Chapter 18: Let me help you.

It's been two weeks, and apparently everything has been perfect for Anna and I lately. I mean, we see each other every day, we're not afraid to show our feelings anymore, we have a group of supporting friends (yes, even Meg has been nice to me, despite my doubts), we've improved our grades and, most importantly, Hans' group doesn't bother me anymore. Yes, I didn't say "us". They've been bulling Anna instead, but she's too damn proud to tell me, or maybe she doesn't want to worry me, but anyways it's stupid and reckless on her part.

Of course, once Hans found out that Anna and I are indeed girlfriends, he and his friends made sure to make my life a living hell for one day; they made me trip, they painted hurtful words on my locker, they threw food to me at the cafeteria… you know, the usual stuff. But they soon realized that I'm too used to their methods and that, at this point, I don't care anymore, because I now have friends, and most importantly, I have Anna.

At first, when they stopped bulling me, I was relieved, and Anna was happy about it too; we just assumed they had gotten tired and that they'd move on soon enough. But we were wrong. They stopped picking up on me, but they started doing it with Anna. At first I didn't notice, but then it was too obvious; Anna's gaze became sadder, it lost that beautiful spark it used to have, she got easily distracted, as if something worried her, she stopped wearing skirts and shirts with too much cleavage and, when she started showing up with bruises on her arms or dirt on her clothes, I knew they were bothering her, even if she always said she had fell. I tried prying answers out of her many times, but she always said I was just being paranoid, and, if I didn't drop it, she'd just kiss me until I forgot about it, and then she'd smile at me, like nothing was wrong.

But everything was wrong, and it wasn't until yesterday that things just got too serious and I decided this couldn't wait anymore, that I couldn't just sit and hope that Anna would soon realize she needs help, because she's so damn stubborn she'd never admit it.

Yesterday I told Anna I'd see her at the cafeteria on our free period and she said she'd be there, but when I arrived I didn't see her, but since I had gotten out early from my class, I just thought that maybe she was still at her classroom, so I decided to go wait for her there, in order to spend as much time as possible with my girlfriend. However, when I was in my way there, I saw a commotion; there were a group of students surrounding something at the base of the stairs I needed to climb in order to get to Anna's classroom. They were watching it intently, whispering. I was curious, so I got close instead of walking to the other stairs. I tried to see what they were seeing, but they were taller and they wouldn't let me get close. I was about to give up and just go find Anna, when I heard one of them.

"Hey, isn't she Hans' girlfriend?"

"No, I heard she just broke up with him a few weeks ago." Her friend answered.

That's all I needed to hear in order to realize that what they were staring at; that person who was lying on the ground at the base of the stairs, was my girlfriend. I panicked and, finding strength I didn't know I had, I started pushing them, trying to get close to my loved one, who was probably hurt, and no one was doing a damn thing!

Ignoring the protest of those dumb students, I was finally able to reach the center of the circle, and I saw her lying on the ground, clutching her arm with an expression of pure suffering, crying silently, probably because the pain was so strong it didn't even let her breathe.

"Anna!" I screamed as I ran to her and kneel at her side, touching her shoulder carefully, not wanting to cause her more discomfort. She opened her eyes briefly, and I was able to see her tears, her pain, and at that moment I just wanted to make the one that had made her suffer like this pay. "Who did this to you?" I asked, fury surging between my heart, even though I already knew the answer; it had been Hans, to me there was no doubt about it.

"I-I fell." She answered weakly. "Please… i-infirmary." Her words got me out of my furious state and I realized I should first take care of her and make sure she was alright, before beating Hans to a bloody pulp. That is, in case it had been Hans, she could've really fell after all, but that didn't matter in that moment.

I helped her get up and the crowd dispersed to give us some space. Apparently someone had gone call the prefect to tell him about what happened, because he arrived in that moment and guided us to the infirmary, even though I already knew the way quite well (yes, I usually went there when Hans' aggressions became more physical).

When we arrived, the prefect left and then we walked in to find the nurse, who greeted me with a smile, which faded as soon as she saw Anna.

"Please, sit her down." She exclaimed pointing to one of the three white beds that were there. I did as she told me and soon she was at our side. "What happened?"

"I fell." Anna said trough gritted teeth. "I think I broke my arm."

"Oh, poor thing." The nurse said compassionately. "It must hurt a lot. However, I'll have to make sure that you broke your arm. I need you to move it, and it'll probably hurt, but I need you to stay calm. Okay?" Anna nodded and extended her broken arm towards the woman as she pressed her head against my shoulder, clearly searching for support. I held her as tightly as I could, but still taking care of not hurting her. "Good, please try moving your fingers, can you do it?" I saw Anna's fingers move slightly before a strangled cry got out of her mouth and she stopped. I caressed her back hoping I could ease her pain. "Okay, now I need you to move your hand; up and down, left to right and in circles." Again, Anna tried, but after another cry she stopped.

"I-I can't." She choked out. "T-too m-much pain."

"It's okay." The nurse answered. "Now I'll see your arm. Please don't move." At this, she lifted the sleeve of Anna's jacket revealing a horrible sight; her arm was way too swollen and it's color was a sick combination of red and purple, but it was a relief that at least her bone wasn't sticking out. "Now, tell me if you can bear this." She said as she started cautiously touching Anna's fingers to then move a little more towards her wrist, which made her grit her teeth, but when the nurse asked her if it was too much, she shook her head, so she continued until almost reaching the center of her forearm, and that was when Anna cried and hugged me tighter.

"S-stop." She said and the nurse obeyed.

"Yes, you probably have a broken arm." She said. "I'll call the hospital, please stay here."

The woman went to call for an ambulance, as she had said and I stayed with Anna, comforting her, my heart breaking when I heard her soft whimpers and felt her hot tears staining my shirt. I wanted to ask her if she had really just fell, but I knew that wasn't the moment, so I just kept quiet, only whispering soft words of support.

Then, we both got into the ambulance. They only let me go with her because Anna refused to leave my side. They immobilized her arm, put an ice package on it and gave her some pain killers, but I could see it was still too much, and I couldn't do a damn thing to help her. I've never felt more useless in my life.

However, at the hospital we had to part, as she was taken to the X-ray room and then to the emergency department so they could fix her arm. All that time I waited sitting on a chair, just hoping she was fine and wanting to be there for her. It wasn't long before her mother arrived though, and, at her insistence, they let us both enter. She knew I care about Anna, that I was her friend, and that's probably why she didn't want me to stay outside.

Anna was wearing a white cast and was probably in painkillers, since her face looked way better; she wasn't pale anymore, or sweating, and her expression didn't reflect pain anymore, as it was supposed to be. And I was very relieved.

Her mother ran to hug her and ask her if she was okay, and honestly a part of me was jealous, because I never got to have a mother like that; no, my mother left as soon as I was born, and now I'll never know what it feels to be in your mother's arms. But that doesn't matter; this wasn't about me, it was about Anna.

"Anna, what happened?" She asked clearly worried.

"I fell from the stairs." Anna shrugged, faking a smile. "You know I'm really clumsy."

"Please be more careful. You've been getting home with a lot of bruises lately. I don't want you to get hurt." I put a worried expression as I heard her words.

So her mother has also noticed the increment on Anna's injuries?

"Don't worry." Anna laughed it off. "It's really nothing. The nurse said it's a simple breakage."

"Hello again, Anna." The doctor said as he entered the consulting room. "And you must be her mother… and her sister?" He asked eying me.

"No, just a friend." I answered quickly.

"Alright. So, Anna, here I have you X-ray." He said putting said thing in the lamp he had to examine it. Instantly, I noticed one of her bones had broken in a half, near the wrist. I cringed; that must have hurt a lot. "As you can see, you have a simple breakage, which is a relief because otherwise we'd have had to intervene it surgically, but now you'll just have to wear a cast for about four to six weeks. I guess the nurses already told you how to take care of it?" Anna nodded and the doctor continued. "Alright, now tell me, does it hurt much?"

"Well, the painkillers they gave me helped a lot, even though it still hurt like hell when you aligned the bones."

"I could tell. Alright, now, are you allergic to something…?"

After that, he prescribed her some painkillers and gave her some instructions about her cast and everything, and then I went to lunch with Anna and her mother at Anna's house. Once we finished eating, I went help her with her homework (or at least tried, since Anna was more interested on kissing and cuddling). I also tried to get answers out of her, but she insisted it was just a fall so, after a while, I dropped the subject and then left.

The problem is that earlier today, as I exited my first class, Ariel came to me. I tried to pretend I didn't see her and hope she'd just ignore me, but to my surprise she actually spoke to me, and in a very concerned way.

"Elsa, may I speak to you?" She asked. I gave her a confused look.

"Here?" I raised an eyebrow, conscious that some of my classmates were looking at us.

"Well, I'd actually prefer somewhere more private." She admitted. I frowned, knowing that this could be a trick. "Please, it's about Anna." She pleaded desperately, and, when I looked into her eyes, I knew this was serious, and if this was about Anna, I couldn't just turn my back.

"Alright." I sighed. "Lead the way. But I warn you, if this is just a trick, I won't hesitate defending myself."

Ariel only nodded and quickly guided me to a secluded area of the building, where she spoke in a hushed voice.

"Listen, I really shouldn't be telling you this, because Hans would kill me if he knew, so you have to promise me you won't tell anyone I told you.

"

"I promise." I accepted, my curiosity growing with every word spoken.

"Alright, look, he has been very angry because Anna decided to leave him for you. Actually we've all have, but he and Snow are constantly bulling her and making plans to make her "pay" and I didn't mind much before because they were just harmless pranks, like the ones we used to play on you."

So my suspicions were true. You fucking bitches! I'm gonna burn you all in stakes.

"What?" She asked, when she caught me mumbling.

"Nothing, continue." I answered as calmly as possible while feeling my rage burn like fire under my skin.

"Okay. So, it all changed yesterday when Hans said we should make Anna fall from the stairs."

"So it was you?!" I asked furious, barely keeping myself from hitting her.

"Calm down!" She took a step back, clearly afraid of my outburst. "I tried to argue with him, to tell him this wasn't right, and Aurora felt the same; Anna was one of us after all. It's not right to do such a thing to an ex-friend." She paused and took a deep breath. "But he didn't listen, and Snow was eager to put the plan into practice. She was the one to distract her when he pushed her, but they never expected her to break an arm. This is obviously getting out of control, please, you have to do something! I know you're the only one who can save Anna."

Now, after hours fighting to control my rage, I'm finally going to speak with Anna. I don't like to fight, but I can't help feeling hurt because Anna didn't tell me about what really happened. I know this won't be easy, but I have to convince her that she needs help, that she can't just suffer in silence like I did. I just hope neither of us loses control; she's been kinda explosive later.

I see her at the school yard, where I told her I'd meet her, and she's actually with her friends, Rapunzel, Belle and Meg, as I also requested; I'm hoping we all can put some sense into that head of hers.

"Anna." I call her as I approach and, as she sees me, she practically jumps towards me and captures my lips within hers. I hum in delight as I kiss her back, savoring her delicious flavor and enjoying the soft caress of her mouth only for a moment before we separate. After all, we wouldn't want things to get a little too heated in front of everyone.

"Hey Els, how was your day?" She asks.

"Oh, you know, the usual." I shrug. "Well, except for my little talk with Ariel."

"You talked with Ariel?" Meg says in disbelief.

"She didn't bothered you, did she?" Anna asks frowning, as if she was going to search for the girl in question and beat her at any moment.

"No, no." I assure her. "But she told me something rather interesting." I pause, take a deep breath and look at her beautiful eyes. "Why didn't you tell me Hans pushed you yesterday?"

"What?!" Rapunzel exclaims. "He did? I n-never thought he'd go that far."

"Oh, believe me, Hans is capable of anything when he's mad." Meg intervenes.

"But why did he do it? What does he get from hurting you?" Belle asks, though I don't know if she is asking us or just thinking out loud.

"It doesn't matter." I say firmly. "We have to make him pay."

"Wait, Elsa." Anna interrupted me placing her left hand on my shoulder. "Ariel was lying; he didn't push me. She just wants you to lose control. I just fell, really." The way she says this is rather convincing, but I don't buy it. She's nervous, I can see it in her eyes, she desperately wants us to believe her, but I know the truth.

"Why do you keep lying to me, Anna?" My voice sounds sadder than I intended when I ask. "Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I do." Anna rushes to say, before stopping and biting her lip while deviating her gaze to the side. "But he didn't push me, I'm telling the truth." Now it's painfully obvious that she's lying.

"Anna, please. I just want to protect you."

"You don't have to protect me, I'm not afraid." She insists stubbornly, though I can see she deep inside wants to just fall into my arms and let me take care of her. Because she is afraid, terrified probably, but she doesn't want us to see that.

"Yes, you are." I contradict her.

"And you should be." Meg supports me. "Anna, Hans is dangerous. We both know that."

"But what can we do, what can I do?" Anna suddenly yells turning to the left to face her, her eyes shining with contained tears. I just want to hold her and assure her everything will be okay, but I don't think she'd appreciate that in this moment. "He won't leave me alone as long as we're both in the same school and you know it." She pauses, probably to prevent herself from crying. "The only solution is to wait until this year is over. Then he'll go to the university and we'll never see him again."

"And let him get away unpunished?" Rapunzel asks in disbelief. "I don't think that's a great plan."

"I agree." Belle speaks up. "If he really pushed you, then you should tell the principal. He broke your arm after all!"

"But he didn't…" Anna is about to deny it again, but I shoot her a stern look that effectively shuts her mouth. "Okay." She sighs. "He did push me, but…"

"But what?" Meg says angrily. "There's nothing to argue about this. You're gonna tell the principal."

"No, I'm not!" Anna yells at her. At all of us actually. "I'm not telling anyone, and neither are you! You have no idea what that would do to me!" Now she is really crying, shaking, her face is red in anger, but her expression is one of desperation. I sense her suffering and this time I don't hesitate pulling her close to me, feeling relieved when she leans into my neck and lets me hold her. "W-we can't tell him." She almost pleads. "W-we can't. P-please."

"Shhh." I try soothing her. "Please calm down. We won't tell anyone if you don't want to, just… please, tell me why."

"I-I…" She swallows. "I don't want to be locked up again. I don't want my parents to be concerned about my safety. I-I don't want to be apart from you." Her voice is so vulnerable it breaks my heart, and I just want to assure her that this isn't going to happen, but I can't; I don't know if I'd be telling a lie.

"Anna… what happened that made your parents lock you up for ten years?" Rapunzel asked, curious but also concerned. When Anna just shakes her head, she insists. "Please, you can tell us anything. We are your friends."

"I-I just… it was nothing, really. My parents only got all paranoid." She says in an attempt to avoid the topic.

"Anna, come on, we're here for you, remember?" Belle says with a soft voice and Meg nods in agreement.

"Please Anna, we want to know." I add as I pull her even closer against me, hoping this will be enough to calm her down.

"O-okay." She agrees with a shaky voice before taking a deep breath, preparing herself to tell the secret she hasn't told anybody. "A-as you know, it happened when I was five. In winter, I loved to play with the snow at a nearby park, and in summer I loved going there with my parents to get some ice cream. I also liked making new friends. But my parents were never there and I felt so alone." I can feel her grip tightening, as if she was preparing herself to tell the most painful part of the memory. "One day I escaped and went to the park, and I met a man who was very friendly with me. He bought me ice-cream and then he led me to my house. This repeated every day for a short period of time…until one day he…" A sob erupted from her throat and her shaking intensified. I rested my chin on the crown of her head and caressed softly her back, hoping this will calm her down enough to let her continue. "O-one day he… He didn't brought me home. He put me into a van and drove away. When we were far enough he tied my arms and he put a gag on me… and when I resisted he hit me." 2Anna paused, finally calming down. "Then he called my parents and asked for money. They gave it to him and saved me, but after that they were too fearful to let me get out of the house…" A new wave of sobs shakes her. "I'm afraid something like that will happen again if they knew about Hans."

We all stay in shock for a few seconds, trying to process what Anna just said, after all, seeing her cheerful and optimistic personality you wouldn't think she went through such a traumatic experience as a child. But I do believe what she said, and I wished I could've been there then to prevent it, that way, she wouldn't be crying in my arms right now.

"But Anna, an abduction is a lot more serious than bulling." Rapunzel points out, breaking the silence. "I don't think your parents would lock you this time."

"Yes, and besides, you have all of us to support you." Belle adds.

"If you want, I could go to your house today after school and be by your side as you inform your parents about it." I offer. "I'm sure I could convince them of not locking you again. And then, tomorrow, we could tell the principal."

"Y-you think that would work?" Anna asks with a small voice, obviously wanting to believe what I just said.

"Yes, please, don't give up."

"Okay, as long as you are by my side." She agrees, relaxing into my arms.

We're walking towards the bust station as we always do, just this time I'm going to go with Anna to her house. I'm sure my plan will work; her parents seem like very reasonable people after all. Paranoid maybe, but also reasonable. Anna looks a little more relaxed now, and she's been happily chatting and trying to be optimistic. I'm glad we were able to make her feel better, but I don't allow myself to relax completely yet; I need to be focused and prepared for when I confront her parents… though I wouldn't oppose to have a little make out season first. I think I'm becoming addicted to her kisses, but you really can't blame me; they're sweeter than chocolate.

We are about to get into the bus when I open my bag to retrieve the money and I notice that I forgot my notebook at my locker, and I really need it because I need to make some homework for tomorrow.

"Uh, Anna. I forgot my notebook." I say.

"Oh! That's okay, don't worry. Go, I'll wait for you here." She assures me.

"Alright. I'll be right back." I say before turning around and running like there's no tomorrow towards the school. I get tired pretty fast, but I keep going in order to not keep Anna waiting for me. When I finally arrive to my locker, I open it and find that my notebook isn't there. For a moment I fear that I somehow managed to lose it, but then I hear a rather cruel and malicious voice at my back.

"Searching for this?" Snow asks and, as I turn, I see that she somehow has my notebook. I sigh; I don't have time for this.

"Look, I'm sick of your stupid games." I say exasperated. "Just give it to me and I won't tell the director."

"That wouldn't be fun, would it?" She says as a wicked grin forms in that ugly face of hers.

"I don't care!" I exclaim getting angrier. "Just give it to me." I try to reach for it but she suddenly tosses it to the side and, when I turn I find the others are also here. I know this is a lost cause, so I decide to just let them win for now, return to Anna and explain to my teacher what happened tomorrow. "Alright, don't. It's just a stupid notebook." I say as I turn to run towards the exit, but Snow stands in front of me not letting me pass. "Hey! Move!" I say exasperated.

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Why?" I say, trying to kip myself from just punching that ugly face.

"Because Hans told me not to let you out." I raise my eyebrow, wondering why would he want that. "You see, he has something to do with that disgusting dyke you call your girlfriend, and he doesn't want interferences." A sense of dread installs into my heart and all I want is to go in her aid, but I know they are faster than me. I don't have a chance against all of them.

"What is he going to do to Anna?" I ask, my voice trembling, but I don't know if it's from fear or anger.

"Something very bad. Something I wouldn't even wish to you, but she's a traitor, so she deserves it. Besides, it may even make her turn to the good side again." I'm left confused by her words, but the fear grows within me and now my heart is beating so hard and so fast I'm afraid it'll get out of my chest any second now. I try thinking on a plan to escape, to go to Anna, and in that moment I remember what Ariel told me; she and Aurora don't like hurting Anna because she was their friend, maybe I could make them help me.

"Ariel. Aurora… Cinderella." I say turning to face them. "Anna was your friend, she always cared about you, and you know deep inside you care about her. Please, help me save her. I don't know what Hans will do to her, but I'm sure it won't be pleasant. Are you really going to stay here and do nothing while she gets hurt? She already has a broken arm, who knows what Hans will do next? Kill her maybe? Please, do it for your friend. She needs you." As I finish my speech, I turn to Snow, and seeing her attention is now focused on her hesitating friends, I'm able to push her by surprise, making her land on the ground as I run away hoping they listened to me. I hear a commotion at my back, but I don't stop to see what's going on; I just have one thing in mind, Anna, and I know I'm not going to let Hans hurt her. I won't fail her, I'll save her, I know I will.

Please be safe. I'm on my way. Don't worry, I won't let him hurt you.