A/N: You guys this is all gonna be fluff so I hope you're ready 3 The rest of this fic might even be fluff, ahaha. I don't know how or when it's gonna end. ;) Hoping to have something else by the end of this week. Thanks as always for your support!
In this chapter, Elsa faces several challenges: her Spanish exam, and some crazy idea that Anna thinks up for dinner.
Hugs!
Work the next day was rough. Elsa wasn't hung over, but she had gotten home from the hospital just around 6 a.m. and had to work 10 a.m.-5 p.m. She threw her hair in a ponytail and let her bangs do whatever the hell they pleased as she ran out the door. It took liberal amounts of coffee and chocolate to get her going, but nothing could stop her smile as a little boy and girl cooed over Crookshanks in the waiting room. Elsa was tending the cash register and handing out applications for adoption.
Their family was looking for a puppy, but the kids still were delighted with his thick ginger fur and his deep, rumbling purr.
"Bye-bye, Cooksank!" the little boy said, waving as one of the other employees took the family back to the kennel area.
Elsa laughed at that. "Come on, bud," she said, scooping him back up and returning to man the cash register.
Business slowed down after lunch time, so Elsa had the opportunity to check her phone again and again to see if Anna had texted her. She was flipping through her emails, paying no attention, when someone tapped the counter in front of her.
"Ah, sorry!" she said, snapping her head up. Deep, aquamarine eyes smiled at her in greeting.
"Is this what they pay you for, being on your phone?" Anna asked jokingly, handing over a small cup from the coffee shop down the street.
"How did you know I'd need a pick-me up?"
"It's not coffee. It's hot chocolate. I can get you something else-"
"It wasn't the drink I meant," said the blonde coyly, delighting in the small flush that appeared in Anna's cheeks.
"Hi Crookshanks," Anna said sweetly to the cat, who was bathing himself on top of the counter. He nuzzled her hand as she reached out to scratch his chin. Elsa studied her a bit-she looked tired, but beautiful as ever, her hair in a single braid down her back today. She was in a Zeta Kappa t-shirt and khakis, a gray cardigan tied around her neck under her leather jacket. And, of course, her giant purse.
"Hey, I came to say thank you again," Anna said as Elsa continued to gaze. "Today, everything seems much more manageable, but we are going to have to have a talk tonight as a house about drinking safety and about what the exec board expects of everyone." She rolled her eyes. "Good old family meetings. Still, they're the only sisters I have, so I guess I have to love them."
"How's Tiana?"
"I told her to stay in her pajamas today. She had a major headache, but her boyfriend is over taking care of her. She said to tell you hello. And I can't thank you enough for staying with me in the hospital. I would ask to take you to dinner tonight if I didn't have a meeting."
"You don't need to take me to dinner."
"But I want to."
"Really, it was no problem helping out-"
"Elsa. Am I just not allowed to want to take you to dinner?"
Resisting the urge to say no out of politeness, Elsa smiled. "Well, I guess you can."
"Great," Anna said, eyes shining with excitement. "When are you free?"
Elsa hummed, eyes shut, idly scratching the cat's chin. "I work tomorrow...class most of the day Tuesday and I really should study and work on my project Tuesday and Wednesday...plus I think I work Wednesday for a short shift...so, maybe Thursday after our exam? Is that okay?" her eyes popped back open.
"Mmhmm," Anna said, flicking through her iPhone. "I work Thursday morning, ugh. So much for studying." The phone began ringing and she snorted. "Really? I've been gone for like 15 minutes." She silenced it and stuck it in her pocket. "They can deal."
"Where do you work?" asked Elsa, realizing she still didn't know.
"Oh, you know that bakery on south campus? I'm over there making a little extra. And eating chocolate."
"Of course you are," Elsa said with a laugh. The door swung open, and an older man walked in.
"Hi Elsa," he said, shuffling around to the kennel door. "Busy day today?"
"Not really," she said, opening it for him. "The dogs will be happy to see you. How is Dug?"
"Ornery as ever," the man said with a chuckle as he made his way down the back hallway.
Elsa smiled as he slowly puttered down the hall. "That's Carl," she said to Anna. "One of our volunteers."
"How old is he?"
"Like 82 or something. He's super lively though."
The door swung open again, and a mom and two girls came walking in.
"Hi there!" Elsa greeted them. With an apologetic smile to Anna, she said, "I think duty calls. Thank you for the hot chocolate. See you in class?"
"Yeah. Bye," said Anna, waggling her fingers and eyebrows simultaneously so Elsa snorted.
The week flew by, and Elsa found herself confronted with a Spanish exam and a...date? with Anna before she knew it.
Where are we even going? And can I cheat off your paper today? She had texted Anna on Thursday morning.
Wherever I take you! And yeah, if you want to fail. :)
The test wasn't SO bad, but it still completely managed to piss Elsa off.
I know that wasn't in the damn book, she thought to herself. Next to her, Anna looked just as confused, and Olaf had his shaggy dark hair in his hands as he stared at his page.
At least she wasn't alone.
The three of them left together, having barely finished on time.
"I feel like that thing just kicked my ass," Elsa grumbled. "I hate tests. I lost to a damn sheet of paper."
"That was terrible," Olaf groaned. "I didn't know we would have to write essays on the themes in Spanish. I can't even do that in English. So I wrote what I knew in Spanish and the rest in Norwegian."
"You did not," Elsa said in disbelief.
He shrugged, grinned. "I hope the tactic worked. See you later!" He gave them both a quick hug and sped up down the stairs.
"I'm headed over to the ed building," Anna said once they got outside. "See you later?"
"Yeah," said Elsa with a smile. "What time?"
"Like, six?"
"Sure." she paused. "Hey, what the hell should I wear?"
Anna laughed, the constellation of freckles on her cheeks shifting. "Nothing too nice, what kind of money do you think I'm made of?"
"Okay, I'll put on some of Kristoff's sweatpants," Elsa deadpanned.
Anna rolled her eyes, then stood quickly on tiptoe to kiss the blonde's cheek.
"See ya," she said, walking off.
Elsa watched her go, a dumb smile on her face and her cheek tingling with warmth.
Several hours later, she was still debating on what to wear.
"Olaaaaaf," she whined loudly, knowing he would give her an honest opinion on her outfit.
He popped his head in several moments later, followed by a curious Kristoff.
"What should I wear?" she asked with a sigh. "Anna and I are going to dinner."
They exchanged a glance, but said nothing.
"All I have are like 20 pairs of skinny jeans," she moaned, rifling through the stuff in her closet. "And polos. And v-necks. And like two button-downs."
"Will you let me play the new 'Assassin's Creed' when it comes out if I help?" asked Kristoff, hands in his pockets as he came over to look.
"Only after I play it, you think I will let you ruin the pirate plotline for me?" she said. "Do you think these are too much?" she pulled out a red and blue tartan pair of skinny pants.
"You wear those all the time and look great!" Olaf said, bouncing up and down on his heels. "Hey, should I get my ear pierced?" he held up a pair of feathery earrings with a frown. "I feel like I would look cool. Do girls like guys with earrings?"
"I'll do it for you," said Kristoff. "I think I have a safety pin in one of my drawers."
"No way," Elsa said, even though both boys were chortling at the fact of Kristoff and his huge hands trying to force a needle through Olaf's ear. Olaf couldn't even stay still for a haircut at the barbershop.
"I think I'm gonna wear these," she said with a sigh. "With, maybe, I dunno? That black denim jacket?"
"I think you look good in blue, Els," said Olaf, putting one of her bracelets on and examining it in the light.
"Thank you," she said, frowning. "But I don't know if I have much clean."
"What about that navy and white dress with the...what's that pattern?" asked Olaf, stretching the elastic on the bracelet.
"It's called 'houndstooth,' and I dunno, I don't want to look too fancy…"
"Where's she taking you?" Kristoff asked, kneeling to look at Elsa's modest shoe collection.
"Hell if I know." She looked at her phone, noticing how close to 6 p.m. "Ah, shit. I need to decide."
"Just wear those," said Olaf as he examined more earrings. "But the black jacket might be too punk rock. You don't want to scare Anna. She wears preppy stuff. She might think you are a vampire."
"No, you are the vampire, Olaf," said Kristoff in mock seriousness. "You have the pale skin and dark hair."
"But I like the sunshine!" said the shorter man with a bright smile. "And look, you can see my reflection."
Elsa laughed. "Okay guys, thanks. But get out! A lady needs her privacy."
"Yes, ma'am," said Kristoff, flicking her nose lightly.
Elsa sighed as her stomach rumbled.
In the end, she went with a red pair of skinny jeans, black ankle boots, a white v-neck and the black denim jacket.
She put the Deathly Hallows necklace on because she knew Anna liked it, and twisted her hair into a side braid.
Her phone buzzed.
I'm here! Borrowed a vehicle, it's the white pickup.
Elsa smiled, heart beating kind of fast because she still kind of thought this was a date, and headed out.
"Bye, boys!"
"Don't stay out long, young lady!" called Hans. "Or I will...how do you say…?"
"You'll ground me?"
"Yes, you'll be in the ground."
Elsa laughed, shut the door, walked out to the pickup truck.
"Country music, really?" she asked Anna as she heard some unfamiliar twangy stuff coming from the speakers.
The strawberry blonde, who looked absolutely beautiful with her hair down and in a button-up shirt and cardigan, rolled her eyes. "Yep, we can't all live with a bunch of foreigners and listen to...what do they listen to?" she asked, rolling down the street.
"House music, really. I feel like I'm at a rave all the time." She smiled over at Anna, who was tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Hey, you look...you look beautiful."
Anna blushed. "Thank you. You look beautifuller! Well, not fuller, you don't look fuller, but more-more beautiful, you know?"
Elsa's smile grew wider. "Thank you. So, where are we going?"
Anna's smile turned mischievous. "Out."
The blonde sighed. "You're incorrigible."
"No, I'm Anna!" Elsa could practically feel her energy, boundless, excited by some secret dinner location that she was dragging Elsa to. Well, not dragging. Elsa would have gone anywhere with her. McDonald's. A gas station to eat chips. A fancy steak restaurant. Anna would make it fun, no matter what.
All the stress of the day was melting away with this girl next to her.
"You are hungry, right?" the strawberry blonde asked.
"Mmhmm."
"Good." the mischievous grin was back.
"Anna, what are you doing with me?"
"Elsa, are you competitive?"
"Yeah, totally."
"Good." Again, no explanation. Elsa just huffed and leaned back into the seat.
"Fine, make me think you're going to kill me with food like in that movie 'Se7en.'"
Anna just shrugged.
They pulled outside of a little brick building marked "Bella Notte," and Anna turned the truck off. Elsa went to open the door, but Anna stopped her with a yell and scrambled out herself, grabbing her giant purse on the way.
"What are you-" asked the blonde, stopping with a grin as Anna opened the door and offered her a hand down.
"You really do look great," she said as Elsa's feet hit the pavement. The blonde blushed.
"Thank you," she said.
They walked into the dimly-lit restaurant, and Anna waved cheerfully to a man with black hair, a bushy mustache and a round nose.
"Hey, Tony!"
"Buona sera," he said with a warm smile. "You ready to eat?"
Elsa's stomach growled as she breathed in the intoxicating scents. She nodded, as did Anna, and Tony laughed.
"Perfect. Come with me."
He led them to a little round table with a semicircle booth, and winked at Anna. "Be with you in a minute. Joe! Where are you? Andiamo!"
A skinnier man with curly hair came scrambling in, carrying two glasses of water.
"Thanks," said Anna brightly, turning to Elsa with excitement. "So I've always wanted to do this with someone but no one will do it with me."
"What, go to dinner?" asked the blonde, confused.
Anna snorted. "No, do the thing we're about to do."
"I thought we were here to eat."
"We are about to eat. We're about to eat a lot. Consider it a challenge. A test, even. Because if we can't do this, I'm out fifty bucks and my pride will be forever ruined. But I figure we are both competitive enough to do it."
"What the-oh, shit," Elsa groaned, as Joe made his way out of the kitchen with what was, undoubtedly, the biggest pizza she had ever seen. She looked at Anna, incredulous. The younger girl had what could only be described as an evil grin on her face.
"Attenzione!" Tony boomed to the rest of the restaurant. "These young ladies are about to attempt what very few people have been able to accomplish." A few curious patrons poked their heads around walls and over their menus to stare. Elsa's face got hot. "This is the 30-inch Metropolis Pizza. It is roughly the size of a small table, and it has several different toppings. If these girls win, they get t-shirts and gift certificates, and the pizza is free! If they lose, the little redhead owes me 50 dollars!"
"Oh my God," Elsa murmured as Joe set the pizza down. It was huge. It was enormous. It looked delicious. But it was huge. It covered half the table. She stared at Anna, who was positively cackling.
"You are trying to kill me!" Elsa said, shaking her head and trying not to laugh at how excited, and also how demonic, and also how adorable Anna was.
Anna grabbed a slice with a smirk. "Start eating, blondie. We have to finish this in an hour or my bank account goes into the negatives."
