A spontaneous rain fell from the sky, drops that mingled with the already frozen water residing upon the earth to create sloshy, slippery slopes of mayhem. It was heavy, steady and real. Elsa could hear it from the safety of her room even through the glass of her one window.

Her eyes remained fastened on the words she'd been emailed, reading over them twice before scowling and deleting them in anger. Another rejection, another floundered attempt.

She knew she didn't have experience. How could she when everything already required it? It was utterly ridiculous.

With a deep exhale she fell back, slumping in her swivel chair with her sight wondering up. There were patterns on the ceiling she'd remembered always being there, little lines and grooves and bumps. A collection of imperfections sharing their own hardships. A family, perhaps.

It was better than the one she had, she thought bitterly. At least these could admit their faults, their flaws. What she had was worse than dysfunctional. It was secretive, shut in. And it was falling apart.

Even now her mother slept soundly in her bed, blissfully unaware of the world and everything her daughter was or wasn't. In the morning, she'd awaken just to throw up, scream about how Elsa needed a place of her own, then leave or shut herself within what was formerly her husband's study.

Nothing more than a yelling match, and that would be their communication for the day. Until the next, when they'd look away from one another as they spoke at work. As the week progressed, it would get easier, enough so they could give quick glances. Then the breakdown. And the cycle would continue.

An unbreakable, unintentional pattern of hate and love. Elsa could deal with that. It was all she'd known for what seemed an entire lifetime.

The buzzing of her phone made her jump, the sound dimmed by the beating rain but still alarming. She reached for it numbly, tapped the screen so it wouldn't fade into nothingness.

Olaf. Two words. I'm outside.

Elsa sighed and shut the electronic off. She was grateful someone was there for her, but right now she only wanted the horrible wonder that was self loathing.

But she couldn't say no to him. There wasn't such a word in his vocabulary.

Checking the time, seeing it was nearing seven that evening, she swore she'd be back before nine. That was more than two hours. If that big lug wasn't happy with that, she just wouldn't go anywhere.

She stood and stretched, exiting out of everything to return back to the title screen before rushing to grab a hoodie out of her closet. A bulky gray thing, something she'd received a few years ago for her birthday.

Olaf really was right outside, she noted as she locked and shut the door behind her, slipping her keys into her pocket. He was sitting in his tiny convertible, the car he'd been gifted by his stepfather for his eighteenth birthday. Six years ago.

"Sup, blondie?" he threw with a grin as she slipped inside, unfortunately already drenched from so short a run. She couldn't help returning the smile as she threw her hoodie in the back and reached for the seatbelt.

"The normal. Just being denied an actual life. You?"

He chuckled as he switched gears into first. "What does it look like? Taking my main girl out to eat."

"Main? So there are more?"

He smirked, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "Depends. Do I look like a one gal man?"

She laughed, the sound real for the first time all day. "I don't know if I should answer that honestly."

He laughed with her, reaching out to flick on the radio. "Whatever. Choose whatever you like. You have good taste in music."

She thanked him, turning the knob as the car inched forward. She knew it was just him being cautious, but he was one of the slowest drivers she'd ever witnessed. She settled with something that sounded like classic rock, the sounds filling the car as she turned up the sound.

"So, where are we going?" she finally asked, looking out at the white setting. Well, it wasn't completely white at this point. The rain had washed bald spots in the snow, leaving sidewalk and dead grass visible.

"Ah, someplace nice," he answered, switching gears as he slowed for a stop sign. "I know how you haven't gotten out in a while, so I decided it'd be a nice change of pace."

Elsa couldn't help frowning as she looked over. "How can you afford dinner for us tonight?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Doesn't matter. Just enjoy yourself."

With a sigh she reached over, a hand resting gently on his elbow. "Olaf, I really appreciate this. You're an absolutely amazing friend, you are. But I can't accept it."

He frowned, brow furrowing. "Come on, Elsa. It's no biggie, really. You make me sound like I don't have a penny to my name."

She smiled lightly, pulling her hand back. "You don't though."

He playfully swatted at her leg with one hand, the other clutching the wheel tightly. "Whatever. At least I got my own place, you bum."

Elsa rolled her eyes. She knew it wasn't an insult. It was all for fun and games between the two of them.

"Sure," she said with a small giggle, returning her gaze to the darkening sky above. "Let's just go to a diner or something. I don't want anything extravagant tonight."

"You sure?"

She nodded, resting her chin on an open palm. "Yeah."

The corners of Olaf's mouth twitched up as he scratched his chin. "Alright, blondie. But don't blame me for the terrible service."

She rolled her eyes again, sighing, contempt. "Noted."