Elsa awoke to a message from Anna. "You can have whatever kind of crush you want."
She smiled as she got out of bed and headed for the shower. When she was finished in the bathroom she found Anna waiting to go in.
"Did you check the itinerary for the day?" Elsa asked.
"Yeah. All it says is volunteer day. I don't know what that means. Tomorrow we leave on that two day hiking and camping thing."
"Right. I've never been camping before."
"Somehow that does not surprise me."
"I'm going to assume you have?"
"Of course. I'm going to take a quick shower, don't leave without me."
Once they were seated in the classroom Kai let them know exactly what the day would entail.
"We're going to be spending the day volunteering with an organization that builds homes for low-income families. I love encouraging kids to give back to their communities, it instills a sense of pride and accomplishment and is a good reminder that no matter how challenging life is for them, others are struggling as well. We'll load up the bus in half an hour."
"Where did you learn all this stuff?" Elsa asked Kristoff as she helped him saw lumber.
"I started working construction jobs when I was sixteen. One of my foster father's worked construction and during the summer he let me tag along. I just wanted to make some money but I learned a lot too."
"What was foster care like?" Mulan asked.
Kristoff gave the woman an odd look. "Sometimes it was ok, sometimes it sucked."
"Sorry I don't really have any experience with it. I work for a private agency that does adoptions from foreign countries. I didn't mean to be rude."
"It's ok."
"So, Elsa, you're Anna's partner right?" Mulan asked.
"Yeah."
"What's she like? I'd love to get to know her better."
"Uhm. She's pretty great actually."
"Well she's definitely hot I know that. When Danielle told me Anna was into girls I couldn't believe it. It's too bad Kai wouldn't let us switch cabins. I'd love to catch a glimpse or two of her in the shower. Right Kristoff?" Mulan gave the blonde man a wink.
"Well maybe it's better you didn't then, I'm not sure she'd appreciate being leered at all day." Elsa replied.
"Oh, what's wrong? Jealous?" Mulan teased.
"Where is Anna anyway?" Kristoff asked.
"Painting inside. The fumes were too much for me, I needed some fresh air."
"So answer the question Elsa. Do you have a thing for her too? I already know Kristoff here does."
"What? I do not!"
"You totally do. Everyone knows it. You're completely obvious."
"What do you care anyway?" Elsa asked.
"I just want to know how much competition I have."
"Competition? She isn't a trophy just waiting to be won."
"Who isn't?" Anna startled the group.
"How long have you been standing there?" Kristoff asked.
"I just walked up. Here,I brought you guys some water."
"Thanks. And nobody, we were just talking about….uh horse racing."
"Horse racing? Interesting. You guys need a hand? Oaken finally caught on that Hans hadn't done any work today so he made him join the paint crew. I can't be in the same room as that asshole."
"Sure. We need all these pieces measured and cut to nine feet."
Half an hour later Anna nudged Elsa. "What were you guys really talking about? I'm pretty sure it wasn't horse racing. You sounded pretty passionate."
"Maybe I love horses?"
"I don't think so."
"You." Elsa sighed.
"Me?"
"Yeah. Look." Elsa nodded to Kristoff and Mulan who were both grabbing the biggest, heaviest boards they could find and then flexing as much as possible while maneuvering them into position on the sawhorses. "We were getting a lot more work done before you came out here."
"Do you want me to leave?" Anna smirked.
"No." Mulan chose that moment to wipe the sweat off her neck with the hem of her shirt, showing off her abs in the process. "Well, maybe."
"So you were defending my honor then?"
"Something like that. I don't really like her much to be honest. She reminds me of Hans in a way, acting like you're an object she can just possess."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"What are you two whispering about over there?" Kristoff called out.
"Elsa's just explaining the finer points of horse racing." Anna retorted.
By the time they were done for the day Elsa was exhausted. I could probably go to bed now, she thought. After a quick shower and dinner she was prepared to head back to the cabin when Anna grabbed her arm. "Come for a walk with me?"
"Aren't we going to be walking enough tomorrow?"
"Fine. What about going to the lounge? I think some people are watching a movie in there."
"What movie?"
"Some horror movie."
"Fine."
"Really?"
"I have a weakness for horror movies."
"You continue to surprise me, you know that?"
The women entered the lounge to find Kristoff puting the DVD in to play. Elsa sat in one of the weird oversized chairs and then realized it was the last one that was unoccupied.
"Anna, you can come sit with me." Mulan said, patting the chair she was sitting in.
"Or you can share with me." Kristoff offered. "I'll protect you if you get scared."
Elsa realized Anna looked uncomfortable with both of those suggestions.
"Sorry guys, she's already promised to hold my hand through the scary parts."
Anna looked relieved and grateful. "Thanks." she whispered as she curled up next to Elsa. The blonde realized Mulan was glaring at her, so she just raised one eyebrow at her and smirked. A few seconds later she felt her phone vibrate. She pulled it out to see a message from Anna.
"I saw that."
"Yeah, so I really don't like her. And occasionally I can be a little cocky. I did tell you ice queen was a well deserved nickname."
"You're really cute you know."
Elsa felt her heart skip when she read that last message. Fuck, what's going on. I've never felt like this about anyone. She switched over to the group chat she maintained with Lauren and Dean: "Hey guys, I know I'm thirty years old so this is about fifteen years too late, but how do you know if you like someone?"
The replies came back right away.
Dean: Holy shit. The ice queen might have a crush?
Lauren: What are they doing to you up there in the mountains?
Elsa: Seriously guys. You know I don't get crushes. I haven't been on a date in four years.
Dean: But you might like someone now? That's what you mean right? Or are you asking for a friend? J/K We know we're your only friends.
Elsa: I know I like her. As a person, I mean. Really like her. But how do I know if it's more than that?
Dean: It's a girl? Wow. Is she hot?
Lauren: Shut up Dean. Elsa, can you imagine yourself kissing her? Touching her? How does that make you feel?
Elsa allowed her imagination to come to life, picturing the beautiful redheads lips meeting her own.
Elsa: Nervous.
Lauren: Nervous how? Like butterflies in your stomach nervous?
Elsa: Yes.
Lauren: OMG. You finally have a crush on someone. I can't believe this. Is she into women? Is she single?
Elsa: Yes she's single and yes she's bi.
Dean: I like her already. So what are you waiting for?
Elsa: What do you mean?
Dean: Make a move El.
Elsa: I don't know how.
Dean: Srsly? You don't even know how to flirt do you?
Elsa: Yes I do. I think. She kind of flirts with me, so I definitely can recognize it when I see it.
Lauren: So she flirts with you? Maybe she'll make the move then.
Elsa: I told her i'm asexual so I don't think she will.
Lauren: You told someone you just met six days ago that you're asexual? Where is Elsa Winter and who is this imposter? And why would you tell her that if you like her?
Elsa: I didn't know I did!
Dean: Nevermind that. Can you at least flirt back a little? Try to encourage her. Eventually she'll want to know what's going on and then you can be like totally kidding about that asexual thing. I think you cured me.
Elsa: Maybe. I can try.
She finally replied to Anna's message. "Cute like that little kitten you saw yesterday?"
"No, not quite like that."
"How then?" Elsa sent the message and then waited anxiously for the reply.
"Ok maybe cute wasn't the right word. I just didn't want to make you uncomfortable."
Dean: How's it going?
Lauren: I'm curious too not gonna lie.
Elsa: idk. She called me cute. I tried to push her for more but I think she's afraid I'll be upset or offended.
Dean: you have to keep it going. Don't let it go.
"Oh, so by cute you must have meant arrogant and aloof?"
"No."
"Could have fooled me. Until you tell me otherwise I'll just assume that's what you wanted to say. You're just too nice."
She heard Anna sigh on the other end of the chair.
"It's just, that smirk you gave Mulan?"
"Yeah?"
Instead of replying via text Anna slid closer to Elsa and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "It was really fucking hot." Elsa felt her entire body flush with heat as Anna moved away.
Elsa: Hey guys?
Dean: …
Elsa: Yeah, I really like her.
Lauren: I knew it. This is amazing. I want to meet her. I'm so glad we made you go.
Elsa: Me too. And Dean, she is definitely hot.
After the movie everyone went back to their cabins. As Elsa pulled out her journal she got one last message from Anna. "I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable."
She thought hard about how to reply. She knew she needed to make it obvious that she liked the flirtation between them or Anna would back off. "You didn't. I've just been busy planning ways to incorporate that smirk into more of my interactions with you."
From the Journal of Elsa Winter:
Fuck. After a lifetime of assuming I'll never be attracted to anyone, I'm completely infatuated with this girl. It's not like I never dated at all. I did, not recently, but I did in college. I just never liked anyone. Like this. I actually want her to touch me. And I'm pretty sure she likes me too, that's the best part. I should have known that's why I was feeling so jealous. Kristoff is actually a really nice guy but I don't think he's good enough for Anna. And Mulan, no. Just no. I'm so tired, can't believe i'm going to walk up a mountain tomorrow. But Anna's going to be there so it might not be so bad."
Anna's Journal:
Shit. So I've totally had a crush on Elsa, I knew that. But now she's actually flirting with me. Why? I thought she was asexual. Is she just jealous that other people like me? But why? Maybe she just likes people liking her. She doesn't seem like that type. But I don't know what to think. I don't want to assume I'm so amazing I changed her sexuality in five days. Maybe I should just go with it. We have two days out in the wilderness together to figure it out though.