Without a shift at Tomatoma Pizzathat afternoon, Anna snatched up her bookbag and shuffled down the hall as quickly as she dared. In short order, however, the sophomore ran right into a wall of students twenty deep as they filed out of the main entrance. Cheeks rosy, Anna fidgeted in place and shuffled along as she peeked here and there for a pathway to slip through.
No call from Punzie, so that means she's staying late to do first aid stuff with the group she advises.
The wall of students didn't budge, and Anna stayed put, concerned that if she tried to wiggle her way through the crowd...she'd end up bowling people right over.
Maybe if Elsa isn't going into the station until later...maybe I could go for round two of not burning dinner?
Eyes flicked down as another text message arrived, and Anna instinctively yanked her maroon jacket hood up as warmth flooded her face.
'NaNa, I'm gonna be extra late tonight, so I sent in an order at that Mediterranean place Elsa likes. Want to pick it up and surprise her with dinner? Be careful going home, and don't forget your mask if you take any shortcuts.'
Blushing hotly, Anna cursed under her breath and pocketed her phone again.
How well can Punzie read my mind, anyway? Hopefully not too well, or else I'm screwed. C'mon, stupid blob of people...move!
Antsy frustration began to drown out pathetic embarrassment as the mob of students behind Anna pressed up against in eager anticipation of freedom. Another text message drew her attention, and she pressed the top of her head against the Transformersbackpack of the senior wrestler ahead of her.
'And if you happen to catch our favorite officer before she showers, take a picture of the legendary bed-head for me!'
Anna swallowed thickly, then slammed her eyes shut and nudged her head against the Transformersbackpack again.
Elsa's bed-head. Those grey silk pajamas. So soft, like that night I had the fever and she left work.
She didn't know I got bit. She just thought...I was sick.
Dry mouth. Sweaty palms. Fists clenching and unclenching.
Just sweating all over her, but she held me anyway. I could hold her like...like that…
Letting out a frustrated exhale, Anna curled her toes in her sneakers and mashed her forehead against the backpack.
Holy shit that's so perverted Elsa would hate hate hate...ugh, move!
Just then, the clump of students in front of Anna let out a collective groan. Some hollered and some cursed and a few shot flummoxed glances backwards. The entire group lurched forwards, stumbling and collapsing all over each other as they spilled out through the doors and landed face-first on the concrete.
"The hell?!"
"Who's pushing?!"
"Dude we're all pushing."
"Yeah but somebody back there's fuckin' hulking out."
Meanwhile, Anna lay trapped underneath several other sprawled-out students, and dared not move lest she accidentally hurl two or three of them clear of the school grounds. She kept her eyes shut and grew intimately acquainted with the taste of the concrete sidewalk. Knees and sneakers dug into her back, and she bit back a dark chuckle at the commotion that flared up when several students feared they had killed her.
Clutching at her chest and forcing haggard breaths, Anna slapped on a weak smile and hammed up her reassurance.
"It's...it's cool. Fine...all good here...think someone pushed...me…"
Maybe I just...wanna cuddle them. That's not so wrong. I'm not...that bad.
Forest Hills Apartment Complex, seventeen floors of tightly packed suburban rentals, and Anna relished taking the stairs ever since her mortal enemy slime spider chomped on her. In the past, she'd have been sucking wind and taking forced sit-down breaks every other floor. Now, she bounded up the stairs three and four and five at a time.
Dinner! Elsa! Park with Punzie this weekend!
With one final leap, Anna soared over the last eight steps, and jabbed a finger at the seventeenth floor door as she grinned down at her bag of take-out gyros.
No swinging-practice when I've got special romantic-foods to deliver! I mean...damnit...
Blushing at her slip, Anna directed her pitiful scowl away from the food...and blanched upon spying her still-affixed arm bandage. She chuckled weakly and slid a thumb down through the fabric, easily tearing it away and revealing only a faint, red splotch.
Elsa's got enough on her mind with work and everything. Dear me, don't forget the simple stuff.
With that, Anna breezed through the door and made her way down to room twenty three. Anna hadn't expected her sister to be awake yet, but all it took was a slight jingle of her keys as she hunted for the right one.
Hands don't get sticky any more from, uh...unplanned web. Bonus.
A dry, musical hum flitted through the door.
Anna promptly shoved her keys back in her pocket and locked her body at attention.
Every time now it's like this rush! A hundred thousand million billion little tickles and gigantic tickles telling me there's somebody super close by and and and...
"Oh...oh, Anna." Rubbing bleary eyes, glanced down and half-heartedly went about smoothing out her rumpled, silk pajamas. A sleepy half-smile as blonde hair snaked every which way in unruly tangles. "Sorry, I...just got up. Still a mess."
Sneakers rooted to the floor, and the I Dream of Jeanniewelcome mat at the doorstep. Anna gulped and fumbled with the take-out bag.
...and I love them.
Anna puffed out her cheeks, shook her head vigorously, and held out the take-out bag she'd brought home. "No no, you...you look like dinner!" A gulp, followed by a miserable cringe. "I brought you. Uh...for."
So help me I will web my stupid mouth shut!
A faint, affectionate smile from Elsa, who curled a hand around the free plastic loop of the take-out bag. "I heard Rapunzel's staying late today. Just you and me, then." She stared, blue eyes warm and lingering. "Did you do good, today?"
These stupid heightened senses make everything more intense and god damnit just give her the bag.Dizzy from her jackhammering heart, Anna managed a contrite nod and extended the bag another few inches. "Did my best. Was, you know...pretty okay."
You're pretty and I'm not okay.
It took every ounce of awareness Anna had to swallow a flustered yelp when Elsa reached past the bag and squeezed her wrist. A gentle tug...and Anna wilted under the hint of sternness in her older sister's eyes.
"Anna...we talked about this. This bag and your backpack. Just...be careful, okay?"
Anna squeaked breathily in reply and let go of the take-out bag just as Elsa pulled it away. "R-right. Careful...good."
I'd lift you up right now. One arm. Twirl you around...and take away all your worry.
"Come inside and we'll eat together. I want to hear all about your day."
But spiders...killed mom and dad.
Anna nodded dumbly, cursed under her breath as her eyes drifted down to Elsa's pajama top half-shoved-down her pants in a wrinkled mess.
I'll never tell you what I've become...or how I feel.
Inches lower. Anna bit back a miserable whine, her loose shoelace caught in a loose floorboard, and she crashed to the floor.
But we are gonna get that stupid loose floorboard fixed or my name isn't...SPIDERBADDIE.