6:30 p.m
She was finishing her hair as he arrived. Elsa was wearing a blue strapless dress that her parents had bought for her just for today's occasion. It wasn't like her icy blue ball gown that was on a manikin in her huge closet, this one was just a simple dress that hugged her curves and went from lighter shade of blue from the top to a darker shade at the bottom, which stopped above her knee caps. She still like it though. Elsa loved the color blue. She always wore something blue, whether it be a pair of socks, a ring, or even just a hair tie.
Marshmallow started to growl and she suddenly hear a knock at her door. She didn't like it when people where this to something really personal to her. Marshmallow barked and growled even more. "Who is it?" She said in an annoyed voice.
"Babe it's me. We have to go if now. I don't want to be late." He said in a calm voice.
She told Marshmallow to stay calm and that she would be back in a little while. Looking back at the mirror she told herself tonight was going to the start of something different, something for the better. She opened the door and Hans was standing before her.
"Good you wore a strapless dress, thank you. I would've chosen a different color but too late to change now. You ready to go?"
"Yes, lets go." They walked out to his car, her arm wrapped around his holding hands. She said good-bye to her parents as she walked out the door and got into Hans' car. It was a Mercedes Benz, one of his twelve older brothers let him borrow for the night.
"Where are we going." She said looking now looking at him
"The Summers Dinner. It's not a very formal place but everyone at school has eaten there and I guess it's good."
"Why not go to The Standard or Simbas?" She knew the answer to that though. Hans got everything his older brothers had or didn't want. Like the car and most of his clothes. He never had any money, and always had people buy things for him or he'd con some off freshman.
"I don't know," He said a little annoyed, "I just thought we could eat there. Besides it's Friday night and I already made reservations. Eating anywhere else would be a wait and I don't have time for that." His voice was calming but there was slight anger and annoyance in it. Elsa just looked out the window.
Great, I can't even have a conversation with my boyfriend without messing things up. She rested her head on her hand and looked out the window. As she saw the night sky roll on she thought about how the music assignment was going to go. It would be the first time that she would actually work with someone. There were times in other classes where Elsa was forced to be in a group but she'd never work with anyone of them. Every time someone ask about her about something she would give them the ice stare that was branded to her and the person would become either get intimidated or very uncomfortable.
But why did Anna try so hard? It still left her baffled that Anna had been so adamant to work with her. Maybe it was because she's...that way. She still couldn't bring herself the say the word without crying or being angry at herself. The more she thought about though, the more it occurred to that Anna had found her attractive. But when I looked in her eyes I saw a will of friendship. Though something felt different every time it came into her mind. God this is bullshit. It's only been a week and everything is just fucking confusing. She looked down at the clock, 6:51. I'm stopping this tonight. Hans should be on my mind. These stupid feelings and thoughts need to end. Anna is trying for friendship and that's only going to be what it is.
7:05 p.m.
"Calm down Anna. Just sit and calm down." Kristoff and Anna where in the back office. He had come in to see how she was doing and now was trying to calm her nerves down.
"I am calm. It's just I still can't figure what I want to sing. And what if the piano is out of tune from the weather? What if the mic is out of batteries? What if I trip and fall going on the stage? What if the speakers don't work or if there too loud? What if..."
"Anna!" His loud yet calming voice stopped her rambling for now. "Nothing is going to go wrong. Just get out there and have the time of your life. It doesn't matter how you do. What matters is how you feel after doing it. What ever happens, happens. So stop these little nervous rambles and take a deep breathe." He smiled at her as she took huge breath in.
"How do you know that? What if I get cold and start to shiver? What if I get to hot and start to sweat all over?"
"You're just letting your nerves the get best of you."
"I don't get nerves or nervous Kristoff." She said with a straight face.
He laughed a little and said, "Yah okay and what do you call this."
"Things that could go bad." She said flinging her arms up in the air.
"Nothing is going to go bad."
"How would you know? Anything can happen."
"Anna your blowing this really out of proportion. Nothing is or can go wrong. This is your chance to shine, your chance to finally show who you really are. So please sit down."
She finally sat down at the desk chair and he crouched next to her. "That's it. Now take in deep breathes and calm yourself."
Letting out a couple she calmed herself a little and looked at Kristoff. "Thank you. I needed that."
"You're welcome. I have to go back to my table, my date is probably wondering where the hell I am." They both chuckled and he opened the door. "Remember everything is going to go great."
She hugged him before he left and said thank you again. After he left sat down at the desk again and wondered how she was going to figure out what to sing. She looked at the picture of her and her father again. "You know Dad this is harder than I thought. Picking a song should be easy." She stopped as if he was right there in front of her ready to give her the extra bit of comfort. "This is crazy." She giggle a bit and then instead of staring at the clock she watched the TV that was on the wall. It was showing a movie called Let it Shine. She had only seen once or twice but she loved the message of it; to be true to yourself and not let others choose for you.
After watching it for a bit her mother came into the room and said, "Are you ready." She gave Anna a gentle smile.
"I was born ready." She sprang up and followed her mother. This is it. Ohmygodohmygodohmygod this is so exciting. She could hardly contain herself and as they reached the stage she nearly sprinted on to.
"Anna wait," Her mother laughed a bit, "the lights haven't even been turned on yet."
"I just can't wait."
"I know you can't and neither can I." She leaned down and gave Anna a kiss on the cheek. "Good luck and have fun."
Anna hugged her mother and said thank you and that she would do her best. The next thing she knew was that she was talking to Olaf and then on the stage itself.
Minutes before:
They had entered the restaurant and Elsa hoped that no one would notice recognize, or even take a glimpse at her. She was the only really dressed up and everyone that she caught eye contact with icy glare. Even worse was that some Hans' friends and teammates were there.
She and Hans were seated near in the middle of the restaurant and had a perfect view of the stage.
When she saw the set up she wondered who could be singing. There wasn't much buzz around school or any advertisement around the building. Maybe it's already over, she thought. It did leave her a little disappointed. She had never really heard live music before and it was something she really wanted to do.
Their server was a red head, at first Elsa thought it was Anna but then realized this girls hair wasn't in pig tails but had really curly hair and had a Scottish accent.
"Welcome to the Summers Dinner. You two are very well dressed. What might be the occasion." She said sweetly.
"We have been dating for a year now and I thought it would nice to have a nice dinner." He reached over and took her hand. He smiled warmly and she smiled back.
"That's nice. Now what can I get you two to drink?"
"I'll have a water and so will she."
"Well, okay. I'll be right back and you two look over the menu."
He took out his phone started texting his teammates that he had seen coming in. "Hey babe do you know anyone named Anna." He said suddenly.
With out wasting time she said "No."
He didn't look up to see her nervous face and continued to text. "Marc and Eugene are here with their girlfriends, and they said someone named Anna is going to sing or perform tonight. Maybe it'll be good, or not." He said with a chuckle. He looked over at Elsa. She gave a small laugh, but it wasn't genuine and she hoped he wouldn't notice.
Their waitress came back and took there order. Only seconds after the lights to the stage came on and everyone fell quite. Elsa got a little excited, it was one of the only times she would see live music, other than the concerts Hans dragged her to.
But as soon as the familiar red head came out she averted her eyes and tried to hide herself. Why at of all the places and days that were chosen, why did it have to be today and here? While trying to hide herself Hans had leaned forward in his seat a little.
The room was silent, silent enough that a pin could eco throughout the entire building. But the silence was soothed away as Anna had started to play. The song that she had decided to play with in those few seconds of silence was Drops of Jupiter By Train. She started with the same intro on the piano, just letting the few notes ring and flow through the air. She looked up from the keys and stared at the microphone that was mere centimeters from her mouth. Her fathers voice rang through head. When this stage is finished more than just your dreams will come true. As the voice lifted away she opened her mouth.
"Now that she's back in the atmosphere. With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey, hey, heeeyy." Her voice was soft and small. But with in an instant of looking up and seeing everybody that she new, she lost all nerves. "She acts like summer and walks like rain. Reminds me that there's time to change, hey, hey." Her playing became for pronounced and a smile came across her face.
Natural feelings took over and she glossed over the faces of everyone with warmth and happiness. "Since the return from her stay on the moon, she listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey, heeeyy."
Taking a quick deep breath, "Tell me did you sail across the sun. Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded? And that heaven is overrated." She was now using her own runs to tastefully add to the power of her voice. "Tell me, did you fall from a shooting star? One without a permanent scar. And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there." She held nothing back. Using falsettos and runs the song become hers.
Everyone note, every little verse was setting something off within Elsa. Her voice, it's...it's..., there were no words Elsa could use to even describe Anna's voice. She was hoping that somehow she could become invisible. Not only to hide but to look at Anna and enjoy the sweet, melodic, and grace of Anna's voice. She couldn't get up and she couldn't let whatever she was feeling be seen. Finally she just sat there with her hands in her lap and did nothing but have her head towards the wall and away from Anna. Concentrating she let her ears be her the eyes and just listened. It was all she could do.
Anna was back to the chorus, "Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet? Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day? And head back to the milky way." She had started to add finesse to the layers of her playing. Moving her body with the music and lifting her hand after coming off a riff. "And tell me, did Venus blow your mind. Was it everything you wanted to find, and did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?" Instead of the slight guitar solo she played an elongated piano solo. Staying with in the same key she used everything to make herself even more powerful.
Building up towards the end of the solo she all of a sudden she stopped, only to make the song more of her own she sang the next part a capella. "Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet." Soft yet enchanting she let the notes ring.
Beginning to play again the piano again she went into the next part, "Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken? Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you're wrong. Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance five-hour phone conversation .The best soy latte that you ever had, and me." Adding another solo, she slowed and with the final change to make the song her own, "And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?" ending the song.
Looking around a moment of uncertainty crossed her mind but ended when everyone stood up and applauded. Her friends were screaming her name and cheering. Kristoff added some whistles and Rapunzel was chanting her name. Ariel was and Jessica were shouting "You go girl!" Merida came out of the kitchen with an order of food, and she walked in front of the stage she said "Sing another!"
Soon the entire building was telling her to sing more. Her mother nodded her head as small tears of proudness slid from her eyes.
Still sitting at the piano she said, "You want another?" A small laughed escaped. Everyone said yes or some version of it. "Okay."
Elsa couldn't believe how she was acting. Trying to ignore everything that was happening. If anyone saw what she was doing it to contain herself, they would think she hated Anna's singing. But that was farther from the truth.
But Elsa had been to only a handful of live concerts that Hans had brought her too. But all of them had guys and no girls. Now was completely different. Elsa couldn't look anywhere near the stage or her eyes would've become glued to Anna's face, Who knows what would happen. She let a quite sigh.
"Babe that was awesome right?" Hans asked
"It was okay." No, it was spectacular, she furrowed a brow but made sure it was hidden, and since when do like this kind of music.
Hans did not like a lot of music. He always listened to rock, metal, grudge, hard rock, and exedra. All the concerts he went to with Elsa were hard rock or metal bands. Like Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, and Metallica. It wasn't Elsa favorite type of music but she pretended to like as much as he did.
There food had arrived and Elsa thought it would be a great distraction if Anna decided to continue, which she did. Just focus on eating. Just focus on eating and nothing else.
The next songs Anna had decided to sing where from a movie Elsa had seen only once or twice. She didn't know the names of the songs Anna sung but that didn't mean she wasn't enjoying them secretly.
Anna started to play again. The guitar riff that went throughout was now being played on the piano and instead of the jazz and gospel feel of the song, Anna decided to make the song more jazz oriented. She added a few extra notes to the riff. Stepping up the tempo and using a swing style, the song now had a jumpy and jazz feel. The singing it self stayed to the original jazz feel but the more gospel parts would be speed up or became quick runs.
"It's about time I figure out where I'm gonna go. If you don't like what I decide, you gotta let it go. I don't wanna be stuck in between, just wasting my time. So give me, give me, give me, give me some room to breathe." She added short stops and quick breathes to make it even more of a swing style.
Reaching the chorus of the song, "Who I'm gonna be isn't up to you, it's up to me. Where I'm gonna go I don't really know, it's a mystery. If I don't do it my way, I'll lose myself completely. Who I'm gonna be isn't up to you, it's up to me "
The jazz beat and swing music was sending shivers down Elsa's spine. If I dare say anything it's going to be that she can really change a song and have it be here own. Before anymore thoughts came into her head Elsa stopped thinking and just focused on eating her food and just listening to Anna's sing. She didn't even notice Hans had barely eaten and was staring at Anna.
As the night continued Anna would sing anything that came to mind. But she didn't just use the piano. Her mother had brought her acoustic guitar too and Anna decided to sing Good Riddance by Green day, Free Fallen by Tom Petty, If You're Gone by Matchbox Twenty, and She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5. And with each song she changed it up a bit. Making Free Fallen more of a hard rock song. Changing Good Riddance into ballad and really showcasing the range of her voice. If you're gone was sung mainly a capella and She will be loved had it's tempo increased and mainly featured Anna's higher register in her voice.
With each song Anna sung, Elsa couldn't help but feel something she wished would just go away. Is it really that hard to just enjoy something for once. Her singing is so mesmerizing and gorgeous...ugh, just listen and enjoy it. THAT'S it, enjoy it. Don't look at the stage, don't even lift up your eyes from your plate.
The last song Anna had decided to play was to commemorate her father. It was a Simon ad Garfunkel song he would sing to her if she were sad or hurt. She didn't change anything about the song only because she wanted to remember the way he sung it to her, the exact same way it was sung by Simon and Garfunkel. She told everyone that it would be the slow song to dance to and almost everyone got up to dance, including Elsa.
She went back to the piano and started to play.
"When you're weary feeling small. When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all." She remembered the first time he sung this song to her. She was 6 and it was after she had fallen of her bike after getting the training wheels off. He had taken her inside and after singing she felt no more pain, only later to find out she had a broken arm.
"I'm on your side. When times get rough. And friends just can't be found." Another time he had sung this too her was when she was bullied at school for always wearing boots and not anything 'girly'. After her father said it made her look adventures and that after noon was spent making pillow forts in the living room.
"Like a bridge over troubled waters. I will lay me down. Like a bridge over troubled waters. I will lay me down." A small tear raced down her cheek as she saw her friends slow dancing. It was her father that taught her dance.
"When you're down and out. When you're on the street. When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you." She remembered the time she had flunked out of her AP Global class with a 42. After hours of crying he finally calmed her down and said he had failed his Calculus class three times with grades lower than hers. She laughed at him afterwards.
"I take your part. When darkness comes. And pain is all around. Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down. Like a bridge over troubled water. I will lay me down." A few more tears dropped onto her cheeks.
There was a slight bridge with in the song and after she continued to sing, "Sail on Silver Girl. Sail on by. Your time had come to shine. All your dreams are on their way. See how they shine. If you need a friend. I'm sailing right behind. Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind. Like a bridge over troubled waters I will ease your mind." The last time he had sung that to her before he died was he and her mother got into an argument about Anna's dream about being a singer, and how much money was being put into. It had been the first time they had ever fought in front of Anna, and she thought it was the start of a divorce. Seeing her parents continue to go back in forth with crude and nasty remarks. But after talking to her, Anna's father had made the decision to build her a stage and show her mother wrong.
As the song ended, she felt more tears roll down her, but her smile never faltered.
Elsa and Hans were hidden by everyone in front of them and Elsa was glad because the way her head was resting on his shoulder gave her a clear line of sight of Anna. The entire time she was so focused trying to block her thoughts about Anna, she had missed what Hans had said.
"What?" She lifted her head from his shoulder.
He leaned his down and said, "I love you, Elsa."
Shit, "I love you too." She put on a smile and he kissed her with more passionately than ever. She wanted to cry but couldn't. NONONONONO. Why, For Christ's sake why? Why don't I feel anything. Why don't I love you. She held him closer and felt his tongue against her lips. She opened her mouth and let his tongue snake around her mouth. I need to love you but why can't I.