"Your parents want you to go back."
The hairs on Elsa's neck stand on end at Rapunzel's mention of your parents. But she keeps her eyes fixed on her physics notes.
"They told you to tell me?" Elsa deadpans.
Rapunzel's fingers reach across the sparse space separating them on the library table. Stopping short of resting on Elsa's hand.
"They told my parents to tell me to tell you," Rapunzel rolls her eyes, "It's not like they could ask you directly, right? Because-"
"They should've thought about that before throwing my phone in the bin," Elsa looks down at the library carpet.
"It's not that bad," Rapunzel plonks her head on the table, "they're just overreacting."
Like hell they are.
"For the record, I am back," Elsa mumbles, "I crawl in through my window every night but they've got their heads so far up their ass to even notice."
Rapunzel smacks her hands together, "Great! Can I tell them?"
"No."
"Goddammit, Elsa."
"Look I don't even," Elsa buries her hands into her hair, "I'm such a fucking wreck right now - I don't even want to talk to them."
"About you being a raging lesbo?"
Elsa swivels around in her chair slowly, before a smile spreads across her lips. At least there's another person who accepts her this way.
"Punzy," Elsa uses her friend's nickname, reserved for the rarest of occasions, "Did you ever think I was weird, or some kind of freak when I told you?"
"No, but I was super mad at you," Rapunzel smirks, "Because that meant you wouldn't make out with me for the fuck of things-"
"Oh shut up, you," Elsa taps her on the head with her notes, "It's not like you'd want to anyway-"
"You're just assuming things at this point," Rapunzel blows kissy noises at the blonde, "how are things with that Anna chick you asked me about? Have you two made out yet?"
Elsa's eyes perk at Anna's name. At the promise she made to herself as she listened to her sweet voice - wishing she had something to give back to the girl besides a guitar and some broken tears. Dr Robinson's heartfelt explanation of what love really was about filters back into her memory. She playfully ruffles Rapunzel's crop of brown hair, before sheepishly drumming her fingers on the table.
"Punzy," Elsa whimpers, "do you happen to remember the address of that lounge Eugene brought us to?"
Deprived of her car's security, an inkling fear bristles through Elsa's skin when she cycles into Clemson high. She averts her eyes from the dozen stares thrown her way in the parking lot. And pretends to let the frigid wind carry away the random sneers and catcalls.
"...yo blondie, did you get lost on the way to Asshole high?"
"White girl - Starbucks is down the street yo-"
"Are the boys at West Asshole not good enough for you?"
She shakes off their taunts and whistles, before catching sight of Anna's bike plastered with rock band stickers. And Anna. Leaning on the bike rack and talking to that Belle girl from the party. Belle notices her presence. Wide grin plastered on her face as she nudges Anna.
"Looks like your girlfriend's here to pick you up!" Elsa picks up on Belle's jeering.
The remark earns Belle a punch in her shoulder, but both girls straighten up when Elsa approaches.
"Elsa!" Belle shakes her hand, "It's so nice to meet you, finally! Anna can't seem to stop talking about you."
"Oh my god, shut up," Anna growls, grabbing Belle's elbow and turning beet red.
"I'll leave you two lovebirds alone now," Belle sings, before planting a sudden kiss on Elsa's cheek, leaving with a whisper in her ears, "take care of Anna - she means everything to me."
And as the warmth of Belle's presence gives way to the parking lot chill - Elsa looks down at the asphalt separating her shoes and Anna's.
I'll try.
"This, this is a pleasant surprise," Anna chimes, stepping closer, "Don't you have track after school or something?"
"It's winter season, we don't train much," Elsa answers, "How's detention coming along?"
Anna blows a breath through her fringe - the slight red flutter clenches at Elsa's chest.
"Y'know, studying and reading - I'm halfway through your book."
Elsa clears her throat, "I mean, how's it affecting your family?"
The question stiffens Anna's posture. She looks away. Lips pursed in a line.
"We'll manage."
Elsa swallows as she detects a hint of pride in Anna's two words. She feels a wall going up between them, and tries to clamber over before it shuts her out.
"Really?"
Anna crosses her arms and sighs, "You don't have to worry about me, I've gone through worse."
"I'm not worrying about you," Elsa's half-pleading, "I just want to help."
Anna's tone turns frosty cold, "We don't need your help. And what're you going to do anyway?"
Elsa steps back with her mouth ajar, unfamiliar with that voice who for nights, seranaded her with sweet music. Cold blue eyes now glare at her like she'd just killed her dog.
"I can help you get back on your feet," Elsa offers.
"Oh right," Anna rolls her eyes, "Like I'm that much of a charity case that you've have to reach down and drag me out of my misery-"
The first cracks start to form in Elsa's heart. There's still time for you to get off this crazy train. But something about those teary blue eyes forces her to persist.
"I don't see you that way, Anna," Elsa pleads with her hands.
"Don't you?" Anna snaps, "Y'know what, I should've known that this gap between us was too big. We're just two different people from different worlds."
"No!" Elsa pleads, voice breaking, "I don't-"
"You just don't get it, do you?" Anna exclaims, fists balling up, "Just because I'm poor doesn't mean you have to treat me like a dog."
"Stop, stop, just stop," Elsa extends her palm, "Just listen to what I have to say before you jump to any conclusions, please."
"What?" Anna spits.
Elsa sucks in a deep breath with closed eyes, "I found you a job. It's in the evenings, so you'll be able to attend after detention's over."
Anna drops her arms, baring her gritted teeth at Elsa.
"I don't need you to baby me, Elsa," Anna seethes, "I'm capable of finding my own-"
"It's for a musician's position, at a lounge," Elsa interrupts, "I've heard the way you sing. The way you play. You move people. You…You touch me with your music. It's the kind of music that tells me everything's going to be alright - the kind that gives me hope."
There's a pause between them as Anna's posture relaxes. She looks at the birds in the air, allowing her eyes to fall shut. And in that brief space between them, Elsa hears every song the girl's played to her, every verse she's written down or made up on the spot. It's enough to make her heart swell. Even if it festers that wound from every barb she's just hurled her way.
"Yea right," Anna leans back against the rack, "Maybe it's just you."
"Maybe it is," Elsa answers, traces of longing on her breath, "but even if it isn't about me, all I'm asking is to give yourself a chance."
Anna crosses her arms again, looking away at a fight breaking out in the basketball court.
"What're the hours and pay like?" Anna whispers beneath the breeze.
"$30 an hour, four hour shifts," Elsa answers, "it's downtown."
Anna's eyes widen as the numbers make sense in her head. It lends a spark to her eyes, "Jesus fucking Christ, it's…double my current."
"I've talked to them, you just need to play the guitar and sing - I know you can do both, and - and,"
"And what?"
"You need to pretend you're over 18."
Anna lets out a clear-throated chortle that startles some crows, "Not a problem! Wouldn't be the first time-"
And when that smile returns to Anna's face, it takes every ounce of her strength not to sigh in relief.
"So you'll do it?" Elsa asks. Before she stiffens up as Anna suddenly takes a step towards her. Eyes brimming with emotion.
"I will, not because I need the money, even though I do," Anna pauses, and looks away, "I'll do it because of you."
Elsa looks down at the girl's hand, bruised knuckles still visible. A part of her longs to take those rough fingers within her own, to squeeze her tight and tell her everything's going to be ok. But Anna's doe eyes looking up into hers paralyzes the utter shit out of her.
"I'm-I'm sorry I got snippy at you," Anna whispers, biting on her lip, "You mean a lot to me and I-I just don't want you to look down on me."
Elsa exhales the breath she'd been holding in, "That is the last thing I'd think of you. In fact, I-"
There's a tremble in her voice as she ponders that she might have a sore case of putting Anna up on a Pedestal.
Anna shifts even closer - so close Elsa can taste the girl's gentle strawberry scent on the tip of her tongue. So close that the memory of their booze-fuelled flirting flutters through her memory like the breeze around them. A blush spreads across her cheeks, and Anna smiles at the sight.
"You what?"
"I admire you," Elsa says, noticing how it unravels a knot in her chest, "I truly do."
The confession tugs Anna's lips into a smile. Elsa goes faint with the thought of just leaning in and demolishing it from her face.
"How're things between you and your parents?" Anna suddenly asks. The question makes Elsa grimace.
Elsa sighs, "I don't see them much. And I don't think things are going to get better anytime soon."
"Well things better get better quickly," Anna sneers, "because it looks like I can't keep hosting private concerts on my rooftop anymore."