Chapter 10: Not as I expected.

It's finally the first day of school after winter break. The last few days I was in New York with my father's parents and some other relatives, but even if it was good to see them (we only visit them once or twice a year), I missed Elsa a lot, given that I haven't even talked to her since Christmas, when I called her to see if she liked her cellphone. Also, I missed the opportunity of kissing her when I forgot about the mistletoe and fell asleep before she left the day of our date, so I'm really hoping to get another chance at school.

I'm very excited about seeing her today and texting her during class. My plan is so perfect that nothing could get on our way, and now everything will be as it's supposed to be… except my punctuality, that is. I'm running late because I couldn't wake up early, but I still take my time to write a message for Elsa as I walk towards the school.

'Are at school yet? I fell asleep XD'

After waiting just a few seconds, I receive her answer:

'Yes, I am responsible you know? :)'

I smile at this and roll my eyes; it's so Elsa. I quickly type an answer that, I hope, will make her smile.

'Oh, stop it. I swear it's inhuman to wake someone before eleven. I bet it was invented as a way of torture by the inquisition.'

I'm waiting for her answer, when suddenly I hear a voice behind me.

"Hey, Anna!" I turn around to see Snow getting off a car and quickly write another text to Elsa.

'Snow came. See you.'

I press the send button and put my phone inside my pocket, before addressing the black haired girl, faking the best smile I can manage and pretending to be interested in her empty chatter. It's gonna be difficult to deal with these superficial girls, but oh well, at least this way they won't bother me… too much.

I just hope this day goes fast. I can't wait for English class tomorrow, because I sure as hell will be sitting by Elsa. My Elsa. It'll be the perfect place to win her heart.

First class is math with Weaseltown, and I really want to skip it, but I can't because my parents would kill me, so I have to stay there, supposedly learning about graphics and numbers, when I'm really just watching Elsa's pictures on my cellphone, sighing lovingly and daydreaming. After the two worst hours of my High School life (well, maybe I'm exaggerating, but whatever), I go to history. I'm quite nervous about this class because… well… I'm with Rapunzel here, but since our little fight about Hans and all that, I haven't talked to her, but now that I see she was right, I think the least I could do is to apologize, and maybe we could start again. If she still wants to be my friend, that is.

I take a deep breath to prepare myself as I enter the classroom and try to calm down my racing heart. Rapunzel is there, sitting on the back and reading some book, probably waiting for her new friend, Belle (you could say she's kind of my replacement). I walk towards her and sit at her side, waiting for her to notice me, but she just keeps reading, so I clear my throat to gain her attention. She looks briefly at me and keeps reading, ignoring me.

Well, I deserve it, I guess. Better start talking, hopefully she'll forgive me.

"H-hey, Punz." I stutter. She turns to look at me with an angry expression and doesn't return the greeting. I swallow, thinking about what should I say. "C-can we talk?"

"It depends." She says. "What do you want?"

"Well… I came to apologize." At this, she finally closes her book and fully turns to me, giving me her attention.

"I'm listening."

"Look, I know I've been a shitty friend the past months and I've been giving you the cold shoulder because I disagreed with you about Hans… B-but now I've seen that you… you were right; Hans is a jerk, Snow and the others are brainless and evil, and I was just being manipulated by them." I sigh. "I'm sorry, I should've listen to you, but I think I was just naïve and they seemed so perfect… Please forgive me. Rapunzel, you were my first friend, and the only real one that I have… the only one who really cared about me, so…" Finally I see her harsh expression melting into her sincere smile.

"I forgive you Anna. I just hope you learned the lesson this time."

"I did." I assure her. "So… friends again?" I ask hopefully while tending her my hand.

"Of course." She answers taking it and smiling. I can't help smiling back.

In that moment Belle comes in and Rapunzel waves at her as greeting. She waves at her too, but then glances at me with a confused expression. Punz signals her to sit at her side and, when she does so, my friend says:

"Anna, I think you haven't officially met my new friend, Belle."

"I think not, but I'd like to." I answer giving Belle a smile, which the girl promptly returns.

I think we're gonna be good friends.

History went great, and the hour after that even better, since I got to spend some time with both, Rapunzel and Belle, and I may say that the french girl (well, actually only her father is french; she was born here) is very nice and kind, and also intelligent. Sometimes she reminds me of Elsa a little, but of course Elsa is a lot better… though probably I'm a little partial about it. We talked about many things, but I took care about not mentioning anything about what Hans and the others forced me to do, and we got along very well.

Anyways, just after I'd walked them both to their respective class (they also have chemistry together) I started walking without really knowing where to go, and just as I'm considering going to my locker to find my books and get some homework done, I receive a text from Elsa:

'Hey, I just got some free time and thought about texting you. What are you doing?'

I smile. I haven't text her since the morning because I know she doesn't like to be distracted during class, but now she's texted me, and it makes me so happy to know she was thinking about me.

'I was with Rapunzel, but she has class now.'

I answer her question and then, without even thinking, I write another message:

'Do you wanna meet me at the schoolyard? It's pretty cold outside, so I don't think anyone would be in there.'

My plan was actually to not speak with each other in person during school time, except maybe in English, but screw it! I can't wait another day to see her, and I'm pretty sure she will accept my offer.

'Sounds great. See you there.'

"Yes!" I exclaim as I read her answer and jump around in excitement. I'm about to go running at maximum speed towards the school yard, when I hear someone calling me.

"Hello beautiful." Hans voice comes from behind me, sending chills all though my body, and not precisely the pleasant ones. I turn around to tell him that I'm busy, but as I do so, I see a pair of disgusting lips rapidly approaching to mine, and I'm just barely able to turn my head so that he kisses my cheek, not my mouth.

"Hello Hans." I sigh once I've taken a step back.

"Do you wanna go somewhere more private?" Hans asks giving me his best seductive smile.

"To do what?" I ask, even though I know too well what he wants, and the mere memory makes me want to throw myself though the nearest window (and we are at the second floor).

Instead of answering, though, he approaches to me so much, and with such an evil face, that I have to move backwards until my back hits the wall and he presses his whole body into mine, effectively preventing me from moving. I glance to both sides and see that the hall is practically empty, except from some students getting things out of their lockers and not sparing us a second glance.

Ok, this just got pretty scary and dangerous.

"I think you know the answer very well." Hans whispers on my ear as he thrusts his hips towards mine, and I close my eyes in disgust, feeling his erection. I place my hands on his shoulders, trying to get him off me, but he interprets it as me agreeing on what he's doing. "Or we could do some things here, of course not the ones we'd do in my car, but close enough. What do you say, whore?" He continues with a husky tone, which almost makes me shiver noticeably, but I contain myself and push him back with all my strength. He's stronger though.

"H-Hans…" I say, my voice shaking. "I-I have things to do. Besides, right now we're not friends with benefits. Did you forget our bet?"

"No, I haven't. And I really want you to lose. I'll prove to you, Anna, that you are the whore I always knew you were."

At this, I get mad at him and push even harder on his shoulders, not caring if I hurt him (because his words really hurt me) but still he's not moving even an inch.

"Hans, leave me alone." I demand in an angry tone.

"I won't. Not until you admit that you're a whore and let me take you to the parking lot." He answers, and by the tone of his voice I'm pretty sure that he's smiling devilishly.

I clench my teeth, not knowing what to do, because I'm pretty sure that Hans is perfectly capable of taking what he wants by force… and in this case it's me, which really scares me, but it's not on my hands to stop him. Maybe I could ask for help? But what if he gets mad? What would he do then? Could it get even worse?

I'm about to scream, crying for help, not caring about what Hans will think, but just as I'm gaining courage, I hear a voice from my right.

"Sorry to ruin your fun, Westergard, but I have to speak with you." I turn around to see a tall and stiff woman, who seems to be very strict. I bet she's a teacher, and a very scary one, may I add.

"M-Maleficent." Hans stutters taking a step back allowing me to breathe again. I quickly move far from the wall so I won't get trapped against it again. The teacher glares at him and he corrects himself. "I-I mean… Miss. Fae." He adopts his most innocent and charming expression. "What do I owe the pleasure?"

"Come to my office, we have a few things to discuss."

"I'd like to, but you see, I was busy with my friend here."

"I'm aware of it." She answers. "But I bet this girl here has some better things to do." She says looking at me.

"I do, and I wouldn't like to interfere in whatever you have to talk about. Goodbye." I quickly take the opportunity to excuse myself and run as fast as I can through the hallways and down the stairs until I finally stop near the school yard. I sigh in relief, wiping the imaginary sweat (It's so cold here that I'm not sweating even after running through half of the school) from my forehead, realizing that, if not for Miss Fae (who, now that I remember, is the head teacher) something serious could've happened today. I have to be more careful from now on; I shouldn't be by myself anymore, at least until the bet is over.

As I calm down, I look to my side and see a coffee machine. I've never been a fan of these coffees because they're practically tasteless, but it's cold outside, and the warmth may help easing me a little, plus it'd be a nice gesture towards Elsa as an apology for arriving late to our appointment, so I pay two mochas and, as they come out just one minute later, I take them (even if the paper cup practically burns my palm) and get through the doors that lead to the school yard.

To my astonishment, the snow-covered yard isn't empty; instead, there are four figures dressed in fancy winter clothes throwing an endlessly storm of snowballs to the floor… wait, not the floor, but a figure lying on the floor in a fetal position. My heart stops when, as I approach to get a better view, I realize it's Elsa, and the ones who are attacking her are Snow and the others.

"What are you doing?" I exclaim. Four pairs of eyes turn to see me as snowballs stop flying towards the helpless girl lying on the floor. I force myself not to look directly at Elsa because, if I do, I may end up screaming like crazy and revealing our secret friendship.

"Oh, Anna. Hi." Snow says relieved. "We were just having a little fun with the Ice Queen, care to join us?"

"Uh… I… actually I…" I stammer, unsure what to answer. I know before vacations I would've said yes, but now I don't want to do it, I can't do it, but for my own sake the best would be to agree.

In that moment I see Elsa trying to stand up and (probably) run away, but Cinderella kicks her ribs making her hiss in pain and fall to the ground again. I wince at this, even more as Cindy presses one of her heels on her back ordering her to stay still and preventing her from escaping. I want to help her, but I know it'd only worsen the situation.

"Uhm… I-I don't know, girls." I answer to Snow. "I didn't bring my gloves and my hands would freeze. Actually, it's pretty cold here. Why don't you just leave Elsa alone and go inside with me?"

"You became soft on vacation." Snow points out glaring at me, and I feel chills that have nothing to do with the winter weather. "That's why I've always hated Christmas; so many good wishes and friendly intentions make me sick."

"I-I know, right?" I laugh nervously, not wanting to get caught. "Uhm… But seriously, this cold is dangerous. You don't want to freeze Elsa to death, do you?" I half-joke. Actually, if she doesn't get in soon and keeps receiving snowballs all over her body, I'm pretty sure she will, at least, catch a cold.

"She's the Ice Queen. I bet that cold doesn't bother her." Aurora says, making them all laugh. I also fake a little laughter to not make them suspicious.

"Well, then if the cold doesn't bother her, what's the point on throwing her snowballs?" I take the opportunity to stop their torment towards the girl I love.

"You're right." Snow says with a voice so evil that competes with the ones of the villains from most movies. "But hot must bother her, right?"

"Uh…" I say, not knowing what she's getting to.

"Anna, who are those coffees for?"

"I was searching for… Meg to drink them with her." I lie, preventing myself from saying Elsa's name in time.

"Well, I'm sure she won't mind if we use it on the Ice Queen. And you can buy some more latter." She takes a step towards me and grabs one cup, even if I took a little step back to keep her from doing so, since I know she doesn't want them for something good. I even tried to tighten my grip over the beverage, but the fear didn't let me do it before the cup was taken from me.

Now I regret having bought those coffees.

"B-but…" I try to protest.

"What? Are you on this loser's side now?" Snow asks dangerously mad.

"Of course not." I pretend to be offended, knowing too well that a positive answer would mean the end of my privileged status at High School's hierarchy. So I harden my heart and, concealing my feelings amazingly good, I am able to disguise my sympathy towards Elsa. "I was just hesitant about the coffee because I really need a hot beverage right now, but you're right; I can buy another one." I kinda feel guilty about turning my back on Elsa, even more after the amazing moments we spent together but, I tell myself, I couldn't have done anything to prevent this from happening, not without revealing our friendship anyways. And besides, whatever Snow is gonna do her now, I'm pretty sure it can't be worse than many things they've done to her in the past. She sure can endure it… right?

"Very well." Snow smirks and then turns to the others. "Sit her up."

In that moment Cinderella takes her heel from Elsa's back and the three girls try to grab Elsa, who, despite the circumstances, is still opposing weakly, fighting fruitlessly against her captors. My fingers clench. I want to help her more than anything, I really do, however I know I can't. It's too dangerous.

After a few seconds of pointless resistance, they manage to get her on her knees, facing me and Snow. In that moment, she casts down her eyes adopting that neutral mask she uses whenever she's in danger. I bet she's afraid. And resigned.

Help her! Help her Anna, you idiot! You said you love her, doesn't that mean anything to you?

I close my eyes and shake my head, trying to get rid of my own voice that is scolding me. I can't do anything! It's out of my hand!

"Take this as our Christmas gift." Snow says taking a couple of steps towards Elsa. "Hopefully it will make you warm up a bit… Ice Queen."

As she says the last part, she holds the cup just above her head. I can see how Elsa's breathing hard and her face is paler than usual. She sure knows what's to come just as well as I do, and that it's inevitable. She's so scared and helpless that I decide that screw it, I won't stay here doing anything while she's being humiliated like this… but when the first drops land on her beautiful blonde hair and I see the brown liquid running down her face and body I'm just… petrified.

I'm shocked. I can't move. I can't even say a thing. Not when she winces from the hot and a little whimper is stifled as her face turns into a pained one as her body fights to get away from the liquid that is slowly being poured over her. I feel my heart breaking and I have to fight back my own tears. It's too late. They're doing it. They are committing the most evil act that I've seen between the school's walls.

I, once again, feel the urge to stop it, but fight against it because, if I intervene, they'd probably just use the other cup on me or something worse, and what good would that do? I'm sure Elsa wouldn't ask me to do such a sacrifice.

When the cup finally is completely poured over her and only drops are falling from her now brown-stained hair, I can't help sighing in relief, thinking that it's all over and that they'll finally leave Elsa alone. However, the moment of peace only last a few seconds.

"Your turn." Snow says turning to face me.

"Wait what?!" I exclaim taking a step back. Does she seriously expect me to do something so… despicable? "But I…"

"Come on Anna, do it! It'll be fun." Aurora says.

"Yes, don't be a killjoy!" Ariel agrees and soon all of my friends are insisting me to do it.

I close my eyes for a brief moment, refusing to let their pressure to get into my head as it's done many times before, however, it's very difficult to ignore their pleas. Slowly, I start considering to oblige, after all, Elsa's already received one cup of coffee, and a second one surely can't do so much more damage, right? Besides, if I don't do it, I'm pretty sure one of them will, and that'd be worse, since they could pour it in a part of her body that hasn't been affected yet, thus, hurting her even more… unless I drop the cup on the ground of course, but then they'd surely find something even worse to do with Elsa. No, the best is to end her torment now, and I'm the one who'll do it to make sure she receives the smallest amount of damage possible. It's for the best.

"Alright, I missed bulling her after all." I lie, opening my eyes and faking a smile.

I approach her and, ignoring the voice at the back of my head that's screaming to me that this is wrong, I slowly incline the cup until the hot liquid is falling on Elsa's hair and down her shoulders and back. I mentally give myself a pat on the back when this time she doesn't wince from pain or struggle to get away. It probably means that my plan worked and she's not getting hurt even further.

I take care to pour it faster than Snow, so soon it's all over and they release Elsa, who lands on floor with a thump, not even trying to get up after that, her gaze lost and empty, in a very scary way.

As the girls turn around to leave, I found myself unable to take my eyes off the view that's presented in front of me. This is not the girl who built snowmen with me. This is not the girl who'd blush and smile cutely at the smallest action. This is not the girl who laughed like crazy while helping me make cookies. This is a defeated girl, with a gaze resembling the one of a dead person, lying on the ground, covered in hot mocha and snow, completely humiliated and without any trace of dignity. And it's all my fault. I did this to her.

I can't look at her anymore, and instead, I run away as fast as I can as tears fall from my eyes making my vision blur. I push through the group of evil girls that made me do this, not caring about their protests as I my feet automatically lead me to the bathroom. I get into a stall, close the door and sit down, sobbing desperately, but trying to muffle my cries with my hand.

What the hell was I thinking? What's wrong with me? Why couldn't I defend Elsa instead of teaming-up with her tormenters just to save myself? Because that's what I did out there; save myself without caring what the consequences for Elsa were. I just managed to convince myself that it wasn't for selfish reasons at all. How could I do something so horrible to the one I love most? To the one that helped me be myself again during winter break and who gave me so many smiles and happy moments? I'm a despicable human being.

There's just one explanation for what I did: I love myself more than I love Elsa. She doesn't deserve someone like me. She deserves better. She deserves someone who knows how to love her.

But I don't want to give up on her. I don't want to keep the distance. I want to be with her.

Maybe I should just start being a better friend? Maybe I just need some time to change, to adapt and to deal with all of this? I'm sure she'll understand if I take Snow's side when I have no other choice, right? At least until I'm able to be the friend (or lover) she deserves.

The first step will be to apologize.

'OMG! Elsa, I'm so sorry, I know that was really wrong, but I didn't know what else to do. Please forgive me? I swear I didn't want to hurt you.'

I hurriedly type the message and press the send button, eating my nails in anxiety as I wait almost a whole minute for her answer.

Finally, it comes.

'Don't worry. It's fine'

I sigh from relief. She knows I didn't want to do it, and she forgives me. I haven't lost her friendship. She still trusts me.

I'll be a better friend from now on Elsa, I promise.