Chapter 8: Petticoat and tie
Note: Some real fluff – ladies, sometimes we must take things in hand – hahaha…
This part of northern Germany was indeed a nature´s kiss to human heart. This amazing lake-district beheld several lakes connected by canals or ponds winding up to each other. It was a world to retreat from the hectic daily business.
They had passed the channel and had crossed the lake of Plau, arriving at Kalkofen harbour. The little fisher district was a charm and albeit the touristic flow, the flair of northern tradition and culture was still present. It was a lovely day and with the sun warming the pebble stones, the wind rustling the sails and rocking the docked boats, and the seagulls singing their cheers to those dwelling near the waterside, the feeling of vacation led to the soothing vibes of slowed down time passing.
Anna sighed while rummaging through her tiny bag to check all that she needed to go out for a stroll along town.
"What´s up ballerina? Bored already?" Kristoff peeped down from the entrance, waiting for Anna to emerge from her getting ready.
"Sure not!" she exclaimed, while closing the bag. She bit her lips and shrugged.
"It´s just… I fear I´ll start getting all dull and lazy. These days have been so relaxing and I could get used to the hangout… I´m afraid I´ll have to catch up with my exercising… Poor Olaf, he´ll think he´s got a rock to heave…"
She did look somewhat worried. But with her hair braided in two plaids and her freckles underlining her cute sun tainted nose, and those remarkably muscled but fine curved legs, Anna looked anything less than a dull girl. But that was just a spontaneous and totally unintended thought that popped to Kristoff´s mind…
"Oh, come on. You´re on vacation. And besides that, I happen to know that especially with hard physical daily work, it is most important to have some time out. Don´t worry about your training, I´m sure you´ll be as fit back on track as you can blink!"
Anna smiled and nodded feverishly, following Kristoff to the front of the boat. He had jumped off onto the pier and held out a hand to her for assistance. Anna tilted her head in surprise, laid a hand to her chest doing a little professional curtsy and accepted the offer by laying her small hand into the strong and firm grip. But then, she would not really need great of help, as Anna skipped the gap by bouncing off featherlight and jumping across with a quick split jump, just to land ever so lightly right beside Kristoff, still holding on to his hand. He didn´t intend to let go for the moment, standing in awe and stunned by watching the smooth move by the princess before him.
Anna pursed her lips and sparkling eyes blinked up to him for a second.
"Thanks for the help." She chirped, then quickly raised to her tiptoes, and perked a small, hushed kiss onto the flabbergasted man´s cheek, just to lower herself and pulling at his hand.
The soft word and ever so tender contact to his cheek jolted him back into time…
What was that?
And with a lopsided grin, he briefly squeezed her hand, just to awkwardly let go and pointing towards town…
"Shall we?"
It was just a vacation and there was no reason to read into things… Though, Anna could not get the words out of her mind, "I kind of like her" … But liking is general, like she liked Olaf, or her other company comrades, or her director at times…´come on Anna, enjoy the time and easy companionship. Don´t exaggerate on things that aren´t…´
"Anna!"
Someone talked to her, she should stop daydreaming. That was a real threatening habit…
"Hm. Sorry. Did you talk to me? I´m sorry, sometimes I get lost in thoughts and then I´m far away and then I don´t hear anything and it can get really annoying to those around me and that again makes me feel bad, and then – "
"Hey, hey, hey, feisty-pants, slow down, okay? It isn´t like I hadn´t noticed that before… Besides, you´re on vacation, you don´t have to be attentive all the time. Just as long you don´t walk into a passing car or anything the like, you know." Kristoff had put his hands into his jeans pockets and watched her with an amused smile.
Anna stared at him with mouth agape. She had been told before to pay attention and control her wandering thoughts. Kristoff clearly seemed teasing her a bit, but not mad. She felt a sudden momentum of true appreciation, but then, she could hardly tell what she had been musing about…
"I asked if you were hungry."
"Oh. Yes, a little bit. But not very much, breakfast had been a treat, again."
"Well, we have time and don´t need to hurry."
They continued their stroll and along the stores with clothing and sorts, Anna suddenly stopped short to peep intensely at the shop window.
"Saw something?" Kristoff asked, marvelling at the different dresses displayed in the window. He was not the type for shopping. Usually he went to a store, fetched the necessity he needed to cover up decently and that was it. But apparently Anna had detected some dress and they had the time. So why not let her look around a bit. He would wait outside.
"See that green dress? What you think?" She asked enthusiastically, pointing to the window with her finger. He could not really tell. There were several pieces… But there was a green one, yes, with little sunflowers along the hem. Kristoff shrugged and nodded his approval out of politeness. Anna pulled hat his arm and a second later he found himself standing in the middle of ladies' wear. She said she needed his opinion. Would he have an opinion? He had no idea what opinion meant when it came to checkout a girl´s dress… Kristoff stood a bit forlorn and wondering if that might be how he would end up the rest of the day, to look at dresses and stuff… When he heard a slight clearing of throat and a shy voice.
"What you think?"
He couldn´t think… The sight caught him off guard… There she stood, arms stretched nervously by her side, hands clenching and releasing, obviously anticipating his opinion. And yes, he had an opinion! That she looked radiant, with that emerald green on her slender body, the petticoat underlining her dancing sunflowers along the hem, and the neckline – gosh, the neckline, two ribbons that ran from the slight V-cut neckline up behind this lovely slim neck. Kristoff couldn't restrain a small "Wow"! just to chuckle nervously and sticking both hands into his sides, nodding a smiling approval.
"Seriously Anna, that looks great on you!" And with a small smile, adding, "you look great!"
Anna pranced on the spot, beaming with delight. And following Kristoff´s gesture, she turned around, once to the right and once to the left. The petticoat making the skirt fly and the sunflowers dancing around her legs. She loved it. Or maybe she loved the thought that someone liked seeing her with it…
"Now you!" Anna nudged his arm with a grin, holding the purchased dress in the nice shopping bag before her waist.
"I´m not going to try a dress!" Kristoff smirked solemnly.
"Silly!" Anna laughed and nudged him again.
"Seriously Anna, this starts hurting…" Kristoff rubbed his arm, completely playfully though.
"Sorry."
"No, you´re not. You´re in high spirits, I can tell, and now you´re getting carried away, I can tell, too."
"No. I won´t!" Anna countered with an earnests frown. "But I thought you might get something nice for yourself?"
"I´m not the shopping guy."
They had stepped outside the store and were heading further down the old town with shops of all sorts lining the walk.
"May I?" Anna beamed up at him with pressed lips.
"What?" Kristoff didn´t trust that look on her face, but then secretly he was most intrigued.
"To look for something nice for you?"
"Like what?"
"I don´t know. What could you need?"
"Nothing. Got it all enough."
"Oh, come on, don´t ruin the fun!"
Kristoff groaned, laying his head back and running a hand over his face.
"Alright. But nothing fancy, right?"
A happy shriek and prancing girl were his reward and Anna tugged at his hand wrist to pull him along, and when he turned to follow her fast steps and the lovely sight of her… He didn´t watch out and ran right into the lamp post….
So, she had got him a tie. A tie! He never wears ties. He had told her. She hadn´t listened. Anna had pointed out that every man needs a tie.
"For what?" He had contradicted.
"For a nice occasion."
"What occasion?"
"There are plenty." And then, Anna had started counting, like weddings, birthdays, any sorts of celebrations, going out, going on a date, concerts, theatres…
He would not do any of it. Except birthdays. But the birthdays he attended; no tie was expected…
Then, Anna had groaned with annoyance, shaking her head giggling. She would not have it and he would not get through with his statements. So, nevertheless, he got a tie.
An emerald, green tie, that matched her dress…