"So you won't even believe who I talked to this morning," Rapunzel gushed the following Tuesday afternoon, when Anna was trying to complete her English paper before leaving for her lesson.

"Right, because by the way you're talking, I'd never guess," Anna grinned at her roommate.

Rapunzel narrowed her eyes playfully, crossing her arms, "Well, fine then, if you don't want to know, I'll just go tell someone else."

"No!" Anna cried, laughing now, "Tell me what he said!"

"Well, it wasn't really anything much," Rapunzel grew a bit more embarrassed now.

"Is that so?" Anna rolled over from where she had been laying across her bed with her laptop, and reached out just enough to poke Rapunzel in the side, "There is so much more to it than that."

"Okay! Fine!" Rapunzel said, "So I was just walking along in the dining hall, trying to find a place to sit to eat because I actually had, like, twenty minutes before my class. And naturally, there was just about nowhere to sit. I was about to take everything back here to the room when I heard someone say 'there's a seat open here'. And I almost didn't turn around because who would be talking to me? I'm just a freshman, and I didn't know anyone who was sitting in there. But I turned around anyway, just in case for some insane reason someone really had been talking to me, and there he was. Sitting at the table that I had just walked past, that, as he said, had one open seat.

"Of course, he was sitting with a few of his friends, and I was like 'are you sure?' and he said 'it wouldn't be a problem at all'. And so I sat down because I couldn't leave after I'd just talked to him. And then he introduced himself—even though of course I already knew who he was—but he didn't know that I knew who he was, obviously. And then he started telling me how much he liked my hair and—"

"Okay, if you talk any more you're going to hyperventilate," Anna laughed, "Breathe."

Rapunzel then made an overly dramatized scene of taking in a huge breath, and then letting it out, "So anyway, Flynn started talking about horses. And he was telling me all about this one horse that they use to have at Arendelle named Maximus, who absolutely hated him for some reason. But then the horse was sold, ironically just when he realized that all he needed to do was give the horse a few apples to get on his good side. And then we somehow actually ended up talking about you. Because we were talking about roommates—"

At this Anna raised her eyebrow pointedly.

"Don't worry! All good things!" Rapunzel held up her hands innocently. She took another breath and seemed to settle down, Anna being grateful that her roommate had seemingly decided to spare the rest of the details of what would have most likely turned into a half hour long conversation, "But all in all it was one of the best reasons for waking up at eight in the morning."

"That's great," Anna said.

"And then he said that I could possibly come with him to one of the horse shows!" Rapunzel squealed, not able to hold it back any longer.

"Punz, that's awesome," Anna smiled again.

"So I guess I'll see you there, too," Rapunzel said. "It's your home show, right?"

Anna nodded. The home show meant that the place where the team practiced—in their case, Arendelle Riding Academy—would host the competition. All of the other competition teams for the other participating colleges would travel to Arendelle Riding Academy and ride the horses there.

Which also meant that Anna's team would be responsible for prepping all of the horses for the show.

That was going to be a very long morning.

"What am I supposed to wear?" Rapunzel asked.

Anna rolled her eyes, "Seriously? It's in two weeks. Do we have to discuss this now?"

"Maybe. No," Rapunzel sighed, but then, contrary to her previous subdued response, blurted, "Yes!"

"Ugh," Anna groaned, "If we do this now, I'm going to be late for my lesson. But don't forget that you at least need to wear boots, okay? Don't show up there in flats or heels."

And although Anna was joking—of course Rapunzel knew that much about what to wear in a barn—her roommate nodded her head vigorously, in tune with every single word that Anna was saying.

Dee was less of a nutcase that night. Anna finally got the mare to carry her head properly for most of the lesson.

And also for most of the lesson…she found herself looking for Elsa on that second level. But every time she looked up, she was disappointed—actually disappointed—to find that the senior was nowhere to be seen.

She's probably just busy, Anna thought. And why do you even care, anyway?

"I don't care," Anna told herself, as she was untacking Dee in her stall after the lesson, "I don't care."

"What don't you care about?"

Anna whipped her head around to find Olaf standing there.

"Huh?" Anna asked, although she had clearly heard Olaf.

"I said what don't you care about?" Olaf repeated.

It seemed innocent enough when he asked it.

But Anna didn't know how to answer him. She couldn't tell him what she had been thinking this entire time. Because even if she did, then she would have to explain to him every single little thing that had happened between the two of them from the first time she met Elsa all the way up to this very day.

"Um, I was just thinking about how I don't care that…Delaney no longer has a martingale. Since she's being halfway decent and all."

"Oh, yeah, I was wondering about that! How it was you who could manage her without it, and now you're the only one who gets to ride her. I wonder if it was Elsa who decided that Delaney doesn't need it anymore."

Elsa had everything to do with it.

But she gave Olaf a small shrug and said, "Maybe."

"You should ask her."

"Uh…I don't think that'd be such a good idea. She might not necessarily…appreciate that," Anna said, ending her words there.

"Why not? I bet that once you get to know her she's the kindest, sweetest, nicest—oh look, here she comes! We can ask her now!"

"Olaf."

He ignored her.

"Olaf."

Olaf turned around.

"Not right now, okay?"

Olaf sighed, "Okay, suit yourself."

And without another word, he walked off.

"Why is it that every time he talks to me, it's about Elsa?" Anna whispered to Dee, turning back to the mare as she finished removing the saddle.

And she didn't turn around until she was sure she heard the aisle clear of footsteps; she didn't know if Elsa had heard anything that Olaf had said, but she didn't know if she could talk to her at the moment even if Elsa hadn't heard anything.

Chem lab was cancelled the next morning.

Anna received the email after she had woken up and gotten dressed, just for spite.

Oh well, she thought. More time to do homework.

But a part of her was disappointed.

She had actually been looking forward to her lab.

Looking forward to talking to Elsa again.

Almost in the way that she had been disappointed that Elsa hadn't been watching her lesson; but then again, it was also for a different reason. Because there was just something about the way that Elsa acted away from the barn—almost like Anna could see a whole different side of her.

Anna sighed, putting her books back down on her bed and sitting down beside them.

What was it about Elsa that made Anna even want to get to know her better?

Why had Anna gotten so excited last week when Elsa let her do something in the lab?

Why was it that Anna wanted Elsa to give up her control; her reign?

Why did Anna care?

She sighed.

Some things are just…too complicated.

And as it turned out, some things really were just too complicated.

Or idiotically simple; whichever adjective fit the events of the following day the best.

They had gone out twice! Twice, before the reality of Kristoff's statements about Hans came crashing down on Anna as the truth.

"I should have listen to you," Anna cried, knowing that this whole problem could have been avoided had she indeed heeded her best friend's warnings. But it didn't change the fact that what was done was done. She was completely miserable, her tear-stained face buried in her pillows, as Kristoff sat on the edge of her bed, "but I was so...so blinded…he was just so…perfect."

"Anna he's the furthest thing from perfect," Kristoff said bitterly. And although Anna couldn't see his face, she imagined it contorted into a worried and angry frown, "He's the reason you're so upset, and I can't stand seeing you like this. Man, do I just want to-"

"No, Kristoff!" Anna exclaimed, sitting up abruptly, while attempting to wipe her tears away, "He doesn't even know that I know!"

"Anna, I'm not going to let you stay in this relationship, especially when you've been together less than a month and he's already cheating on you!" Kristoff was outraged, "If you're not going to let me deal with him, then you need to end it."

"God, Kristoff. I know," Anna's voice broke.

And Kristoff lowered his voice, wrapping a protective arm around her, "Hey, I'm sorry. I just…I hate how upset he's made you."

Upset was an understatement.

It was a million levels of upset that she never knew she could feel.

All she could see in her mind was Hans, kissing that other girl. Right in the middle of the dining hall. He hadn't even seen Anna—hadn't seen her walk in, and then take off running for her dorm room.

"I never want to see him again," Anna whispered.

"I could arrange for that."

Anna had no doubt that Kristoff could. And would, considering his reaction to everything.

"No, you're right," Anna said, "I'm the one who needs to end this. I can't let him see how much he's hurt me. I need to stand up for myself."

Kristoff nodded, "You can't let him break you, okay? I've known you practically my entire life. You're brave. You're strong. You can face him."

"And you know what?" Anna said, her voice growing louder as she stood, "I'm finished crying over him. He's not worth it. He's the one who's wrong, not me! I shouldn't be the one upset—he should!"

"That's more like the Anna I know," Kristoff managed a small smile.

"That's right! He's going down!" Anna declared.

Then she paused, and her brief moment of confidence slowly died down, "But…I don't know how to make that happen."

"You need to confront him," Kristoff said, "In person."

"But when?" Anna said as she sat back down, "And where? And what am I even supposed to say?"

"I know I can be quite the love expert sometimes," Kristoff joked, trying to diffuse the tension, "but I'm afraid the breakup phase isn't my forte."

"Oh, yeah," Anna rolled her eyes, "Some love expert indeed."

"Hey," Kristoff held up his hands in mock defense, "I already told you that I'd be more than happy to take care of it for you my way. But you said you didn't want me to. You need to be the one to end it. And so…if I were you, I'd march myself right up to that idiot and tell him what the hell he deserves to hear."

"Which is?"

"Everything you told me, just ten times more confidently."

"Fine," Anna sighed, "But for now…I need to clear my mind. I can't think about this anymore."

"I'm sure that our history class that starts in ten minutes will do a very good job of that," Kristoff attempted to joke again.

And he succeeded; a small smile had come to Anna's face for the first time in two hours, "It definitely will not."

"I'm all for staying here and watching mindless television shows while breaking into that stash of chocolate that I know you're hiding somewhere in here."

"That sounds a lot better than history class," Anna's smile grew wider as she reached for the remote.

"Well, you know I'm only staying for the food. I wouldn't miss a lecture about world wars for anything else."

Anna was actually laughing at this point.

She was so lucky to have a best friend who cared so much about her.

And so for the rest of the afternoon, Anna was able to forget about her worries.

But by the time she had to bike over to the barn for her shift, Anna was once again feeling upset.

She felt lethargic, dragging through her tasks.

And it was as if the horses sensed it. They would regard her with more concern and attention than they normally did when she entered their stalls, muzzles hovering the slightest second longer when Anna's hand reached out to offer a half-hearted rub on the nose, or a scratch behind the ears.

And apparently, when it rained, it poured. Because by the time Anna had finished her shift, after running out to bring the turned out horses in from the rain, the ground outside of the barn had turned to mud, and Anna was a mess; her jacket was soaked through, and her boots had turned from black to a murky brown that left footprints behind her as she walked into the office.

And she was about to leave as quickly as she had arrived, when she was stopped in her tracks.

"Do you…want a ride?"

Anna spun back around, shocked at the words she'd heard, but couldn't bring herself to give Elsa an appropriate answer in a timely manner as incredulous thoughts ran through her mind.

"I just figured since it's pouring. And you biked over here. And since you also seem a little…off today."

She actually noticed? Anna was amazed. She actually knows that you bike here? And she actually notices that something's wrong?

"I…uh…" Anna trailed off before finally managing, "Yeah. That would be great."

"I'm not sure your bike will fit in my car though. You might have to leave it here."

"That's okay," Anna said.

There was a slightly awkward silence after that as Elsa continued writing on a paper on her desk. The senior hadn't looked back up at Anna since the last time she had spoken. She merely finished writing, and was about to add the paper to a stack of identical ones on the corner of her desk when Anna spoke up again.

She didn't know where it had come from, or what had prompted her to say it.

But it came out anyway.

"Hans is cheating on me."

Elsa stopped everything that she had been doing, and looked up at Anna, who couldn't tell if Elsa was more surprised that Anna had spoken, or what the words themselves meant.

And the second Anna actually realized what she had said, she instantly attempted to string together an explanation, "Not that it's something you need to be concerned about. It's my own problem. I just…sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. I haven't been thinking much. At all. Clearly. But you had said that I seemed off today. So uh, yeah, that's why…" She trailed off lamely, looking to the floor.

God, Anna, for once could you just pull it together!? She doesn't care about your relationship problems!

"Well," Elsa said, still looking a little shocked at Anna's sudden outburst, "I'm…sorry to hear that."

Wait, what!? First she actually notices things that you never thought she'd be considerate enough to notice, and now she's actually sorry about what happened even though you so very ungraciously blurted it out from the middle of nowhere?

"Really, though. I shouldn't have said anything. You have enough going on in your life as it is," Anna still couldn't quite meet the senior's eye.

"Anna, it's fine," Elsa said as she got up from the desk, picking up her keys in the process. Then looking directly at Anna, she added, "Sometimes we all have something we need someone else to hear."

That was probably the most sentimental thing the senior had ever said to Anna, and it was all Anna could think about as the two of them left the office.

"My car is parked at the house and not down here," Elsa said as she reached for the jacket on the back of her chair.

"Walking for a minute in the rain is much better than biking back to campus in a downpour," Anna said, pulling the hood of her own jacket over her head.

The two walked quickly out of the barn, where Elsa led the way to a small silver car that was parked, just as the senior had said, right by the house.

When Anna stepped inside she said, "Wow, this is a nice car."

And it was—there was no doubt about that.

Completely forgetting herself for a second time that evening, Anna propped both of her feet up on the passenger side of the dashboard, saying "It's so much nicer than my old bike."

"God, Anna, were you raised in a barn?"

Seriously, what the hell has gotten in to you!?

Anna's face turned a pale shade of pink as she immediately removed her feet, visibly cringing when she saw the small streaks of dirt that her boots had left behind. And she was so busy trying to come up with a way to apologize that she barely even registered the fact that Elsa was laughing.

She was laughing.

And then as if to prove that her comment was meant as a joke, Elsa reached over and wiped the dirt away with the end of her sleeve.

Which left Anna in complete shock.

She had just witnessed perfect, immaculate, spotless Elsa clean the dashboard with her sleeve.

"And you thought I was raised in a barn?" Anna was so amused she forgot about her own embarrassment.

"It's called being resourceful," Elsa said as she backed the car out of its spot, "Which is the difference between being raised next to a barn and in a barn."

"I was not raised in a barn!" Anna exclaimed.

"Okay, then where were you raised?"

"Maybe I was raised in a castle," Anna shot back.

"Oh, were you now?" A smile tugged at the corner of Elsa's lips, but she kept her eyes on the road, "And so were you the queen of this so-called 'castle'?"

"I was the princess actually," Anna declared.

"And what did her royal highness do all that time in this castle before ending up at such an obscure little college campus?"

"Well…I talked to pictures," Anna said matter-of-factly.

"What?"

"I had absolutely no one to talk to in my huge castle, so I talked to all the paintings on the walls."

"And they talked back."

"No, of course not!" Anna exclaimed, "That'd be ridiculous!"

Elsa laughed, "And you're just realizing this now?"

"No…I…I'm not…I don't know," Anna suddenly grew embarrassed again.

Where had all of this come from, anyway?

"You've got quite an imagination," Elsa said, turning to look at Anna. And it was only the fact that Elsa had taken her eyes off the road that made Anna realize that they were already in the campus' main parking lot.

That had been a very quick few minutes. Even for the barn being right around the corner from the college.

Anna only shrugged, "I guess."

"Well, I'll…see you on Sunday then?" Elsa said.

"Yeah," Anna said, as she reached for the door, "And thanks. For the ride."

Anna expected the senior to just brush it off. Say that it was no big deal; not a problem.

But she was genuinely surprised by Elsa's answer.

"Any time."

And Anna couldn't quite keep herself from thinking that she wouldn't mind if it rained more often.

A/n: So I know that the thing with Anna and Hans was really abrupt but I didn't think I could spend any more time writing about the two of them being together :p Although I don't think you all mind too much.

But anyway, it's only the beginning of many changes for Anna. If only she knew how much more complicated it's all going to get…

Thanks for reading!