NOTES: Some of you have probably been wondering where the Elsanna truly starts to kick in. Well...
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
"It's been so nice, Punzie." Anna smiled to herself as she leaned against a tree. It was a little later in the evening, the kids passed off to the care of the older deans so the younger counselors could have the rest of the night to themselves. Elsa told Anna that she had to help in the cafeteria, so she wandered about in search of Rapunzel to keep her company. Having found her, they began to chat about recent events. "It really feels… like we're sisters again and it's been wonderful."
"That's so good to hear," Rapunzel glowed, laying a hand on Anna's arm. "I mean, yeah, I was pretty worried, but… wow. She really came around."
"She did." It was the perfect evening; warm but not hot, with just enough of a chill breeze to keep the bugs away without being too much. The sun hadn't begun to set just yet, so Anna was basking in the warmth of the rays, sighing and closing her eyes. Upon feeling her friend's hand on her arm, she opened her eyes with a grin. "So how did your phone call with Flynn go last night?"
Warming to the subject, she gushed, "Well… he says he's been wanting to kiss me for a while now. He was just afraid I wouldn't want to! So… so we're going to try it when camp is over." Her cheeks were bunching from the sheer force of her giddy grin.
"That's wonderful," Anna congratulated, pleased to see her friend so happy. "What are your plans after we're done here?"
"I just told you," she whispered conspiratorially, and they both giggled. "For serious, though… I'm in at NYU, but Flynn isn't, so I signed up for a local college for the first year. Like, New York would be cool, but being away from him would so not. A whole other country, y'know?"
"Yeah I feel you," Anna grinned. "I wouldn't want to leave my significant other, either. Heck, just thinking about being away from Elsa again after this upsets me! I don't know how you would be able to part with Flynn."
She didn't like thinking about that fact. In three weeks, she and Elsa would be separated again and even though Anna knew Elsa wouldn't ignore her anymore, the thought that her mother might pull another stunt made her heart clench painfully in her chest. She already felt like she was going through a withdrawal if she was away from Elsa for more than an hour; she didn't want to think about being an entire two day's journey away from her.
"Gosh… you really missed her, huh?" Rapunzel breathed in wonder. "I wish I had a sibling like that. Maybe… maybe you can go to the same university! Wouldn't that be the grooviest?"
Despite using a word like "grooviest", Anna perked up at the suggestion. "I didn't think about that," she said excitedly. "Punzie! You're a genius!" Sure, Anna would have to plan such a spontaneous decision but the more she thought about it, the more eager she grew until she was practically buzzing with excitement to tell Elsa the wonderful idea.
"Right! And I mean, I can tell you're super smart, so wherever Elsa's going, you can probably get into that school, or at least one of the ones nearby — like, don't all the major cities have a few unis?" Getting caught up in Anna's fervor, Rapunzel even hopped up and down a little, her tiny braids flopping all over. "Geeze Louise, I wish I could go to a school with a sibling! It's like having a built-in friend!"
"A built-in friend whose life goal is to be as annoying as possible." Anna smiled at Rapunzel's shared enthusiasm and it made her heart feel warm and pleasant as she relaxed more against the tree. It had been a long time since Anna had felt so content and happy, and she relished the feeling. "I'll think of something."
"Good, good," she replied with a wide grin. "And I dunno if you meant you or Elsa is 'annoying as possible,' but I hope it's not you! Since I kinda disagree."
"Thanks," Anna giggled, "but it's a two way street; as her sister I have permission to irritate her just as much as she does me." 'Not that Elsa could ever actually annoy me anymore…' She let out a blissful sigh.
"Do you, really?"
That wasn't Rapunzel talking. When Anna's eyes opened again, it was to see Elsa standing there, hands on hips and a playful smirk on her soft-looking lips. Anna grinned brightly up at her.
"Of course, that's how it works," she chirped, walking over to give Elsa a hug. "I thought you said you were busy? That didn't take very long."
"I was just setting something up." She nodded at Rapunzel and said, "Hey."
Rapunzel cleared her throat and waved. "H-hi. Um… so, you're Anna's sister? That's pretty cool."
"Yeah," Elsa snorted, and Rapunzel looked both relieved and chagrined at the same time. "It's the coolest. Do you mind if I borrow said sister for a little while? I have something I want to show her."
"Huh? Oh, sure, yeah! Go for it, do whatever!"
Anna tilted her head curiously and purposely ignored the horde of butterflies that suddenly invaded her stomach. "I'll talk to you later, Punzie," she said to her friend, though her eyes never left Elsa as she said it. "Don't do anything I wouldn't!"
"Oh, don't worry, I don't do anything," Rapunzel laughed with a little wave as the sisters moved off together.
Elsa wouldn't answer Anna's repeated questions as she led her across the campgrounds, a little way into the trees. She just pulled her along by her hand, ducking under branches and climbing over fallen logs, until she pulled her into a small clearing.
"Dinner is served," she breathed over her shoulder at Anna with a small smile.
The red-haired sister gasped at the picnic spread, forgiving Elsa instantly for the secrecy and unexpected hike at the sight of all the treats and delicious food scattered across the blanket. It was protected by a bug net, a nice bit of foresight that was so like Elsa that it made Anna's heart soar with love.
"How did you manage all this?" she asked.
"The pastors and camp directors adore me." Walking over to sit at the edge of the blanket, she quickly shucked her hiking boots before folding her legs under herself, facing the spread. Anna followed Elsa's lead, taking off her shoes before settling down across from her. The smell of the food was delightful and Anna's stomach growled loudly. "Didn't take much, and I worked with what they already had in the kitchens."
"Is this why you told me not to eat lunch?" she questioned her sister, taking in the beautiful view. There was an abundance of flowers in the meadow Elsa had chosen and from what Anna could tell, they would have a perfect view of the sun once it began to set. It was a beautiful sight and Anna's grin stretched all the wider. "This is so beautiful, Elsa, how on earth did you find this place?"
Smiling as she began to open a couple of the containers, she responded, "Stumbled across it last year. I'm… well, you might have noticed I don't spend a lot of time with the other counselors. Aurora and I have a grudging respect, but beyond that, everyone else steers clear." Realising she was complaining a lot, she let out a self-conscious little laugh. "S-sorry."
Anna tilted her head and smiled sympathetically. "Hey, it's okay." She rested her hand on Elsa's arm briefly. "I'm sorry you never got along with anyone… but you have me now." Then she pulled her hand away and chuckled awkwardly, the butterflies having intensified at the contact. Instead she focused on the food, taking a plate and starting to load it up. "This smells great, did you make it all?"
"Y-yes. You remember how good a cook Mama was. I know she was starting to teach both of us, but when… well, after that, I got all of the focus." Sitting another container close to Anna, she then said, "Where was I? Oh! I was just going to say that I had a lot of free time to walk around in the woods. Found this spot one weekend afternoon when I had nothing else to do."
"It's lovely," Anna said, placing her plate down once it was full and handing the second plate to Elsa. "All of this is wonderful, Elsa; thank you so much for sharing this with me."
Boldly, she leaned in and planted a kiss at the corner of Elsa's mouth, ignoring the way her whole body overheated and her mind screamed how inappropriate the gesture was. The blonde blinked in surprise, then smiled very shyly, staring down at her hands as the smile highlighted her pink cheeks.
"You're welcome. I just… I wanted to start making up for lost time."
Elsa was so cute and Anna beamed and blushed faintly at the bashful expression on her face. "Well then! Let's dig in!" she exclaimed, eager to dig into the food. The first bite made her hum in contentment. "Is this Mom's butter chicken recipe?" she asked in bliss. It was one of her favourite dishes as a child and the taste was almost identical to how she remembered it.
"You know it!" Elsa laughed, cheeks still tinged with pink as she began to fill her own plate. "That was the only thing that was hard to make happen, since they had to let me actually work in the kitchen instead of just taking a few things from the pantry."
It took all of her willpower not to devour the entire thing right then and there. Instead she forced herself to eat slowly, savouring every bite and enjoying the presence of her sister across from her. A few times, Anna had to hold back a soft noise as a particularly savoury morsel hit her tongue.
And Elsa spent a lot of time casting affectionate glances over at her as she more delicately consumed her own food. Shy and awkward as she was acting, she was clearly beyond thrilled to be there with her, and had gone to so much trouble to set up the picnic in the woods.
It was pleasant and there was even something kind of romantic about the whole thing — a private picnic in a beautiful clearing during a sunset. Anna watched as the rays of the dying sun bathed her sister in a glow, her hair looking especially brilliant under the golden rays. The same feeling that seized her at the beach overwhelmed her now, leaving her breathless and her thoughts reeling at just how breathtaking and wonderful Elsa was.
"I love you," slipped out before Anna could stop it.
Of course, all Elsa did was look up from her butter tart and smile serenely over at Anna. "I love you, too. What was that for?"
Anna blushed intensely. "I- I just thought you should know." She covered up the slip like it was intentional and gave Elsa a sheepish grin. "I mean- I need to catch up on all those times I missed the opportunity."
"Well, I can't argue with that logic." She took a bite of her tart, but she continued to watch Anna while she chewed. Then she gently prodded, "But I think there's more on your mind than just that."
"N-Nonsense," Anna chuckled nervously and took a bite of her meal, cursing herself inwardly; she needed to work harder on keeping those kinds of thoughts to herself. "I- I just missed you, that's all."
A playful smile flitted across Elsa's face. "I see. Then maybe I shouldn't sit so far away." Popping the rest of her dessert into her mouth, she brushed off her hands and moved a couple of things, then sat herself down a bare inch or two on Anna's left.
Her whole body tingled as Elsa settled down comfortably beside her, so close that their skin would brush when one of them breathed. Anna got a clear view of Elsa's slender throat as she swallowed the treat she had popped into her mouth, followed by what Anna's feverish brain could've sworn was a slightly flirty smile. It took Anna several seconds to remember how to breathe.
"T-This works," she managed to get out, nerve endings frazzled when Elsa placed a gentle hand on her arm.
"Are you sure everything's alright?" Elsa breathed, quietly, intimately from how close they were. "You still seem nervous, or distracted… something."
"D-Does it seem a little hot to you?" Anna asked, resisting the urge to fan herself as she avoided the question. Not because she was intentionally keeping things from Elsa but because she honestly didn't know why she was so nervous. It was a warzone in her head, part of her wanting to back off from her sister for space and the ability to regain her breath while the other wanted to pull Elsa closer still and never let her go.
'Why do I feel like this so often? Elsa's just being a big sister like I always wanted, but why am I always making it weird?'
"Maybe," the blonde whispered with a shy smile. Her clear blue eyes kept flicking between Anna's half-open, panting mouth and the rise and fall of her chest. An index finger that rested on Anna's forearm began to trace tiny circles, of its own accord. Then she chuckled and added in a faux-suggestive tone, "Or maybe it's just you, eh?"
That finger was being awfully distracting. Anna bit down hard on her lower lip and tried to keep her tremors to a minimum. She cleared her throat, the blush hot on her face. "Y-yeah, might just be me."
When she heard the way Anna spoke, saw the blush on her face, Elsa's smile began to fade. Her eyebrows knitted and she simply stared down at her, not moving away or flinching back. Curious and confused, and still impossibly near.
'God, she's even more beautiful up close.' Her large eyes were like the arctic glaciers, flecked with shades of an even lighter blue that were enchanting to stare into. Her flawless, snowy skin marred by a faint dusting of freckles across her adorable nose. The platinum hair Anna loved so much looked so soft and silky, and Anna wanted nothing more than to run her fingers through it. Every twitch of Elsa's muscles, every small breath and blink were noticeable.
Anna's eyes widened as the realization hit her like a ton of bricks. As all the confusion and conflict over the last week became crystal clear, even if the clarity brought her no peace.
'Fuck my stupid ass. I'm in love with Elsa.'
To Be Continued...