19 notes posted 5 years ago

A/N: this is a short little ficlet experimenting with the whole second person / third person angle. Sorry for the horribleness in advance, and for messing up the tag.

You’ve never been one for bars nor clubs.

Most people would laugh it off, slapping your shoulder, simply replying that “maybe its just not your scene.” Or, “maybe you’ve never gone to a good one, here. let me take you to this one I know”.

Others would give you this incredulous stare, that just seemed to cry “you don’t like clubs/bars? You? But you’re such a people person.”

And you are. A people person that is. You always have been. not to sound like one of ‘those’ people, the kind who act like they can never be alone, no. But you’ve always been able to amicable get along with most people, and that quality has luckily awarded you a few friends.

however, people individually, and people as in plurally, are two different things.

You like crowds, when they’re managable. However, when things start getting loud, and the sound starts pounding as one within your heart and core, you can’t help but want to run out. ('Darter darter darter’ your therapists voice seems to boom, 'its just a simple coping mechanism, too many broken hearts, friendships and dreams, so the only way you feel safe, is too escape.)

But when the moon is high, the winds are right, and you’ve begun to feel that feeble bit of moroseness in your heart that can only come from beung desperately lonely, do you resort to desperation.

And that leads you here. To the club. Well, more like some weird barish clubish hole in the wall, but either way, the music is really awful, and while in clubs the bass might be booming so loud you can feel it vibrate in every fiber of your being, here it’s more subdued, simple background noise. sipping your drink you wonder what was finally the tipping point that made you decide to come to this god forsaken hellbhole to seek companionship. (Your empty bed and too many night alone flashes through your brain, and then, you remember.)

Yours eyes begin to crawl along the wall, landing on hair so outlandish in a sea of bad dye-jobs and fifty shades of brunnette. A blonde, whose face you can’t really make out, but you can see her pouty lips pursed into a slight scowl, and eyes that travel all over the place, seeming to bounce around in a pattern.

Entrance, exits, bathrooms, people between her and them.

Entrance, exits, bathrooms, people between her and them, Table.

as she begins to twiddle her fingers, than go into an agressive dance of 'washing my hands without actually washing, but no this isn’t ringing because thats an entirely different thing’ that it clicks.

She doesn’t want to be here either.

And maybe thats a good thing.

It feels like a god send really, that someone else doesn’t want to be here as much as you, but forced themselves to go because they need it.

Companions in misery.

And maybe thats the key, because struck with that word (companion, compadre, friend, partner, it doesn’t matter, just one person who’s smile beams with honesty, not the foglights of the cheshire cats they turn out to be.) You find some courage in the bottom of your glass.

Chugging it ( dear sweet jesus, that was a bad idea, and ow wow, are those stars you’re seeing? What the fuck was even in that?) You make your way over, counting breaths, and steps, while making sure there’s enough distance between you and other patrons on the floor, those awkwardly dancing / grinding, the few nursing drinks around tables, and the weird ones that drift from wall to wall of the establishment.

You’re just a few feet from the table when reality slams you, hard. What if she thinks you’re creepy? What if she thinks you’re some skeevy person who came to do something weird? Oh, god! How were you even planning to start conversation?

'Hi, my name’s Anna, and I couldn’t help but notice you didn’t want to be here either, and I need new friends, maybe even someone more than friends, but do you wanna come back to my place and watch disney movies on netflix, and eat pizza? I’ll let you pick both!’

Yes, because clearly, you were both five and a half and that would work.

no, no, no, think think think! You’re clever, not really anythijg worth bragging about, atleast to you, but

'OH SHIT. She’s looking right at me! Alright, be cool, you’re good with people, be cool, be cool.’

Sliding around to face her, (is she pissed? Upset? Scared? How long did I space out? Oh god, Anna, say something!.)

“Gosh you’re pretty.” It almost hurts how pathetic and vulnerable your voice sounds right now. The rapid widening of blue eyes, shows you that yes, the owner definitely did hear you over the pounding of the bass. One eyebrow raising delicately, and her face ( oh? Are those tiny little freckles? Thats sooo adorable!) Scrunching a bit, and you can hear the words before she even says them.

“Exscuse me?”

Shit.

“I said you’re pretty, I mean you are well, you’re not-,” shit shit “you’re gorgeous really, like wow, and I’m sure your physique helps, well adds to your gorgeousness as well-” Shit Shit Shit

“Excuse me!?” Oh boy very not good, you fucked up, quick try and cover.

“Not that I’ve been looking, I have but, in a good way I swear! And its– just.”

Alright, breathe. Try and get it all at one time.

“HI, my name’s Anna and I sometimes have trouble talking to people because of anxiety, and I’m awkward, and you’re pretty and that kinda shocked me, and now I’m coming off as so creepy when all I really wanted to say was 'I can tell you don’t want to be here, and I don’t really want to be here either, D'you mind if I sit with you, so we’re both less likely to be bothered by other people?’ But I can tell you think I’m creepy and weird,so I’m just gonna drab my drink and go. Now, like right now. Bye.”

You take a deep breath, lifting one foot up to head back to the entrance, and hopefully out of this place forever so you don’t have to deal with the embarassment and shame anymore, when you hear… laughter.

Not belly, nor twinkling,nor chuckling, but more. Amused huffs, half in the throat, half muffled.

You turn to look, ( only one glance for the road, you promise.) to see her guarding her mouth with her hand while she laughs.Her eyes find their way back to yours, deep sapphire that you could fall into ( and maybe you have, but hey, thats who you are.) Shining with mirth, ( but for you or at you, you wonder.)

She lets out a slight hmmm. Flicking her eyes between the chair, and you. Fingers traveling to twist at the braid draped so delicately over her shoulder, when the seconds tick by.

“Well?”

And that snaps you out for a moment. Admiring the so deep-blue-its-almost-black dress, that hugs her just so wonderfully.

“Well, what?” You reply.

Her gaze flickers to the table, hands fiddling with her braid.

“I… I thought you wanted to keep me company. If you’re going to do that, the least you could do is take a seat.”

Oh.

“Oh! Okay, yeah, I can - I can definitely do that.”

Grabbing the chair across from her, ( god this place is so fucking weird, mixes of resturaunt, club, and bar, mixed together in this tiny little hole in the wall. but then again, what else did you expect from a bar called Oaken’s?)

You warck your brain for something to say.

'or would it be better to be silent? Oh, what if she expects me to start conversation? What if she doesn’t? Oh… ohkay, just stick to some middle ground, no pressure. Its not like you’re trying to take her back to your place. I mean, admittedly that’d be wonderful, but- FOCUS.’

You tear your gaze from your lap, trying to meet her eyes, only to see her gazing off…. sonewhere. She almost looks kinda sad.

“So uhm.. something I was wondering. D'you ever get much attention because you’re a natural blonde?”

At this she quirks her head back around, face passive, and head tilted just a smidge, showing her confusion.

“Well, y'know. I’m a natural ginger, so, sometime, guys’ll get all skeevy acting like I’m some rare exotic spice they can add to their boring lives. Girls are always curious if the freckles go everywhere And,” whoops, too late, barrel on “people can be kinda creepy about those things, and tend to be invasive too. You ever had the because you’re a natural blonde or anything?”

She kinda laughs at that ( which makes your heart a little lighter, and you count today as a good one, because you made someone happy, if only for a moment.

“Have I ever had someone ask invasive questions because I’m blonde? Yes.,” she chuckles a bit,“ not gonna lie, there have been some outright rude ones. 'Why’re your eyebrows light brunette if you’re a natural blonde?’ Or 'is all the hair on your body blonde, or just your head?’ Not to mention the lovely ones about carpets and drapes and whether or not they should match, which gets an extra laugh from me, because I’m an interior designer. Carpets and drapes don’t have to match, but they definitely shouldn’t clash.”

You can’t help but snort a bit, a sound you trt and catch before it gets out to far, but she doesn’t seem to mind in the slightest.

'Well… I honestly didn’t expect her to want to continue conversation. this is good, though. This is good.’

“I’d take those questions over being asked if I was a freak in bed.”

She looks like she almost spit out her drink, you caught her laugh at just the right moment.

You hear a slight 'oh my god.’ Come from her direction.

“Guys are kinda weird with the questions they ask, arn’t they?”

She nods once, twice.

she looks like she’s clicking her teeth, mulling something overn thats she’s trying to tell you.

“Don’t get me started on the questions guys can ask that get weird. The last girlfriend I had and I would often get bombarded with questions of our sexual lives. to say it was awkward and uncomfortable was a little too light on them.”

She returns to picking at her braid, eyes glued to the table for a bit, almost as if shes ashamed of admitting something semi personal no matter how small.

'I could always make a joke about how a guy who doesn’t understand how two women have sex has probably…. yeah, no. Thats semi rude. rudeness does not make friends.’

“Well, now I feel kind of bad,” she kind of stops fiddling with her braid, and peers up at you, eyebrows perked up, almosf as if to say, 'oh? Why?’

'so adorable.’

“I mean, I’m sitting here, taking your space, when you were probably waiting to meet your girlfriend, huh?”

She ducks her head a little lower, giving off a faint mumble of

“It was only the second date, but she never showed.”

'Oh.’

“Oh. I’m sorry. I’m probably not the first person to say this but Ok cupid sucks, and so does tindr. It was awful when I tried a few years back. That kind of thing used to happend to me all the time. Just ended up letting some friends set me up.”

They sat there for a moment, both kind of tapping there hands around, neither sure of what to say. The bass from the new song could be heard well enough from where they were sitting, but not loud enough to discourage them from trying to talk again.

“Elsa.”

“hmm?”

she, well, Elsa, looks up enough to meet your eyes. She’s fiddling with her braid a bit, but her eyebrows are furrowed.

“I-I I’m… sorry. I’m not entirely sure whether or not you got my name. It’s Elsa. Elsa Skadi.”

Well, now you’re embarassed.

“Oh. Well, uh yeah. Shoot. Well, my name is Anna. Anna Anderson. Nice to meet you. Well, technically, learn your name. Full name. But ah yeah. I’m Anna.”

'C'mon. Think of something smart, keep the conversation going.’

“So, ah. Elsa. You said you were an interior decorator? How is that even something you got into? D'you specialize im any particular type or design, or..?”

Watching Elsa’s face light up, and to see her stop fiddling with her braid, Anna knew she made the right choice.

They’d been talking for hours.

Anna now knew Elsa’s favorite movie ( Lilo and stitch, and her friends even got her a stuffed scrumpf doll.) And that she was terrified of heights ( roller coasters would be the death of her.) Elsa now knew that Anna tended to fluctuate between extremes in her likes and dislikes, but that was fun, she was passionate, and that she sometimes talked to herself or to her cat olaf to bounce back ideas when she was writing.

All in all, they had a wonderful time, even switching numbers halfway through, but ended upforgetting about it and continuing on with their conversations later on into the night. Elsa hadn’t even touched her braid in two hours. It was refreshing to both of them.

“There is no way you no ever word to Guardians of The Galaxy.”

Anna beamed, “what, of course I can. Its what happens when you’ve watched it every day for two weeks.”

“How can you even do that? Thats ridiculous.”

“Maybe not, maybe thats one of my many talents.”

“Well, someone’s boasting.”

“Maybe I’m just trying to impress you.”

Elsa’s cheeks burned, pale silk overcome by bright peach. She coughed a bit, turning away again to stare at the table.

'She’s so sheepish. its kinda cute.’

The reaction gave Anna confidence, allowing the lump in her throat to dissipate, studdering awkwardness soothed.

“Well, I mean why wouldn’t I try to impress you, you’re gorgeous, you’ve got a sharp wit you’ve-,”

“Got to go.”

“Wait, what?” Anna’s necked jerked up, warm teal meeting deep sapphire eyes. Elsa was offering her hand to Anna.

Elsa smiled, soft and slow, eyes showing the laughter that didn’t make it past her lips.

“We’ve got to go. Oaken’s is closing for the night.”

“Sheesh, what times is it even?”

Pulling her phone out of her clutch, the time showing a glaring, angry, one-fifty Am.

“Wow, we’ve been talking for a while.”

Elsa snickered. “Yeah, I guess you could say we have.”

Anna hoisted herself to her feet, with Elsa’s help, remembering to readjust her blouse after she was on two feet. ( and if Elsa’s eyes lingered just a little bit longer on her cleavage than it should have, than, hey, thats fine with her.)

“So. do ya mind If I walk you to your car? Bust stop?”

Elsa laughed.

“Taxi. You can keep me company while I wait for a Taxi, if you’d like.”

Anna beamed. She didn’t really want the night to end. So she did something. well. A little crazy. But then again, she kinda liked crazy.

Escorting Elsa arm in arm, out of Oaken’s she watched as Elsa slowly rummaged through her purse to get her phone.

“So, uh. Tonight’s been a nice night. A better night than I’ve had in quite a while actually.”

“Well I’m glad. I honestly had more fun than I thought I would.”

Anna blinked.

“Really?”

Elsa laughed, clutching her phone in her right hand.

“Honestly,I had made a plan to leave about five minutes later, when you showed up. So I guessed tonight was a good night. too bad it had to end so soon.”

'Alright, Anna. Now’s your chance. Be a little crazy.’

“What if it doesn’t have to end. You could come back with me to my place if you want.”

Elsa’s brow furrowed.

“Wait, what?” Already a look of aghast indignation was overtaking her features.

Anna realized her mistake, a moment before it was too late.

“No no no no no. Not like that. Not that that wouldn’t be wondeful, but we just met and all, and this isn’t that kind of thing but- would you like to come with me? Back to my place? We can continue hanging out, y'know. We can eat pizza and watch netflix for a little while. I’ll let you pick both.”

Elsa gaped for a moment. Needing to take a little time to garner her bearings, and unravel Anna’s ramble. She pursed her lips for a moment and thought.

It was crazy to go home with someone on the first night, no exceptions. But, what exactly waited for her back at her own apartment?

“You can say no. no is always a viable option.”

Elsa switched her phone to her other hand, adjusting the strap of her purse.

Biting her thumb nail. She didn’t want to go home. But, she didn’t…. hmm…

“Or y'know. If you want. if you’re worried or something, I can tell you my address, and you can message a few friend to call you or come pick you up in a couple hours, so you don’t have to worry about people not knowing where you’re at. Or no. No’s also on the table.”

Anna twiddled her thumbs. She knew she came across as creepy, but hey, that was her, falling too fast, too strong, and moving to fast.

“Is there any chance we can add Ice cream to that?”

Anna blinked.

“Hmmm?”

“Ice cream. You said we’d do pizza and Netflix. Can we have ice cream as well?”

pulling up her friends names under the messenger app.

Anna beamed, pushing some of her auburn tresses behind her ear.

“Sure, if you want. You okay with chocolate chip cookie dough, or rocky road? 'Cause thats what I’ve got.”

“Anna, if we were not friends before we are now. You’re speaking my language.”

“Psh, and what language would that be?”

“Soul language. Would you mind giving me your address?”

“Yeah. It’s 3968 Martin Luther King Boulevard.”

Elsa clicked her tongue, sending out the message in a group blast to a few friends she knew would be up at this time of night. Looking up from her phone, she spied Anna fixing the straps on her smaller heels.

“So, you ready to ride on over there?”

Happy teal raised a questioning look at the blonde, as Anna walked over to Elsa.

“I actually walked here. My apartments only about, five blocks away, and I don’t always have a friend to drive me home when I’ve been out. That okay with you?”

“That actually sounds perfect. do you have any plans for what we’re going to be watching tonight?”

Anna hmm’d for a minute or so, as she and Elsa drew closer to her apartment complex.

“They’ve got all the installments of Lilo and Stitch. We could watch whichever one y'want.”

Cool lips met a warm freckled cheek, and a tiny gasp filled the cool night air.

“Now you’re really speaking my language.”

Anna stood stunned at the steps of her apartment conplex, as Elsa called over her shoulder, hair shining in the starlight

“I hope its not weird If I ask if you have clean cups? Its a much preferred alternative to bowls.”

Anna grinned. “Sure, I also have some topping if you want some.”

Anna’s heart couldn’t help but clench a little when Elsa’s worried her bottom lip for a moment and bashfully nodded, holding the door of the complex for Anna.

Yeah, she was falling fast, but she’d learned from her past mistakes. She’d do be better.

Still. She couldn’t help but sigh.

Kiss a girl, share her ice cream, watch a movie.

Tonight really is a good night.