Elsa's left eye twitched in annoyance, her hand trembling as she grasped her red cup of beer tighter. Why did she had to subject herself to this torture? Why did she had to agree to third wheel into their date when she knew fully well that it could only disturb and disgust her? If only she could take back the promise that she made three hours ago, then maybe she'd be back at home, watching Netflix and eating ice cream out of the tub.
She closed her eyes and willed herself to calm down. Remember, she thought, they're your friends, Elsa. Also, you're a good friend. But I swear, if I hear one more giggling, I'd —
"Elsa!" Rapunzel squealed, jumping onto her back, giggling loudly. "Elsa! Elsa! What are you doing here?"
Elsa blew a strand away from her eyes and looked over her shoulder where her friend's chin lay. "Oh, you know"—she shrugged—"enjoying my own private party."
Rapunzel pouted. "Why? Don't you want to party with us?" Behind her, Eugene, the boy she'd been having a date with and made Elsa a third wheel, hollered and jumped at the pool table.
Elsa blinked. "I don't know about you, Punz, but a College Party is not an ideal first date." But of course, she'd already told this to her friend a couple of hours ago.
"I know." Still, Rapunzel smiled as bright as her hair. "But I like Eugene, Elsa! He's so sweet and attentive and so patient! You know my Anti Dating plan this year right? You know I don't plan on dating right?" She didn't wait for her to answer. "Well, Eugene is the exception and I really like him. I know this isn't the date that you want but I like it and it's because Eugene invited me and—"
"Rapunzel," Elsa said, cutting her off, "I know you like the man but you don't have to ramble. I completely understand."
Rapunzel's tan cheeks were now tinged pink. "Okay!" She giggled and went back to Eugene who was now topless and dancing on the pool table.
Elsa shook her hand before pouring her drink on the plant beside her. She tossed the cup on the floor and weaved herself in the crowd. She decided to leave before the party turned chaotic but the door they came through was blocked. She didn't know what to do so she returned to Rapunzel and Eugene who were grinding their bodies in an attempt of a dance on top of the pool table.
That's it, Elsa fumed to herself, her hands curling into a tight fist. She needed some peace and quiet before she could explode in the middle of the room. So, asking around a couple of people, she was given the directions of the bathroom which was on the second floor. She quickly went up before Rapunzel or Eugene decided to find her and pull her into their crowd.
Elsa searched for the bathroom but she was too preoccupied to remember the directions that she ended up into someone's bedroom. The room was empty and, thinking that it could be her time alone, she locked the door behind her. She eyed the gray walls, the sport posters, and the single and rumpled bed on the side of the door.
The room was not neat yet untidy either. Elsa eyed the hockey jersey with a number 25 stapled on the wall and thought that the bedroom owner was either a hockey player or a fan, but judging from the skates and hockey stick she spied on the corner, it would be the former. She sat on the bed and massaged her temples, getting calmer and calmer by the silence of the room. In fact, she could hardly hear the music from downstairs.
She pulled out her phone, sent a quick text message to Rapunzel that she went home in case she was looking for her, and landed on the comfy bed on her back. Just as she was getting comfortable, the door inside the room that led to the bathroom abruptly opened and a guy came out rubbing his wet silver hair with a towel.
Elsa jumped, her expression was of complete horror especially when she noticed that the guy wasn't wearing any shirt, just his loose jeans. The guy, however, hadn't realized that a stranger was in his room but rather thinking it was his friend coming to check up on him.
"So"—the guy said in a deep, raspy voice—" how was the party? Oh shit." He jumped and the smirk on his face faltered when he saw the girl staring at him with eyes as wide as saucers. This was definitely not his friend.
"Oh my God!" Elsa screamed and covered her eyes. "Oh my God!" She was shaking and jumping, turning her back to the guy while cursing herself for being so careless. She thought that it was vacant yet she didn't know that someone was inside the bathroom.
"What are you doing here?" The guy asked, his tone was unexpectedly harsh. The girl caught him off guard and he was wary if she was an obsessed Puck Bunny: girls who only slept and flirted with hockey players. He hated those types and was keen on avoiding them for the rest of his career.
"I'm sorry," Elsa said, heart pounding inside her chest. "I didn't know anyone was here. I was looking for the bathroom but I forgot the directions and ended up here. I thought that it was empty and decided to just stay."
He arched his eyebrows despite that she couldn't see his face. "Well, it's not empty. Now, can you leave?" He gritted his teeth. He didn't want to deal with a stalker tonight.
Elsa rolled her eyes at his rude remark. "Look," she started to turn around but stopped when she remembered he was currently topless, "I don't want any trouble, okay? I just needed some place quiet. You should see the chaos downstairs. It's a complete nightmare. Here," she added when she grabbed the shirt she spotted on the floor. She reached out, only turning slightly with her eyes behind her palm. "Can you please cover yourself and look decent? I want to talk to you properly since talking to you without looking at you is rude."
The guy eyed her warily yet snatched the shirt from her fingers. He pulled it over his head, deciding the it smelled clean enough. "Okay," he said. "I'm decent."
Elsa sighed in relief and turned with a tight close lipped smile. "Thank you," she said in relief. "Now that we can speak properly, we can continue this conversation again."
"No," scowled the guy. "I want you to leave. Now." He pointed at the door.
"Now, wait a minute!" Elsa sputtered. "Can't I stay here for a moment? Wait." She reached for the switch on the wall, noticing that she could only make out the features of the guy because of the lights through the window behind him. The lights were on and Elsa faced the guy once again. "Now, where were we?"
The guy eyed the lights before he returned his attention to the girl. His eyebrows moved a fraction as he noticed her messy platinum curls, her crimson lips, and the big ice blue eyes that were framed by long and curved eyelashes. She was wearing a simple green shirt that easily emphasized some well chosen parts of her body and black skinny jeans. He hadn't realized how pretty the girl was when the lights were off and he wondered how he could make her leave now that he knew what she looked like.
"Hello?" Elsa waves her hands when he hadn't spoken. She raked her gaze distastefully on his tousled silver hair, his cyan blue eyes, the gray shirt she handed, and the loose and slightly ripped jeans threatening to fall on his knees. "Aren't you going to say something?"
The guy jerked his head, snapping out of his trance, and took a step back. "Yes, I am going to say something: I want you to leave."
Elsa shot him a look of hostility that made him recoil back.
"I bet if I was crying," she said, "you wouldn't kick me out."
The guy gaped at her reply. "Of course I'm not!"
"That is so unfair!" Elsa scowled. "Why can't I just stay? I'm not going to do anything! I just need some peace and quiet, okay?"
"Why don't you find your peace and quiet into somebody else's room?" He gestured towards the door.
"Well, I'm already here, am I not?" She shot back. "What's the point in finding it again when I've already found it?"
The guy scowled back, dropping his hand to his thigh. "You're unbelievable, lady!"
"I have a name!" Elsa snapped.
They both growled at each other, both looking like they were going to rip each other's throats out. The way they glared could likely kill someone in one glance. For a full minute, they glared until they pulled their gaze away at the same time.
"Fine," the guy grumbled, looking skeptically at her. "You can stay. Just... don't touch anything."
Elsa's guarded expression thwarted. "Okay, thanks." She sat back down on the unmade bed and refused to make any eye contact.
The guy decided to sit on his swivel chair, completely out of his element because of the stranger inside his room. He never had a girl inside his private space before unless you counted the time his friend's girlfriend came inside his room to borrow some toilet paper. Other than that one time, he never brought a girl in. It was always he who would visit them on their place, preferred to stain their sheets rather than his.
"So," he drawled, trying to break the uncomfortable silence.
"What?" Elsa's left eyebrow rose as she crossed her arms over to her chest.
"What's your name?" He shrugged.
"What part of peace and quiet had you not understand?"
The guy smirked cheekily. "Just trying to get to know the girl who stumbled into my room."
Elsa sighed and told him her name, thinking it'd shut him up.
"Elsa," he said slowly, likely testing the word out. "I like it. Now, aren't you going to ask for my name?"
"Why?" Elsa remarked instead.
"Because I asked for yours and it would be rude if you won't ask for mine," he retorted.
Elsa rolled her eyes. "Okay. What is your name?"
The guy lifted his arms and crossed them behind his head. He opened his mouth, taking a deep breath, but he said, "Nah, I'm not going to say my name."
Elsa blinked. "Why?" was the only word she could think of.
"Because you hurt my feelings for asking why you should ask for my name." He pouted in faux innocence. "It was rude."
Elsa gritted her teeth, the feeling of annoyance now boiling inside her like magma. She should've just stayed at the party if the guy was going to start annoying her with his quips and retorts. She felt irritated when the corner of his lips lifted as he watched her. He must've thought that she was amusing.
"You know what?" She stood from the bed. "I'm getting out of here."
Instead of stopping her, the guy jumped up and waved his hand enthusiastically. "Bye~" he exclaimed.
Elsa's lips curled into a sneer. She stomped out of the room as soon as she unlocked the door. The guy chuckled, amused at the short tempered beauty who landed in his room. Just as he was thinking about her, the door opened again and she came in.
He grinned obnoxiously. "Miss me?" Said he, with his arms spread wide.
Elsa scoffed. "No." She snatched the phone from the bed. He noticed that her pale cheeks were turning red. "I, erm, forgot my phone." She snatched the phone from the bed and quickly darted out but not before slamming the door shut.
The guy stood and blinked his eyes before bursting into a heartfelt laugh that could be heard by the whole house if it weren't for the music downstairs. He heaved a big breath out right after, chuckling softly about the girl, Elsa, who was likely cursing him at the moment.
He jumped on his bed and shifted when he felt an object hitting his back. He turned and found a phone with a sky blue casing. It looked exactly like his phone except for the case. He tapped on the phone and his suspicions were confirmed when he saw the different wallpaper that should've been him and Emma, his little sister. Instead, the picture was of the girl, Elsa, with three other girls he couldn't recognize.
He laughed for the second time around when he realized that Elsa had mistaken his phone for hers and left the house with it.
Meanwhile, outside the house, Elsa decided to walk home instead of hitching a ride or disturbing Rapunzel and Eugene. She was crossing the yard when the phone inside her pocket vibrated, causing her to jump. She fished the phone out and noticed the unfamiliar number on the screen. Without thinking, she accepted the call and pressed the phone on her ear.
"Who's this?" She greeted.
"Wow," a familiar deep and raspy tone said at the other end of the line. "You really didn't recognize your own number on the phone?"
Elsa's eyebrows furrowed. "I think I don't understand what you're saying."
The stranger on the other end of the line chuckled huskily. "Check the number and see if you could recognize it."
Elsa, although suspicious at the request, checked the number. After rereading it the third time, she gasped when she realized that it was her own number. "Oh my God!" Her phone was calling her and most likely, it was the jerk she'd met inside the house.
He chuckled again. "You're pretty hilarious, aren't you?"
Elsa groaned. Way to go, Els, she thought miserably. You're making yourself appear like a fool in front of a guy. Great.
"I'm glad you find me amusing," she said sarcastically.
"As you should," he replied, either ignoring the sarcasm or completely missing it. "Where are you anyway?"
Elsa nibbled on her lower lip and told him her whereabouts.
"Hmm, okay. I'm going to get you. Just wait a second."
Before she could protest, the call ended and she huffed angrily. She couldn't believe she was stupid enough to mistake his phone for hers. She wasn't going to hear the end of this, was she? Now, all she could do was wait and hope that she'd get her phone back before the night ends. She could only imagine Rapunzel at the moment, her green eyes widened with astonishment. Elsa was hardly a careless person so why would she starting now?
"Hey, Elsa!"
She groaned when she heard his voice. She swiveled around and scowled as he made his way towards her with an amused grin on his lips.
"Here you go." He offered her phone on his palm. "Figured I should deliver it here myself before you could make any mistakes."
Elsa could feel the heat on her cheeks. "Thanks," she said through gritted teeth as she took her phone from his.
The guy's eyebrows rose, his palm still up. Elsa only stared at him, confusion etched on her face. He sighed. "And my phone? Are you going to keep it or are you going to give it to me?"
Elsa pursed her lips in embarrassment at his statement. "Just a second," she muttered and slapped his phone on his palm. "I was planning to give it. You just couldn't wait."
"Right. Of course." His snort suggested that he didn't believe her. "So, are you going to walk home?"
Elsa frowned. "Yes. Why?"
"Oh, nothing." The guy shrugged his shoulder, toeing the grass with his loosely tied sneakers. "I just wanted to say be careful. Something might be lurking out there in the dark at the moment. Just watch out for yourself, okay?"
Elsa gawked at him before flinging her arms up. "Unbelievable!" She screamed. "I have never met a guy who's as despicable as you! Ugh! You're such an asshole!"
He seemed stunned at her outburst and flinched when she shot him a look full of hatred. She was about to turn away when he grabbed her arm, stopping her from leaving.
"Now, what do you want?" Elsa growled.
The guy cringed. "Uhm, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to piss you off so much."
"Well, you did." What kind of guy would let a girl walk home in the middle of the night?
"It was meant to be a joke," said the guy.
"Do you see me laughing? Or even look like I'm laughing?" Elsa deadpanned. "Because if that was a joke, I should be."
The guy shook his head in remorse. "No," he said, rubbing his nape with his other hand. "I'm really sorry though. If you want, I could drive you home. It really is dangerous for a girl to walk home alone."
Elsa softened but only just bit. "Okay. I'll take your offer." Then she narrowed her eyes dangerously on him. "But that's just because I don't have a choice, got it?"
He chuckled and raised his arms up in a surrender. "Fine, fine. I won't gloat then." He smirked.
Elsa groaned, wanting to slap the smirk off his face. She felt a little disturbed at it and a little defeated, like she'd let him one on an unknown competition. But that was just her pride talking, which proved to be futile and mostly ridiculous sometimes.
"Let's go then," the guy said, gesturing for her to follow him. "My friend's car is just parked around this area. At least, that's what I hope." He shot a look full of mischief and trouble over his shoulder.
Elsa made a noncommittal grunt and trudged behind him.
"So, Elsa," He said aloud, finally locating the car and taking the car keys from his pocket.
Elsa groaned as a response, refusing to speak.
"I'm just going to—"
But she didn't hear the rest of his sentence when she abruptly slipped on a patch of wet grass. She squealed and landed on her butt, making him stop his sentence. She groaned, her butt stinging from the impact. She raised the hand that tried to prevent or at least lessen the impact of her downfall, only to find her palm was dirty with wet mud.
The guy stopped and let out a laugh that came from the pit of his stomach. Elsa's head shot up and she glared at him for laughing.
"Oh, God!" He exclaimed breathlessly, wiping the unshed tears from the corner of his eyes. "Are you okay?"
Elsa helped herself, dusting her hands off of the dirt. She patted her bottom, aware that it'd most likely bruise tomorrow based by the aching sting that wasn't going away any second now.
"I'm fine," she replied harshly then muttered, "Asshole."
"What was that?"
"Nothing!" She snapped. "You know what? I don't need your help. I can perfectly take care of myself and I can certainly go home without any kind of help, especially if it's yours." Her blue eyes narrowed into daggers. "So, if you will excuse me." She lifted her nose and sniffed haughtily before stalking away from the guy.
The guy, who figured that he must've offended the girl again, pursed his lips to stifle a chuckle. He also ignored the black stain on the back of her jeans, knowing that it'd just make him laugh again. He doubted that Elsa would be pleased if he did.
"Look," he said loudly, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh at you, okay? Why don't you just come back here. I promise I won't laugh again."
Elsa bit her lip but adamantly shook her head when she caught herself considering it. Tempting as his offer might be, she wouldn't take it. She'd already humiliated herself enough of times that she wished that the ground swallowed her up to end her misery. She wasn't this clumsy before and it was the most unfortunate that this side of hers was showing on the same night she met the guy.
"I'm leaving." She quickened her pace.
The guy gaped. "Oh, come on. Don't be stubborn. You will never make it." He cursed savagely when she didn't stop. "Okay, okay. Look, don't be ridiculous. It's dark out and you're a girl. Something might happen to you! Hey! Listen to me!"
Elsa continued, pretending that she hadn't heard his voice.
"Hey! Wait a second!"
Her eyes widened when she heard loud and deep steps behind her. She walked faster but he'd already caught up. He grabbed her hand, making her turn and look at him. He almost winced when he saw the fire in her blue eyes, almost like she wanted to melt him.
"I'm sorry, okay?" He said gentler than the last time. "I didn't mean to offend you or anything. I know I'm a jerk and I'm sorry."
Elsa pulled her arm away from his grasp. "You know that you're a jerk but you aren't even doing anything to fix it," she said, her face scrunched up in an expression of disgust.
The guy flushed and Elsa almost gloated. She actually made him feel sheepish. For the first time since this disastrous night started and since they met, she did something that completely pleased her as evil as it might sound.
"Old habits, die hard." He shrugged, stuffing his thumbs inside his pockets. "Now, am I forgiven?"
Elsa stared at him, her face was a clean slate of emotions. The guy shifted his stance. The way she stared at him was unnerving and it made him uncomfortable.
Finally, after a minute, she spoke.
"Tell me your name first."
The guy's eyebrows shot up. "Uhm, what?" He asked.
Elsa rolled her eyes. "Tell me your name," she repeated. "Then I'll decide if I'm going to forgive you or not."
The guy set his jaw. "It's Jack," he answered. "Jack Frost."
Jack, Elsa repeated in her mind, eyeing him. She was looking to see if he was lying to her. When she was satisfied that he'd spoken the truth, she mused, "Should've known that you're a Jack."
Jack's eyebrows was now hidden beneath the long strands that had fallen over his forehead. "Why?" He drawled. "Because I'm a Jackass?"
Elsa smirked.
He snorted. "Heard that one before."
Elsa shrugged. "Or you could be a Jackpot."
A slow and lazy smile slithered on his face. "Why? Because I'm lucky?"
"No," replied Elsa. "It's because you look like you smoke pot."
Jack's jaw was on the floor and she was now laughing at the disbelief on his face. Shaking her head, she turned and began to walk away. This must have woken Jack up from his shock because he opened his mouth to speak.
"Hey!" He shouted after her. "Where are you going?"
"Home." She continued walking and refusing to look at him. "My decision is final. I'm not going in a car with you, Jackpot."
Jack winced at the name. "Are you crazy?" He gritted his teeth. "It's already half past ten! You're a girl and you're alone! Now, you're only walking home and who knows what might happen to you?"
"I'm well aware that I'm a girl and that I'm alone." Elsa rolled her eyes indignantly before smirking to herself. Should she tell him that she had a friend that was only a block away from his house?
She snorted to herself. No, she wouldn't. She'd let him suffer first with guilt for being a jerk.
"B-b-but!" Jack seemed to be at lost for words. "I thought I was forgiven!"
Elsa's hair swayed from side to side, following the rhythm of her hips, as she walked. "You thought of it," she said, "but I never said it. Bye."
That night Elsa left Jack behind gaping in complete astonishment and in complete wonder.
When Elsa arrived at her friend's house though, she received a text message from an unknown number. Out of curiosity, she opened the message.
You think you're going to get rid of me that easily? ;) — Jack
Elsa smirked and laughed before stuffing her phone inside her pocket.