Chapter 5:

The week had come and gone. Classes were about to start and no one was really looking forward to them. The atmosphere around campus was chaotic; everyone tried not to get in each other's way. Last minute errands and purchases were what everyone had in mind.

For the first time in her entire life, Anna had actually managed to get everything ready in time, yet here she was running around campus. She was sure that she'd have to find some activities to do before she began her job, in order to avoid Elsa, but then again she'd probably see her there. Since she would practically be around Hans 24/7.

Both girls had tried to avoid each other as much as they could. They had spoken little, if at all, since the day of their last fight. Elsa was the hardest person to form a relationship with. She had looks, confidence and talent to die for. She could have anyone at her feet if she so wished. Her reluctance to let people get close to her made it hard for anyone to get along.

She lived in a world where only a few people were privileged enough to witness the true Elsa. If anyone could get in, they'd have to tear down iron walls, or so Anna thought.

Around noon, Anna decided she had done enough window shopping and it was time for lunch. While she waited for her food to arrive, she pulled out her phone.

Anna: Can I ask you something?

Ygrette: Yes, Anna, he's into you.

Anna:Not what I was going to ask.

Ygrette: Doesn't make it any less true. What's your question though?

Anna: Why does Elsa push everyone away?

Ygrette:I inherited all the social skills.

Anna: No, but seriously.

Ygrette: Honestly...?

Anna didn't want to push too hard, maybe there was something she wasn't supposed to know.

Ygrette:I feel like the reason is not for me to tell. You should talk to her.

Anna: I understand. Wish me luck!

Well that was useless.

She was stuck in a situation that would probably not turn out well regardless of what she chose to do. She could ignore Elsa for the rest of the year, which would make things super awkward, or she could confront her, which would lead to more fighting and well, awkwardness.

Kristoff had agreed to meet up with her after he'd finish purchasing his books. With everything else going on, Anna felt like it had been a while since she talked to Kristoff. Not Kristoff the one everyone knew and loved, but her best friend Kristoff.

"Wow, it's weird to see you without Ygrette next to you nowadays." She tried to show a smile as she said it.

"I might be a ladies man, but I also need some alone time."

"And yet here you are with me, you goof."

"Ah, good point. How you been though? How's Carlos?"

"Ugh, don't even ask. I feel bad for not even trying to text him since that night. Am I the only one who finds it weird that Ygrette mentioned his and Elsa's relationship?"

"Well, to be honest I didn't think about it until now. I was more worried about the look in your face at that time. It was either serious constipation or...?" Anna elbowed him before he could finish his sentence.

"Ow! What was that for?" He rubbed his arm.

"To prevent you from saying anything worse!"

"Alright, fine. But seriously though, did something go wrong?"

"I'm still trying to understand. Something put me off. I mean, I wasn't having the greatest of times but I was okay, you know? And then all of the sudden, I don't know. It might've been what Ygrette said."

"It kind of makes sense. If I went on a date with someone and their ex was brought up I probably wouldn't be too happy about it."

"But see, I'm not even interested in Carlos. I couldn't even care less about him."

"Well then, is it something to do with Elsa?"

"Ugh, I don't know. This is weird. I shouldn't even be bothering you with this."

"You know you can always count on me, Anna. Seriously."

"Thanks for that." she returned her gratitude with a hug and a smile.

"Well, I should probably get going since I agreed to meet up with Ygrette as well."

"Yeah, yeah. I thought you needed some alone time. But hurry! I'm pretty sure she wouldn't stand it if you were even a minute late." He gathered his things and ran off. Anna thought about how different things would be if she'd never met Kristoff at all. He was always the big brother she never had, finding ways to tease her and comfort her all at the same time. It's true, during freshman year they grew apart and rarely spoke to each other but after Anna's mom got really sick, he started visiting again. Soon enough it was as if everything had gone back to normal. Anna wondered if Ygrette would cause another separation between the two. She could tell Kristoff was quickly falling for her. Whatever happened though, she only wanted Kristoff to be happy.

Anna knew Elsa was in the dorm even before she entered. Just because they were avoiding each other didn't mean they had to sleep elsewhere. It was inevitable that they face each other at some point, so Anna figured she might as well get used to it.

She entered and found Else lying in bed, reading a book. She couldn't look better.

It's just as if she was in another universe, not a worry in the world. And those glasses... They make her look even sexier.

Did I just...? Well damn, it's really hard to hate her right now.

Elsa's angelic face, according to Anna, was interrupted by an awkward figure standing at the door.

"Do you have this thing were you just randomly stand for a long time?" Anna didn't say anything and just sat at her desk and opened her laptop. Elsa continued reading, not caring whether Anna responded or not.

Too many syllabi to download. That's the downside of having everything online but at least I don't have to carry books.

Anna's phone suddenly went off, startling both of the girls. Anna couldn't help but laugh while Elsa just returned to her book and continued reading, obviously annoyed.

Hmm, some number I don't recognize.

"Hello?"

"Hey Anna! It's Carlos."

"Oh hey Carlos. I didn't know this was your number." Anna felt Elsa's gaze on her. She heard the thump of her book fall into the bed.

Shit, I better step outside before something serious happens in here.

She stepped outside and paced around the hall.

"Yeah, I had to change my phone since I kind of ran over it and I figured I might as well change my number."

"You could have just texted, you know?"

"Well, there's another reason I called."

"Oh yeah?"

Shit, how can I say no?

"I know you didn't really enjoy the other night-"

"Oh man, was it that obvious?"

"Sort of, but that just gives me an opportunity to take you out again. This time it'll be just you and me though."

"Umm, sure. That sounds good." She stared into the wall.

"Great. I know you'll be busy with school during the week, so how about this weekend?"

"Perfect."

Anna had finally stopped pacing. She leaned against one of the walls and looked at her phone, regretting having said yes.

She hesitated about going back to her room. She entered and stared at Elsa, only to find her staring back. Her eyes seemed welcoming, sincere and challenging. Anna was almost tempted to share everything with her, as if she was inviting her to her side.

"Save it Elsa, you're not my mother." Said Anna instead.

Elsa didn't say anything. She stayed in place for a while before grabbing her bag and leaving the room.

Well, that's that.

Elsa did not know what else she could do to make Anna understand. Why was it so hard for her to simply listen without putting up an argument?

Maybe because she doesn't really understand. You really need to explain it to her, tell her the truth.

There were several times when she almost gave in, she wanted to tell Anna everything. The thing about Anna though, unpredictable, crazy Anna, was how unexpectedly she would react. Besides, telling her the truth would only make Elsa look vulnerable and she didn't want anyone, including Anna, to see her that way.

There had to be another way. She had to make Anna trust her.

No shit, Sherlock. Too bad you screw things up with her since day one.

Who's the person she trusts the most? Probably Kristoff. I can't get to him if he's with Ygrette, though. She has her way of manipulating people.

Oh, but here's an idea.

Elsa was aware that she could not change the way Kristoff felt about Ygrette, it would be impossible for him to look at her in a different way. She was sure that Kristoff probably didn't like her very much since Anna must have told him about their fights.

There was only one thing she knew for sure. Kristoff would do anything for Anna, so if she told him that she intended to work things out with Anna, he'd be more than happy to help.

And so he did. He didn't even put up a fight after Elsa mentioned her name.

"Do you think this will actually work?"

"I'm not saying she'll like you from now on, but she'll know that you're trying and I'm sure that's all she wants." He responded indifferently.

Elsa didn't understand how such a small gesture would change things, but then she realized she didn't really know Anna and Kristoff did. So she listened to him attentively and did as he said.

Elsa's alarm was always prompt at 6:30AM every morning. Fortunately Anna had always been a heavy sleeper and even if she did wake up, she'd always managed to go back to sleep.

Sometimes she could hear Elsa giggle at the state Anna would wake up in, messy hair and light snores. She was usually too sleepy to care and didn't even take notice of it until hours later, when by then she'd figured Elsa's giggles were just a fragment of her imagination. Those were the moments when she regretted not being a morning person, she couldn't fully appreciate a different side of Elsa.

The fact that Elsa wouldn't mention it after, made Anna even more skeptical. She didn't want to initiate a conversation over something that might have not even happened, then Elsa would think she was also crazy, not that she didn't already.

Having chosen a class at 8:00AM during her freshman year was one of the biggest mistakes Anna had made. This year she was sure she wouldn't repeat the same mistake. Her first class began at 10:00, which gave her enough time to gain full consciousness and have breakfast.

By eight-thirty she had managed to get up, willingly or not. She sensed something different about the room but couldn't put a finger on it. She dragged herself to the bathroom and struggling as she was, she made it into the warm shower.

What better way to wake up than a nice hot shower? Oh shit, I don't have time for a long shower.

Fully awake, she pulled the towel around her body and stepped back into the room.

Is that... Chocolate?

She wrinkled her nose, trying to capture the entirety of the magnificent scent in the room. It didn't take her long to spot a box of chocolate assortments over her desk. She took long strides to reach for them, almost slipping on the now wet floor.

She examined the box closely and finally picked it up, noticing a note underneath. The fine, elegant print read:

I'm sorry for being a bitch. You're right, I'm not you mother.

Can we start from scratch?

Enjoy the chocolates,

Elsa

Anna couldn't even begin to describe the feeling that spread throughout her being. Could it be the chocolates or Elsa? She wondered if she was dreaming but quickly released that thought.

This better be happening.

She looked through her clothes, trying to find something to wear for the first day of class. After much hesitation she finally decided on an outfit, while all along thinking about the note she had found.

Before leaving for breakfast, she quickly grabbed a piece of paper and tried to come up with the correct words for Elsa. She wasn't sure if that apology was one she could accept, she wasn't even sure if that deserved to be called an apology.

She grabbed her backpack and left the note on Elsa's desk, re-reading it over and over until she finally realized she would be late if she didn't leave then.

The dining room was packed with students trying to get their food. Long lines at every food station. She hoped that this wouldn't be the case every day, otherwise she would have to start making her own breakfast.

She spotted a tall familiar figure with blonde hair, Kristoff. He waved at her and signal for her to join him in line.

"It's strange seeing you without Ygrette." She scanned the vast room looking for her.

"Well good morning to you too, shorty. And yes, this is the second time you've mentioned that"

"This might actually be the first time I see you in a good mood this early in the morning."

"What can I say? I think I'm in love." He shrugged.

"I take it you're not officially a thing then?"

"Nah, it's a little too soon. I mean, there definitely is attraction between the two of us but we're just getting to know each other."

"Well that's good to hear. I'm glad you're happy, I can see it in you." Anna gave him a sincere smile and he knew she meant it.

"What about you? Anything new with Carlos?"

They both grabbed a plate and looked at the selection of foods.

"He's taking me out on another date this weekend."

"And that's a good thing, right?"

"To be honest, I'm not even sure I want to go."

"Cause of Elsa?"

"Yes. No. Well, not for the reasons you think. I couldn't care less that he dated her."

"What's the problem then?"

"Well the problem is that she has a problem with it." Kristoff stared at her with confusion.

"Doesn't she have a boyfriend?"

"That's what I said! Apparently there's something I don't know about him."

"Well he seems like a nice guy, but looks can be deceiving. I guess it's just a matter of who you trust the most."

"I barely know any of them. I doubt Elsa would lie to me. Ugh, and I doubt Carlos would hide something that important."

"Trust your instinct. Of course, be careful, we both know what happened with Samantha." They walked to a nearby table and sat.

"I should really take it slow with him."

"Well I think we both know he'll just be in the friend-zone."

"Oh yeah, definitely."

Kristoff walked Anna to class and apologized for not being able to meet up with her for lunch, he had already agreed to catch up with Ygrette.

Anna's schedule didn't look too bad. The only class she knew she would dread was calculus first thing in the morning, but it was just better to get it over with. As soon as she walked into the classroom, she regretted not having looked at the reviews for her professors. She regretted not looking up her calculus professor, most of all. She noticed he would look at the door any time someone came in, which wasn't a bad thing, but the antagonizing looks he gave at each student could make anyone drop the course then and there.

This is going to be hell. Help me God.

"Alright everyone have a seat already, this isn't rocket science. And you back there," He pointed at a guy leaning on the table, "at least pretend you're awake, will you? Do me a favor and shut the door, lock it as well."

Lock the door? What is he going to do, murder us?

"Which brings me to my next point. If you are one minute late, you will be locked out and miss the day's lessons. It is your responsibility to get with another classmate and make up your work. If you are late five days and miss five lessons then I suggest you drop the class, otherwise your GPA will. "

He didn't even have to breathe, it's just as if he was a robot, Anna noticed.

"You will have five exams, including the final. No multiple choices, all short answer. Homework will also count as a test grade, but don't rely on that to bring up your grade. This," he grabbed a student's spiral, "this will not do. You will need a three subject journal for this class; we will be taking a lot of notes. I do call randomly on people so you best make sure you're paying attention." He glanced around the room, trying to spot anyone not looking at him.

"Finally, I know you expect to do nothing today, but oh you're wrong. We don't have the privilege of wasting time. Class begins today so open up your journals."

By the end of the class Anna was sure her hand couldn't do anymore writing. She could tell, by the looks of all the other student's faces, that many would not be coming back. Unfortunately, she didn't have the luxury to drop it since it would be hard to sign up for another calculus class.

The semester just began and I can't wait till it's over.

The rest of her classes were a piece of cake. Compared to what she had gone through first thing in the morning, who was she kidding, there was no comparison. It had been a long day, longer than anticipated, and she couldn't wait to get to her dorm. Thinking about that brought Elsa back into her mind.

I wonder if she saw my note. What if she replied?

That galvanized her return; she didn't even care if she was tired. She briefly remembered what she had written to her.

I want nothing more than to have a clean slate. Chocolates won't do the trick though ;) -Anna

She had been hesitant about the wink, but she didn't want to seem emotionless either. She also hoped that would be a way to get Elsa to open up, to show her that she was willing to be in good terms.

Elsa wasn't in the room when Anna arrived, which didn't surprised her because, knowing Elsa, she probably had a rigid schedule. From what Anna could gather though, she had been in the dorm, probably around lunch. A pair of pants and a shirt on her bed gave her away.

Ha! And here I thought Elsa couldn't be messy.

She immediately dropped everything as she, once again, spotted a piece of paper over her desk. It felt like Christmas morning all over again, or maybe even better. So much expectation, how could a piece of paper with words in it mean so much? How a string of words could, probably scribbled down in five seconds or less, make her feel so excited? There had only been one thing that had made her feel this way before. That one thing that now only made her heart break, Samantha's smile every morning. She was, however, unwilling to think about that again. She turned the paper over and read the words carefully, over and over again, as if she had missed something the first time.

I knew you wouldn't make it that easy. I guess I'll call this a challenge.

I hope you had a first good day in class.

P.S. Believe me when I say I love challenges, they're what I live for.

Elsa

Anna couldn't stop smiling like an idiot. Elsa clearly expressed herself better through written words than in person. She was like a whole different person, charming personality which rarely showed through her day to day interactions. She wanted to respond back as soon as she had finished reading the note, the only thing stopping her was her inability to think of something appropriate to say. She headed for her bed, not letting go of the note. She was afraid that if she let it go, it would make it unreal. As she recalled the day's events, she thought about the next day, what her classes would be like and what challenges she would have to face. No matter what she thought about though, it always came down to Elsa and her note. It was and endless loop of realizations. She was thinking too much that she didn't even realize she was slowly drifting off to sleep.

AN: So, shorter chapter than I anticipated. Kind of rushed through it in the end so if you spot any mistakes let me know and I'll be forever grateful :D

Let's see, what else? Oh yea, remember the elsanna interactions I mentioned? Prepare yourselves for more!

I have a feeling you guys will like this chapter slightly more than the rest.

Also, I made a Tumblr account: siri-ias, I've also added it into my profile.

One last thing before this gets too long, I want to know if you guys spot any allusions/references throughout the chapters.

Enjoy!