Anna scrambled into the backseat of the car as the rain poured down around her. She gave a louder-than-expected yelp and ended up half-curled against Elsa's lap as she clutched at the door and slammed it shut. Elsa herself was wet from the head down, her once perfectly combed locks flat and wet around her face and head, obscuring her eyes. Anna panted and exhaled, then flopped and relaxed her muscles, apparently uncaring of her position against Elsa's body. Elsa, who was as tense as if though Anna had her at sword point, conflicted with thoughts racing at a thousand horsepower.
Relax, it's just human contact. I can deal with this. Elsa exhaled. Anna sighed and pushed herself off Elsa, getting into a proper sitting position. Elsa couldn't help but feel a slight tinge of disappointment, but maybe it was better that way- too much too soon!
"Swanky car." Anna said, looking around. "This must have cost a fortune."
Elsa nodded shyly and looked out of the window to her left at the heavy rain. "My father gave it to me on my twentieth birthday." She said quietly. She fished the keys out of the ignition.
"Are we taking the car?" Anna asked excitedly.
Elsa looked over. "I thought you said it was just half a block?"
"Oh!" Anna shifted uncomfortably. "I did. Say, um, how old are you? If you're okay with me asking?"
Elsa gave a small, slight smile. "Twenty.."
"Really!" Anna said, genuinely surprised. "I'm seventeen."
Only seventeen? Oh no.. but she acts so much older.. Elsa's smile faltered. Anna noticed and she quickly stammered out, "B-b-but my birthday's next month! So you know, I'm basically legal! Er, not that I mean it matters that I'm legal, just that I'll be legal so I can do all sorts of things that you can only do with, um, what am I saying? I just meant I'm- I can do anything legally! No, wait, that's not it, I mean, you can do anything you want with me and it'll be legal- oh god that sounds so wrong, um, I'm just going to, ah..." Anna clammed up, holding her hands over her mouth to physically prevent herself from digging any deeper a hole.
Elsa held up two fingers to her mouth, hiding her amused smile at Anna's rambling. She took the moment to just inspect the girl as they were both silent for a moment. Anna had freckles- beautiful freckles, numerous freckles, and they brought out the loveliness of her eyes and lips.
What are you doing she's watching you stare at her!
Both girls flushed and looked away at the same moment. Anna spoke first. "So, um, how about that umbrella?"
"Oh, it's right here." Elsa reached under the seat and pulled it out, then frowned. "It's a bit small for two people though."
"That's okay! We can fit underneath." Anna took the umbrella from Elsa's hands and gave it a shake, popping it open as far as it would go inside the car. "Yeah, I think we'll fit underneath it just fine. It should hold us until we reach the convenience store, it's only half a block away." Anna went to open the door.
"Wait!" Elsa paused as Anna turned to give her a curious look. "I'm... - I'm not ready." Elsa confessed. "I need to, um, prepare. In my head."
"For some rain?" Anna asked incredulously "It's just a little water."
"I know, I'm just- I'm not-" Elsa swallowed, falling silent. Her focus was distant, lost in thought, straining against some mental bond.
"Hey, it's okay." Anna's expression dropped into a concerned gaze, and she watched Elsa carefully, taking note of Elsa's increased breathing rate, her tense hands, her scrunched up face. "We're not diving off a cliff here, it's just rain. Are you okay?"
Elsa nodded, but then shook her head from side to side to indicate no, she was not okay.
"Okay.. here's what we're going to do." Anna instructed. "I'm going to get out and open the umbrella, and I'll hold it over the door. You climb over and out the door, and I'll keep the umbrella over your head so you don't get wet. Okay?"
It's not the rain that I'm afraid of. Elsa bit her lower lip and nodded anyways.
"Okay. Here we go. One, two... hup!" Anna unfolded the umbrella and held it over the door, extending her free hand towards Elsa. Elsa, who sat there for a moment nervously, then took slow steps forward over the backseat, trembling. Her hand slipped into Anna's like silk sliding into folded cotton, Anna's hand clasping and pulling. Safely tucked under the umbrella, Anna kicked the door shut and escorted Elsa over to the sidewalk, keeping them both in the safety of the umbrella's shade. "It's only a quick walk, come on. We'll hurry, focus on getting there. Don't focus on the rain, focus on me, okay?" Anna squeezed Elsa's hand gently.
That's exactly what I'm trying not to focus on! Elsa grumbled in her head. Without warning Anna slipped her hand around Elsa's waist and pulled her closer- the two of them suddenly pressed side to side and their bodies clicked together like lock and key, walking in sync with their hips sliding side to side in harmony.
"There, now we fit under the umbrella." Anna said. "Just focus on walking. Okay?"
Who is this person who acts so intimate with strangers? Who helps people she doesn't even know?
"Not much of a talker, are you?" Anna asked, a hint of amusement in her voice. "That's okay, I talk enough for two people anyways. It's totally cool, though. I mean, the whole shy thing. I knew someone when I was younger who had problems talking to people, so I know how it is, so don't worry about me judging you or anything." The taller woman didn't say anything but gave a little nod and a tight smile. "Also, thanks for letting me borrow you- I mean your umbrella. I would've gotten sick in this rain if I had to run out here by myself. We really should have taken the car if you're this tense about it..."
Anna exhaled and focused on walking with the woman in sync. She was surprised how easily the woman took to walking with her. The two managed to make it into the convenience store without issue, passing by a loitering vagrant who was using the roof of the shop to take cover from the rain. The grainy light from the street lamp flickered.
The guy behind the counter looked up boredly as they walked in. Elsa noticed the slurpee machine in the corner, the red viscous liquid inside swirling slowly as the machine did its work. She gave a shy smile to Anna as she took off, slurpees was one of the things she loved most. Cherry was her favorite. As she was filling the cup with icy goodness she noticed Anna was doing a speed-sweep of the store, apparently knowledgeable of where everything was, picking up candy, snacks, a cherry pop. They ended up back together at the register, Anna with a basket full of groceries and Elsa with the cup in her hand, slowly chilling her palm and fingers and she clutched it
Anna refused to let Elsa pay for her slurpee, insisting that she'd cover it. In the end the shy girl reluctantly agreed, afraid it'd turn into an issue otherwise. Besides, who can say no to free slurpees?
When they walked out of the store, Anna quickly blossomed up the umbrella again and offered her hand to Elsa. This time Elsa slipped easily against her, seeking out her hand, nervously sliding her fingers against Anna's palm, and the two began to walk in sync back to the apartment complex.
Never met someone so eager to be friends before. Anna thought to herself, smiling kindly in Elsa's direction. She seems so familiar, and we've only just met. I wonder if we've met before? No.. no, I think I would remember someone like her. Elsa offered a sip of her slurpee and Anna gladly took it.
It was all too soon that they were back at their apartment complex, their doors standing in front of them like prison gates to their normal lives. Anna gave her doorknob a quick jiggle and yes, it was unlocked now. The manager must have stopped by. She turned around to face Elsa, hopeful yet glum.
"So-" Anna said.
"I had-" Elsa said, then stopped, looking at the ground.
Anna faltered and looked around nervously, stifling an awkward chuckle. "Um… see you around, I guess?"
Elsa smiled, her eyes flicking up to just barely meet Anna's. "I would like that, yes. Thank you for the slurpee." She opened her door and took a step through, looking back at Anna.
"Oh, no problem! Thanks for the company." Anna strained for something to say to keep the conversation going, but her tongue failed her. "I guess.. have a good night!"
Elsa closed the door on her. Anna grimaced and slid inside her apartment, closing the door with a careful 'click' and resting against it. "Ouch." She muttered.
Elsa thumped her forehead against her door.
Stupid, stupid, all you had to do was say you too. Stupid, stupid..