"Hey, Els, how you doing? Haven't heard much from you for a while," said Anna as she opened the video chat from Elsa.
"I'm fine. Fine," said Elsa flatly, looking a little frazzled. "How about you? How are you doing? Busy?"
"Nope. Finished that project for English – thanks for the help on that, by the way – and just superchillin' like a supervillain."
"Nothing else on your mind? Any plans? Anything on your docket? Last minute stuff?"
"What is it, Elsa? You're acting a little weird. And you look kind of overworked. Maybe you need to drop what you're doing and chill for a bit."
"Sure. Drop what I'm doing. Forget all the work I've been doing and let everything fall apart. I mean, I've got four whole days to go, no big deal."
"Four days 'til what?"
Elsa glared at her. "The prom. I have been running myself ragged getting everything organized."
Anna leaned into her webcam. "Really?" Someone asked Elsa to the prom? And she didn't tell me? Anna knew she should be happy for her friend – her very best friend – but she felt a sudden jab of jealousy.
"Yes, really." Elsa sighed, and leaned back. "Oh god. First I had to make sure there wouldn't be a hassle about me having a girl as my date."
Anna blinked, sat up. A girl asked her? Or...she asked a girl?
"And I didn't just have to clear the path, I wanted it to not be a huge deal, because the prom's about romance, not protests, right? Not that I have any problem with standing up for myself – " Anna nodded with a wry smile. " – but I didn't want it to be about that. I thought I was going to have some trouble with vice-principal Weselton, but principal Pabbie and I managed to smooth that out."
"I'm impressed." Anna wished she had Elsa's gift for diplomacy. And her organizational abilities. And her smooth, pale skin, deep blue eyes you could get lost in, tiny perfect lips – off topic, Anna!
"And I had to book a limo. But a sane limo, you know? The right size for two."
Anna raised an eyebrow as Elsa said this. Whoever it is must be pretty special.
"Well, I found a place that has hybrid limos, so at least the environment is only lightly dinged." Elsa smiled crookedly. "And...well, probably shouldn't talk about this, but here goes...I booked a room for later."
Anna's eyes widened. Someone's in for a special night.
"But booking a hotel room is so, kind of, tacky. Right? Brainstorm: I booked a bed and breakfast. Very understanding couple of guys run it, and it's gorgeous. On the edge of town, next to an apple orchard if you can believe it."
"It sounds lovely, Elsa. And like a lot of work."
"And I found a really creative florist for the corsage. I wanted a sunflower in it except they're way too large, so she has some black-eyed susans dyed yellow that look perfect, but I have to put that on hold, and there's this sweet little old lady seamstress who can do up a dress – I thought of going with a suit, but why should I conform to the 'somebody has to be the man' trope even if I am doing all the planning – like I said I've chosen a design and she can whip it up with a wave of her wand, practically, but that has to be on hold, too, because I want everything to match. Well, not match, not all samey-same because that'd just look tacky, but harmonize. Especially with the faux-sunflowers, but it's not too late to change that, but I have to basically know right now."
Anna let Elsa take a breath. "Wow. That is a lot of work. I had no idea."
"No, I didn't think you did," said Elsa, scowling. After a long, uncomfortable pause, Elsa said, "Well?"
"Well what?"
Fists clenched, jaw clamped shut, Elsa snarled, "So what colour dress are you wearing already?"
Anna sat back. "Me?" she said, pointing to herself.
"Yes, you. Who did you think I was taking?"
"Um, I didn't know. I mean, I didn't even know you were going." Seeing the blank look on Elsa's face, she continued. "That is, I'd love to go. With you. I'd love to go with you. But, shouldn't you have asked me first?"
"What are you talking about? I..." Elsa paused, her mouth hanging open. "Oops."