Love Thaws: Melting

Lavender

Lavender. She needed lavender. The clouds turned the prettiest shade of lavender in the evening. Elsa looked at her meager collection of paints: robin's egg blue and neon pink. She sighed and closed the drawer. She didn't make nearly enough tips to afford anymore paint for a while. She briefly remembered what Janet had told her. Elsa decided today would be a good day to wear her new white shirt. It wasn't as modest as her other one, and she'd been too shy to wear it before, but Elsa desperately wanted lavender, for reasons she couldn't explain. 

Elsa walked into the closet and selected pulled the white shirt off of its hanger, fingering it. The material was soft and supple in comparison with her stiff white shirt. It was deep at the neck and slender at the waist. She changed shirts and walked into the bathroom, observing herself in the mirror. She bit her lip. The fabric was slightly translucent and hugged her figure. Elsa thought about the tube of lavender awaiting her at the store and decided to wear the shirt. She stepped out into the morning air, thick with humidity.

"Bye."

Elsa whirled around and met Jack's bright blue eyes. She swallowed as her gaze dipped downwards. It appeared he'd forgotten his shirt. It looked like he'd just showered. Water rolled down his muscled chest. She finally managed to tear her eyes away and murmured a 'bye' without looking back. 

She started the car and her traitorous gaze strayed back to Jack. He was still leaning against the door way. Elsa briefly wondered how he stayed that fit. She shook her head and started the car; the engine hummed to life. She pulled out of the driveway and began driving on the road. She dared another glance at Jack. 

He was still there. Elsa took a moment to admire how chiseled he was. The loud blare of a horn startled her out of her thoughts and Elsa swerved back into her lane. She exhaled in relief as she avoided the near collision. If she ever became a politician, she'd write a piece of legislation making it illegal for Jackson Frost to be seen without his shirt.

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Elsa twirled her pen happily as she turned in the orders. She was making boatloads of tips. Janet's tricks really came in handy. At this rate, she'd be able to buy three new tubes of paint. Elsa began humming a bouncy tune she'd heard on the radio. The hum died on her lips when she saw Adam casually leaning against the counter. His presence was a bucket of ice water to her good mood. Elsa began to dread talking to him at all. It gave her goose bumps. She instinctively stiffened as she passed him. She felt a strong hand clamp down on her wrist.

"Hey, Elsa."

Elsa could feel herself bristling. "Yes?" she managed, not turning to face him.

He spun her around so she faced him, but he didn't release her captive wrist. "You on break?"

Her bright blue eyes locked with his stormy gray. A curl of dark hair rested against his forehead. Elsa supposed she would have found him attractive... if he wasn't such a creep. "Maybe..." She was, but there was no way she'd tell him that.

He tugged her closer. Elsa was so near, she could feel his chest emanating warmth. "Are you trying to play hard to get? Because if you are..." his voice trailed off. Adam positioned her so that she was sandwiched in between his chest and the counter. "It's absolutely working." His tone dropped, making his voice husky. His fingers skimmed the bare skin between the hemline of her shirt and her jeans. Elsa instantly regretted her decision that morning to wear the shirt.

Elsa shied away from his touch, but there wasn't anywhere to go. "What are you—"

He put his fingers over her lips. "Shh..."

Her heart began racing and goose bumps pricked her skin. She removed his big hand from her mouth. "I-I need to go. I don't have time for this."

He smirked. "Now you do. I can make time."

Elsa frowned. "I'm confused with your... line of thought. You can't 'make' time."

He chuckled and leaned closer. Elsa leaned further back. "There's no thought process involved."

Elsa screwed her eyes shut, willing the moment to pass. She felt Adam's presence abruptly disappear and her eyes fluttered open. Her eyebrows raised to her hairline when she saw Jack had him by the back of his collar. He pushed him backwards and Adam stumbled before righting himself. His fist shot out and Jack dodged fluidly, returning it with a punch of his own. Adam fell to the ground, cradling the left side of his face where a bruise was appearing. 

Jack turned on his heel and approached Elsa. Adam got back up and looked like he was preparing to hit Jack from behind. Elsa opened her mouth to warn him when Jack spun around and caught his fist, holding it in mid-air. Elsa heard a distinct 'pop' as Jack began crushing Adam's knuckles. With a whimper, Adam fell to his knees and Jack released him before latching onto Elsa's wrist and practically dragging her out of the restaurant.

"But my sky colors," she murmured.

Jack stopped and spun around. "What?"

Elsa's eyes widened as she realized she'd said that out loud. "Nothing."

Jack clenched his jaw. "Elsa, I don't have time for this. What?" he demanded.

"My sky colors," she mumbled.

Jack blinked several times. "Your... sky colors?"

Elsa ducked her head and nodded. "I've been collecting different colors of paint that remind me of the sky."

The confusion on Jack's face cleared. "Oh. I could buy—"

"No. Thanks," she interrupted.

Jack gave her an irritated look before dragging her to the car. "Fine."

Elsa bit her lip nervously, but allowed herself to be dragged along. She'd probably lose her job, but at least she wouldn't see Adam anymore. Jack helped her into the passenger's seat before getting into the driver's seat. Elsa pasted her face to the window, watching the scenery. She didn't even get her lavender.