A/N Hey guys! Thanks so much for the great responses, follows, and favorites. I won't be posting a chapter this Sunday or the following one, I'll be busy travelling Europe, but you'll get a double update the week after! As always, enjoy!
Disclaimer: Do I need these every chapter? Welp, I don't own Frozen.
More Than a Game
Chapter 2
Anna felt like she was about to pass out. The team had all gone to the outfield to test their catching abilities, and it was hot. Anna, a short stop by trade, was used to short bursts of motion. Outfielding was a lot more running, and the throws were much farther. By the time Elsa called for a water break, the redhead was exhausted. Jogging in with the rest of the team, she made a beeline for her water. Elsa stopped her on the way.
"So I'm guessing you don't play outfield much?" Anna blushed, giving a small nod. "I'm a shortstop." Elsa chuckled and Anna gave her a small glare. "What?" The blonde leaned back against the fence. "Well, I always find it funny when short people are shortstops."
Anna drew up to her full height, finding herself still a few inches shorter than the coach. Elsa smirked, patting her on the head. "Get some water. We're doing infield next." With that, she sauntered back to the batter's box to chat with the catcher, Merida.
Infield was a much better experience for Anna. In her home element, she didn't let a single ball past her. Beaming with pride and determined to impress Elsa, she stood at shortstop for the last round of ground-balls. The coach smirked. "Ready, Short?" The nickname could have been a tribute to her position or her height, but the teasing smirk on the blonde's face suggested the latter of the two. Anna stuck out her tongue and gave a thumbs up. The smirk widened as the blonde tossed the ball in the air, whacking it to Anna's right side. Jumping into motion, Anna scooped it up in a perfect backhand, whipping the ball to Merida. Her throw was off and sped straight towards Elsa. The blonde dropped the bat, catching the ball in her right hand. After a tense moment, she dropped the ball, muttering a swear under her breath.
Clutching the hand to her chest, she ordered the team to take a break. "Anna, will you go get some ice from inside." The senior nodded and quickly ran off. When she came back Elsa took the ice gladly, pressing it against the angry red seam marks on her hand. "Thanks." Anna was expecting anger, but instead Elsa had an excited grin on her face. "You have a great arm, Short!"
Anna's jaw dropped. "You're not mad?" The blonde scoffed. "Of course not. During my freshman year in college, I hit a foul ball at my coach's head. At least you didn't give me a concussion." Her tone was light and joking, completely the opposite of her mother. Elsa pulled the ice off her hand with a small wince the marks from the seams were still red. Sending one last smile in Anna's direction, the coach addressed the team. "Alright, batting practice!" Anna scrambled to get her bat and helmet, ending up at the back of the line. Elsa was standing behind a net next to a pitching machine. She fed the first ball, but nothing happened. The coach raised an eyebrow at the machine, as if to challenge it. "You're really not going to work? OK. Fine."
Motioning to Merida, the two moved the machine and net and machine off the field. Elsa grabbed her glove and an old White Sox baseball hat, putting it on backwards to hold her bangs back. Merida put on her gear, looking reasonably terrified. Sliding the glove onto her right hand, Elsa picked up a ball out of the bucket. "Calm down, Merida." The ginger was visibly shaking. Normally brave and fearless, catching for a varsity college level pitcher would be daunting, even for her. The blonde nodded when the shaking stopped and the Scot got into position.
Elsa was a thing of beauty while she pitched. Her movements were practiced and perfect, impossibly fast. Suddenly the back of the line didn't seem like such a bad place. Merida didn't even have to move, the ball slammed straight into her glove. Elsa, however, looked slightly disappointed. "I've lost some speed."
Another voice came from behind her. "You aren't moving your hips fast enough." Coach Marie had finished up the freshman try-outs and came over to watch varsity. Elsa gave her a strained smile, incredibly forced. "Thanks, Coach." She turned back to Merida, sending another ball soaring over the plate. With a nod, she nodded to the girl dubbed Snow White. Her actual name was Samantha, but Snow had stuck.
With a visible gulp, she stepped up to the plate. Elsa gave her an honest, encouraging smile. Her motion as she pitched to Snow was slower than her warm ups, the actual pitch not nearly as terrifying. The whole team sighed with relief. Elsa smirked and Coach Marie frowned. "Come on, Els. These girls are varsity. Don't hold back." Elsa glared at the woman. "Varsity isn't exactly the same as college. Plus, they haven't hit since summer!" Marie raised an eyebrow, an expression Elsa had obviously picked up.
Anna let out a small squeak when the brunette next to her walked forward. "I'll give it a try. Come on, Coach! Show me what college ball is like." She put the bat across her shoulders as she walked up to the plate, and Elsa smiled. "Belle, right? Varsity shortstop for two years." The brunette returned the smile. "The very same."
The blonde raised an eyebrow. "No batting gloves?" Belle smirked. "I think I'll be fine." Elsa shrugged and pitched the ball; a perfect strike. Belle swung a little too late, not even making contact. "It's alright, Belle. You've got this." The blonde coach was nothing but encouraging. "I'm sending another one to you. Swing a little earlier."
The next pitch was just as fast and straight. This time Belle make contact, barely grazing the ball with the metal barrel of her bat. There was a resounding ring, followed by a squeal of pain. Belle dropped her bat to the ground, shaking her hands around. Elsa jogged over, offering her a pair of padded batting gloves. "Gloves are always a good idea." The brunette offered a small smile, slipping them on. "Take a break. You did well." The compliment was honest, but pretty awkward, like Elsa wasn't used to praising people. Belle moved back in line and Snow stepped forward. She spoke loud and clear this time. "I'll go next."
Batting practice took a while, everyone making a game of hitting Elsa's pitches. The blonde coach laughed and cheered along with them and even helped them collect the balls when the buckets ran out. Coach Marie, who had moved to sit in the dugout, didn't smile through the whole tryout. By the time the sun started to set, Elsa had called an end to the day.
"Alright, girls. You did a great job today." Her smile faded and her tone turned serious. "But these are still tryouts. Coach Marie hasn't told me how many of you I'm going to have to cut, so I need you all to give your best until the very end. Got it?" Everyone nodded and Elsa smiled, putting her hand out. "Who wants to call it out?" Snow, the formerly uncomfortable, silent girl, smirked and yelled. "Elks on three! One! Two! Three!" The whole team plus Elsa shouted Elks together and went their separate ways.
Anna stayed behind to help Elsa with the equipment, but she wasn't the only one with the idea. Practically all the girls had walked over to offer help. Elsa laughed, dealing out equipment and pointing out her car. Anna walked with the coach over to the white Range Rover. "So how did you like your first day coaching?" Elsa let out a musical laugh. "To tell you the truth, I thought I would be miserable, but you girls are all so amazing, it was impossible to have a bad time."
Anna blushed, blowing her bangs up out of her face. They had been bothering her all day. Elsa smiled down at her and slipped the Sox hat off her head, pushing it onto Anna's. "A good luck gift. Not that you'll need it. You have quite the backhand." Anna blushed, adjusting the hat. "Thanks. That was some pitching." They had reached the car and there was a general groan of agreement at Anna's comment. Elsa smiled a bit uncomfortably at all the praise, leaning against the vehicle. "Thanks for the help, girls. You all did great today. But go home! I'm sure you have homework to do."
As the girls walked away, Elsa said a few words to each girl, sharing a small joke or some awkward words of encouragement. When Anna walked by, Elsa ruffled her hair over the hat. "I'll see you tomorrow, Anna." The redhead smiled wide, practically skipping back to the field.