Rivals (A Jelsa Story)

Chapter 27 - Party Plans

A/N: I think these two would be best friends. (Edit is by OVERLANDX on DeviantArt.)

Merida's POV

The four of us were in one of the nooks on the second floor of the library. Elsa sat curled up in an armchair with her head resting in Rapunzel's lap. Rapunzel was sitting on the arm of the chair and lightly stroking her hair. Anna sat on the other arm.

"Hans is a jerk," Anna was saying. "Don't listen to him."

Elsa sniffled. "It's not just that. I – I didn't get to say goodbye."

"To Jack?" Rapunzel asked.

"To any of them. I was starting to really like them, but now I'll probably never see them again."

"We could go hang out in Burgess sometime," Anna suggested. "Maybe we'll run into some of them."

Elsa shook her head. "No, it's fine. I just – I don't know. I wish we'd had more time."

"Yeah, me too," I said. "They were all really cool."

Rapunzel nodded.

"I don't know, maybe it's better this way." Elsa sighed. "I mean, we live in different cities, we go to different schools, a bunch of us are about to graduate and leave probably. Fewer people to miss."

I could tell she didn't really believe what she was saying, she was just trying to make herself feel better. Anna, Rapunzel, and I looked helplessly at each other.

"Well, I guess we should go home now." Elsa straightened up and wiped her eyes.

"Here, let me drive." Anna held her hand out. "I'm not sure you should be driving right now."

Elsa let out a small laugh. "Yeah, you're probably right." She handed Anna her keys. "We'll see you guys later."

"Bye," Rapunzel said. As soon as they'd disappeared, she looked at me. "Should we do something? What can we do?"

"Don't worry," I replied. "I think I have an idea."

As I was walking to my car, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and called Astrid. She picked up after two rings. "Hey, Mer! What's up?"

"Hey, could you help me with something?"

Elsa's POV

The first thing that caught my attention when I walked into my room was the white tiger Jack had won for me at the carnival. I wondered how I hadn't noticed him before. Setting my backpack down, I walked over and picked him up. I nuzzled him to my face like I had that first day I got him.

I'd decided to name him Frosty, after Jack. I knew the name didn't really make sense in the context of a white tiger, but I thought it was cute. I'd forgotten to tell Jack, though. Now I didn't know if I'd ever get another chance.

But that was a good thing, wasn't it? I didn't know if I was really ready for another relationship. I hadn't planned on letting him get as close as he had, and now he was gone. That just solidified my desire to not let anyone else in.

My phone buzzed, breaking me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out to see I had a text from Merida on our group chat with Anna, Rapunzel, Kristoff, and Flynn: Pool party at my house this weekend. Saturday, 1pm. If you don't come I will find you and drag you there.

I chuckled lightly, rubbing my eyes with a knuckle. This was probably her way of trying to distract me and make me feel better. I decided I'd give it a try.

Jack's POV

There was a light knock at my door. "Come in!" I called.

My grandmother walked in. "Hei, Jack."

"Hi Bestemor."

She sat down at the foot of my bed. "I haven't seen much of you in the last few days. Are you feeling alright?"

I nodded. "I've just been tired, and a little stressed about school."

"Would you feel better if I made you a batch of cookies?"

I laughed a little. "Yes, I think that would make me feel much better."

She smiled and stood, ruffling my hair like she used to when I was little. "Alright then, that's what I'll do." Something caught her attention. "Oh, where did that come from?"

I looked to where she was pointing. It was Snowball, who was sitting on my dresser. I'd forgotten about him. "Oh, uh, I got that at the carnival on Friday."

"He's very cute." She'd walked over and hesitantly held her hand out. "May I?"

"Sure."

She picked him up and smoothed the fur on the back of his neck. "Wow, so soft. You won this?"

I bit the inside of my cheek. "Well, technically my friend won it for me. But I did win the game."

"That's very sweet." She set him back on the dresser and then leaned down to kiss the top of my head. "I'll go make those cookies now. In the meantime, you'd better start on your homework, ja?"

I sighed. "Yeah, probably."

She smiled and closed the door.

I just sat there and stared at Snowball for what felt like a very long time. My mind was racing with thoughts of the carnival and the dance and most of all, Elsa. Every time it felt like I was finally able to stop thinking about her, something popped up and there she was, living in my head again.

I scooped Snowball up and dropped him on the bed next to Lawrence. "Just because I'm lonely doesn't mean you have to be."