I have no idea what I'm doing.
Kristoff thought as he glanced over his shoulder, the sound of the shower running she's using echoed through the halls. Cheeks bright pink as he chewed on his inner cheek nervously.
This wasn't like him. Normally, Kristoff would shrug people off and never gave a damn about what other people thought or felt. He's lived in New York for over two years without any friends without regrets. Well, he's made some acquaintances (Oaken, the landlord of the apartment that wouldn't stop bugging him about his monthly dues, some customers in the coffee shop he works at, and some of his workmates in the construction site.)
The farthest he's gone with anyone was saying 'hi' and 'hello'. And usually barked at them to go away. But inviting a complete stranger to his apartment? Never.
But he let his manliness crumble to the ground when he saw the ginger moping on the ground, eyes wide with emotion with tears threatening to stream down her face. He's put himself in an impossible situation.
His face flushed deeper as he had never brought a girl home in his entire life. It wasn't like he was thinking of such—thoughts but… he knew if his folks knew about this, they'd never let him off. His mom would probably rant away about how he should marry this random girl he's met on the streets with endless giggles at the back of her throat and his dad would probably give him a big pat on the back, with tears in his eyes and proudly nodding at him and calling him his son.
He crossed his fingers wishing that they wouldn't visit tonight, please, not tonight. His parents did have the weird habit of just suddenly bursting into his apartment without his permission.
But for tonight, he just wanted a nice, peaceful evening with… her? Nope, she could get some sleep and get out. It wasn't like he was getting chummy with her at all.
He sighed as he reverted his attention back to the TV.
"I'm, um, done."
Kristoff's head jerked towards the squeaky voice, finding Anna standing over him. Her hair dripping wet from the shower, finally loose from its braids as it cascaded down over her shoulder. She wore a jersey with the nimber 13 written on it that covered over her lower half and shorts that was just above her knees. The blonde blushed.
"Uh, cool," his voice caught in his throat.
"I guess I should get going…"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Kristoff exclaimed as he caught her wrist in his hand by impulse. "Going out and getting wet again without a place to stay? Really."
Anna swallowed the lump in her throat, turning to him as she chewed on her lower lip. "Uh… yeah?"
He shook his head, a chuckle rumbling from his chest.
"You can stay here for the mean time," he patted the cushion of the couch hoping she'd grab a seat next to him. "Here, sit. I made you hot chocolate."
Anna shrugged as she obliged. She plopped down the seat next to him, swinging her legs playfully as they watched the news uneasily in silence for a moment.
"Thank you, really," she managed to say as she took the cup from the coffee table and cradled it in hand, nervously tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "For all of this."
"No problem," he answered nonchalantly, never wavering to break his gaze from the newscaster. "Still, did your parents ever warn you about strangers?"
Anna froze at the question, but relaxed as she exhaled heavily. Kristoff felt the tension in the air rise, still uncomfortable within each other's presence. "Well, yes they did."
Okay maybe it wasn't a good idea to make myself look suspicious.
Kristoff thought in regret as he watched her shift her weight on the couch, an awkward silence following.
"But the thing is," Anna managed to cough out as she looked up at him, striking him with her blue eyes. "My womanly instincts, somehow, I mean—I trust you."
Kristoff felt his heart beat a little quicker. But chose to ignore it.
She laughed as she tucked a stray lock of hair back her ear.
"I mean, a gentleman brought me in when no one else would. So, I'm in debt to you. Do you… think that's weird?"
He shook his head.
"No, definitely not," he said as he leaned back the couch, grabbing a handful of fries and stuffing it up his mouth as he turned the TV on. "And just so you know, I'm no gentleman. Just… nice for the day, better use up all my niceness before rubbing it off."
She giggled again.
"So, tell me, what brings you to New York? It takes lots of guts to get around here, especially if you don't have anyone you know."
Anna turned her head and glanced at the TV. The news was on and said something about a robbery in some big bank around Los Angeles.
"Actually, I do," she shrugged, eyes rolling. Kristoff strained to look at her from the corner of his eyes, keeping his attention from her and the TV. So far so good with the harmless stranger. "She's my sister. We used to be close but now we're just—you know. Not anymore."
"Harsh," he nodded as blinked at the TV.
"So I came here. Well, to go after her—and my dream. But so far I've had 0 progress in both."
"Lemme guess," he said as he turned to her and wiggled his eyebrows at her guitar. "You came here to become some top notch singer, huh?
Anna took a slow sip from her cup as she nodded, warmth enveloping her insides. But she didn't consider herself as top notch or anything…
"I did," she said as her head inched up to look up the ceiling, staring dreamily into nowhere. "You guessed, huh?"
"Well, lots of people pack their bags and head around here to find agents to take them in. Not much are successful, you got to have passion, talent, and all that stuff," he stated in disinterest as he reverted his attention back to the TV. Somehow, his nerves calmed down to the presence of the ginger next to him.
She grew silent for a moment, only their heavy breathing hung in the air. Kristoff's nerves perked up in attention once more as he thought back on what he said—did he say something wrong?
"I want to sing," Anna stated in blatant manner.
They turned their heads towards each other, seeing a burning determination swirl within her deep blue colored eyes. Her small hands clenched down and wrapped itself along the hot cup.
"I want to sing," she said again, a soft smile played along her lips as passion rushed within every vein in her body. "I want to be heard—because nobody listens to you when you just talk, I want people to enjoy my music, I want to learn how to love cheering fans, I want to inspire, I want them to feel the emotions I feel when I sing when I shout, scream, cry and—" she's lost herself in her words, but he found himself lost in her too. She caught his attention once more as she choked.
"I want to sing," she managed, finally.
Kristoff found that she's a little unstable, awkward, and when she talks her hands flail everywhere and her little nose scrunching up as she talked, eyes rolling everywhere in exasperation. She spilled her words out like water, leaving him to slowly drown in them.
He smiled at her softly, leaning over her as his breath ghosted over her freckled face.
"Then sing for me."
His own words surprised himself, as if he had said it by impulse. He chewed on his inner cheek nervously, all his efforts of trying not to get close to the stranger had gone down the drain. He got too caught up in her. "—I mean, I'd love to hear you sing, I'm sure you're a great singer just look at you! So young and talented it'd be great if you—"
Anna felt her face heat up, shyly nodding at him as she chewed on her lip. She opened her mouth to sing, for him, and maybe by singing she'd cut him off his babbling.
But instead she—
Achoo!
She sneezed into her palm, wiping her nose in the process and completely destroying the mood.
Great. Way to go, Anna.
She silently cursed to herself. Hoping she hadn't grossed the wits out of him yet.
He managed to laugh out despite her unladylike manners as he shifted his weight on the couch to turn to her.
"It's getting late…" his voice trailed off as he glanced at the clock hanging up the cream-colored walls of his apartment. "You should get some sleep. You can use my room, I'll take the couch. If you get hungry there's cold pizza in the fridge. Feel right at home, Red."
Anna gave him a look of concern.
"Are you sure?"
"Positively."
She nodded as she took his kindness astride, getting up and brushing her jersey before excusing herself. She placed the cup back at the table.
Before she disappeared along the halls, she turned back at him with a smile on her delicate face, hands fisted on her jersey shirt.
"Thank you," she said in a sincere voice that only he had heard, and he alone behind the storm brewing outside. He found himself watching her trot down the hall and disappearing into the darkness with her hair bouncing behind her back.
Since when did he become such a softie? He finally made plans in the back of his head that he'd pay the gym a visit tomorrow after picking Sven up from the clinic, he had a lot of catching up to do that concerned his manliness.
Maybe, just maybe, he could get used to the company. And the unfamiliar warmth that he felt that swirled in his chest. Just when he thought Sven's company was enough.
Guessing she wouldn't poke her head around any longer to check up on him—if she ever cared, he silently whispered a closing to himself, hoping that it'd miraculously find it's way towards her. Eyelids heavy, pictures of the ginger smiling at him behind his head, on replay like a broken radio. Maybe the sandman would bring him good dreams tonight.
"Goodnight, Anna. Sweet dreams, I guess."
so yeah im continuing this... ps, im sorry for any mistakes. english isnt my native language. but i tried. ;-;
if i get fueled with enough motivation, i'll update every twice a week. i'm open for suggestions, still thingking this story through. ;)
reviews are greatly appreciated. thank you~
