Vibrant Grays

Curious Sapphire

Jack was nothing but a stranger four colors before. Now, he seems to be everything that Elsa ever sees. At Mad Hatter's Tea, at the book club she's part of, (Paula (Piper) is the one that attends, Jack just pops out sometimes.) at the Desinne University, the small corner diner... Jack is a part of her Solar System, but he's slowly edging to the middle, the Sun.

"You like him, don't you?" Anna teases, eating out of the ice cream tub. "The guy with the blue hoodie."

"J-Jack?" Elsa splutters. "No way. He's just everywhere. I can't exactly avoid him."

"He smiles at you like you're important to him and you look at him like he's a curious little thing."

Elsa glares at Anna. "He is a curious little thing. He consumes more sugar than anyone on this town, including Mr. Hatter. He orders the Best Seller or the Weekly Ultimate Challenge. I don't even know how he can eat all those stuff!"

Anna chuckles. "You like him, admit it. If you don't, you'd end up like Rosie and Alex."

Elsa looks at their TV showing Rosie finding the letter on Greg's desk. "We're not even close to those two."

"Whatever you say, Elsie." Anna smiles teasingly. "I heard he was calling you that."

"Shut up, Anna."

When Anna actually stops talking about Jack, Elsa is still on the subject. It is unfair, she thinks, how the world gives her no choice at all to feel... admiration (Elsa will never say love) for Jack. He's the only person that has color in her life, literally. But she doesn't even bother to cast away her thoughts which mostly consist of blue and Jack's smiles.

She has no choice but to fall in... love with Jack.
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"We could try the mall," Jack suggests. "There's some shops there."

"I want it to be original," Paula whines. "It's my 18th birthday, my only 18th birthday."

Jack sighs but he still smiles. "Okay, Piper."

"A friend of mine has a seamstress as an aunt, we can have my dress made there. However, it's a bit pricey."

"We'll first lay all of our options and then pick the best, okay? I'll order us some coffee and treats." Jack stands, eating the last piece of the Rainbow Cookies.

Elsa's shift is ending, in 10 minutes. For the past 45 minutes or so, she's been watching Paula and Jack fight over the former's birthday party in two months. They have ordered three cups of coffee each and are eating the last of their Rainbow Cookies. Tomorrow, Monday, they're going to release new cookies, courtesy of Marcus Hatter's niece, Alice W. Land.

"More cookies?" Elsa asks dully.

"Yeah," Jack replies. "This thing with her party is stressing me out. It's in two months and she wants it to happen so badly. Mom would have wanted it..."

For the first time, Elsa sees something other than happiness on his face. There's sadness and a little bit of regret. It's a weird, seeing someone like Jack that lost and broken. Elsa almost doesn't recognize the man in front of her.

"Are your parents dead?" Elsa blurts out, ringing Jack's orders for the fourth time.

He nods. "Not on the same year, of course."

"I see." Elsa doesn't speak further. She doesn't know that this is how her friends feel when she says, "My parents are dead." Clearing her throat, she changes the subject. "What's the main problem of the party?"

"Dress and decorations. It's a small party. They're all going to get seperated for college so they want to spend more time as possible. Piper's birthday is one of the most awaited," Jack says, slamming a few dollars on the table. "Freaking dress."

Elsa thinks for a moment before saying, "My sister can design it. The dress, I mean. I overheared Paula saying she wants it to be original, Anna can design dresses for her. She's an artist. She's been practicing with fashion."

"You think you can do that?" Jack asks, eyes lighting up. "That would be so great. Maybe we can have someone to make the dress. Your sister designing it would cut off some stress and money."

Elsa nods. "Yeah. You know what, Anna knows how to sew."

Jack chuckles. "Well, call me if Anna can handle that effing dress, okay?"

"I don't know your number."

Jack grabs the candy pen they sell and writes his digits on the back of his receipt. "Now you do."

Elsa doesn't give him back her number because she doesn't need to. Instead, she gives him a version of her smile.

Today, Jack's figure is almost fully colored.
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