.
A Fable of Fidelities and Fresh Starts (featuring Facebook)
Chapter Eleven: Awakenings
~#~
On the Thursday morning, Anna woke up slowly. She felt stiff. She stretched languidly on the sofa before blinking her eyes open and turning her head to take in the situation.
Like every morning, Olaf and Kristoff were up already, their sleeping bags folded neatly in the corner of the living room. She had offered them a go on the sofa but they'd both declined. Olaf reckoned he enjoyed sleeping on the floor, like it was an adventure. Like camping.
Sven was lying in the empty space, chewing on that boot again.
"Good morning Sven," she said and Sven looked up at her. He immediately jumped up to his feet and trotted over and began licking her face. Anna giggled and pushed him away.
Yesterday had been amazing, misunderstandings with Kristoff aside. And all that had ended up resolving itself anyway. The afternoon had been great fun and as it wore on, Elsa and Olaf had become so competent at skiing that they were left to their own devices while both Kristoff and Nic helped instruct her down the slope. She still wasn't good, like the others, but she felt confident enough that after another day she'd be up to speed.
Not today though.
She was far too stiff for any more skiing today.
After they'd turned in their skis and clothes to the base, the five of them had gone to Nic's apartment. She lived alone, unlike Elsa, so there wouldn't be competition for the TV. Anna had ridden in the back of Elsa's car with her and Nic which had been fun. Somehow the two girls had clearly become such firm friends in the short week they'd known each other but they made their friendship accessible to her, telling her about how they'd met at the Ice Palace the previous Saturday and met up again on Sunday to go shopping.
Her and Kristoff had sat on the floor at Nic's "flat" while the others took the chairs. Anna had leaned against the two-seater sofa that Elsa and Nic occupied, while Kristoff leaned against Olaf's arm chair. The group had ordered pizza and watched Hercules in New York on TV. It was ridiculously funny. The part where Schwarzenegger was fist fighting a bear caused Anna to literally roll around on the floor laughing. Everyone was laughing. Everyone was having fun. As the evening wore on, the group dissected into two. Kristoff's long legs were crossing in front of hers and it was an effort trying not to accidentally play footsie with him so she'd shifted closer a little and settled for resting her legs over his calves. The two boys were talking about ice skating and Anna was ostensibly involved in that discussion. But Elsa and Nic had drifted into an exclusive conversation themselves, and Anna was close enough to eavesdrop bits and bobs: they discussed Elsa's potential employment options; they discussed England and Elsa's desire to visit Europe; mostly they discussed all the things the mountain had to offer entertainment-wise and made loose plans to do them together. Anna was sorry that she wouldn't be here to join them but she couldn't have been more elated that her sister had someone, someone who was clearly very fond of her, and someone who Anna really liked too. When she inevitably returned to Arendelle, she wouldn't have to worry that Elsa would be alone.
Kristoff, Anna and Olaf left before Elsa, and Anna drew out their goodbye a little, hoping that an invitation to crash at her sister's place would be on the cards, but, again, it wasn't. She was only slightly disappointed. She quite liked staying at Pabbie's really.
Although...Where is everyone?
Apart from Sven, the place was quiet.
Anna reached for her handbag and pulled out her phone. No texts. The only emails were alerts from Facebook. The clock told her it was 10:26.
She only had a small amount of battery left, so she got up, found her suitcase and dug around for the charger. Only when she'd plugged it into the wall, did she click on her Facebook app.
She had two new notifications and one new message.
One notification told her that Elsa Queen had written something on her wall. The other said Olaf Zima had tagged her in a photo.
She checked Elsa's post first.
Elsa Queen ► Anna Queen
Had fun yesterday. Didn't get home until 2! You're not going home yet are you? What are you doing today?
Anna grinned.
▇ Anna Queen Nothing planned. Wanna meet up for lunch?
She pressed send and immediately turned to the notification regarding Olaf's photo. It pinged up on the screen: a snowy scene, the five of them standing in their winter gear. Olaf was in the middle, grinning so wide he looked like he'd won the lottery. Standing to his right were Kristoff and Anna striking the pose that she could remember so clearly. She smiled. To Olaf's left were Nic and Elsa and their pose was so similar to Kristoff and Anna's it was almost like a mirror image. Nic had her arm around Elsa's shoulders, Elsa's around Nic's waist, and the two girls' heads were angled towards each other so their faces were touching. She looks so happy. Anna smiled wider.
She "liked" the pic and then just looked at it for a while, fondly remembering all the fun they'd had the previous day, before clicking on the new message she had gotten.
It was from Gerda from university. Gerda was a mature student, on two of her courses: business studies (with Hans as well) and social studies. Being older, by some margin (Gerda was well past middle age) not many of Anna's classmates found time for her. But that was their loss. Gerda was sweet and motherly and really smart. Anna had found her a useful study partner. Hans thought it was cute. He called her friendship with the older woman her "charity work". But he was wrong. If anyone was being charitable to anyone, it was Gerda.
▇ Gerda Norris
Hello sweetie. Hope you're having a fun week off. I just thought I should let you know that there's been some rumours flying about a crazy party at your apartment.
I wasn't sure if you knew or not, but thought I should tell you in case you didn't.
When are you coming back?
Don't rush yourself. Jenkins has cancelled all his lectures for the next two weeks. Some family emergency. And he's pushed back the deadline on the first chapter of our thesis to after the winter break. Got your notes for Tuesday though.
Take care, Gerda x
She immediately replied.
▇ Anna Queen
Hi Gerda! Thanks so much! That's a relief about social studies. To be honest, I haven't got round to even looking at my thesis yet. Hope Professor Jenkins is alright though!
Don't worry about the party. I know all about it. Prob won't be back til next week now.
See you soon, Anna x
She stared at her reply for a good few seconds after sending it. Just how crazy was this party? She didn't want to think about it. She didn't want to think about Hans at all. Whenever she did, it was causing her a headache. She didn't want to think about all the things she couldn't convince herself he wasn't keeping from her. She didn't want to think about him and the girl, about the party, about his mysterious lunch buddy. It was confusing. He was the handsome, popular, funny guy from her business studies and history courses who had finally noticed her at Garvey's birthday party. He was sweet to her, complimentary, and he paid her so much attention in their all-too-short week together she could hardly breathe...in the best way. He wasn't a liar. He wasn't a charlatan. Was he?
I hope my pot plants are all right.
A new notification popped up at the top of the screen and Anna was very glad of it. Something to distract her was just what she needed.
Elsa! She grinned in anticipation.
▇ Elsa Queen I'd love to! There's a nice bistro on Main Street called Salad Plate. 12 OK?
Anna checked the time again: 10:42. She'd be pushing it, but like she was gonna say no to Elsa…
▇ Anna Queen Great! See you then. xx
She jumped up and went straight into the bathroom, going through her morning ritual in the quickest time she'd ever done it. She dressed, plaited her hair while it was still wet and laced on her converse boots. Only then did she realize that she was parched. She hadn't drunk anything yet that morning. She went into the kitchen and poured a glass of water and noticed a note on the side of the counter.
A
Hope you didn't worry we're not there. I'm helping a friend of GP move a piano. Don't ask. O wanted to come along !? Didn't want to wake you. Help yourself to food etc.
Later.
K
She smiled. Then, imagining a scenario where Olaf was going to try and help someone move a piano, she laughed.
A pen was lying on the side so she picked it up to respond.
K
No worries. Hope piano move went OK and u didn't put your back out. Or Olaf!
Meeting Elsa in town for lunch. Hope it's OK I left Sven behind. Come meet us later if u want.
A
x
She put the pen down and went back into the living room. Her phone was barely more charged than it had been but hopefully 18% would get her through the rest of the day. She grabbed her handbag, ruffled the fur on Sven's head and dashed outside to catch the next bus.
~#~
The Salad Plate was a very "Elsa" kind of place, Anna thought as she entered. Glass walled, bright and clean. Hip and yet sophisticated. The silver and white lunch tables were raised high and had bar stools around them to sit on. Elsa was already sat on one, texting on her phone with an enigmatic smile.
"Hey sis!" Anna announced herself, dumping her bag on on top of a stool and leaning in to give Elsa a squeeze. Elsa jumped, hurriedly dropping her phone into her bag, before she returned the one-armed hug.
"Anna! Hi! I wasn't expecting you so soon!"
"I had to run to catch the bus but I didn't want to keep you waiting," Anna said, slightly out of breath from her fast walk from the bus stop. She hopped up onto the bar stool across from Elsa. "So, 2am eh? Elsa, are you learning how to party?"
Elsa chuckled. "I'd hardly call it a party Anna. You were there remember? I just hung out with Nic for a bit before leaving."
"You really seem to get on well with her," Anna smiled. "I like her. She's cool."
"She is right?" Elsa gushed. "She's been a good friend to me." She tilted her head down and looked up at Anna through her lashes shyly. She opened her mouth but hesitated with a slight inhale before she actually spoke. "I'm really glad you like her."
"Well I do," Anna grinned. She grabbed the menu. "So what's good?"
"I had the chicken salad with pita last time I was here. That was good. But someone on that table," she gestured, "ordered the Waldorf and it looks great. I think I'm having that."
"Sounds good," Anna agreed. "I'll have that too."
Elsa took a sip of her drink and Anna raised her hand to catch the waiter's attention. He came over and Anna ordered herself a coke and two Waldorf salads and when she turned back she saw Elsa was back on her phone, smile in place once more.
Who are you texting?
No, Anna! Patience.
She let her eyes drift around the bar instead of interrogating Elsa like she wanted to. It was all couples. Three other couples to be exact. Although they could have been related like her and Elsa. Or just friends.
"So," Elsa said, and Anna turned back to her to find her phone had disappeared and she was sitting perfectly poised with hands clasped together resting on the table top. "Did you have fun yesterday?"
"Only, like, the best fun ever!" Anna said. "Did you see Olaf's photo on Facebook?"
"Yes," Elsa nodded with a titter. "He didn't waste any time getting that up did he?"
"I think he lives on the net," Anna rolled her eyes. "I've never actually seen his house, have you?"
Elsa laughed. "No, now that you mention it…"
"It's a really nice photo. You look great in it. Really…" she paused uncertainly, but telling her sister what she thought wasn't pushing her too much was it? "...happy."
"I am happy," Elsa smiled.
"And I'm really happy you're happy," Anna replied, beaming. "That's all I ever wanted Elsa. Was to see you like this again. I feel like...I don't know...like, you went away on vacation and some other girl moved into Mom and Dad's house for the last few years."
Elsa's smile faded and she chewed on her lips, staring at her glass long enough for Anna to worry that she'd said the wrong thing.
"I kind of feel like that too," Elsa eventually agreed in a small voice with a wry uptick of her lips.
The waiter came over and briefly interrupted the moment by placing Anna's coke on the table.
"I'm glad you're you again," Anna said once he'd gone. The question of why she had been "gone" was present in the back of her mind like it always was, but Anna kept it there. Patience is key. "I feel like I got my best friend back."
Elsa's eyebrows twisted vulnerably, adorably and she reached across the table to grasp one of Anna's hands in between both of hers. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out but a stuttering breath. Her eyes moistened. She's trying not to cry. Anna felt a bubble rise in her own throat. Her bottom lip started to quaver. And she didn't even know why! But she did know that Elsa was affected and that affected her.
"I…" Elsa started but it cut out early, dissolving into a broken sob. She laughed through her apparent breakdown. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I…" She inhaled deeply, a fractured breath and tried again. "I feel the same way. I'm so sorry Anna. I…" She was nearly taken over by emotion again but she steeled herself, looking fiercely into Anna's eyes. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I should have been there for you."
Tears had now escaped Anna's eyes and she could feel them run down the side of her nose. "No, you don't have to be sorry for anything. I'm fine. You're fine. And we're together now. That means everything to me."
Elsa made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob, stood up suddenly and almost fell around the table, collapsing into Anna and wrapping her up in a full and intense hug. She pressed her face into Anna's neck, and Anna could feel her sister crying, convulsing in her arms. It was all she needed to join her sister in the abyss. Were they joyful or sorrowful, the tears? Anna didn't know but they were all-consuming and the two girls clung to each for minutes on end until she became aware of the waiter standing awkwardly by their table, holding onto two plates of Waldorf salad.
Reluctantly, Anna disentangled herself from Elsa's embrace and both sisters righted themselves, glancing first apologetically at the waiter and then self-consciously around the rest of the bistro.
Anna palmed away the wet streaks from her cheeks and sheepishly cleared her throat before picking up her cutlery.
She darted her eyes up to see Elsa pulling herself up onto her stool again, looking much as she felt. Elsa caught her looking and smiled self-deprecatingly.
"I think we both needed that."
Anna laughed and tucked into her salad.
~#~
"What are you doing now?" Elsa asked as they left The Salad Plate, shrugging on their coats to ward off the chill.
"No plans," Anna said. "Might meet Kristoff later. And Olaf. Wanna hang or you got stuff to do?"
"No, I'd like that," Elsa smiled. "Actually..." Then she paused, both physically and metaphysically. Anna stopped too and turned to face her sister, an expectant smile on her face. "I'd like to talk to you about something, if you don't mind."
"Of course! What is it?"
Elsa looked up and down the street and she shook her head. "Not here, somewhere private."
"Your place?"
Elsa shook her head again. "No. My place is hardly private. There's a park down the road. Let's go there."
"OK, sure," Anna grinned and as they turned to head off down the street, she linked her arm with Elsa's causing her sister to smile warmly at her.
Anna's heart was racing a mile a minute.
She wants to talk to me! In private! Is she going to tell me what's going on with her and Mom and Dad?
She tried her very best to keep her expression passive.
"Elsa?" A male voice she'd never heard before: husky and deep. She looked up to find they'd almost walked straight into that ski instructor guy Amel.
"Hello again," Elsa said pleasantly.
He glanced at Anna briefly before resuming focus on Elsa.
"Out having lunch?"
"With my sister, yes," Elsa said. "You?"
"The same. Well," he laughed. "Not with your sister, but lunch, yeah. It's...uh...it's good to see you again, Elsa."
He said her name twice. And the way he's looking at her...
Anna glanced at Elsa with interest to see how she was reacting to this totally hot and totally interested guy. But she wasn't reacting. Not particularly. She had her "Elsa" face on: meaningless smile; not warm but not cold either.
"You too," she said and Anna didn't think she'd ever heard such bland sentiment. "Thank you for your help yesterday."
"You hardly needed it," Amel replied. He reached up to scratch his neck. "You're a real natural. You should keep it up."
"Thank you," Elsa said humbly with a slight nod. "I plan to."
"You know..." he said hesitantly, and Anna was fascinated to see someone that good-looking, ten years her senior, fumble like a nervous schoolboy. "If you want some instruction, I could spot you. No charge."
"Thank you...but no. I've already got a...spotter," one corner of her mouth raised. Coy! She knows he's flirting with her. She's not interested. He was charming and flattering and Elsa had barely blinked. Nothing like yesterday, when Nic had been complimenting her ski skills and she'd been so adorably flustered. She'd blushed then. No. Anna's eyes narrowed with curiosity as she scrutinized her sister pointlessly trading pleasantries with the hotty. It wasn't just blushing. It was blushing.
"I'll see you soon. I hope," Amel said to Elsa, nodded politely at Anna and continued on his merry way.
Questions, so many questions, were on the tip of her tongue but Anna sucked on the insides of her cheeks to keep them at bay. She wants to talk. Let her talk. So she carried on, arm in arm with Elsa, and tried not to think about it.
Fortunately her phone beeped with a text message alert successfully interrupting her trying-not-to-think-about-it. Thank God. She pulled her phone out of her parka pocket. Kristoff.
Hey. Just got back. You still at lunch?
She immediately tapped out a reply.
Kinda. Elsa's got something she wants to talk to me about. You wanna meet after? In town?
She didn't bother pocketing her phone. A minute later it beeped again.
Sure. I'll call you when I'm headed out.
Cool, she replied, and this time she did pocket the phone.
She felt Elsa tug at her arm and looked up to find her smiling at her knowingly.
"Was that Kristoff?"
"Yeah. He's gonna come out and meet us later."
"That's cool," Elsa said sweetly. "I like him."
"Yeah, me too."
Elsa looked at her. She could sense it and when Anna turned her head to confirm, she saw her sister's astute smile still firmly in place.
"What?"
"What's going on with you two, Anna?"
"What?! Nothing! We're just friends!" Anna insisted, feeling kind of frustrated. She felt like she'd had this argument again and again.
"Hmm," Elsa hummed cynically.
"We are!"
"So you can look me in the eye and tell me that you've never thought of him, you know...like that."
Anna couldn't do that. But it wasn't her fault. It was the whole marriage debacle that made her consider him in a different way. And it was kind of his fault too, she thought as she remembered the way he smiled at her, so kind and thoughtful with those eyes. And the way he looked in his sleep wear, with little to cover up his muscular arms. He was strong. Anna bet he could lift her up with no effort at all...
"Oh my God!" Elsa suddenly exclaimed, poking Anna in the side. "You're thinking about it right now aren't you? Stop that!"
"You brought it up!" Anna complained, grabbing Elsa's wrist to stop all the poking.
They turned off the road into the park. It was a wide snowy expanse with a playground in one corner and benches dotted all around the edge.
Elsa sighed. "Anna...I don't want to upset you. I know you've got Hans, and you'll have to forgive me, but I've never met him. Mom and Dad seem to think he's Mr Perfect but all I really know about him is that he bludgeoned his way into your life. I mean, two days?! That's so fast. And..." she regarded Anna with compassionate eyes. "I just want you to be happy."
Anna could understand that. That was exactly what she wanted for Elsa. And it filled her heart with a wonderful warmth that Elsa had given her situation so much consideration. She cares. She really cares. And maybe...she wasn't totally wrong. With everything that had happened this last week... Maybe two days was too fast...
"I know," Anna said with a soft smile. "And you haven't upset me. I'd rather you tell me what's on your mind."
They came to a stop by a bench halfway across the back hedge of the park. It was nowhere near the playground and halfway between the two corner entrances. It was as private a spot as Anna could have imagined in a town centre.
Elsa unhooked her arm from Anna's and sat down, watching intently as Anna followed suit.
Her heart was hammering again, in her throat now.
"Enough about me though," she said casually. "We're here now so what do you want to talk about?"
Elsa shifted herself so she was angled towards Anna, her knees pressed together and her hands clenched so tightly on her lap, her knuckles were white.
It took a few long moments before Elsa actually spoke, but Anna waited quietly, giving off her best sense of calm.
"Firstly, I hope you can forgive me for not telling you sooner, but this has been quite difficult for me. I've been working up to thinking how to tell you. And secondly, please, I hope you can see that this doesn't change anything. Not really. I'm the same person I ever was."
Jesus, what the hell is she going to say?
"The thing is Anna…" Elsa was holding eye contact with Anna but she dropped it, staring at her hands. She frowned. "The thing is..." she whispered. Anna had to bite her tongue to keep from screaming "What is the thing?" Elsa took a deep breath and lifted her head again, fixing Anna's gaze resolutely with her own. She exhaled. "The thing is..." She sounded much more determined this time. "...I'm gay."
There was a pause of only a second or two before Anna exploded triumphantly: "I knew it!"
Elsa's mouth popped open in a perfect "O" shape. She narrowed her eyes disbelievingly.
"You...you knew?"
"Well, OK, I didn't know know but I knew something was going on with you and Nic and all your secret...Oh my God!" Anna's eyes opened wide. She couldn't believe she'd not seen it before. "Is she your girlfriend?"
She remembered how Elsa had been so adamant that Nic was not interested in Kristoff, how Nic had scoffed at the very notion of being with Amel, how they always walked and sat so closely…Nic was gay too and Anna couldn't have been happier about it.
"Shhh!" Elsa's eyes darted around them in horror like she was worried the trees had ears. "She is not my...girlfriend," she hissed, dropping her voice to an almost inaudibly level for that last word as if she was afraid of it. "I've known her less than a week!"
"But you'd like her to be your girlfriend?" Anna guessed with a canny smirk.
"I don't know Anna…" Elsa was getting agitated. "Can we not…"
"Sorry," Anna backtracked. Throw a little love her way. "I'm sorry. I got overexcited. I'm just...I'm really happy for you."
"You are?" Elsa's eyebrows raised. Hopefully, or in surprise? Anna wasn't sure. Maybe it was a mixture of the both.
"Of course," Anna smiled. She had thought for so long that her sister wasn't interested in people, interested in meeting someone, interested in love. But she had been wrong. She placed a hand on Elsa's. "And of course it doesn't make me see you any differently. You're you. You can't be anyone else."
Elsa's small smile broadened.
"Do Mom and Dad know?"
"Yes. I told them...a while ago."
Anna felt a little hurt. So everyone knew but me? But also she knew that this wasn't about her. This was about Elsa. And the way that Elsa was regarding her, so softly, eyes getting misty all over again, told Anna that this was a really big deal for her.
"And what did they say? When you told them I mean," she said, stuffing down her own self-pity for now.
"They..." Elsa hesitated. She had relaxed somewhat after her confession, but now she sat up ramrod straight again. "They wanted...They want what's best for me." But she didn't look happy about it.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Anna asked.
"It...It's a thing", Elsa said confusingly. Anna frowned. Elsa was staring into some middle distance in the direction of the playground, but when Anna looked there was nothing there.
Suddenly Elsa's attention snapped back to her sister.
"Can you promise me something Anna?" she asked, and her eyes were so impassioned that Anna nodded without a second thought. "Can you not tell them...that we've had this conversation? I just...I think it would be best...if I spoke to them first."
Anna wavered. Why? Why shouldn't they know I know!? Even now that she had been included in Elsa's big secret, she couldn't escape all the lies and confusion. But...Elsa. For Elsa.
"Of course," she said.
Notes
So there we go. The secret's out of the bag. Elsa was brave enough to come out of the closet. Are you? ;) Any lurkers want to take a punt at a review? I'm keen to know your opinions. Surprised? Not surprised? Love it, hate it or couldn't give a toss either way?
I've totally done some fan art for this story now. It's the photo Olaf posted up on his Facebook page. If you want to see it, there's a link on my profile page.
Olaf's surname Zima is Czech/Slovak in origin and means "winter" or "cold".
Gerda's surname Norris is British and means "wet nurse" or "foster mother".
Anna's classmate Garvey is an Irish name and means "cruel fate".
Anna has signed up for five courses for her first year at the University of Arendelle: Social Studies; Business Studies; Art History; American Studies and History; and English. She's also taking evening classes in modern dance.
Like I have mentioned, I am British and went to uni here in England too, so I hope this sounds normal for the American university system. I kind of relied on wikipedia to flesh out her academic schedule :)
And, as ever, thank you for reading, reviewing and following this story. Your support helps power me on. We're nearing the finish line now! Only another 5 chapters or so to go. :) xx
