Chapter 1 - Waltzing Whilst Masked

[Elsa]

"I don't know why but I'm just not in the mood to party right now." I said, slumping on the soft bed, feeling the mattress underneath. I felt more fatigued and tired from traveling from Arendelle to here, it's a 5 hour boat away and with my Princess duties; I felt even more tired on the way here. Anna and I went here to Corona to celebrate my cousin's 18th birthday which will be held here, in their castle.

"Elsa, please." Anna stood up from the vanity table and came to me. "Please feel energetic for Punzie, hmm?" she said. I sighed, what else can I do? It is her birthday after all and debuts only come once in a lifetime.

"Sure Anna." I said tiredly. "But I really need to get some rest for now, I'm really tired." I said, finding the most comfortable and soft spot on the bed.

"Okay sis, I'll just tell Punzie you'll be a bit late." she said.

"Thank You." I smiled and lay down properly. I heard Anna's footsteps walk away and the sound of a closing door, with that I fell into deep darkness and fell asleep.

[Jack]

"Guys! Welcome!" Punzie greeted us with a wide grin on her face. Hiccup, Astrid and I just arrived to her castle, tonight is the celebration of Punzie's 18th birthday and the theme of her party is 'Masquerade'. Everyone is wearing a mask over their eyes. Even me.

"Happy Birthday." I greeted Punzie and gave her a friendly hug.

"Aww, thank you Jack!" she pulled away with a smile. Then she shake hands with Hiccup and hugged Astrid. "How are you guys?" Punzie asked.

"Fine! Really excited for June to come!" Hiccup responded.

"Yeah! We'll be Juniors!" Punzie said excitedly.

The four of us study at Highland Arts Academy, the most prestigious boarding school in the North. They teach almost everything there from arts to technology, psychology and even archery! Getting in is easy but staying, that's the hard part. "We're gonna graduate real soon!" Astrid giggled.

Suddenly a brunette boy came behind Punzie and covered her eyes. "Eugene!" Punzie guessed, smiling and holding the hands over her green eyes. The boy lets go of covering Punzie's eyes and pecked her cheek "Happy Birthday Blondie." he teased, lifting his mask up. Eugene Fitzherbert is another student at HAA only he's a year older than us. Like me, he's also a basketball player so we're pretty close.

"Hey man!" Eugene shook my hand and nodded at Hiccup.

"Guys, there'll be slow dancing in 10 minutes, so find your partner!" Punzie exclaimed.

"I'll be yours, right?" Eugene held Punzie closer by her waist. Punzie giggled and nodded. I cleared my throat. Hiccup and Astrid faced me. "Oh, that's okay Jack! You'll find a girl of your choice here." they smiled.

That's just the thing, I can't have a girl I like. Well I can, but I won't. You see, I'm a Guardian in disguise as a student. My job is to protect these teenagers from possible harm and well...I also came here to mingle and have fun. But a girl is not in my vocabulary. Sure, in my years at the academy I'll find some girls pretty and most of them even go head over heels for me, but that's just it. I can find them cute but I won't fall for them. "I'd rather not" I said.

"Huh?" Punzie glanced at me.

"I'm not gonna...slow dance" I almost spit the words out with disgust.

"Oh you will dance, Jackson Overland." Eugene smirked and Punzie winked at me before they walk away.

"You really don't like girls huh?" Astrid faced me as we walk toward the food table.

"No, hate them." I laughed. "Except you, Punzie, Anna and Merida." I said, remembering Astrid's a girl.

'That's good!" Astrid said. She grabbed a glass and poured punch on it.

"Something is really wrong with you." Hiccup said.

"Why?" I glance at his mask.

"What is it about girls you hate anyway? You're a straight guy so what's up?!" Hiccup asked.

"I don't know. Guess I'm more focused on fun."

"But girls are FUN!" Hiccup defended.

"Dude, relax." I placed my arm over his shoulder. "Maybe I'll think of girls differently when I meet...the one." I put an emphasis on the last word I said, I don't want to argue with Hiccup about girls anymore. It's just useless, he always manages to win and make me wrong about my opinions. "Oh. Right." he smiled. I grabbed some punch and began drinking it.

"Hello Everyone!" Punzie's voice echoed in the entire room. She's up on the grand staircase, holding a microphone with Eugene by her side. "As you guys may know, today is my birthday!" she exclaimed. Everyone cheered and clapped their hands. "Thank You! I have a little something special prepared for tonight." she began "All of us are going to waltz! But before you all go with your partners...We're going to pick two random people to waltz in the middle!" Punzie gestured to the platform on the center just below the chandelier.

All the lights turned off and a single spotlight landed on the center, making the platform the center of attention. I felt everyone look at it and stare in awe as if it's something magical. "Whoever gets spotted by the spotlight, please come up this platform" Punzie announced before the spotlight turned off and there was nothing but total darkness.

Out of all people, the spotlight landed on me. I got blinded by the bright light and my friends began to push me to the center floor. I got up the platform and stood there nervously; all the people stare at me. The spotlight then landed on a different spot, by the staircase; there stood a female in blue. My vision isn't clear enough for me to see her face. She got pushed to the platform by teenagers.

She's wearing a royal blue dress and of course, a mask. She has full rosy lips and blonde hair that falls down to her left shoulder. She looked at me with a half open mouth and through her mask; I saw nervous eyes. "Congratulations to our Special Pair!" Punzie announced through the microphone. People start to clap their hands for us.

"Let the dance begin!" Punzie said before dropping the microphone, then the slow music began to play.

I rolled my eyes, this is stupid! We just stood there awkwardly and nervously as the other people around us start to dance. I reluctantly reached my hand out to the girl. "May I have this dance?" I asked politely. She took my hand, it felt warm and soft. I slowly pulled her close and gently placed my hand on her waist. Looking down, she placed her other hand on my shoulder. We began taking small steps, our feet roam around the platform. She's such a graceful dancer, she glides smoothly like the wind and she's confident.

"Sorry if I'm a bad dancer." I said, trying to make a small talk.

She flashed a smile and looked up at me. "You're pretty good actually...Sir?" I looked at her sparkling blue eyes and noticed more of her features; she has pink cheeks with faded freckles, full lips, pale skin and her hair is platinum blonde.

"Huh? Oh- I uh...it-it's Jackson." I murmured; I think I fell into a trance back there. She looked at me strangely, her eyes fully focused on mine.

"M-my name is Jackson. And please...no 'sir'" I winked. She breathed a smile. I looked around and saw everyone in the room dancing to the music, most of the girls have their heads on their partner's chest. I saw Hiccup and Astrid, they're in that exact position.

"So uh...are you from here?" I asked my partner.

"No." she shook her head.

"Neither am I." I smirked and twirled her around. She spun back at me and placed both of her hands on either side of my neck. I felt chills up my spine which I didn't even think was possible. I hesitantly placed my hands on her stomach, she didn't flinch or complain.

"You have a nice hair" she uttered.

Yeah, I have a reputation for great brown hair and amazing smirk. "Thanks." I smiled at her and looked at her eyes. I pulled her a bit closer so our bodies touch. She smirked a small smile and bit her lower lip. I smirked back, I gotta admit this IS fun; dancing and being with a girl. Once again, Hiccup was right and proved me wrong.

"So umm..." my partner stumbled on her words, "You said you aren't from here, right?" she asked. I nodded, "So how do you like Corona so far?" she asked politely.

"Umm, it's very...artistic, with the paintings almost everywhere" I said.

"I've noticed that too" she smiled. "Were you here on vacation or just for this party?"

"Just for the party actually." I blushed.

She giggled, "It's okay, so am I."

Hmm, this girl's great to talk with. My head turned to Hiccup and Astrid's direction, they were looking at me.

Great. They're watching us.

Hiccup gestured me to keep going. I mouthed a 'what' to him. He held his two hands up and actioned both of it as if they're talking to one another. Astrid held her thumb up and formed a heart with her hands, then the two laughed at each other.

I turned my attention back to my partner. Through her mask, I saw that her eyes were wondering all about nervously. I cleared my throat loudly, her face snapped back to meet mine. "A-are you looking for someone?" I asked.

"No." she said. "Just looking at everyone's costume that's all" she added.

"Hmm, sure?"

"Yes" she smiled warmly.

"So..." I bit my lip. "So?" she hummed.

"Ever been to other countries?" I asked as she swiftly twirled while holding my hand.

"Yes. Numerous." She replied.

"Really? Me too." I smiled.

I never had a real conversation with a girl before, besides from my close female friends for that fact. This is my first time talking to one and it felt good. I guess Hiccup is right all along.

We kept waltzing, repeating the steps over and over again. It might sound boring but it's not! This girl makes me feel comfortable with the idea of dancing being fun even if it never was for me. We would always bring up a small talk, but nothing personal. Either we talk about the party, the way we're dancing or about Corona. I warmed up to her, after all that I almost forgot that we're in a platform in the middle of the dance floor, a spotlight beamed on us and the fact that maybe some people are watching our every move.

We danced and would sometime stare at each other. Every time my gaze fell on her icy blue eyes, the world seems to have stopped turning and every thing becomes slow. It's like... magic. Half an hour later, we still kept dancing; when she spun out and twirled back to me, her hands wrapped around my neck and...this time is different. All of a sudden, she planted a kiss on my cheek. I blushed and my eyes widened. My heartbeat felt like it's racing time and the hair on my arms stood up. Is this real?!

For the first time ever, a girl is kissing me! What the heck! I thought it would be a more special happening but no, it's all too sudden! She didn't kiss me on the lips but still!- she's kissing me! This is so wrong! I should push her away but I can't! It's as if my hands got stuck on her hips. I don't even have the slightest gut to pull away from the kiss. I don't know why but...I actually quite enjoy her lips pressed against my skin.

She finally pulled her lips away from my already red cheek. "Thanks for the waltz, Jackson." she whispered in my ear then she pulled away and began to walk down the platform.

Instantly, I grabbed her arm and she turned around to me; like we're still dancing. "Wait."

"Wh-what?" she swallowed.

God, what now?! I wanna ask her so many things! Like first of all, why did she kissed me?! Not that it's a bad thing, but I just wanna know why.

"Will I ever see you again?" I asked. Gee Jack, of all the questions that popped into your brain, you asked that one?!

"Maybe." she smiled and I let go of my grasp of her.

"How will I know it's you if you don't show me your face now?.."

She shuddered. She held her shoulders up as a gesture of not knowing.

Like an idiot, I watched as she walks away from the center floor. I looked in the distance and still stood there with wide-eyes. Luckily, no one noticed our little moment, they're all too busy dancing with their partners. I snapped out of it and gazed at where she went. She was walking for the corridor. Turns out, I wanna befriend a girl all along.
"Wait!" I ran down the platform to catch up with her. She looked back at me, then she suddenly made a run for it.

[Elsa]

I ran and ran, I didn't mind if I would almost trip on my heels. All that matters is I run and hide from it all. No one can find out about me and what I did tonight. I didn't mean to kiss Jackson! I only wanted to express my gratitude to him in a deeper way.

But seriously though Elsa?! Kiss him?! What is this? A different version of Cinderella?!

I think he's mad at me for doing it, hence he's chasing me. I made my way to a random corridor in the castle where all these armors stood. I held my long gown and ran again, suddenly my mask fell off. I turned around and saw my black mask fallen on the floor. I was about to pick it up when I heard running footsteps coming. I panicked and immediately hid behind a huge armor and stayed still. I heard the footsteps stop.

I covered my mouth as I panted as silently as I could. I peeked through the small opening on the armor. I saw Jackson look around then his eyes landed on my fallen mask. I gasped silently. He picked up my mask and observed it. Will he recognize that's my mask? With a sigh, he walked away with it. I breathed a sigh of relief and when sure that the coast is clear, I stepped into the light. I took more deep breaths. What's his plan if he did catch me? Will he like, argue? Talk? Or...ask for more?

"No. No! That's absurd!" I told myself. He looks like a gentleman, he won't do that! I reckon a girl is not an interest for him at the moment anyway. I recalled what my eyes saw earlier...

Even with a mask on, Jackson is a charming guy. Pretty sure, he's a ladies' man or something like that. Wherever he goes after tonight, I know I'm never going to see him again. I don't think he'll go around looking for me, he doesn't even know my name! It's too bad though, we could have been friends and get to know each other more.

"No Elsa." I scolded myself again. "The night's over, forget about it. It's just a waltz and a kiss!" I muttered to myself.

I admit tonight is magical and all but no one must ever know, even if someone saw- they don't know it's me anyway, thanks to that mask of mine; which is now in Jackson's hand. What I did is so un-princess like. What has gotten into me that made me do that anyway? Is it his attractive smirk or his gentle looking eyes? The way he talks or the way he held me that made me feel secured, safe...free.

I heard the slow music turned off and Punzie announced something, I couldn't hear clearly. I looked down, still confused of my sudden actions- I ignored the sound of the party going on and made my way back to the guest room quietly.