Giving Fantasia: The Taking Fantasia Sequel

Chapter 22: You Could Have Cared

Chapter 22: You Could Have Cared

Jack Frost's life had taken an unexpected upturn. He had three priorities:

(1) Hang with Elsa.

(2) Ditch the guardians.

(3) When possible, accomplish priorities 1 and 2 simultaneously.

It was heaven. For one, Jack knew his affair was driving the guardians crazy (especially Bunny). They chased him here, they chased him there, and they chased and chased him everywhere! But Jack always escaped! And hilariously, North never quite comprehended how Jack could hear them coming: jingle bells. Dead giveaway.

Plus, Tooth was Jack's accomplice in crime. It was EPIC. Jack and Tooth staged imaginary fights.

In these imaginary fights, Tooth demanded that Jack return to The Otherland; Jack blatantly refused; Tooth insulted his teeth; Jack threw a slow motion punch; Tooth socked his sorry butt back to Fantasia; later they would high five.

See? Epic.

But the best part was Elsa. Jack quickly learned that Elsa had no idea how to have fun! She didn't think she deserved it, so she was lousy at it. So, Jack decided to teach her how to have good clean (and unclean) fun.

And that was a heavenly endeavor.

"I still think sledding down a castle tower is illegal."

Jack laughed. And then he agreed.

"Of course it is!" Staff tucked underarm, he helped Elsa through the window. "But what's the point if it's legal?"

Elsa lowered. Balancing against Jack's hands, she replied to her own comment. "But, I guess breaking the law is half the fun. Right?"

Jack's smile shot of his face. Elsa had echoed his answer. That had been happening more often. Although she couldn't hear him, Elsa carried their conversations as if she could read his mind. She anticipated Jack's thoughts and restated his responses with unnerving accuracy.

It was exciting: Jack and Elsa were getting to know each other. They were even predicting each other. Little by little, step by step. And if Tooth's was right, then maybe - MAYBE - Elsa would eventually see Jack (outside of her mind's eye). All Elsa needed to do was believe. And she was believing in Jack more and more every day.

Jack squeezed Elsa's fingers. Elsa felt the cold and squeezed back.

"Elsa." Without releasing hands, Jack stepped forward. He moved close enough to nip her nose. "Elsa. See me.

Elsa curled her fingers. She uncurled, and flexed again, probing his web spaces. Then performing a mental body scan, Elsa suddenly looked straight into Jack's eyes.

"Jack. Are you...right there?"

Jack clenched his fingers. Elsa clenched back.

Slowly, they started to lean...

"Interesting mime, Your Grace."

Ice spurted from Elsa's fingers. Frost crinkled from Jack's staff. Startled, they turned to an enormous man filling the doorway. The man was speckled in their ice and frost. He looked like a dinosaur from the Ice Ages.

"Agent Bubbles." Elsa clasped hands behind her back. Momentarily she followed Jack's frost trail up the ceiling. "I - I didn't hear you knock."

Cobra Bubbles removed his sunglasses. Unemotionally he wiped them clean.