It was early, but Elsa was quite the morning person anyway. She knocked on Anna's door quietly at first. "Anna," she whispered, "are you up?"
A loud snort sufficed as an answer. The platinum blonde giggled and wrapped her knuckles on the wood harder. "Anna, time to get up," she called with more authority in her voice.
"Huh? Uh, yeah, just- just a few more... a few more..." words vanished into thin air and Elsa sighed. Her sister had fallen right back to sleep. She really didn't mind waking up her drained sister. It was kind of fun, actually. On top of that, it made Elsa feel important, Anna trusted her with this job, to be her alarm clock.
"If you don't get up in the next ten seconds I'm gonna come tickle you awake," the older girl chided.
That seemed to work. With new rigor, the sing-song voice sounded back. "No, uh, that won't be necessary, nope, I'm totally awake now!"
A small pang of disappointment imbedded within Elsa's ribcage. She really wanted an excuse to go in and tickle Anna. She didn't let it get to her, though. With a bright grin, she hollered back "okay, I'll make up something to eat!"
"Okay, I'll be down after I take a super fast shower!"
Anna in the shower. Now there was something the white-blond haired girl didn't mind imagining one little bit. She could see in her mind's eye the steamy, watery pitter patter against Anna's smooth, naked flesh, the soap suds gliding silently and mercifully down her body, following the gentle contour of her womanly curves as the red head gently caressed herself with a bar. The hot water provided all the scalding scarlet that was needed, the steam meticulously obscuring all the most vital parts of the younger girl's body.
Elsa bit her lip, she was turning herself on. A temperature to match the imaginary shower's hot water pushed between her knees and she had to stomach the fire for now. "Okay," she finally mustered up. Her voice was slightly breathy. Trying to distract herself, she turned her attention to what was for breakfast. Eggs with toast and orange juice. It was a little plain for her tastes, but it was quick, easy, and healthy. It took no time to whip up. The eggs were over-easy just like Anna liked.
Soon enough, said red head appeared in the kitchen, hair still damp but braided into her signature pigtails. "Good morning, Elsa" she said nice and chipper, woken up by her shower.
"Good morning, sleepy-head. I just finished breakfast." She served her sister.
"Mmm, thanks!" Anna took to plate and pranced to the table, making sure to bring some butter for her crispy bread-carbon.
They sat down. Elsa poked her egg and gobbled up a small piece while Anna buttered the toast.
"Did you sleep okay last night?"
I would have slept better with you. "Yes, thank you."
Anna's face coated in glee. "Well good!" To punctuate her statement, she tried to take a huge bite of runny egg white slathered in yoke, but missed. The yellow, molasses-speed liquid splotched all over her face and dripped back onto her plate, making a wet smack when the more solid egg white landed.
Elsa tried to hide her laughter, but unfortunately orange juice just really wanted to come out of her nose that morning, so it did. It hurt.
They both choked on each other's blunders until their ribs hurt and Elsa's nose burned. Faces red, they sighed and began to poke good-natured fun at each other. "Nice one, Anna."
"Oh yeah? Your OJ works weren't the most attractive thing I've ever seen."
"Well you look like you covered yourself with snot."
Anna got a kick out of that. She laughed sharply and loudly. "Watch out, I might fling it at you," she threatened.
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Go ahead, make my day."
Intense blue eyes met determined aquamarine ones. They stared each other down until the pressure was built up too much. Neither of them could keep a straight face and they erupted in glee. They finished their meal and Elsa cleaned up the mess while Anna stuck the dishes in the washer. It was time for her to leave for class.
"Bye, Anna!" The older of the two latched on with a tight hug, elation still lifting her off the ground.
"I'll be back before you know it!" She returned the hug. Elsa stood back as her sister opened the door. She caught a quick glimpse of the morning sun on the driveway. "Love you!"
"I love you too." Elsa's heart skipped a beat as she said the words.
Anna climbed in her car, Elsa watched through the window. The fatal crash five years prior flashed through her mind and made her anxious. No, Anna will be fine. She replaced her scary thoughts with another image of her sister in the shower.
Then, Anna was gone. Off to class. The platinum blonde pressed her hand between her legs when her sister had safely pulled out of the driveway. It was warm and clearly damp. She swallowed. She'd miss Anna, but that didn't mean she couldn't make use of the free time she had that morning.
Elsa closed her eyes and let her imagination run wild.
"Elsa?" The young red head questioned as she lifted her sister's chin with a gentle finger.
Bleary eyed and choking on her aching heart, Elsa looked back longingly.
"Are you okay?" There was such care in the voice. It was so gentle, so concerned, like the only thing in the world that mattered to Anna was her.
Through the empty pit within that devoured everything that didn't long for her sister, the older girl managed a weak voice. She felt her heart rip in two as she said the words, juxtaposed to the wild butterflies making it impossible to think about anything except how uncomfortable she was. "It just- it just gets so lonely being here alone every day."
In a husky voice that made time stand still and flooded the platinum blonde with intense, less-than-innocent urges, Anna replied "Oh, I think I can help with your loneliness." She grinned wryly and stepped forward, her innocence discarded like a banana peel. Elsa throbbed in anticipation, anxiously awaiting her sister's move.
A magnetic pull between Elsa's legs acted upon her hand. The other began to knead her breast lightly. Lustful heat was once again collecting in her core, dampening her panties as she imagined her younger sister and all the perfection that went along with her.
The twenty year old woman pressed down against the groin of her jeans, sparking pleasure into her body. She could feel the wet warmth emanating from the area. She bit her lip and retreated to her bedroom.
She unbuckled her jeans and wiggled out of them, discarding them at random. With her back now arched against the sheets, Elsa dug her fingers under the hem of her underwear. Using her free hand she started to gently knead her own breast, slamming her eyes shut and pretending said hand belonged to Anna. The erotic sensation exerted by the fantasy caused her to gasp and the spark between her legs ignited into a full blown wildfire.
The intense heat demanded attention, and the platinum blonde gave it just that. Cold, dainty fingers practically steamed as they pressed on her labia and began to gently rub back and forth. Bolt after bolt of indulgent current tickled her spine. The room went from tepid to sweltering, Elsa's heart worked overtime, and her breathing became laborious and erratic. Oxygen was in scarce supply in her blackened world of pleasure.
Elsa used one finger to start stroking her clitoris, gradually at first, but with steadily increasing power and agility. Her spine might as well have been a lightning rod now. The woman heaved for breath, an explosion of sexual potential building up like the pressure within an engine, driving her on a journey of pleasure.
Elsa was floating in the air, somewhere outside of reality, outside of time. Her body clenched as her own tsunami of gratification ravaged her body, from her core to her brain. She fell back onto her bed, hitting hard and panting in place.
The air cooled back down as she lay there motionless except her heart and struggling lungs. Her mind raced around her beautiful sister. Reluctantly, her hand freed itself from the confinement of her soaked underwear. Her fingers remained slippery with her own fluid of arousal. Her other hand removed itself from her worked over breast.
Suddenly, the room felt cold and lonely. For a few moments, Elsa completely enjoyed her fantasy, but it was just that: a fantasy. Her heart bled for it to become fruition. In fact, that was the least of it. The poor woman curled up into the fetal position. She simply wanted for Anna to be there, cuddling with her, whispering sweet nothings into her ear. Elsa just wanted her sister to return the burning, agonizing, one-way love she felt for her.
Oh, my Anna.
Once Elsa recovered from her stupor, she rinsed off in the shower and re-dressed herself. She had hours before her little sister would be back, so she decided to open up her computer and read over the new power points her professors posted the previous night. That'd take a couple hours, then, Elsa presumed she would read a book. She was working on finishing up the Lord of the Rings series.
Adventure was by far the platinum blonde's favorite genre. It partially filled the void within her, helping a little to satiate her insatiable desire to venture outside. She could get lost in a world where she didn't have her fears, where the vast expanse of her imagination was the only limit on what she could do, where she could go. It was how she wished her life was.
Elsa looked out of her bedroom window. If only she could get out there, stand in the direct rays of the sun, let the Fall air swirl around her skin, allow the breeze to swoop in and swiftly carry away her fears. She rested her hand fearfully on the glass, fighting back tears. That wind wouldn't scoop away her nightmares, it caused them. That wind, that sun, everything out there was one of two things that kept her up at night. Conquering those monsters was Elsa's adventure. They were one side of Elsa's Sauron. Cotton in her throat tensed her muscles and her heart shifted in her chest as a strange amalgamation of horror and sorrow acted upon it. Outside, a bird flew by, singing its way on to a telephone wire where it perched itself. It was all so intimidating, if Elsa could just get over it all, if she could just prove to herself that she can survive out there. If this, if that. If only I was that bird... free.
Leaves kicked carelessly down the suburban road, some brown, some dull yellow, and others a fiery orange. The color reminded Elsa of Anna's hair. How would their relationship be different if Elsa could go outside? Would Anna have gone to a school so close to home? Would they be at the same school? (Well, they technically were, though Elsa only took distance learning courses, letting her complete her studies from within her confining walls).
A muffled thud rippled through the air. It was a car door. Elsa's neighbor, Oaken, was leaving for work. She had never actually met the man, though he seemed very nice. He cheerfully smiled and waved to his young children and husband, who all were seeing him off. His joy looked so genuine, like he knew for a fact that he found his place in life. A luxury that Elsa didn't have. She wondered if getting over her phobia was the first step to obtaining the key to what her neighbor had: happiness.
Anna, once again, flashed into the platinum blonde's mind at the mention of happiness. Not just because she was such a generally elated person. Elsa's heart felt as heavy as lead in her chest, resting harrowingly upon her sensitive stomach. The second half to Elsa's key to happiness was her sister. The other side of her Sauron was admitting her feelings. I need Anna, she reflected somberly. A tear tickled its way down the curve of her button nose, hanging to the tip, unwilling to give up its short life.
If I'm brave enough to face the outside, I'm brave enough to face Anna about my desires, right? That was it, that thought was the funnel that focused all of her sadness, loneliness, and fear into determination. The platinum blonde narrowed her eyes and vanished to the front door, taking note of the goggles resting on the floor as she arrived down stairs. I can do this. I can do this, I can do this. Her heart doubled up on its pace, her breaths becoming uneven and dissatisfying. She reached for the doorknob.
She was so close.
I can do this.
She grabbed the brass. It was cool to the touch.
I can do this.
Elsa tried to swallow her terror, but it wouldn't budge. Instead, it flourished, turning into a beast standing between her and life. The car crash raced into her mind again, jabbing her heart and stopping her breath. Her arms and legs were trembling in fright, her mother's screams echoing in her mind like a movie on repeat, never granting a single moment of reprieve. It fed her fears.
Elsa fought her panicked heart out, trying her very best to cease the tears streaming from her tightly shut eyes, trying to regain control over the arachnoid terror ravaging her insides and flooding her body with cortisol.
"Nnggah! No!" She let go and slid to the floor, crying into her hands. I can't do it, I can't do it! Disappointment shut her down one limb at a time. Hope was like a light in the distance, fading in the fog. It felt as far away as- as far away as Anna was at that moment. Which, as far as Elsa was concerned, was a million miles.
"It's not fair! It's not fair! Why can't I just be normal?" The woman curled up and clenched her jaw, nearly breaking a tooth. "I just want to be happy," she sobbed to no one in particular. With a deep, irregular sigh, the twenty year old stood back up. She looked at the coffee table. Sitting upon it, waiting for her, was a novel. The lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Elsa gulped her musings and shortcomings down like a bad meal and conceded to her life. Fantasy, once again, would have to suffice for now. She sat down and began reading.
Finally, Elsa heard a car engine roar and die close by. A car door sounded shut, and the platinum blonde stood, grinning widely. Her loneliness of the day was forgotten like a mathematical formula to a slumbering student. Anna was home.
The door opened, and before anyone was even visible, a beautiful voice could be heard. "I'm home now. Okay, I'll tell her. Bye, Punzie!" The red head hung up as she appeared through the doorway.
"Hi Anna!" The platinum blonde bounced on the balls of her feet in excitement.
"Ooh, Elsa, I didn't know you were right there. Rapunzel says hi!"
The older girl blushed. "Oh, um, tell her I said hi. I was reading on the couch and heard you pull up."
Anna giggled and lunged into a hug, something Elsa was hoping would happen. She let the warmth of her younger sister's body trickle into her being like water through the cracks of a parched mouth, settling into the very core of her being and quenching her thirst. It budded a warm fuzz in her stomach and dripped over her heart like sweet honey.
"How was your day, Elsa?" The auburn haired girl pulled away from the embrace far too soon. She bored her wide, blue-green eyes into Elsa, seemingly leaving physical traces on her.
Lonely, long, Elsa thought to herself. But she didn't want to upset Anna, so she didn't say either of those things. Her bosom choked as she thought back to her fight with the door handle. In a shaky voice, she admitted "Okay. I- I t-tried to go outside." She grabbed her braid like it'd protect her from the world.
Teal eyes went wide momentarily. "You did? Elsa that's- that's great!" She led her older sister to sit on the couch. "How far did you get? I mean, how'd it go?" She left a tender hand to linger on a slumped shoulder.
Elsa closed her eyes to relieve the burning building within them. Her head was weighed down with shame. "I- I grabbed the d-doorknob but-" she sniffled. "I- I couldn't turn it, I was so determined, but so s-scared, Anna!" She grabbed her sister and pressed her head against a lean shoulder to cry on. The intensity of the moment came back. Anna's t-shirt was soft and comforting, just like her skin. The contact and her sister's attentive ear helped diffuse the tension tearing Elsa's insides in half.
The strawberry blonde grabbed her older sister and patted her on the back. "Oh, Elsa, it's okay. You tried, right? I mean, it's amazing, you did that all by yourself, I'm so proud of you."
Anna's last phrase swirled around in Elsa's head. "I'm proud of you." She'd never get tired of hearing that. It was like a knight in shining armor saving her at the last minute from the army of her fears and self-declared inadequacy. She loved having Anna to talk to, she felt safe with her, she could tell her almost anything. Remaining in her love's nest of safety, Elsa pulled up her head and wiped away her tears. In a still broken voice, she said "Thank you. Yeah, I tried my best."
Such a wide smile broke out on freckled cheeks that Elsa thought it might actually hurt. "And that's what really matters, as long as you try your best you'll make progress."
The platinum blonde was unable to keep a small grin away. "Yeah, I guess."
"Hey, you're almost done with your book!"
It was true, there was just a sliver of pages left after her bookmark. "Yeah, all the storylines are just wrapping up now."
"It must be good, you read the series really fast," Anna teased.
The older girl blushed slightly. "I have a lot of free time, too. But it was really good, you should read it."
"Pshh, reading takes so long! Can't we just watch the movies instead?"
Elsa wondered how someone could be so lazy but keep such a thin, fit figure. Well, to be fair, Anna just about bounces, dances, and skips everywhere she goes. That must burn quite a bit of energy. Yes, that must be it, it explained the toned stomach and lean arms, the flat belly and sculpted calves. A baby giggle escaped her lips. "You want to?"
With an adorable glint in her eye, the strawberry blonde perked up. "Sure. I mean, yes! I have a little bit of homework to get done first, though. How about you? I mean, do you have homework?"
"No, I read all my powerpoints earlier. But I do want to finish my book."
"Perfect!" The redhead unloaded her various notes and computer from her backpack. Elsa grabbed her fictional text and they cozied up on the couch. Anna laid sideways, legs over the armrest and used her older sister's shoulder to support her back and head. It was a little difficult for Elsa to read in that position, but she didn't mind one bit. Furthermore, how was she supposed to focus on her story when Anna was laying up against her like that? Her innards became sugar coated and pleasantly temperate. Auburn hair was soft against her deltoids. The radiating body heat from said hair's owner was like a blanket wrapping around Elsa. She sighed happily and looked down at the pages in front of her while Anna clacked away at her keyboard.
Time passed by quickly as the platinum blonde once again got lost in her book. Before she knew it, the head leaning on her arm fell backwards into her lap. The motion startled her and she found herself face to face with freckled cheeks and enormous teal eyes. Anna was now resting her head right on top of Elsa's core. She clenched her jaw. "Done," the red head said brightly, ignorant of the sensations she was eliciting within her older sister.
"Oh, yeah, um," slender, idle hands had to do something to diffuse the tension. They landed on a fiery braid and began to twiddle with the silk-like strands. "I'm just about done reading."
Anna giggled. Music to Elsa's ears. "Okay, I'll just stay here so you can keep playing with my hair while you finish up."
Elsa's heart skipped a beat. Her face flushed red. "I- um, sorry." She withdrew her prying fingers.
"No, it's okay, it kinda feels good."
The white-blond haired girl just about melted on the spot. Her head felt light and her vision faded momentarily in favor of processing Anna's words. The intonation sounded a little flirtatious, or was that Elsa's imagination? "O-okay."
The red head hummed and closed her eyes. Elsa's right hand busied itself by fiddling with satin bangs while she finished her book. She felt like a kite, lifted by the soft air beneath her.
Soon enough, it was time for them to set up the movie. Elsa fetched the extended version of The Fellowship of the Ring and put it in, returning swiftly to her space on the couch. Anna was perched next to her, which certainly wouldn't do for Elsa. The older girl laid down, resting the side of her head on her sister's thigh. She stole a quick glance up and was relieved to see pick lips curve up ever so slightly.
Then, dainty fingers began weaving themselves in Elsa's hair, twirling it and massaging her scalp. The gentle touch sent shivers down her spine and limped every muscle in her body as she sank farther down into comfort. Her heart was soaring like a fluffed up cloud, erupting bliss into her chest like lava from a volcano. She barely stayed awake as the movie began to play.
A couple hours in to the flick, Anna became a little restless. An offending finger jabbed Elsa lightly in the side, causing her entire body to twitch to the defense. "Gah, Anna!"
The red head giggled and apologized. "Sorry, it's just this movie has so much talking. It's like talk talk talk, action, talk talk, boring boring blah blah blah, action, blah blah blah."
Elsa couldn't help but chuckle at her sister's unfortunately accurate summary of the film. "Yeah, it's a lot of politics, but it's all important to the story."
"I guess but I just wanna see people sword fight and shoot each other with spells and do cool action-y stuff."
Pondering the auburn haired girl's admission for a few moments, Elsa rebutted "I just like seeing them roam around Middle Earth. All the scenery is so fascinating." Then, as an afterthought she added "but the action is cool, too." She simpered and looked up at Anna.
Understanding gleamed in the big eyes looking down at her. "Yeah, I guess it's pretty cool, you're right."
"We don't have to finish the movie if you don't want, I don't mind."
"No no, let's finish it!"
Elsa playfully raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
Anna winced as she spoke. "Okay maybe just a little, teeny-tiny break. To eat or something." She held up her hand, pointer finger just millimeters from her thumb to demonstrate the brevity she was suggesting.
An airy snicker escaped the platinum blonde's lips. "Okay. I'm getting hungry, anyway."
They did just that, finished their movie, and went off to bed. Elsa, once again, clutched her blankets and desperately hoped for Anna to come back through her door at night, but just like every other night, no such thing happened. At least her heart was full to the brim with placid joy at hanging out with her sister all day, so Elsa slept well that night.
The next morning went as usual. Elsa woke Anna up, they ate together, and then the red head departed. Elsa spent the day surfing the net, looking for a new book to start, and just generally waiting on her sister to get home.
Since she didn't have too much to do, once Elsa finished her own classes for the day, she decided to dress up a little bit. She could make herself nice and pretty for Anna. She'd like that. Elsa grinned and meandered into her closet at a leisurely pace. It was well organized. She looked around thoughtfully. There were quite a few dresses to choose from, a byproduct of years of online shopping.
She caught herself nibbling on her tongue in concentration, something that Anna was notorious for. Giggling at herself, Elsa reached for a dress. I haven't worn this one in a while. Plus, it matches Anna's eyes. Excitedly, she pulled out a regal looking teal dress. It was trimmed with copper at the bust and belt, sporting stylized floral patterns on the chest. It really made it's wearer look fit to become a queen. As an optional piece, there was a very modest black upper body piece that rested beneath the official dress. Whereas the sleeveless teal portion only came up enough to cover one's breasts with decency, the optional portion was jet black and covered skin up to the collarbone and down to the wrists.
Elsa thought for a moment more and racked the black portion of the dress. No need to cover all my skin in front of Anna, she mused boldly. She had to admit, the sexy thought made her heart skip and she was satisfied with the amount of confidence she displayed in that moment, even if she was alone and the dress was still modest. The thought of showing Anna more of her skin send pleasant tingles down the platinum blonde's spine.
The article of clothing fit snugly over her slender body, but loose enough to allow a full range of motion. The piece cupped her breasts comfortably and left her alabaster sternum exposed to the world. Examining herself in the mirror, Elsa could just barely see where her cleavage began, hidden swiftly by the overprotective fabric. With an appeased smile, Elsa gave herself a quick twirl in the mirror. The smooth dress rested splendidly on her exquisite curves. Anna will be home soon, she eagerly thought.
And soon enough, of course, Anna did get back. She barged quickly through the door like a madwoman, but full of excitement. Elsa smiled from ear to ear at the sight, straightening her back and puffing her already ample chest out slightly. "Elsa-" The younger sister stopped dead in her tracks. She stared momentarily and then regained her composure. "Ooh, you look gorgeous!"
The older girl's cheeks blushed something furious and she flashed a shy smile. Her heart soared and stomach filled with warm, wiggling fuzz at the compliment. "Thank you. I thought you'd like it."
Anna's cheeks appeared to shift red, but Elsa wasn't paying much attention so she wasn't sure if her eyes deceived her. "You dressed up for me? Aww, thanks! You look super cute. Well no, that's not the right word. You look beautiful, Elsa!"
Okay, that was it, the platinum blonde was gonna faint. She prepared to swoon and crash into the floor. Compliments from Anna were possibly the single greatest part of any day.
"And you made my day even better! I mean it was already great, but now it's just super awesome!" She dove into a full force hug with the platinum blonde, nearly knocking her over.
The older of the two sisters was genuinely happy in that moment. Her younger counterpart was exuberant and dressing up had been a major success. She let the instant sink in through her skin and soak her body for a few moments. Anna was already having a good day before this, and Elsa wanted to know why. That way, she could share her sister's joy. "What happened today?"
Anna grinned like a fool. "Ooh Elsa it's amazing!"
Pale cheeks nearly ripped from the rapidly widening mouth pushing upon them. Elsa filled to the brim with anticipation, like a vase being stuffed with lively flowers. Curiosity steered her mind to racing through an astounding number of possibilities, each one more far-fetched but pleasant than the last. Did she get an A on a test? Did she buy something? Maybe she just really really missed me, or maybe she suddenly realized her undying love for me. Oh God Elsa hoped it was the last option. She wished that to be reality with every fiber of her being. Love flowed through her, weaving her together like a needle and thread. Her heart rate expedited. She knew her hopes were ludicrous, but she didn't care.
"I got a new lab partner, and he's absolutely gorgeous! Oh my gosh, it was so embarrassing-" The story continued, something about how Anna had tripped into the guy and knocked them both on the floor, but it fell largely on deaf ears.
That wasn't the answer Elsa was expecting, nowhere close. It didn't even fall within her narrow realm of possibilities. Elsa was too busy letting her heart die to keep listening. The news hit her like a train, with essentially the same overall effect on her body. She suddenly ached everywhere. She didn't even know this dude's name and she hated him! Nothing was fair! Why was the world so cruel? Elsa was devastated inside, her stomach curled in on itself, ripping her heart away from its post, leaving emptiness where it previously was. Anna has a crush on someone- on a GUY. Her mouth foamed with jealousy.
Elsa swallowed her smarting heart and focused all of her energy on not letting any of her inner emotions show, now experiencing the world through a poised mask. "You- you like him?"
Anna's cheeks flushed with red. "Yeah, Hans is great, he's funny and so nice!"
Every word felt like a personal attack. Hans, that's his name. Elsa sharpened her face in dislike.
Twiddling one of her twin braids, the gushing girl continued. "And I think he likes me, I mean, I'm not sure, but it definitely seems like it. Just- just the way he smiled at me and we got along so well."
The platinum blonde wished desperately that she could be the one to provide that smile, the one that made Anna feel special and made her blush so richly. "Do- do you think he's gonna ask you out?" She really, really hoped the answer was no, selfish as it was.
"Elsa!" the red head slapped her sister's wrist playfully. "I don't know, I mean we just started talking, and sure we hit it off, but, I mean, hopefully!"
Elsa's mouth went dry. I could ask her out first, that way- no, no, I can't do that! It was a pipe dream, something impossible to reach, but, like so many other things in the Hell of Elsa's life, it seemed so damn close. But it wasn't. It was just out of reach, and would only drift farther. The woman swallowed a persistent lump in her throat. She jumped when a hand touched her.
"Elsa, are you okay? You look upset."
"Yes, I- I'm fine," she fibbed.
In a stern voice, Anna probed. "Elsa, I know when you're upset. What's wrong?"
I love you, you can't be with anyone else! No, she couldn't say that. The platinum blonde's mind scoured itself for any sort of explanation, anything. "I- I just... don't know how good of an idea dating would be for you."
"Oh, I get it. You're doing that over-protective big sister thing."
Elsa nodded in untruth.
"I know you're just thinking of what's best for me, and I love you for that, I do, but I'm eighteen, Elsa. I think I deserve to start dating now."
"No, it's not that, it's, um..."
Furrowing her brow, the strawberry blonde tried to fill in the blanks. "Do you not trust him? Is that it?"
That sounded good, maybe that would keep Anna at home, keep her away from dating for at least a little longer. Elsa was aware of how selfish she was being, she was just so desperate that it didn't matter. "Th-that's it."
"Then if, and it's only an if right now, but if me and Hans start dating then I can bring him over and you can meet him. I'm sure if you got to know him you'd see that he's a great guy."
Anna was too determined sometimes, she found a way around everything. Elsa was having trouble thinking straight at this point, her shock and depression at the news of Anna's crush welling within her like a tornado, making the mere act of thinking give her a headache. "How do you know? You just met him."
"Well yeah, but you haven't even met him. I mean, I'm at least in a better spot to judge his character than you, Elsa."
She was, unfortunately, right. It was getting hard for the older sister to control her own words. "You're right, I just don't know- I don't-"
Anna's voice sounded slightly pleading now. "Don't what? What are you making such a big deal about? I'm not even dating him, he's just some guy I like, I don't get what the big deal is."
The last thing Elsa wanted to do was upset her sister. She had to weather the raging anxiety storm within alone if only for the good of Anna. "I- just, nevermind, it's not a big deal."
"No, there's clearly something really bothering you, Elsa, I just want to know what. I just wanted to come home and tell my best friend about my crush. I thought it was great, I thought we'd giggle and laugh about it, but you just can't, can you? Why!?"
That was a low blow. It knocked the wind out of the platinum blonde, like a line drive to the chest. It made her a little sick. "Just drop it, Anna!"
"How can I just drop it!? Look at you! Elsa, tell me!"
By this time, the older of the two just wanted to curl into a ball and scream. She didn't want Anna prying into her mind like this, she didn't want to admit anything, she didn't want to be like this. She wanted to be normal. Why couldn't Elsa just be normal!? "Stop!"
"Elsa!"
Elsa was losing it. "NO!"
"ELSA!"
Her grip was slipping, she was going to fall, she was going to cave, she was full to bursting. "Leave me alone, Anna!"
"Jesus, Elsa, what is going on!?"
Elsa needed something, anything to shout out, to make Anna give up, lest she let her feelings slip out like soap. "I'm scared of being alone! Okay!?" The platinum blonde hugged herself and started rocking slightly. The admission was blatantly insufficient to explain why she made such a big deal out of the whole thing. There was no way Anna didn't already know that Elsa was lonely. But it was better than nothing, and it was true. She was mortified at the idea of ending up alone. It at least gave the illusion of a proper answer, and that's what Elsa needed at that moment. She slammed her eyes shut and waited for the pestering to continue, waited for her sister to dig deeper, to open up the gooey core of her being and lay her eyes on her dirty, not-so-little secret. Elsa waited to be called out on her lie of omission.
But it never happened.
Instead, there was a soft, sad voice. It carried something else, something intertwined with its very form: understanding. "Oh, Elsa..."
She took it, she's not pressuring me anymore. Elsa told herself she was playing along, but asked a question she genuinely needed the answer for. Was she too much for Anna to handle? "Wait, y-you're not annoyed?"
"How could I be annoyed?" Anna hugged her sister tightly. Elsa melted into the embrace immediately, feeding her heart just enough to keep it alive. "Taking care of you isn't a chore, hanging out with you at home isn't something I do simply because I have to, Elsa. I love you so much. I will never leave you behind, but-" the younger sister sighed. "But I need time for myself, too. Time to go out and- and time to maybe meet someone. No matter what happens, you'll always come first, I'll always be here for you. You understand that, don't you?"
Rapidly, the platinum blonde felt horrible for keeping her sister from living life for so long, but the truthfulness of the words helped to ease her pain. She nodded. "I'm sorry I'm so needy."
"No, no, there's nothing to be sorry about. Anyone in your position would feel the same way, I understand."
Elsa wished that Anna was aware of the double meaning carried behind such a statement. "Thank you."
Anna smiled sadly. "I'm really sorry I pushed you, but you can tell me these things. I'm right here for you."
Her sister's words were like angels to Elsa, lifting the pressure off of her shoulder and allowing her lungs to stretch and consume air once again. She breathed a sigh of relief and let her chest bask in the warmth of the offered hand in front of her. Anna will never abandon me. Elsa clung to the words like a rock in a raging river and let herself breath a sigh of relief. She forgot all about Hans for a moment.
But only for a moment. He was still there, and Anna still liked him. Jealousy watered in the platinum blonde's mouth and her heart sank deep within her intestines. She felt turmoil clutching her neck and fought to breathe through it's strong grasp. She'll get over Hans, Elsa told herself. She had to believe her thoughts, because if Anna was destined to love someone else, what was the point? If Elsa couldn't have both halves of her key to happiness then she'd be unable to open the door. So Anna had to get over Hans, she would. They probably won't even start dating, it's just a crush, and he's just her lab partner. The argument did nothing to comfort it's host.
"Elsa?"
The older girl snapped out of her sea of thought and shook her head. She had completely forgotten where she was. "I- it's okay, Anna, you were right to push me, I- I should've told you sooner."
Anna sighed and took Elsa's hands. It was written all over her face that she didn't know what to say next, so she just accepted the sentiment. The platinum blonde surmised that her sister just wanted this debacle to be over. "Okay, well, I'm glad you told me either way, because now I know and I can help you not feel so lonely."
Elsa was reminded of her imaginary exploration earlier. It send shivers down her spine and she had to shift a little in place to diffuse the pressure that meandered back into her core. Her face heated up with magenta and she took a sharp breath. "Thank you."
"So, how about we figure out what's for dinner? I can't wait to see what you cook for me tonight." The statement was accented with a playful wink that made Elsa's heart skip a beat.
With a timid curve of her luscious red lips, the platinum blonde agreed. "Okay." No way, she thought, no way Anna will go out with Hans.
A/N: Chapter three is done and will be released on time. Thanks :)