Before you say it, yes, this is a short chapter. It's just the way I write. I'm using this story to help me with my writing, but length of the chapters is a hard thing to tackle. I'm sorry everyone. I hope you do enjoy this though.
Rapunzel was asleep, her slender body stretched across the couch. One arm hung off the side of the piece of furniture while the other was rested on the Anna's head. The ginger was prone next to her cousin on the couch. Sleep never crossed her mind as she was preoccupied with thoughts of her injured father. Despite the flashes of the depressing images, no more tears fell. She cried herself out long ago. Anna just stared at the blank wall across the living room as she blocked out the sounds of Rapunzel's barely audible snoring.
"I should be with him," she tortured herself in thought. "What kind of daughter am I? He is such a loving, caring man. He gave me all he could even with money problems. Now he's in a hospital, and I'm still here."
Before her self-deprecation could continue, Anna was interrupted by a slow knock at the door. The sounds of firm knuckles tapping the front reinforced wooden door rang through the room. It had come as a shock when she eyed the clock hanging over the door that led to the kitchen. 2:36 a.m. A groan came from the brunette at Anna's side when she was awoken by the knock. She, too, glanced over to check the time. Her reaction, however, wasn't as peaceful.
"Who in their right mind would be here at two in the morning?!" Rapunzel said, volume rising with every word as she became more aware of the situation.
Anna ignored the brunette's justified complaints and push herself off the crowded couch. She began walking towards the door. It was legitimate question. Who would come knocking at this late hour? The ginger's mind rushed with possibilities. The one solution she came up with, even though it was highly unlikely, was that her father had miraculously healed and wanted to surprise his daughter. Trying to grasp ahold of reality, Anna pushed the improbable thought aside. She cautiously twisted the brass knob of the dark red door.
Hans ran his fingers through the auburn hair on his head in a repeated attempt to fix his already-well-kept style. Hans caressed the strands as he stood at the Williams' house porch. The young man took a deep breath. He lifted his left hand to the door while the other was concealed behind his back, hiding a box of chocolate confections. His hands hesitated to touch the red barrier between him and the girl he loved.
"You can do this, Hans. It's for Anna. Just apologize. You know you were wrong. Just admit it to her," he motivated himself.
He gingerly tapped his knuckles against the door three times.
The man's heart slowed with every second the door didn't open. He almost contemplated just running back to his car. Instead, he mentally rehearsed his whole apology speech.
Hans stopped when he heard the clink of metal turning in the brass doorknob. There she was. The short, redheaded beauty he centered his life with. The one who motivated him, the one who crumbled his towers. Trying not to show the emotions rushing through his mind, Hans began his apologetic plea in an incredibly fast pace.
"Anna, I know it's late, but I got your text and I just had to text you. I'm sorry if I woke you, I just needed to let you know that I regret ever changing. I just wanted to- I just wanted to be someone you're proud of. I know I went too far. I p-promise, if you give me another chance I'll be better. I'll take you wherever you want. I'll walk with you in the sunset. I promise I'll do whatever it takes. Just please, Anna. Please give me a second chance..." he delivered, stopping only because his tears and sobbing interrupted him.
Anna couldn't think for awhile. This scene caught her immensely off guard. She never expected Hans to be so…. the word never came to her. The ginger just stood at the front door, jaw dropped, for a good five minutes.
"Ahem," Hans spat, fighting for her attention. He pulled out a box of chocolates and gave Anna a warm smile. "I know it doesn't make up for… you know, but I know you love chocolates."
The girl gave in and jumped up to hug the young man at her doorstep. It was all too much, and honestly, Anna could use another shoulder to cry on. It was a late night decision, something the redheaded girl knew was wrong, but she didn't care. Anna guided Hans inside to the living where Rapunzel sat, still grumpy from her rude awakening.
Hans' facial expression yelled bewilderment when Anna told him the situation with her father. Not a second after, Hans wrapped him muscular arms around the petite girl.
"So what are you planning to do?" Hans asked, directing the question to both Anna and Rapunzel.
"Well, we were planning to leave for Corona tomorrow night." Rapunzel said. She saw the spark in Hans' eyes. "I mean, you could come. You'll just have to pay for your own ticket."
The man glanced at the ginger girl, looking for a response. She gave a slight nod with no protest, then he gave a big smile.
"Well, three in the morning is a good time to start packing," Anna finally spoke. "Punzy? I might need some help."
The brunette nodded with a comforting smile, then followed her cousin to the bedroom.
Hans still sat on the couch, pulling out his phone to leave a message for his family about his plans. Luckily, his parents' wealth would support his last minute trip. After pressing send, he put his hands to his face and sighed in relief.
"She's not mad at you anymore," he thought with a mental pat on the back.
A cell phone rang from beneath the couch cushions. Hans raised an eyebrow, then dug his fingers through the crevice of the piece of furniture. He fished out Anna's cell phone, which probably fell from her pocket when she slept.
The device illuminated to show a text message notification. Hans gripped the phone harder after seeing who it was from. Elsa.
All he wanted to do with erase her from Anna's life. There was no more need for her. Hans would be there for his girl.
"Anna, can we talk :-)?" the redheaded man read. His conscience was definitely not in the right state. He looked around to see if anyone saw what he was about to do. Seeing that he was alone, fingers began swiping through the phone.
"Sorry Elsa. I can't. I'm with Hans." Hans sent back. Almost immediately, there was a response.
"You're really with Hans?" The man scoffed at that remark. "What was THAT supposed to mean?" It only fueled his anger towards the blonde.
"I don't need you. He took me back!" He finally texted. This time, there was no response.
Shards of ice started to form on the walls of her room. Elsa gripped her phone, still in disbelief at what she just read. Was she really just a back up? Did Anna ever really care about her? Tears began to fall, but froze when they escaped her eyes. Elsa just stayed on her bed, legs pressed against her chest.
"Why would Anna do this to me?" Elsa thought. "I…. I loved her."
The blonde's thoughts brought her back to the romantic evening they had spent together. All that planning Anna had gone through, only to be ignored the next couple of days. The redhead spent the weekend trying to contact Elsa, but she just gave her the cold shoulder.
"C'est de ma faute, it's all my fault," the foreign girl thought. She began to delve deeper in her thoughts. Had it not been for Elsa, they could have still been together. Anna went through so much for her, and all the blonde could do was shut her out. She slammed a door in the sweet little girl's face. The tears kept coming at her false realization. She was completely oblivious to what Anna truly felt.
Elsa's decision was made. She no longer had reason to stay in Arendelle. She lost the only reason for being there. It was final. She dialed back the number for the exchange program representative.
"Hello?" the same man's voice echoed through the phone.
"It's me, Elsa. I've made a choice…... When is the next flight to France?"
She heard typing on a keyboard through the phone, then finally heard the man respond. "How about next week?"
"Is there anything sooner? Please, sir, I just want to go home."
The man sighed. "It's incredibly inconvenient, but there is one flight." Silence filled the line for a couple of seconds. "Tomorrow night."
Elsa sighed back in relief.
"I'm going home."
I may have to accept the offer for a beta reader. I just can't reread my own stuff. Till next chapter!