Chapter contains: Bullying

Muffled voices of adolescents and young teens resounded outside the storage room, and in that collection of communications, Anna was able to hide her whimpered cries. In front of her was Vanessa who had squeezed herself inside the limited confined space.

"Stop crying," Vanessa huffed, her arms bouncing on her still-growing breasts.

"I don't understand," Anna sniffed. "They laugh when I don't succeed, but they get angry when I do."

"Those people are just jealous because you did great! It's easier to put others down than to practice and get better." Vanessa sat in front of the redhead's hunched body and wrapped her arms around her knees. "Doesn't it feel great when you prove you can do it too?"

Anna whimpered.

She squeaked when Vanessa ruffled her hair. "Van!"

"There! Much better," the brunette giggled, pushing the huge glasses up her nose. "Don't let what they say pull you down, Anna. If you let them affect you, you lose. Do you want to lose?" Anna shook her head and hiccuped. "See? People are going to make your life hard, but they can only do it if you let them."

"You're... You're right." Anna rubbed her eyes and balled her hands into fists. "I'm not going to lose!"

"Right!"

"Thank you, Van," Anna smiled, wiping the last of her tears. "I'm glad you're my friend."

The brunette smiled and pulled her in for a hug. Anna slowly relaxed into the embrace. She would need to apologize to Ariel for running away after her recital, but for now, she was perfectly satisfied being in this room with her best friend.

A loud thud knocked Anna awake and a hoarse groan rose from her throat when her head hit the edge of the side drawer. She rubbed the sore spot and opened one bleary eye to glare at the intruder of her room.

"What are you doing?" Ariel hissed.

"Sleeping," she grumbled and sank deeper into the bed, turning her back on her cousin. A second didn't even pass when the heat was taken from her and left her freezing. "Hey!" she growled, scrambling to reach the other end of the covers.

"Move. You haven't gone to school in two days—"

"Thanks for reminding me." Successfully snatching the duvet, Anna slumped back on her bed and hid underneath the protection of the thick comfort.

"I let it slide for the first day, Anna. Not this time!" Ariel jumped on top of the curled-up redhead. "Get up and pull yourself together!"

"Get off!" Anna shoved her cousin aside and ignored the startled squeak. "I'm tired, okay?! I need to rest!"

There was a movement behind her, she could hear, of someone standing up. Upon realizing that she must've pushed Ariel off the bed, Anna bit her bottom lip, torn between apologizing and wanting to be left alone. She heard her cousin's familiar footsteps and cursed under her breath.

Just leave.

A scraping of a paper. "You haven't given Elsa her invitation yet."

She grunted.

As Hans promised, Elsa's name was one of the people on the first set of invitations. He liked her, Anna knew. Everyone did. They didn't waste time telling her when Elsa left that day.

The bed dipped and a hand rested on her arm. "Rapz told me. About Elsa."

Her fingers twitched and once again, she gnawed her lips in favor of responding. She didn't want to listen, to talk to anyone about it, and to see anyone who would remind her of Elsa even for a few days. She was already doing it enough on her own.

"I was surprised."

The shakiness in her cousin's voice was alarming, persuading Anna to release her swollen lip.

"All this time, they knew that you were looking for Chelsea and kept silent when she... she was with us the entire time." Ariel's laugh was shallow. The metal under the bed creaked and the cushion bounced as she adjusted herself. "I thought it was possible. I asked Olaf when I first found out that Elsa's his cousin, and I was... lied to."

Ariel's words were soft-spoken and crushed Anna with guilt.

When a trembling arm circled around her waist, she whispered, "I knew."

Her eyes watered and she shut them close, welcoming the darkness and letting the first tear since waking from a nap slide down her pillow. There wasn't a whimper, a gasp, or any sound akin to shock or anger from Ariel. Nothing. And that scared Anna more than anything.

"I knew since she was hospitalized," she sobbed. "I'm sorry."

Long ago, Anna promised herself she'd no longer lie to or keep things from Ariel. That if she was going to decide on something, she'd ask her opinion first. She told herself that if there would come a time when she would have to choose, Ariel would always be her priority. It was a very simple promise. One that she couldn't even fulfill.

"Oh."

A new set of tears spilled upon hearing the weak utterance. Ariel's voice, it reminded Anna of the time she chose Vanessa over her. Broken.

Clumsy and uncoordinated, Anna popped her head out of the covers and jumped at her cousin in a rush. "I'm sorry," she repeated. "I'm sorry."

The emotions spilled forth and she gripped Ariel's clothes like a lifeline. Every part of her body was trembling and cold, and she wept on her cousin's shoulder. If Ariel was saying something, Anna couldn't hear it over the ugly sobs that left her lips. She was guilty. Confused.

Afraid.

"Are you okay?" Ariel asked once Anna's cries were nothing more than hiccups. Anna only sniffed. "Was that why you stopped the search?" A nod. "I'm surprised."

"I'm sorry." She was probably going to leave permanent creases on Ariel's coat with how hard she was gripping it. "...I'm sorry."

"Hey." Ariel caressed one of Anna's blotched cheeks. "I'm not angry, I promise." She offered her scarf to the sobbing girl. "You spoiled it anyway," she said, earning a wet huff. "I haven't seen you like this in a long time. Wanting to be alone, avoid people... even me."

The first fight she ever had with Ariel flashed before Anna's eyes. It was during their early teenage years, back when she was wrapped up in her own childishness and fantasies and selfish to admit that she was wrong about certain things.

"I've been having dreams of her, Ariel."

"Elsa?"

"Van." Anna choked, her voice strangled as she spoke of the woman's name. "That's why it scares me. This... thing with Elsa," she buried her face against Ariel's scarf. "I'm scared she'll disappear without a warning."

"Anna..."

"I know they're not the same. I know Elsa's not a deceiver, just... troubled. She's patient and kind. You're even her brother's girlfriend and we've met their entire family. She can't avoid us even if she tried. But—" She sighed. "It still scares me."

"What are you going to do?"

With another sniff, she murmured, "I don't know."

"Maybe you just need to talk? Putting it off longer will only hurt both of you."

Fiddling with one end of the scarf, Anna asked, "How is she?"

"I don't know. She's only ever with Rapunzel since yesterday."

The news did nothing to clear her head. Elsa was brave and courageous to admit something even when it was difficult for her, and Anna couldn't be any more proud. She wanted to see Elsa just because, but seeing her would lead to a talk or awkward glances. That wasn't what she wanted nor was it something she knew how to deal with.

"Do you want to see her?" Ariel asked. "She might be in the studio."

"I... I can't."

"Will you be okay?"

"I hope so," Anna replied tiredly. "Sorry about the scarf."

"I'll borrow one of yours," Ariel grinned and ran her hand through the messy wisp of hair on the younger redhead's forehead. "Don't think hard about it, Anna. Hans may or may not force Elsa into anything now that he knows how special she is to you. No matter what happens, he will always be your brother. And Elsa, she isn't weak. You know that better than I do." Anna let her cousin's words sink in. "Come to school tomorrow, okay? Sleep and clear your head."

"I'm sorry."

After fixing the thick blanket on Anna, Ariel knelt beside the bed. "Don't be. I'm the one who should apologize. I'm sorry for inviting myself in and forcing a reason out of you."

"No, Ariel. I'm sorry for being the way I am. For having trust issues and for thinking that... that people will leave me when I start caring for them." Anna slid her hand underneath the covers and interlaced her fingers with Ariel's. "Thank you for not being one of those people. I'm glad you're my cousin."

She blinked. "I did it once, remember? Leave you."

"I deserved it. Thank you for giving me another chance."

Ariel squeezed her hand and sighed. "I feel the same way, little red. You're not the only one who's glad they were given a second chance."

"Do you want to take it back?"

The question interrupted Elsa's concentration, and she lifted her head to find Rapunzel sorting out different albums. They were helping in the studio against Olaf's judgment. It was a school day and they weren't obligated to, he said. He had given up after his demands fell on deaf ears more than three times.

Elsa returned her focus on the page she was busying herself with. "I won't."

"Why not?"

"Is that bad?"

"Are you sure about this? I can see it's bothering you."

Ignoring the implication, Elsa picked up the notebook containing broken lyrics. She had been working on Hans' wedding song. The multiple verses she had written after coming back from Corona didn't sit right with her any longer. Something was wrong and she couldn't figure out what.

"I don't want her to regret it." She settled the papers down, unable to pay attention because of the topic at hand. "If one day, after the wedding, she found out that I'm the girl they were looking for, she'd hate me."

"Do you think so?"

"I knew she was looking for me and kept it a secret. I deceived her, Rapz."

"What if she already knew? What if, say, she knew that you were Chelsea from the start?"

Elsa gave a confused frown. "How will she know?"

"I don't know- It's just a hypothetical situation. What will you do if that's the case?"

Her stomach twisted at the mere thought of it. "I'd... I'd feel guiltier. If she knew, why didn't she tell me? Why didn't she tell her brother?"

"Maybe because she cares about you? She knows how you feel about music and maybe she was only waiting until you were brave enough to admit it?"

"She thinks I'm a coward?"

"No! That's not what I meant. Actually, ignore me! It was stupid."

Elsa sank into her chair. "I just don't want to lie to her anymore."

Successfully placing the last of the albums on the cabinet, the brunette joined her on the front desk. "Why not tell her brother? That you're the composer and you don't want to sing. He can't force you to perform if you don't want to."

"I thought I could. But when I came over and he was talking about that piece, it reminded me of the time people praised my performance." The paper caught on her grip crumpled. "I was happy."

"Then why not perform?"

"It makes me feel like I'm betraying Cindy, Rapz. Every single time I imagine myself singing in front of people and having fun, I remember seeing her lifeless."

"But—"

The door to the studio opened and a redhead bundled up with a purple coat and dark green blanket scarf entered. Thinking for the first second that it was the girl she wanted to see, Elsa's heart did a flip. It wasn't until the visitor patted the snow off her hat and coat that she realized it was a different person.

Rapunzel was the first to speak up. "No glasses?"

"I'm trying contacts." Ariel's teeth clattered audibly even as she grinned. "I didn't expect it to snow."

"Do you want tea? Coffee? Hot chocolate? You're freezing."

"Is that free or do I have to pay? I'm not here as a customer," Ariel clarified as she rubbed her arms.

"I was offering for free. If you want a photo as a remembrance of the first time we saw you wearing contact lenses, why not?"

"Nice sales talk! I haven't gotten a photo taken professionally in a while. I'll think about it. Can I accept that offered tea?"

"Elsa and I are far from professionals, but one tea coming right up!" Rapunzel saluted and ran to the makeshift kitchen.

After adjusting the studio's temperature to help the poor redhead feel warm faster, Elsa went back to the front desk.

"Thank you," Ariel said, blowing hot air on her palms. "What is she making?"

"Pure chamomile." Scribbling another line on the paper, Elsa added, "It's the only tea we have. She's probably boiling the water. We've been drinking hot chocolates since after school."

"It's harsher than yesterday, isn't it? The cold."

"Yes."

"Hold on." Ariel searched for something inside her bag. "Here's the invitation to Hans' wedding."

The envelope was light gold in color with rosemaling designs etched on it rather than printed. A rose seal was in the center and her nickname was on it.

Elsa Dalton.

This wasn't what she expected when she confessed the truth to Anna. She expected Hans to storm inside the studio, demanding an explanation as to why she didn't say anything. Instead, she received this.

"H-How is she?"

"Stuck in her bed and crying her eyes out," Ariel said. "She didn't tell Hans."

A whimper caught somewhere in Elsa's throat. "Why?" She lowered the invitation and cast her gaze upon Ariel. "Why didn't she?"

"Did you want her to? Maybe you should tell her then." The tensed redhead's already-strained smile fell. "I'm sorry, that was mean. I... I'm trying to take it in, see. That you're the same girl."

Hurt by the abrupt first response but knowing she didn't have the right to complain, Elsa hurriedly said, "I'm sorry."

"I know." Ariel glanced around the room, failing to hide the pooling wetness in her eyes. "Mars, does he...?"

"Don't be mad at him, please. It wasn't his fault. He didn't know." Elsa was glad to see the understanding smile return. She wouldn't want to put a wedge on her brother's relationship. "Anna- She's... I didn't mean to make her cry or hide this from her."

"She's worried about you."

"Me? I was the one who lied to her. Why is she worried about me?" The conversation with Rapunzel rang in her mind. "Does she think I can't handle Hans? That I can't do anything about him?"

"That's not it."

Elsa was about to ask what wasn't it, what she was wrong about, and beg for an answer. The expression on Ariel's face didn't give her much of a chance. The girl that she had known as someone who was always smiling was wearing a sad, broken smile right then.

"If there is someone who thinks you can't do it, it's me."

Stunned to silence, Elsa's head spiraled for a reason other than Anna's avoidance. What was Ariel saying?

"It was the main reason why I didn't stop Mars from being a part of Vanessa's group." Toying with the edge of her scarf, Ariel continued, "I agreed because I... felt bad for you."

"W-Why are you telling me this?"

"Because Anna isn't like that. Maybe she wasn't friendly the first time, but that's only because she wanted to be careful. It wasn't because she looked down on you. She never did."

"Then why? Why isn't Hans coming? Why didn't she tell him? Why—" Her cry was strangled and the energy escaped her as the questions she'd been meaning to ask since that day rolled out of her tongue. "Why isn't she coming? If she's worried, why is she avoiding me?"

"Doubt, Elsa."

That word held the answers that Elsa didn't dare acknowledge since admitting to being Chelsea. She had told the truth because she didn't want to lie anymore to the girl who had proven that despite her broken past, she was someone worthy of receiving affections. In her desire to get over the guilt, it never crossed her mind that Anna might not appreciate her late honesty.

How was Anna dealing with the knowledge? She must be angry, confused, or worse. Even when Elsa admitted to being the girl behind that accursed music piece, that didn't erase the reality that it took her some time to come clean. That she kept it hidden for months. To Anna.

Did she feel betrayed? Toyed with? Used?

"I- I didn't mean to," Elsa stuttered.

"I'm sure you didn't," Ariel promised, though her voice cracked somewhat. "Just... give her time. That's all I ask of you. Please."

The only thing Elsa was capable of doing then was a slight dip of her head. Ariel muttered an apology and wrapped the scarf around her neck, preparing to face the madness of winter once again. Her hand was on the door when Elsa called out to her.

"What about now?" she asked. "Do you still think I can't do it? Do you think I'm... not capable of getting over this...?"

"I've already moved past thinking you're incapable." Ariel lowered the scarf to let her voice be clearly heard. "Ever since you saved me from Marshall's grip in the hallway, I knew you weren't someone who needed people constantly worrying about you." She pushed the door open. "Sometimes, people just need a little faith."

The bell chimed.

"That was..." Elsa inhaled sharply through her mouth when Rapunzel showed herself. "Unnerving."

"I can't say I wasn't expecting that." Rapunzel placed the mug of chamomile in front of her. "Here. You need this more than she does."

Anna came to a realization that it might not have been a good idea going to school when her mind wasn't exactly present. Maybe she should go home and call in sick? There was no point in going to classes if nothing would sink into her head. Right?

You've lost two days' worth of lessons.

She groaned. Arendelle High's classes weren't meant to be taken lightly and she knew that from experience. And the constant reminder of Meg and their mother. William had even started using her as an example when Meg wanted to take him to school.

Murmurs and a faint sound of water sloshing had made it in her quandary. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she remembered the distinct sound. Her feet blindly led her towards the bushes and the scene that greeted her temporarily brought her back to earth.

There, near the fountain, was a group of people surrounding a drenched girl.

"You better be glad it's only water," one girl said.

Vanessa scoffed. "You don't have any originality, do you?"

The same girl's eyes hardened and she threw the empty water bottle towards the uncaring senior. "You deserve going through what you did to people."

"You talk big for someone who only watched everything happen," pointed the senior out. "You're not different from me."

"We're nothing like you!" One of the other girls made a gesture of launching forward.

"Hey!" Anna threw herself from behind the bush, cursing under her breath when she nearly tripped. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"Anna," the same girl who threw the bottle noted. "We were teaching her a lesson."

"A lesson for what?" Anna largely ignored the presence of the senior brunette who was trembling and sitting on the cold, hard ground. "I don't remember any of you. Were you some of her victims?"

"No, but we've seen everything she did to you, your cousin, and Elsa. She de—"

"Then stay out of it! Don't act as an ally of justice now. You didn't do anything back then."

The girl made a face and opened her mouth, but one piercing glare from Anna and she ran away with her tail between her legs, followed by her friends. Anna let out an irritated breath and leveled Vanessa with her own glare. The senior picked her glasses up from beside the fountain and wiped the dirt and snow off her coat.

Vanessa put her glasses on. "What will your girlfriend say if she heard you stood up for me?"

"I wasn't standing up for you."

"Oh? Or didn't you know they were dealing with me? And here I thought you've changed from the same naïve little girl."

"How long have they been doing that?"

Jauntily flipping her heavy, wet hair, the senior said, "Just so you know, that's none of your business."

"Whatever. You deserved it," Anna dismissed with a roll of her eyes.

"Are you and Elsa still together?" Vanessa spat, a slight shiver and a drip of sarcasm in her voice. "I haven't seen you with each other since Monday."

That stopped Anna from leaving. "I don't think that's any of your concern."

"Don't tell me you forced your way with her? Pleaded for her to spend every minute of the day with you? You've always been clingy once you get attached. Maybe she had enough."

Gritting her teeth, not even a second passed before Anna's palm hit the brunette's cheek. The impact left a pink handprint. "Shut up. You know nothing about us."

"You reacted. That means I'm right."

"Yo—"

"Anna?"

The curses and obscenities from Anna remained unspoken after hearing their new companion's voice. Marshall was standing beside the bushes, seemingly on his way to the building, and staring at them in confusion.

"M-Mars."

"Great. If it isn't the traitor." Vanessa flipped her hair again and chuckled when Anna, with droplets of water on her face, glared at her. "How nice of you to come."

Rather than answer, Marshall looked at her from head to toe. Realizing what he might end up thinking, Anna was about to explain when she was interrupted.

"Oh, it wasn't her," Vanessa said. "I wanted to know how it feels to swim in the fountain. It looked like Ariel enjoyed it back then."

Another spark of anger flared within Anna when she heard the incident involving Ariel being spoken with mirth and glee. Marshall noticed and gave the brunette a deadpanned look. "I would appreciate if you leave us alone."

Vanessa gasped. "Rude!"

"Get inside, Van. Whatever happened, you're blue and freezing." Marshall gently tugged Anna away from the fountain and the senior that made her feel worse.

Damn feelings. They'd always been irrational and had led her to situations that made her happy, disappointed, and hurt before. She knew that after everything that Vanessa did and said, she should no longer be affected. But she was.

[People will only make your life miserable if you let them]

Could Anna still believe in that? Even if they came from the very person who was making everything in her life complicated?

What if Vanessa was right? What if, in her avoidance and unopened messages, Elsa had gotten tired of her? Was she hated now for being Hans' sister? She couldn't complain about that; she disliked Elsa months before because of being Marshall's. What if Elsa realized this would be easier if they stopped being friends?

"Anna." Marshall shook her by the shoulders. "Anna, are you okay?"

"W-What? Yes. Yeah, I'm fine," Anna lied. Marshall watched her for a second too long and she decided to change the subject. "Why were you...?"

"I heard a group of girls mentioning your and Van's names. Are you sure you're okay?"

Anna absently reached one of her messy braids. "How... How long have you been there?"

As she had feared, Marshall didn't give any clearance. He stood unmoving before lifting his hand and doing something she couldn't see in her stubbornness and refusal to look at him. She hated this feeling of vulnerability, of feeling like an open book consisting of pages that she couldn't rip off no matter how many times she tried.

"Long enough."

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