For such a small crowd it could really make a lot of noise…

Elsa gazed up at the group of fellow students huddled together on the stands, cheering on their friends. She glanced over at the hockey team on the field, all high fives and enthusiasm. She only wished she could be a part of it.

Elsa was on the hockey team, and despite the fact that she was the most dedicated player on the team (she was the only member to show up to every single practice), when it came to game time it was like she was just part of the crowd. Even her own sister was constantly leaving her out!

But she didn't blame Anna, not really. For whatever reason being friends with Elsa was social suicide. She really didn't know why. She'd never done anything wrong… Anna just wanted to fit in, and the previous fact coupled with them being sisters… Being friends with your siblings was even worse.

Elsa had never really understood this school's social system.

Fortunately for her, there was one person who risked being friends with her – and apparently no one else. Adam was a year below her, but he still made an effort to reach out to her. They were both outcasts, and they soon became fast friends. She hated to admit it, but she'd got a bit of a crush on him. It was nothing serious, just idle dreams of overthrowing the socialites.

She thought Adam being on the team would help her get on the field some more, but why would they listen to him? He was as bad as her.

By the time the referee called halftime, Elsa decided that there was no point in staying. No one would mind if she left. Heck, they hadn't even noticed her show up. So with a sigh, Elsa slipped into the changing rooms to take off her gear.

What she didn't expect was there to be another girl there.

"Uh, hi," she murmured, but the girl didn't hear her.

She was pretty, and Elsa had seen her around before. She always wore her chestnut hair in a low ponytail, always had a book, and was always alone. Another outcast? She was adjusting her hair in the mirror – was she trying to impress someone? Meeting a boy? Elsa decided to pack up quietly so as to not disturb her.

She made her way over to her bag – the only one in the room save for Anna's. Suddenly, the girl shrieked and whirled around, hand on her chest.

"I'm so sorry," the girl smiled. "I didn't hear you come in."

"That's alright." Elsa went back to taking off her gear.

The girl cocked her head. "Is the game over already?" she looked concerned.

"No, I'm just leaving early," Elsa told her.

The girl frowned and made her way over to her. She sat down beside Elsa, and Elsa couldn't help but wonder why. Why was she not avoiding her? Did she not care about her social status? Did she even have a social status?

"Why? If you don't mind me asking. Oh, I'm Belle by the way."

"Elsa. I figured there wasn't much point in staying," Elsa explained.

"Do you not like the game?"

"Oh no." Elsa shook her head and sat down. "The game doesn't like me."

Belle opened her mouth to say something but then bit her lip. Elsa glanced up at her and sighed. "Just say it. It's probably nothing I haven't heard before."

Belle still looked reluctant. Elsa shot her an impatient look, and she gave in.

"I was just going to ask if you weren't that good at it…" She looked down sheepishly.

Elsa shook her head. "No, I'm fine at the game. The team just doesn't give me a chance."

"They leave you out?"

Elsa nodded. Belle frowned, tapping her nails on the plastic bench. She clearly didn't know what to say, but from the look on her face, she was searching for something reassuring or encouraging. Elsa's downer attitude often stopped a conversation in its tracks – maybe that was the problem? Though if everyone hadn't treated her like trash she wouldn't be a downer…

There was no choice but to change the conversation.

"So, uh, what are you doing here?" Elsa asked, and Belle looked glad at the change of topic.

"I'm meeting a guy," she said, and after seeing Elsa raise one eyebrow she rushed to correct herself. "Well, not for a date. I don't even think he knows I'm coming… It's just that he doesn't have many friends and I thought if I came and supported him it would cheer him up a bit."

Elsa chuckled. "Let me guess. His names Adam and his vocabulary consists of nothing but grunts?"

"You know him? He let you talk to him?" Belle looked shocked.

Ever since Elsa had convinced him to try out the debate team, Adam had started complaining about a nosy little junior who wouldn't leave him alone. Belle must be the nosy little junior, though Elsa thought she looked more like a year 11.

"Yeah, I'm the only one. You're talking to his one and only friend," Elsa said.

"Gosh, that sucks…" Belle sighed.

"What, that I'm his only friend?"

Belle looked hesitant, and Elsa rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, I'm used to it."

The faint sound of a whistle blowing sounded from outside and was followed by yelling and cheering. Half time must have finished. Belle stood up.

"I should probably go and watch the game, see how he's doing." She made her way towards the door and Elsa went back to packing up her gear. She didn't hear the door opening, so she turned to see if Belle had left – and she hadn't.

Belle turned to face Elsa. "Before I go, do you have any… I don't know… tips or something? For Adam?"

Elsa sighed. "Just come sit with us at interval tomorrow. We'll be by the science block."

Belle gave her a grateful smile, and after bidding her farewell she dashed out the door. Elsa started to get her regular clothes from her bag, glad for the silence.

As she pulled her hockey shirt over her head, it dawned on her that someone had actually willingly talked to her. Her conversation with Belle was genuine enough so it couldn't be a prank, and she seemed truly interested in getting to know Adam… She dared to admit that she may have just made a friend.

Elsa decided that she didn't care about the tantrum that Adam would have for letting the nosy junior sit with them. She wanted more than one friend, and with God as her witness, she was going to get one!

The two periods before interval seemed like an age. Elsa was more excited for Belle to sit with them than she probably should be. Not only was she looking forward to Adam's reaction (she's neglected to tell him about it), but someone new was going to sit with her. Willingly!

It was the fact that Belle actually wanted to that made it so wonderful.

Elsa was ready to leave class before the bell had even gone, and by the time it did she was halfway out of the class. She dashed up the stairs and out onto the stone courts, then walked the short distance to their usual bench outside the science block. She discovered that she was the first one to arrive, and was disappointed at the aspect of more waiting.

Luckily, Adam arrived not long after she did.

"Hey," he grunted, dumping his bag on the ground and collapsing onto the bench.

"Hi. Anything interesting happen today?" she asked.

"Nah. Just some stupid relationship drama or something."

Elsa wanted to know more (she was a sucker for romance), but she knew better than to ask. Adam was hardly a good source of information for these sorts of things.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spied Belle leaving the main building and looking around. Elsa gave a brief wave and Belle spotted her.

"Hey Adam," she said, and the younger boy looked up with disinterest. "I've invited someone to sit with us today." His disinterest turned into dismay, and then to disgust when he saw it was Belle.

"Hiya!" she chirped, setting her books down on the table.

Adam groaned, turning his gaze to the dull grey wall of the science block. Belle launched into a story about how lazy and useless her English class were in period one, and Elsa listened with avid interest. Shortly afterwards, she unsuccessfully tried to engage Adam in conversation.

"What did you have last? Anything interesting?" she asked, but Adam answered in a characteristic grunt.

"He had maths," Elsa answered for him.

"Oh… Fun!" Belle smiled.

"You think that maths is fun?" Adam asked in disbelief.

"Yeah! Not as good as English, but it's great when you know how to do it."

Elsa watched with surprise as the two of them held an entire conversation. Even she'd struggled to get a full sentence out of him. But Belle – a girl he apparently hated – was getting not just a conversation, but an argument!

Elsa had been wary that she'd made the wrong decision in inviting Belle to sit with them, but now she was sure it was one of the best decisions she'd ever made.