Winter Moon (Jelsa)

Chapter 17: Elsa

Despite scrutinizing a map before I left, I was still lost. To be fair, this school was gigantic. It was easily larger than Arendelle's palace, and I suspected that there might be more people in this one school than in all of Arendelle itself.

"Excuse me, I couldn't help but noticing that you seem a little lost," said a polite voice.

Surprised, I tripped over my own feet, sending me crashing toward the floor.

"Gotcha," arms slipped around my waist and hauled me upright.

The physical touch sent a jolt through me. 

Control it, I told myself sternly.

Stepping out of the person's grip, I mumbled an apology.

The person was a boy, maybe two years older than me with a head of red hair and a light smattering of freckles across his cheekbones. His bright green eyes were friendly and open.

"I'm sorry if I surprised you," the boy apologized.

"It's quite alright," I squeaked, eager to escape. I didn't want to talk to anyone longer than I had to. Too many people already knew about my powers.

The boy gave me a charming smile. His teeth were perfectly white. "I'm Hans from the Southern Isles."

"Oh," I mumbled. Did I really have to introduce myself? "I'm Ella."

"A pretty name for a pretty girl," Hans smiled again.

Was he flirting with me? Who did this guy think he was? Clearly, he had no idea how to flirt either, unless he was going for extremely obvious.

"I should be going," I grasped for an excuse. "I can't be late to class."

"What's your next class?" he queried, stepping in front of me to block my escape.

"History," I said tersely.

"It just so happens that history is my next class as well, we can walk there together," Hans declared.

I gritted my teeth and gave him a strained smile. I did not want to walk to class with Hans. But by the look on his face, I didn't have much of a choice.

"Ella! We were just looking for you!" interrupted a familiar voice.

I turned to spot Jack, Hiccup, and Astrid, much to my relief. "There's no need," I told Hans and quickly headed towards the trio.

"Pity. Perhaps another time," Hans decided. He turned his gaze over my shoulder and glared at Hiccup, Astrid, and Jack.

The three of them leveled matching scowls at Hans. I gulped. Astrid could be terrifying when she wanted to be. 

As soon as I stepped near Astrid, she hooked her arm through mine, yanking me away from Hans. Jack and Hiccup closed ranks around us like bodyguards as we hurried away from Hans. 

"I hate him," Astrid grumbled as we neared the history classroom. Conveniently, it seemed that Astrid and Jack both had the same history class as me. 

Hiccup waved to us and turned, heading towards a staircase that would take him up another level. I was so thoroughly lost.

"Last year, I played truth-or-dare with a couple of other people, and this girl dared me to kiss Hans. It was disgusting. He stuck his tongue in my mouth and tried to touch me everywhere," Astrid informed me. "I punched him in the face, chipped a tooth, ruined his perfect complexion, and pissed him off."

"That's the Astrid we all know and love," Jack joked.

I grinned despite myself. "Thanks for helping me escape back there."

"Of course," Jack said lightly. "What else are friends for?"

~ ~ ~

"Hello class, my name is Professor Lee. I am going to be your history instructor for the rest of this year," Professor Lee smiled. She was a young woman, no more than twenty-five. Her curly black hair was pulled into a ponytail, and her warm hazel eyes complemented her caramel skin.

There was a chorus of Good Mornings and Hellos.

I sat toward the back of the class, right next to Jack and just in front of Astrid.

"Can anyone tell me what the oldest time period is called?" Professor Lee asked.

That was easy. The Midnight Ages. That was about three hundred years ago, before the Elites were founded. Nobody knew a lot about the Midnight Ages, except that it was dark, both metaphorically and literally.

Nobody raised their hand.

"Anyone?" Professor Lee demanded. 

Silence. 

Professor Lee sighed. "You. What's your name?"

I froze. Out of all the people in this room, she had to call on me. 

"I'm Ella, Professor," I said quietly.

"Can you answer my question, Ella?"

"It's the Midnight Ages, I think," I mumbled.

"That wasn't so hard now, was it?" Professor Lee smiled and then proceeded to quiz every student with a random history question and assigning us several essays for homework.

I sunk as low as I could into my seat. If this was what school was going to be like, I was better off not getting out of bed in the morning.