaine into North's huge hand. All the while his eyes lingered on the huge Naughty and Nice tattoos on his arms.

"Good boy." the teacher nodded and turned to walk up to the front of the room.

Jack gave Pitch a comforting pat as Coach North turned to face them.

"I bet you all wanna know what you gotta do to get out of here! Well I'll tell you! Essay writing. To get out – I want each and every one of you to write an essay on why you're here, and how you can improve so you don't have to come here and waste my time." North ordered.

He turned around and began to write his request on the board. The rest of the class began to follow orders and take out their notebooks and pencils.

Smiling, Jack lifted an arm into the air. "Coach North sir all I want to say is that I'm only here because I was wrongly accused of a crime I didn't commit."

Coach North turned to him and let out a sarcastic laugh. "Oh yes I heard about your love song Romeo. Why don't you write about it?"

Jack groaned and dropped his head onto his desk, defeated. As the screeching of chalk filled the class, the door opened and Elsa stepped in. A few students turned and Jack looked up, his frown turning into a smile. Elsa returned his smile and moved across the room.

"Hi Coach! I see you're housing detention again!" she admitted, casting a disapproved glance at the class.

"Yes am I, what can I do for you Elsa?" Coach North turned to the girl and crossed his huge, muscular arms over his equally large belly.

Elsa turned her back to the board, which made the huge man turn his back to the students. "Actually while I was practicing my defense today I came up with a few new strategies that can really help the hockey team!"

"You did? Fantastic let's talk after class!" Coach North suggested. He turned to arrange his papers.

While he did this, Elsa turned to Jack and pointed at the window. "Window!" she mouthed.

Jack arched a brow and Elsa jabbed a finger at the window again. "Now!"

Suddenly getting it, Jack swung his backpack over his shoulders and stood up just as Elsa turned back to Coach North, who had his back still turned.

"Actually I think since I have the ideas fresh in my brain…." Elsa casted a glance at Jack, who was creeping closer to his escape. "I um think I should tell you now! So our team kinda sucked against Corona last year didn't they?"

"Please don't remind me." Coach North grumbled.

"Well now I think that….holy cow is that a new tattoo I see on your bicep? Quite impressive! What does the words mean? Are they in Russian?" Elsa grabbed Coach North's arm and squinted at the inked words.

Jack let out a relieved breath and made a move to open the window.

"Um yes that is, but I thought you're here to talk about…"

"Right right the team!" Elsa nodded with a laugh.

She glanced at Jack and bobbed a quick nod. Jack gave her a thumb up yet he accidently let go of the windowpane as a result. A rattle filled the room and Coach North turned.

"So going back to the team!" Elsa grabbed his arm and turned the large man around before he spotted Jack.

Jack cringed and grabbed the windowpane again.

"The point is that Corona kicks our butts every year and since I'm the captain I was thinking a lot about….the New Strategy!" Elsa explained.

Coach North furrowed his brows. "The New Strategy?"

"Yes! The New Strategy!" Elsa grinned. Her left eye flickered to Jack and noticed that he was hanging halfway out from the window.

The teacher only crossed his arms. "Which is?"

"The use of….misdirection and the element of surprise." Elsa revealed.

"Element of surprise huh? Did I even teach you that?"

"Well someone had to since I just remembered it! Anyway…." Elsa turned and Coach North followed her gaze. Frantic, Elsa grabbed his arm and yanked him forward.

"Think about it! We're going left…they're looking right and we attack them from all around…using the New Strategy!" she stammered.

"And how do we use this New Strategy?"

Elsa flickered her gaze to the window and saw Jack slipping outside. He was gripping the windowsill with his hands and was about to lower himself down when all of a sudden his hand slipped, making him fall with a cry. There was a light thud and a small curse before North's head turned back and Elsa let out a frantic cry.

"Like this!"

Without thinking Elsa grabbed the edges of her jersey and yanked it up over her chest. Coach North's eyes grew twice their size and some of the students let out long chorus of "ohhhhs". Coach North's face started to grow as red as his shirt as Elsa moved her hips with a flirty little wink before she dropped her shirt.

"Just like that! But with more….glam!" the blonde smiled and turned back to the rest of the class, who looked beyond stunned at what they just saw.

Coach North rubbed his bald head in embarrassment before turning back to the board, his steps clumsy and his hand shaking as he tried picking up the chalk. At the door, Elsa turned back to the large man.

"Thanks for listening Coach! Now if you excuse me I think I'll go show Astrid the New Strategy! I think I see her now! Gotta go! Thanks!" and with that Elsa walked out of the classroom.

In front of the school, Jack and Elsa both hurried towards the parking lot, laughing and glancing back from time to time as if Coach North would run after them.

"I can't believe you actually did that!" Jack breathed as they approached Elsa's car.

Elsa giggled and opened the door. "You know maybe I should've left you and taken Pitch instead. He looked like he was going straight to the guillotine!" she said as they both slipped in.

Shivering from the December winds, Jack turned and smiled as Elsa turned on the heater. "Thanks again, that was pretty sleek of you."

"You're welcome, now let's get the heck out of here." Elsa suggested.

A few minutes later, Elsa pulled in front of the ice rink. She turned off the ignition and met Jack's surprised glance.

"You brought me here again?"

"I think I can convince Mrs. Dunbroch your impromptu show was done for a good reason. C'mon!" Elsa turned and grabbed her skates. Jack smiled and grabbed his backpack before opening the door and following after the girl.

"So how did you manage to distract North?" Jack asked as the two of them skated around the rink after an energetic and fun round of double-player hockey, which Elsa won.

Elsa blushed. "I dazzled him using my….wits." she answered simply.

Jack caught up to her and they skated side by side. "Oh really?"

"Are you questioning me Mister? You're lucky I got you outta there in the first place" Elsa teased, poking him in the chest.

Jack held up his hands in surrender. "Not anymore Ice Queen." his smile grew as Elsa turned away to hide her own smile.

"So what made you choose Can't Take My Eyes off You as your song of forgiveness?" Elsa asked.

They slowed down and stopped to rest against the stands.

"I thought it was your favorite." Jack revealed.

"Not when I hear my dad sing it in the shower every night." Elsa assured him with tease.

She then noticed Jack's sudden pout. "But the way you sing it…wow I was left speechless!"

"Thanks, at least I sounded better than you." Jack laughed.

"Don't push it Frost." Elsa rolled her eyes with a smile.

They turned to the empty ice rink in a brief silence before Jack turned back and faced the girl. Elsa met his glance and their eyes locked for a brief yet tensed moment. Slowly Jack moved closer towards her.

"Okay so just tell me….what's your excuse?"

"For what?" Elsa asked, pushing herself forward. She could already feel his cool minty breathe on her own lips and her belly began to flop excitedly.

"For acting the way you do?" Jack asked softly.

Elsa reached out and stroked back a silver strand from his forehead. She shrugged as he brushed his free hand along her arm. "I don't like to do what other people expect. Why should I live up to other people's exceptions instead of my own?"

"So you disappoint them from the start and then you find yourself covered?" Jack guessed.

Elsa shrugged in response. "Something like that."

Jack pulled back slightly and raised an eyebrow. "Then it looks like you're screwed Ice Queen."

"How so?" Elsa smiled up at him.

She let the strange swoony feeling return and take over as she drank in his handsome smile and bright blue eyes. She never wanted to admit it out loud but Jack's eyes were her favorite feature. They always seemed to hold the right emotions. They sparkled when he was happy and flamed when he was angry. Elsa only wondered if he thought the same way about her, or if he only saw the jagged ice.

"You never seem to disappoint me." Jack announced, his gaze locked on her own smile. He slowly leaned in and let his hand move towards her hip, bringing her close, his eyes still holding hers.

Elsa's eyes fell on Jack's lips and suddenly she felt her body lean forward and her lips coming close to his face. He closed his eyes in response as Elsa reached out and cupped his cheek, urging him to come closer until their lips were just centimeters apart.

"Cause I'm on top of the world, 'ay. I'm on top of the world, 'ay. Waiting on this for a while now. Paying my dues to the dirt..."

The pair pulled apart and Elsa blushed as "On Top of the World" began to play in the small space in between them. Jack's eyes widened in surprise as Elsa cursed and fished her phone out of her pocket. She looked down at her flashing screen before Elsa lifting her gaze. Beside her, Jack tried hard not to look too disappointed.

"It's Dad. I gotta go." Elsa said. Turning to leave, the blonde girl suddenly felt Jack's hand grip her elbow, prompting her to turn around.

"Elsa wait…"

Elsa stopped and turned to face him. He was glancing down at her, his eyes lingering on her face and down to her lips, a look of desire twinkling in his eyes.

"Thanks again for the song, I had a great time." Elsa whispered, hoping that he didn't see her own disappointment.

Before Jack could protest, the girl turned and began to hurry towards their things. Pulling her skates off, Elsa jumped into her boots, threw her skates over her shoulder and grabbed her backpack.

Turning around one last time, Elsa gave him a weary smile."Bye."

Jack could only watch in disappointed silence as Elsa turned and hurried out of the ice rink. A few moments later, Jack felt his hand move to his sweatshirt pocket and the boy pulled out his own phone. Keeping his eyes on the door where Elsa left, Jack pressed a number and brought the phone to his ear, and to his luck, a few seconds later, a voice on the other line spoke up.

"Hey Kris, I need a ride." Jack revealed, rubbing the back of his neck.

At the Northland home, the front door creaked open and Elsa poked her head into the house. After listening and hearing the sound of water running and splashing in the lightened kitchen, the blonde let out a short sigh and stepped in. She was just about to lean over and pull her boots off when Walter walked out of the kitchen, a plate in his hand.

"And may I ask where you've been Missy?"

Elsa straightened and hesitated. "I was…"

"At the library!" a cheerful voice spoke up.

Elsa and Walter looked up to see Anna standing at the top of the stairs, smiling wide and her arms crossed over the banister.

Walter turned back to his older daughter suspiciously. "Is it true?"

Elsa nodded. "Yes, Astrid and I had to work on our English project together."

Walter watched her as Elsa grabbed her backpack and slung it over her shoulder. His eyes narrowed as Elsa moved up the stairs and disappeared. When he turned back to Anna, his youngest daughter gave him an innocent grin and wave before she too was gone.

"Why do I always feel so uneasy?" Walter murmured before making his way back into the kitchen.

Standing in the dark hallway, Anna covered her mouth and swept a glance back down. She then turned and began to make her way to her sister, who was standing beside her bedroom, a hand over her smiling lips.

"Thanks sis." Elsa whispered.

"Don't mention it, but you owe me." Anna winked, holding out her hand.

Sighing, Elsa rolled her eyes as she reached into her sweatshirt pocket and pulled out a king sized Hershey's bar.

"Thanks! Did I ever tell you how much I love you?" Anna asked, unwrapping the candy bar and taking a bite.

"I don't think I can recall." Elsa teased as they slipped into their own rooms.

Inside her bedroom, Elsa closed the door and fell against it, her smile reaching from ear to ear as she straightened and walked over to her bed. She let her body fall on the mattress and a happy sigh escaped from her lips as the girl and turned the window, where a mound of fluffy white snow covered her windowpane and more snow fell from the evening sky.

All this time she could not stop thinking about Jack's song and the interrupted kiss that she was certain was not meant to be held back. Sitting up, Elsa grabbed her backpack and zipped it open. A few seconds later she pulled out the chocolate rose and fell back onto the bed. Her fingers stroked the shiny, red foil and Elsa let her thoughts return to icy blue eyes and his playful smile.