It started to rain. It was slightly more than a sprinkle, so in other words, it was nothing. Having lived here in the Olympic Peninsula her entire life, Elsa had been through worse and it was nothing worth heading back home over. She simply pulled her jacket's hood over her head, which glittered from the droplets it collected. The emergency umbrella wasn't needed.
Olaf, on the other hand, had no care about it. He ran about the field as he blew off steam, sniffing tree trunks and chasing after birds until they flew away. Elsa whistled.
"Olaf!" Elsa lifted a decent-sized stick from the ground. She tossed it across the field.
Olaf was after it immediately. He skittered on his tiny legs as fast as he could to catch it. He scooped it in his jaws and headed back towards Elsa.
"Good boy," Elsa said with a smile. She patted him on the head before removing it from his mouth. "You ready again, little guy?" She wound her arm back and threw it again.
Olaf didn't budge. Instead he nuzzled her jeans as he always did when he demanded affection.
"Come on now, I took you here to exercise," Elsa said. "You don't need to be needy."
Olaf nuzzled her leg harder. "Oh, alright." Elsa knelt down, which Olaf then proceeded to bump his head into her hand. She scratched him behind the ears. He was lucky that he was her best and only friend.
She rustled Olaf as a person strolled down the path nearby. Elsa held her breath.
"Cute dog," the person said, slowing down.
Please keep walking, Elsa thought. She pulled her lips into a small smile. "Thank you."
"What breed is it?"
"He's a French bulldog and corgi mix." Elsa turned her cheek when Olaf tried to lick her face.
Elsa wouldn't know if he was cute cute, per se. Cute in a weird way, sure. He had the typical stocky build of a bulldog but with the snout of a corgi, and with large, bat-like ears. He was also pure white when clean, save for three, vertical black dots on his chest that looked like buttons, and another black dot on his head.
"Interesting. I don't think I've seen that type of dog before."
"People don't normally breed them together," Elsa said.
"Well he's very cute. Have a good day!"
Elsa waved. "You too, ma'am."
The person walked away and her muscles relaxed. She sighed. She was certain that no one would be here this early at dawn. Usually nobody was save for joggers that were too busy running to talk. What other kind of person would be here this early?
Me…of course.
After letting Olaf play a little more, Elsa hooked him back to his leash. Pine trees lined the path that they walked down.
As she walked, her mind ran with thoughts. Her heart picked up speed at the thought about if Anna would be awake. Calm down. It is unlikely.
Anna had to be asleep. It wasn't even seven thirty yet.
In the two months that they lived together, Elsa had figured out Anna's schedule. Anna worked day shifts; left the house at eight and arrived back home sometime after five. She'd wake up at seven thirty every morning. Her days off were on Monday and Wednesday. However, on Wednesday, she'd leave the house at some point to go grocery shopping; not at a specific time but generally around noon.
Okay…Elsa was insane.
Anyway, today was a Tuesday, so that meant that Anna had work. It was only six twenty-three, so Elsa had over an hour to spare before Anna woke up.
Unless she got up early.
Elsa swallowed. No, she couldn't think of that.
However, her stubborn thoughts continued. She isn't obligated to a routine, she argued with herself.
She could just imagine it. Elsa would go home to find that Anna was up, brewing herself coffee from the Keurig Anna had brought when she moved in. Anna would look at Elsa, with hurt and anger in her eyes.
"There you are, Elsa," she'd drip.
Elsa wouldn't know what to say.
"I noticed that you read my letter. It was off your door the next morning, so I know you saw it. I know you ignored me!"
Elsa would then have to figure out a lie. She'd decide to play dumb. "There was a paper on the door?"
"You gaslighting piece of shit!"
Okay, okay. That was a bad excuse to make. Elsa hummed softly as she thought of a better excuse.
"I read it and agreed that we should meet," Elsa would say. "But then I got really busy with my job. Sorry about that."
"What's your job?" Anna would ask.
"I'm an illustrator."
"So you work from home?"
Oh no. Too shaken to think, Elsa would then respond with a simple, honest, "Yes."
"Then you could have worked your fucking schedule around to meet me, you rude piece of shit!" Tears would form in Anna's eyes. "Why do you ignore me? Do you hate me? What did I ever do to you?!"
"I-!"
"I'm done with living with you! I'm moving out! Here's my one month notice!" She would then smack the paper in Elsa's face.
Her stomach twisted. She wanted to puke. Elsa snapped out of it. She shook her head. That was ridiculous.
Thinking about this is not going to help. She looked down at Olaf. He was sluggish and needed a drink. They were going home whether she liked it or not.
So she kept pushing herself to her house. It was a feat to do it, but the house was finally in sight. Her skin crawled at the sight of Anna's car.
She's asleep. Please stop worrying.
She walked up the driveway. Bracing herself, she unlocked the door. Olaf scampered inside. Heart pounding, she remained on the porch, straining her ears for a sign of anyone. After hearing nothing but Olaf's pawsteps scritching against the tile, she slowly inched her way inside.
She picked up Olaf's bowl and filled it with water. She placed it back down and Olaf lapped greedily.
She looked at the clock. It was six forty. She still had time to-
Her thoughts got cut off by the sound of footsteps.
Elsa froze.
At first, she thought that she must be imagining things. After all, people, when in vulnerable states, tend to have their minds play tricks on them. These footsteps, however, were too real. Humming made their way down the stairs as Anna drew closer.
What was she doing up so early?!
No. Now was not the time for questions. She had to think. Where would she go? She couldn't go to her room because it was upstairs and Anna was on the stairs. She had to leave before Anna saw her.
As quietly yet as hurriedly as she could, Elsa escaped the kitchen, eyes darting around to find something- anything- that she could take cover in.
Then she saw it. The bathroom. Particularly, the shower curtain.
Elsa speed-tiptoed to the bathroom. She slipped inside the shower. The smell of soap filled her nostrils. Her muscles twitched with terror.
Alright, Elsa…just wait for Anna to make her coffee and go to her room, and then you may head back to yours.
"Why, hello, Olaf!" Anna's voice cooed from the kitchen. "How are you, cutie pie?" Olaf's collar rattled from what Elsa guessed was Anna playing with him. A few minutes passed and Elsa was trying not to fidget. She had yet to hear the Keurig brew anything.
Finally, Anna's footsteps made it to her ears again. They were in the living room now. Please, whatever you're doing, please don't watch the TV. Or use the bathroom…. Her eyes widened and her face paled.
She wanted to slap herself now.
Olaf's pawsteps followed.
"Sorry, Olaf," Anna told him. "You can't follow me. I have to shower before work."
SHIT!
Elsa froze, mortified. She peeked through the crack of the curtain to see Anna outside of the bathroom door.
Please, Olaf…please save me. Scratch on the door and ask to pee. Do anything!
Olaf simply sat on the carpet, his tongue lolling as Anna walked into the bathroom.
Elsa resisted a sigh.
She whipped her head around, looking for an escape despite there being none. Of course there was none. Anna was standing in the only exit. Unless she crawled out of the window, but Anna was already approaching.
Elsa cussed inwardly again.
Anna shut the door. Elsa thought that she would pass out from how fast her heart pounded. She felt like a rabbit escaping a predator.
Alright, Elsa, think! she thought to herself. Anna placed her towel on the toilet. You can't just stay in the shower!
She felt so trapped. She wanted to cry.
And then it happened.
Anna yanked the curtain open.
The scream was horrific. It was a loud, shrill scream that rang through Elsa's ears and probably the neighborhood.
Elsa darted out of the shower faster than a beam of light on crack.
She was almost out of the door when something heavy rammed into the side of her head. She hit the floor along with a full bottle of shampoo, and before she could even process her fall, a foot struck her stomach, knocking the air out of her.
"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, YOU-! Elsa?!" Anna fell from her stance and stepped back. Her eyes were wide; crazed with alarm. They made contact with Elsa's for the first time in two months. "What were you doing in there? Are you okay?"
"I'm…fine," Elsa murmured. She tottered to her feet, pain shooting in her abdomen. There was no doubt that she was going to get a bruise. "I was just…" She dug into her mind. "Cleaning the shower." She tried not to cringe after saying that.
There weren't even any cleaning supplies out! What was she cleaning it with, the water that wasn't even on?!
"Oh. Okay. Sorry about that."
"Please don't worry about it," Elsa said. She studied the tile. "Have a good shower…."
"You too. I mean- when you do shower. Obviously you're not in the shower right now, but you were, but next time you're in the shower."
"Okay." She realized that she had slowly been stepping back. Her hand clutched the doorknob. "I'll see you later."
"See you."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Elsa left the bathroom. She sped-walk to her room, screaming internally.
