AN: Very short chapter, I'm afraid. If you want more Frazel (or any other canon couples to be honest, check out the latest chapter of my other multi-chapter PJO/HOO story, Strings of Fate or my one-shot, The Realm of Hypnos.)
Next chapter we actually meet Frank's friends!
Unfortunately, Frank had forgotten that he had promised to help Gwen and Dakota film a video they were making to raise money to save the local zoo's elephant, Hannibal, after school. He had also forgotten that after that, he had an extra football training session. (Coach Hedge was absolutely nuts. The archery coach, Coach Apollo and the hockey coach, Coach Blofis, who was also his English teacher, pretty much never called extra training sessions.)
He didn't remember until halfway through second period.
Dang it.
He couldn't go find Hazel today.
He had no idea where to find her except outside Olympus Middle School, or possibly at or near the ice-cream store, but that was a long shot. (He had no idea whether she frequented the place, or whether she only went there in hopes of finding her brother.)
And he would have to wait all weekend, because today was Friday.
It was not shaping up to be a good day.
That afternoon, after filming that video with Dakota and Gwen, Frank stood next to his locker, struggling out of his elephant costume.
(He'd be late for practice if he didn't hurry up.)
Luckily, the school was empty, since everyone had already gone home. Most of the high schoolers left quickly, in order to avoid the middle schoolers, who for some reason, started and finished half an hour later.
'Frank?'
He heard a voice behind him.
Oh, gods, not now, please...
Elephant ears still on his head, he turned to face Hazel, redness creeping up his cheeks.
'Oh, hi, Hazel! It's lovely to see you!'
His voice came out higher than usual.
Dang it!
She smiled.
'It's lovely to see you too...May I ask, what's with the outfit?'
She was staring quizzically at him, and frankly, he didn't blame her if she never wanted to see him again, soulmate or not. Who wanted to date a guy who was a part-time pachyderm?
'Oh...well...you see, Hannibal the elephant, at the zoo, is suffering really badly due to a chronic case of indigestion, due to peanut intolerance, so Dakota and Gwen, who are Seniors here, decided to make a video to raise money for his healthcare, and they, well, sort of roped me into it, so here I am...'
She frowned. A dimple appeared on her chin, and oh, gods, she was cute when she was frowning too. He was a goner.
Please don't run off. I know I'm completely not-smooth and dressed as an elephant and...but please don't run off...
'Oh, poor Hannibal! I had no idea that elephants could get peanut indigestion.'
He let out a breath he didn't quite realize he'd been holding.
'Yeah, you and me both.'
They stood there somewhat awkwardly again.
And then they both spoke at the same time.
'So...I gather that last night you noticed um...'
'I think we're...'
Then, again at the same time:
'Oh, I'm really sorry, you first.'
They both burned even redder. Hazel giggled. Frank smiled sheepishly.
'So you know...'
'Yeah, that we're...'
He took a deep breath.
'So, um, Hazel, would you like to go to the zoo tomorrow? With me?' He mentally facepalmed. The zoo, really, Zhang? The zoo? 'You know, just to see how Hannibal's going...' Sure, just dig yourself a deeper hole. The one time in your life that you really, really needed to be smooth...
She smiled up at him, her gold eyes shining. It was one of the most beautiful sights he'd ever seen. (Yes, he was sappy, at least in his own mind, dang it.)
'I'm looking forward to it. I'll meet you there, tomorrow, ten o' clock, then?'
He nodded numbly.
Then, something happened that turned his whole day around, 180 degrees.
She stretched up, and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
'You make a very handsome elephant, Frank.'
'ZHANG! PUT SOME CLOTHES ON AND GET YOUR BUTT OUT HERE!'
Coach Hedge's voice, magnified by a megaphone (not that he needed it) rang out. Seriously, how did the guy manage to shout so loud that they could hear him in the building when he was on the football field?
Frank jumped, the assorted elephant costume pieces he was holding landing on the floor.
Hazel jumped too, and somehow ended up 1.5 metres (he'd lived in Canada until he was fourteen and metric was way better) away from him.
Frank looked sheepish, and rubbed the back of his neck.
'Oh, that's Coach Hedge. He's going to kill me! Sorry, Hazel, I've got to go!'
She waved at him, eyes sparkling with mirth.
'See you tomorrow, Frank!'
He waved back, already jogging down the corridor.
Hazel simply smiled as she watched him go.
It was not every day that one saw a handsome elephant who happened to be your soulmate jogging off to football practice, after all.