Title: Parallelepiped

Summary: AU- Merida is finally a senior in high school. As the spring begins to warm, and with no plans to attend university next fall, she can taste the freedom on her lips. Only, there seems to be one problem. Her geometry teacher, Ms. Queen. She's as intent on getting Merida to pay attention in her class as he somewhat pretentious name implies. However, she may be Merida's biggest distraction.

Rating/Warnings: This is rated T. However, it does deal with a homosexual romantic relationship between two consenting adult females. One happens to be a student and the other a teacher in the first half of this story. I just wanted to make that clear. If the title is scary, it's because its a geometry term.

Chapter Two: Pass or Fail

The next week, Elsa was sitting in the same spot under the large oak tree in the empty courtyard. She glanced over and saw Merida's 'M' in its place. Why had she chosen this place, of all the places in radius, to cut class? Now she was thinking about her again. She felt as though she already thought about her enough. It was certainly more than a teacher should focus on one student. Now, even during her lunch breaks, her mind wandered to the fiery redhead with the admittedly charming personality.

And, speak of the devil, that was exactly who strolled through the open area just as Elsa was opening her bag of pretzels.

"G'afternoon, snowflake."

Elsa nearly blushed at the pet name. Nearly.

"I guess you were in the mood for another detention today?"

Merida grinned and held up her pass.

"Not today, thank you. I've got permission." She waved it side to side.

"I really doubt that pass says 'courtyard' on it. Where does Mrs. Belle think you are?"

"It doesn't matter. A pass is a pass." She plopped herself gracelessly beside the older woman and stretched out her legs. She contemplated kicking off her boots, but it would take effort to get them laced up again in case she had to leave quickly for some reason. At least here she could let the fresh air surround the rest of her. Elsa scanned her curiously as she munched on her snack. Should she argue Merida's logic? It might be best.

"The point of the pass is to keep you from causing trouble. Not excuse you from it."

Merida groaned.

"Are you the pass police?"

"Well, not exactly-,"

"Then," Merida interrupted, "we're both here to have some peace. So why don't we just have it?"

Elsa quieted and continued to nibble away her pretzels one by one. Merida cracked an eye open.

"You aren't going to yell at me for saying that?"

"Have I ever really yelled at you?"

Merida's eyes opened fully and she leaned forward a bit.

"No. You're much more successful with those damn looks of yours."

"Don't curse like that. You're in school."

"That's ridiculous! I'm a senior now. Every teacher loves to tell me how I need to grow up. 'You're eighteen years old now, Merida. It's time to make decisions. It's time to be an adult'. But I am not allowed to actually do anything. Cannae even curse, let alone go where I want when I want. I'm just stuck in this prison until they let me out. Then they don't own me anymore."

"We're all trying to do what's best for you. I know how you feel. I was a senior in high school once."

"Yeah, last year, was it?"

Elsa tried very hard not to roll her eyes.

"Thank you, I'll take that as a compliment."

"You shouldn't. Being treated like this is pure awful. I'm an adult. I can make my own choices. They just will not let me."

Elsa had to admire her passion. They had completely different views on how structure and rules should be handled, but Merida's bravery was something she felt she had often lacked herself. It was as scary as it was inspiring.

"What is it you want to do once your free, Merida?"

"Whatever I want!" She said, beaming. "Of course I'll still do sports. I would never give up archery or biking."

"I meant: what will you do for a job?"

"Oh, that's obvious. I'm taking over my father's business. I already work at the shop part time."

"Is that what you want to do? Work at a sporting goods store?"

Merida eyed her skeptically.

"Are you trying to make that sound like a bad thing? I'm not just going to be a cashier or something. I'm going to own my own business. He's a chain of stores across the coast. He and me mum manage them all. That's what I'll be doing one day."

"I wasn't trying to offend you," Elsa apologized. "I just wanted to know if that's what you wanted to do. Sometimes we're- I mean, people are- forced into something because of their parent's views."

"Believe me. I'll be doing what I want. Taking over the company will be great. It's all the resistance from me mother that makes it such a hassle. She's always on me about how I have to do this and that while my brothers run around doing who knows what."

"Running a business is a lot of work."

"Naw. My father really doesn't do much. I've seen him work. When you're on top, all the people beneath you do the work for you."

"I don't think that's how it works."

"Really? You ever topped?"

Elsa opened her mouth to reply when Merida's face got incredibly red. That wasn't what she was supposed to say.

"I meant been on top!" Merida added instantly, trying to backpedal. "Have you ever been on top?"

A siren went off in her brain. She was only making things worse. She put her hands on her burning cheeks and tried to think of something to say to remedy the situation. The siren and the thought of Elsa being on top of anything were making it hard to think clearly. Elsa hadn't had her mind in the proverbial gutter before, but now she had figured out the implications and why Merida was looking so flustered.

"That's not what I meant!" Merida shouted, finding no better thing to say. Elsa blushed too, choosing to stare into the distance.

"I didn't even think anything of it. Honestly," she said.

The two refused to look at one another. Merida stood up and cleared her throat, deciding now would be the best time to run off. She was glad she'd kept her boots on.

"Well, I really should be off, then. My pass doesn't say 'courtyard' on it."

"Right. I'll see you tomorrow." Elsa kept her eyes trained ahead of her. "Don't forget to do your homework. 56 and 57."

"Aye. It'll be done. Mostly."

Stiffly, awkwardly, Merida walked out of the enclosure and rushed up the stairs. She never thought she'd be that happy to be back in class.