Anna picked at her fries, mulling over the day. The next class was by far the one she'd been most happy to be away from the last couple weeks, and it resuming was gnawing enough at her that she was having trouble finishing her lunch. The only thing she was looking forward to was Moana coming back to town the next day. "These fries are really good. Your taste has improved."

Anna looked up to see Esmeralda standing across from her, a half-eaten French fry in her hand. She's still talking to me? "Oh, um, thank you? There's this new food cart that opened up a couple blocks from here. I also got a chicken banh mi there, you're welcome to have half of it, I don't have much of an appetite."

Esmeralda pulled a chair over and helped herself to half of the sandwich. "Fries and banh mis, that's Portland for you," she laughed. "How've you been, Anna? I'd been wanting to stop by and the smell of the fries really sealed the deal. I've missed you."

Anna let out a shaky breath. She was more nervous than she'd expected. Come on, Anna, you can talk to your ex. You already sort of patched things up, right? You can be friends. You can. Stop trying to think otherwise! She shut her eyes for a moment to collect herself and quiet her fears. "I've missed you too. I've been –" In love with my sister? Good? All over the place? "Complicated. Kristoff and I finalized our divorce and Elsa visited over winter break. It was pretty great." Other than the palpable sexual tension only being on my end while Elsa just thought I was being a total weirdo, that is. "Being single is taking some getting used to - I mean the living by myself part, that wasn't a jab - but Olaf has been handling the divorce surprisingly well. Too well, honestly."

"Hey, kids are a lot tougher than we give them credit for. I was about his age when my mom died, and I think I managed okay. He's like six right?" She grabbed another handful of fries.

"Almost. He turns six in February." Anna continued to pick at them, her unease was not lessened by Esmeralda, though it was still good to see her.

"Just let him handle it his way. He knows you're there for him, he'll talk to you if he needs it."

Anna nodded. "Thank you." Wow, that actually is a load off my shoulders, I didn't even realize I was still worried about it after our talk the other night.

"It's no problem. You're still my favorite teacher here and I'm hardly going to let you suffer on my watch." Her eyes widened. "Except when I'm the one doing it, apparently. You are okay with me being here right? I know you offered me the food, but still, I don't want to intrude. I know I hurt you.

"It's okay. I wasn't handling our relationship that well either, it was probably the best for both of us, and I think we've both had enough time or at least close to it. I'd still really like you to be in my life."

"Well, then how can I be of service?" She grinned before biting into the sandwich. "Mmm, this is really good. The bread tastes pretty decidedly like an American baguette, but the chicken is seasoned perfectly."

Anna considered this. That may be exactly how she could be of service. "Well, there's a new girl." Hopefully she's not jealous. I sure would be. God, I hope she doesn't take this as an invitation to talk about her latest fling, I am not ready for that. "I understand if you don't want to talk about it, but tomorrow is our first official date, and I need the perfect place to take her, and you introduced me to all of my favorite restaurants now, so maybe you could figure something out?" This is so awkward, why did I think this was a good idea?

Esmeralda swallowed her bite and met Anna's eyes. She does look kinda hurt. I think. I forgot how pretty her eyes are. Damn it, I am not going down that road again! "I'd love to help you. Who's this new girl? Anyone I know?" She sounded almost timid, completely lacking in her normal brazen confidence. It kind of hurt to hear.

"I don't think so. She's a friend of a friend. Her name's Moana, she's a pilot, we've been friends for about a month now. We'd both just been through breakups when we met – oh God that was horrible to say, I'm so sorry – but we're ready to try something new, and we both seem to like each other." Plus we've already kissed and she's already met my son, so we're practically married. That's how lesbian time works, right?

"Oh." She took a contemplative bite of the sandwich, chewing slowly. "Do you know what kind of food she likes?"

Anna shook her head. "Pulled pork?"

"That it?"

"I took her to that pizza place you showed me," Anna squeaked. It is definitely too soon to be talking with her about other women. I'll just tell her I need to get ready for class. She'll understand, hell she'll probably appreciate it the way this conversation is going.

"Oh, did she like it?" Still sounds hurt. Great. Just say it, say 'I have to get ready for class.' "I found it my first year here and it's always been one of my favorites. I know a pretty good tapas place around that same area. It's a pretty good first date restaurant. I'll have to double check the name of it, there's like a dozen of them in town, but I recall really liking the one in Southeast. I'll double check on it and text it to you tonight?"

She's actually willing to help? She is so much more mature than me. "That sounds great. What's a tapas place?"

Esmeralda burst out laughing. She finally sounded like herself again.

"It's not a sex thing is it?"

She clutched at her stomach as she doubled over from laughter. When she finally righted herself she had to wipe tears from her eyes. "Oh, Anna. It's a Spanish thing. Restaurants that do it in America somewhat misunderstand the term's meaning, but basically it's plates of food that you share rather than having your own meal."

"Well it sounds like topless." She pouted. "So it's like family style dining?"

She sucked on her teeth. "Kind of. Not exactly. Basically you just would probably both order an item or two and share all that. Family style is more just ordering one meal for everyone, right?"

Anna nodded. "I think so."

"So sort of the same idea, but done the opposite way. But you'll like the place, it's classy, the food is good quality, and the staff is really nice." She totally slept with a waitress there, didn't she? "I just wish I could remember the name of it. I promise, I'll find it out and message it to you tonight."

"All right. Thank you, Esmeralda. You're the best."

"Hopefully Moana will be better."

Anna swatted her hand. "You're the worst!" she shouted, fighting back an amiable grin.

"Well you're still the best, Anna."

She blushed slightly. Still flustering me, even now. Fortunately the bell rang just then, and she was spared having to respond.

Esmeralda grabbed her half of the sandwich and waved. "I'll talk to you tonight. Enjoy your class. Give them hell. My students can still beat them up if you need."

Anna waved back, and with that she was gone. Anna stared after her. I might just take her up on that if this goes as poorly as I think it will.

Anna relaxed on the couch as Olaf finished his cartoon and his celery filled with peanut butter and raisins. She was planning on ordering pizza tonight, and the place tended to take forever, so rather than order before the rush and have dinner before they'd even be hungry, she decided to placate his hunger so they could just eat around eight. She had a cup of yogurt to tide herself over.

Some big explosion happened on TV and Olaf cheered wildly. She wasn't paying enough attention to be certain what was going on. She had been busy playing on her phone, which she now had to put off doing – Elsa was calling her. I don't want to interrupt the show. I'm not avoiding her, I just know how important this is to Olaf. She almost believed it. At least a solid thirty percent. She would probably say that she believed it a good seventy percent, but that would be lying to herself.

She was relieved when the vibrating stopped and she was able to go back to looking at her friends' recent posts. Nani had posted a massive picture that Lilo drew, and Anna had to admit it was pretty impressive. She doubted even Giselle could paint that. She forwarded it to her.

A notification popped up saying that Elsa left a message and Anna was hit with a pang of guilt. I'm getting over her. I just need a few more days. Once I see Moana I'll be fine. Elsa is the last person I cuddled with – Olaf leaned against her shoulder – the last woman I cuddled with. After tomorrow, I'll feel better. Then I'll call her back. It's just an extra day.

Olaf cheered on a character on the screen who was in the midst of some big fight. I don't recall cartoons being this violent when I was a kid. Then again, I did love Spiderman. Her phone managed to distract her from that particular tangent. Fortunately, this message wasn't from her sister. She was forcing herself to think of her that way. Not 'Elsa'; my sister.

Esmeralda had given her the name of the restaurant and asked how her class went. It took her a solid minute to figure out what 'Urdaneta' meant. Esmeralda had not been so kind as to text back 'Urdaneta is the name of the restaurant,' instead only saying 'Urdaneta. Did the class go okay?' Anna thought for a moment that perhaps that was her new nickname. She wasn't sure how to feel about it. She started trying to think of a nickname for Esmeralda before it finally clicked.

'That's the restaurant? The class did not go well at all,' Anna replied.

'Yeah. It wasn't the one I was thinking of, but it's even better. I was just about to take a bath. Want to talk about it?'

Do I want to talk about her taking a bath? Anna ignored the fact that the answer to that was 'kind of,' and instead decided that she did want to talk about her day. 'Yeah, give me a couple minutes and I'll call. Just want to finish Olaf's show with him.' Why can I handle my ex-girlfriend being naked while on the phone with me more easily than I can handle my own sister calling me? Of course, she knew the answer to that.

The big climactic resolution of Olaf's show played, and the theme song began as the picture was shrunk into the corner of the screen and another show started. "I'm gonna go play video games," Olaf said and stood up, taking his plate to the sink.

"Have fun." That worked out well. She went up to her bedroom and called her friend.

"Hey, there," Esmeralda murmured. Anna could hear her sinking into the water. We broke up. In fact, she dumped me. This is a totally normal thing. How many friends did I talk to in the bath while I thought I was straight? Lots. I am overthinking things. As usual.

"Hi," Anna sputtered. Nailed it.

"So, tell me about it! The suspense is killing me. What happened?"

Anna groaned. At least that puts my mind back on something more wholesome. "My class was mean to me." She spoke as pitifully as possible. She wanted maximum sympathy points.

"What did the mean class do?" Her tone sounded simultaneously mocking and sympathetic.

Anna buried her face against her pillow as she flopped down onto the bed, then turned over to stare at the ceiling.

"What was that?"

She ignored the new question. "I kept trying to teach them their lesson. We were supposed to be starting Of Mice and Men and I was trying to have them read through the first chapter as a class so that I knew we could discuss it tomorrow. Every time I called on someone, they'd instead just try to ask me about my divorce. I knew I shouldn't have put 'Ms. Agnarrsen' on the board, but I hated being called Ms. Bjorgman. Finally I had to just have Kion read, but they kept interrupting him. Especially that one bitch." Grumbling, Anna tried not to think of the student who had done her best to make her life a living hell this year. It's so unfair.

"What one bitch? Give me details." Another slosh of water as Esmeralda moved in the tub.

"The pale one with the hippie parents who very clearly didn't believe in discipline." Not that I'm one to talk there. I really lucked out with Olaf. I don't know if I could have ever punished my child, even a time out. I always hated when my parents would do that stuff.

"Snow White?"

"Yes! So you have her too? Can you believe her parents actually named her that. When I saw them at the parent-teacher's conference, I wasn't at all surprised. Of course they were hippies."

"I was a hippie, Anna."

"Right." Shit. "Um, sorry."

"It's okay." She chuckled and the water splashed. Anna tried not to picture it. Wow it has been way too long since I've done anything with someone. I'm never this sex-crazed, I'm never sex-crazed at all. Between everything with Elsa, and talking to the last person I slept with, it's all a bit much. "I know you're venting."

"She just kept asking question after question about it. At first I ignored it, but then we were running out of time and had still barely covered the chapter, so I just gave in and answered them. Then she kept coming up with more. She pressured me for the reason we split up, if I was seeing anyone, if he cheated on me, where I was living now. I went back to ignoring her, but she kept talking over Kion."

"Why didn't you give her detention?"

Anna flushed. She should have expected that question. "I don't like punishing people," she mumbled, turning her face back to the the pillow. She just wanted today to end.

"Anna, you have to lay down the law. These brats will never respect you if you don't make them. Or just give them some drugs. It'll really mellow the little bastards out."

Her laugh was muffled by the pillow. "Teaching first grade was so much easier."

Esmeralda sighed. "I know. Okay, fine, I'll talk to her. Would that help?"

She wanted to say no. It was ridiculous. I am a grown woman and I can handle myself. "Would you really do that?"

"You've stood up for me before, Anna. Really, it's the least I could do."

Anna nodded. "Please do it."

She could hear Esmeralda's smirk. "All right, but you have to swear to me you'll have a great date at that tapas place. I promise, Moana will love it."

That managed to bring a smile back to Anna's lips. She couldn't wait to see Moana again. Everything would make so much more sense if she could just spend time with her. Things were really starting to become serious - even if this was their first real date - and once she had a girlfriend, then her mind would stop trying to turn everyone else into one. "I promise. Are you really going to talk to her?"

"Of course I am. I will tell her that you are a dear friend and that if she continues to be mean to you, then I will have to reconsider my rather permissive approach to her attendance. So if she wants to both pass my class and be able to show up late smelling of pot, then she'll behave. Or I could just talk to the principal about what she and her friends have been up to."

Anna blinked and tried to hide the wicked grin on her face. I thought she was just going to tell her that she was hurting my feelings. "Wow. Um, thank you." She found her hand playing with a strand of her loose copper hair and immediately set it back at her side. "That's really nice of you. Seriously, Esmeralda, you're the best."

"You wouldn't have said that a few weeks ago." She gave a forced laugh at her own joke. Their breakup was still fresh in both of their minds, even if it was almost two months ago. "I just want to show that we can still be friends, and that I don't approve of one of my best students being mean to one of my best friends."

"I'm your best friend?" She sat upright, her eyes wide. "Er, one of your best friends."

"I don't tend to keep many. You're special, Anna. Just because we had terrible timing and ruined our relationship doesn't mean you're not still important to me. You're a wonderful woman, and I'm lucky to have you as a friend."

She was glad that Esmeralda couldn't see her blushing. "Thank you."

"It's no problem. Now I need to dry off. Want to hang on or should I just talk to you tomorrow?"

"I'll talk to you tomorrow. Thank you though, you made me feel a lot better."

"Any time. Seriously."

They hung up, and Anna clutched her phone to her. She was, thankfully, not feeling anything romantic, but she was so happy that Esmeralda cared that much about her. She'd counted her as lost once they split up, and it had stung. Knowing that they could actually still be friends was some of the best news she'd had in weeks. I need to see about hanging out with her soon. We should make plans. I'll talk to her about that tomorrow.

She checked the time. It was still a little early to order pizza. She could hear Olaf playing video games in his bedroom. The notification of her voicemail continued to taunt her as she studied her phone. She knew she should check it. All right, I'll listen to Elsa's message, then I'll just go ahead and order pizza. God, we eat pizza way too much, that can't be healthy.

She hesitated over the play button for a solid minute. She's mad at me isn't she? I haven't talked to her since she left. "Hey, Anna. I'm sorry I hadn't called earlier. I guess you're busy. I miss you. It was so great finally seeing you, we have to do it again soon. You'll have the summer off, right? Well, I think I just kinda wanted to vent about my latest case. I signed myself up for a fucking monster of one, I don't know what I was thinking. Other than that though, I just wanted to let you know that I was alive and see how you were doing. Call me back, okay? I really liked hearing from you everyday, and now that we finally finished patching things up I haven't in the last week or so. I'm not blaming you or anything. I've been crazy busy and I'm sure you have too. How about we make plans to definitely talk for a bit this weekend? Let me know. Love you."

She thinks it's her fault? Anna felt herself tearing up. It's only your fault in that you're so amazing, wonderful, and beautiful that your messed up little sister fell in love with you. I promise we'll talk soon, I just – she choked back a sob, trying to keep from crying. She didn't want to worry Olaf, and she knew it would show.

She typed out a message and sent it before she could second guess herself. "This Saturday should be fine. I'll call you after I get up. Hopefully Olaf will let me sleep in a little. I actually have him this weekend for once. I love you." She stared at the message in horror. 'Love you.' Not 'I love you.' That sounds so obvious. What if she realizes? She took a few deep breaths. You're being crazy. You've said 'I love you' literally thousands of times. You're sisters. Hopefully you'll be sane enough to carry on a conversation by then. You see Moana tomorrow. You'll manage.

She called up the pizza place. She was somewhat concerned when her voice choked out in a sob, but she assumed they got that a lot. "A small cheese pizza and a medium sausage and mushrooms." Her voice cracked on 'sausage,' but she managed to avoid laughing at the ridiculousness of it.

Once she hung up, she felt a lot better. If all I need to do to feel better is order pizza, then I am going to do it even more often. I will order it every night if it'll help me stop feeling so crazy about my sister.

She decided to go downstairs and watch TV while she waited. Olaf would come down when there was food.

Olaf chewed a slice of cheese pizza contemplatively. Anna was already on her second slice. He set the piece down and met her eyes. "So, I'm meeting Moana tomorrow, right?" That sounds even weirder than Aunt Moana.

"I suppose." I did ask her and she seemed enthusiastic, but this is such a big step. We're still not even a couple, but at the same time she should get to know my son. If they don't get along then we couldn't really work out. I know Elsa already gets along with him. Damn it, Anna, don't go there. She's already met him. It'll be fine. I'm worrying about nothing and going off on ridiculous tangents. "She's really looking forward to meeting you."

His eyes widened and his serious look morphed into a goofy smile. "Did she get me a present?"

"I'm not sure. You'll just have to wait and find out when you see her."

"But I want a present." He looked up at her with the saddest look he could manage.

"That's up to her, Olaf. Are you going to be good and play nice or are you going to try to demand that she give you stuff?" Anna gave him a disapproving look and he promptly stopped his pout. It didn't take much to make him realize that he was misbehaving.

"I'm sorry, Mama. I'll be good." He resumed eating his pizza rather than try to continue begging.

"That's better." Anna put the TV on for him as they finished their meal. It was just reruns of some old cartoon, nothing that she needed to worry about. Her mind continued to wrestle with the idea of Moana meeting him again, no matter how much she tried to insist that it wasn't going to be an issue.

When his show was finished she put her leftovers away before reading Olaf a bedtime story and turning the lights out. The pizza had taken longer than she would have liked to arrive and it was half an hour past his bedtime.

She turned in for the night a short while later, but decided to assuage her fears a bit with a quick message to Moana. "I can't wait to see you tomorrow. I already have the restaurant picked out, I've heard it's amazing. Olaf is very excited to see you too. I hope out first date goes as well as our last one." I really hope that joke works.

She was relieved to find a few minutes later that her joke was indeed understood. "Last time was just a practice date. I had to make sure I knew how to make this one perfect. If he's still up, tell Olaf I can't wait to see him either. I picked out a great present/bribe to make him accept that I'm dating his mother."

She held the phone tight to her chest. She really had picked a good one – she flirted just as dorkily as Anna herself did. Moana isn't a second place prize, she's a gold medal and I need to remember that. She sent back a quick message saying that she was going to bed and that Olaf already had, and then plugged in her phone and went to sleep, eager to make it through another day in Hell so she could see her potential girlfriend that evening.