~Elsa~

Aunt Arianna and Uncle Frederick were already waiting for us in the parking lot the night I broke things off with Jack. I had to be quick to act like everything was alright. That I didn't just break up with my boyfriend a couple of minutes before. Boyfriend...is that how I saw him? Is that what he is-was to me? God, we barely even started our relationship. Should it even be considered a breakup? Should I even call him my boyfriend? I suppose it doesn't matter anymore, and perhaps it's better this way.

It wasn't until Rapunzel's parents had gone to bed that they came to me and asked their questions. And of course, their questions were predictable.

"Did you like it?"

"Was that your first kiss ever or your first kiss with him?"

"Would you do it again?"

And of course:

"Why did you get mad and take off? Are you okay?"

And because I promised no more lies and secrets, I told them the truth. All of it. I told them of every single moment I've had with him. What's the point in keeping it a secret anymore?

"Yes, I liked it. No, that wasn't my first kiss with him, but he was my first kiss. Yes, I would do it again in the right setting, and I got upset because I didn't want anyone to know yet. I wanted to keep it a secret for a little bit because I just wanted something for myself for once. Plus, with everything going on with Hans…I really didn't want people to continue to talk about me, even if it was in a positive light this time. So I broke it off."

And of course, they did not take that news lightly. In fact, they started scolding me.

"He's absolutely perfect for you! Are you crazy?"—Anna

"You've got to take him back!"—Rapunzel

Their words only made me feel more guilty.

"I know, but I can't. Not right now." That was all I said, and they wished me luck.

I had also received a lot of text messages from the other girls in our group too, wanting all the gossip.

Alright, I'm not gonna lie. I've been waiting for you two to kiss for a while now, the sexual tension was getting quite annoying, but considering how you reacted I'm gonna assume that you didn't like it. Wanna talk?- Astrid

So…are we not gonna address that lip-locking action you and Jack did? I don't mean to pry but...I NEED DETAILS!- Moana

You should have had me punch Jack right in the face, stomach, and balls. You didn't seem happy at all that he did that and I wouldn't have either. Boys need to learn consent and I'm the perfect lass to teach them.- Merida

Hey...um...do you wanna talk about what happened? Jack won't talk to me or the others. In fact, after you left he took off to find his mom, siblings, and North. It's been hours now and still nothing. Whatever you said to him really hurt him, but his kiss obviously upset you too. Are you doing alright?— Tooth

I wanted to reply to all of them, especially Tooth, but I left them all unanswered until the next morning. Once that morning came along, I answered all their questions.

I did like it, I was just embarrassed. I'm good though.- To Astrid

All you need to know, Mo, is that I both liked it and hated it. I needed a warning for sure. And a more private room. I'm embarrassed is all.- To Moana

Lol yeah, I wasn't happy, but while your violence is appreciated, it's not necessary. Thank you though.- To Merida

I'm doing okay, and there's not much to really say except that I didn't like being kissed in front of everyone. I've told him that before and he still did it. He said it was because he was happy he won and that it was a heat of the moment kind of thing, but also with a mix of jealousy because I kissed Olaf on the cheek. Ridiculous.- To Tooth

Tooth and I had actually talked the most and I was so glad to finally come clean to her about Jack and mine's very short, secret relationship, though I'm sure she knew we had made it official. It was still relieving to tell her, even though I was just a bit uncomfortable. I mean, she's in love with him too, after all.

"Yeah," she had said on the phone the other night, "he shouldn't have gotten jealous, but as for it being in the heat of the moment...I think maybe...well…"

"You think I should try to let it go, move past it, and get back together with him?" I had suggested, knowing that that was what she was trying to say.

"Yeah," she had answered, sheepishly. "I mean that in the nicest way possible. Your feelings are totally valid; he crossed a boundary, but...maybe try looking at it from his perspective?"

"I know, I know, it's just...I think I still need some time. I'm still so embarrassed by it. Honestly, I'm beginning to be embarrassed by the way I reacted now too."

"Hey," she says sternly, "Don't be embarrassed at how you reacted. Remember what I said: your feelings are valid. Always. And take as much time as you need, okay?"

And to my surprise, talking to her really did make me feel so much better.

School was definitely awkward though. Our group didn't mention anything at all about the kiss. Mainly because the girls knew all the details already, and I'm sure they filled in the other boys. Jack didn't distance himself from the group, and I didn't either, but we did stay separated from each other, and ugh the pull to be next to him, that desire, it's never felt so strong, so tempting. He has, however, tried talking to me many times throughout the week, but I kept telling him 'not now' or 'later' or 'I need space', which he obliged to until the next time he would try.

Thankfully, he wasn't too annoying with his tries. While yes, he did bother me, he still respected my wish for space, only coming to me once a day. I won't lie though, I'm...kind of glad he kept coming, that he tried to communicate...it told me of his seriousness. However, I still wasn't ready. And I'm still not, a week later.

It's Friday now, a good seven days after Jack and mine's public kiss, and currently the last football game of the season. A s of right now, Jack is sitting at the end of the bleacher row that I'm on. We've made eye contact a few times, but nothing more than that. Speaking of nothing, we've heard no word from Hiccup's dad or Astrid's aunt about Hans and whether or not we need to be taken back in or not.

I hate being left in the dark, knowing absolutely nothing.

I hate not knowing what's going to happen to Jack and I.

I hate how tired I am. Between nightmares and a racing mind that won't shut up, sleeping is hard.

I know I hold the power of whether I should get back together with him or not. To make us go public, but...I'm scared. What if...what if it becomes too much for me? Like way more than what it already was? What if it becomes too much for him? I am an heiress after all. If things get really serious between us...if he's going to be my forever...he'll be expected to help run my family's architect business. He doesn't have to, but it's preferred. Social image and whatnot.

I won't lie, these worries are what's stopping me from getting back with him. The overthinking, the what-ifs. We're already over, so maybe it's best if it stays like that. Right?

My thoughts come to an end when Astrid suddenly causes a scene by running up the stairs and coming straight towards the group, her cheerleading skirt swinging violently back and forth.

"Astrid?" Hiccup gets to his feet, worried. "What's wrong?"

"Yeah," Merida chimes in, "and why hasn't the game started yet? What's the hold-up?"

"One of the football players won't be able to make it to the game, family emergency apparently," she explains, "So Eep will be taking his place, which means I need Rapunzel to step in for her on the squad."

Our eyes go wide. "Wait, they're letting Eep, a girl, play?" Anna asks, amazed.

"Her dad is one of the coaches," says Astrid, "He's taught her everything there is to know about football. He was insistent that it be his daughter."

"That's awesome!" Moana and Merida say at the same time. "Now that what I call girl power," Moana adds.

"But now that the squad is down a cheerleader," Astrid continues, looking at Rapunzel. "We need you to fill in for her."

"Rapunzel, do you even know the cheers or moves?" I ask my cousin.

She nods. "I used to cheer for a little bit during my first year here. I only stopped because Chloe made it too hard for me to handle. Are you sure you guys really need me though? What about Chloe-"

"Fuck, Chloe!" Astrid spats, "I'll punch her right in that fake little nose of hers if she does or says anything. And she better not because I'm technically helping her out. Every member is important, and with Eep going to the field, it's going to really throw us off. We need you, Rapunzel. You know the moves and the cheers. You'll do great."

My cousin thinks about it for a moment before getting to her feet. "You guys have an extra uniform?"

And so, she leaves with Astrid, leaving me and the others in absolute shock. So far, the days have been normal. The only thing out of the ordinary is Mr. Black being absent with a very bad case of the flu. So of course something out of the blue like this is happening right now. There's never a dull moment.

"Astrid seriously needs to be cheer captain," says Moana. "She's more suited for it than Chloe, that's for sure."

"Agreed," Hiccup says, dreamily as he watches the tough blonde go.

"Hopefully seeing Rapunzel in a cheer uniform doesn't throw Flynn off out there," Anna teases, making some of us laugh.

Just like how no one has mentioned Jack and me in person, no one has said anything about Flynn and Rapunzel's kiss either. If they did, it was most likely through the phone, wanting to avoid awkwardness in person. Anna had asked our cousin if we should expect them to be a couple in the future, and Rapunzel's answer left my sister excited.

"I'm not sure. Maybe. It's complicated."

Which to Anna meant yes.

The game officially started a few minutes later, and when the cheerleaders came out in front of the bleachers, my eyes went straight to Rapunzel, who looked absolutely adorable in her temporary cheer uniform. And seeing Eep in her football gear was definitely a sight to see.

She looked badass and ready to destroy the opponents.

However, as the game went on, a few people sitting nearby kept making comments about how the team is going to lose by having a girl play. I don't know why they were even complaining because Eep kept making touchdown after touchdown. During halftime, Flynn had come over and even said that she should have been on the team long ago.

He also said that Rapunzel never should have stopped cheering.

Yeah…he would NOT stop checking her out.

Neither would Chloe. She was obviously pissed at having Rapunzel there, but luckily she didn't do anything to sabotage the squad. She sucked it up pretty well.

And while I knew a lot of people doubted that our team would win by having Eep play, there wasn't an inch of doubt in my mind that we would lose. And when she won the winning score, I was on my feet with everyone else in the stands, cheering her on. I've grown accustomed to pretending things are normal, that things aren't going to go down at any moment, which I know they will soon, something in my bones is telling me they will, but in this moment, this feeling of...empowerment...it made me feel so...good and inspired. Like I could do anything and succeed at it.

It made me feel as though everything is going to be okay.

It's kind of funny how I'm feeling all this all because a girl made a touchdown, but it's something I didn't know I needed to see. And for that, I'm grateful.

"Flynn was right," says Olaf, "Football really is exciting!"

Flynn, Eret, Bunny, and the other boys on the team gathered around Eep and lifted her up, repeating her name over and over. Her boyfriend, Guy, was on the field a minute later, and when the boys set her down, she ran to him and kissed him passionately. And while the moment was cute, it left me feeling a little bitter because...Jack had done the same thing. He might have been a little jealous, but he was also happy, like Eep is now, and I reacted childishly. My feelings were valid, yes, but I should have been more mature, especially since I was around people.

I need to apologize. God, I miss him so much. These days ignoring him, giving him the silent treatment the best I could, they've been awful. At first, I felt it was what he deserved, but once it started to affect me, I began to wonder who I was really punishing. Him...or me?

And then, of course, my mind began to list all the reasons as to why, and it's just been...tiring.

But getting back together with him? As much as I want to, and trust me I really really want to, is it even a good idea right now? I'm starting to think that maybe after graduation would be a better time for us. After all, right person wrong time is a thing. Maybe I should go to therapy again?

Eep's dad, Coach Grug, broke up their kiss, said a few words, which caused some of the audience to laugh, then proceeded to push Guy to the side so he could hug and spin his daughter around.

This causes my thoughts to shift away from Jack. Now, all I can think about are my parents, who still haven't called us back. It's been weeks. I can only pray that it's technical issues and not something seriously bad.

If something bad has happened...No, stop. Don't think about that. Enjoy the now and worry later.

"This is definitely going to go down in the school's history," Moana says over the cheers, "A girl brought our team to victory!"

"Now let's hope the boys' fragile egos and toxic masculinity don't cause problems," Merida comments, but instead of a scowl, she's smirking. "Because if that's the case, I'll show them just how fragile they really are."

I can imagine exactly how she'd do that, and it left me slightly cringing in pain.

Olaf stared at the curly redhead with wide, horrified eyes. "Wow, you are scary. And violent. Violently scary."

Merida bursts into laughter. "And don't you forget it."

"That probably won't be the case though," Tooth pipes up, commenting to Merida, "I mean look how they're cheering with Eep."

"Don't be fooled by appearances," says my sister, a sad look in her eyes. "Looks can be deceiving. A smile isn't always friendly. I know that all too well."

I nod in agreement, knowing she was talking about Hans. "Very true, but at least we know our boys well enough to know they're sincere."

"Flynn is still bound to make a comment, even if it's jokingly," says Jack, chuckling softly with the shake of his head.

I crack a smile, knowing that he's right. Speaking of Flynn, as my eyes went back down into the field, I saw him approach my cousin. His mouth was moving, but of course, I couldn't hear or make out what he was saying. Whatever it was, he looked a little shy, as did Rapunzel, and after a few more words they started to head for the bleachers, most likely returning to the friend group.

Astrid was still in the field too, talking to Chloe. Well, maybe talking isn't exactly the right word. She's probably verbally fighting Chloe. But whatever was said amongst them quickly came to an end, leaving Astrid to stray her way back to us too. However, a smug smile was on her face so whatever she said to Chloe must have gotten under her skin.

When the three of them returned, it was Olaf who suggested we go out to eat at McDonald's, which everyone was on board with.

But first, according to Anna, potty-break.

No one else needed to go except for Anna, so Rapunzel and I went with her for protection. Not just because of the whole Hans situation, but for any predator in general. It's just what girls do; have always done. Stick together even during the bathroom breaks.

Anna and Rapunzel were talking up a storm about Rapunzel's cheering, how amazing she was, and how it's sad she had to quit because of Chloe, but the closer we got to the bathrooms inside the school, a different voice filled the air.

A singing voice. One I haven't heard in so long. One that made me stop in my tracks, so I could focus better. One that made my heart race.

"Elsa?" says Anna, worried. "What's-" but then she stops too, hearing the singing as well. Her eyes widen with a gasp. "Is that...That sounds like…"

"Mama," I breathed out, and before I even knew what I was doing, I'm running down the hallway towards the direction of the voice, ignoring the other people around.

I didn't stop running until I make it to the music room, where the singing could be heard from, and when I swing open the door, I was left both disappointed and surprised when I saw that it was Marianne singing.

She sounds exactly like my mother.

Marianne had abruptly stopped singing, startled because I had swung the door open with no warning, and with a hand over her heart, she says, "Oh my god, Elsa you almost gave me a heart attack." She's laughing though, which usually means no harm done. "What has you scaring people like this?"

"I-I'm sorry," I say, feeling the heat of embarrassment rush to my face. "I thought...I heard you singing and you sounded exactly like my mom so...but of course, she wouldn't be here. She's overseas with my dad, and...I should go. I'm sorry."

But as I turn I bump right into my sister, who stumbles back into Rapunzel. "Whoa, easy there. Nearly took my head off." She peers her head to try to look inside the room. "Who's in there?"

"That would be me," Marianne says as she approaches the door. "What the heck is going on?"

"You just sounded like my mom is all," I explain, the embarrassment becoming too much. "I thought she was here. I should have known better. I'm sorry I-"

"Hey," Marianne interrupts, "don't be sorry. You got excited is all. If I heard my mom's voice, or at least one that sounded like hers, I would have done the same."

"Yeah." An awkward silence emerges, but Anna is quick to change that.

"So why are you in the music room?" my sister asks, which I noticed caught Marianne off guard.

"Oh um," she rubs her neck, nervously, then sighs in defeat. "Well, I wasn't gonna say anything to anyone, but considering you know how Roland was since you and Hans hung out with us a lot, I know you'll understand. He um...he's been cheating on me. I caught him kissing a Freshman girl under the bleachers an hour ago. We're done. So I've been here. Singing and crying."

Her eyes did have a pink tint to them. She must have stopped crying a while ago, and now I feel awful for interrupting her alone time. "Marianne," I shake my head at the disbelief and audacity of Roland, "I'm so sorry."

"God, what a jerk!" Says Rapunzel, "Him, Hans, and the other boys in their group are such assholes. Mcintosh, Lance, Charming-God there's no way that's his real name and the others are such pricks!"

You know she's pissed when she starts cussing. We're all like that.

"I knew he was no good since the moment I met him," Anna growls. "Him and Hans are trash. I mean, granted, he didn't try to sexually assault and kill your sister, but still."

And of course, I just had to ask. "Hold on, you were able to tell that Roland was trash, but not Hans? They were both fake from the very beginning."

Anna looks away, sheepish. "It's different when it's your boy. When you know, or think, that they want you and love you. When they're interested in you, you can sometimes ignore the red flags. Sometimes you're blind to them or genuinely can't see them because they're so good at hiding them. Their true colors."

"Exactly," Marianne agrees, sharing a sad look with my sister. "We were blind and deceived. They were good actors. I doubt we're the first victims too, but you know what? Fuck them and fuck love. Men are trash and love is a waste of time."

"Oh don't be like that," Rapunzel says, gently. "You sound like Merida. Not all men are cheaters. Actually, men who do that aren't men at all. They're boys. Ignorant, childish boys. Real men…" her eyes soften and glaze over, as if she's thinking of someone. Possibly Flynn. "Real men are patient, kind, loving, thoughtful, understanding; they'll do anything to make you laugh when you're upset or just to hear the sound of it. They'll do anything to see you smile. There are good men out there, Marianne, and I know you'll find yours. Honestly, you dodged a bullet by seeing Roland with this other girl. Think of this as a good thing."

I nod in agreement, with Jack heavily on my mind. Everything that Rapunzel said matched with him, causing another wave of guilt to wash over me. And for me to return the thoughts that have crossed my mind before. He's perfect for me, and I'm wasting time. Distancing him this past week has drained me. I need Jack. Well, actually I don't, but I want him. There's no denying that. I don't know how many ties I said or thought it. I'm just...terrified.

And now I'm scared of something else, a new fear unlocked. What if...what if Jack is a good actor too and I'm being played? What if he's like Roland? What if he finds someone else while he's with me? What if he finds someone else while I keep distancing myself? If I stay away, I'll hurt, but if I don't stay away there's a possibility I'll get hurt. Is it worth the risk?

So many people I know would say yes. Jack would say yes. Of course, he would. I want to say yes, and I know he's not like Hans or Roland at all, I can feel that in my heart, but... what-if?

A new tear is forming down Marianne's cheek as she nods and wipes it away. "Yeah, you're right, it just...sucks. Especially since I've had an iffy feeling about him from the very beginning and didn't listen to myself. It's just...he was the first guy who took interest in me, and that's what got me interested. His good looks helped too I suppose." She scoffs then. "Ugh, I'm not even into blondes. From now on though, I'm listening to my gut. My gut had a bad feeling, but I was blinded by his pretty smile and sparkling eyes. I'm gonna do better."

Anna puts a comforting hand on Marianne's shoulder and smiles. "Me too. We'll find our princes one day, but until then, let's focus on ourselves."

My heart soared at her words, and I've never been more proud. She has definitely learned her lesson and is growing. My mind lingers on Marianne's words too.

From now on though, I'm listening to my gut...I've had an iffy feeling about him from the very beginning…

My brain is fearful, always overthinking and making me doubt, but my heart knows what it wants, and my gut...my gut trusts Jack. I don't feel iffy about him, I never had, unless it was about him telling my sister the "big, bad secret". That was before I got to know him though. Before I...before I fell in love with him. But even then, I've never felt any genuine bad or fake vibes from him, not like with Hans. Jack's vibes were always genuine and mischievous and caring and fun. They were good vibes because Jack himself is good.

And just like Marianne, I'm going to change and listen to my gut.

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Author's Note: For those who don't know, Marianne from Strange Magic and Iduna from Frozen II are voiced by the same actress. Thus the reason why they "sound the same" :) Once I realized this, I HAD to write this scene. Hope you liked it!