Even though Elsa was now free to live her life on her own terms, she hit a rough patch when she returned from Norway. She had difficulty motivating herself to go out and enjoy life. She found herself staying home and shutting herself off from the world after a day of work. After several months, she decided enough was enough. She lost her family in order to have this life and what was she doing with it? It was time to get back out there and live a little. She was more of an extrovert than an introvert and was desperate to have some human interaction. She scrolled through her contact list searching for someone who could help get her out of her shell. Jasmine, yes! Jasmine was a good friend of Elsa's who had been there for her for as long as Elsa could remember. She was also one of the first people Elsa trusted during her whole coming out process. Jasmine always had her finger on the pulse of the city. She always knew what restaurants were trendy, what clubs to go to, and pretty much had plans every Friday and Saturday night. Elsa decided to text her.

'Plans for Friday night? I've been working way too hard and need to get out for a night of fun.'

Elsa felt her phone buzz. 'You're talking to the right person. Me and a few girls are going to sushi and karaoke. You want to come? You'd better say yes because you have the best voice of anyone I know.'

'Where and what time?' The blonde texted back.

Jasmine sent Elsa all the details. They were all going for sushi at a new hotspot downtown and then they were going to head to Jasmine's favorite Karaoke bar. Great. Now I just have to figure out what to wear.


Sushi had gone well and Elsa was feeling like her old self again. She liked being around Jasmine because she had a similar sassy streak and was a woman who spoke her mind. Elsa admired that. Jasmine had brought along three other friends, and being the only blonde, Elsa stuck out from the group.

"Okay ladies, let's get a table and start looking at the song list. I'm going first!" Jasmine declared.

"I think I may need a few drinks first." Elsa had an amazing voice, but was a little nervous about singing in front of a crowd.

The first round of drinks came to the table as the girls flipped though the lists of song choices. Elsa had a strange feeling that someone was watching her. She looked around the room trying to confirm her hunch but didn't spot anyone. She thought it was probably nothing. Until she saw a pair of bright blue eyes dart away. Hmmm. Elsa didn't think any more of it and went back to picking out a song. The picture of the woman was still playing in her mind. Her hair was a really pretty color. Wonder if it's natural. I think it was red, or auburn. Or… Strawberry blonde? Unable to remember, she tried to steal a quick glance at the woman, only to find she was looking at Elsa again. This time Elsa didn't break the eye contact. The redhead flashed a smile and gave a small wave.

"Elsa, I know it's been awhile since you've been out but I think that girl is checking you out. You should go say hi. She's cute." Jasmine was nudging Elsa to get off her chair and go over and talk to the redhead.

"Maybe later. I'm with you guys and I don't want to be rude. Besides, it looks like she's with some of her own friends, anyway."

Several drinks later, Jasmine was finishing her rendition of "Hot N' Cold" by Katy Perry when the redhead came up to take the mic from her. Elsa found herself sitting up in her chair, intrigued. "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga, not a bad choice. God, her smile! The redhead's voice was one of the most beautiful Elsa had ever heard. She was definitely a soprano and could effortlessly hit the high notes. Anna bopped around to the song and made the sassiest faces. She also did cute little hand gestures as she sang which were slowly driving Elsa crazy. Adorable AND sexy. I'm in trouble. Her voice was captivating, but Elsa kept getting distracted by the low cut shirt that revealed her freckled chest.

"I think someone has a crush," Jasmine teased, smirking into Elsa's ear.

"She's just really good. Don't get ahead of yourself." Elsa defended herself.

After the redhead finished her song, Elsa stood up to head to the ladies room.

"I'll be right back."

"You'd better be because you're almost up. You're not going home until you sing, Elsa!" Jasmine shouted as Elsa dashed from her seat.

She spun around and began to walk towards the bathroom when she collided with someone.

"Ouch." She was about to tell the person to watch where they were going but she suddenly realized it was the redhead.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. Are you okay? You look a little mad, which is understandable. I mean I just slammed right into you and you have every right to be mad but..." The girl with the red hair blabbered.

She continued to ramble and Elsa saw no choice but to interrupt in order to get a word in.

"It's okay. You don't have to apologize. I wasn't really watching where I was going anyway. You were great up there, by the way. Your voice is really beautiful."

"Me? Oh wow. Thank you. If I could be honest with you, I was really nervous once I saw you. I haven't been able to take my eyes off of you since you came in."

So, Jasmine was right. She was checking me out.

Elsa's face flushed and she could feel her cheeks turning seven shades of red.

"Umm...I'm Elsa by the way."

"Anna."

"Anna. Pretty hair and a pretty name." Now it was Anna's turn to blush.

"I know you're busy with your friends, but if you'd like to come over and have a drink I'd really love that."

"Actually, I'm supposed to sing next. But maybe after?"

"Okay, well I look forward to hearing you sing then!"

Elsa sprinted into the bathroom and immediately checked her face in the mirror.

Elsa found herself blushing like a school girl. I knew it.

She quickly freshened up her make-up and ran her fingers through her hair. She was grateful that she had decided to wear it down instead of in her normal braid. Jasmine grabbed Elsa by the arm when she got back to the table.

"I changed my mind. You're singing this." Jasmine pointed to one of the songs on the list.

"'Because the Night' by 10,000 Maniacs... Why? That song is so old."

"Because this song is sexy! You need to let yourself go and show that redhead who you really are. You've been holed up for months and you haven't even had a date in a year. You owe it to yourself to let loose a little."

She didn't even give Elsa time to argue and pushed her towards the stage. Thank God at least I know some of the words. Elsa looked out and saw Anna eagerly waiting. Once again, Jasmine was right. She did owe this to herself. She was her own woman now and she wanted to make Anna's head spin. Take a deep breath. Just have fun. She heard the song start to play and her heart began to pound. There were a few cat calls coming from her friends as she took the mic off the stand, but all she could look at was Anna and her piercing aqua eyes. Elsa tried to calm her nerves by focusing on the lyrics on the screen. Jasmine was off to the side, grinning and nodding her head in encouragement.

"Take me now, baby, here as I am

Hold me close, n' try n' understand

Desire is hunger is the fire I breathe

Love is a banquet on which we feed"

The lyrics were so sultry and sexy that Elsa could hardly believe she was singing them. They were the exact words Elsa wanted to express to Anna but knew she would never have had the courage to. As the beat kicked in with the chorus, Elsa felt herself start to relax. Everyone else in the room faded away and she could only see Anna, sitting at the table, eyes wide.

Meanwhile, across the room, Anna was drinking in the sight of Elsa's long beautiful hair as it caught light at just the right angles which gave Elsa a heavenly glow. Anna started to slightly sway to the music and roll her shoulders back; she could hardly believe what she was witnessing.

"Because the night belongs to lovers

Because the night belongs to us"

It was like Elsa was singing just for her. She'd never seen anything so sexy in her whole life. Elsa continued to lose herself to the music. She flipped her hair and flashed Anna every sexy look she knew. This has gone far beyond flirting. I might pass out. Anna thought to herself. The way Elsa's lips wrapped around each word made Anna feel like she was going into coronary arrest. Her voice was so versatile. It was sassy one minute and sultry the next.

"They can't hurt you now

Can't hurt you now

Can't hurt you now"

Her heart ached a bit, as the lyrics could not have been truer for her. Nothing could hurt her or Elsa now. She had nothing more to lose and everything to gain.

"Look at the redhead. Her head's going to explode!" Jasmine said with pride.

"So take me now

Take me now

Take me now"

Elsa kept repeating the lyrics and Anna was ready to run onstage and take Elsa right then and there like she was suggesting. There was a huge applause when Elsa finished. The voice of the vixen that had just been singing suddenly sounded much more reserved as Elsa politely said, "thank you" and handed the mic back to the host.

"Good luck to the person that has to follow that!" he chuckled.

"How did I do?" The blonde coyly asked Jasmine.

"I think you made every woman in this room question their sexuality. Go talk to her, I think she may need some medical attention." Jasmine pointed to Anna.

"You'd be okay if I went and talked to her for a while?"

"I would be mad if you didn't."

Elsa walked over to the table where Anna was sitting and pulled up a chair.

"Wow, that was amazing. I think you literally burnt the place down, it was so hot. You have an amazing voice."

"Thank you. I haven't sung in front of people for a while. But I was having so much fun I guess I got caught up in the moment."

"Whattya drinking? I'll order you another."

"Actually, I'm good. I've already had enough liquid courage for this evening."

Anna was desperately trying to think of something to say. She still hadn't recovered from Elsa's display of affection.

"So, Elsa, what do you do for a living?"

"I'm an architect. I specialize in glass structures."

"Wow I didn't know someone could specialize in that. Beautiful and smart."

Elsa smiled and let out a nervous laugh.

"If you say so." Elsa said modestly. "What is it that you do?"

"I'm finishing up my last year of college, but I'm planning on being a teacher."

"Oh, that's so funny you say because I just finished college last year. Any grade in particular you want to teach?"

"Elementary school, but really wherever I can get a job next year." Anna said while nervously tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, desperately trying to make a good first impression.

"Somehow I can see you being teacher. You seem very... Energetic. And kind."

Anna giggled. "I get that lot. Are you from around here?"

"I live not far from here now but I'm originally from Norway." For some reason that came out sounding like a question.

"Wait, what? You don't even have an accent! But now that you mention it, that would explain the platinum blonde hair."

"I learned English when I was really young and my English tutor was from California, so…."

"Tutor? You sound like an uptown girl."

"What do you mean?" Elsa wasn't familiar with the term.

"Well people who have tutors are usually umm... Not poor, so to speak."

"My parents may not be poor but I don't depend on them. So, I guess you could say I'm formerly wealthy."

The two continued to chat for over an hour. Elsa learned that Anna grew up not far from the city and was an only child such as herself. They both liked chocolate. The more they talked, the more they learned how much they had in common. Elsa was so engrossed in the conversation that she didn't notice how much time had passed until the conversation was cut short by Jasmine telling her they were heading out.

"She's my ride so I have to go. But let me give you my number and we can go out sometime."

"I'd love that. Would it be weird if I called you tomorrow?"

"No, that would be nice," Elsa said with a wink.


Anna called Elsa the very next day like she'd said. They arranged to go for brunch at a place near Elsa's apartment. It wasn't until she gave Anna directions that they realized how closed they lived to each other. Just a ten minute drive away, in fact. Elsa was busy trying to figure out what to wear, as usual. A brunch date. This is new. Wanting to dress nice but not overdone for lunch, Elsa decided to go with a light blue scoop neck dress that hit just above the knee. It was still September and she wanted to wear her summer dresses one last time before fall set in. Besides, blue always looked great on her. She was finishing up her braid when she heard Anna at the door. "Coming!" Elsa looked through the peephole to see Anna's eyes darting around nervously. Elsa opened the door.

"Hi... Wow you look great. Ready?"

"Yeah just let me grab my keys."

Anna had regretted wearing a long maxi skirt after seeing Elsa's dress. It showed off her legs in a way that almost made Anna's feel like they were going to give out.

"Ready, let's go."

Anna drove them to the restaurant in record time. Elsa had suggested a little place she knew that had lot of greenery and really great brunch.

"I love that you can get breakfast so late on the weekends. I have to say, brunch is my favorite meal. Or time of day to eat a meal. You know what I mean." Anna rambled on.

Elsa giggled. She's so adorable when she doesn't know what to say. Anna seemed to have the most interesting things to say and in the most adorable way. The waitress seated them at a patio table that was surrounded by tall banana leaf trees and bamboo. The table was nice and secluded away from the roaring brunch crowd inside. And it didn't hurt that it was quite romantic for a lunch date.

"This is really cool. I've never been here before, but it looks like a jungle. I can't believe I never knew this restaurant was here." Anna looked around the restaurant before settling her eyes back on Elsa.

"Yeah it's one of my favorite places because the trees make it feel like a little oasis."

"I heard they have really good waffles here." Anna commented, then noticed Elsa hadn't opened up her menu. "Aren't you going to look at the menu?" Anna looked at Elsa puzzled.

"Oh no, I already know what I want."

"And that would be..."

"Eggs Benedict. It's my favorite breakfast."

"I like that. A lady who knows what she wants."

Elsa couldn't help but smile at the thought that Anna had hit the nail on the head.

"That would be me."

Anna tried to focus on the menu and figure out what to eat but her eyes kept wandering to look at Elsa. Her hair was even more magnificent in the sunlight. Her eyes were bluer than the sky and her eyebrows had some sort of goddess-like quality to them. The way her eyelashes fluttered made Anna's heart skip a beat. Elsa caught Anna staring but didn't seem to mind.

"Find anything good?" She asked.

"Huh...oh yeah. I think I'm going to get waffles."

"Nice choice. So what made you want to go into teaching?"

Elsa had her arms folded on top the table and was leaning in to give Anna her full attention.

"Well, I really like kids and my mom is a teacher, so..." Anna's brain gave out when Elsa smiled and lost track of what she was saying.

"And this is your last year of school?"

"Yes, I'm really looking forward to finishing. All those tests and studying. Not to mention the food on campus really isn't that good. I mean, the coffee is great but you can only have so much coffee and... I'm sorry. I'm rambling."

Anna sat back in her chair and nervously clutched one of her braids in her hands and began to play with the end of it.

"No, don't stop. I enjoy hearing what you have to say." Elsa's eyes were full of sincerity. "It's nice to have all the studying out of the way. Just going to work is so much easier."

"Yeah I'll bet. So, um... What made you move all the way here from Norway?"

She's still stuck on this Norway thing.

"School. I just wanted a change of pace and the school I went to here was known for its architectural program."

"Oh. It's really cold there right?"

"In Norway?" Elsa clarified. "Yes, most of the time, but the summers are fairly warm."

"Oh my gosh I bet it's so beautiful. Mountains, northern lights, and fjords."

"Yes, it is beautiful."

Anna was sensing that this wasn't a topic Elsa wanted to elaborate on. She was about to change the subject but Elsa beat her to it.

"You're hair is really beautiful. Do your parents have red hair?"

"Oh, my dad does. I didn't like it growing up but I've grown to love it." Anna was still playing with the braid between her fingers.

"It reminds me of the sunset."

"Oh, thank you."

The waitress came over to take their order and Elsa couldn't help but chuckle to herself when Anna ordered extra syrup with her waffles. She could tell Anna was the kind of person who was very much in touch with her inner child. It was a breath of fresh air for someone like Elsa who hadn't been allowed to have much of a childhood. The blonde came out of her thoughts just as the waitress returned with their two cups of coffee. Anna immediately reached for three sugar packets and sprinkled them into her steaming coffee, finishing it off with as much cream as the cup would hold.

"You seem to like sugar." Elsa noted.

"Yes, I do! I think there's probably more sugar than coffee in there."

Anna watched Elsa daintily open a single pack of sugar and gingerly stir it into her coffee, clinking her teaspoon twice on the rim when she was done.

Black, wow. I wouldn't have guessed that. Anna thought. She was entranced by the grace and confidence in which Elsa did something a simple as prepare her coffee. It was if she every move she made was methodically thought out and executed with precision. Very proper and elegant.

"You must really like the taste of coffee because I don't even see a hint of cream in there." Anna motioned to the cup with her eyes.

"Oh, ha! Unlike here where it's all about customizing your coffee, black is common in Norway, so I'm used to it," Elsa explained, then gave a shrug. "Old habits die hard."

Their conversation had come to the all too familiar awkward point of a first date where neither one could really think of anything to say and were patiently waiting for the food to come and provide a much needed distraction. Elsa was only slightly thrown by the silence. She just used the opportunity to take in the scenery and enjoy her coffee.

Anna, on the other hand, had an entire dialog going inside her head. This is so painful. Say something. Anything! I should ask more about architecture. No, no, she probably doesn't want to talk about work. Anna fidgeted her hands and kept crossing and uncrossing her feet as she desperately tried to fill the silence. Oh I know, I'll ask about how she chose that song last night. Just as Anna had begun to open her mouth to speak, the waitress interjected with their meal. Elsa was gently putting her napkin on her lap while Anna stared gobsmacked at the size of her waffle.

"This waffle is bigger than my face! Look at it, it's huge! We could have shared this." Anna said as she unwrapped her silverware from her napkin, knife poised, ready to tackle the behemoth of a breakfast.

"I know, the portions are so big here. I can never even finish half of anything I order."

Anna began to smear a rather large pad of butter over the enormous waffle. She used the entire dish of butter and dowsed the waffle in a flood of syrup, licking her lips the entire time. As she stuffed a bite of into her mouth, Anna began notice how neat and tidy Elsa was with her food. For something as messy as eggs Benedict, her plate was in perfect order. She would use her fork and knife to cut a perfect square-shaped bite and then set the knife off to the side before consuming her petite bite of food. Anna wasn't even using her knife and was letting her fork do all the work.

"You picked a great place. This is so nice!" Anna said through a mouthful of waffle.

"Yes, and it's fast."

Anna struggled to swallow her last bite and washed it down with a gulp of coffee before she continued to make small talk.

"So, can I ask you something?" Anna took another sip of coffee.

"Yes." Elsa was intrigued now.

"What made you decide to do that song last night? I mean, it was amazing, don't get me wrong. It just wasn't what I was expecting." Anna hoped she hadn't offended Elsa.

"I wasn't expecting it, either. The friend I was with picked it out for me. I think it was her attempt to get me to come out of my shell. That's not something I would have chosen on my own, for sure." Elsa shook her head as she flash backed to the memory of herself from the previous night.

"That makes more sense. But you seemed to have really enjoyed yourself, so I guess it worked." Anna was slowing down on her food as she felt her stomach getting full.

Elsa debated whether or not to tell Anna exactly what went on last night and why she ended up having a moment of personal liberation in a karaoke bar. She felt like she could tell her anything because Anna was so warm and sensitive. She would understand. But part of her wanted to hold back.

"I have been going through a rough time the past few months... It's a long story... I think that was all coming out last night. And I won't lie, I think of small part of me was trying to impress you." A blush was spreading across Elsa's face and she stared down at her coffee, finding it hard to look at Anna in the eyes after being so honest.

"I think 'impress' is an understatement. I mean, here we are, so... It's like it was meant to be." Anna reached out to take Elsa's hand that was sitting on the table in her own, gently rubbing her thumb over her porcelain skin.

They continued to talk while they ate and Elsa was starting to dread the thought of the afternoon coming to an end soon. Anna was like no one else she had met before. She was funny and sensitive and made the sexiest little smirks. She wasn't sure if it was the fact that she hadn't been on a date in a year or if it was something about Anna that left her wanting more. She was pretty sure it was the latter. All of Anna's little eccentricities just made her all the more lovable. Yes she rambled, but she was never boring. She was the perfect ying to Elsa's yang. For all the pain that she had been through the past few months, it was starting to feel like she had fought for what was now materializing before her eyes.

"I've got this."

Elsa grabbed the check off the table before Anna could get her hands on it.

"No way, I'm the one who asked you out."

Elsa playfully laughed and held the check even further away as Anna tried her hardest to pry it from her hands.

"I'm not about to make a college student pay for my breakfast. You can buy me breakfast after you graduate."

They both stopped laughing for a minute as Elsa realized what she had said.

"You'll still want to have lunch with me after June?"

"I'm sorry that was presumptuous of me."

"No, no. I want to... I mean, I hope we do."

Elsa tried to recover, her cheeks a little flushed from embarrassment.

"I think what I meant to say was that I had fun and I'd like to see you again."

"Me, too!" Anna was a little too over enthusiastic in her response. There was a long moment of silence as the two young women gazed into each other's eyes. "Shall we head out?"

This time on the drive home, Anna tried to pace herself and drove slower, wanting to spend as much time with Elsa as possible. They giggled and laughed the whole way, sang along to the radio, and told jokes. It felt like they had known each other a lot longer. They just seemed to fit together so naturally. But the good time came to an end when Anna pulled up to Elsa's apartment. Anna tried to muster up the courage to say goodbye and was deciding whether or not she should try to kiss Elsa. Or maybe Elsa would try to kiss her. The butterflies in her stomach were beginning to make her feel lightheaded.

"I don't know what your plans were, but it's still early in the day. Would you like to come in for a while?"

Elsa figured they were having such a good time, why should they stop here?

"Yeah, I'd like that."


"Would you like something to drink?"

"Water would be great."

Anna sat down on Elsa's comfy white leather couch and looked around the apartment, trying to get a better sense of Elsa from it. The color scheme consisted of all cool colors: blues, whites, and purples. It was immaculately clean and there were a few pieces of art on the walls. She couldn't help but notice that the place seemed to have a lot of symmetry to it and Elsa seemed to have a thing for geometric patterns. Of course she would. She's an architect, genius. Anna almost face palmed herself right there on the spot.

"Your place is really nice. I like the colors."

Elsa put a glass of water for Anna on a coaster and sat down next to her, sliding her shoes off.

"Thanks. This is my first place on my own, so it's nice to have the feeling of 'everything in here is something I paid for.'"

"Yeah I can understand that. I can't wait to be done with school so I can stop eating Ramen noodles."

The sexual tension was killing Elsa. She felt she'd been talking forever and she just wanted to kiss Anna already. Seeing that she might be a little shy, Elsa wasn't sure if she'd have to make a move first.

"I like this one." Anna pointed to a framed painting of a snowy white-capped mountain hanging on the wall to the right of Elsa.

"Oh, it's something I saw at a friend's gallery showing."

While Elsa was busy talking about the painting, Anna moved in closer.

"She gave me a great deal on it and I just couldn't refuse."

Elsa turned away from the painting and slowly back towards Anna. Anna reached out and gently wrapped her hand around the back of Elsa's neck as she pulled her in for the most splendid soft kiss Elsa had ever experienced. Anna held their lips together and let them linger a bit longer than normal, savoring the moment. When her eyes fluttered open she saw Elsa smiling back at her.

"I was wondering if that was ever going to happen." Elsa tucked her bottom lip into her mouth and licked it, perhaps just to taste Anna lips one more time.

"I know what 'do you want to come in' is code for. Besides I've been dying to do that ever since I heard you sing last night."

They leaned back in to continue where they left off. Elsa's hands were on the side on Anna's face and were pulling the ginger in closer. Their heads tilted side to side, each kiss deeper than the next. Their lips glided effortlessly over one another, feeling as if they were the perfect match. Elsa was the first to gently reach out and massage Anna's tongue with her own. Just a light touch, tempting Anna to reply with more vigor. The kissing became more passionate as an entire afternoon of build up was now being unleashed. Most of lunch had felt like a long hour of foreplay. Elsa had been dying to run her hands over Anna's slim and fit body. Just as much as Anna had wanted to taste Elsa's perfectly rose red lips. They were both starting to moan in to each other's mouths, hands running through hair, and clothes begging to be shed. Elsa reached down and slid off Anna's cardigan, exposing even more deliciously freckled skin. She traced the lines of Anna's camisole straps and continued down her shirt, running a finger ever so gently over Anna's chest, sending shivers down her spine. Surprised at her own actions, Elsa pulled back and broke the kiss.

"I'm sorry; I don't know what came over me. I don't normally act this way with someone I've practically just met," Elsa admitted.

"Just do what feels right." Anna was eager to get back to their little activity.

Elsa had to think a minute about what that might be. She couldn't think over the voice in her head screaming to keep kissing Anna. She figured that must be the right thing, even if it was out of the norm for her.

"You're right."

Elsa grabbed Anna's shoulders and pulled her back into a kiss. And it didn't take long before their passion started to take over again.

"Wait, wait. Maybe you're right." Anna said as she forced herself to pull back. Elsa shook her head in confusion. "Maybe you're right. This is already better than anything I could have imagined and I don't want to spoil it. If we keep going I might not be able to stop myself."

Elsa nodded her head. "We should slow down. As much as I want to keep going, I don't want to ruin anything by rushing." Elsa agreed.

"We obviously know we have chemistry. Let's just get to know each other better. I think there might be something here." Anna was gesturing back and forth between them.

"I think so, too. Do you just want to watch a movie instead? I just got Julie and Julia and I haven't watched it yet."

"You know, usually I'd turn down an offer like that. But for you, I think I'll make an exception," Anna joked, giving Elsa a smirk.

The two spent the entire afternoon wrapped in a blanket on the couch and stole kisses throughout the movie. Elsa learned that Anna was a talker when it came to watching movies. She commented on everything and had to have Elsa explain what was going on or why something happened. But Elsa loved it. She wasn't lonely anymore and Anna seemed to fill that gaping hole in her heart she'd been feeling for a very long time.