Revised on 7/7/15

Anna's POV

I watched the crisp snowflakes waft down from the clouded sky through the window in Mr. Harris stuffy classroom. What I wouldn't have given to have been outside in the snow right then. I loved building snowmen and having snowball fights and returning home with red cheeks, still cool from the freezing weather.

Yes, I affirmed, December is the best month ever.

I sighed and returned my attention to Mr. Harrison who was still droning on about this, that and the other.

I looked over, curious as to what Elsa may be doing, to see her doodling on a spare sheet of paper in her notebook. She was clearing not paying attention and wasn't trying to hide it very well. Being in the back of the room did have its perks I guess. For one, the teacher couldn't really pick you out for not doing something amongst the sea of student's faces.

Elsa and had been kind of 'unofficially' dating since that one afternoon a few weeks back. We weren't being open about it because Elsa wasn't ready to for everyone to know and she seemed very worried that her father might somehow figure it out. She had never given me a reason as to why she seemed so afraid of him but I never prodded her into saying more than she wanted and I never thought much about any of it. It was mainly us spending time together after school and stealing quick kisses in empty hallways.

Every day I would bring Elsa a pack of M&M's and a Hershey bar. She would always insist on sharing them with me (though I never really argued back because after all, chocolate is the food of the gods and the one food that I can't refuse).

"Class dismissed," Mr. Harrison said as the bell rang. I glanced up at the clock on the wall and saw that it was indeed 8:15-end of first period. Today could not go by any slower. I thought as I slouched out of the room.

"Something wrong?" Elsa's voice rang out behind me.

I stopped and turned. "No, I just feel like today is going to be a really long day. That was just first period and it seemed like a year long," I paused and gasped dramatically. "Maybe Mr. Harrison covered the sound of the original bell and then had another bell ring later so we would have more class time. Maybe he set the clocks back so class would be longer. He did it, he did it, and I know it. Fun fact about clocks, actually, they consist of-"

I was talking at what felt like a hundred miles an hour when Elsa's voice cut over mine, "Anna. You're rambling again," She said with a giggle. I went bright red and ended my sentence with a stutter as she went on. "It's cute though, don't worry. And though I'm pretty sure Mr. Harrison didn't tamper with the clocks or the bell system, I wouldn't put it past him. Now come on. You should get to class before you get in trouble for being late… again."

"That was one time I was late because I was talking to you. Okay, maybe two times, but you were late too!"

Elsa shook her head, still smiling. "I have this period off, remember? You can't really be late to your free period."

"Yeah, that's true," I mumbled.

"Go on to class Anna. I'll see you after school." I huffed at her.

"But that's so far away!"I groaned as I tipped my chin to the ceiling, exaggerating my point. Elsa's soft fingers gripped my chin, pulling my head back down before pressing a kiss to my lips.

I pulled back, alarmed, "What are you doing? I thought you didn't want people to know that we were…like, you know…?"

She rolled her eyes, "There's no one here Anna." I looked around me to see that indeed, the halls had emptied. "Everyone went to class. Just like you should."

"Oh hush," I replied before kissing her again. "If I want to kiss my girlfriend then I will kiss my girlfriend, my physics class be damned."

Elsa simply smiled, "Get to class."

"Yes, mother," I droned sarcastically, though I smiled back. How could I not smile back though? Elsa has the best smile, one carved by angels.

I watched Elsa's back as she retreated through the hall, the smile on my face bordering dopey at that point. I knew it. The first day I saw her, I knew she was somehow related to angels...or goddesses...or Rosa Parks...Yeah, still haven't quite figured that out yet.

The loud bellowing of the bell snapped me from my daze.

I sighed. Late again.

xXxXx

I trudged down the slippery hall at the end of the day, en route to my locker. Per the usual, Elsa was already standing by it waiting for me. She stood patiently beside me as I switched out the books I needed before we walked to the front door.

"Do you have time to come over today?" I asked her.

"I always have time for you."

I rolled my eyes though my grin grew. Wow. And I thought I was cliché.

"You know that's not what I meant. Do you have time to come over before you have to be home today?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know what you meant. But yes, I do have time. Mrs. Smith told me during class today that she doesn't need help afterschool anymore. I don't plan on telling my father that because he wouldn't let me stay out late anymore; it would take away the time I get to spend with you."

We walked out the doors and started toward the usual route to her house while a light snow came down from above.

"You could just tell your father that you want to spend time with your girlfriend."

"No. No I can't. I haven't exactly told him that I'm into girls and I don't plan on ever telling him," She spoke rapidly, practically spitting the words out.

"You've got to tell your parents eventually. What about your mother?"

Elsa's expression dropped momentarily before she turned her head and looked away. "My mom died when I was eight. I couldn't tell her even if I wanted to."

I immediately tried to back track, my chest constricting in empathy as I stumbled over my words, "Oh crap, I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up-"

"It's fine," She said, looking back at me. "It was ten years ago."

Elsa looked down again, eyes slightly clouded as she muttered, "The past is in the past and the past can't be changed."

I moved a hand to hers as we walked side by side, tangling our fingers together, our shoulders brushing in the process.

"Why can't you tell your father?" I asked slowly, brushing my thumb over the back of Elsa's hand, trying not to hit any more sensitive spots as the conversation progressed.

There was a long pause before she spoke, "He's not exactly the most understanding person," She started carefully, "He's also a pretty big homophobe."

"But maybe if he knew that his own daughter-"

"Look, I'll think about it, but I really don't want to talk about him," She spoke over me.

We walked in an uncomfortable silence the rest of the way to my house, watching the snow fall and listening to the wind howl. Though the space surrounding us rebounded an awkward silence, Elsa kept her eyes forward but never released my hand.

Periodically throughout the ten minute walk, I glanced over at her, fidgeting unsurely with my free hand. Elsa's face remained unreadable, eyes blank, brows slightly furrowed as if she was thinking something over.

Her mother died… that could have something to do with why she isolated herself. She's not as isolated now; I've drawn her out a little. There's something she's not telling me about her father. She doesn't talk about him much, and when she does, she speaks with such contempt; you'd think she absolutely despises him. It seems like whenever I get any small answers more questions rise than before.

As we walked, my foot caught a crack in the sidewalk, causing me to stumble. Elsa's free hand rose to wrap around my torso, halting my momentum as she steadied me.

I glanced over at her when I regained my feet and mumbled an embarrassed, "Sorry," as we continued down the path.

Her response was nonverbal, a simple squeeze of my hand as we continued walking, each of us once again submersed in our thoughts.

xXxXx

Elsa's POV

She wants me to tell him. Anna wants me to tell my homophobic father that I'm gay. He'll flip. He'll give me hell. Nothing will ever get any better, it'll only get worse.

A loud creak jolted me from my thoughts; we were once again at Anna's front door, stomping the snow from our shoes as the door swung inward. We walked inside and were greeted by a cherry voice coming from the kitchen.

"That you, Anna?"

"Yeah, mom, it's me," She yelled back before turning to me. "Want to meet my mom?" She asked me, seeming unsure as she twisted her hands together.

"Sure," I replied. Anna's parents had yet to be home the previous times I had been there, so I'd never actually met them and they'd never met me.

"Can I tell her? About… you know…us?"

"Go for it."

Upon my response, Anna let out an extremely high pitched squeal. I attempted to hide my laugh behind my hand, but the attempt was futile. Anna scoffed in mock offense and slapped my arm playfully. "It's not nice to laugh at people Els. I was just excited is all."

"How can I not laugh at you when you make sounds like that?" I asked, still chuckling.

"Hush."

Anna led me into the kitchen where a woman, who I presumed to be her mother, was mixing what looked like some kind of dough in a bowl. The woman looked up when we entered and smiled warmly at the two of us.

Anna turned to me, "Elsa, this is my mom. Mom, this is my girlfriend, Elsa."

"Hello, Elsa. It's wonderful to meet you. I would shake your hand or something, but I'd get flour all over you. I'm making cookies," The woman laughed in a way that resembled Anna. She didn't seem perturbed at all by the fact that I was Anna's girlfriend and a foreign wave of confidence washed over me.

"It's nice to meet you to, Mrs. Andersen," I replied as Anna started squealing again before rambling on about how the cookies had better be chocolate chip and leading me up to her room.

"Behave up there girls. No doing anything-"

"Moooommmm," Anna groaned, knowing where that sentence was going, "Please." She turned back to address me, "I'm sorry about her, she likes to joke."

"No, don't apologize. I think she's awesome," I said, shrugging.

Anna started talking about all the times her mother had embarrassed her in public. I waited patiently for a pause so I could tell her what I had been thinking about on our way over, and one came a few minutes later.

Anna had taken a breath and flopped down onto her bed, arm flung carelessly over her eyes.

"Hey, Anna?"

"Hmm?"

"I was thinking about the conversation we had on the way here and… I think you're right. I'm going to tell my father. About us, I mean."

Anna shifted on the bed, propping herself up on her elbows, "That's awesome, Elsa. What made you change your mind?"

I shrugged my shoulders again, "I don't know really. After talking to your mother and seeing how she just immediately accepted me made me think that maybe there's a little hope that my father won't completely freak out."

"I can come with you if you want?" She offered, sitting up fully.

"Would you?"

"Of course," Anna responded immediately, determination and… something else that I couldn't quite place shining in her eyes. "When were you thinking of telling him?"

"I was thinking maybe later today. I mean, there's nothing to gain or lose by waiting right?"

"Right," She affirmed, "We can go now if you want?"

I paused a moment before nodding, "Yeah," I took a breath, "Yeah, let's go now."

Anna grinned and rose from the bed, taking my hand, leading me down the stairs and out the front door. We had walked about fifteen feet down the sidewalk when Anna suddenly dropped my hand, turned, and ran back into the house.

"Anna?" I called after her.

"Give me a sec. I need to get something." She yelled back over her shoulder.

I raised an eyebrow at her retreating back, stuffing my hands into my jacket pockets.

She returned a minute later with two freshly baked chocolate chip cookies on a napkin in her hand. She ran back down to me and we started walking.

"Cookie?" Anna asked, gesturing to the napkin.

"Sure, thank you."

"Well too bad," She responded, a shit eating grin taking up residence on her face, "They're both mine."

I gasped and placed a hand on my chest, feigning hurt. "That's not fair," I said in mock shock, "There are two cookies and two of us."

"Looks like someone shouldn't have laughed at me earlier, huh?" Anna giggled and, after a pause, said, "I was just kidding, here you go," She handed me a cookie before biting into her own. She sighed contentedly while chewing. "There's nothing like a nice warm cookie during the winter. It heats you up from the inside out. For like a couple of seconds of course, but still." A pause. "Wow, that sounded kind of creepy."

I resisted the urge to chuckle at Anna once more, biting the inside of my lip to conceal a dopey smile.

We walked, me leading and her following, as I brought her to my apartment. After we finished our cookies she looked over at me, face lightly stained with chocolate.

"Um, Anna. You've a little chocolate on your face."

"What? Where?" She asked before rubbing her face with her hand, smearing the chocolate further around her lips.

I giggled and quickly removed my old phone from my pocket and snapped a picture.

"Hey!" Anna pouted, "That's not nice."

"I'm keeping that picture, no matter what you say," I told her, still chuckling.

At Anna's increased pouty face I grinned, "Awe, don't be like that. Come here," We stopped our slow walk, and I rested a hand on the side of her face, raising the napkin that the vanished cookies had rested in, to gingerly wipe the chocolate off.

The napkin collected the offending chocolate as I brushed my fingers lightly against her lips. The thumb of my free hand grazed over Anna's cheekbone and I was purposely avoiding meeting her eyes as she stared, not so subtly, at me.

I tucked the napkin into the pocket of my jacket, not yet removing my hand from the side of Anna's face. I finally looked up to meet Anna's eyes, moving my newly freed hand up to cup the other side of her face symmetrically.

Our slow breaths mingled visibly in the chilled winter air as I leaned in closer to her, resting my forehead against hers, neither of us breaking eye contact.

A small smile sprouted across her lips as her eyes gleamed in the sunlight and she brought her arms up behind me to rest on my back. Her smile was contagious; I felt one of my own slowly spread along the features of my face.

Tilting my head to the side, I closed the small space between us, pressing my cool lips to her warm ones.

Anna's eyes fluttered shut, mine quickly following suit, as she inhaled a short breath through her nose, moving her lips smoothly along mine.

One of my hands weaved itself into Anna's fiery hair, tangling in her soft locks as one of Anna's own trailed up my back to rest at the nape of my neck.

Thoughts and worries about the upcoming talk with my father flew from my mind as Anna bit down lightly on my lower lip before soothing it with a swipe of her tongue and I let out an involuntary gasp at the contact. Anna's tongue flooded my senses as it moved against mine and I was no longer capable of forming coherent thoughts.

I moved away several moments later, sucking air in greedily. I pulled away a bit further to look Anna in the eye.

A small lopsided grin found its way to my face, "Chocolate's gone."

Anna grinned back, "Thanks."

I pressed a final, chaste kiss to her lips, "No problem."

She wrapped an arm around the back of my shoulder blades and I did the same as we continued on in a comfortable silence, each consumed by our thoughts.

My mind, regretfully, turned away from Anna and to my father.

What's father going to say? How's he going to react? What am I even doing?

I internally sighed and glanced at Anna, walking beside me.

I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know what was going to happen. But I knew it would be okay.

It would be okay as long as I had Anna with me.