393 More words for you to read! Well, including these guys on top... It's now 412, so enjoy my darlings!

Six: At All Odds

- - - - - Elsa - - - - - ➳

"That was really fun!", I said to Robin as he parked outside of my house. "You guys really play well."

"Thanks.", he shrugged and ran his fingers through his hair with a smile.

The sun's reign in the sky was slowly waning, yet I could still see the bright blue sky in Robin's eyes. His eyes shifted onto mine, and I swiftly looked away.

"Shall I walk you?", he asks with awkward politeness and stretches out his arm for me to hold

I smile, "Why, thank you Sir Grayson."

"Anything for you Miss Hale.", he jokes and I take his hand.

The door was opened by Vera Lynn. She raises and eyebrow at me, "Well, it's about time Elsa Hale."

Then she notices Robin and instantly fixes up her posture and her expression, "Oh, hi Robin."

"Hey, Veer.", he replies sheepishly. "Heard you were going to college in two weeks."

"Oh, yeah.", Vera Lynn waves a hand in the air. "Come on in."

The smell of over-baked lasagna filled the room. I swear I could even make out a tiny cluster of fumes in the kitchen.

"Is something burning?", I ask Vera Lynn and she follows me to the kitchen.

Daddy was crouching down, peeping at the heated window of the oven. He glanced up at me, "Oh, Elsa, dear. You're here. I tried to make your favorite, but I don't think it's as good as Mom's." He smiled a bit and wiped the beads of sweat off his forehead.

I looked at him, confused, "Daddy, you could have burned the whole house down."

"I know, I know.", he nods. "I'm sorry, darling. For everything. I just didn't know, and-"

"Daddy, it's okay.", I approach him and gave him a hug. "You are now forgiven, and please. Next time, just get Chinese. I'll like that too."

He chuckles and sees Robin leaning on the doorframe.

"Robin! Good to see you.", he approaches Robin and gives him that man hug thing. "How's your dad, Bruce?"

"Oh, he's alright Mr. Hale.", he replied with again, that awkward politeness. I tried my best not to laugh behind Dad, 'cause Robin is seriously going to kill me and etcetera. "He's actually in Arkham right now, investigating a murder, and he suspects that a patient in the asylum has something to do with it."

"Well, your father is quite lucky that you're responsible enough to be on your own. On the other hand, I got three girls who are a handful."

I elbow Daddy hard and he laughs again.

"DAAAADDY!", Anna yells from the second floor. Daddy gets up on his feet and races to the stairs. Before he disappears, he tells Robin, "Told you so. Oh, would you stay for dinner, Robin."

They both laugh and Robin says to me, "This household never fails to amuse me."

Like the Boy Wonder, Robin was adopted by Bruce Grayson. Bruce was one of the people who investigated on the murder of his parents. Robin said that he was roughly just four at that time. Bruce took pity on him, and adopted the measly kid with blue eyes that reflect the horizon between the sky and the sea. I talk too much about his eyes, I'm sorry. Anyway, they found out that the killer was a nurse, Frances Quinn, while they were passing by a mental hospital. Robin told me this story with extreme vividness, that he could even remember what Frances wore, and even what his parents were holding during that moment. And that was his hand.

He never straightforwardly told me that he missed them, since Bruce was a great father to him, but I know that nothing could replace the feeling of having real parents.

He usually tells me that he envies my family, since we were always ever so complete, you know, until Mommy died.

"So, Robin. Any luck with girls?", Dad asks. Robin turns into bright red, and looks over at me. I gave him a smile and punched his shoulder.

"Well, um...", he starts. "Nope, not really."

"Now, really?", Dad says. Here we go. "I think swarms of swans should probably have mingled with you, 'cause you are definitely one striking young man. Don't you think so, Elsa?"

I froze and my cheeks flushed.

"Do you not think his blue eyes represent the lovely horizon between the sky and the sea?"

I looked over at Robin and saw him in his annoyingly cute smirk and one of his eyebrows were arched.

"Come on, Elsie.", Robin nudges me. "Tell me I'm beautiful."

I rolled my eyes with a giggle, "Oh, alright."

"This is exactly why I love you.", he says and I swear his cheeks were tinted.

"Yup, I love you too, Robin.", I said and focused myself on my plate of crusty-cheesed lasagna.

Dad and my sisters were laughing and teasing us. They've always shipped the two of us, and Robin seems to be very cool with it, while I... I don't know where to stand. 

I knew I liked Robin in a different way, and I know I could never measure up to his awesomeness. He was just my friend, my bestest friend, and I don't want anything to get in between of our friendship. I'm sure he thinks of the same way.

And I have Jack... or at least the pretend relationship that I dream of. Sometimes I think that my dream is slowly waning, since people say that I'm just delusional, and it would never come true.

But at all odds, I turn against their opinion... and fight for what makes me happy...

And who I love.

- - - - - Jack - - - - - ➳

As I was packing my stuff into my suitcase, Manny called up, "Hey, Jack. Guess what? I got you a new project."

"Really? What is it?", I asked half-excited and half-annoyed. I really didn't want a project right now, since Mom opened me to my responsibilities in the family, especially to my brother.

He took a deep breath, "I got you to star in a new movie with Deandra Paisley."

"You mean the Deandra Paisley?", I almost shouted in awe. "That's awesome!"

"I know, right?", he replied. "Anyway, you have a press meeting about that tomorrow, and-"

"No, I can't.", I told him. "I promised my mom that I would take my brother, Jamie, to North Carolina this week."

"Oh, no, Jack.", Manny's stern manager-voice spoke out of the receiver. "You can't do that. I already told them that you're going."

I could almost shout out in protest, yet I know this was very helpful to my career. No one is ever allowed to turn down Deandra Paisley, since she could blackball you out of Hollywood.

And I knew that I needed to bring Jamie to North Carolina... that's the least that I could do for being absent in his everyday life. I need to show him that he has a brother who cares for him, and I don't want him to think of me as an elusive pop star brother who is nothing but a stranger to him.

But I know I have to choose.

And at all odds, I never chose what made me happy. I chose what the world expected of me, and not what I wanted...

And not the people I love.

I sighed in defeat, "Alright. I'm sure Mom and Jamie would understand. After all, I am the one who is paying all the bills, and I'm sure they must be happy for me."

Manny thanked me and soon hung up the phone. I was still having second thoughts on my decision, but I still chose to stick around in California, and get this movie done.

I was so upset in myself. And there was nothing else that I could do...

"Mom.", I called her phone. "I can't bring Jamie out tomorrow... Maybe next time. I'm sorry."

She didn't reply... but I knew she was listening...

"It's okay, honey.", she finally said. She suddenly hung up the phone.

Without anyone else to talk to... I knew that there was one person that could actually listen to me... Someone who matters.

Dear Elsa...

A/N: Update! Hope you enjoyed it...

Tomorrow, the first letter of Jack to Elsa will be now in her mailbox!

I wonder... what could happen...? xD

Hope you enjoyed this thing,