Chapter VI

Anna found herself fiddling with a loose string on her shirt as she followed Daniel down a hallway. They had returned "home"—which was but a vacant building downtown that had been furnished in the simplest of ways from various heists—meeting up with Bryce and Nick on the way. Bryce had immediately excused himself from the group as they entered the building, and Nick had broken off soon as well, leaving Daniel and Anna.

"So, how long should I expect this house arrest to last?" Anna questioned with an underlying sarcastic tone to her voice.

Daniel chuckled. "It's not house arrest," he said. "Nobody's punishing you, Anna. I just think it'd be best for you to not go AWOL for a while."

AWOL. Anna rolled her eyes. "Sure thing, boss," she grumbled.

Meanwhile, Bryce found himself in another section of the building, standing before two double doors. Hesitating only slightly, he knocked.

"Yeah, yeah, come in," a voice snapped from the other side.

Bryce entered to see the King lounging on a beaten-up couch and rolling up a joint. He was the same age as most of the other gang members, but the air he carried with him made him appear much older, thus commanding the attitude and respect of a leader. He had fine, dark red hair and moss green eyes that could give him an intimidating look if need be. He was also thought to be considerably attractive, despite the thick sideburns he donned of which many members joked about when they were sure their King wasn't around.

"What's up, Bryce," he drawled; more of a statement rather than a greeting.

"I just overheard a most interesting conversation involving our newest and youngest member, and I thought you would like to know," the other boy said.

An eyebrow rose as the King continued wordlessly smoking his joint. Bryce continued.

"It made me think a change of plans in our heist tomorrow could draw more amusement than it would otherwise."

"You still haven't told me any details, Bryce," the King prompted.

Bryce just smirked. "Let me just make it simple and you can find out in full tomorrow," he started. "Our little Anna's loyalties seem to be shifting and though she vehemently tries to deny it, I know a way we can really get the truth out of her."

The King just grinned, always up for a devious plan.

"Spill."

XxXxX

Elsa regretted not having asked Anna if she had a cell phone so they could possibly exchange numbers. As she tried to busy herself with homework late that night, she couldn't help but think of their near run-in with the Royals earlier. Anna had looked truly scared, or if not scared then nervous. Elsa couldn't help but think she would get into trouble in some way or another later. She knew gangs could be fiercely territorial. Not only did they claim their own areas in the city—the Royals didn't particularly have to worry about that, being the only major gang in this city—but their members were considered territory as well. Elsa knew enough through her studies that once you were part of a gang, it was hard to leave strictly because of the sense of belonging being part of a gang entitled.

Almost everyone in their right mind knew leaving a gang for another meant sure death, or at the very least a violent beating, but even leaving a gang for no reason than to simply leave could mean trouble. It really depended upon how territorial the gang was, but Elsa had no doubt that the Royals were very territorial. It was one of the reasons they didn't have as many members as gangs from other cities; they didn't allow many in, which mean they didn't allow any out.

Elsa frowned. She had always loved her studies, but now they were doing nothing but leaving an unpleasant feeling in her stomach.

Her uneasy stomach gave her an excuse to focus on her psychology studies for the rest of the night. Her criminal justice courses would have to wait.

XxXxX

It was the next night. Elsa was busy at work. She hadn't seen Anna lurking about her school or across the street and figured she was just keeping her distance for now. It made sense, Elsa thought. And while it left her stomach in knots feeling slightly pained, Elsa knew Anna had perhaps made a big mistake in making herself known.

"Ma'am?"

Elsa shook her head clear of thoughts and saw a woman standing in front of the counter, waiting to order. Elsa's face flushed in embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry," she quickly apologized. "What can I get you?"

Way to go Elsa, her mind berated. That's thethird slipup at work in just a couple weeks. And that's without the one with you staring mindlessly out the window which you thankfully didn't get caught for.

Well, it wasn't like people like Anna just popped into your life every day.

Her face further reddened at the fact that she had basically just accepted the fact that a mere girl had been filling her thoughts and causing her to be distracted—and not just at work either, she grimly recalled, thinking back to Kristoff's yesterday.

Elsa had just handed the lady her drink when it happened.

A group of five individuals strutted into the shop. Three went and found a vacant table to sit at while the other two approached the counter. Both of them had their heads down as they walked up, but soon enough the person in the back shoved the other forward toward the counter. As the one who was pushed looked up, Elsa gasped.

"Anna?"

The redhead lifted her gaze level to Elsa's, mouthed "I'm so sorry," and pulled out a gun, once again aiming it directly at Elsa.

With Anna's action, the others sprang to action, demanding the money from any and all of the patrons present while Anna handled the situation with Elsa.

"Empty the register!" she shouted, flicking her gun from Elsa and to the register. "Do as we say and no one gets hurt!"

At this moment in time, an enraged Kai came out from the back of the store, a metal baseball bat in hand. Quickly, he ushered Olaf—who had been on the clock with Elsa at the time—to the back and out of harm's way. He was moving to escort Elsa when Anna stopped him.

"S-She stays!"

When Kai only took a step closer to Elsa, Anna cocked her gun, but not after Elsa saw her gulp and start to sweat.

"Back up!" Anna yelled at Kai. "I-I will shoot!"

Kai then recognized the redhead that had come asking for Elsa the other day, and the glower he shot in Anna's direction made the young girl's knees shake.

"Kai," Elsa then spoke up in the most even voice Anna had ever heard. "Do as she says. I'll be okay."

Because I trust her, the blonde added mentally.

Kai just gave his employee a long, hard look before complying and leaving the blonde alone up front. Keeping her eyes trained on Anna, Elsa moved to the cash register.

"I presume you want all of it?" she asked, her calm demeanor still in place.

"Every last penny!" Anna replied, throwing an empty sack her way.

As Elsa slowly filled the bag with the money, she saw Anna glance behind her at the other members before looking back to Elsa.

"I'll give it all back, I swear," she whispered.

Elsa nodded imperceptibly. "I know you will," she whispered back.

Smiling for only a moment, Anna put her figurative mask back on and urged Elsa along, knowing her fellow members were keeping a careful eye on her. When Elsa handed the bag back to Anna, the younger girl took it while carefully passing a note to Elsa's hand, which quickly found safety in her apron pocket.

As Anna began to carefully step away from the counter, her eyes told Elsa everything she couldn't say aloud, and she knew Elsa understood every little detail. Nodding quickly once more, Elsa silently forgave the redhead and even went so far as to raise her hands up as Anna backed away to play along.

"If anyone calls the police, we will come back for you!" Anna announced to the entire store, surprising herself with her tone's unwavering intensity. "Don't get any ideas!"

Shooting one last fleeting glance Elsa's way, Anna turned and ran from the store, her associates following after her, leaving nothing but a large, purple R on the store's floor.

A heavy silence fell over the store for a few minutes as everyone tried to register what had just happened. It was broken only by Kai as he rushed to the front again after making certain it was safe. As he began apologizing profusely to his customers, Elsa turned her back before pulling out the slip of paper Anna had handed her.

Wait for me at your car,it read. I'll return the money at midnight. I'm so, so sorry, Elsa. I'll explain everything to you, I promise.

"Elsa!" Kai exclaimed, coming up behind her.

The blonde quickly shoved the note back in her pocket before turning around.

"Are you alright?" he asked. "They didn't hurt you, did they?"

Elsa surprised him by smiling. "No, they didn't. I knew I didn't have anything to fear; she would never hurt me."

Kai scrutinized Elsa before murmuring to her, "I don't know what is going on, Elsa, but you need to be careful. Whatever you got mixed up in, it's now starting to affect others."

Elsa looked down in an apologetic manner at his words. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. "But I know I can fix it, you just have to trust me."

"I do, Elsa," the manager replied. "But please still be careful."

Elsa just nodded before asking, "Was anyone hurt?"

Kai shook his head. "Everyone's wallets were emptied, but other than that, no. The only gun was the one aimed at you."

Suddenly, Elsa knew what all of this was about. The Royals had found out about her; about her and Anna meeting. That's why they had just been robbed and why Anna had been forced to aim a gun at Elsa, taking charge of the entire situation.

She just needed to talk to Anna to confirm her theory; although she already had a sinking feeling the girl would respond in the affirmative.

XxXxX

Elsa's shift ended at eleven and she immediately walked around the corner to her car. Leaning against its side, Elsa fiddled with her phone, trying to decide if she should let Kristoff know what happened. No doubt he would hear about it tomorrow online or from friends, but Kai's words came back to her and Elsa thought she shouldn't involve anyone else—even though Kristoff would no doubt involve himself.

It wasn't even midnight when she heard footsteps approaching. Snapping her head up, she saw a figure approaching her from the other side of the parking lot. The figure suddenly broke into a run and before Elsa knew it, small arms were wrapped around her and someone was sobbing onto her shoulder.

"I'm so, so sorry, Elsa!" the shaky voice of Anna reached her ears. "Somehow they found out about us!"

Elsa just smiled softly at the younger girl, embracing her back and attempting to soothe her cries.

"It's okay, Anna," Elsa whispered.

Anna's head snapped up at that, a furious look making its way to the surface of her watery irises.

"No, it's not okay, Elsa!" she snapped. "They wanted me to hurt you! Now I've aimed a gun at you twice! How can you be so calm about all of this?!"

Elsa knew that under the surface of her exterior, she actually was frightened, but she wasn't about to let Anna know that; it would surely just make the girl feel worse.

"Because I know, despite everything else, that you would never hurt me, Anna," she said instead.

Anna managed a smile at that before tucking her head underneath Elsa's. Her cheeks warmed when she felt Elsa gently squeeze her, steadily rocking them both side to side.

"I-I don't deserve you," the redhead whispered.

"I know," Elsa jokingly quipped, ruffling Anna's hair to let the younger know she was playing.

Not wanting to leave the sense of security that was Elsa's arms, Anna had to force herself to pull back from the embrace, picking up the bag she had dropped earlier.

"Here," she said, handing it out to Elsa. "It's all still in there; nobody's touched it but me."

"You're going to get in a lot of trouble for this, you know," Elsa grimly told her.

"I know," Anna sighed, before masking a look of defeat and acceptance with power. "But it's nothing I can't handle!"

Elsa just smiled at the girl's fearlessness.

"You sure I can't offer you refuge?" she asked. "I can take you to my place and you can wait until all of this blows over."

Elsa knew that this wasn't going to simply just "blow over," but she did want Anna to know that she was offering her help.

Anna shook her head, bravely accepting what would be coming. "I don't want you mixed up in this any more than you already are." She looked Elsa in the eyes, and Elsa's heart fluttered at the look of admiration and gratefulness that was shining in those turquoise orbs of hers. "But thanks," Anna added. "It means a lot, Elsa; it really does."

Before Elsa could stop herself, she leaned in to softly kiss Anna's cheek, leaving a pink tint on the redhead's freckled cheeks.

"I just don't want to see you get hurt because of me," the older girl said seriously.

"Getting hurt for you will always be worth it," Anna mumbled so quietly that Elsa barely heard it. She did, however, and now she had a blush to rival Anna's.

The girls stood in an awkward silence for a few moments both looking anywhere but the other's face.

"I… I better get back," Anna finally broke. "Daniel said it might be wise for me to keep my distance, so…"

"No, he's right," Elsa spoke. "I understand."

This time Anna leaned in to kiss Elsa's cheek. "Be careful," she said with a warm smile.

"I'm supposed to say that to you, silly," Elsa said back lamely.

"Then you'll just have to beat me to it next time," Anna grinned.

And with that she turned on her heel and disappeared around the corner.

Next time.

Elsa stood there with a dopey grin on her face. There was going to be a next time. Despite the imminent danger the older girl knew it would mean for the both of them, they weren't able to keep away from each other. Screw the Royals, Elsa commented internally. If anything tried to come between her and Anna, she knew the both of them would be willing to defend their friendship.

Realizing she was standing in a dark parking lot with a bag of stolen money at her feet, Elsa quickly composed herself and headed back around the corner to Starbucks. Now she just had to think of what to tell Kai.