The Big Eight

Chapter 11

Elsa's POV

I wake up to a hand brushing lightly across my face. Yawning, I sit up. "What time is it?" I ask. "Ten o'clock." Jack replies. I look around the room, noticing we're the only ones left. "Where'd they go?" I ask, laying back down. "Triple breakfast date." He tells me, tracing small patterns on my arm.

"They better bring me pancakes." I mutter, yawning again. Jack chuckles. "I'm sure they will." He assures me. We lay in silence for a bit, I almost end up falling asleep from him stroking my arm.

"Hey Elsa?" Jack say quietly. "Hm?" I hum. "What did Anna mean last night? When she said you ignored someone for 14 years?" He asks. I open my eyes and turn my head to face him. He's propped up on his elbow, rubbing my arm with his free hand.

"Well, when we were young, like really little, we messed around a lot. One night we were playing a game and I ended up hurting her really bad. We had to rush her to some specialists that told us we're lucky it wasn't worse. My parents were scared and with that scared me.

"I became so afraid of hurting Anna again that I never left my room but that only made things worse. Our parents died a couple years ago and I didn't even go to the funeral. Who does that? My fear had gotten so bad I couldn't even be there for my sister when our parents died! Eventually I was forced to leave my room and everything went wrong.

"But Anna got me through it and now we're closer than ever. But that whole time span was 14 years. I missed 14 years of not only Anna's life, but my own." I tell him.

Jack is quietly for a while, still continuing his patterns on my arm. "Well," He starts, "that's in the past. Obviously it's not very far in the past because the wounds are still fresh, and it'll probably hurt you both anytime it's brought up, but now you have each other and that's what matters." He tells me.

I smile a little. "When did you get so smart, Jack?" I ask, curious. "I didn't have the easiest past either." Jack tells me. I raise my eyebrow. "What happened?" I ask. "Well, I won't go into full detail because that's really long and deep, but let's just say, I have no living family left." He answers. He hums before adding, "Well, that would be close enough in relation to be counted anyway."

It's silent between us for a while, both of us lost in thought. "You didn't seem shocked when Hiccup confessed to having liked you." I say. Jack shrugs, turning to lay on his back next to me. "I've known Hiccup for years. Longer than any of the other guys. He's always been an anxious person - panic attacks were pretty much an everyday thing for him.

"I learned how to help him and we grew close. I noticed a change in the way he acted around me. He grew more shy and stuttered more, red was a constant color on him. It was cute. I had my suspicions he liked me but I wasn't going to say anything if he didn't, and he never did." Jack explains.

I turn more so I'm facing him. "What would you have done if he would have confessed?" I ask. Jack smiles a little, a sparkle shining in his eye. "Well, if that would have happened, I think Merida would be here with you and not me." He tells me.

I watch him for a minute before speaking. "Does it bother you? That they're dating?" I ask. "Although he'll always hold a special place with me, I think it's best we date other people. He seems happy with Merida and I like someone else. That's not to say if he did change his mind I wouldn't say yes, but right now under the circumstances, we're just fine as best friends." He tells me.

"I didn't know you were such a deep guy." I admit. Jack smiles. "Not many people care enough to have conversations like this. It's more of wanting to get in my pants." He says. I laugh, shoving him in the side. "Ew. Gross." I complain. Jack laughs along with me. "You're not so bad yourself snowflake."
❄️❄️❄️❄️

"Elsa! I brought pancakes!" Anna shouts. I look up from my book and give her a smile. "Thanks Anna." I reply. "I brought a frozen lemonade." Punzie tells me. "Ooo bring it here!" I tell her. She laughs and crosses the room to hang it to be. I take a sip and grin. "I love you so much Punzie." I tell her.

"Hey! I brought you pancakes!" Anna whines. "You're my sister. Of course I love you." I tell her, rolling my eyes. She huffs, setting the box down. "So how was the morning with Jack?" Merida asks. "It was nice. We had deep conversations and then we watched Ponyo. He actually just left a few minutes ago." I tell them.

"We know, we saw him walk past grinning." Anna says. I take another sip of my lemonade and put my book down. "I think I need to get to know Kristoff and Eugene better." I announce. "What? Why?" Anna and Punzie ask.

"For one, they're dating my sister and one of my best friends. Two, I know Hiccup and Jack already pretty well. And three, because if you're serious about them they need to know what they're getting themselves into." I tell them.

"Elsa, you don't have to do that." Anna tells me. "I know. But I have a feeling that they're gonna be around for a while. And if that's true you shouldn't have to keep secrets for them." I assure her. "But we have to test them first."

"A test? What?" Merida asks. "I'll tell the boys a secret and if they can keep it I'll trust them." I explain. "What secret?" Punzie asks. "Well, obviously it would be one the staff know but also something big so there's pressure." I say.

"Oh! So you're gonna tell them about you being Queen?" Anna asks. "Bingo!" I say, grinning. "Yes! I get to bring out the crown!" Punzie squeals.