Reminder: In chapter 8, SoundERN Isle was introduced.
The drive towards Ariel's house felt like it went on for days. Panic had engulfed Anna right after hearing her sister's news, and it had grown rampant the longer it took for her to reach her cousin's home. She had wanted to spend the day alone, but there was no way she would leave Ariel with the very same woman who had placed a wedge in their relationship before. Not again.
Her grip around the wheel tightened. "Come on, come on, come on."
She cursed as the light turned red seconds before she reached it. Her mind jumped to a thousand scenarios over what was happening in Ariel's house, each thought more unpleasant than the last. What was Vanessa even doing there? Why today, of all days? A growl escaped her lips as she stepped on the gas soon as the light turned green.
With a breathless gasp, she entered Atlantic Subdivision.
Ariel's family was not as wealthy as Anna's, but they live in one of the high-end parts of the city. Anna quickly made her way to her cousin's house, gritting her teeth as she saw a purple Kia parked by the curve. It was not the car that bothered Anna as much as the girl sitting on the hood of it.
Wasting no time, Anna threw herself out of her vehicle and stormed over to the brunette. "You! What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Wha—?" Vanessa's head snapped to the side. She frowned. "I'm pretty sure this is Ariel's house."
"Which begs the question, why are you here? What the hell do you want from my cousin?!"
The brunette jumped from the hood and crossed her arms. "Save your breath, Anna. I'm not here for you."
Just then, the front door of the Tritons' clicked and opened, revealing a tall blonde woman and a redhead standing behind her. "Okay, that turned out to be quite different from what I was expecting," Andrina murmured. She turned her gaze to the brunette. "You're still here?"
Vanessa uncrossed her arms and cleared her throat, lowering her head slightly. Andrina's frown deepened, and then she glanced at Anna.
"Hey, Anna."
"Hey," Anna greeted Ariel's sister. "Mind telling me what's going on?"
"I want to know that myself." Andrina opened the door wider and stepped aside to give Ariel some room. "We weren't expecting a visitor, least of all this girl."
Anna's eyes landed on Ariel and it was then that she noticed that she was still wearing her sleeping clothes. Her glasses were back and her hair was slightly disheveled.
Ariel pushed her glasses upward. "No time to fix myself."
"I noticed," Anna replied dumbly. She turned her gaze to the brunette.
Vanessa remained silent as the cousins exchanged their greetings, standing there wearing a simple black hoodie jacket and dark purple jeans. The car she was on was not the same car that Anna remembered. Did she have a Kia? She balled her hands into fists and raised her eyes to the senior. The murmurs inside her head had stopped and the silence made the pumping of her heart louder in her own ears.
Ariel coughed and glanced at her sister. "Sis, let me take care of this."
Andrina scoffed. "And leave you two with her? That doesn't sound like a good idea."
"We'll be fine." Ariel patted Andrina's shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze. "She's not stupid enough to fight us out here. Right?" The question sounded like a threat, but Vanessa merely grunted. "If you want, I'll shout if something happens. Just give us a few minutes."
Andrina huffed, placing a hand on her hip. "Fine."
As soon as the older woman disappeared inside the house, Anna gritted her teeth. Anger and confusion reared their ugly heads again. She hoped she could bore a hole into the side of Vanessa's head. There were so many things she wanted to say and scream. There were so many things she wanted to know.
Emotions rose and built inside her chest. The talk she had with Meg earlier and the one she had with Elsa the previous night were still fresh in her mind and learning that Vanessa was here at Ariel's home only messed with her head more. She did not need this confrontation, but—damn it—the temptation was too strong. The pent up confusion and frustration... She was about ready to explode.
"You."
Vanessa flinched, taking a step back as she meets Anna's heated gaze. Anna straightened her back and huffed, but then despite her initial judgment, she hesitated. Amidst the rising anger, she noticed a split on the senior's lip and a bluish mark beside it.
Is that a...?
Anna shook her head. She wanted to make Vanessa feel the pain she had been feeling for a long time, but seeing that bruise, she paused and wondered. Where did it come from? Was she being bullied again?
She gritted her teeth. Not your problem, Anna. "What are you doing here?"
"It's none of your business." Vanessa flipped her hair. "I came here to talk to Ariel, not you."
"If you think I'll leave her out of this, then you're sorely mistaken." Ariel stepped off the porch and walked over to Anna. "You wanted to talk? Now is the time to talk. Right here, right now. With Anna."
Vanessa scowled, her eyes flicking towards Anna. The disgust on her face was evident and Anna, in turn, narrowed her eyes. She had been fighting the urge to smash Vanessa on the face, but she nearly gave in when she saw that look thrown her way.
"Fine," the brunette huffed. "Would you believe me if I said I came to apologize?"
"Seriously?"
"Exactly." Vanessa removed her glasses and tucked them inside her jacket. "You're right for hating me."
Ariel opened her mouth, closed it, and then opened it again. "That's it? That's all you have to say?" She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "You came all the way here this early to tell me that?"
The brunette snorted and rolled her eyes. "What were you expecting? Let's be realistic. I can't take anything back. I don't want to either. It's done."
"Unbelievable. Is this how you apologize?" Ariel sucked in a frustrated breath. "Do you really think that's going to change anything?"
"No," Vanessa said, rubbing her temples mindlessly. "But just so you know? Even if I'm given a chance to go back in time, I'll probably do the same thing over and over again."
The words made Anna see red. All the things Vanessa did to her and Ariel flashed before her eyes. The insults, the pranks, the humiliation, and the violence—everything. She bit the inside of her cheek, ignoring the tinge of metallic taste, as she imagined her and Ariel experiencing the same things repeatedly.
"You're a monster."
The brunette's hand froze. She inhaled deeply and lowered it to her side. "I am," she agreed.
That spurred Anna on. Frustration and anger grew inside her chest. Her breaths came deep and harsh and redness spread across her cheeks. With a growl, she pushed past her stunned cousin and stormed off to the brunette.
"An—"
The slap echoed around the area, silencing Ariel's call before she completed saying Anna's name. Anna gritted her teeth, her glare burning right at Vanessa's swollen cheek. In the center of all the anger and rage, hurting the older woman had felt good. The sting on her right hand was rewarding.
But it was not enough.
"How dare you?" Anna asked through seethed rage. "You think a simple 'sorry' means something? And only to Ariel! I'm not worth the apology, am I?!"
As the words fell off Anna's mouth, Vanessa's breathing shook. She snapped her gaze back to Anna. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe talking to Ariel is easier than facing you?"
Anna scoffed. "Oh great, now you're making this about me again."
"It has always been about you, right, Princess?" Vanessa mocked, chuckling when Anna flinched. "Princess Annabelle Westergaard. That name really suits you. A spoiled rich girl who can get anything she wants even without trying. It's fun, isn't it? Being born with a silver spoon inside your mouth."
Don't.
Against Anna's will, tears clouded her vision. She pursed her lips and swallowed hard, forcing the tears back and willing them not to fall. Her chest ached. Words and witty comebacks failed to aid her.
"You and I know that's a lie." Ariel stepped in.
Vanessa smirked. "Is it?"
"Vanessa," Ariel started lowly, voice dripping with malice, "I hate to say this, but you know her as well as I do."
The smirk on the brunette's face slipped and she glanced back at Anna.
The tears that Anna had been holding back since Vanessa touched the sore subject finally fell despite her best efforts. She hated it when people talked about her family situation. Unlike her parents, Hans, and Meg, Anna was considered average. Vanessa knew this very well. She knew all of Anna's insecurities because once upon a time, they were inseparable.
"I trusted you," Anna hissed. Her tears rushed forward faster than it had ever been the past few days. "I trusted you with everything I had."
Vanessa sighed. "That's not really my problem, is it? You trusted me on your own. Why blame me for something you did?"
Gritting her teeth, Anna stepped forward. Blood rushed to her face, each thumps on her pulse making the world spin faster. The anger built and built, and it wanted out. "You're right. I was naïve to think you'll always be there. I was wrong for ever loving you. You...! You're just like everyone else!"
"I didn't ask you to love me, Little Red."
Anna grabbed the brunette's jacket. "You don't get to call me that!" she growled, arms pounding away against the older woman's chest. "You lied to me! You were the reason why Ariel couldn't play! My accident was on purpose! You used me to get a stupid reward!"
Vanessa flinched, grabbing the wrists when the hits became more violent. "Anna—"
"You turned your back on me when my father died, Van! DIED!"
"St—"
"You lied!" Her eyes grew cloudy and heavy with mist as the tears flowed nonstop. "How dare you?!"
She continued to pound away, dimly aware that Vanessa was trying to protect herself from each attack. All the memories she shared with this woman played vividly inside her head. How they first met, how Vanessa had stuck with her through thick and thin, and how she found out it was all an act.
"Why?!" she cried, her voice growing hoarse and wet. "What did I ever do to you?! How could you?!"
If Vanessa was saying something, Anna could not hear it. The only thing inside her head was that mocking noise. A voice she had gotten accustomed to since she learned of Vanessa's betrayal. A voice that blamed no one other than Anna.
[I don't care, Anna! Leave me alone!]
"Why?!" She sobbed, her arms weakening as she continued to pound on the woman's chest. "Am I not good enough? Am I really just my father's daughter to you?" Her knees gave out and she fell on the ground in an embarrassing, heaping mess. "What's wrong with me?"
A thick atmosphere enveloped the entire room as the last key echoed through its four walls. Silence followed the rhythmical sound, barely broken by a small sigh. Elsa pulled her hand back and curled them on her side.
She frowned.
After being left alone to look after the studio, Elsa went to the office and fiddled with Senya's keyboard. She tried to play the song from the wedding and found out, guiltily, that she could play it. Her voice was small, almost close to a whisper, as she sang the lyrics, but her fingers danced their polished steps despite only having a week of practice.
"Huh..."
She bit her lips and shut her eyes, focusing on the awkward noise of the buzzing lights. It's really just on stage. The bell's chime from the front door made her eyes snap open. Her breath shuddered as she inhaled deeply and after taking another glance at the instrument, she flipped the switch off. She was not in the mood to talk to clients, but Olaf and Senya had put her in charge while they went away on a meeting.
Preparing herself, she stepped out of the office. A greeting was on its way out of her mouth when she saw who the visitor was. With his hands inside his pockets, he walked slowly around the studio, glancing around the room.
She cleared her throat. "Hey."
He stopped in front of a photo propped on the wall and leaned closer. "Do you know why I like photographs?" Elsa blinked, taken aback by the question. "They're captured moments that are lost forever. It's a wonderful thought if you think about it. Makes it more special."
Elsa licked her lips and swallowed, walking over to the front desk. "...yeah."
He chuckled breathily and shook his head. "That's one of the things I love about visiting this place. It always impresses me how your cousin chooses the photos to be displayed around here."
"I... Thanks," she replied unsurely. "I'll tell him you said that."
He turned towards Elsa. "Is he and Sen here?"
"They have a meeting at the café down the block."
"You're alone?"
She nodded. "I could call them if you want?"
"No need to. Actually," he removed his hands from the pockets of his coat, "I came here for you."
The words gave her pause. All too suddenly, her heart began its erratic beat. It hasn't even been twenty-four hours since she had last seen Hans and now he was inside the studio, wanting to talk with her. Questions spurned inside her head. Why he was there the day after his own wedding for one.
"Let's make this brief. I have a flight to catch in two hours."
Hans walked over to the front desk and took something out of his pocket. Before Elsa could ask what he meant, he placed a card in front of her. The serious look on his face did not waver and Elsa pursed her lips, glancing at the offered card.
SoundErn Isle Records.
Elsa did not have any qualms about music back when they first reached her young ears, and this company caught her attention. It was new, but everything they had ever released was more beautiful and relatable than any of their competitors.
They dealt with video game theme songs, background music, and whatnot, produced music for movies and other series, and even have a band, a group, and solo artists working for them. Elsa had heard rumors before. She did not know how accurate they were, but people often said, "You don't apply for this company; they scout and hire you."
It was the company that inspired her previous creations, but when Cindy died, she stopped listening to theirs too. Their music reminded her of many things; they were her inspiration and they heavily influenced her style. Elsa had no idea what happened to them since then, but she does remember the most recent news of a young prodigy stepping up as the new president of the said record label.
Prince Hansel.
Elsa blinked, and blinked, and blinked again to make sure she was reading this correctly. Her hands were trembling as she tried to wrap her head around the business card settled in front of her. Blue eyes darted between the thing and the guy across the desk.
"P... Prince Hansel?" Her hand shook as she raised it, a finger extended to him. There was a tight look on his face that she did not know what to make of. "You?" He nodded. "But... But I thought..."
"That Hans was my real name?" Hans crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I could say the same about you, Elsa. Or should I say... Chelsea?"
Sweat pooled on the side of her head, heart thudding erratically. Multiple questions formed one by one, about why he was there, how he knew, and more. Her hand fell to her side and with silent breath, she swallowed the nerves and looked him in the eye.
"How?"
Hans uncrossed his arms and tucked his hands inside his coat again. "Anna didn't tell me if that's what you're thinking. I just put two and two together. It isn't hard if you know my sister well."
"What do you mean?"
"I told you she's been acting weird lately." He stepped back and glanced around the empty studio. Elsa curled her hands into fists, wishing Olaf and Senya would return right away. "It also didn't hurt that I saw that little display you, Sen, and her sister did on stage. Now I know why Anna's acting the way she is."
Her tongue slid across her chapped lips. "Hans—"
"Why did you lie?" he asked, the smile he used to greet her with gone. "You're aware that I've been searching for you for more than a year. You know I even asked her to help me. Why did you lie when I asked about Chelsea?"
"T-That's..."
"You didn't think I only looked for you for the wedding, did you?"
"No," she begrudgingly admitted. "Anna told me that... that you'll continue searching." He remained silent, eyes never leaving her face. "I'm sorry."
He crossed his arms again and placed them on top of the desk. "When you came over, you said something about wanting to pursue a career in video or music. I don't know how your video skills work, but I know about music. Was that true?"
"I," she paused, slightly intimidated at the way he stared at her. "I don't know. I wanted to be a musician as a child, but something happened and I don't think it's..."
"Are you injured?"
"No—"
"Then why?" He tapped his forefinger on the desk. "I heard the original piece, Elsa. I heard your lyrics. I saw how you looked at Sen's keyboard on stage." He crouched, pressing his lips and adding lowly, "I've been in this industry long enough to know what to look out for."
Chills ran down her spine as his words echoed in her ears. "What are you trying to say?"
The edge of his lips curled upwards. "I'm saying a musician's piece is like an extension of themselves. You can let anyone learn how to play it, sing it, but they will never, ever, be able to replicate the care and love you have for it. It's all there. You wrote it yourself."
There it was. The thing Elsa could not understand but one that became popular over the media. This guy could tell a lot about a piece just by hearing it once. She wanted to ask how, but she had the distinct feeling she wouldn't be able to understand it. It felt odd and uncomfortable to hear someone tell her something about herself even when she wasn't saying anything. Not to mention, they had only met thrice—four times if this was included.
"I want you to work for me."
Elsa blinked. "Hans—"
He snapped his fingers, closing his eyes and releasing a slow breath. "It doesn't have to be now. I just want to 'reserve' you, in a way, in case some other company finds you. If you plan to go to college, better. I'm willing to pay for it."
Elsa never fully understood the extent of Hans' superiority complex until now. How could he say something like that so easily? Olaf and Senya had been bombarded with questions by this same guy?
"I don't believe you can't do it," Hans said when Elsa didn't say anything. "You stood on stage, Elsa, even when you looked afraid. It's true you weren't able to perform, but you came even when there was a chance I could've figured out who you were—and I did."
"Hans," she glanced at the business card between them, "I tried. I practiced with Sen before the wedding, but I couldn't even do anything when she called for us on stage."
His face turned serious. "I don't know what happened to you or why you couldn't play up there, but the fact that you practiced and tried to face your fears last night proves that you want to get over it."
"Why?" she asked, steeling a resolve of her own and meeting the guy's hardened gaze. "Why do this? Anna had been afraid to let you know because... because she thought you'll pressure me into joining you."
"She's not wrong." Hans squared his shoulders and glanced around the room. "It has something to do with you, I guess," he explained, smiling for the first time since entering the studio. "It's complicated. Let's just say I love her more than she thinks."
Time passed by so slowly ever since Anna had locked herself inside Ariel's room. She was on the floor, back pressed against the side of the bed opposite the door. Her thin arms had been wrapped around her curled knees, her red hair flowing right at them as she leaned her head against it.
All I want is a break. Is that too much to ask?
The tears had not stopped even after she isolated herself. They seemed to be going faster and stronger with each passing minute. The weight on her shoulders felt impossibly heavy. She questioned, again and again, why all these problems—these issues—have to happen all at once. Why her?
"Anna, can I come in?" The knob rattled as the person on the other side tried to enter. "Anna, come on. You can't lock yourself in there forever."
Anna bit the bottom of her lip and suppressed a sob. She did not want to let anybody in. Not after hearing those same words that had haunted her for years from the mouth of the very person she had trusted with all her naïve heart. It shouldn't have, but those words had stung more than Anna would like to accept.
Everything that ever came out of Vanessa's lips since their friendship fell apart had been insults thrown her way. Anna should not have let it get to her. She was used to it, wasn't she? But just by seeing Vanessa, standing there and using her insecurities against her—Anna could not take it.
Keys jingled outside of the room, freezing Anna on her position. The knob turned successfully this time and the door opened, the light from outside painting the room in white. As soon as it closed, soft footsteps pattered against the floor.
"Anna," Ariel coaxed, sitting cross-legged in front of her. "Hey, how are you?"
Anna squeezed her arms around herself. Her emotions were all over the place and she did not know where to focus her thoughts. The stress ever since the wedding finally took its toll, with Vanessa's visit to Ariel being the last push.
"You know, locking me out of my own room is a terrible idea if you wanted to be alone," Ariel gently pointed out. "But I'm glad you did. I wouldn't know where to find you if you walked out on us." She tucked a stray hair on the back of Anna's ear. "How are you feeling?"
Anna raised her head a little until she could look Ariel in the eyes. Even then, she couldn't say a word. Her lips quivered as she tried to say something, but nothing came.
The smile on Ariel's lips grew sympathetic. "She's gone."
The trembling of her hands lessened as the news sunk in. Anna swallowed audibly and lowered her head again, hiding her face from view. Her eyes stung and it was taking everything she had not to cry again in front of Ariel.
"I'm sorry," Anna whispered.
"For what?"
"For losing it," she said, raising her head once more and staring at Ariel with watery eyes. "The things she said... I let her get to me again and... it's like I haven't learned my lesson."
"Anna," Ariel cooed, rubbing the younger redhead's arm gently. "It's not your fault. I hated what she said too. If you didn't do that, I would have been the one to do it. You just reacted faster than I did." She smiled when Anna answered with a hiccup. "Does it sound like a joke?"
Anna sniffed. "A little? You were always against violence."
"She deserves it this time," the older redhead huffed. She smiled when Anna wiped the tears off her cheeks. "I think... I'm glad this happened."
"W- What?"
"I'm glad you came when I called. I know you hate being around her more than anyone. It must've been hard. I don't know what to make of her apology, but I'm glad you were here."
She whimpered, head falling back on her knees. "Why did she really come here?"
"I don't know," the older redhead said. "But if her apology is genuine, she did a terrible job at it."
Anna's fingers twitched. She curled them around the sleeves of her jacket and sniffed. "It was really just an act for her, wasn't it? What we had." Ariel did not say anything, merely reaching to Anna's back and patting her gently. "She didn't even apologize to me and I'm still... I'm still hoping that there's... at least something."
Ariel's hand stiffened on her shoulder and Anna shut her eyes closed. She swallowed a lump on her throat and tightened her hold around herself. Visions of the past, of a beautiful friendship of two young girls, spun around her head and made her choke. She sniffed again and hiccupped.
"I know," Ariel whispered softly, reaching for Anna's hand and caressing the back of it gently with her thumb. "She was the only person you considered as a friend after all."
Anna inhaled sharply. "I really haven't changed, have I? I thought I was over it, but..."
The older redhead shook her head. "A lot has changed, Anna. Since that thing with her, you've been different." Anna lifted her teary gaze and looked at her questioningly. "You'd always be there to back me up when things get awry and forgive me when I did something wrong. You'd jump at the very first sign of danger just to protect me and you even forgave me easily for hiding my relationship with Mars."
Anna frowned. "You're my cousin."
"I know, but it's more than that." Ariel took the spot beside her and leaned the back of her head on the bed. "You'd only cry, get angry, or be happy for my sake. Today is the first time in a long time that I've seen you get angry and cry for yours."
"I... I don't..."
"There's a reason why you built those walls, I know. It's just..." Ariel sighed. "Ever since you did, you've only thought about me. You didn't want Vanessa to hurt me, you didn't want Elsa and Rapz close to me because they were connected to Mars. And when he told you everything that's been happening between us behind your back, you didn't even get mad at me."
"Should I be? You looked happy."
"I was happy you gave him a chance, but I wasn't happy you didn't get angry at me for keeping it from you. I wanted you to be selfish. To think about yourself for once."
Anna, though a part of her wanted to disagree, wrapped her arms around her knees again and buried her face between them. "I don't know how, Ariel," she admitted. "I'm scared that if... if I think about myself, the people I care for are going to get fed up with me. There's still a part of me that... can't accept what happened between me and Van. Sometimes I think... maybe she only pushed me away because I was being too clingy or... or because I didn't give her the space she wanted."
"I know," Ariel said, smiling ruefully when Anna looked at her. "I know you, Anna. We grew up together. Besides, I was there when all of those things happened. I was involved in it."
She whimpered. "I'm sorry," she sniffed. "I... I'm lost. I don't even know what I'm doing anymore. I don't know why I can't let it go. Elsa- she... she's tired of trying to understand me and then I saw Van today. I... I don't know..."
"Tired?" Ariel tilted her head. "Elsa?"
"Last night, she... we talked and..." Her eyes burned once again. "She wants to know what happened, but... I can't let her in. Even if I want to, I'm scared. She... Then Van came here... I just..."
Ariel opened her mouth and Anna could practically see the questions on top of her head. Rather than continue asking, the older redhead scooted closer and wrapped her in her arms. "It's okay. Let it out, Anna. I'll be here this time. I promise."
400 reviews. Thank you so much. You guys are the best! ;-;
Thanks again to my wonderful beta, averiarose!
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