"So, where are you taking me?"
Anna opened the passenger side of Elsa's car and slid in with her backpack on her lap. She opened it up and searched through it before pulling out a Chapstick. She quickly applied it, threw it back in, and lifted her bag to toss it in the backseat. Unfortunately, her bag proved to be heavier and bulkier than she thought and it ended up whacking her sister on its way.
Anna let out an apologetic gasp as Elsa rubbed the side of her head. "I am so sorry! Are you okay?"
Elsa let out a small groan followed by a snort. "I'm fine. Geez, what do you have in there, bricks?"
Anna sighed as she buckled up. "Feels like it some times. Just books. Really heavy books."
Elsa turned on the ignition and shifted the gear. She pulled out of her space and made her way out of the student parking. Anna took to playing with the radio. Elsa inwardly sighed at her sister's inability to choose a station but let her continue as she focused her attention on the road instead. Finally, Anna settled with a country station and turned her attention over to her sister.
"You never answered my question." She stated with a smile.
Elsa thought briefly and then remembered what her sister asked when she first got in the car. She let a sly smile grace her features. "Anna, what part of 'it's a surprise' do you not understand?"
Anna crossed her arms below her chest and switched her focus to the road in front. "Can't blame me for being curious."
Elsa nodded. "Yes, curiosity has been one of your strong suits." She said with teasing in her voice.
Anna noticed the tone and smiled sheepishly. "Heh, what can I say? I like to be in the know."
Elsa laughed as she took a hand off the wheel and turned the radio up a few notches. Anna perked up.
"I love this song! I didn't know you liked country."
Elsa gave a small shrug. "I'm not a big fan of rap or the loud pop that's playing around. I enjoy classical music, but even I can't listen to that all the time. I'm not a huge fan of all country though."
Anna beamed with a smile and Elsa wasn't entirely sure why. When she glanced over at her sister, Anna saw the confusion. "I just like finding out something about you I didn't know."
Elsa was caught off guard at the statement but soon gave a small smile to the compliment. The ride took no longer than fifteen minutes and Anna found themselves getting off the highway to drive along some backroads, tall trees on either side of them. Soon Elsa pulled into a small parking lot off the side of the road, the lot being sand and gravel rather than pavement. Anna looked up and read the sign hanging above.
"Oaken's Ice Rink," Anna's grin became wide as she faced her sister. "We're going ice skating?!"
"Yep." Elsa exclaimed as she got out of the car.
Anna excitedly went to get out forgetting she never unbuckled her seatbelt. She was pulled back and let out a grunt. Elsa hid her laughter behind her hand as Anna gave a small blush and fumbled for the button to release the restraining device. Once out she bounded towards the entrance as Elsa calmly walked behind her.
"You're acting as if you've never done this before."
Anna spun around to face her sister. "Not since we were kids! That was, what, almost ten years ago?"
"You mean you haven't skated since you were eight?" Elsa asked with disbelief. "You loved skating. I was sure you would've at least went one time through the years."
Anna stared down at the floor with embarrassment. "I only liked doing it with you. Who else would try and break my fall as I barreled into them?"
Elsa was touched and slipped an arm around her sister in a side hug. Anna intertwined her arm with her sister's and the girls walked into the rink arm in arm. Both headed up to the counter where Elsa slipped her arm out from Anna's to grab her wallet from her purse.
"Yoohoo." The man at the desk greeted. He waved his fingers in a friendly hello and then moved his hand back together with his other one. The finger tips brushed against each other as the palms of his hands remained apart.
"Anna, what size shoe are you?" Elsa asked as she rummaged through her pocketbook for the evading wallet.
Anna turned her gaze over to the man at the counter. He held a welcoming, wide smile and sported a mustache than ran and connected to his sideburns. He wore a sweater with an intricate design and matching winter hat on his head. His eyes were wide with expectancy as he waited for her answer.
"Oh. Um, I'm usually around a size six or six-and-a-half."
The man smiled as he turned around and fetched two pairs of skates. He placed them on the counter as Elsa handed him the cash.
"Thanks, Oaken."
Oaken smiled as he handed Elsa back her change. "No problem, dear." He said in a thick Swedish accent.
Elsa grabbed her skates and Anna followed behind her. She led them over to a small bench and sat down as she began to undo the laces. Anna situated herself next to her sister and began to try and undo her knots as well.
"I didn't hear you tell him your shoe size." She said with interest as she dealt with a particularly stubborn knot.
"I come here often." Elsa answered offhandedly.
"Often enough for you to know the owner." Anna stated with a scrunched up face, getting very annoyed with the knot.
Elsa slid her foot into a skate and began to tightly tie the laces together. "Everyone knows Oaken. He may be the owner, but he works almost everyday. He's very friendly and not many people realize who he is till he introduces himself."
Elsa slipped her other skate on and stood up ready to hit the ice. She glanced down to see Anna tying up her first skate. She knelt down and grabbed her hands.
"Not like that." She instructed as she redid the laces for her. "You have to tighten them really snug. Otherwise your skate could get too loose and cause you to fall or even injure your ankle."
Elsa expertly finished up the laces with a nice looking bow. Anna watched with a content smile, liking the attention her sister was giving her. Anna repeated her ministrations on her other skate, earning a nod of approval once she was finished. She stood up and tested out the feel of the skates. She took a step forward and began to sway to the side. Elsa grabbed her upper arm and helped steady her.
"This is harder than it looks." She said with a laugh.
"You get used to the feel."
Elsa walked over to the small entrance leading onto the rink and stepped through. She shimmied over to the side to let Anna enter. As soon as her skates hit the ice she immediately lost her balance and began to flail her arms around as she tried to get it back. Elsa reached out a hand to help but Anna headed over to the rail with some difficulty.
"I think I'm going to stick to the side." She decided as she watched all the others skate past her with ease.
Elsa slid over in front of her. She grabbed Anna's hands and began to skate backwards guiding her along.
"Come on, you can do it." She said with a giggle.
Anna joined in with a laugh of her own as her sister pulled her for a few feet. Elsa gave her a small twirl and let her come to stop in front of her. Anna giggled all the while. She repositioned her hands so they were grasping Elsa's tightly as she looked at her with excitement.
"I got it, I got it," Anna felt her foot slide from underneath her. "I don't got it, I don't got it!"
She leaned her weight on her sister while she tried to get her balance back. Elsa's grip remained firm as she held her clumsy sister up. Both were laughing joyfully. Elsa tugged her along and soon let go as Anna kept her arms outstretched but managed to remain upright. Elsa opened her arms.
"See, you're doing it!"
Anna let out a cry of success. "I am!"
The two continued along at Anna's pace, Elsa not minding in the slightest. Anna observed her sister and noticed how she glided on the ice with grace and ease.
"How often did you exactly come here?"
Elsa stopped short and faced Anna. She tried to stop beside Elsa but kept going and would've passed her had Elsa not extended her arm and grabbed her. Elsa pulled her over to the side and let her rest on the rail. She wrung her hands together and looked unsure.
"I don't know where to begin. It's a long story."
Anna smiled encouragingly. "We have time."
Elsa appreciated Anna's interest and concern and leaned her back on the sidewall. She clasped her hands together and looked down at the ice.
"Well, I guess this all started my sophomore year. During a particularly hard and stressful week I...well, I lost it."
Elsa looked up to see Anna with a questionable look on her face. "Lost it how?"
"I got so stressed that I threw my books and papers off my desk, got in my car, and just drove. Tired of seeing building after building I got off the highway and drove the backroads, no destination in mind. I drove past this ice rink and made a quick U-turn. I don't know, I was just drawn to it. Even I'm not sure why."
Elsa motioned her hands around the rink.
"It's small, old, and I wouldn't say run-down but it definitely isn't as modern. In fact not many people even notice since the outside kind of blends in with the surroundings. I rented some skates and just started skating. It made me feel free and like nothing else mattered."
Elsa smiled at the memory and let out a content sigh.
"I started coming whenever my workload got too stressful and soon I was coming at least once a week. I became a regular and got to know Oaken and the employees. It's become kind of like my little sanctum."
Anna pulled her sister in a tight hug. Elsa was surprised at first but returned the embrace happily. The hug didn't last long though because Anna fell down and dragged Elsa with her. She let out a surprised shriek as she landed next to her sister, each lightly grabbing the other's arm. They stared at each other dumbfounded before bursting into laughter. Elsa hoisted herself up and offered Anna her hand. She waited until her laughter subsided before taking the assistance. Pulling her up Elsa and Anna stared fondly at each other. The red-head squeezed Elsa's hand.
"Thanks for letting me in. It means a lot you invited me to your sanctum."
Elsa opened her mouth to reply but was interrupted.
"Elsa!"
The two turned to see a rather large blonde man skate up to them. He wore hockey skates and a bright orange vest, a sign he was one of the workers. He held up a hand in greeting.
"Hey, how you been?"
"I've been doing well. And you?"
"I'm doing good."
The man's gaze landed on the girl standing next to Elsa. Anna was still holding her hand and seemed to freeze when his eyes landed on her. She could tell from their dialogue that her sister knew him, but couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by his size.
"Who's this?" He asked as he nodded his head at Anna.
Elsa put on a smile as she released her hand from Anna's and put it on her back, presenting her sister.
"This is my little sister, Anna. Anna, this is Kristoff, he works here at the rink."
Anna snapped out of her stupor and extended her hand. "Nice to meet you."
Kristoff shook her hand with his gloved one. "Same."
He retracted and crossed his arms, seeming to examine her. Anna felt herself blush under his gaze, beginning to feel a little awkward.
"So, you're the famous Anna. With the amount of time Elsa talks about you I was wondering when I would meet you."
Anna blinked with a blank look on her face before turning to Elsa.
"You talk about me?" It wasn't accusative, more surprised than anything else.
"Of course." She answered without hesitation. "You're my sister."
Anna's blush deepened.
"So, what are you ladies up to today?"
Anna wrapped herself around her sister's arm. "Bonding!" She said enthusiastically.
"Oh, then I'll leave you two to it. Good to see you again, Elsa," He gave her a nod and turned to Anna, flashing her a toothy grin, "Nice meeting you, Anna."
Kristoff started to skate off. Before Anna even realized what she was doing she turned and shouted his name. Kristoff stopped and swiveled to face her. Anna stood still, not sure what to say next. She quickly shook it off.
"I mean, well, if you wanted to...of course don't feel like you have to-"
"Would you like to join us?" Elsa interrupted Anna's stuttering. She smiled at her sister who nodded in confirmation.
Kristoff took his hand and rubbed the back of his head with an apologetic smile. "Ah, that's real nice of you girls, but my shift doesn't end for another half hour. Not to mention I hafta clean the ice in about twenty minutes."
Anna's face fell a little. "Oh. Right. S-Sorry, should've figured. What with the vest and, you working, and, uh, well I-I'm sorry, I - Elsa, stop me,"
Elsa gracefully placed a hand over Anna's mouth, the end of hers tugging upward as she tried to suppress a smirk. Kristoff didn't hold back his.
"It's not a problem. I'm sure I'll see ya again." With that Kristoff skated off and turned around to give a final wave and smile. Once his back was facing the girls Elsa released her hand.
"Thank you." Anna said with an embarrassed laugh. "Well, that was...bad, wasn't it?"
Elsa shook her head. "Not at all. I think he found it endearing, just like I do." She replied with honesty.
Anna scoffed and waved a hand. "Please, I am the Queen of Awkwardness."
Anna was always one who spoke before thinking. She never let her awkwardness bother her before, or at least never let it show. Elsa realized that Anna was also letting her in with her insecurities, even if she didn't realize it.
She wrapped her sister in a comforting hug. "So what? Like I said, it's endearing and adorable. Besides, if you stopped staring at the ground long enough you would've noticed him smiling, and not in a making fun sort of way."
Anna blushed and tried to suppress it when her sister pulled away. "Well, if he's friends with you, then he's automatically friends with me. We're a packaged deal."
Elsa nodded with a wide smile. "We certainly are."
Anna gave one last squeeze before bracing the ice again, her sister right beside her. Anna looked over and smiled realizing that no matter what, her sister would always help her right back up if she fell.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: And here's Part II! I forgot to mention that this fic and the previous one take place around mid-September. The next one will focus more around the first two weeks of December.
As always, PLEASE REVIEW! :D