Love Thaws: Melting

What Could Never Be

Elsa closed the laptop with a 'click.' She rubbed her eyes wearily and stood, brushing her crisp, white button-up shirt. She set the computer on the table and glanced at her watch. She had half an hour until her shift started. Elsa stretched her cramped muscles and padded downstairs. 

She selected an apple from the fruit bowl on the breakfast table and washed it off in the sink. The apple, glistening in the light, was varying hues of red and yellow. Elsa thought it was beautiful. She sunk her teeth into it, pulling off a chunk. She savored the crisp sweetness filling her mouth. Elsa had obtained a particular affinity for fruit ever since... she came back. Elsa refused to even think about the cold, white place she had come from. She threw the bare core away, stripped of all fruit, and tied the blue apron around her slender waist. She glanced at herself in the mirror. She was pale and plain, as always. Her hair in a simple bun. Satisfied with her appearance, she began heading towards the door.

"Time for work?"

Elsa whirled around. Jack was leaning against the door way. He smelled freshly of spice and peppermint. Elsa loved that smell. His gray t-shirt stretched over his muscular chest. Elsa turned away.

"Yes."

"Can I drive you?"

Elsa raised her eyebrows. "I can walk." She hated depending on him for everything.

Jack flinched and looked at the ground before glancing up at her, his impossibly blue eyes pleading. "It'll be faster if I drive."

"I don't want to be an inconvenience."

Jack snorted, "Since when have you been an inconvenience?"

Elsa rolled her eyes. "Since I was born," she muttered.

Jack stiffened. "Who told you that?"

"No one had to." Elsa held her pain well hidden behind her mask.

Jack didn't seem to like that. His azure eyes looked sad. "Elsa, you're not an inconvenience."

"Only when I have a purpose."

Jack flinched.

Elsa shrugged, looking away. She knew her eyes would give away her pain and emotions. They usually did. "It's not a big deal."

"Alright, let me drive you to work." Jack's voice had an edge to it, almost as if he were daring her.

Elsa pursed her lips. She did hate being so dependent, but she wouldn't let Jack think he'd won this. "Fine." Elsa had no idea what he was playing at. Why were his motives so hard to figure out?

XXXXXXXX

Elsa flinched as she thought of that awkward car ride. Well, she would've if she didn't have such impeccable emotional control. They were silent the entire time. To Elsa, It felt like the calm before a storm. She guided another couple to their tables. As soon as she left to get their drinks, they became rather... amorous. Elsa watched them for a split-second before walking into the kitchen. She thought it was odd that people liked touching lips so much. Elsa remembered when she liked to do that, but at the moment, the thought made her shudder. 

She got an orange juice for the woman and a coffee for the man, not that they noticed the arrival of the drinks. Elsa spent the next few minutes wiping the tables and clearing platters of partially eaten food. Elsa was walking into the kitchen, laden down by a black bin, overflowing with dirty dishes. Adam walked by Elsa, shoving her roughly with his shoulder as he did so. Elsa quickly righted herself, casting a confused glance towards Adam. His stormy gray eyes crashed with her bright blue eyes. He smirked haughtily and kept on walking.