A/N: I'm really sorry for the wait on this chapter and the next chapter of AAFS. Things have been so hectic IRL, but thank you all for being patient with me! And thanks so much to the people who reviewed, favorited, and followed! I'm glad at the response this story got just from chapter one. For the record, this story is going to be much more on the angst-spectrum than AAFS, so for people expecting lots of fluff and cute moments, you might be disappointed. Not that there won't be any fluff at all, but this story is much more bitter than AAFS (which I will hopefully be updating soon). Also a preemptive note, this story is Elsanna through and through and in case some of you get antsy about a certain scene in this chapter, there won't be any love triangles in this story. It's just Anna being a dork. Anyway, enjoy!
Turn around
"—didn't text me, are you okay? Anna? Hey Anna!"
Her cell phone was what woke her up. She was sure of it.
The loud, blaring ringtone that she assigned to "worrywart" cousins split the air like a fire alarm. Instinctively, she reached for her alarm clock, hand swatting uselessly before she realized—oh shit, phone. Right.
Anna slapped her forehead and groaned. The alarm brought a swift, throbbing headache and she grappled with the sheets before her hand bumped into the plastic surface. Her fingers fumbled with the buttons before she heard the click of "accept call."
"Finally!"
Anna groaned again and pressed the phone to her ear, rolling over onto her back. Without bothering to open her eyes, she sighed and mumbled,"Punz? What time is it?"
"9:30. Well 6:30 for you, but that's not important," Rapunzel said and Anna heard her exhale greatly in relief. "What's important is that you finally answered my call! Gosh, Anna, I was worried sick! When you didn't call back, I started wondering if something happened to you! If you got drugged on the plane, if you got mugged, if someone grabbed you at the airport o-or you lost your phone and you were just sitting there in the l-lobby! I kept telling Mom and Dad, 'Maybe she's—'"
"Punz," Anna muttered, cutting through her cousin's increasingly loud and desperate rant, "I'm fine, as you can tell. I didn't call because I forgot. I fell asleep as soon as I got to Elsa's place." That was a bald-faced lie, but she wouldn't dare tell her overly-stressed cousin what had transpired last night just yet. Or what had not transpired to be more precise. Her stomach twisted and she balled her free hand into a fist, fighting back the sudden burn behind her eyelids. "Sorry for worrying you guys," Anna mumbled, a new wave of fatigue washing over her, "but I'll make sure to call or text you each night to tell you how I'm settling in from now on. That fine?"
She heard another heavy sigh and when Rapunzel spoke again, her cousin's voice was much calmer with an undertone of affection. "Sure, that sounds great. Okay, I have work in a little bit and I'm pretty sure you're still tired since it isn't like one in the afternoon so I'm going to let you go now. Text me later?"
Anna rubbed her eyes and grumbled, "Yeah, sounds great Punz. Have a great day at work."
She heard a soft air kiss before the line ended. Anna sighed and dropped her phone next to her on the pillow. She lay there for several moments, eyes still shut.
I should get up. No point in delaying the inevitable.
After heaving her third sigh in the past ten minutes, she rose from her new bed, blinking blearily. The room was dimly lit and her head ached from having to adjust her eyesight. However, sunlight peeked through the curtained window in front of her. She yawned and stretched her arms over her head, wincing when she heard several pops in her back and shoulders.
Anna pushed herself to the edge of her bed and took in her surroundings. The bare room left her stomach in knots and she chewed on her lower lip as she pondered on what she was going to do for the day.
I guess I'll just check out the apartment and what's around.
She'd leave checking out her new university's campus for another day. Jet lag weighed horribly on her, especially with less than three hours of sleep.
I wonder if Elsa's awake.
Anna swallowed and pushed herself off her bed, striding towards the door. She was still in yesterday's clothes, but at least her hair wasn't a nightmare. Her braids were mussed, but at least they had stayed intact. Opening the door, she poked her head out and glanced up and down the hallway.
The bathroom door was open, but the door to her sister's bedroom was shut.
Just like always. I wouldn't be surprised if she left already. Would be typical of Elsa.
She was about to turn around and head back into her room for a few extra hours of sleep when the scent of caffeine hit her. The redhead blinked, half-turned in her doorway. With one foot still raised in mid-step motion, she leaned back and sniffed the air. Her stomach growled loudly at the rich, deep flavor that wafted into her nostrils.
"Yeah, that's coffee alright," Anna mumbled to herself. She almost expected chocolate, but knew better than to hope for the sugary confection so early in the morning.
Rubbing the back of her head, she made her way to the tiny kitchen just in time to hear the clink of a mug. Anna stiffened in the hallway, eyes widening when she confirmed that she wasn't alone in the apartment.
I think I died and woke up in Narnia.
Elsa stood at the kitchen counter, back turned to her. Her hair was done up again in the same braided plait that she'd worn last night. Anna blinked. It was weird seeing her sister with her hair down. She hadn't seen Elsa wear it down since they were kids. For most of her teenage years—what years they'd actually shared—Elsa had always worn it up in a bun. Although, looking at her now, Anna briefly wondered if Elsa had even bothered undoing her braid since last night. All the photos she had of Elsa from their years of separation, as small as the collection was, had always shown her sister in clean, immaculate attire. Now though, her sister didn't look as immaculate, though her clothes were still neatly pressed.
This is weird. She looks good, but…
But her sister didn't look so sterile, she realized. Sunlight, from the glass doors on the farthest wall of the apartment—the one that led out to a tiny balcony—streamed in and made Elsa's hair go from a pale white-gold to a soft, rich blondeness. Standing there, with a few loose strands poking out from her braid and hands busy moving across the countertop, Anna had the distinct impression that this was the most realistic her sister had ever looked like to her. For the first time in years. Photos had been one thing, but this was the real Elsa she was staring at.
Well of course she's real you idiot. She's standing right there.
As if she sensed eyes on her, Elsa looked up from the kitchen counter, blinking when she noticed Anna. The two stared at each other for a long moment and Anna felt the air crackle with a sudden thickness. Anna's eyes dipped down to Elsa's hands and realized what Elsa had been busy with at the counter. Oh. Right. I smelled coffee. Wait, what? Since when does Elsa drink coffee? I thought she was more of the tea type.
But then again, Anna had to admit to herself she didn't know much about her sister at all.
The blonde had a fresh steaming mug in one hand and her phone in the other. Anna guessed Elsa had been up for at least a half hour, judging by her appearance. Did she even get any sleep? It hasn't been that long since I got here. She shifted her weight, cheeks reddening slightly when she realized how messy she looked in comparison to her older sister. Even if Elsa looked a little haggard, she still looked far better off than Anna did. Anna glanced down at her wrinkled jeans and t-shirt and compared them to Elsa's prim dark blue business suit and pencil skirt. Spots of rouge filled her cheeks from a flash of self-consciousness. The redhead smoothed down the front of her pants, lips quirking into a crooked smile. She glanced back up at Elsa and froze when she noticed Elsa was still staring at her.
Don't move Anna. Don't speak. Don't even breathe. You might disturb this elusive, beautiful creature in her natural habit.
"Morning," Anna said, shoving her hands into her pockets. Well, okay, speak after all you dim-witted idiot.
Elsa stared at her for another long second.
Do I have something on my face?
She lifted a hand halfway to her cheek before Elsa turned around, muttering a soft, "Good morning."
Anna's stomach twisted and she stood there awkwardly for a moment before dropping her hand back to her side. She watched Elsa study her phone for a moment before making her way to the tiny kitchen table and sitting down. Her palms began to sweat nervously and she tapped her fingers on the cool surface, wondering how best to approach the topic of food.
She got her answer when her stomach growled loudly again.
Elsa glanced over her shoulder, raising one eyebrow and Anna blushed darkly.
"Hungry?" her sister asked, setting her phone and mug down.
"Uh, yeah," Anna mumbled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Last thing I had to eat was lunch from yesterday. I didn't, uh, buy anything because I was worried about the flight delays."
Elsa's other eyebrow shot up, joining its twin and she mentally cringed at the blank look her sister gave her.
Wow, I'm on a roll today. Way to go Anna! Barely an hour in the morning and already you convinced Elsa you're irresponsible about normal things like, you know, food.
She was snapped out of her thoughts when there was a crinkling of paper and jingling of coins. Anna stiffened when she realized that during her stupor Elsa had walked over to her side and placed a wad of cash on the table.
The blonde brushed past her, stuffing her phone into a small purse and heading towards the door. "Get something to eat. There's a sandwich place right around the corner of the block," she paused for a brief second before adding, "and a conveniencestore across the street if you want to check that out."
Anna's mouth dropped open. Wait, what? What just happened?
Elsa stopped by the door, glancing over her shoulder. Anna's heart jumped in her throat at her older sister's unreadable expression.
"If you don't want to go out and buy something, you can always see what'd you like here." The blonde shrugged her shoulders halfheartedly and Anna saw a flash of fatigue in her eyes. "I don't know if you'd like anything though. I haven't had time to go out and buy groceries, sorry. Anyway, I made you a spare set of keys to the apartment. They're in the top drawer in your room. Try not to wander too far. I'll be home late, don't wait up for me."
Wait, what? She's not going to tell me the exact time she gets home?
Then again, Elsa had arrived at her apartment last night past three. She wondered if that was a common occurrence.
I wouldn't be surprised.
Her older sister opened the door and was about to step out before Anna shot up in her seat, the chair clattering with her sudden movement. Elsa jumped and whirled around to face her, blue eyes wide.
"W-wait!" Anna's brow furrowed and she looked between the still steaming coffee mug and her sister. "D-do you want to grab a bite to eat together?"
Elsa shook her head and Anna felt her heart drop like a stone. "I'm sorry Anna, but I can't. Work starts at 7:30 and my boss won't take kindly to me being late." Her fingers fiddled with the doorknob.
Anna blinked and narrowed her eyes slightly at the action. Is she not—
"Anyway, I'll see you later."
The door was almost shut before Anna exclaimed, "What did you have for breakfast?!"
"A bagel," Elsa replied, not bothering to turn around this time. Then she was gone, blonde plait disappearing behind the swinging wood.
The slam rung in Anna's ears, stirring a twisted, nauseous feeling in her stomach. She stood there with her hand outstretched for an unknown amount of time. The abrupt silence of the apartment made her skin crawl. Swallowing thickly, she glanced around, taking in her still surroundings. The stove top was turned off, the fridge door was closed—she contemplated checking what was inside before deciding against it—and the coffee mug was steadily growing colder.
Anna sighed and ran a hand through her disheveled hair.
"Guess I might as well get cleaned up. Then I'll eat something."
After fumbling with her luggage, standing in the bathroom wondering what she could actually touch, Anna exited the apartment freshly showered and changed. She fiddled with the keys Elsa had left her and glanced up and down the hallway.
"Okay, first things first! Breakfast!" Her stomach growled viciously and she winced. "Yeah, guess it's the convenience store today. Don't think I can wait any longer."
After making sure the door was locked, she jogged down the hallway, leaving the curling, nauseous feeling in her stomach behind.
Down the elevator, through the double doors, and out into the streaming traffic of Los Angeles. Anna stopped and took in a deep breath. The summer sun was already rising higher into the sky. She glanced at her wristwatch and noted it was 7:15. "Well, early bird gets the worm as Auntie used to say."
Anna skipped off the steps and headed down onto the sidewalk. She hummed as she walked, feeling the tension in her muscles leave as she listened to the cars zooming past and people hurrying to their destination. With a hop, skip, and a dash across the intersection—after waiting for the walk sign to turn green of course, she didn't want a repeat of her accident from two years ago—she arrived at the convenience store.
Anna huffed, tilting her head back and blinking at the neon sign. "Louie's," she whispered to herself. The L flickered briefly and she jumped. "Not exactly what I had in mind." No wonder Elsa didn't sound exactly happy about this place. "Well, can't judge a book by its cover." She shrugged and pushed open the door, hearing the chime of the bell.
Immediately she was hit by the scent of coffee and donuts. Anna's stomach growled and she gulped. The store was empty save for the clerk and, what she could tell from her position at the entrance, one other person. She fingered the change and cash in her pocket for a moment, eyes darting over the shelves and clerk.
Alright Anna, you can do this. First mission of the morning: don't make a jackass out of yourself.
She blinked and recalled her conversation with Elsa. The redhead winced and bit her lip.
Make that second mission.
Three minutes later and Anna quickly concluded that she wasn't off to the healthiest breakfast in the morning. The clerk blinked down at her chocolate donut, chips, and energy drink. She blushed and grinned sheepishly. The portly man just shrugged and rang up her items. She couldn't get her bag of goodies from him fast enough. Her stomach was growling insistently and she was already stuffing the donut in her face before she was even at the door.
"Oh god, I missed you cheap, delicious, sugary stuff!" Anna groaned, taking big bites out of her donut. It really had been hours since she had had something to eat. Her stomach burbled and growled pleasantly, accepting the fried dough and chocolate with gracious need.
Too caught up in her eager munching, she failed to notice the door swinging open just as she was in front of it. Anna looked up just in time to get a face full of breasts and white fabric.
"Ack!" She stumbled back, feet slipping out from under her. There was a series of sounds, her drink clattering to the floor, chips falling out of her grasp, her half-eaten donut splattering on the floor only for her sneaker to catch on it, her rear end meeting the store's floor, and the thud of someone falling back onto the glass door.
Anna shook her head and blinked, eyes widening when she saw a pair of slim, bare legs in front of her. She followed the stretch of fair skin up to a knee-length dark brown skirt and a freshly pressed blouse. Pressed, of course, with an imprint of her face. The tall woman had long blonde hair, but unlike her older sister it was darker, more of a shade of dirty blonde than the incredibly pale kind Elsa had. She had blue eyes, grayer than her sister's icy shade, an elegant neck and high cheekbones. Anna's eyes dipped down to the black heels she wore and her eyebrows rose, a light blush tinting her freckled cheeks.
Woah, sex on legs.
"Excuse me," the woman said and Anna snapped her head up. The blonde plucked at her shirt before glaring at her. The hair on the back of Anna's neck rose at the venom dripping from her eyes. Her blouse had a few chocolate stains on it and Anna paled when she realized it was likely because of the donut she'd been eating. The woman pushed herself off the door, straightening to her full height and the redhead gulped at their differences in stature. She smoothed down her shirt, growling when her thumb passed over the stains, and hissed, "Please, watch where you're going next time."
"Oh! Oh, I'm sorry!" Anna stammered, face heating up quickly. She scrambled to her feet, pushing back a lock of hair and running her hands over her jeans. "I didn't mean to- I mean, I wasn't looking where I was going." If possible, the blonde's eyes narrowed even more and Anna laughed nervously, bending down to pick up her chips and drink. She ducked her head, unable to meet the stranger's disdainful look and muttered, "I'll, uh, get out of your way now."
The woman humphed and Anna straightened, sneakers squeaking against the floor as she shifted to the side. She hunched her shoulders and glanced down as the blonde gave her a passing, annoyed look.
Okay, sex on legs hates me. Good going Anna! Bump into someone and get caught probably looking like a pervert.
She blew at her fringe before her eyes landed on her smooshed donut. Anna slumped and sighed. Well, that's not salvageable. A few crumbles of chocolate fell off and her stomach growled at the waste. Feeling eyes on her, she glanced to the side to see the clerk glaring at her. Anna smiled crookedly and shrunk.
"I'll, uh, clean that up."
After an awkward moment of grabbing a few paper towels—which meant flashing the blonde an apologetic smile because the woman was also wiping at her blouse—she scurried out of the convenience store, clutching her drink and chips to her chest.
Anna skidded to a stop at the intersection and heaved a sigh, shoulders slumping. "Okay, so second mission of the morning was a total bust. No big deal, still the rest of the day to go."
Thankfully, the short walk back to the apartment wasn't filled with any more slip ups. Anna skipped up the steps and pushed the double doors open with a large smile. The complex was relatively quiet. She didn't see anyone in sight.
Guess everyone keeps to themselves. No wonder Elsa lives here.
She pushed back the rolling feeling in her stomach at the still atmosphere and walked slowly down the hallway, opening up her drink and bag of chips. For a few minutes the apartment was filled only by the sound of her crunching and drinking. Anna frowned when she stopped at the elevator and saw it was empty. She swirled the sugary liquid around in her mouth and hopped in, quickly pressing the buttons up to her floor.
"Everyone probably has work," Anna mumbled, leaning against the wall. "Yeah that's it. Work. Lots of people wake up early in the morning for work Anna." She bit her lip and watched the number change as the contraption rose. "In fact, pretty much everyone but you gets up early to do stuff."
The elevator chimed and she slipped out, crinkling her now empty bag and drink. She couldn't walk fast enough, hair on the back of neck rising from the prevailing silence.
When Anna turned the corner onto her apartment hallway, she paused mid-step. A bright smile lit her face when she recognized a figure not too far off. The sturdy blonde man was grumbling and jingling his keys at his apartment door.
Oh, hey. Him! What was his name again? Christopher? No wait, that's not right.
She chewed on her lip until a lightbulb went off in her head. "Kristoff, hey!" Anna called out, walking toward him after a moment's hesitation. She waved enthusiastically to get his attention.
He glanced up as she neared him, a slight frown creasing his brow. Rubbing the back of his neck, he clicked open his apartment door and gave her a meek wave. "Oh, uh, hi Anna."
She frowned, feeling her insides twist and the rolling, coiling feeling from before return. Balancing her trash in one arm and stuffing her other hand into her jean pocket, Anna stopped a few feet away from him and looked herself up and down. Her eyes roamed over her pants and shirt, lips pursed. When she was sure that she didn't have any drink or sugar stains on her person, she looked up at him with a crooked grin.
"What, do I have 'plague' written all over me or something?" she quipped, teal eyes twinkling in amusement.
Kristoff blanched and fiddled with his keys, half-pushing his door open and taking a step inside. "Uhh, no, no." He looked her up and down and added, "You look fine. Seriously."
Her smile faltered and an awkward silence stretched between. He stood there halfway into his apartment, brow furrowed, while she shifted her weight from foot to foot.
"Yeah I guess that was a bad joke," she said, laughing once.
Kristoff blinked at her. "It was a joke?"
Anna cringed. Oh wow. I don't know if he's that bad at picking up jokes or I just suck at telling them. She rocked slightly back and forth on the heels of her shoes, chewing on her lower lip. "Uh, it was supposed to be. You know the thing about humor." She grinned and shrugged her shoulders. "How can you make people laugh if you can't even laugh at yourself? Am I right?"
"Oh." Kristoff nodded and turned back to his apartment. "Right, self-deprecation and all that. I get it."
The atmosphere between them—around the entire apartment complex—made her skin crawl. Unable to stand it, she tilted her head at him and asked, "So how are you?"
Kristoff paused and she briefly wondered if he was getting annoyed at being continuously stopped from entering his home. She was relieved when he just turned back to her and shrugged. "I was just checking up on my dog."
"Oh, right. You mentioned you had a dog yesterday." Anna said, a smile curling on her lips. He nodded and she felt the tension in the air loosen somewhat. "What's his name?" she blurted out.
Kristoff quirked an eyebrow at her. "What?"
"Your dog. What's his name?" She tilted her head again and her smile turned into a cheeky grin. "Orrr am I not allowed to ask that?"
"Oh, uhh," he shifted and rubbed the back of his neck, "no, no it's totally cool. Sven."
"Sven?" Anna's eyebrows rose up to her hairline. What kind of name is Sven?
"Yeah, Sven," Kristoff said and she heard a slight hint of defensiveness in his voice.
She mentally cringed. Oh crap, hope I didn't offend him. Quickly deciding to remedy the situation, she straightened and asked, "Can I meet him? Wait, it's a him right? Or her?"
Kristoff stared at her for a long moment and she ducked her chin closer to her chest at the unreadable expression on his face. She had gotten how many people to stare at her this morning? Three? Four?
Maybe I'm being too pushy. I'm being weird aren't I?
She was about to say she could leave when the corner of his lips quirked up and he opened the door wider. "Sure, I don't see why not. He'd probably come out to meet you instead if he could get up. And yes, he's a he."
Anna beamed and he gestured her inside. His apartment, like Elsa's, was mostly bare. However, the walls were a dark blue and she perked up when she noticed a few consoles and games on his television stand. She was about to look around a bit more when she heard the sound of a tiny, sharp bark.
Sven, she realized, turned out to be an excitable, friendly, and very affectionate puppy. Anna grinned—cheeks splitting like the Cheshire Cat—when the mass of black fur, legs, and tiny paws came waddling up to them, barking left and right. However, she frowned when she noticed a cast on one of the dog's legs.
"Uh, is he okay?" Anna asked, turning to look up at Kristoff beside her.
The blonde man flashed her a surprisingly tender smile before bending down on one knee and patting his leg, whistling to Sven. Immediately the black puppy stumbled towards him, licking his large hand in quick strokes. "Yeah, he's alright. He had an accident a while back, broke his leg chasing a squirrel, but the vet said he's well on his way to recovery."
Kristoff rubbed Sven's ears and Anna watched the smile reach his eyes. She relaxed, grin returning. The fuzzy puppy glanced at her, tilting his head. She knelt down, wiggling her fingers.
"Hey buddy!" Anna giggled. To her surprise, Kristoff gently pushed Sven in her direction and the puppy waddled over to her. Her cheeks hurt from the smile on her face. "Hey, hi there," she cooed as he cautiously sniffed at her hand. "How are you big boy? I'm Anna, your new neighbor."
Sven gave a short bark and pawed at her jeans and sneakers. She reached over to his ears and scratched behind them, giggling again when he panted in obvious delight. Finally a super friendly face.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kristoff still smiling at their interaction. Okay, maybe he's not so bad either. Or he thinks I'm not so bad. Likely the latter. Definitely the latter.
Sven licked her fingers and her expression softened. She bent her head and gave the wiggling, wet curious nose a quick kiss. But at least this guy likes me!
"He's adorable!" Anna squealed, ruffling his fur. "How long have you had him?"
Kristoff chuckled and stood up, making his way to what she assumed was the kitchen and disappearing into it. "Not long, since he's still a pup obviously. My parents got him and his mom at a shelter. They kept her, but I couldn't just leave this guy alone." She tilted her head when she heard the sound of metal and something else. Kristoff reappeared with a small pet dish, setting it down near Sven. The puppy barked before diving into it, tiny teeth crunching away. "And well, small pets are allowed in this apartment so everything worked out in the end." He reached down and stroked Sven's head. Anna stood up and watched him quietly. "We've been together since then. Not a long time, but I plan to make sure it's a long time."
Anna grinned and shifted. He glanced up at her and smirked.
"You can throw that trash in my garbage bin." He jerked his thumb to a can nearby.
"Thanks," she said and dumped her empty can and bag. Alright, way to go Anna. He let you into his apartment the second day you've known him and even introduced you to his dog. Score for you, maybe this whole making friends thing isn't going to be so hard after all.
An idea suddenly flashed through her mind.
She dusted off her hands and turned towards him. "Hey, can I ask you something Kristoff?"
He blinked up at her, one eyebrow raised. "Sure, what is it?"
"You and Elsa are friends right?" She tapped her knuckles together, excitement beginning to bubble in her chest.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that," he said, standing up. He moved to the kitchen area and she followed without hesitation.
"Do you know when her lunch break is?" Anna asked, bouncing on her toes as Kristoff reached towards his coffee maker. "I should've asked before she left, but—" she was gone before I even had a chance of asking her anything "—I kind of forgot."
Kristoff fiddled with his coffee maker, humming thoughtfully to himself. "I'm not sure to be honest. Elsa always works really late so I have no idea when she'll be on a lunch break."
Anna deflated, dropping back to a still position and sighed. "Wait, aren't you two friends? How could you not know when her lunch break is? You've known each other for a few years now right?"
Kristoff grabbed a mug and shrugged. "Well, we're really more like acquaintances than friends. Elsa hangs out with her coworkers more often than me and even then she doesn't get out much." He fixed her with a look, eyebrow quirking up again. "Besides, if you want to know her lunch break so badly why not just text her? You have her number at least right?"
Anna bit her lip, resisting the urge to wince. She did have her sister's number, but past experiences left her hesitant to use it. Too many clipped responses, strained conversations, and tense moments.
And sometimes no answers at all.
She stared down at the tips of her sneakers and brushed back a lock of strawberry-blonde hair, muttering, "Yeah, I guess I'll do that instead." Perking up, she tried another question. "Do you have any idea when she'll get out of work?"
"Uh..." Kristoff pursed his lips, reaching over to his coffee machine and beginning to pour himself a cup. "Late."
Anna slumped. "Really? That's all? No bare bones estimations? No, eight o' clock?" He shook his head, turning off the coffee machine. "Nine?" she pressed. "Ten?"
"Later than that, most of the time," Kristoff said and she brightened at the more informative response. "But I really don't know, sorry. Don't really like meddling into others' businesses."
She mentally cringed at the comment and took a step back. Ugh, good going Anna. Way to come off as pushy and nosy. Even if it does involve your sister, that's no reason to ask a total stranger about her. Wow, I must have made him feel really awkward. She rubbed the back of her neck and mumbled, "So, you think midnight is a good guess?"
Kristoff blew over his mug and said, "Better than most."
Anna nodded—more to herself than to him—and turned back to the door. "Okay, thanks. Anyway, I should get going." She saw something flicker in his eyes and guessed it was relief. She crossed through the living room, stopping once to pet Sven on the head before opening his door. "It was nice seeing you again and uh," Anna bit her lip and smiled crookedly, "sorry for bothering you."
He just blinked at her and shrugged, the slightest hint of a smile on the corner of his lips. "Don't worry about it. Sven enjoyed your company." As if to prove his point, the black puppy waddled over to her feet and pawed at her sneakers, nipping one of the laces.
Anna giggled and patted his head one last time before walking out the door, intent on heading back to her apartment. Not a second later, she scrambled right back into Kristoff's and blurted out, "Oh, wait! Do you know where the nearest grocery store is?"
"Grocery store?" Kristoff quirked an eyebrow and she nodded rapidly. He frowned and sipped his coffee again, then said, "Nearest one is about- wait, let me just grab a piece of paper and I'll write down the directions for you."
Then, with a paper being stuffed into her pocket, Anna bounced out of his apartment and jogged down the hallway all the way to hers.
Alright! That wasn't so bad Anna. Maybe the whole 'making new friends' deal isn't completely impossible. Now, to unpack. I'll try calling Elsa later.
She skidded to a stop in front of their door, hand hovering over the doorknob. Her stomach twisted and she frowned. "On second thought, maybe I'll text her instead."
She fished out her keys, the jingle causing a strange mixture of unease and happiness to shoot through her, and slipped inside the apartment.
Anna grunted and zipped up her suitcase. She pushed herself off her knee and brushed the back of her hand against her forehead, sighing in relief. "That's the last of my stuff." The redhead glanced around her, smiling slightly at the now filled drawers of clothes and personal things. The few pictures she had brought over from New York now sat on her desk and the books piled up neatly in a tiny stack. "Okay," Anna huffed, grabbing her duffel bag and suitcase. "Now to just dump these right—" she dragged them to the corner and plopped them down, "—here!"
"Finished at last!" Anna jumped back and bounced on her feet, grinning in triumph. "No more unpacking for me! I can enjoy the rest of my vacation before classes start without worry!"
She glanced at her wristwatch and saw it was past noon.
"It wouldn't be bad to call Elsa right now would it? She should be having lunch right now, right? Most people have lunch around this time. Even people who stay after work for longer."
She pursed her lips, tapping her fingers against her jeans.
In the end, she decided not to text Elsa.
I'll treat it as a surprise. She'll like it, I'm sure!
With that hopeful thought in mind, Anna grabbed her keys, her phone, the rest of the cash Elsa had given her this morning—and the amount her uncle had given her before she left—a list she had compiled after checking the bare refrigerator, and hurried out the apartment.
She ran down the hallway, fishing out the piece of paper Kristoff had given her. "Alright, the grocery store is—"
"Um, okay, asparagus or...broccoli?"
Vegetables really were not her forte.
She stared at the head of broccoli in one hand and then switched to eye the group of asparagus in her other. Anna chewed on her bottom lip. Cooking wasn't really her forte either. It wasn't that she didn't know how to. She did, to some decent level. She just didn't do it often and when she had, it had been rarely for more than one person. She sighed and placed the head of broccoli back amongst the stack and snagged a plastic bag to place the asparagus in.
"Okay, um, next is a...starch I guess," she mumbled slowly as she placed her chosen vegetable into her basket. Picking it up, she plodded along down the aisles in search of the grains.
"Hmm, pasta or- well maybe Elsa would prefer rice? O-or even potatoes or something. Legumes? A protein?" she said to herself as she walked into the aisle and looked down the long line of produce. Scratching the side of her head, she tried to recall what types of foods she knew Elsa liked.
She came up blank.
Her shoulders slumped as she stopped in the middle of the aisle. "What does Elsa even eat anyway?"
This was California, not NYC. Maybe Elsa was into that food healthnut trend that she heard was popular here. Not that there weren't trends back at home, but Anna had never gotten on board with the healthy living style. Her notion of "eating healthy" tended more toward occasionally shoving vitamins and the rare bottle of mineral water down her throat. Sometimes she had eaten vegetables, when her aunt had actually been able to sit her down at meal times.
But most of what she'd consumed back in NYC had been various forms of junk food, not unlike what she'd had for breakfast that morning. Candy bars, chips, and donuts were what she had mostly lived off of back home. Sometimes she'd had the rare granola bar or a fruit on the way to work, per orders from Rapunzel.
But she'd never been one to actually take good care of her health.
And Elsa is probably someone who does do that sort of thing. Look after her health, I mean. She probably doesn't laze around just watching TV with a bag of Doritos every night. Elsa isn't like that. I am. Elsa isn't like me. Elsa isn't like me at all.
She sighed, stopping in front of the pasta section. Anna bit her lip, staring at the bland looking packages while her mind went back several years.
Her sister and her had always been different. Even when they had spent more time together as children, there had been some clear differences in their preferences of activities. She had loved running around in the backyard, playing basketball with their toy court, and climbing the oak tree. Elsa had preferred to read under it, watching from the sidelines as she fumbled with the ball, or gently stopping her whenever she had thought that Anna would trip and fall on the grass.
And even when she stopped me I kept on going.
She had managed several bruises and scrapes that way.
"Not a wonder at all that we don't get along," she mumbled, glum. Her eyes flashed and she chewed on her lower lip.
She saw Elsa sitting under the oak tree in her mind, one arm curled around her tiny shoulders, tugging her in close and speaking softly. If she concentrated hard enough, she could almost feel the brisk autumn air flowing through her hair. The scent of their mother's cooking coming from the house and their father's voice telling them to come back inside.
But she did used to read me stories anytime I asked.
Her lips twitched into a tiny smile and she mentally gave herself a shake.
"Maybe sweet potatoes as a side dish tonight."
She recalled her mother cooking them that once.
Fifteen minutes later, she walked out of the store and into the parking lot. She pulled out her phone from her back pocket. For a moment or two, she thought about calling Rapunzel.
"I told her I'd keep her up to date this morning." Anna turned her phone over and over again in her hand, brow furrowing. "A-and maybe she might even give me a bit of a pep talk." Give her the confidence that she always needed when talking to Elsa.
But maybe I shouldn't rely on her for this. She'd probably get worried about me and I don't want her bringing up the idea to Elsa that I'm uncomfortable talking to her.
She decided against it. Instead, she sent her cousin a quick text message saying she was settling in fine and that she had finished unpacking her things. Then, with trembling fingers, Anna dialed the number for her sister's cell.
I hope she's not too busy right now. It's not that late. She could spare a few minutes to pick up. Right? C'mon Anna, you can do this. This is the first step.
Her face lit up at the sound of the answering click. Anna quivered in her shoes, ears straining to pick up the sound of her sister's soft, quiet, beautiful—
"Anna?"
She trembled slightly at the way Elsa greeted her.
"Oh! Hey, Elsa!" Anna exclaimed, trying not to cringe when her voice came off high-pitched. "Um, I was just at the grocery store and I thought," she held up the bag of groceries as a testimony, as if she thought Elsa could see her act of responsibility, "I'd cook us up some dinner. What do you think of pasta for tonight?"
"You bought groceries?" Elsa asked and she could hear the confusion in her sister's voice.
"Y-yeah," Anna squeaked, gripping the bags tighter. She didn't miss out on the way Elsa ignored the rest of what she had said. "I noticed the fridge was pretty much empty so I thought I'd go out and buy stuff." Quietly, she added, "So, you know, you wouldn't have to."
There was a long moment of silence and Anna felt that ever familiar rolling, twisting, and coiling feeling in her stomach whenever her surroundings went quiet.
"Thank you..."
Elsa's words were soft and they washed over her gently. Her shoulders sagged slightly and her grip on the grocery bags loosened. Anna's cheeks warmed at the underlying tenderness in Elsa's voice and the beginnings of a smile curled on the edge of her lips. She swayed on her feet, eyelids half-closing, and tilted her head closer to her phone as if she could draw herself nearer to the presence on the other side.
"But…"
Anna went rigid. Oh no. Here it comes.
"I-I'm sorry Anna." She could hear a pencil tapping on the other line and briefly wondered if Elsa was fidgeting. She discarded that idea when her sister continued, her voice distant again. "I already planned to go out with my friends for a bite to eat after work."
Friends? But from the way Kristoff talked about you it sounded like you barely went out. So is this just a coincidence or—
"Don't wait up for me, okay?"
Her finger nails dug into the plastic of the grocery bag and the skin of her palm. Anna swallowed thickly.
"Please?"
Elsa sounded tired again. She could have sworn there was a hint of desperation in her voice.
Or is that wishful thinking?
"I don't want you staying up for me anyway," Elsa cut in, "Like I said, I'm going to be home late."
"You mean you're going right back to work after eating out with your friends?" Anna frowned, trying to keep the sting out of her words. She prayed she succeeded.
There was a sigh on the line before Elsa spoke.
"Unfortunately, yes. My boss has this project due on a hard deadline." Softly, incredibly softly, she added, "I don't want you staying up late for me. You're probably tired from the flight, aren't you?"
She wasn't. She wasn't completely refreshed, but she wasn't exhausted. She was merely aching to spend time with her sister.
"Right?"
The whispered plea made her heart clench.
"Yeah, I kind of am actually."
"Okay. Then, eat dinner and head right to bed for me, will you?"
The relief in Elsa's voice was palpable. Anna swallowed again.
"Right, you got it. So, see you at home?" She frowned before quickly fixing her error. "In the morning, I mean."
"Yes, see you then. Goodbye Anna."
"Bye," Anna whispered and her line ended.
She stood there for several moments, watching the traffic buzz on the street and shadows waver on the asphalt of the parking lot. Then, Anna sat down on the curve of the sidewalk, placing the bag of groceries next to her. Hanging her hands in between her legs, she exhaled deeply.
"I miss home."
Turn around and fix your eye in my direction
So there is a connection