Reminder: Italicized dialogues are spoken in Coronian accent.

It had been a few hours since the draining conversation with Marshall and there she was, lying on her own bed with an earphone tucked inside her ears while watching the empty space of her ceiling. Tears pricked the side of her eyes and some would even fall without consent, but she didn't wipe them away.

How strange.

Knowing Elsa's life story made Anna view the piano piece in a different light. She wasn't skilled when it came to critiquing music—that was Hans' job—but she could tell that there was something special about this piece, something personal, and it weighed heavily on one decision over the other in her mind. If this was a personal piece, perhaps it was the reason why Elsa didn't want to step up when asked to perform. It was, after all, only by pure accident that Hans stumbled upon it.

Anna removed her earphones and walked back to her desk while wiping her cheeks and eyes, blinking away the last remnants of tears for good measure. Olaf's Facebook profile had been open on her computer ever since she arrived home. Elsa's name was one of the profiles set up on the left side of his page. One click and she'd be there. Needless to say, the mental stress to reach that decision was insane. After listening to Elsa's music, Anna figured it didn't matter whether or not the girl was Chelsea. There was no doubt that Hans would ask her progress soon, but for now, she just wanted to take a break.

This time, with no hesitation, she clicked on Elsa's name and patiently waited for it to load. She had no idea what to expect and decided not to expect anything. Marshall already told her about Elsa's past and she wasn't sure if there was still something that'd surprise her at this point. Maybe she only wanted some kind of proof that Elsa truly had a twin and to know how far their parents went to change her.

When the page loaded, the only thing Anna could whisper was an awed, "Wow."

Elsa's profile picture was... dramatic to say the least. She was wearing an open blue flannel with a white tank top underneath. Her hair cascaded down her back and platinum tresses trailed down her rosy cheeks. Her head was tilted slightly upwards, accentuating the length of her neck, and her teeth pulled on the bottom plumpness of her lips while looking at the camera with hooded eyes.

Anna gulped.

Blood rushed to her face as her heart jump started. With trembling hands, she guided the cursor to the picture and, enlarged, she forgot how to breathe. She had to remind herself that she didn't come to Elsa's profile to ogle before shifting her attention to the comment box and other information about the image.

Updated 8 months ago.

Eight months. That was before the previous school year ended and Elsa was a freshman in high school back in Corona. Anna licked her lips before skidding through the comment box. Most people were saying the same thing she first thought of.

Hot.

Clearing her throat as though it would clear her own head, Anna looked over the other existing albums and was somehow only mildly surprised to find two. One was the album for Elsa's profile picture and the other was titled with a heart. Anna shook her head while smiling fondly at the peculiar title before clicking on it. The smile on her lips faltered as she was met with the sight of two Elsas, which must mean...

Cindy.

Anna scrolled down until she noticed a photo consisting of three people: two girls and one boy, probably Marshall. The album had a total of twenty-three images and she braced herself to click on the very first one.

With a sharp intake of breath, she leaned back in her chair while not once removing her gaze from the photo. The same girl from the profile picture was there, along with another girl who sported the same face but was wearing a summer dress, hair tied in a bun, and an added touch of a blue headband similar to the one Elsa always wore since they'd met. The identical twins wore bright smiles that if it wasn't for their clothes, Anna would almost miss who Elsa was. Almost.

Anna didn't know why, but she was confident that Elsa was the one wearing the somewhat bold look. Despite how she knew the blonde as someone who'd wear girly clothes, she was convinced that the one wearing it in these pictures was Cindy.

Maybe because Marshall told her?

She frowned and ran through the images, refusing to agree with her own inner question. Every time, she was able to tell which one was Elsa—if the comments were to be trusted. Anna didn't want to think that she only recognized Elsa because of what Marshall told her. It was annoying and scary to think about. Elsa wasn't Cindy's replacement, so she continued to look at the other images, hoping to find a proof that she was right.

Until she reached the eighteenth picture.

It was then that her heart stopped before beating at a rapid pace. Butterflies awakened in her stomach as she eyed the twins in the picture. One was wearing a black hooded jacket and punk necklaces while the other was wearing a princess-like cardigan with her hair decorated with a flower crown. Anna looked through the comments, reading how the necklaces made Elsa look cool and how Cindy reminded them of a princess whose smile was beautiful and radiant.

Then there was a knock on her door.

Anna didn't even have to say anything and the door opened, revealing Meg as she crossed her arms and leaned on the wall. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"What is it?"

The auburn-haired woman entered the room and closed the door before settling herself down on the bed, sheets thrown haphazardly on the floor. "Friend of yours?" she asked, nudging her head to Anna's laptop before taking a seat.

"Kind of." Anna wasn't sure what she and Elsa were. "What are you doing here?"

"You didn't eat," said her older sister. "Ever since you came back from that sleepover, you've been off. You didn't even react when Liam threw a noodle at you. Is there something wrong?"

A grimace nearly ghosted Anna's face but was concealed by her facing the screen again. A pair of baby blues was staring right at the camera. She sighed. "I just have a lot of things in my mind lately. Nothing personal."

"If you didn't scold Liam for throwing his food around, there's clearly something going on," Meg deduced. "Come on, Anna. I haven't seen you like this ever since your junior high year. Is it Vanessa?"

This time, Anna's face twisted in discomfort. The usual emotion—pain—that came along that name was now overshadowed by hatred. Though she was more concerned about Elsa in general, she couldn't deny that she was still angry about what Vanessa did. Specifically, what she did to Elsa.

"No," she said. "It's... about Elsa."

The bed creaked as Meg scooted closer. "The girl you slept with for two days?"

Anna blushed and quickly spluttered, "I didn't! I-It's not like that!"

"It's not a big deal. You've been out for years, little red."

"I'm serious, Meg! We didn't!" Anna whined. Her sister raised an eyebrow, silently telling her to explain. "I told you what happened. Her parents didn't let me leave, I'm serious about that."

"Mhm. Okay, what about her?"

"She's—" the girl Hans is looking for. As if she could come out and say it. Anna wasn't ready to come to a decision when her mind was still in shambles. "She's in the hospital."

"Oh..."

Anna told her sister what happened. From Elsa's fever, to how she nearly begged Clara to take care of Elsa, to the violence that happened during lunchtime, to the scene that unfolded outside the principal's office while conveniently leaving the Cindy issue out of the way, and up until the part where Elsa was confined to the hospital. She decided to keep Olaf's presence a secret, afraid that she was spilling too much information about someone else's privacy.

"She hasn't woken up since."

After a contemplative silence, Meg finally spoke. "That's some intense high school drama you have there, little red."

"It's so messed up," Anna huffed. "I saw it with my own eyes, Meg. Elsa's a kind girl. I don't get why Van would go that far."

"I'm not going to ask you to understand her actions, Anna. I know what happened to the two of you." Meg reached and squeezed one of her hands. "I don't agree with what she and her friends did to your new friend. But coming from someone with more experience in life, just be there for Elsa, okay?"

"I know that!" Anna yanked her hand away and faced the screen again, torn between glaring and crying at the sight of bright smiles on the twins. "I just don't understand why there's a need to- to get violent with one girl who didn't deserve it!"

Meg didn't say anything and Anna was seriously glad. She only needed someone to talk to, someone who understood even if only a part of what really happened, and someone who wouldn't judge her. As her cousin and classmate who was with her from the very beginning of this drama, Ariel was preferable. But maybe it was because of everything Marshall told her that she chose to share her troubles with her own sister. The comfort was soothing.

And then it hit her.

She had a sister to talk to, while Elsa lost hers.

A strangled sob left her and soon, Anna's tears ran down her cheeks for reasons different from what she told Meg. Every breath she took came out in deep inhales and sharp exhales. It wasn't the guilt that crushed her. It was the image of Elsa crying, eating, and mourning her sister's death alone. Sure, she had Olaf, Kai and whoever was left of their family, but they weren't her parents or her brother. It was different.

Anna was only partially aware of long slender arms embracing her, of the soft shushing and cooing whispered in her ear, and of the scent of her own sister that proved her presence. Meg was here. With her. Unlike Elsa who would never experience the same thing with Cindy, Anna was being comforted by her own sister. She was glad and utterly relieved, but she also felt really really bad.

Anna didn't have much to share. She was only a sixteen-year-old girl, who happened to be smarter than the rest of the people on the same age-group, with a family full of successful people. She didn't have anyone to call a true friend, but she had a family. Her world might not be full of rainbows and sunshine, but at least there was color in it. Even if it was slightly dimmed from the death of her father, the colors remained because of her mother, Hans, Meg and everyone else in their family.

But for someone who nearly lost everything at once, for someone who fought her own brother for someone else's freedom, and for someone who was forced to live her life as her sister's living replica, Anna had to wonder what the world looked like in the eyes of one Chelsea Dalton.

It was a blur.

At least that was the first thing Elsa noticed when she opened her eyes. She had to blink countless times before her eyesight truly adjusted, and even then, she couldn't recognize the ceiling. White wasn't the color of her ceiling and it was definitely not the color of her walls either.

With little strength, she tried to lift herself up and groaned at the tingle on her sides. She clutched the sheets with difficulty because something was restricting her actions and tried her best to reach for her forehead to rub a temple. With little success of relaxing the throbbing headache, she opened her eyes and was greeted with two pairs staring back at her.

She squeaked and brought a hand to her chest, wincing upon feeling something hard. It was then that she noticed that there was a splint wrapped around her hand.

"Elsa!" Rapunzel ran to her side. "Y-You're awake! How are you feeling?"

Elsa opened her mouth to say something, but her throat was dry as sandpaper. She choked out a rasped, "Terrible," and looked around the room.

Everything was white save for the occasional furniture and it was easy to recognize that she was in a hospital room. If the color didn't give it away, the IV fluid that was plugged into her did. As she stared at her restricted hand, memories slowly came back to her until she remembered passing out in the rain.

"Uhm..."

"I'll call the nurse," Rapunzel volunteered.

The door shut and Marshall went to sit in the chair closest to her. There was a smile on his face and a light shimmer in his eyes that made her heart squeeze painfully. Why was he looking at her like that? Why was she in a hospital? What happened to her? The nurse and doctor who arrived and did some tests on her didn't help her curiosity. They kept asking about things and poking her body in different ways until they wrote something on their clipboard and left her still feeling confused.

"How do you feel?" Marshall asked.

"...normal?" she whispered and lowered her head in shame, unable to look at him after running away by herself and leaving him to deal with their parents on his own. She realized a little too late that Rapunzel wasn't in the room.

"You have a sprain." He gestured to the splint on her hand. "You need to wear that for around two weeks."

A nod was the only response she had the courage to give, concealing a small bit of remorse that she wouldn't be able to use her left hand for a couple of weeks. She couldn't suppress a pang of bitterness at the tone her brother used. It was soft and gentle as how it'd always be when they were alone. Part of her believed that he felt guilty for what happened, but a bigger, vulnerable side of her questioned why he was being a brother now.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I... I let them do it again."

Elsa brought her hands to her torso, wanting to curl herself into a ball, to cover her ears and ignore his apologies, and to forget about everything even if only this once. She resisted. This wasn't what she needed after waking up, she knew, but he was still her brother. He was the only one who tried to understand what was going on with her and the least she could do was to do the same.

"You fell down the riverbank and passed out. When Anna, Ariel, and Rapunzel found you, they took you to the hospital and we found out you were running a high fever."

Elsa stiffened at the mention of Anna's name and the information that came along with it. A hand on hers made her flinch and she didn't know what to do but stare at the size differences of their hands. The usual comfort she would more often than not receive from one tiny gesture was... not there.

"Can I be honest with you, Elsa?"

Reluctantly, she met his eyes. There was a shine in there that she became quite accustomed to the last couple of months. Without even hearing it first, she already had a hunch about what it would be. She waited, watching a bead of sweat roll down the side of his head.

"Uncle Kai wants to take you in again and I... I think you should go."

Elsa didn't move. She didn't blink. She simply returned the concerned gaze of her brother with a look she herself couldn't understand. The only thing she was aware of was that it was getting harder to breathe and she was desperate for some space away from everything and everyone.

"...okay."

When her eyes fell, Marshall immediately took her hands on his. "No, no, no. Elsa, I'm just giving you my opinion."

An opinion to send me away.

Maybe he also hated her and was only tolerating her for all that she was worth. Maybe he realized he couldn't look at her without remembering Cindy. Maybe she really didn't have a place in this family. Perhaps she was meant to be alone her whole life.

A thumb rubbed her cheek and it was then that Elsa realized she was crying. When she looked at her brother's face again, preparing herself for that look of disdain, she only saw him tearing up. "I love you, but I don't think it's healthy for you to stay with us. Not when... when it's only making you miserable. Elsa, I—"

The door put the rest of what Marshall was saying to a stop. They turned their heads in time to see their uncle and parents step in. When their eyes met hers, they didn't waste any time and ran until they could wrap her in a hug that stole the air from her lungs. She was mostly stunned, unsure how to take this sudden intimacy, but when she remembered the last time she saw them, her blood instantly ran cold.

"L-Let me go."

Maybe it was her imagination, but she could've sworn she felt her mother twitch at her touch as she pushed her away. It didn't matter. What mattered was that she was in a hospital and that her parents were there, hugging her as though she almost died, as though she was... Cindy.

The memory was fresh even if it had already been years, but growing up constantly seeing Cindy in and out of a hospital room made it difficult to forget. Elsa had seen that look in her parents' eyes many times before—every time they would visit her sister.

They were giving her that same look, and she hated it.

"Elsa, we were worried!" King exclaimed as Queenie let go of the hug.

Relief.

That was what she saw in their eyes. She wanted to believe those emotions were genuine, but a part of her couldn't help questioning them. These people humiliated her in front of the entire school. Maybe they had the right because they were her parents, but it didn't make it hurt any less. Why were they here after announcing how disappointed they were with her? Why do they look concerned? Why now? Why did it have to be me?! Why did all of these things happen to me?!

Why? Why?! WHY?!

"Elsa?" Her mother's voice sounded distant, overshadowed by the questions and whispers ringing in her ears.

"What are you doing here?" Elsa asked, not putting in the effort to conceal her growing rage.

"What do you mean? We received a call that you were hospitalized! Of course, we'll be here!" King scowled, earning him a look from his wife.

"Because I could have died?"

"You are our daughter, Elsa! What if you really died?! What then?!" King asked as his voice steadily rose.

"I wish I did." Elsa's blunt statement silenced everyone. "That way, I won't see you looking at me as if I was Cindy. That way, I'd actually get to be with her again."

"Don't ever say that." Queenie cupped her cheek, her eyes almost pleading. "You are not Cindy's replacement. We love you both equally and you know that."

"I do?" Laughing shallowly, Elsa forcefully leaned away from her mother's touch. "You love us equally," she echoed sardonically.

"Elsa," King said, his voice low.

"Do you know why I stopped school for a year?"

From the corner of her eyes, Elsa saw her uncle unfold his arms. Perhaps he didn't expect her to open up that topic, but that was okay. He would understand. If not, he would ask about it in the end, unlike her own parents who would blame her immediately.

"You wanted to take a break before entering high school. Of course, we know why," her mother answered with the confidence of a five-year-old in front of a strict teacher.

"No, you don't. You know nothing about me."

"W-What are you saying?" King asked.

"I didn't want to take a break. I didn't even know what I wanted. I just couldn't go to school."

"What?" Her parents asked in unison, turning their heads to her uncle.

"Oh please. Don't blame Uncle Kai. He didn't force me not to go." A crooked smile painted her lips as she looked at her parents. "I'm pretty sure he tried to tell you more than once, but you were so busy coping on your own that you couldn't even bear hearing news about me."

"That's enough," her father demanded. "Stop lying, Elsa!"

"You see, that's the problem with you! You never let me explain! You always assume that if something goes wrong, it's my fault. If I say something you don't like to hear, you think I'm lying!" Elsa was enraged and could no longer contain her voice. "If I did something right, you compliment me by saying 'Cindy also likes this' or 'Cindy is also talented at that'. But when I mess up, it's always 'why can't you be like Cindy?!'"

"I-I do—"

"Will you please not try to deny it?" Elsa cut her mother off. "You know it's true!"

"You and Cindy love the sa—"

"We don't!" It was her father's turn to be cut off now. "I'm not like her and I will never be like her! I don't like girly things, I'm not comfortable with that headband, I'm sick of vegetables, and I hate dark chocolates! I don't even want to be a chef!"

By the end of her outburst, her breathing was labored. Eyes were stuck on hers but not a single word was uttered. Maybe she would regret it someday, probably even sooner than later, but she needed this. She needed to let it out.

"Don't you dare put words in my mouth. You lost that privilege years ago."

"Don't say this, Elsa." Tears fell on her mother's eyes. "Please don't say you hate us. Don't run away from us. We already lost Cindy. W-We can't lose you too."

"You already did," was Elsa's firm response as she leveled her mother with an unwavering gaze. "When Cindy died, you only lost a child. I lost all of you. To you, it wasn't her who passed away. It was me."

Her parents were in tears, as was Marshall. Her uncle's eyes were glistening as well, but his expression promised that it was going to be alright, that he wasn't angry at her for lashing out. It was nice to get these things off her chest, to be able to tell them what she truly felt.

But it still hurt.

The entire room was silent except for her mother's uncontrollable sobs. Her father was also crying, but he was trying his best to remain composed. Marshall wasn't any better. Though he was smiling, his lips quivered and his eyes were puffy and red. It was a confusing sight for Elsa's current state of mind.

"Get out."

When Queenie tried to move closer and reach out, Elsa glared at her. She flinched and another set of tears flowed down her cheeks. King's mouth opened and Elsa knew he was about to say something, but she was done with this charade.

"GET OUT!" Elsa pushed herself from the bed, startling them. Her uncle rushed to her side and quickly held onto her arms. "GET OUT! LEAVE ME ALONE!"

But her parents only stood there, stunned as Kai tried to calm her down. Marshall, to his credit, didn't move even with the initial shock. It might be because Elsa wasn't glaring at him but to their parents. She didn't know if the concerns and fears on their faces were genuine, but she didn't care.

It didn't matter because a weight was lifted off her shoulders when they finally left the room.

Thank you to Alkeniw for proofreading! I think I'll just add an acknowledgment on the first chapter after the disclaimer for the entire story to avoid repetition.

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