I am so pumped for this chapter. This one I planned for the longest time while the story was under development and I wanted it to be early on but far enough in the story where there was still room for development.

So yeah I'm excited.

Sometime that morning when Elsa was still asleep, Anna woke up to find the bus parked in some rinky-dink town in the middle of the desert. It was about the size of Arendelle from what she saw from the windows and there was a pearly grey haze of clouds hanging over the roofs of houses that the sun would eventually obliterate. It was only she and Elsa on the bus, the four other boys nowhere to be seen.

"Maybe they're getting breakfast," Anna mused, sitting down on the couch she had been leaning on to get a view of their newest stop. She yawned and stretch, sleep still trying to glue itself to her freckled skin.

The bus shuddered with the weight of a foot and voices were heard. Anna lolled her head to the doorway as Olaf, Marshmallow, and Sitron came inside, Oaken's gruff accent coming from outside of the bus.

"Where'd you guys go?" Anna asked, quirking a brow.

"We went to check some stuff out around the town," Marshmallow said, grinning at her.

"And we have a proposition for you," Sitron added.

"Oh?" Anna inquired, sitting up straight.

"Anna, as adorably innocent as you are, you just don't fit the Dry Ice look," Olaf said. "Plaid shirts? Blue jeans? Twin braids— and don't give me that look Elsa keeps it as her signature look but you give off the sex appeal as one of those red pandas at the zoo. And, last but never least, no gloves. These things—" He flashed his dark brown gloves that homed his hands. "—are the corner stone of Dry Ice, a fashion statement that has completely gloved this nation. We need to… punk you up."

"You'll be scene at best," Sitron shrugged.

"But if you're gonna be a roadie, you're gonna have to blend in," Olaf supplied, nudging Sitron in the ribs.

"Yeah so you won't be mistaken by a stalker-fan or some shit," Sitron said, nudging Olaf back.

"So… how do you propose on doing that?" Anna said, getting a gut feeling that this plan may very well involve some kind of dragging her to places against her will.

"Get up off your ass, kid, we're taking you shopping," Sitron said, a malicious smile flickering across his face.

"But what about—?" Anna was cut off as Olaf grabbed her hand, pulled her to her feet, and started pulling her outside of the bus, ignoring her consistent pleas and questions.

"Stop fidgeting, Anna," Marshmallow sighed. "Just let it happen because these idiots are very… keen on making you over."

"But I don't need a make over!" Anna whined.

"Yes, you do!" Olaf insisted. "C'mon! You'll have fun! We'll even buy you lunch and you don't have to worry about the cost of the clothes and such. We got that covered!"

Going limp around her arm, she allowed Olaf to take her far from the bus, Sitron and Marshmallow following closely behind. She looked back to the bus, hoping that Elsa wasn't going to get mad at her for being taken to some stores on a shopping spree against her will.

"What's our first stop?" Anna asked finally, wrenching her hand from Olaf's grip.

"Where else to get graphic tees and skinny jeans?" Olaf said.

"Uh… where?" Anna said, cocking her head to one side.

"Hot Topic!" Sitron announced boldly, appearing at her side and pointing towards a mall in the distance. "The loudest store in the mall! And the best."

"And the most expensive," Anna muttered.

Either they didn't hear her or they ignored the comment because they kept trucking on down the sidewalk, by passing mom and pop shops and discount clothing stores and perhaps a high school. It really was a lot like Arendelle but without the lush surroundings and the bearable heat.

They entered the mall via a Macy's to the familiar scent of new shoes and freshly shipped clothes. There was music playing gently over the speakers as the four walked through the main part of the mall, heading towards the Hot Topic that was standing proudly on the second floor, waiting for new and constant costumers alike.

There were two employees there when they walked through the open entrance. One tatted boy by the cash register, ringing up a purchase for a plump teenage girl who had big glasses and a shirt that had a Triforce on the front, her friend waiting with her in line, chatting to her about something Anna couldn't hear. The other employee was a girl with gauges in her ears and several piercings on her face, checking a price tag of some of the bracelets. She had short, black hair and fair skin, her lips painted a dainty red. The boy was tall with a grey beanie dangling off his black hair, his skin a tan color.

She noticed the gang of young adults walk in and gave them a careless glance.

"Welcome to Hot Topic," she said tiredly, Anna guessing she wasn't too thrilled to be working in the mornings.

Same, Anna sympathized.

"Thank you," Olaf said, walking up to her. "D'you mind if I ask for your personal assistance?"

She looked him up and down and shrugged. "Sure. Whatcha need?"

"We're looking to punk up our friend Anna, here," Olaf said, gripping Anna's shoulders and bringing her forward.

The girl looked her up and down before humming.

"What exactly are you going for?" she said, turning back to Olaf.

"Dry Ice Chic," Sitron imputed, earning a snort from Marshmallow.

"Dry Ice, huh?" the girl said. She looked from Olaf to Sitron to Marshmallow and back again, dawning comprehension falling over her face. "Oh! Oh, oh, oh! Aladdin!" The boy at the cash register looked up, the two girls heading out of the store with their shopping bags. "Dry Ice is in our store!"

"What?" he gaped, his eyes snapping onto the three band members. "Oh my god!"

"I'm so sorry for not realizing it before," the girl said shyly. "My name is Snow. Of course I can help you, uh, Dry Ice her up." She sent Anna a smile. "What's your size, honey?"

"Uhm… well, usually a small in woman's but Hot Topic size, a medium in woman's and a small in men's," Anna said with a sheepish grin.

Snow giggled. "Yeah, our sizes can get ridiculous. Alright! I think first thing's first is a good old collection of graphic tees."

"Exactly what we're going for!" Olaf approved. "Get her some band tees, skinny jeans, the works. Any wristbands you got, we'll take. White, black, and blue are our usual colors but don't be afraid to toss in others as well."

"Right! Of course," Snow said, heading over to a shelf of Dry Ice related shirts. "C'mere, honey, let's pick out what works best for you."

The boys watched as Anna and Snow made several rounds about the store, Aladdin soon following close behind, carrying T-shirts, jeans, and other items Anna had picked out. She and Rapunzel would go into Hot Topic occasionally but Anna hardly ever had enough money to buy anything unless it was their buy two get one half off deal. Even then she usually threw a couple of buttons from their container in there to break even. Now she had the freedom to spend, spend, spend on clothes that she only dreamed of wearing.

Olaf allowed her to buy a few shirts relating to her favorite shows such as Doctor Who and Adventure Time to give her the benefit of the doubt of being forced to wear clothes that weren't exactly her style. But Anna seemed to be enjoying herself finally, the two employees gushing over the choices she made.

She gathered a shirt, jeans, a belt, and a few bracelets to try on in the dressing room and came out, looking very much like part of the band. She was wearing a graphic tee with "Dry Ice" all in bold, white lettering on a black background, dark blue skinny jeans, a nerdy belt with the TARDIS all over the outside, and bracelets with different shows or phrases around the rubber exterior. She extended her arms out at her sides, raising her brows at those watching and gave them all a goofy grin.

"How do I look now?" she asked.

"Holy fuck," Sitron whispered.

Anna's face fell. "Is it that bad?"

"No!" Olaf assured. "Anna, you look kick ass! I mean, the piercings should be changed up a bit… ah, you guys know where we can get Doc Martens?" He inclined his head to Snow and Aladdin.

"There's an inexpensive shoes store a block from the mall," Snow offered. "Better prices than the chain stores around here. It's called Bolt."

"That's perfect. Okay! Anna, get changed and we'll buy the stuff," Olaf said, rising to his feet from one of the stool supplied him.

"Hey, wait," Marshmallow said. "What about the gloves?"

"Oh, that's right!" Sitron said, nodding. "You two have any fingerless gloves?"

Aladdin furrowed his brows and exchanged a thoughtful look with Snow.

"I think we might have a pair," Snow said slowly. "But they've been in such short supply since you guys became, like, the biggest band ever."

Olaf chuckled jovially. "Gee, thanks. But it would mean so much if you could check for us."

"Of course," Snow said with a helpful nod. "I'll be right back."

Anna slipped back into the changing room and redressed herself in her red and black plaid shirt and faded jeans. She came out and handed the stuff to Aladdin, who put them in the pile of soon-to-be purchases. Snow returned with one woman's pair of black fingerless gloves, looking slightly grim.

"This is all we had back there. Lemme see your hand, honey," she said, curling a finger to indicate she wanted Anna to come closer.

The redhead approached and extended her hand, Snow slipping the glove onto Anna's until the top half of her fingers showed through the spaces and her knuckles where exposed by the square shaped opening that matched the gloves of Dry Ice.

"It feels perfect," Anna breathed.

"It is perfect," Olaf said, clapping his hands once enthusiastically. "Look at that, Anna! You're a regular roadie of Dry Ice. Did you know Hans didn't even have gloves?"

"Well, duh," Sitron said. "He was a big fucking asshole. His sponsor was good but… he refused to wear the things."

"Anna's better than Hans anyway," Marshmallow pointed out.

Anna removed the glove and smiled. "Thanks guys. This is really cool of you."

"No problem-o, kid," Sitron assured, winking at her. "Allllllright! Now we have to get those Docs and… something with your hair."

"We'll figure that out later," Marshmallow said, helping Aladdin out with taking the copious amount of clothes to the register, a few onlookers spotting the three members of Dry Ice. "We've got company."

"Right," Olaf nodded. "Let's pay and get the Docs before we head out to find a salon."

He whipped out a credit card and handed it over to Aladdin, punching in his required information in the machine. Anna felt a little guilty for having them spend this much money on her but Marshmallow assured her they could both afford it and wanted to do this for her.

With everything stuffed into Hot Topic bags, Snow and Aladdin waved goodbye to them, autographs and thank you notes in their grips. Anna was glowing with the pampered treatment she was receiving, no strings attached.

They ducked into a local shoe store together where they were helped by a bubbly girl named Penny who helped run the store with her mom. A white dog was sleeping by the entrance and a black cat was prowling around the rows of shoes. Anna was fitted into three pairs of Docs. One navy, one black, and one forest green. With those in boxes, they headed to a hair salon.

Anna soon found herself in a chair, being examined by a Peruvian boy about a year older than she was who went by the name of Kuzco. He paced in a circle around her, pressing his hand to his chin, deep in thought. The three others were watching intently, every now and then exchanging incredulous looks.

"So?" Anna managed to pipe up, her teal eyes following Kuzco as he came to a stop in front of her.

"What exactly are we going for here?" he said, his lidded eyes examining her ginger hair.

"Uh… well… ask them," she said, jerking her head to the band listening in.

Kuzco raised his eyes to the boys. Olaf cleared his throat and stood up, followed by Sitron and Marshmallow. They stood beside Kuzco and stared at Anna, making her feel like an exhibit at a museum being observed studiously.

"Well, we all have white something in our hair," Sitron pointed out.

"You mean everyone in the band has really light blonde hair but you have frosted tips," Marshmallow said, glancing at him.

"Hey!" Sitron snapped, folding his arms across his chest. "At least I got with the program."

"Maybe Anna could get white highlights," Olaf suggested.

"No, no," Kuzco said, reaching forward and undoing Anna's braids. "Her hair is far too beautiful to mess around with like that. Perhaps a single, bold, white streak from here—" He pressed his index finger to the right temple of her head just above where her bangs and hair were parted. "—down to here." He trailed said finger down along the undone braid, making it flow through her ginger locks and to the end of her hair. "That way, if she braids it, is can always show. It'll be big enough to be seen but small enough so it won't take away from her pretty face."

Anna flushed. "Sure. I like that idea."

"Excellent," Kuzco approved, shooing the others away. "Give me room! I need to work." He flexed his fingers with a smirk that could match Elsa's, nodding to himself. "Alright, Anna. Let's get started."

The next thing Anna knew, Kuzco was working some kind of magic on her hair, giving it a full treatment of shampooing, conditioning, drying, and dying. His fingers felt incredible as they massaged her scalp. It had been such a long time since she had gone to the salon to take some of that stress off of her head so the pampering he was giving her was absolute heaven on earth.

He worked on the streak away from the mirror, intent on making the reveal a grand finale. The three band members had been told to turn away so they couldn't spoil anything for his client. After a few minutes of making it blend perfectly with her hair, he told everyone to look in the mirror and spun Anna around.

Just as he planned, Anna's hair now had a shock of white running through from the top of her head to the very bottom, standing out beautifully against her brilliant red hair. The boys examined it, too, and all burst into applause, Kuzco bowing smugly to his audience. Other people in the salon craned their necks to find the source of the zealous clapping swamping the room of all other noise.

After Olaf paid forward and gave Kuzco a generous tip, they went to a restaurant for some lunch, Anna toying shyly with her knew streak of white. The four of them were crammed in a booth at some sandwich place, Marshmallow and Olaf splitting a large hoagie, Sitron getting a turkey and swiss on rye, and Anna sticking with a BLT.

"So," Olaf said, mouthful of hoagie, "how d'you like your new look?"

"It's different but…" Anna ran a hand through her hair, the rarity of having it down effecting her more than she thought it would. "I think I'll adapt."

"You don't have to change your personality," Marshmallow told her. "All we're doing is making you look the part."

"Like acting," Sitron proposed.

"Exactly," Marshmallow said. "Putting on a costume and getting paid for it."

Anna giggled. "Thanks, you guys. This has been a great day. Too bad Elsa was asleep."

"Yeah, we wanted this to be a surprise for her," Olaf said. "Before we go, I want you to change into that outfit you tried on in Hot Topic with gloves and hair down and all. Make Elsa see the new you!"

"I can't wait to see her face," Sitron laughed.

"She'll be baffled, no doubt about that," Marshmallow said.

"Why?" Anna wondered.

"'Cause once she sees the innocent little Anna turn all punk right before her eyes, she won't know what to do!" Olaf said gleefully. "I mean, you don't have tats… we could go get you—"

"No thank you," Anna said quickly. "I'm not really ready for one yet. That and cartilage piercings… and eyebrow stuff. Not like you and Elsa, Olaf." She fiddled with her fingers. "Is it painful?"

"Depends. Mine didn't hurt too much," Olaf said, his thumb pointing to the eyebrow piercing above his right eye. "Elsa has those cuff things on her left one, y'know, and I'm guessing those hurt like a motherfucker. Cartilage piercings on the other hand…" He openly shuddered. "Those bitches… ugh, I couldn't sleep on my right side for the longest time. Those hurt. Elsa handled hers pretty well but she was swearing like a sailor when she got it."

"Tattoos are a different story," Sitron jumped in. "It really depends on where you get them to guess the pain level. I my experience, my tattoo on my back kinda felt like a cat was scratching at a really bad sunburn."

"What do you have a tattoo of?" Anna asked him.

"I have several," he said. "Between my shoulders is a lucky horseshoe. On my left thigh is a quote from that movie Spirit… which is actually blanking from my memory so fuck, I can't tell you what it is. And then I have a rearing horse on the back of my right leg."

"You have some weird thing with horses, don't you?" Anna guessed.

"Uh-huh," Sitron said shamelessly, finishing off his sandwich.

As requested, Anna went to the restroom and changed into her new and improved outfit but with Doc Martens on her feet and gloves over her hands. Her hair flowed down across her back as she walked, bouncing lightly on her shoulders. She returned to them and put her old clothes and sneakers in the bag her new clothes were once in and shouldered what she could.

"Shall we?" she said.

"Let's!" Olaf beamed, tossing a fifty on the table.

The four began their walk to the bus, the summer sun beating down on them and the citizens around the town. The sidewalk was sizzling with water that had escaped a pipe, stray dogs lounging in the shade for a relief from the heat. Anna's hands felt like they were being steamed, as if they were a common vegetable. She questioned if that was normal and Olaf responded that she would get used to it.

As they approached the bus, Olaf and Sitron both walked directly in front of Anna, telling her to keep quiet because they wanted to have a little fun with Elsa first. Once they were a few feet from their mobile home, Elsa came bursting out of the vehicle, her braid swooshing behind her at the speed she was walking. She was absolutely livid, her icy eyes bright and angry, trying to turn her band members into frozen statues.

"Where the fuck have you been!?" she demanded, stopping in front of them, her chest heaving. "Oaken said you went out but didn't know where. I'm stuck in there, worrying my fucking ass off, hoping you haven't been murdered by some sun-crazed lunatic!" She searched the group, only finding the three boys who were staring at her with slightly wide eyes. "Where's Anna?" Her voice dropped into panic and concern rather than anger almost at once when the roadie's name rolled off her tongue.

"We—" Olaf was almost hesitant to joke around but Sitron apparently didn't get the message that Elsa was working herself up into a frenzy about Anna.

"We lost her," Sitron said grimly.

"You… you what?" Elsa's face contorted into rage once again. "She's just a fucking kid and you lost her!?"

"Yup," Sitron said, nodding. "It's a shame. Sometime during our shopping spree—"

"Stop it," Marshmallow said coolly. "Elsa, we didn't lose her." He reached behind Olaf and Sitron and tugged Anna out by her shirt sleeve. "But it's not really the same Anna you remember."

Elsa froze as the soft punk Anna was revealed to her, waving shyly with her gloved fingers.

"Hiya, Elsa," Anna said. "Sorry I worried you."

The punk stared, blinking stupidly, her mouth parted ever so slightly until the top row of her white teeth were visible.

"How does she look?" Olaf said jovially, a cheeky grin appearing on his face.

The loss for words was weighing on Elsa until she snapped herself out of her stupor. She cleared her throat and averted her gaze, Anna swearing that there was a soft blush tinting Elsa's cheeks, making her ears turn slightly pink in response.

"You look nice," Elsa said quietly, quickly. She glared at the boys. "Can we go now, please? Tucson awaits us."

"Yes, Elsa," the three said as she turned on her heel and marched on.

Olaf started laughing, clapping Anna on the back and leading her to the bus.

"She loves it!" he said.

"She didn't sound like it," Anna said.

"Ah, she just didn't know what to say," Sitron assured, hitching the bags higher on his shoulder.

The booth was occupied by Anna that evening, her iPod in her ears, studying. She was leaning against the wall with her legs stretched out in front of her so her whole body took up one seat. Olaf, Sitron, and Marshmallow were taking turns playing Assassin's Creed while Elsa looked on, a notebook full of potential song lyrics in her lap. She kept stealing glances at Anna, trying hard to ignore the way her hair swept into her eyes.

Fuck, Elsa growled in her head, forcing herself to stare at the paper or the screen across from her.

Unable to stand it any longer, she decided to strike up a conversation with the kid. After all, it would give her a chance to look her over without seeming like a creep. She closed her notebook and got to her feet, sitting in the booth across from Anna. She reached over to tap her arm to gain her attention but Anna spoke up before she even made contact.

"What did I say about my iPod in my ears?" she said, not taking her eyes off of her book.

"To not bother you," Elsa recited.

"And what are you doing?"

"Bothering you."

"It's not an emergency, Elsa."

"I want to ask you something important."

"Can't it wait?"

"No."

Anna slowly raised her eyes from her book and glanced at the rockstar. With a heavy sigh, she marked her place and removed her earbuds.

"What?" she said. "I'd like to finish this chapter by the end of the night."

"Did they force you to dress like this?" Elsa asked, lowering her voice so the boys wouldn't hear.

It was kind of against her will to ask that question. It just sort of tumbled out but now she couldn't take it back. But it did give her the opportunity to check Anna out in the most subtle way possible, hiding her leer with concern for Anna's well being.

She did mean what she said that morning. Anna looked very nice, attractive even, in the new clothes. The way Elsa's usual type of girl dressed but Anna brought a homey charm to it, making it all the more adorable and it was simply unfair because Elsa didn't want to think like that about Anna.

"At first but I really got into it," Anna answered pleasantly. "It was fun and I agree: I should look like I'm actually a part of the band."

"Anna, I never asked you to change," Elsa told her.

"I didn't personally change," Anna said. "I just… look the part, as Marshmallow put it."

"It's only your first week on this tour and you're convinced you have to look the part?"

Anna rolled her eyes. "No, not like that! I mean, who's gonna listen to some mountain town kid with plaid shirts backstage of the most popular band in current news? I'd look ridiculous. This way I can actually appear to know what I'm doing."

"I feel guilty…"

"You feel guilty? I never thought I'd live to see the day," Anna giggled.

"Shut up," Elsa growled.

"Elsa, you don't have to worry about them influencing me," Anna said, giving her a smile. "Frankly I'm flattered and thankful they were generous enough to take me out shopping just so I can fit in with you guys. I've been feeling self conscious about not having gloves so this was actually a great day." She dropped her eyes back to her book. "Besides, aren't you the one who insisted on sleazing me up?"

"Whoa, don't get ahead of yourself, kiddo," Elsa said, her smirk crawling across her lips. "You're soft punk at best but not sleazy in the slightest." She shook her head, scooting out of the booth. "Don't let this new outfit control you. You have no idea what being a roadie or a punk is all about just yet." She winked at Anna. "Control yourself, stupid."

Anna stuck her tongue out at Elsa. "Whatever, punk."

Sometime at another pitstop, Oaken had made Anna's official Dry Ice ID. She had a picture of herself in the corner with her full name beside it and the words "Dry Ice Crew Member" in bold below. She felt so… a part of something for the first time in a very long time. It came with its own lanyard, courtesy of the band itself, with "Dry Ice" stitched in icy lettering against a black background.

The bus' next stop was Tucson, Arizona, arriving late in the night before the concert. Anna had been up, unable to sleep, by the time it made its way into the city. She had a window that was in line with the shelves but above her the side of her bed. It was high enough that she could press her body against white walls instead of plexiglass that was smoked— or frosted as Elsa preferred to call them— from the outside.

So when they got off the highway, she pulled down the pair of headphones she brought along with her to watch the rolling desert pass them the closer they got to town.

There was something about traveling that really made her feel cozy and homely, being in one secure place as the world rushed by. She gathered her knees up to her chest and turned out the light to view the landscape in its natural beauty. Stars were scattered in the sky and she could have sworn she saw a couple of coyote picking their way along the open road.

Her toes wriggled in her socks, her shirt hung loose around her figure, hair down and dangling, and her reflection was faintly seen in the window. She wondered if the rest of the band was seeing this spectacular view…

Then again, she didn't deem them as the type to stop and gawk at nature. They were too focused on their careers and practicing their let's-annoy-the-new-kid tactics.

She had drifted off with her back against the wall, her head just barely scraping the bottom of the first shelf, snoozing with her iPod still blaring some song that she had on loop, the bus crawling towards an outdoor theatre similar to the one Dry Ice performed in when they visited Arendelle.

So it was no surprise to her then when she woke up the next morning with her neck stiff and her back killing her.

All she knew was that she wanted coffee.

And she wanted it now.

She wasn't a morning person like she so often claimed. She would wake up with bed-hair, morning breath, and glued eyelids. The full, beautiful package of unsophisticated grace. Elsa attempted to tease her about it but Anna sent her a glare that surprised everyone in the bus. It was so unpleasant and bitter, they found themselves doubting that was the same Anna that was usually cheerful and peppy.

Once the door locked behind her, Dry Ice exchanged looks of shock, unable to find any jokes to explain Anna's disgruntlement or ease the mood. However, when she came back out refreshed and more awake, she sent them an apologetic, sheepish grin before creeping back to her room to put away her pajamas.

When she returned the front, everyone present was cracking up. Olaf was giggling, supporting himself against the bunks. Marshmallow was guffawing as he sat on the couch, shaking his big, heavy head. Sitron was snorting like a horse, leaning on the doorway near the wheel. Elsa was laughing into her gloved fist, still in the kitchen where Anna had left her.

"I don't understand why that's so funny," Anna told them, pouting and tugging on her leather gloves.

"You were like the devil's wife right then," Elsa managed through laughs. "Trying to melt the world with your glare."

"Pardon me for hating the morning," Anna said lowly. "Can we please get some coffee? I'm gonna be a zombie until I have caffeine in my system. Caffeine and a doughnut."

"Well… you can get some coffee," Elsa said, reaching into her pocket and producing thirty dollars from her wallet. "We have to get to practicing until lunch. You can keep the change this time and hopefully this can cover it."

"Right. I'm the errand girl," Anna sighed, taking the money from Elsa. "What do you all want?" She got her phone out of her pocket and pulled out her notes, ready to take their orders and feeling like a damn waitress.

"I'm content with a hot chocolate. That's all," Elsa said, tucking her wallet back in her pocket.

"I'll have a latté with more cream and sugar than coffee," Olaf chirped. "And carrot cake if they have it."

"Black," Sitron said.

"Racist," Elsa teased.

"You're a fucking asshole," Sitron spat at her.

Anna rolled her eyes at the childish banter as Marshmallow spoke up.

"A vanilla smoothie for me. I don't do coffee much," he told her kindly.

"Great. Awesome," Anna said, tacking the last of the orders into her phone. "I'll go on a wild goose chase for some Starbucks… or something. I'll see you guys back here soon."

She left the bus only to be greeted by the heat of the early morning. It was unlike that other desert town that had a grey overcast that would be melted away by the sun. Instead, the sun was full blast and trying to melt Anna.

She instantly regretted wearing black that morning.

It's too damn hot this early, Anna grouched to herself.

Some godlike entity led her to a Starbucks and she almost fell to her knees in prayer. Her gloved hands were slicked with sweat on the inside and she swore she saw some of it trickling out of the little space in her thumb's hole that appeared when she flexed and spread her fingers. But her stubbornness to commit to the band won over her need to pull them off.

So she grabbed the door handle, allowed a couple to pass through first, and entered, thanking the inventor of air conditioning for being born and thanking their parents for doing the do and the generations before to make that even possible. She approached the counter meekly and placed the orders, handing over the thirty dollars as payment.

After she got her change and got the drinks, she rushed her way back to the bus. Now that she knew the way, she could get there easier and duck underneath the shade that awnings provided.

She felt guilty, however, when she approached the bus. She didn't even ask what Oaken wanted to drink. He had slipped her mind because he wasn't in the room with the rest of the band. And he had been so nice to her throughout the trip so far so her guilt only multiplied. When she delivered the drinks to the thirsty band, she tried to offer Oaken her own coffee as a form of apology.

He rejected it kindly, telling her he wasn't a big coffee drinker anyway. He thanked her for considering him and told her she could make up for it by helping him out in moving a few sets around after she finished her breakfast.

And Anna did just that.

Over a break, Olaf and Anna went out to get lunch just the two of them. Anna wanted to get to know him since he was the most bubbly of the group and the one she felt she could warm up to the easiest. Not that the others didn't give her a desire to get to know them but Olaf was just so fun to talk to.

They spent over an hour in a little diner, snorting into their milkshakes and talking about the stupidest things. Eventually, she brought up the matter of his tattoos.

"So… you have how many tattoos?" she asked him, quirking a ginger brow.

"I have two," he said, his finger tapping against his plate. "One of them is here." He pointed to the "I like warm hugs" wrapped around his bicep. "And the other one is on my lower back. It's a melting snowman with 'I love summer' beneath it in hella creepy writing."

"Ooh, really?" Anna said, grinning. "The hugs thing… you seem to have a thing for them. You got the tattoo and the shirts and stuff. What's up with that?"

"I just love giving hugs!" he said cheekily, flashing a goofy smile at her, Anna noticing that his two top front teeth were slightly bucked. It gave him more of a childish appearance, a cartoonish appearance. It put her at ease for some reason. "Giving and receiving. The best medicine for sad friends, a good congratulations, and the thing you do when you greet someone you haven't seen in forever."

"You're really something special, aren't you?" she mused, cocking her head to one side.

He colored and giggled. "Awh, Anna, you're a sweetie."

"And you're nicer than you usually let on," she winked as she reached for her soda.

"We all have our soft underbellies," Olaf pointed out. "It just takes time to discover them. I mean, Marshmallow and I are easier to understand than Sitron and Elsa. Sitron can just be an asshole, though. Elsa still remains a mystery to me some days. She gets harder and harder to read."

"Interesting," Anna hummed.

"But I know she's grateful to have you around," he told her. "She may not show it as often as you'd like her to but she is. Too big of a head to admit that she wants more help from people like you."

She flushed. "I dunno about that."

"Plus, I have a gut feeling you're gonna get along with us just fine," he assured.

"Thanks, Olaf. I'm glad I have a new friend."

"Don't mention it, and me too! I love new friends!" He jumped to his feet. "Now who wants a hug?"

Anna giggled and got out of her chair, allowing the guitarist to embrace her. In an instant, she wrapped her arms around his waist, his around her shoulders, and she felt that this was the warmest hug she had ever received.

Hands down, Olaf gave the best hugs in the history of mankind.

Ye.

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