Important note: Since they are no longer in Corona, I am going back to italicizing the words spoken in Corona accent even while on Elsa's point of view.

The mall was a lively place with many activities to keep one's mind occupied. Aside from shopping, you can listen to salespeople babble on about the uses of different products, watch the children and teenagers test out the little arcade that had recently opened up, and give directions to people who were new to the place.

Elsa had tried everything, but nothing worked.

Rather exhausted, she sat on a hard, curvy seat proudly nestled in the middle of the chaotic mess. After several attempts of entertaining herself, she figured it was time to give up.

Anna wasn't going to leave her head.

The last time they had a talk was in the cafeteria that morning. Very few words were exchanged between them that she wouldn't even consider it a conversation. They'd crossed paths a couple of times after that. Both times, Anna rounded a corner with haste to avoid her as soon as their eyes met.

She hadn't realized until then how much Anna's presence meant to her.

It was difficult being avoided the second time. Elsa knew it was her fault. She almost wished she had been honest right from the very beginning and told Anna the truth.

Ariel said to give her time, but exactly how much time does she need?

Elsa was a patient person. She'd wait for as long as she had to if it meant talking to Anna again. However, she also knew that the longer this went on, the uglier it would get. She learned that from experience and didn't want the same thing to happen with Anna involved. She has to figure out a way to talk to her.

A soft vibration broke her free from the self-imposed task of people-watching.

"Hey!" Rapunzel said. "Still at the mall?"

"Yeah."

"I'm about to leave the studio. Do you want me to go there?"

Elsa fiddled with the edge of her coat and contemplated. Right after school had ended, she went straight to the mall to think. Alone. She wasn't doing it any justice. She knew she had to talk to Anna, but she didn't know how to make the girl sit down for a few measly seconds without her running away.

"I might leave in a few minutes," Elsa said tiredly.

"No luck?" A set of keys jingled on the other line, followed by a man's muffled sentence.

A tiny, barely noticeable smile twitched on Elsa's lips. "He's giving last-minute tasks?" she asked, recognizing Olaf's voice.

"Yeah, he asked me to return the albums in the cabinet." A soft thud of a compartment closing. "You didn't answer the question."

Sighing, Elsa slumped on the back of the seat.

She blinked.

Her hands trembled upon recognizing where she actually was. As if stuck underwater, everything slowed. The combined noises of the people around her became even more incomprehensible, and there were four voices that rose slightly above theirs.

Voices from her memory. Voices that complimented her hair.

And then her name.

Pushing back the little ball of regret and longing, Elsa pressed the phone firmly against her ear and closed her eyes, reliving that same moment and appreciating the way Anna had spoken her name for the first time.

"Rapz," she whispered. "I want to talk to her."

Elsa heard the familiar bell chime from the other line, signaling Rapunzel leaving the studio. "I know," the brunette said. "Listen, I'll try to talk to her. I'm going to message her and Ariel."

"Rapz—"

"Elsa." Elsa stilled, sensing the conviction in the brunette's voice. "I'm with you, okay? We'll fix this."

"...Thank you."

"Are you going to leave now? I can go there to keep you company if you want."

"I'll be fine. Uncle Kai's shift is about to end."

"You're going home with him?"

"Maybe. I don't know." She sighed. "He doesn't know I'm here."

"Go say 'hi' then! He'll be happy to see you."

"We see each other every day, Rapz."

"You know what I mean."

She did.

Her uncle had tried pushing her into going outside as much as she could. Somewhere that wasn't in the school, the playground, her parents' house, or the studio. He talked about the different places that could be visited in the city with great enthusiasm, hoping to get her into the excitement. She hadn't checked any of those places, but she was meaning to. She just hasn't found the time.

It wouldn't be bad showing up there, I guess.

Picking herself up, she fixed the bag on her shoulder and made her way to the escalators. On the way, she watched the people again. How they spent their time in the mall alone or with someone. The first time she went to this place, she had been too excited and engrossed with everything the mall had to offer that she failed to notice the people enjoying them.

A bitter chuckle left her. Was she currently noticing these things because she wasn't there for fun? With a resigned sigh, she raised her head and walked towards her uncle's optic shop.

There were two customers inside. It's not a busy day, huh. Elsa scanned the place and quickly spotted her uncle talking to a teenage girl. He was gesturing to some pre-designed glasses the same way he did when they went there to buy glasses for Ariel.

"This one fits you." Kai offered a pair to the girl.

"Oh, it's beautiful!"

Elsa's fingers twitched.

That voice...

She tilted her head and strained her ears to listen to the conversation.

"Do you maybe have a simpler one?" the girl said. "I'm bad at organizing my things. It would be a waste if I lost something this beautiful."

"That's what eyeglass chains are for!" Kai made a grand sweep to the lined-up accessories behind him. "It looks great on you. Won't you reconsider?"

"Thank you, Kai. I appreciate it. But I don't think..."

The more she heard, the more the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood. She knew that voice. It might sound a little different, but Elsa would recognize it anywhere.

"Uncle?" Elsa called.

Kai and the teenage girl turned, putting a rest to her hunch.

The girl was wearing a different outfit: a clean dark blue parka, white wool scarf, tight clad jeans, and black furry boots. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back and a pair of big and round glasses were neatly perched atop her nose.

"Elsa!" Her uncle rushed to her side. "You're here! Are you alone? Where's Rapunzel?"

"She helped out in the studio," Elsa answered, surreptitiously glancing at Vanessa. The senior was fidgeting on her spot and unable to look at them. "I was around the area and thought I'd stop by."

"I'm glad you did! I can't believe you're alone." Kai dragged her back to the counter. "You're finally roaming around."

"I've been visiting some places."

"Yes, but I haven't seen you go somewhere alone. Even when you went to Anna's, I wasn't there to see you leave." He chuckled. "I'm an old man, Elsa. Humor me a little."

Elsa smiled, knowing he was simply worried. She then blatantly stared at the squirming brunette that was, unfortunately, a foot away from her, thanks to her uncle. Vanessa's lips pressed in a thin line as the blush on her cheeks captured Elsa by surprise.

"Oh, right." Kai grabbed a new pair of glasses and offered it to the girl. "How about this one? It's simple and it complements the shape of your face well."

Vanessa dipped her head, burying half of her face on the scarf. "That... That looks good."

"Here. Wear it and see how it feels."

"N-No need! I'll take it!"

Kai frowned. "Are you sure? You should test it out and see if you're comfortable with them."

The brunette cleared her throat and circled her fingers around a part of her muffler. "I'm sure they'll fit just fine. You already know the size, Kai."

"I appreciate the confidence in me, but you're not getting away with it." He removed the pair Vanessa was wearing before she could respond and put the new glasses in place. "Well?"

Her cheeks flushed crimson. "I-It's great!" She replaced the glasses with her old pair. "I'll TA- take that one."

"Okay...?" Kai hesitantly grabbed a paper and signed something. "You can come back in a couple of hours. I'll hand it over to Oaken since my shift is almost over."

"N-No need to," Vanessa stuttered. "I'll come back some other time. I'm late for an appointment." She signed the paper the moment Kai offered the pen. "Thank you, Kai! Sorry for the rush!"

She was already outside the door when Kai shouted. "We'll give you a call!"

Vanessa waved a salutation and ran away with Elsa keeping watch until she disappeared into the sea of people. Elsa snapped out of it when she heard a chuckle.

"That was weird."

"She's a regular?" Elsa asked, taking note of Vanessa's comment about Kai knowing the proper size.

"She's been coming here since after Christmas." He shook his head fondly. "The girl is sweet, but she's definitely odd. She's always looking for a cheap and simple pair."

That caught her interest. "She is?"

He signaled one of his coworkers and handed over the glasses and a piece of paper. "I don't know if she's a collector or if she's just clumsy. Maybe someone stepped on her glasses, eh?" It was given as a joke, a running gag that stemmed from the incident between Elsa and Ariel.

Elsa shrugged and stared outside the shop, trying to catch a glimpse of the girl that was no longer there.

The cafeteria was filled to the brim as the cooks rushed to serve the students in line. Amongst those were a bubbly, short-haired brunette and an antsy blonde glancing around the place in search of something.

When those seeking blues neared her direction, Anna snapped her attention to her tablemates. Marshall was sitting with her and Ariel for lunch just as he had the previous day. He was discussing his plans for college with Ariel, and Anna was content simply letting them talk.

She suppressed a drawn-out groan.

Ariel had tried to encourage her to talk with Elsa because, truthfully, there was no other way around this. She had to be honest and tell the blonde that she had known about her being Chelsea months before and that she would understand if she didn't go to Hans' wedding as a performer, a part-timer in Frozen Fractals, or even as a guest.

Being blunt wasn't a scary, arduous task when not caring about people's opinions. Honesty towards someone special? That was something Anna stopped being good at. Every time she'd think of laying her heart out in front of the people she cared the most, the irrational fear that grew over time would nag at her, whispering negativities and horrible what-ifs.

"Hey."

Anna started. She chanced a look around and was wholly surprised to see who had approached their table. Marshall clenched his jaw and Ariel subtly scooted close to him.

Aladdin rubbed the back of his head. "Uhm, can we share a table?"

Anna's already weak appetite plummeted at the request. Aladdin was an okay guy and he even owned up to his wrongdoings. It was the girl with him that carried a different story. Jasmine fidgeted in place as the three that occupied the table regarded her with apprehension.

"She's not going to do anything." Aladdin nudged Jasmine with an elbow. "Come on, Jas. Work with me here."

The dark-haired girl rubbed her arm awkwardly. "I-I promise I'm not here for trouble."

Ariel was the first to react. She gave the area another glance and saw quite a few other tables open for occupants. Anna swallowed, knowing what that would entail.

Ariel unwillingly murmured, "Don't... do something."

Anna straightened her back and curled her hands into tight fists. With Ariel and Marshall already sitting with each other, the free spots beside her were the obvious choice for them to sit on if they wanted to stay together. Jasmine recoiled under her disapproving gaze.

Marshall sighed. "Jas." He pointed to the seat on his other side and Jasmine didn't think twice about accepting the offer, taking the spot as soon as it was clear of his belongings.

Aladdin smiled and asked Anna for permission to sit beside her. They had been on casual terms ever since he apologized after the vacation, but Anna was still glad he was respectful of her space and mindful of his advances.

"I've been meaning to ask," Ariel said. "Where's Gaston?"

Marshall crossed his arms on top of the table. "It's been almost two weeks. I thought he was just extending his vacation."

"Can't blame you for not knowing. You haven't asked about them." Aladdin gestured to Jasmine for emphasis.

"After what happened, I'd rather not." Marshall gave the female senior a sideways glance. "I'm curious because the instructors don't look bothered by his absence."

"He moved to Villeneuve," Jasmine filled in. "His parents weren't happy with what he did and they pulled some strings to get him in Beastelle High."

The people surrounding the table cringed. Though it was in a different country, Beastelle High was known to be a strict boarding school and almost military-like. Anna shook away the sympathy for the guy and resumed eating her bland meal.

"Listen." Jasmine's face dropped. "I know what I did was... wrong. I don't have an excuse for it. But it's been eating at me since... the day we were suspended."

Marshall bristled. "You're guilty?"

"She's only human, Mars," Aladdin reasoned. "You don't have to accept it, but at least listen to what she has to say."

"No, Aladdin. It's alright." Jasmine inhaled deeply and faced Marshall. "Yes, Mars. I'm guilty. For making fun of Ariel, of Anna, and even Elsa. Is that wrong?"

Marshall was positively aghast, caught off guard by the blunt statement.

"It's not," Ariel answered for him. "But it might take more than this to convince us."

"It will take more than this," Anna corrected.

Ariel silenced the younger redhead's impending outburst by kicking her gently under the table. Anna huffed and grabbed a fork again to continue eating. She hated to admit it, but her mind was a complete mess and she didn't have the ability to think rationally about this.

"Look, Anna." Jasmine paused, and then she continued when the girl in question didn't so much as glanced at her. "I know you hate me, and I can't blame you. I... hate me too. If someone hurts my cousin, I might not be able to forgive them either."

"What do you want, Jasmine?" Anna countered, glad that Ariel didn't interrupt this time. "You made my life a living hell when Vanessa told you about me. You even dragged Ariel into it because I was ignoring your insults. It's almost four years since then. Four years. And now you feel guilty?"

"I know it sounds rubbish," she admitted. "I'm graduating, Anna. In a few months. And when I saw how Marshall's parents—" Jasmine rubbed her face and avoided the look Marshall gave her. "I don't know what else to say other than that."

"Prove it. Trust doesn't build overnight."

Anna was fuming with anger and mixed anxiety. Why was the past haunting her and worming its way to the forefront of her mind? She didn't need anyone's apology. She needed to be away from them.

Jasmine pulled a determined nod. "I will."

"Make that two." Ariel raised two fingers in a peace sign, her face devoid of her usual charismatic smile. "You hurt Anna in the process. I can't forgive you easily for that."

In the years that Anna had known Jasmine, the actual fear that flashed in the senior's face was a new experience. She almost failed at keeping a smirk. Ariel may take insults towards herself in stride, but she wasn't as forgiving when her family was concerned.

"I... I promise."

Elsa thanked the cashier after receiving her change. She somehow managed to keep herself upright when she bumped into Rapunzel.

The brunette barely moved. "I must be dreaming."

"Rapz?"

Her shoulders twitched. "Elsa, please tell me I'm not seeing what I'm seeing?"

Confused by her best friend's random restless behavior, Elsa followed the direction she was staring at and nearly dropped her tray.

On the empty seats surrounding Anna, Ariel, and Marshall earlier sat two new faces. Aladdin didn't come as much of a surprise, but Jasmine being on the same table? That girl was with Vanessa most of the time; why wasn't she sitting with her? Why was she with Anna? With Ariel?

"They're on friendly terms?" Rapunzel asked. "Did we miss something? Last time I checked, they almost ripped each other's hairs off. Now they're... eating together?"

Elsa hadn't seen Jasmine since classes resumed and finding her in Anna and Ariel's company was completely unexpected. Rapunzel was right in that regard. Anna could barely stand being in the same room as any of Vanessa's friends. She'd demand them to go away. And yet, she was eating a meal with them?

Her grip on the tray held firm. "Maybe they patched things up?"

"Anna? That's impossible. It took us months to get her to warm up to us, and we didn't even do anything wrong." Rapunzel grimaced when Elsa flinched. "Sorry. Could've said that better."

A shaky breath. "Let's eat somewhere else."

"What about Anna? You wanted to talk to her. I knew one of us should've gone there before ordering!"

"It's okay, Rapz. Some other time."

"You know the longer this goes on, the harder it will be."

"We can't. There's only one chair left over there, and I don't know how to deal with... Jasmine."

Rapunzel rolled her eyes. "Let's kick her from the table then!"

"How does that make us any different from her?" Elsa asked. "If Anna and I are going to talk, I don't want anyone else to hear it. I'm bad with public confrontations."

"Oh, that." The brunette winced and softened her tone. "You didn't mind it before. Confrontation? Back when Anna was angry for a different reason."

"Because she was a stranger who hated me."

"And now she's not?"

"Rapz—" The girl raised a brow. Elsa slouched and stared at a yogurt on her tray. "No, she's not."

"That's why you need to talk. We, actually. Because I don't understand why she's running away."

"My brother lied to me once, and I was angry and hurt. Anna... might feel the same way towards us now. Mostly me."

"You're blaming yourself too hard. You told her the truth, and that's what's important. I don't see why she's avoiding you when she already kne—" Rapunzel squeezed her eyes shut and hissed something under her breath. "You know what? I won't force you. Maybe one on one is the best to go about this."

Ending the conversation there, Elsa glanced around in search of an empty seat. Rapunzel apologized to the people in line that they had blocked while having that talk and led her further away from the cashier. Elsa's mind was still reeling when she caught sight of a lonely long-haired brunette near the waste bins, alone on a table for four with no one sparing her second glances.

Rapunzel likely noticed where she was looking since she gasped. "No! No way!" she said. "No way, Elsa. Anywhere but there!"

"I didn't say anything."

"Yet. I know that look on your face and I don't like it. Jasmine is one thing, but her?!" Rapunzel nudged her chin towards Vanessa's direction.

In retrospect, maybe it wasn't the best idea. There were free tables around and they could even ask random students to sit with. Vanessa would be the last person to accept eating with them, and frankly, the idea shouldn't even be entertained.

But seeing her alone bothered Elsa for some reason, especially knowing that the senior's supposed 'friends' were sitting with Anna and Ariel instead. She had to wonder once again what happened during the break. Why was Vanessa acting differently? Why wasn't she spending time with her friends? What happened during her encounter with Anna that resulted in her returning Anna's notebook?

Why did she run away last night?

Her uncle's comment had made her infinitely curious. It added to the interest that only grew bigger during the mentioning of Vanessa's name in Anna and Marshall's conversation. Marshall said Anna wasn't hurt, but Elsa knew him. There was something about the way he said it that made her question the statement.

"Elsa, wha- Hey!" Rapunzel ran after her as she prowled through the table. "You're kidding, right? This isn't- I don't think this is—" Her words died when they reached the girl.

Vanessa paled upon seeing them, but it didn't take a second before she set her jaw. She didn't say anything as she assumed an aggressive pose from her seat. The brown balls behind those thick lenses could glare right into anyone's soul and it wouldn't matter. Elsa had questions, and she was going to get answers.

I apologize for the late update and if there were grammatical errors. This chapter wasn't beta'd and all grammatical mistakes are mine.

PS: I take back what I said. We are not yet in the 75% mark. Anna's issues will be tackled thoroughly, as I did with Elsa's.