The day started off well enough. Kristoff and I went to breakfast in our pajamas and enjoyed celebrity status in the dining hall for our drag show win. I seriously couldn't believe how much the event meant to everyone. This school's weirdness never ended, there were surprises around every corner! Kristoff and I reveled in our fifteen minutes of fame while feasting on Honey Nut Cheerios.

The morning continued to be uneventful until we reached chemistry. Then, it became the opposite of uneventful. Hold onto your horses, kiddies. Shit's about to hit the fan.

First of all, Elsa and Gerda were sitting on opposite ends of the room, surrounded by students. Perhaps the rest of the class had realized how smart both of them were and wanted to leech off of them as Kristoff and I had. Or maybe it was pure coincidence. In any case, we couldn't sit near either of them, which was just as well because I didn't know how conversations with either of them would go after the day before...

The only remaining seats were at the very back and at opposite ends of the room. I tried to catch the eye of both girls as I went to sit - they would have none of it. And so, the four of us pinned down the corners of the classroom, invisible strings of silent tension connecting us all.

By the grace of the universe, today was only a lecture and I could peacefully zone out and doodle on my notebook. I tried to stop myself from glancing over at the back of Elsa's head but I couldn't help how much my eyes were drawn there. I just wanted to shout "I'M SORRY!" at her over and over until she forgave me. She didn't even know what I was sorry for yet.

What if I just did it? Confessed? Gave up the ICI and called it a day? I had bonded with these people. When they were strangers it was okay to lie to them but now…

I had to wait until tomorrow. I had too many promises to keep. First and foremost, keeping the South Aisle and my brother's gig a secret. Then Coach Kai and the plan he had for co-ed sports teams. And the one I made to myself about showing Mom up...

No, I decided stubbornly. I would see this through. Reactions be damned.

The end of class came mercifully fast. I supposed deep thinking sped up time or whatever. It was useful, anyway.

But the dismissal of the room prompted something else altogether. As I was packing up my stuff, almost in a daze, I was approached by Elsa.

"Can I talk to you for a second?"

Hunched over my backpack, I froze and closed my eyes, hoping against hope that the decision to keep the ICI going was the right one.

"Uh…" I straightened up and saw Kristoff slowly walking over, head cocked in question.

"Should I go?" he asked.

"No, you can stay," I said quickly, really wanting backup. I didn't meet Elsa's eye, which left me freedom to notice Gerda's lens-magnified pupils dilate at the three of us as she joined the stream of exiting students. At least I didn't have to face her, too. But I had bigger problems. It almost felt as if the whole room had frozen over as I faced the Ice Queen.

"Are you sure I should stay?" Kristoff asked Elsa directly.

"If Hans can't face me alone, then sure. Stay." I was not relieved of her frigid stare.

"So," I said lightly, trying to add some warmth to the situation. "What's up, Els?"

Her gaze flickered a moment before settling back into the intense chill.

"I wondered if you had thought up an answer to the question I posed at the drag show. Congratulations on the win, by the way."

"Thanks!" Kristoff said brightly, also trying to lighten the mood.

Elsa ignored this. "Have you, Hans?"

"Have I thought about it? Yes. It's all I've been thinking about," I said evasively.

"And?"

"Elsa, you're my friend. A really good one. And I appreciate you a lot," I began, trying to steer clear of the real subject.

"Why does that sound fake and genuine at the same time?"

"Are you sure you guys want me to-" Kristoff began again but I cut him off.

"What are you getting at, Elsa?" But I regretted the question instantly. A wise person would have fled or completely changed the subject, not backed herself into a corner. But my curiosity was getting the best of me. Even though it was "Hans" she had fallen for I craved some sign of affection from her. Could that be what she was referencing?

Elsa paused, thinking hard. Her perfect eyebrows were pulling toward the center, causing her forehead to crease. Finally, she spoke.

"I don't want to cause any grief. I don't want to offend anyone. I just want answers. For some reason… it feels like I'm being lied to. I can't tell you why. I just… have questions."

My stomach plummeted as the panic nausea swept over me again. My heartbeat picked up a sickening pace but I said nothing. A glance at Kristoff told me that he also wanted to run but, like the rubbernecker of a fatal accident, he couldn't look away.

Elsa cut through the silence. "Why do I feel like half of the time I can see into your soul and the other half of the time you're someone I don't know?" She wasn't shouting but I reacted like she had. It was as if she had shot an arrow and it had landed right between my shoulder blades. I realized I had been holding my breath and let it out in a rush.

"You've noticed that too?" Kristoff said, suddenly invested. I felt a pang of jealousy at their sudden kinship.

"You're imagining things," was all I could think of to say.

Elsa plowed on. "Why is it when you and I are alone, you are thoughtful and kind and..."

"I really don't want to hear this part," interjected Kristoff, coloring.

"Kristoff," Elsa appealed to him, ignoring his embarrassment, "you live with him. What do you think?"

"I'm seriously just here to make sure you two don't tear each other limb from limb."

"You deserve truth, too."

A pause as Kristoff looked between us, caught in the middle of the crossfire.

"Well… it has been a strange week and a half," he finally admitted, glancing at me apologetically.

"If you two are done ganging up on me, can I please go to soccer practice?" I asked haughtily, trying to hide the hurt. Practice didn't start for another hour and I was technically excused due to my ankle but they didn't need to know that.

"Are you healed enough for that?" Kristoff asked, thinking along the same lines. I couldn't tell if it was actually out of concern or if he was latching onto the first change of subject he could.

"Okay, sure," said Elsa. I could tell her patience was wearing thin. "Run away to play a game. That is one thing you're good at, evading uncomfortable situations." She wasn't holding back now. "Everything has to be fun and there has to be absolutely no conflict whatsoever-"

She was goading me like my mother would. That realization was another blow entirely. Was I not worthy of anyone's support?

"You know what you're good at?" I spat back, riled up now. "Being just out of reach. Not saying what you want. Not sticking around when you're wanted. Being vague and reclusive and-"

"I am saying what I want right now! Are you listening?"

"I can't do this right now," I said, starting for the door to the classroom.

She stopped me in my tracks. "I just want answers!"

It was a reasonable request, I had to admit. Considering all of the crap I'd put everyone through the last ten days… I looked at Kristoff - he wouldn't meet my gaze. A glance at Elsa told me she wasn't really angry, just intent. Pleading.

"If I'm a friend that you appreciate, do I not deserve the truth?" she asked.

"There's nothing to answer," I said, knowing that each word was another shovelful of my own grave.

"Fine," she said stiffly. "I really, really liked you. Did you know that? And you've ruined everything."

That really was the icing on the cake. I let all of the stress of the last ten days explode out of me. "Well, if I'm such a horrible person, why don't you just date Kristoff? He's in love with you! He has been for forever. I've been trying to play matchmaker since I got here but you were a tougher nut to crack than I thought you'd be. You might as well date him because at least he wouldn't - what was it? Avoid uncomfortable situations."

Throughout my speech, Kristoff pushed past Elsa to approach me.

"Dude, you're totally breaking bro code. That's not cool. And you already know that neither of us can date her, you told me yourself that she's a lesbian!"

The word seemed to echo around the classroom. The sound finally faded into the deepest and most uncomfortable silence I have ever experienced. I had never seen Elsa's blue eyes so wide.

This is it, I thought, this is the moment I die.

"What?" Her demeanor had changed considerably. She had gone from offense to defense in a matter of seconds.

"Hans told me about how you came out to him," Kristoff said awkwardly. "Sorry…"

"I never came out to Hans," said Elsa in what could only be described as acute confusion. "I never came out to anybody."

"What?" Kristoff spun around and stared me down, equally bewildered.

"I made it up, okay?" I said, putting distance between my roommate and myself. We now made up three points of a totally messed up triangle. "I told you she was gay because I liked her and wanted her all to myself. It was spur of the moment and I know that I shouldn't have done it."

Without another word, Elsa strode past me and was out the door before either of us could say anything else. The two of us left in her wake stared after her. A moment of pause and then:

"So…" said Kristoff slowly, as though he were trying to work out a difficult puzzle. "She was straight the whole time?"

I sighed. "Yes."

Another pause as our eyes locked, his expression unfathomable. I beat him to it.

"I know what you're going to say. Don't."

And I did the only thing I could think to do. I went after Elsa. If I caught up with her and talked to her alone I could tell her the truth and then everything would be okay... But Kristoff caught my arm halfway down the staircase outside the building's entrance. Elsa was nowhere in sight.

"Yo. Stop." I tried to pull my arm out of his grip but he was too strong. "Dude, what the hell?"

"I'm sorry I-"

"I don't want to hear your half-assed apologies." His anger took me aback, though he had every right to it. It was just… if I could prompt the level-headed Kristoff to snap then I truly was a human disaster.

"You need to step down, Hans. I'm starting to see why you had to transfer in the middle of a semester. Did you fuck up everyone's lives at your old school too?"

He waited momentarily for a reply, but I had none. So he growled, letting go of my arm roughly. He was gone before he could witness the first round of tears stain my cheeks.

I was late to soccer practice. I figured it would not be very masculine to show up sobbing, so I gave myself some time to calm down. Although at this point, would being feminine and upsetting the ICI even matter?

But seeing Coach Kai reminded me of the promise I had made to him.

"Hey!" he greeted me as I limped slightly over to his position on the sidelines. The boys were already in the middle of a heated scrimmage.

"Can you play today? I can toss you in at half-time. But don't think you have to, I want you in top form for tomorrow."

"Yeah, I think I'll sit this one out."

"Sounds good."

We stood side-by-side, watching the scrimmage intently for a while.

"So, what's the plan, then?" he asked eventually. "When will the charade end? Because it has to end, you know."

"Yes, I am aware," I said, flinching at the memory of the chemistry room fight. "I am painfully aware…"

"After the game?"

"Yes," I sighed. "So the admins can see I can keep up with the boys. And my brother, the real Hans, will be back from London and can actually take up his place here as a student. Everything can be the way it should be."

"Why don't you apply for admission here, once you're yourself again? You've already shown you can handle the academic rigor."

"My mom would have a field day," I said, laughing lightly.

"And you could help me pioneer a girl's team. And then maybe we wouldn't be at the bottom of the league anymore and actually earn some funding," he said, winking at me.

"Wouldn't that be something?" I said, smiling.

"I would go up to bat for you, you know. So… think about it?"

"Yeah..." I said, remembering how all of my Milton friends were mad at me. "I'll think about it."

"Good," he said, clapping me on the back. Then, he leaned down so his face was close to mine like we were fellow conspirators. "What's your real name, anyway?"

"Anna!" I said, reveling in the way it sounded. "My name is Anna."

"Well, Anna. No matter what happens, I'm rooting for you, kiddo. You've got spunk and I'm grateful to have had you around these past few weeks."

I smiled at him, tears springing to my eyes at the mention of my name. I will never take it for granted again.

Checking my phone after practice was futile. I had texted apologies to both Elsa and Kristoff but they both had seen my messages and failed to respond. I hate read receipts.

I was looking forward to curling up in my bed and letting sleep rid me of my strife. Plus, the sooner it was tomorrow the sooner the ICI could be over. But before I could even do that, I had to proofread my own Macbeth essay, because heaven knows Elsa wasn't going to. It was due at midnight so all I could do was cross my fingers and hit the submit button.

But there was a surprise waiting for me at the door to my dorm. When I rounded the corner into my hallway, who did I find there but…

"Ingrid?" I yelped involuntarily. I spun around so she wouldn't see my face. It's truly a miracle that she hasn't noticed the vast height difference between me and my brother; maybe she was just that dense.

"There you are! I've been waiting for you for hours!"

"How did you find my room? How did you even get on campus?" I imagined her climbing the stone wall that marked the perimeter of the school, dodging security by ducking into bushes. I honestly wouldn't put it past her.

"It doesn't matter, all that matters is that I'm here and we're together."

I could hear her voice coming closer, so I countered, rounding the corner I had come from and crashing straight into a mass of muscle. Kristoff's muscle. Abandoning awkwardness, I grabbed his shoulders, looking up into his face.

"Help," I begged him.

He must have seen the terror in my eyes because without a word he put himself in between Ingrid and I. Standing at his full height, he crossed his arms and glared down at her; it was truly intimidating.

"Leave this poor guy alone. He is not your boyfriend."

"Yes, he is!" she tried getting around Kristoff but she was no match for his stature.

"I literally saw him break up with you. This is harassment, you know. He can file a restraining order against you and then you'll never get to see him. Do you want that?"

"Hansy-poo would never do that to me. Would you, babe?"

Kristoff leaned down to get into her face. "I wouldn't be too sure of that. Leave now or we'll call campus security."

I heard her huff for a few seconds before giving in. "Fine. I'm leaving. But I'll be back. And next time if Hans doesn't talk to my face himself I'm going to... do something drastic!"

"Goodbye, Ingrid" was all Kristoff said and waited for her exit. Eventually, I heard her storm away, muttering curses under her breath.

"Quick, before she comes back," I said, pulling Kristoff into our dorm.

Once inside, we collapsed on our respective beds.

"Thank you," I breathed. "So much. After today, I know I don't deserve it. So thank you."

And to my great surprise, he laughed. "Once a ladies' man, always a ladies' man."

My face broke into a grin and I laughed in relief.

"I'm honestly sorry for everything," I said in earnest. "I've been making some seriously questionable choices recently, and you don't deserve to be in the middle of all of this."

"You're okay, dude. No one's perfect. I overreacted anyway."

"That's the thing though, you didn't! You reacted exactly how a normal person would. I'm surprised you're talking to me after ignoring my text."

"I didn't ignore it," he sighed. "I just wasn't sure how to respond. Conversations like that work better in person, you know?"

"So…" I said, wanting verbal confirmation. "We're okay? You're not mad at me?"

"Well, I am still mad. But I think giving you the silent treatment is a waste of time. Because despite the lies you've been a pretty good friend and I really want to keep you around. Just… don't do it again, yeah?"

He held out his hand in a truce.

"Deal," I said, taking it and falling into a broshake with him. And that was that. Getting into fights with men was much easier than arguing with women.

He added, "I also reserve the right to call you Hansy-poo for the rest of your life."

As he settled into his PS4 and I opened my Macbeth essay for what I hoped was the last time ever, I tried not to think about how much the ICI reveal was going to disrupt this fragile stasis.

A/N: Ooh, the drama! Okay, gang. It only took me like three years but we have ONE DAY TO GO. I see you shiver with antici-