"Jack, what are you doing— no! Don't!" But my gasp goes ignored, and the snowball gets thrown. I watch as it hits its mark: Eugene. He isn't going to be happy. He turns so fast on his heel that I have no time to hide. My eyes widen as he narrows his at me. Although I'm queen, I fear Eugene sometimes. He doesn't treat me like everyone else. He treats me like his own daughter... He has ever since my parents died. I guess that's why I like him the best. He doesn't treat me like everyone else does. He treats me like I'm an actual person, and not just something to idolise.
"Elsa, honestly, this pranking needs to stop," he says as he stands in front of me, arms crossed across his chest.
Jack is beside me laughing and I glare at him, frustrated that he would do that. I know he's doing it on purpose; no one can see him and I'm the only one who can make snow around here bar him, which results in one thing: I'm the one they blame. For some reason Jack likes to throw snowballs especially at Eugene.
Even while glaring at him Jack continues to chuckle lightly under his breath. Honestly, it wasn't even that funny. Well, I suppose if it were me who was invisible and someone else was in my position, I guess it would be a tad bit funny.
I roll my eyes and look back to Eugene who is staring at me expectantly. "Sorry, Eugene," I reply quietly. "Just wanted to have some fun."
His expression softens and I let out a small sigh of relief. At least he isn't too mad at me. Eugene gently places a hand on my shoulder comfortingly. "I understand, but you know you have to act a certain way now. You're a queen; You're not a child anymore, Elsa. You rule Arendelle now. It's time to be more mature." He doesn't wait for a response, and continues back down the hall.
I gaze after him, but I feel hollow inside. I hate this. Being Queen isn't fun. It's all... An act. I have to be a certain way, I'm not allowed to have fun, I'm only allowed to invite certain guests to our parties. It sucks, royally. I'm still young, and my entire life consisted of me acting a certain way and hiding who I am... I thought maybe since everyone knows of my power that I can be myself. I was wrong.
I'm so dazed that I don't hear Jack calling me for a few seconds. "Aren't you allowed to have any fun at all?" he asks, scratching his head as though the idea of no fun at all perplexes him.
"I'm the queen," I simply say, and continue walking down the hall in silence. However, Jack's not done.
"Still, they should allow you to enjoy yourself more often. You know, let your hair down, or something," he continues. "Oh! I know; they should build a massive slide–"
I laugh quietly. "A massive slide?"
"Yeah! And it can be just for you. You can.. Make one out of your power, coming out from your room all the way to the bottom of the castle!" He sounds so excited by the idea that I can't suppress a smile. "And every morning you can go down it." He looks at me and his eyes glitter.
"I'll add it to my list," I answer.
"A list? Of what?" he asks me.
"Of things I'll never be allowed to do," I reply, shaking my head with a soft sigh. "But if Eugene and the other helpers ever lighten up, I'll be sure to suggest it." He grins at me, and I smile back.
How can it be that only ten minutes ago we admitted to being attracted to one another? I pinch my eyebrows together, as my stomach bursts with butterflies. I think of all the marriage propositions I have received since I became queen and purse my lips. I'm so glad I never even read any of them. Then I frown, remembering Jack and I's situation. He's immortal. What is the point of even going to Anna? I know deep down it'll never work.
I can't help it though. Every time I even glance at him I feel instantly drawn to him. I feel as though I've been waiting for him my whole life.
I shake my head and roll my eyes. Honestly, where are all these mushy thoughts coming from? Focus, I tell myself. This isn't a book. This isn't a fairy tale. I don't usually let myself feel this way. Why do I feel so strongly about someone I barely know and someone who I know it'll never work out with?
I glance at Jack and see his eyes scanning the halls. He's freezing things every now and then, and I'm not even sure he's aware of what he's doing. He seems so consumed by his own thoughts.
Why is my room so far from the dining hall?
"Have you ever considered just leaving?" Jack asks me eventually. I'm glad he's said something, because I don't like silence. It reminds me of loneliness.
I give him a quizzical look. "Leaving? I can't just..." I trail off. I've done it before. What makes it so different now? Of course, back then I was running away to make sure I didn't harm my sister, and look how well that turned out.
I push back the bitter memories and the guilt that comes with it. Now isn't the time.
"I can't leave Anna," I decide. I'm surprised it isn't my first answer. I'd never leave Anna here on her own to rule a kingdom. That would be... Awful. She's too young.
Jack stops so suddenly, and he looks troubled. "Elsa, this is pointless," he says, and my stomach twists. "I'll have to leave once winter is over... And I'll have to bring snow to other places next year and won't be around for ages. We'll hardly see one another."
My eyes fall to the ground. He's right. We wouldn't be able to... I think of back to what he asked before that. He asked me if I could leave... Was he wondering if I would...? No. No. I'm just jumping to conclusions. Of course he wasn't asking me that. Was he? Is he wondering if I could come with him. My mind buzzes at the thought; it would be an escape; An adventure. I've always wanted to go on an adventure.
I can't leave Anna, though. I just can't. I know she'd tell me to go, but I shut her out too long. I can't do that again. I swore to myself I wouldn't.
"Did you... I mean, were you suggestion... Do you..." I struggle to get it out. What if I'm wrong? What if he wasn't even considering that? I blush, because I'm stuttering and Jack is staring at me in amusement. I scowl. "Never mind!"
He laughs at my frustration which makes me blush more. He's so easygoing... I wish I could be like that. I've lived in so much fear, that I've lost that trait.
"I was going to suggest it," Jack tells me, "but you're right; you can't leave Anna here." He pouts and reminds me of a child.
I consider our problem for a few seconds. I can't imagine myself being this drawn to anyone else. I think once you fall for someone, those feelings don't ever really resurface for anyone else. I bite the inside of my lip. What a predicament we're in.
"When are you going to be leaving?" I ask him.
He shrugs his shoulders. He steps closer to me and my breathing becomes rapid. "I find I don't really want to leave," he says so quietly, that I have to lean in to hear him. My heart races when I notice how close we are. Our faces are only six inches apart. I realise we're standing outside the dining room right now, but I don't tell him that. "Plus, I suppose I could stay until after Christmas," he adds on, not as quietly. His voice sounds a little higher than usual, and I notice he looks nervous. I suppress a grin. At least I know I'm not the only nervous one.
I blink, suddenly realising how close Christmas is. "That's three days away," I gasp.
He raises an eyebrow, as though this was obvious information. "I didn't say I was leaving straight after Christmas. I mean, this is the last stop I have for winter, anyway..." He trails off, looking a little uncertainly at me. We're still standing close, and I'm pretty sure that if we were just having a moment, I ruined it.
I shake my head. "No. Sorry, it's just I'm allowed to have a break on Christmas Eve, up until New Years. It's tradition to spend time with family during a time of celebration."
"Are you serious? That's great-"
"Oh. Sorry!" We both turn to find Kristoff standing there, looking at us with his eyebrows raised. With a pang I notice that Jack and I are still standing close to one another. I blush and take a step away from him, and he does the same. "Didn't mean to intrude... Although, the hall is a bad place to be getting... Cosy..."
"We weren't getting cosy!" Jack and I say in unison.
Kristoff doesn't look like he believes us. "Uh... Anyway... See you later, Elsa. Going to see the family." I smile. Kristoff's family is very different to every other family I know. His family aren't even human. They're trolls. Their pretty cool, though. They saved Anna when my powers almost killed her when we were younger. "Um... Have fun?" He doesn't sound sure.
"We will," Jack says before I can answer. Kristoff looks at Jack like he still can't believe he's real. But he does believe because he can see him.
Kristoff leaves us standing alone in the hallway, but we're soon joined by Anna and Olaf.
"I like the trolls. You know, I miss summer- don't get me wrong. I like winter too, but I miss having my own personal snow cloud," Olaf is saying as they walk over to us. "Whoa. Look! It's Jack and Elsa."
Anna grins. "What a surprise Jack's back," Anna chimes as though she knows something we don't. I glare at her, but I suppose she was right. I do like Jack. She links her hands with ours, twisting around so that we're walking back into the dining room. I turn my head and see Olaf running after Kristoff.
"You know what's nice?" She asks. She doesn't wait for an answer before adding on, "Dates. You know, things people do... Just two people... together... Alone. Most commonly the couple go out to dinner," she tells us suggestively.
"Yes, Anna," I reply, pulling my arm out from hers. "Couples. As in people going out." I stare coldly at her, and over the years I've managed to perfect that look. Anna ignores it though.
"Dates sound fun, wouldn't you agree, Elsa?" Jack says amused. I look at him and he's grinning, his eyes sparkling, and he winks at me jokingly. Honestly... Why are his eyes so captivating?
I look away, my cheeks heating up. His words excite Anna, however. "Don't they?" she exclaims excitedly. "Kristoff took me to the forest for a picnic on our first date. Although, I could have done without Sven and Olaf coming with us..." She continues to smile. "We got rid of them eventually, though. And we stayed out and watched the stars." She sighs dreamily. "Kristoff's a big softie, though."
"I reckon watching the dreams was our first date, wouldn't you say so, Elsa?"
I narrow my eyes at him as my cheeks heat up more. Why was I blushing so much? He laughs at me. He got the reaction he was looking for. I'm blushing, and trying to be mad at him, but my anger ebbs away as I see his smile.
"No," I reply stubbornly, continuing to narrow my eyes at him.
"Oh. That would have been so romantic!" Anna sings. "Was it romantic?" She looks like a child waiting for a lollipop; her eyes are round and expectant.
"No-"
"Of course it was," Jack says cutting me off. He looks happy with himself, because he knows it's bothering me. Why is it bothering me? I bite the inside of my lip; it's a habit I need to get rid of. "We sat under the stars, watching the town come alive. Just the two of us... Alone..." I realise he's not trying to bother me. He's amused by Anna's excited behaviour. I guess I'm just so used to her that I don't notice it as much as others would.
"That's so cute—"
"Jack fell over the ledge," I cut in. "That's not cute, or romantic. And it wasn't a date."
"Why are you so mad about calling it a date?" Jack asks amused. "Didn't you enjoy yourself with me?"
"I did enjoy myself." I roll my eyes- another habit I've noticed I have. "But I want a proper first date." My eyes widen when it's out of my mouth.
"What's a proper first date to you?" Jack asks, and I notice he's edging closer to me again. He likes teasing me... He likes that I get embarrassed easily and how awkward I am.
"Oh. I want to know too! You never talk about this stuff with me!" Anna's eyes are as wide as they'll go, I reckon. I think she's hit her excited capacity.
My cheeks are bright red. Jack is suppressing a laugh, I just know it. "Oh, go ahead and laugh, Jack," I try to say angrily, but sounding more embarrassed than anything. He starts laughing.
"You've gone so red," he points out.
Anna looks confused and disappointed. "I want to know what you'd like on a first date," she mutters. She looks at me and gives me a pleading look. She looks like a little puppy, and I sigh. She knows that look always works on me.
"I'd like a dinner," I reply, hoping that would be sufficient. Anna nods her head and rolls her hands, beckoning me to go on. Jack looks somewhat interested too. He leans on his staff with an eyebrow arched, looking at me. I try to stop blushing, but I'm not good when it comes to all this romantic stuff. "Fine," I sigh. "I'd like a dinner, by the sea. In that little restaurant the Cooke's have set up. It's my favourite. Then I'd like to go for a walk along the coast, by the old wall.." I find myself becoming more warped in my own words. "And maybe watch the sunset."
I blink, suddenly aware of my surroundings again. How did I become so absorbed in my own story?
"That's adorable!" Anna exclaims. "Who knew you could think so romantically?"
I glare at her, but I agree. Sometimes, when I was in my work and I saw Anna with Kristoff down in the town, holding hands, I'd try to imagine what I could be like in a relationship. It was so petty.
"Yeah, yeah," I mutter, waving her off. "Anyway-"
"Jack! You should do that for her!" Anna suggests, and I choke on the air. "It would be so cute!"
"Anna!" I snap. She looks innocently at me, and Jack is chortling. "What is this- see how red Elsa can go?"
"Maybe." Anna replies. "I say it's working greatly, too." She raises a hand for Jack, and he high fives her. I look at the two of them in disbelief. Of course those two would become friends quickly. They're both bundles of optimism waiting to explode. Anna tilts her head slightly. "Can't you two give a date a try?" she asks, almost pleading with us.
"I can't. I have-"
"I'll do your work," Anna intervenes.
"No one else can see Jack," I continue on. "They'll think I'm alone."
"And?" Anna asks. "That's nothing new. "I feel a pang in my chest and Anna sighs, seeing my hurt look. "Well, it's not... Really." She pulls a face. "Sorry."
"I've been alive for awhile and I've never been on a date... I'd like to experience a date," Jack says looking at me. He smiles at me. "It could be fun," he adds on, nudging me playfully on the arm. "You know you want to." I give a half smile... He's right. I do want to. I really want to. But... I sigh. I'm not avoiding my duties. What harm could it do? "Do you want to go on a date with me, Elsa?"
I think for a moment. My heart is racing; it's been doing that a lot since Jack arrived into my life. "I suppose it would be a good way to get to know one another better," I finally reply. Jack's smile grows, as does Anna's. "Fine. I'll go on a date with you, Jack."
"This couldn't get any cuter!" Anna says, wrapping her arms excitedly around me. I groan, and she lets me go. "When's the date?"
"Tomorrow," Jack says.
"I'll do your queen duties, Elsa. Don't worry. I'll get Kristoff and Olaf to help."
"That's reassuring," I mumble. I take a deep breath. "I guess I'm going on a date."
I've never been on one before. I guess shutting myself inside the castle stopped me from doing things like that. I feel excited. Now that I'm out from the castle, so many new things have come my way. The best of all of the new things in my life is probably Jack. I smile. Tomorrow is going to be incredible. I just know it.
I can't help feel nervous though. All this is new to me. What am I suppose to wear? How am I supposed to act...?
I'm supposed to be myself. Not any other way. I'll be fine. I swallow hard. It's just a date... No big deal.
I hope tomorrow comes quickly.
Something happened a while ago, and was saying I had only received one new comment, but when I had clicked on to see the comment, I had like seven new comments! Did that happen anyone else, or was my iPod just being stupid? :L
It was strange...
Anyway, guys! Everyday I come on amazed at the feedback this story is getting. It's not even good in my eyes :L I just like writing and write whatever comes to mind. I'm glad you guys like it, though.
Ive decided that I'm going to reply to comments from now on. You guys are just great, tbh. :) Same with the people who follow and favourite- you guys rock :D
Agh. I just can't believe this story is anyway likeable! :) Thank you all so much. :)
TEAM JELSA :D