Anna stared longingly at a fancy plate filled with chocolate crumbs in front of her, a sad sigh escaping from her lips. On that plate used to be full of a piece of her chocolate cake. Her birthday chocolate cake.
While she sulked on the grand dining table, servants and her parents got together and chatted about everything. Laughter echoed across the room, a nice, friendly feeling filled the air. They were having fun.
Anna's eyes darted from her plate to another plate filled with a piece of cake, untouched. For a second, her eyes flickered and tears formed on the edges. She was about to do the waterworks. But she can't cry in front of everybody. According to Inner Voice, crying and
making a tantrum was for six years olds, even though Anna found that hard to believe. She thought adults could do that still, right?
The redhead sniffled and wiped away her tears. She adjusted the party hat that was strapped on her head, and she helped herself getting another piece of chocolate cake. She prodded the crumbs with her fork, trying to form the word Elsa on her plate.
It was about three hours since the party started, and Elsa was nowhere to be seen. Everyone celebrated and played with Anna, showing their full attention on her. The child grinned the whole time when there was absolutely nothing to smile about.
"Honey?" Her mother's voice was behind her, and Anna quickly planted a huge fake smile on her face. The queen came over and cooed at her child. "Oh, happy seventh birthday," she planted kisses on her forehead. "But you're sitting here all alone. What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," Anna tried to shrug it off. "I'm just enjoying my cake."
"Are you sure? Come with me and talk to the servants. You should hear the chef's little story about his time with the oven and cupcakes."
Anna felt her eyes water, so she turned away from her mother. "I . . . I just want . . . J-Just want . . ."
"Yes, dear?" Her mother's expression turned concerned.
"Go tell her," Inner Voice urged. "Your mother will understand."
Anna hesitated silently, then she whispered lowly, her eyes on her plate.
"I just want Elsa here."
Slowly she looked up, her teal blue eyes staring wistfully to her mother's gentle face. Her mother seemed sad, and Anna knew she wanted Elsa to be here too.
"Well," she finally spoke, her voice wavering. "did you ask her?"
"Yes."
"And what did she say?"
". . . Nothing."
Her mother smiled sadly, as if she had nothing to do with this, although Anna got a feeling she was trying to hide a secret. But she didn't let that bother her, her sister already told her why she was stuck in her room.
"When's the painter coming?" Anna decided to change the subject, and her mother seemed relieved about the change.
"He'll be coming when you're clean and ready. What a mess you are, honey. You should change and wear your prettiest clothes," she motioned Anna to start walking to her room. "The painter will be here once you come back. Which one do you think is better? Oil painting or watercolor? I was thinking it should be . . ."
"Go visit Elsa," Inner Voice whispered in Anna's head, causing the child to lose attention to what her mother was saying. "And bribe her to come out with chocolate cake."
"I tried that already," Anna responded in her mind. "What's the point of asking her? She won't answer me."
"Don't give up! She might change her mind. Besides, she loves chocolate cake. She can't pass the offer. This is for your seventh birthday party!"
"It won't work."
"Yes, it will! This is really important! She needs to go out."
The child seemed lost in thoughts. "Go out . . . ?"
"Yes. She needs to go out for once."
Go out there . . . Or she could . . .
"Anna?" Her mother snapped her back into reality. "why aren't you answering? Do you want someone to go with you while you change? I can tell Gerda to―"
"No," the child stopped her, "I think I'm fine walking by myself."
Her mother turned worried, "Are you sure?"
The child nodded and started walking away as fast as she could without looking like she was in a hurry. "Yes, Mama!" She called back, and started running to her sister's room.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
"Elsa? Do you want to join my party?"
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
"With all the sweets outside . . . Can't you see?"
Knock. Knock.
"Why aren't you answering? Please take a rest and go out and enjoy some fun! I want the old you back. I'd do anything. Just please don't leave me alone!"
Tap. Tap. Tap.
"Can you please open up your door?"
Knock. Knock.
". . . So we can build some snowmen later . . ."
Silence hung in the air, and the same eerie feeling overwhelmed the empty hallways. Anna sighed and leaned on the door, her forehead pressed against the wood. It was so silent, a pinball drop could be heard.
"Don't be sad," Inner Voice said so quietly, but loud enough from the empty silence she sounded like she was next to Anna. "At least you have me."
Anna nodded and sniffled. "Well, I'm grateful for that. But Elsa―"
"―Is probably busy with growing up," Inner Voice finished for her. "Remember earlier? She even cared to draw you a drawing on your birthday. She loves you, but she's probably busy. And she doesn't want you sad on your birthday, you need to smile and be happy. For her."
The seven-year old blinked, then sighed. "Okay, then." The child tried to grin as wide as she could, but it was awfully hard when she's on the verge of tears. She stood straight and brushed off any dirt from her bright green dress. She knocked on the door again, louder this time. "Elsa, I'll see you tomorrow. I heard you were busy growing up, and you couldn't come to the party. I was waiting for you, but you were busy."
There was no response, and Anna frowned sadly. "So I'm just gonna go now . . ."
Anna didn't want to go right away, so she stuck around a little longer, but she had a feeling Elsa won't be coming out.
"You should hurry," Inner Voice reminded her. "Remember your birthday party? The painter must be there already."
The birthday girl looked down at her polished shoes, and she asked once more, "Do you want to build a snowman?"
She turned her heels and she walked down the hallway slowly. She knew tears were suddenly streaming down her face, but she didn't care. Elsa wasn't coming. She cared about growing up. If she loved Anna, then she should be walking to the party right next to Anna.
"Anna, please wipe your tears," Inner Voice pointed out. "People will notice you're crying."
"People will notice why I'm crying," Anna sniffled and rubbed her arms anxiously. "I just want Elsa. And maybe we could build snowmen, like the old days." She closed her eyes and imagined Inner Voice in her mind: her big grin across her pale face and her bright blue eyes shining like glass. "At least I can imagine us building one . . . right, Inner Voice?"
She nearly turned around the corner when suddenly a click was heard and a cry broke out, stopping Anna on her tracks.
"Yes, I do."
Well, here's another chapter. I'm sorry this took so long, I was doing errands. Fortunately, I have one more month left of school! Yes!
Anyway, thank you for the reviews and the support. Hopefully I'm not too needy for reviews, but it'll make me update more. So please, review and tell me what you think! Oh, and the hundredth reviewer is . . . SunshineGirl2002! I'm sorry I forgot to tell you guys on the previous chapter that I'll give a shout-out to the hundredth reviewer. Sorry for that . . . but I won't forget next time.
Summary: Anna tries to convince Elsa to come out the door. And I figured you guys already know what's gonna happen next . . .