If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?
Elsa couldn't believe her eyes. She could feel them widen in shock, as her hands gripped the railing so tightly, they began to turn white. She could sense Jack beside her, hesitant to ask her what was wrong, before his own blue eyes followed hers, and a muffled snort escaped from his mouth.
In the foyer below them, in the midst of kissing couples, stood Anna.
Lip-locked with some frat boy.
Rage bubbled up in Elsa as she stepped away from the railing, though she was somehow able to keep a calm appearance. She descended the stairs, shooting a glance towards her sister after every step. Jack's footprints clumsily followed behind, though she paid him no mind. He was no longer the biggest irritant in the room. Gently pushing past her sorority sisters and their partners, she made her way towards the tall, auburn-haired man who was now blocking her view of Anna. Due to the fact that his arms had engulfed her completely as he presumably stuck his tongue down her throat.
Lightly tapping him on the shoulder, the elder Arendelle was somewhat surprised when he detached himself from her sister, giving the blonde a confused look.
Seemingly joining in his confusion, Anna finally opened her eyes, which were slightly glazed over as a small smile parted her lips.
A short-lived smile, though, as she finally locked eyes with Elsa.
"What the hell are you doing, Anna?" Elsa deadpanned, crossing her arms over her chest.
The strawberry-blonde's face slowly started to match her hair, though Elsa wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or anger. The brunette guy she was with took a few steps back, but wisely didn't run off.
Elsa could see Jack standing beside her from the corner of her eye, watching the scene before him warily. She was surprised he hadn't made a run for it, either.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Anna bit back, before awkwardly linking arms with the guy beside her. Elsa spared him a quick glance, ignoring the way his hazel eyes pleaded for an out.
Elsa then locked eyes with her sister, still impressed by her own stoic demeanor.
"It looks like you're making questionable decisions," the blonde explained calmly. Something Anna didn't seem to appreciate, if the scowl on her face was anything to go by.
The lightheartedness of the party around them began to fade, and the murmur of mindless chatter and giggling filled the room. Elsa could tell that no one was paying their group much attention, which she was thankful for. She wasn't sure how much longer she could keep herself calm.
"I'm making my own decisions," Anna growled, pulling her companion closer to her.
Elsa slowly took in the appearance of her sister, whose curled hair hung limply from her head. Her makeup was no longer pristine, though it wasn't a smudged mess like some of the girls' around them. Her outfit wasn't ruffled too badly, only showing the signs of dancing and her unwise makeout session. Elsa knew her sister wasn't going to do anything stupid. She wasn't blatantly intoxicated, and the guy she was with was a respectable member of the fraternity, though she couldn't remember his name for the life of her. She did remember that he was much, much older than Anna, though. Which did not sit well with her.
"How long have you two known each other?" she asked blankly.
"Why does it matter?" Anna snapped back.
Elsa could feel her temper rise as she regarded her sister coolly. Her facade wouldn't hold much longer, and the last thing she needed was another public spat with the younger Arendelle. So, she decided to take the high road.
"I'm disappointed in you, Anna. I thought you were smarter than this."
She watched as the fight left Anna's eyes, though the strawberry blonde only tightened her hold on the guy beside her. Elsa turned away from them and slowly made her way towards the front doors. Broken ornaments crunched beneath her heels as she marched away, pushing past the more determined couples who hadn't yet come up for air.
A cold winter breeze hit her instantly as she exited the house, causing her to hug her sweater to her chest. The snow had stopped, thankfully, so the walk back to the Delta Zeta house wouldn't be as terrible as it could have been.
"Wait, Elsa!"
Though the blonde had been wrong before.
The sound of Jack's boots crunching in the snow neared her, though Elsa didn't slow her pace. She was in no mood to be flirted with, or comforted, or whatever else her silver-haired companion had in mind.
"Leave me alone, Jack," she muttered, hoping the venom in her voice would deter him.
But instead, she felt something drape over her shoulders, instantly combating the chilly breeze. Looking down, she realized Jack had removed his jacket and placed it on her.
"Are you okay?"
She tried to ignore the genuine concern in his voice, as well as the pleasant smell of pine and peppermint that accompanied his jacket. The last thing she needed was to get more pissed off, and Jack seemed to only do that.
But as he patiently waited for her answer while rubbing his arms to keep warm, Elsa realized she had no fight left in her.
"No, I'm not okay," she admitted meekly. She shifted her gaze towards the ground, mindful to step in the previous footsteps of her peers, lest she find her heels filled with snow. Jacks's feet were in sync with hers, though his boots allowed his steps to be less cautious.
"She wasn't trying to hurt you, you know," Jack mused, his voice leveled yet hesitant, as if expecting to be interrupted. "She's what, eighteen? Almost nineteen? She's allowed to be a dumb girl once in a while."
Elsa wanted to argue, though she knew it would be pointless. Jack sort of had a point, though if he actually knew Anna, he'd know that she was someone who needed stricter guidelines. She was a free spirit, and her curiosity and innocence had gotten her in trouble more than once.
"I'd prefer if she'd be 'dumb' someplace else; somewhere without alcohol and frat guys," Elsa bit back, begrudgingly pulling his jacket closer to her. Why did it have to smell so nice?
"Yeah, I get that," Jack laughed halfheartedly. "This is the last place I'd want my sister to be, though she is only fourteen."
Elsa spared him a quick glance, feeling her face grow hot as his blue eyes met hers. Though, she didn't look away immediately, and instead held his stare.
He was really cute. The way his eyes danced with mischief, and how his smile was slightly crooked. His pale skin was perfect, and the color nearly rivaled her own. And his hair - his obviously dyed, no way in hell was it natural, stunning silver hair - it just had to fall perfectly in place. He was still taller than her, despite her heels, though he didn't tower over her; something she liked in a guy.
But this wasn't a guy - this was Jack. The reason for her cluster migraine and ever-present blush. He was a nuisance; an annoyance. The bane of her existence. Elsa Arendelle dated business majors. Guys with common courtesy and table manners. Not pretty-boys with no sense of personal space.
And yet, Elsa found herself holding his gaze, before her stomach dropped in disappointment as the phone in his pocket began to ring.
Jack jumped from the sound, before reaching into his pocket and removing his cellphone. A small smile graced his lips, causing a flare of jealously to ignite in Elsa's veins. Was this his supposed girlfriend?
Hold on, Jack mouthed, giving Elsa a guilty smile. "Hey, Pip! Happy New Year!"
Elsa tuned out of his conversation as the muffled sound of a girl's voice replied. She should have known a guy like Jack wouldn't be single. He was attractive and flirty and probably had several girls at his beck and call, and Elsa respected herself too much to just be another notch on his belt.
"I'll come see you guys tomorrow - we can go out to brunch or something, yeah? ... Awesome! And she better be asleep right now, I don't care what year it is! ... Haha, alright! I love you guys, and I'll see you in the morning."
Confused by the ending of his conversation, Elsa turned her attention back towards her companion. Jack was still smiling as he put away his phone, seemingly unaware of the blonde's focus on him.
"Sorry about that," he offered lightly, giving her a quick glance. "Sisters, am I right?"
Sisters. Thank god.
Elsa wanted to return his smile, though she couldn't help but be reminded of what had happened not five minutes prior. She never understood how polar opposite she and Anna were; how it was possible to know someone their whole life, yet be almost nothing alike.
How was Anna so care-free and positive? And why couldn't Elsa take note? Being the serious one all the time was boring. But even though she wanted to be more spontaneous, the blonde knew she could never leave her comfort zone.
"Yeah, sisters," she sighed.
Jack visibly winced at her defeated tone, obviously embarrassed of his last statement. But Elsa couldn't blame him; though she could blame herself for the spark of hope that flickered in her chest. Just because that call was only his sister, didn't mean that he wouldn't receive another call - one from a female who wasn't a member of his family.
But at that thought, she internally scolded herself. It was Jack! She didn't care!
Shaking her head, the blonde turned her attention back towards getting home. She could see her house looming in the distance, with only its porch light on. It seemed every one of her sisters had made it to the party - meaning they all could have potentially witnessed her spat with Anna.
"Thank you," Elsa began as they neared the Victorian-style manor. "For the jacket, I mean. And the company, I guess."
She successfully avoided eye contact as they ascended the stairs towards the front door, though her flushed face said everything.
"No problem," Jack replied, his smile somehow leaking into his voice as they came to a stop.
Elsa's eyes darted between his and the door as she removed his jacket from her shoulders, ignoring the brisk winter air as it seeped through her sweater.
"And I'm sorry for how tonight turned out - you were probably expecting a fun party, and all you got was a front row ticket to a cat fight," the blonde continued. She really did feel bad. Despite how annoying she found her silver-haired companion, she didn't think he deserved the night he had had.
"I just came out to see you and Anna, which I did," he replied kindly. "Sure, I was expecting a little more cheer, but it's not like I had anything better to do - I haven't really made many friends yet."
At that, Elsa couldn't help but meet his gaze as a wave of guilt washed over her. Here she was, so concerned with not wanting to give Jack the wrong impression, that she ended up being a total bitch. Sure, he was a flirt, but he was also just a guy in a new town, trying to make friends. She couldn't believe how selfish she had been.
Knowing that she may regret it, but feeling her guilt overcome it, she hesitantly reached for his cellphone, which was hanging halfway out of his pocket. She could see Jack's eyebrows arch in confusion, but choosing to ignore it, she quickly inputted her phone number into his contact list.
"I'm not sure why you'd still want to be my friend, with the way I've been so cold to you," she began, while also adding Anna's number as well, "but if you're ever in need of a... friend... you can always shoot me or Anna a quick text."
Her eyes met Jack's once more, and she couldn't help but smile as he cocked his head to the side. Confusion was a good look on him - emphasizing his boyish features.
"Seriously?" he asked, hesitantly taking his phone back. "You didn't put in the number for a rejection hotline or something, right? If I text you, I'm not subscribing to Cat Facts or donating ten dollars to charity? I'll text a 'hey', and you'll respond?"
Elsa rolled her eyes at him as a giggle escaped her lips. "Yes, if you text me, I'll respond."
Jack still attempted to look unconvinced, though his smile betrayed him. "If I ask 'what's up', you'll reply?"
Again, Elsa couldn't hide her chuckle. "Yes, I will reply accordingly."
"And if I ask you out for coffee, you'll say 'yes, why of course!'?"
Realizing she was definitely going to regret this, Elsa let out an amused sigh. "Goodnight, Jack."
And with that, she turned away from him and opened her front door, doing her best to ignore the way he laughed as she stepped into her home.
Even though she had only drank water all night, Elsa felt hungover. Her head was pounding and her face was puffy, and she cursed herself as she looked into the mirror, realizing she had forgotten to remove her makeup before bed.
Rapunzel was unsurprisingly absent from her bed, and the eerily quiet that filled the house signaled the the elder Arendelle was the first to wake. A text sent a few hours prior from Mulan was the only assurance that Merida and Anna had made it back to their dorm, though Elsa kicked herself for letting her anger take priority over the girls' safety. Thankfully, her sisters always looked out for each other. She'd have to buy Mulan some of her favorite tea to thank her.
Dragging herself towards her door, she lazily snatched her shower bag off of her vanity. She desperately needed to wash off the glitter and guilt from the night before, and heading for the showers now was the only guarantee of hot water.
But as she exited her room, she was surprised to see two of her sisters whispering in front of the bathroom.
"It smells absolutely horrendous," Jane scoffed, holding her noise as she turned away from the door.
"She's definitely passed out," Belle replied, peeking in. "God, there's no way that can be comfortable."
Elsa neared the two brunettes, who finally noticed her presence. But before she could ask them what was wrong, the smell of vomit attacked her nostrils.
"Oh my god, what is that?" Elsa hissed, following suit and plugging her nose.
"Megara," Jane and Belle answered in unison.
"Looks like she didn't follow her three drink policy," Belle continued, tucking her brown hair behind her ears as she poked her head into the bathroom once more.
"Or she elected to use the liqueur bottles to fill, rather than a cup," Jane added, her British accent somewhat nasally with her nose still plugged.
Elsa merely sighed, knowing that Cinderella would completely freak once she caught wind of this. Megara was already walking on eggshells with the president, and spending the night with the toilet wasn't going to do anything to alleviate it. She was definitely going to be reprimanded, and Elsa only hoped that it wouldn't interfere with Cinderella's ability to pull together a proper Rush Week.
"This is strike two, isn't it?" Elsa mused, searching herself for the strength to look into the bathroom.
"Yep," her sisters answered together.
Straightening her shoulders in apprehension, Elsa leaned into the bathroom, only to be greeted by the sight of a closed toilet lid and passed out sorority girl slumped over it. Meg's deep auburn hair was strewn about, covering her face and covered in glitter and what Elsa assumed to be the contents of the slender girl's stomach.
Resigning herself to the fact that this bathroom was more or less occupied, Elsa stepped back into the hall, shaking her head. Jane and Belle offered her weak smiles, before the blonde stepped around them and made her way towards the next closest bathroom.
The fight with her sister still lingering in the back of her mind and the smell of vomit lingering in her nose, Elsa couldn't help but sigh.
"What a way to start the year," she mumbled to herself.
Sorry for the delay and cliffhanger!
So, in case it wasn't obvious, Anna's New Years Kiss was with Hans, and Elsa obviously isn't very happy about that. She knows of Hans, but doesn't really know him, which ties in with her disregard of most males and unwillingness to meet new people. But her and Jack seem to be getting along better!
Anyways, thank you for the reviews/faves/follows! Sorry this one took a while! I hope it was somewhat worth it! I've gotten bit by the writing bug lately, so hopefully I can churn out a few more chapters here in the next couple of days! Please leave a review, and any suggestions are appreciated!
