Anna's face paled, contorting in concern, "What? Why? Why would you be in trouble? Why?" Before Elsa could respond, the panicked redhead babbled on, "Elsa, I am sooo sorry! I didn't mean to get you in trouble! I'm sorry! I just wanted to do something nice for you... Oh my god! Only been here one day and I've already messed something up. I knew this would be a disaster! I'm sorry." Anna continued her rant, pausing only when she noticed that Elsa was laughing. It started as a tiny giggle but grew quickly to a chuckle and within moments Elsa's laughter filled the room and left Anna staring at her, dumbfounded, from across the table.
Elsa quieted herself as she met Anna's confused and upset gaze, "Calm down, Feisty-pants," she said, giggles still bubbling through her.
"How can I calm down? Rose is coming here and apparently that means you're in trouble and it's all my fault and...and...Hang on...did you just call me 'Feisty-pants'? How did you know about that?" the redhead asked, completely puzzled.
Elsa grinned shyly at her flustered roommate, "I, um, heard Kristoff use it the other night at the bar. Sorry. I guess I should have asked your permission before using it."
Anna relaxed a bit, sitting back in her seat. It was hard to keep panicking with Elsa looking at her so calmly, "I hate that nickname," she groaned, rolling her eyes, "But...somehow, it's not so bad when you say it."
Elsa blushed, "I like it. It's cute...it, it suits you," she ended with a gentle smile.
Anna dropped her eyes, smiling lopsidedly, "Thanks," she muttered.
An awkward silence settled over the breakfast table as Anna glanced across her cup of hot chocolate, accidentally meeting Elsa's eyes. The redhead looked away quickly and cleared her throat, trying to find a topic of conversation to fill the silence. Suddenly, she remembered Rose's pending visit, "So, um...what's the deal? Who's Rose?"
The blonde took a sip from her hot chocolate and pushed Anna's forgotten pastry toward her, "It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
Anna scowled, "You won't tell me? And I thought we were friends." The redhead pretended to be much more hurt than she was, pouting in Elsa's direction. "Don't you trust me?" she asked sweetly.
Elsa groaned, setting her cup down on the table, "Fine. I'll tell you. Just please stop giving me those puppy dog eyes."
The redhead smirked at her and resumed munching on bear claw, "It's a deal! Now, spill," she said through a mouthful of pastry.
Drawing a breath, Elsa propped her elbows on the table, "Rose is my sister," she began. Anna's mouth fell open, exposing half-chewed bear claw; she was definitely surprised. Rose was nothing at all like Elsa. Anna began replaying their interaction in the cafe, looking for any hint that the abrupt chef was truly related to the impossibly kind woman with whom she was sharing breakfast. The blonde giggled at the spectacle across the table, "Sorry if I made it seem like a big deal. I didn't mean to upset you. I'm not really going to be in trouble...Well, I AM going to be in trouble...of sorts, but it isn't anything bad. I guess."
"Wow! That was the worst, most non-explanatory explanation I have ever heard," Anna teased, abandoning her attempt to compare Rose to Elsa for the moment, "I am definitely going to need some details." Elsa shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She wore a tired expression that made Anna immediately regret pressing her, "I didn't mean it, sorry, Elsa. I was just kidding. You don't have to say any more..."
The blonde brightened somewhat. It was really nice having someone to talk to; someone who cared. She shook her head and laughed lightly, "No, you're right. I didn't tell you anything, really. Sorry. Um, it's not a very interesting story..."
Anna leaned forward in her chair, "I'm all ears," she said.
Elsa chuckled, watching Anna cup her hands around her ears, "It's nothing," the blonde repeated, "I just have kind of been ignoring her lately. I mean, I've been so busy with work - my big project," she added, with venom. "We haven't really spent any time together in...well, months. I go to her cafe sometimes on the way to work just to say hi and get a pastry, but other than that..." she trailed off. "Anyway, like I said, it's no big deal. She'll come by tonight and we'll all hang out and everything will be fine," Elsa concluded in an altogether overly cheerful tone.
Anna felt as though she had not gotten the whole story but did not want to press the issue. The blonde seemed quietly relieved that Anna did not ask for more details, "So," Elsa said suddenly, "what do you want to do today?"
Anna grinned, "I wanna build a snowman."
Elsa giggled, rolling her eyes, "There's no snow, Anna," she replied.
"No. There isn't," Anna said sadly. "But," she added, perking up instantly, "I know the next best thing. Come on, let's go!"
An hour later the two were lacing up skates at the city ice rink. Anna double knotted her laces excitedly. Elsa was much less certain, "Anna...I don't know about this. I haven't skated since I was a little kid. What if I fall?"
Anna chuckled as they eased out onto the ice, "If you fall," she managed to say just before losing her footing, "Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah, woah...OOOF!" She landed hard, but immediately started laughing, "Ow. Ok, um, yeah. That happened." The redhead pushed herself back up to her feet with a little help from Elsa who struggled not to laugh, though a snort or two still escaped. Anna tried to regain her composure, holding onto Elsa's arm, "So, yeah, if you fall...you just get back up again."
The pair skated several very slow laps around the rink, frequently interrupted by Anna crashing clumsily to the ground. Elsa wondered why she had suggested this in the first place. It was impossible not to notice that Anna was truly terrible at ice skating. She certainly seemed to spend more time sitting on the ice than skating across it, but that did not slow the redhead down in the least. Elsa, herself, was much more cautious about it all, but the blonde soon relaxed and began to skate more quickly; easily lapping Anna who now clung to the sides of the rink to watch her glide past. Before long the redhead was doing much more watching than skating.
Growing bolder, Elsa took Anna by the hand as she skated by, pulling the redhead along. Anna squealed and closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable crash, but Elsa kept the pair upright much to the relief of Anna's now aching backside. Anna had enjoyed watching Elsa skate, but it was nothing compared to the fun of actually skating with her.
Eventually, it was time to go. Elsa guided them carefully over to the exit where they pulled their skates off and returned them to a gangly high school aged boy with poorly grown facial hair before visiting the concession stand for a well earned snack.
Elsa felt amazingly good and knew that the redhead was responsible. She wondered if the girl had any clue how infectious her energy and joy was. The blonde watched as she ate an enormous footlong chili dog with fries, not caring in the least that she was also making an equally enormous mess. Elsa smiled. The corners of her mouth seemed to be permanently upturned since Anna had drunkenly wandered into her life.
The first thing Anna did when they got back in the car was turn on the seat warmers. Her rear end was sore and very cold from all the unintentional sitting on the ice. Elsa giggled as Anna once again made a joke about toasting her buns, "Are you going to make that same joke every time we take my car," she teased.
Anna turned to look at her, a thoughtful look on her face, "Ummm...Yes. Yes, I definitely will," she replied, laughing. Elsa groaned and rolled her eyes. The redhead turned to look at her, "What? It's funny!"
The girls laughed and chatted happily all the way back to the apartment.
Elsa showered first and was watching television when Anna finally emerged from the bathroom, "Wow! Your hairdryer is like a wind tunnel," she announced, flopping down on the couch next to the blonde.
Elsa chuckled, "Glad you like it."
Glancing at the clock, Anna assumed Rose would be making her appearance sometime relatively soon. Sighing, she turned her attention to the tv. There was a bald middle aged man on the screen droning on about some obscure bit of history. The redhead's nose wrinkled, "We're not really watching this, are we?"
Elsa turned slightly, "Would you rather watch something else," she asked.
Anna wanted to say 'yes' but instead shook her head saying, "No, no, no. Your house, your choice."
The blonde smiled knowingly but resumed watching her program. Anna tried to pay attention, she really did, but the show was so intensely dull that after about fifteen minutes she could no longer take it. "Elsa! Are you kidding me? This guy is more boring then watching paint dry," she pleaded.
A mischievous smirk spread across Elsa's face as she responded innocently, "But I thought you said it was my house, my choice."
Anna's face reddened slightly, "Yeah...I did say that," she admitted, returning her attention to the bald historian. Moments later, the redhead had had enough, "Ok, no, see, now I'm thinking it should be my choice...you know, because I'm the guest," she added, confidently.
Elsa sighed and moved to give Anna the remote, but pulled it away just as her fingers brushed it, "Nope, sorry. Your logic is flawed. You're not a guest, Anna. You live here."
Anna gawked at the blonde, surprised at how skillfully she had tricked her. Elsa just laughed, it was fun having someone to play with. Anna's brows furrowed as she struggled to outsmart the blonde. She had no choice. If Elsa wanted to play dirty, so could she. "Well, then, I guess I'll just have to take it from you," she announced, lunging for the remote.
Elsa barely had time to shove the remote between the cushions before being tackled by the redhead. "Ack! Anna! What are you doing," the blonde managed to laugh out as she tried to wriggle away from the redhead.
Anna was determined. She had effectively pinned the blonde to the couch. Finally, she had the upper hand, "Give me the remote, Elsa," she began, glaring playfully at her roommate, "...Or else."
"Or else...what," Elsa asked distractedly, still trying to escape.
Anna's eyes sparkled evilly, "Or else...THIS," she cried, digging her fingers into Elsa's sides, tickling her mercilessly.
The blonde's eyes went wide as she squealed and squirmed and begged Anna to stop the onslaught. Anna pretended she could not hear her pleas, demanding that the blonde's unconditional surrender, "Do you give up, Elsa," she asked gleefully.
Barely able to breathe for laughing, all Elsa could do was nod in the affirmative, producing the remote and holding it out to her victorious roommate. Anna's hands stilled as she turned her attention to the remote control in Elsa's hand. She reached for the device, but Elsa once again moved it just out of reach over her head.
Undaunted, Anna followed the retreating pale hand with her own, eventually pinning it above the blonde. Instantly, the mood of the situation changed from playful to...something else. Both girls noticed the shift immediately. Anna drew a slightly ragged breath, staring down into Elsa's eyes - the remote control and even the incredibly dull historian completely forgotten.
Elsa had stopped laughing, her eyes reflecting the same change in mood. She gazed up into Anna's teal eyes, her stomach fluttering pleasantly. All traces of the earlier joking fight for control of the television was gone. Anna still hovered over the blonde, her hand still held a pale wrist in place. The redhead unconsciously bit her lower lip, drawing Elsa's attention, "Elsa..." she murmured, leaning in.
The door suddenly slammed shut, ruining the moment, "Knock, knock! Hey Els, where are yo...woah! Sorry to interrupt," said a familiar voice.
Anna and Elsa both turned toward the sound, "Rose! H-h-hi," Elsa greeted, clearing her throat. She and Anna sat up abruptly as the blonde continued to address her sister, "Um..." she began, blushing as her gaze flicked from Anna to Rose and back to Anna, "I'll, uh, just go get us some drinks," she stuttered out before quickly retreating to the safety of the kitchen, leaving Anna and Rose alone in the living room.
In the background, a bald historian droned on.
Sorry this chapter is so grossly late.
Of course Rose had to arrive just at that exact moment...
Anyway, as always, suggestions, questions, comments and even rude remarks are welcomed and encouraged.
Reviews are welcomed, encouraged and GREATLY appreciated!
Til next time...