Chapter 10 - You're not running away from this, Elsa
Elsa stood stiffly as Anna, an uncontrollable ball of energy was quite literally hurling her whole vocabulary at her parents. Why did she ever believe letting Anna talk at all would be a smart decision?
"So you see my parents do this awesome camping trip every year and it's more than just camping its hiking and adventure and surviving in the wilderness. It'll just be a week and it'll fly by, not that I'd want it to be over quickly - I really don't! A friend was supposed to come with us and we already have the pass and the equipment and the tent but she dropped out so I really thought Elsa would like to come. She hardly gets out of this stuffy house - your house isn't stuffy! That was the wrong word. Your house is lovely! It's just big and empty - I mean well decorated!"
Elsa held a hand to her head. Anna always rambled when she was nervous and today she seemed to be worse than ever. Elsa had stopped listening to the ramblings as she focused on catching Anna take a pause to breathe. It took far longer than it should have.
"What Anna is trying to say," Elsa finally slipped in, "is it's not just a holiday. It's an extracurricular activity in which I'll be given an award at the end. It will look good on my CV. I understand that my position affords me the luxury of not requiring a CV but I'd like to try. I can't inherit the company without standing on my own feet first."
Elsa held her head high and looked her parents in the eye. She could see their reluctance. Iduna turned to Agnarr and placed her hand on his shoulder. The pair shared a short and hushed conversation.
"It'll be good for her."
"Can we really trust her to be okay alone?"
Elsa held her breath as she listened to the muffled whispers. Was this actually working?
Seeming to have come to a decision, her parents turned back to face her and Elsa straightened to face them.
"One week." Agnarr nodded to his daughter betraying no emotion. Elsa didn't need to see Anna to know she was almost bouncing off the walls beside her.
"Thank you, Father, Mother." Elsa suppressed all excitement and anxiety as she kept her composed and formal mask present before her parents. Only when she had been dismissed and they were back in Elsa's bedroom did she finally relax and smile.
"This is so exciting!" Anna squeaked. Her energy was infectious.
"It is," Elsa agreed as she watched her best friend hunt around her room for suitable clothes.
Usually at the moment when Elsa was about to do something big without her parent's protection her stomach would be twisting and turning in fear and anxiety. One slip up with her powers could cost her everything. She let out a happy sigh as she watched Anna. She didn't understand why but being around her just made everything feel right.
"You really have so many dresses. Don't you have any real clothes in here?" Anna called from the large walk-in wardrobe. "I'm pretty certain this is bigger than my room!" She added as clothes came flying out.
Elsa dodged as a dress flew past her face.
"Do you always have to make such a mess?" Elsa evaded a shoe as she inched closer.
"It's mandatory! Especially since I can't find anything you can hike in under all of these fancy clothes. You literally have more clothes than my whole family put together!" Anna seemed to pause at that and Elsa saw the cogs turning in her mind.
"Maybe we need a shopping trip first -"
"No we are not going shopping."
"Oh come on! We can ditch your babysitter and have fun. There is a cinema and bowling alley there too."
Elsa held a hand to her head again as if that helped her to think straight. When she opened her eyes Anna was impossibly close to her. She could count each one of those adorable freckles dusted on her cheeks. Her eyes lazily trailed up her cheekbone and were captured by Anna's teal gaze. Elsa blushed.
"Fine!" She exhaled a breath that she didn't even know she was holding. She needed to put some distance between herself and Anna before her thoughts wandered too much. It was at that moment the gravity of spending a whole week cramped into a tent with Anna really hit her. They'd have sleeping bags right beside each other no doubt. Her parents would be there, which Elsa wasn't sure whether that was a positive or negative. Either way she'd be in Anna's continuous company for the longest time in their lives. ...And she could barely keep herself grounded for an afternoon. I need to stop thinking. I really need to stop thinking. Elsa took slow and deep breaths as Anna continued to pack her bag.
"Perfect! And afterwards you can stay at mine. We'll be leaving at an ungodly hour so it makes sense." Anna's smile lit up the room.
Elsa sighed in defeat. It was a happy defeat though.
"My parents will probably ground me after this, you know that right? They approved the camping but just taking off, going shopping and then spending the night at yours? They will lose it." But for reasons Elsa couldn't pinpoint she wasn't afraid.
Maybe I've absorbed Anna's carefree and bold attitude by some sort of weird osmosis. Maybe my powers can do that. Elsa mused at the thought of it as she helped Anna pack the rest of what she'd need on their trip.
Slinging the bag across her shoulder, the pair crept out of her room and headed through the manor house. It was only when Elsa reached the front door did a voice catch her off guard.
"Miss Arendelle, your parents are expecting you for afternoon tea in 30 minutes." Kai reminded her from across the hall. Elsa took a breath to steel herself before turning to face him, her unyielding mask in place.
"Kai. Please inform my parents that I will be staying at Miss Summer's tonight. I'll be home in a week." Elsa instructed him with all the poised confidence her father possessed.
"Your father will not approve."
"I do not need my father's approval for everything. Tell him I'll be home safe... And..." she hesitated, "tell him I love him," She added with all the strength she could muster. She rarely gave in to displays of emotion but she hoped it would be enough to placate her parents.
With that Elsa turned on her heel and marched from the manor.
"Miss Summers?" Anna smirked once they were outside. "Do you always call me Miss Summers to the staff?"
"Sometimes." Elsa shrugged while smiling back. She tossed her bag into the backseat of the ice blue convertible BMW and jumped into the driver's seat.
"Are you ready, Miss Summers?" She teased as she turned on the ignition.
"More than ready, Miss Arendelle," Anna played along with a twinkle in her eye as they took off down the long driveway.
Anna was still tipsy from the drink but the cold night air was sobering her up more quickly than she wanted. It meant she was able to analyse her rash argument more rationally and it was something she really didn't want to face. Walking out was stupid but she wouldn't let herself regret it. She was supposed to be being patient with Elsa and here she was flying off the rails after one rejection. She considered going back and apologising but stopped herself. As petty as it was she wanted Elsa to go through the worry of watching someone she cared about walk out on her. That's assuming she does actually care. Fleeting thoughts drifted back to the snow globe. She does care. She is holding back. Coming to that conclusion made it no less frustrating.
She dialled Kristoff's number as she walked aimlessly though the streets. She needed someone to talk to. Or better yet someone to talk to her so she could stop thinking about Elsa.
"Hey Feisty."
Anna smiled through the tears. Just hearing a friendly voice was comforting.
"Anna?" He said seriously when she didn't respond.
"Sorry, I'm here. I just wanted someone to talk to. So erm, how are you doing?" She asked as she walked.
A brief pause. "...You're upset," he noted, voice laced with concern.
"Yeah, rejection is a bitch, huh?"
"Oh, Anna," he said in pity. "Where are you now?"
"I'm okay. I'm going to check into a hotel." When I find one. Anna looked up and down the dimly lit street. She had no idea where she was, not that she cared. Her feet continued moving and she carried on.
"Good. Are you sure you don't want me to come pick you up now?"
"It's late. You'd literally spend your entire night driving, but thank you. I'll catch the train back in a few days."
"Not giving up then?"
She could practically see him grinning as he spoke.
"You know me, a sucker for punishment," she said lightly as she paused at traffic lights. She kept her eyes peeled for speeding cars this time around. "So, anyway. Tell me how things are with you," she made small talk. Anything to stop thinking about what was happening in her life.
"I'm still doing my part time internship at Weselton Pharmaceuticals. They've got me helping out on some research projects. It's mostly just the leg work: looking after cell cultures, checking in every day and taking recordings but all of the data I collect will be in a paper one day. It's really exciting. You know I could put the good word in for you. They are thinking of taking another few students on."
"I'd never make it through the interview process," Anna sighed. Not only that her grades just weren't good enough. The competition for an internship there would be unreal. That sort of experience could set up a career.
"Well, I'll mention your name anyway. Apply for it when the adverts go out and put me down in the referral section."
Anna zoned out from Kristoff's talking as her eye caught a familiar figure across the street. Without realising it she had drifted from the housing estates into a more built up shopping district. And over the road Hans was smiling back at her.
You said you weren't going to do this to him. Or yourself. She closed her eyes. When she looked up again he was gone. She breathed a sigh of relief. Having to explain this mess to Hans really wasn't what she needed.
"Sorry Kristoff, I zoned out," she apologised to him.
"Hey, what are you doing out so late on your own?" Hans' concerned voice asked from behind her, making her almost jump out of her skin. Just how he had crossed the road so quickly and sneakily Anna would never know.
"I – I -"
"You okay, Anna?" Kristoff's voice buzzed from the phone.
"Sorry Kristoff, got to dash. I'll text you when I'm at my hotel." And at that Anna hung up.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. You looked lost," Hans said as he took Anna's chin in one hand. She flushed with a combination of nerves and embarrassment as he examined her face closely. "You've been crying. Is it Elsa again?" He asked flatly.
Anna bit her lip. Yes it is Elsa but you can't just tell everyone that. She paused mid-thought. Why can't I tell everyone that? The girl is being completely unfair... But bitching to her boss - I mean partner, is a horrible thing to do. But he is also my friend. Potentially more. No, don't even go there Anna. You fall in love with everyone after a few drinks. For once take Elsa's advice and try thinking about things when you're sober. You already made up your mind this morning. Why do you have to run to someone else every -
"- Anna?" Hans asked in concern. She snapped sharply out of her internal struggle. "I asked you if you wanted to stay in my spare room tonight."
Anna blinked. Taking no more than a second to process the offer she replied, "yes."
Elsa winced as Olaf knocked loudly to announce his entrance. She wanted to throttle him when he took those few extra seconds to open the door.
"Don't even bother. She's gone," Elsa grumbled as she sat gazing at Anna's half finished bottle of cider. She had been tempted to drink, and potentially do worse, on more than one occasion but the fear of unleashing her power with no inhibitions had always scared her more than easing her frozen heart. Even so, the idea of getting blind drunk and saying a big fuck you to the world was all too appealing at that very moment.
"What did you do?" Olaf popped the pizza boxes down before folding his arms. He gave Elsa one of those accusatory looks as if it couldn't have possibly been Anna's fault.
"It was what I didn't do which was the problem," Elsa replied, holding the bridge of her nose as she did. All of this was too much.
"Live in denial all you like but the moment she meets another person you'll going to regret letting her go. If she wants to be with you so badly you should respect her enough to trust her judgement."
It was everything Elsa did and didn't need to hear. It was true she never trusted Anna to make any decisions. Anna was too trusting and too naive.
"I'll think about it," Elsa didn't commit. She rose to her feet and walked to the door, grabbing her coat on the way.
"At least take a box of pizza with you. And call me when you find Anna. And again when you get in," he said as he handed her a box. Elsa hesitated but took it. She wanted to thank Olaf for his concern but she wasn't thankful. She was furious with him, with Anna and most of all with herself.
Anna wasn't surprised in the slightest when she walked into Hans' large apartment in the city centre. It was everything Elsa's wasn't: large, modern and expensive. His father co-founded Arendelle Corp. after all. He was rolling in it as much as Elsa was, or would have been if she accepted her parent's money.
"Just through here," Hans beckoned her down a hallway. A smile played on her lips as the automatic lights flicked on. Okay, so that is pretty damn cool. She admitted as Hans let her into a spare bedroom. "You can stay as long as you like. I don't want you going back to her if she's going to keep upsetting you."
Anna laughed nervously. How had she ended up in the lap of such a kind guy she'd never know. Any normal girl would be swooning over him. Maybe she was swooning just a little. "Things are just complicated. It's not just Elsa, I'm not helping things either," she jumped to Elsa's defence and immediately gave herself a mental telling off. Everything is not your fault, Anna. Stop telling everyone it is.
"Hey," Hans lifted her chin so she had to look into those green eyes. "You don't need to rush things."
Anna gazed up at him, caught in a whirlwind of conflict.
"I know what; my father is hosting his annual Winter Ball at his manor in a few days time. Why don't you come along?" He offered. "It'd be a good opportunity for you to meet new people and if nothing else the food and drink are always incredible."
Anna blinked. He was inviting her out again. She stopped herself from blurting out yes. This was exactly what she was trying to avoid. Then again she had just accepted to sleep in his spare room. If that wasn't sending mixed signals she didn't know what was. I am literally Elsa. She would have face-palmed if Hans wasn't standing so close. She just rejected you. Go to the party, get drunk and meet a princess.
"That sounds great, thank you."
When Elsa walked into work the following day she wasn't aware just how exhausted she looked.
"Christ, Elsa. Did you not get any sleep?" Olaf asked her in concern from across the desk.
She didn't reply. She sipped her coffee, hoping the triple shot of liquid caffeine would revive her. She had almost called in sick but being stuck in that apartment alone was enough to drive her insane.
Anna hadn't come home the previous night and she had spent much of it out looking for the innocent redhead. She'd phoned around hotels and hospitals, unable to shake the fear something terrible had befallen her. She checked her phone again. Still no response to her calls or messages. It was getting to the point where she was seriously considering calling her mother. As Anna's next of kin there was every chance her parent's would be informed if Anna was indeed admitted to hospital or picked up by the police. She gazed at her blank phone screen again. She still wasn't ready to face her parents.
You've made your point, Anna. I'm worried. I'm sorry. It was the last thing Elsa had sent her. What more could she say?
"Elsa, Oliver," Hans greeted them both with a wide smile.
"It's Olaf," the boy deadpanned.
"Right, Oscar. I was just coming to find out if you two were going to my father's ball. Your parents should have your invite," he told Elsa and then turned to Olaf. "But I'm not sure if I gave you one. Here, bring a nice lady." Hans handed him an invitation. Olaf tentatively took it.
"Oh, and Anna is okay by the way."
Elsa froze. She turned very slowly from her screen to face Hans.
"She stayed at mine last night. She'll be attending the ball as my guest," he said in a light and cheery tone.
Elsa wore no mask. Her face gave away all of her thoughts. Disapproval, irritation, mistrust; all of it was clear as day.
"Maybe I'll catch you both there." He didn't seem to take any notice. "See you later, Elsa, Otis."
Elsa sat stunned as he walked away. Olaf was halfway across the desk before the door had even closed.
"We're going, right?" He hissed.
Elsa spun back around slowly to meet Olaf's eye.
"Dammit Elsa, he is introducing Anna to his parents. You need to do something! Like show up and steal her back," he whispered.
He's taking Anna to a formal event. A formal event which my parents are invited to. Elsa closed her eyes to think. She couldn't just show up. She couldn't just steal her back -
"I'm signing us up," Olaf sat back.
Elsa looked up at him immediately, shaking her head slowly but his firm expression didn't change.
"You're not running away from this, Elsa. You're going to get out there and sort this even if I have to drag you out."