Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Day One.
"Nah, girl. It's a triple play-by-play, switch and then flip." The tall blonde Alice tsk'd at me, making me slap my head mockingly when her brow furrowed.
"Ohh. Why didn't you say so in the first place?" I instantly back tracked and did what I was told, ignoring the way my body began to hum with the first signs of soreness. It had been awhile since I moved like that. "Better?" I asked after wiping the sweat from my own brow.
"A whole lot better." Al beamed at me and then gestured to my sweat-drenched, gasping partner, "now you on the other hand." Her smile instantly softened when Kristoff gave her a sheepish shrug.
"I'm trying. Believe me, I am." He breathed before chocolate brown eyes found mine. "I just thought we'd be doing this one-on-one." Traitor written all up in them.
It made me put my hands up in surrender. "Kris, I honestly don't have as much patience to teach you to dance as Al does." I gestured to the attractive blonde who was seemingly turning shy at the sight of my friend engaging in a glare contest with me. "Yeah she does real good with the ones she likes." That playful drawl got me a harsh slap to my bare shoulder, which made me yelp in surprise.
"A-anyway, what exactly are you doing here, Anna? Last I checked, you were teaching me how to do the Time Warp." Alice hid her embarrassment by turning away from Kristoff and facing me head-on. I still saw the tinge of pink on her creamy cheeks, though.
"Just a jump to the left." I grinned before stretching my arms over my head. "But seriously, I'm here, mainly, for moral support."
"And what's this I hear about you breaking Ariel Simmons' nose?" Al suddenly brought it back up.
"Ugh, you sound like the Weasel." I groaned loudly as I tightened my ponytail.
"Did she also tell you she also got suspended for three days?" Lately, Kristoff seemed to just want to toss me under the bus whenever he saw fit and I so badly wanted to kick him in the shin.
Instead I got another hard smack to the back of my head. "OW!" I cried out, automatically whipping around to slap Alice's hand back. She glared at me. I glared right back and Kristoff coughed awkwardly.
"Why, Anna?" She asked after another intense minute. "I mean, aren't you already causing the student council enough grief with all your shenanigans?" Al tried to keep herself calm, but was starting to fail. I was starting to get on her nerves.
"Maybe that's why they suspended me." I dared to snap back. Alice didn't go to the same school as Kristoff and I, but that didn't stop me from visiting her because she was a long time friend of the family. And it bothered me when she acted much like a mother sometimes. Regardless that she was only a year older than I was.
"What'd you do?" She demanded, now standing with her arms akimbo. Her stance made me stiffen a bit, turning defensive too.
"I broke a blockhead's nose." My voice came out in half a growl. Wasn't that obvious?
"Anna, settle down." Kristoff came back to put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. I brought my eyes back to glare at him too, only that time he straightened back up. "You've been acting like this forever now and I don't know what's making you do it." His voice softened instantly, "but I do know that if you'd just share your problems with us, we'd be more than willing to help."
Both of their heavily concerned eyes on me made me huff angrily. "T-there's nothing I can do!" I threw my hands up in defeat. "And if that's true then there's nothing you can do either."
Alice stepped forward so she could wrap her arms around me, causing my joints to stiffen instinctively. "No, sweetheart." She whispered to the top of my head. "We may not be able to do anything in that part of your life since you won't tell us anything. But you can bet your last penny that we'll do any and everything we can just to see you happy again." And just like that, my anger dissipated and I groaned into her neck, conceding my own defeat.
"I hate you both." I muttered, making them chuckle.
Day Two.
The day had been long and boring, but since it was spaghetti night, I guessed it wasn't all bad. "Baby girl, I love you." My dad started, tired eyes finding mine in sympathy while my fork poked lazily around a meatball. "But I think it's time you found something to do."
"Can I participate in dance battles?" I felt compelled to ask right away. The first battle I'd seen was on Alice's sixteenth birthday at a place called The Warehouse. The name of the group was called The Chosen and it was because of them that I started dancing in the first place.
"I meant something that'll distract you and pay you." He chuckled before popping a meatball into his mouth.
"They do pay." I nodded convincingly. And they did. I once saw a team win over six-thousand dollars. It honestly blew my mind that people could get paid by doing something they loved. I hadn't realized that was possible until I saw it up close and personal.
That had to be another dream of mine.
"I mean a job, Love." He stated with a fond smile on his face, bringing me back to the present as well.
"What's that?" I asked playfully. He rolled his eyes and I brought my hand up as if to ease his thoughts. "Okay, okay. You want me to find a job, I can do that."
Day Three.
HELP WANTED.
I eagerly tore the poster off the wall and carried it with me to the address marked on it. A garage. I first saw men in oily, grease-stained, blue overalls spread out in said garage either working on their own cars or talking to customers. However, an office at the far corner caught my attention and I wasted no time in walking up to it. Exhaling lightly, I gave the door a sharp knock.
"Come in." A deep voice called out from the other side.
I opened the door and immediately saw a large man sitting behind his desk who was glancing through a newspaper. Even from where I stood I could tell he was intimidating and I had to wonder if this was the right place to try. It was my first try. "How can I help you, Missy?" He asked, folding his paper and putting it to the side.
"Uh, I saw this poster and was thinking- or I mean, I'd like to get a job here?" I cleared my throat awkwardly. Wow, Anna. Don't be surprised if he kicks you out. But his kind smile seemed to calm my nerves better than I was.
"So those imbeciles did put posters out." His chuckle reverberated though me and the small office. "So have a seat and tell me what you know about vehicles." He leaned forward and steepled his oil-stained fingers in front of him.
I sat. The smell of the whole shop hit my nose then as I pondered what to tell him. "I know how to change a tire..." I began in unsurity, but then slumped my shoulders. "Okay not much, I'll admit." I scratched the back of my head nervously. "B-but I'm a fast learner!"
There was a light twinkle in his hazel eyes and his smile turned fond as he stood to his full height. "Hm, I suppose you could start out with the simpler jobs until you get the hang of things." Craning my head up, I instantly turned giddy with excitement, regardless that he towered over me like a skyscraper. "Once that happens, I'll personally teach you how to fix motors."
"That'd be awesome!" I blurted, already feeling my face heat up with embarrassment. "I-I mean, I would like that very much, sir."
"What's your name, Missy?" He wasn't fazed at my excitement and even chuckled a little too.
"Anna Crescent, sir." I answered as professionally as I could.
"Drop this 'sir' business and you can call me Danny." He extended a meaty hand, which I instantly took. "From here on out I'll be your boss." We shook firmly.
"Thank you...Danny." I beamed at him.
1st day back at school.
Tossing my bag at my feet, I also plopped down on the bench next to Olaf who was talking about some new play the Drama Club was going to try out. I half listened to him as I took out my home made sandwich since cafeteria food was as appetizing as cat food. "It goes something like perchance to dream, perchance to...want?" Olaf tried and failed miserably to quote one of the most famous lines in history and I was able to ignore his mistakes for about two more seconds until it got ridiculous.
"Bud," I interrupted sharply. "I think it starts out with: To be, or not to be?"
"Yes!" His brown eyes lit up in excitement. "How'd the rest go?" This time his hands came up to grip my forearm.
"Yeah, Anna." Kristoff smirked in challenge. "Just how did the rest go." Bringing my eyes from Olaf to that idiot, I couldn't help but glare.
"Mr. Bjorgman, that stupid pushy attitude of yours is getting really old, really fast!" I snapped at him, still a little hurt about his tattling on me to Al. His grin faltered, but he smoothed it over with taking a drink of his Gatorade.
"Yeah, Kris." Olaf huffed. "Anna just got back from her banishment, so can we act like it didn't happen and move on?"
"But, it did happen and I would hate to just sweep it under the rug when the issue hasn't been resolved yet." Kristoff answered truthfully. That's it!
"Olaf, from where you tried to start, it goes: Devoutly to be wished! To die, to sleep. To sleep, perchance to dream- ay, there's the rub, For in that sleep of death what dreams may come when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause. There's the respect that makes calamity of so long life..." It was my turn to smirk when I beheld Olaf's dreamy, childlike face and Kristoff's shocked one.
"Wow. Anna, that was amazing!" Olaf jumped at me with a smile so big I thought his face would split right in half. "You should try out for the play!"
"No." I crossed my arms in front of me.
"Aww...why not? You'd blow everyone out of the water!" Olaf pleaded, eyes turning wide and glossy. A good trait he'd picked up from that accursed troupe of his.
"Do you really think people would accept the school rebel for the lead?" I finally managed to take a bite of my sandwich. "Plus, the title is Hamlet and if you didn't notice...I'm quite female." I chuckled and poked Olaf's nose playfully.
"There's Ophelia." He tried.
"No." I deadpanned.
Seriously, I was in no mood. Just before I'd gotten to the bench, I managed to catch a glimpse of Elsa Mariani and those anxious feelings suddenly presented themselves once again. That time I had considered telling them my problem, but the consequences would probably be, well, problematic. I mean, what if word got around and soon the whole school found out that I had feelings for the student council president? I wouldn't be the school Rebel. I'd be the biggest joke known to man! It was terrifying to think about all the ridicule and the slow-motion laughter everyone would definitely evoke on me if they knew.
"Earth to Anna Crescent!" Kristoff thumped his hand against my shoulder, making me wince back to reality.
"What?!" I growled.
"Ah, so you are alive." He sighed before resting his chin in his palm. "You've changed a lot."
Thanks a lot. Captain Obvious."Have not. I'm still me." I tried to smile convincingly, but he wasn't having it.
"Yes you have." He began to tick off his fingers. "A few months ago, you weren't that moody, you talked a lot more, you used to hang out with us on the weekends-"
"I got a job." I managed to get in.
"And you never used to cause the student council so much grief!" He didn't hide his emotions as well as he could have and I found myself ready to slip away. I didn't need this right now.
"Thanks for your concern, Kris. But I'm just a little stressed." I tried to wave them off to no avail.
"About what?" Olaf, oblivious as ever, asked.
"Mr. Kwalski's upcoming test, of course!" I ended up brushing them both off. "Look, with the last three days wasted, I gotta spend some major time in the library." Gathering up my barely touched sandwich and bag pack, I stood to my feet. "It might take awhile so don't wait up for me and I'll see ya later."
Sorry I'm a coward. I thought as I ran away.
Later.
'I walk a fine line between the right and the real. They watch me closely but talk is cheap here like a weightless currency. Your words don't mean to me. I'm always cashing out...'
I silently sang along with the music playing in my earbuds as I languidly picked up papers off the floor. Three suspension days equals three more months of cleaning huh? Sighing heavily, I shoved the papers back in the recycle bin.
"Maybe this isn't the best way to do it." I voiced aloud. And it was true. What I was doing was not the best way to attract Elsa Mariani's attention. That plan just wasn't very logical, come to think about it. Then again, it was inevitable. I'd probably end up doing something crazy either way. They say Love makes you do crazy things, anyway.
Slamming the recycling lid shut, I couldn't help but think about my earlier eavesdropping of a stupid junior asking Elsa if she wanted a ride home. She has a car, doesn't she? Regardless, I hadn't waited for her response because, just seeing others flirt with her made an unknown emotion swirl beneath my being. I knew I had no right to feel that way, but I couldn't help it.
After pushing the bin out of the classroom, I picked up the broom and began to sweep away the dust covering the floor. How all that dust gathered after a single day was beyond me. I just knew I had to clean it day in and day out for the next couple of months. Brilliant. Of course a drawback was that I had a lot of time alone. Time to think of her. But thinking of her made my insides feel numb.
Elsa, Elsa. I needed to steer clear of thinking about her, so with a blank face, I continued cleaning and turned up my iPod.
'You're only happy when I'm wasted. I point my finger but I just can't place it. Feels like I'm falling in love when I'm falling to the bathroom floor.'
Spinning myself around the broom, I swiftly lifted it and brought the head down with a gentle clack. A small grin playing on my lips. '
I remember how you tasted. I've had you so many times let's face it. Feels like I'm falling in love alone...'
Reaching out and spreading my palm wide open, I gestured to the closed door. "STELLA WOULD YOU TAKE ME HOME?" I sang out loud before snorting at my poor, idiotic, hopeless, self.
Look after my heart. It's in your hands now.
A/N: Sooo...how ya liking it? I personally like it and kudos to all who know the songs/play mentioned ^^
I own nothing whatsoever.
Oh and don't worry, Elsa will show up again. The two are in different grades so there's not much contact yet, (regardless that Elsa allocated that punishment.) but anyway...Tootles~