Author's Note: Again, reviews are appreciated. Thanks!

"Ha, who knew we had 8,000 salad plates?" Anna laughed cheerily as she set several down on the table.

Mr. Bennett had brought out another dining table that'd been stored in the garage. Elsa was finishing wiping the dust off.

"Anna, there's not 8,000 salad plates. More like 20," Elsa corrected with a small smile.

"Well," Anna huffed. "I suppose there's not quite 8,000, but I'm only a couple thousand away."

"Seven-thousand nine hundred eighty!" Jamie piped up from the living room.

"Good job, Jamie."

"Thanks, Elsa. My teacher says I'm the best at math in the whole class. She says I'm a real mathi-magician."

"Mathematician?"

"Yeah, whatever."

Elsa walked to a small room in the back and rinsed the rag out before tossing it in the laundry bin.

"Elsa?"

"Yes, Mrs. Bennett?"

"Can you get started on the dishes, please? I forgot to buy potatoes. I need to swing by the store and pick some up. Would you mind?"

Elsa walked back into the kitchen. "Not at all."

Mrs. Bennett turned around. A ponytail pulled back her chestnut curls. She wore a ruffled turquoise top and slim black jeans and silver wedges. Her amber eyes light up.

"Thanks, hon. You're a life saver!" Mrs. Bennett grabbed her purse from the counter.

"Mrs. Bennett?"

She turned around. "Yes, Elsa?"

"I'm sorry, who's coming over?"

"Oh, I believe it was the… WHAT ARE THEIR LAST NAMES, ANNA?!"

"WESTERGAARD!" Anna's voice rang down from upstairs.

"Oh, that's right the Westergaards and the…"

"OVERLANDS!"

"Thank you, Anna!"

"No, prob!"

"O-Overlands?!" Elsa squeaked.

"Yes, it was Anna's idea. Why? What's the matter?" A furrow appeared between Mrs. Bennett's graceful brows.

"N-nothing, Mrs. Bennett. I'll have the dishes done by the time you get back."

Mrs. Bennett flashed her a smile. "Thank you, Elsa. We really do appreciate your help around the house. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

"Don't worry." Elsa tried to smile reassuringly.

"I'll be back soon." Mrs. Bennett was out the door.

"Anna," Elsa grumbled under her breath.

Elsa shook her head and began working on the dishes. She turned the faucet on hot. The hot, painful tingles across her hands helped her think of something else besides Jackson Overland. She scrubbed the dishes in sudsy water until they shone. By the time she was done, her hands were bright red. Elsa sighed and began drying the dishes. The Bennetts had a dish washer, but it leaked, so all the dishes had to be done by hand. Anna came prancing down the stairs, her hair cascading down her shoulders in glossy curls.

"I can't believe this! For the first time in forever we're having people over," she squealed.

Elsa rolled her eyes at Anna's exaggeration. "Anna, I have a few questions for you."

Anna paused and turned to face Elsa. She placed her hands on her hips. "You do realize it's too late to change the guest list."

"Yes, I know."

"Well then, fire away."

"First of all, why'd you invite the exchange student?"

"You mean—" Anna began fanning herself. "Hans?" She punctuated his name with a dreamy sigh.

Elsa rolled her eyes again.

Anna's turquoise eyes sparkled. "Can you keep a secret?" she whispered loudly.

Elsa almost laughed. "Yes, I'm good at keeping secrets."

"Hans asked me to go to the dance with him!"

Elsa raised her eyebrows. "He-"

"I KNOW! It's SO exciting!" she squealed.

Elsa raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Now, Anna, he just came last week. Shouldn't you give him time to-"

"I know, but I didn't ask this time! And it wasn't like I was going to refuse him. He's the dreamiest guy in school!"

Elsa snorted. "Next to J-" She clamped her hand over her mouth.

Anna gasped, her hands on her cheeks and a huge smile on her face. "I knew it! That's why I invited him. You can thank me later." She smiled triumphantly before skipping down the hallway.

Elsa let out an exasperated sigh. She picked up a handful of silverware and laid them out neatly; forks on the left, knives on the right. She set out napkins and glasses.

"I'm home! Good job, Elsa. The table looks great," Mrs. Barrett exclaimed, lugging in a bag of groceries.

"Thank you."

Elsa opened the bag of potatoes. She rinsed, peeled, and diced a few dozen potatoes. Mrs. Bennett took care of the potatoes from there. She boiled and mashed them while Elsa sautéed carrots and onions.

"Mmm! What's that smell?" Anna peered around the corner.

"We're baking Shepard's pie. Would you mind helping?"

"Not at all!"

Anna sat by Elsa, handing her whatever ingredients she needed. The savory aroma eventually drew Jamie downstairs.

"Anna, would you mind taking over the sautéing? Jamie, wash up—with soap—and hand Anna the ingredients she needs. Elsa, you've done enough. Wouldn't you like to go freshen up before the company comes?"

Anna took the handle of the sauté pan.

"Sure." Elsa frowned, briefly wondering if she looked that bad.

Elsa rushed up the stairs and into her room. She slammed the door behind her before looking at herself in the vanity. She looked… like she always did. Her hair pulled in a no-nonsense bun, her bangs pinned back neatly, dressed in a navy blue jacket and jeans. What's there to 'freshen up?' Elsa remembered Jack was coming and fingered her bun. I think I could neaten up a little. She pulled the pins out of her hair, letting her silky tresses fall past her shoulders. She grabbed her comb and brushed her hair, neatly weaving her hair into a side braid. Elsa unzipped her jacket, shrugging it off. She changed into an undershirt, which hugged her body nicely, and turquoise V-neck shirt with long, lacey sleeves. She exchanged her tennis shoes for black flats and left her sapphire necklace prominently displayed on her neck. Elsa put her hands on her hips and posed several times in the mirror before she was satisfied with her outfit. As an afterthought, she grabbed a tub of shimmering pink lip gloss and swiped it across her lips. She dapped at her lips with a paper towel before tossing it. Jamie walked into the small bathroom.

"Elsa?"

"Yes, Jamie?"

"Why are you like that?" His right eyebrow rose.

"Like what?" Elsa turned towards him.

"Like—" He gestured to her outfit. "—that."

Elsa offered him a small smile and shrugged. "Well company's coming over, I thought I'd 'freshen up.'"

Jamie sighed. "Yeah, I know. It's like the first time in forever!"

Elsa turned towards him. "Have you been listening to Anna?"

He offered her a grin, one of his front teeth were missing. "Yep, and I heard there's a girl my age coming?"

Elsa frowned slightly. "A girl?"

"Yep."

"I thought only the Overlands and Westergaards were coming."

"Yep. Mom says Jackson Overland has a little sister."

Elsa's eyebrows rose. "He does."

"Yep." Jamie turned around.

Elsa heard him sprint down the stairs. Elsa smiled and shook her head, looking over herself one more time before flicking off the lights and heading down stairs. Her hands began shaking. She bounded down the stairs with more energy than usual.

"Elsa, dear, would you like to take your gloves off? I can crank the heat up if you're cold." Mrs. Bennett eyed her with concern.

"Oh, not thank you. The cold never bothered me anyway."

"Ain't that the truth?" Anna muttered. She turned towards Mrs. Bennett and whispered loudly, "Don't worry, Mrs. B. Elsa's just a germophobe."

Elsa rolled her eyes, though she was thankful for Anna's intervention. "Germaphobe," Elsa corrected.

"That's what I said!"

The door bell rung. Elsa jumped.

"I'll get it!" yelled Jamie, careening down the hallway.