The Classified Life of a Teenage Spy
Thanks for all the reads, reviews, favorites and follows! They mean the world to me! Here's chapter 2!
Language warning.
This chapter is dedicated to those of you who thought that, based on the progress in Chapter 1, Anna and Elsa would be in bed together by this point. Here's me saying: I love you all.
Chapter 2
Cooper vs. Arendelle
Anna walked down the hall, carefully reading the door numbers until she came across the one she was looking for. She walked into the gigantic main office, marveling at the high vaulted ceilings and the hardwood floors. It looked more like the lobby of a hotel than an administration office.
But it was to be expected.
"Hi," Anna said with a small smile, catching the receptionists' attention. "I'm Anna Cooper. I'm new here and I was told to come here to pick up my schedule…"
"Ah yes. Welcome Miss Cooper," answered the receptionist with a nod and a polite smile. She sifted through some folders and papers on her desk before handing Anna a sheet of paper that she supposed was her schedule, a black binder and a large leather book with the schools seal engraved on the front in gold.
"There is your schedule. The binder contains your supply lists, your uniform requirements, your locker and dormitory assignments as well as rules and regulations that correspond to each. The book is Arendelle Preparatory Academy's Official Guide and Code of Conduct and also includes a detailed recollection of the school's history, its founders, its administration and its current staff."
Anna skillfully juggled all of the new material in her arms. "Thank you. I suppose I should get going now…"
"Miss Cooper."
Anna turned to see the Headmistress walking towards her, followed by what seemed to be her assistant. Waving the young girl off after murmuring something to her, the tall blonde motioned for Anna to follow her.
They walked into what Anna supposed was the headmistresses' office, somewhere she figured she'd be seeing a lot of considering her reputation and history with authority figures. Anna wasn't necessarily a rebel, but she had learned at a young age that you had to think for yourself because it was necessary not only to be a spy, but to survive.
"Please, have a seat," said the woman with a warm smile, and Anna noted that Elsa had a very similar voice to her mother along with the identical piercing blue eyes.
Anna nodded and sat in one of the large leather chairs in front of large oak desk. "Is there something wrong Mrs. Arendelle?"
The headmistress chuckled and shook her head. "You think you're in trouble already?" she asked.
Anna smirked and shrugged. "Stranger things have happened ma'am."
The Mrs. Arendelle smiled and leaned forward, propping an elbow up on her desk and resting her chin in the palm of her hand. "You remind me so much of your mother."
"So I've been told," Anna replied softly. It's not that she didn't want to be like her mother. Her mom was one of the most kickass spies there ever was. It was cool to have a mom everyone knew and respected. What Anna didn't like was when people looked at her almost as if she was a phantom of her mother. It's hard growing up in a shadow as big as the one her mother casted. She wanted her own reputation, to be known for what she could do, not for what had been done by her mother before her.
"You don't seem too thrilled by the comparison," the headmistress noted softly.
Anna shrugged again, making a mental note to work on her mask. She forgot that she no longer walked among civilians. "I love my mother. But I am my own person."
"Ah, I see," replied the older woman with a small nod as she sat back in her chair. "You're used to working on your own, to watching your own back…"
"Yes ma'am," Anna replied with an unwavering expression.
"And what of your father?"
What was up with the third-degree? Was this part of orientation? "My father and I look out for each other when possible," Anna said. She didn't like where this was going.
"Well it's a bit different here," said the headmistress in what Anna supposed the woman thought was a comforting tone. "You have a team here, a group of people that look after one another and will look after you. You don't work alone anymore."
"You say that like it's a good thing," Anna replied with a quirked brow. "With all due respect Mrs. Arendelle, I don't work alone because I'm forced to, I work alone because I want to."
"That's not what your mother…"
Anna stood abruptly then and looked the older woman straight in the eye. "I think that with time you'll come to realize that I am not my mother, ma'am. May I please be excused?"
The headmistress looked surprised but she conceded with a small nod and Anna grabbed her books once more and turned to leave. Her hand was on the door knob when the woman spoke again.
"If you ever need to talk…"
"I don't," Anna said, cutting the older woman off. "Excuse me Mrs. Arendelle."
And with that she slipped out of the office, closing the door a little harder than necessary as she walked off, not sure where she was going, only knowing that she needed to get as far from that room, that conversation, as possible.
She saw too many emotions in that woman's eyes. But there was thing that she saw that always bothered her.
Pity.
She didn't need it and she didn't want it. She didn't need anyone. She'd been fine on her own until now and she would be fine on her own after she left this school.
She'd show them.
Anna Cooper didn't need anyone.
"So, what's up with you and the new girl?"
Elsa looked up from my book and sighed when she saw Vidia smirking down at her. "Nothing's 'up' with me and the new girl."
"Well that nothing looked like a whole lot of something Arendelle," teased the raven-haired girl. "Go for it Els. Like seriously, when's the last time you got laid?"
Elsa rolled her eyes. 'So crass.' "You're such a lady Adlon."
Before Vidia could respond their etiquette teacher, Mrs. DunBroch, walked into the classroom. "Settle down now girls. Merida, a lady does not put her weapons on her desk."
"Ah mum. If it were up to you, we wouldn't have weapons," answered the redheaded Scott, only to earn a look from her mother. Elsa hid a smile as Merida's eyes rolled hard before taking her crossbow off of her desk and slinging across the back of her chair.
The door to the classroom opened as Mrs. DunBroch was writing something on the board and Elsa tapered down the strange feeling that built in her stomach at the familiar face.
"Misses Cooper, I believe you are lost," Mrs. DunBroch teased lightly with a warm smile on her lips. Anna replied with a lopsided smirk and held out a sheet of paper that Elsa presumed was her schedule.
"That's what I thought ma'am," replied the redhead. "But my schedule says otherwise."
Mrs. DunBroch read over the slip of paper and smiled, handing it back to Anna. "Well the, welcome to Third Year Etiquette Miss Cooper. It's a pleasure to have you."
"Likewise I'm sure Madam," Anna said with a small bow of her head and Elsa could tell that Mrs. DunBroch was immediately smitten with the redhead. 'Well played Cooper.'
"Please take a seat Anna," the teacher said politely, motioning to an empty chair in the back of the class. "You've come at a good time my dear, for since our semester is starting anew, we're going to do a quick oral review of everything we've learned."
A collective groan sounded across the room making Mrs. DunBroch smile. "Glad to see you're all so enthused by it." After opening a large book on her desk she asked "Now, what is the first rule of Etiquette?"
"Don't kiss and tell," Vidia answered causing a small murmur of laughter to erupt around the classroom.
"Very amusing Miss Adlon. Miss Arendelle?"
Elsa sat up slightly and said "Punctuality and a firm handshake."
"Both very good answers Miss Arendelle, thank you. Miss Cooper, do you have anything to add?"
Elsa heard Anna shift in her seat and clear her throat softly. "I may be wrong Mrs. DunBroch, however I believe that though a proper handshake, greeting and punctuality are key points of etiquette, the most important and cardinal rule, if you will, is that all of our actions should be based on kindness, understanding and utmost respect. If you know how to identify the salad fork but not how to show respect to your fellowman, what good is etiquette?"
And just like that, the classroom was silent. Even Mrs. DunBroch was rendered speechless for a few moments. Then, after clearing her throat she said "Well, now I am sure I was mistaken. You are exactly where you need to be Miss Cooper."
Elsa gritted her teeth slightly. What the hell was that?
"And welcome to Arendelle Preparatory Academy."
"Cooper!"
Anna turned and smirked when she saw the familiar blonde walking down the hall in her direction. "Well hello Miss Arendelle. Fancy meeting you here."
"Cut the crap Cooper," Elsa hissed. "What was that all about?"
Anna was utterly confused. "Um… what are you talking about Elsa?"
"That spiel in Etiquette! What the hell are you trying to prove?" Elsa demanded, backing Anna up against the lockers.
Anna felt cornered. She didn't like that. Taking a step forward so that she was nose to nose with the blonde, she said "I don't know what the hell your problem is Arendelle, but back the fuck off."
"Why don't you make me?"
"Don't tempt me."
A crowd began to gather, surrounding them.
"Trying to step out of Mommy's shadow Cooper? To show us all that you deserve to carry your name as much as she did?"
Anna saw red. She felt her heart beat begin to pick up and her fists clench. "I'm warning you Elsa…" she growled through clenched teeth.
"Why don't you just make like your father instead and…disappear."
And that's all it took. Anna was on Elsa in a heartbeat. The crowd around them grew as they sparred, calling out and cheering.
"What is going on here?" a voice boomed as Anna swept Elsa's feet out from under her and pounced on the blonde, pinning her wrists above her head. "Take. It. Back," she hissed.
"Or what?" Elsa challenged. "You'll follow in Mommy's footsteps and 'take care of it'. That didn't end too well for her now did it."
"All right! Break it up!"
Anna felt a cool hand encircle her raised fist.
"All of you, back to your classes before every single one of you receives detention."
The crowd scattered as quickly as it had gathered as Anna rose from on top of Elsa, shaking off the hand on her shoulder as she turned to the lockers and swung her fist hard, denting the metal with a loud clang. Turning back towards the blonde, she glared at the headmistress, two sets of piercing blue eyes staring at her.
Looking down at her.
"Would one of you like to explain what all that was about?" asked the older Arendelle.
"Teach your daughter to keep her pride out of the way of her mouth," Anna spat. "And to keep my family out of it too."
The headmistress turned to frown down at her daughter and Anna saw the light leave Elsa's eyes for a moment before all the anger returned, all of it directed at Anna.
"It won't happen again ma'am," Elsa said firmly, her eyes locked with Anna's.
"It'd better not," the headmistress answered. Then is a softer tone she said "I expect more from you Elsa."
Anna watched the older blonde turn to her, meeting her blue gaze straight on with her head held high. "As for you Miss Cooper, leave the sparring for P.E." After a pause she added "You are both to report to my office after your classes today. We shall discuss the consequences of your actions at that time. Until then, you are dismissed to your dorms on mandatory isolation. Am I clear?"
"Yes ma'am."
Mrs. Arendelle nodded once. "Dismissed."
Anna glared one last time in Elsa's direction then shoved her hands in her pockets and turned swiftly on her heel, ducking her head down to hide the angry tears that began to pool in her eyes.
"I hate this place."
Stupid, god damned, fucking school!
I knew it! I knew it'd be horrible here!
And Elsa?! What the hell was that?! I mean where in ten hells did that come from?!
Jesus Christ! Now I understand what Zell was talking about! Ice Queen is too nice. Ice Bitch is more like it. I should've busted her fucking nose. No one, no one talks shit about my family like that and gets away with it. Next time, I knock those pretty white teeth of hers straight out of her fucking mouth.
Fucking spy school.
Who the hell does she think she is?!
First that bullshit in DumBroch's and now dissing me in front of my mother?! I've never been on mandatory isolation in my life.
She's going to pay for this. I am going to make her life a living hell.
Anna Cooper has no idea who she just fucked with.
"I've always wanted to play a spy, because it is the ultimate acting exercise. You are never what you seem." - Benedict Cumberbatch