Elsa didn't talk to Hans for a few days over embarrassment that he had to rescue her. He called and texted but she ignored them. Finally, she gave in when he called her one evening.
"Elsa Grace, what's going on? Are you sick?" he asked, with concern in his voice.
"No, Hans, I'm okay. Why? What's up?" she asked.
"Els, you've gotta get down here right now. Kristoff had his surgery, and he wanted to see you- Well, he...just come over. I'll pick you up, okay?"
"Okay, I'll be waiting."
She hung up and grabbed a sweater to put on. Hans arrived and picked her up. They drove but Hans didn't bring up anything about Kristoff or why she had to come over so suddenly. Once they arrived, they headed downstairs to Hans' room.
Elsa noticed Kristoff wearing dark shades and was hanging his head.
Oh, no...
"Hey, Kris, Elsa's here." Hans said, putting a hand at Kristoff's shoulder.
Kristoff didn't even turn his head.
"Hey, Elsa." Kristoff mumbled.
"Kristoff...you had your surgery?" she asked.
He nodded.
"Did something...happen?" she asked, sitting beside him.
Kristoff remained silent, but Hans spoke for him.
"Anna walked into the operating room after the surgery, and was heartbroken when she realized Kris was completely blind." Hans explained.
"I was only supposed to be partially blind, but..." Kristoff paused.
"But, the cancer's out, right?" Elsa asked.
"And...the girlfriend." Hans said.
Elsa gasped. "What?"
Kristoff shook his head. "She couldn't handle it...she just couldn't...couldn't handle me being...a BLIND FREAK!"
Kristoff stood up and stomped around the room. Elsa began to panic, but Hans just watched as if he was used to it.
"ALWAYS! ALWAYS!" Kristoff mocked.
"Hey, Kristoff, if you need to feel better, just break something." Hans suggested.
"Yeah, right, right! You got anything?" Kristoff asked, feeling for something.
Hans stood up and handed him a trophy.
"Here, it's when I was in archery. I always hated it, anyway. Go on."
Kristoff thanked him and threw it across the room. It broke into several pieces making Elsa jump a bit. Hans sat back down next to her and sighed.
"Will he..be okay?" she asked, gesturing to Kristoff.
"Hmm? Yeah, he'll be okay." Hans replied.
"I can't believe Anna would do that." Elsa said, still shocked.
"ALWAYS!" Kristoff yelled, throwing another trophy.
"So, about that book you let me borrow...please, tell me it's missing another chapter or something." Hans said, smiling.
"You liked it?" Elsa gasped.
"Yeah, I did. Hey, have you ever tried contacting the author?" Hans asked.
"ALWAYS! ALWAYS!"
"Well, no. He hasn't been heard from in a long time. I've written him so many letters, but he's never responded to them." Elsa sighed.
"ALWAYS, HUH? ALWAYS!"
"Where'd he go?" Hans asked.
"Amsterdam." Elsa replied.
"ALWAYS!"
Kristoff was out of breath and took a seat. Elsa giggled a bit and Hans patted him on the back.
"Hey, Els? You think you can cool it off in here?" Kristoff asked.
Hans nudged him hard, making him gasp and cover his mouth with both hands.
"Oh! I am so sorry about that! I didn't mean-"
"It's okay, Kristoff. I should be going, anyway." Elsa said, standing up.
Hans took her hand and sat her down.
"No, no! Elsa, listen to me, okay? We're not going to tell anyone about your...ability." Hans said.
"I'm sorry...but I can't...I can't see you anymore. It's better this way." Elsa said, nearly crying.
"You don't trust me?" Hans asked.
Elsa shut her eyes and sighed. She shook her head and looked at him. He seemed truly concerned, but she knew better.
"My powers are dangerous, guys. I don't want to hurt you. Understand?" Elsa asked.
"Crystal clear, Els." Kristoff said.
"No." Hans said.
"What?" Elsa and Kristoff asked.
"I'm not going to let you walk out on us because you're different. We'll manage, right, Kristoff?" Hans asked.
"What?...Oh! Yeah, yeah! Don't worry, Elsa. We're here for you." Kristoff said, taking Hans' hand.
Hans smacked Kristoff's hand, making him wince.
"Oh, sorry, Hans." Kristoff said, turning to Elsa.
"We're here for you." Kristoff repeated.
Elsa smiled and decided to give them a chance. She was tired of being alone and isolating herself. Now, she had two friends that cared for her.
"So, now what? Who's up for some pizza?" Hans asked.
#
Elsa sat at the dinner table and texted Hans. They had been talking all day, and she just couldn't find it in herself to end the conversation. Hans claimed he had a surprise for her. Suddenly, her phone rang, as she laid in bed.
"Yeah?" she asked.
"I'm finding myself reading the book again. We need closure, don't we?" Hans asked.
Elsa sighed. "What we need is a sequel."
"Yeah, we need to know what happens to Anna's family after she dies."
"I know. I actually tried asking Van Houten, the author, for in my letters. He never wrote me back. Not even once."
Suddenly, Hans began to read something to her.
"Dear, Mr. Hans Waters, I am writing to thank you for your electronic response received this 6th of April."
Elsa sat up. No...way...
"I am grateful to anyone who sets aside the time to read my book..." he continued.
"Hans!" she squealed.
"I got ahold of his assistant. I e-mailed her and she must've forwarded my e-mail to him." he explained.
Elsa was speechless.
"Shall I continue?" he asked, smiling.
"Keep reading!" she nearly screamed.
"To answer your question: No, I have not written anything else, nor will I. I do not feel that continuing to share my thoughts with readers would benefit either them or me. However thank you again for your generous email. Yours most sincerely, Peter Van Houten."
"OH MY-! Wait, you're trolling me, aren't you?" she asked, frowning.
"Why would I do that? could I, with my meager intellectual capabilities, make up a letter from the great Peter Van Houten?" Hans asked, with a smirk.
"Goodness gracious me...Would you mind...maybe-"
He smiled. "Check you inbox, girl."
Elsa jumped up and hurried to her laptop. She opened it and quickly read her new e-mail. Then, she sought to reply.
#
After several days of typing her reply and reading it to herself a hundred times, she shared it with Hans, as they talked on the phone.
"Not too bad, sweetcheeks." he said, nodding.
"You think?" she asked.
"I know. You're way overthinking this, trust me." he said.
Elsa smiled and glanced at her watch. "Is it really one in the morning?"
Hans checked his watch. "Guess so."
"I should get some sleep." she said, with a yawn.
"Okay..." Hans said.
"Okay..." Elsa said.
Elsa stayed on the line, waiting for him to hang up. He didn't. He was waiting for her to hang up.
"Okay." he said.
She giggled.
"Perhaps 'okay' will be our always...?" he asked.
Elsa smiled. "Okay."
"Okay."
"Okay.
Finally, Hans hung up and smiled to himself. Elsa put her phone by her bed and tucked herself in. Then, she had a sudden thought.
Could Hans Waters have a crush on me?
She turned in her bed and thought about it.
Nah.