A/N: Right, so, I'm still alive. And this thing still exists. Thanks for waiting!

The morning her classes first started, Anna's stomach wouldn't settle. Her insides were a spiraling, rickety roller coaster. Anna's heart beat stuttered and hiccupped an uneven drum. She was positive her breakfast would come up any minute now. For once, the hot air—and even hotter asphalt—was a welcome distraction from her stumbling thoughts.

Anna wiggled her toes and scuffed her shoe along the sidewalk. "It's okay," she muttered, twiddling her fingers. "You've done this before, back in New York. You've ridden buses before. You rode a bus the other week. Twice!"

God, she was doing it again.

Anna bit her lip and glanced up and down the street. Save for her, the bench she was sitting on was empty. Other people walked or jogged down the street. Cars zipped by on the asphalt. Even a lone biker hurtled past her, down the pathway.

But the bus was nowhere in sight.

Anna chewed on her thumbnail, a dirty habit.

I'd better not be late for my first day. That would be just my luck.

Her prayers were answered when a heaving hunk of metal finally appeared around the corner. Anna refrained from whooping as it came to a stop. She straightened as the doors opened with a hiss. Anna stumbled to her feet as a few passengers hopped off and walked past her, leaving her with the familiar pit of dread in her stomach.

Inhaling sharply, Anna slung her backpack over her shoulder. She tucked her camera bag safely against her side and said, "Here we go."

And stepped onto the bus.

It was barely past nine in the morning?

Elsa's left hand was already cramping. Her eyes were dry and itchy after staring at her screen for so long. She hadn't looked away from it for the past two hours. The nape of her neck was stiff, her shoulders tense. She pursed her lips into a thin line.

What class does she have first?

A thump on her right made her jump. Elsa snapped her head to the side to see Olaf grinning down at her. He pointed at the apple he'd set down.

"Nutrition break?"

Elsa's shoulders dropped and she let out a small sigh. She picked up the treat, mumbling, "Thank you Olaf,"

He grinned and jumped onto her desk. If he'd been anyone else, she would have given him a pointed look. Instead, she let her coworker bite into his own apple without comment.

Olaf chewed thoughtfully before saying, "If you could be doing anything else besides being at the office right now, what would it be?"

Elsa's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why do you ask?"

Olaf tapped his temple and smiled. "The mind needs a break just like the stomach does," he said around bits of fruit.

Elsa rolled her eyes and shrugged. "I would be doing work at home." She took her first bite of apple and her stomach growled in delight. Her cheeks reddened, but she ignored the rise of Olaf's brow, opting to take another bite. Skipping breakfast had been a bad idea.

Olaf pouted at her. "Besides work Elsa. That's the point. You have to be doing something besides work," he stressed. She chuckled and his pout turned upside down. He bit into his apple again and hummed, looking up at the ceiling. "I think I would like to go skydiving."

Elsa snorted and stared at him, an amused quirk to her lips. "Why skydiving?

Olaf's eyes lit up at her interest. "Well, I've never done it before and I always wondered what it would feel like to jump out of a plane."

Elsa shook her head and said, "I think most people go skydiving to feel the air. Not the jump."

Olaf shrugged and ate the last few bites of his snack. Elsa frowned and leaned back into her seat. If she weren't at work, what would she be doing? She loved architecture, but—

Her eyes fell down to her heels and the black leather was replaced by well-worn skates. Elsa's breath hitched. A phantom chill brushed the nape of her neck. Childish laughter echoed in her ears and her hands felt the memory of holding smaller fingers in her own. Goosebumps rose on her arms and nostalgia enveloped her like a winter breeze.

"I'd loved to go ice skating…"

"Hm?"

Elsa's cheeks reddened when Olaf stared at her. She bit back a bashful smile and cleared her throat. "I used to ice skate when I was younger." Her eyes glazed over and instead of walls covered with drawings and mathematical figures, she saw snow-tipped pine trees.

Olaf grinned, eyes lighting up. "You lived in Pennsylvania right?"

Elsa chuckled, nodding. She took a bite of her apple before continuing. "Yes. We—"

She froze. Her heart squeezed and her nails dug into the red skin of her fruit. She heard the cry of laughter again. Olaf's brow furrowed in concern. Elsa swallowed hard, an ache in her chest.

"There was a lake we used to go to," she mumbled. She could almost taste the crisp winter air.

"You and…?"

Elsa closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing. "My sister and I. Our parents too. The lake was perfect for skating. . Pennsylvania's a lot colder than LA so you can imagine what winter was like." Olaf squeezed her shoulder and she flinched. She gently shook his hand off and flashed him a bittersweet smile. "We don't ice skate anymore."

Olaf frowned in sympathy. Elsa dumped her apple into her trashcan and whirled her seat around. Work was a welcome distraction from the nausea bubbling in her stomach. She ignored Olaf's concerned expression and started typing again.

"Well, maybe you two could do that again."

Elsa pursed her lips. She had entertained the idea before, spending long, restless nights thinking about when Anna would move to LA.

"I doubt it," she said. She could feel Olaf's eyes on her, but she refused to look away from her screen. "Besides, Anna's knee puts her out of commission for most sports."

What a perfect excuse.

"I'm sure she could manage something light," Olaf said, ignoring the negativity in her voice. "She looked fine in your photo." Elsa twitched, but he pressed ahead. "You should take a day off! Spend some quality time together, it would do you some good I'm sure."

Elsa faltered for a moment, fingers hovering over her keyboard. Unbidden, the scent of asphalt and blood rushed up her nostrils. She clenched her hands, palms sweaty when she remembered glass and bright lights. A distant screaming resounded in her ears and her heart lurched when a loud beeping cut through the air.

"What the?" Elsa snapped her head to her bag when the noise came again. Olaf quirked an eyebrow at her as she grabbed it and rummaged through it, hands shaking and face pale. She could feel the burning question in his eyes as she finally found her phone at the bottom of her bag, next to her sleeping pills.

She frowned at the number. It was from New York. Accepting, Elsa put it to her ear, well-aware Olaf was still staring at her.

"Auntie?"

Static, and then, "Elsa, dear? Oh, I'm so glad you picked up. I hope this isn't a bad time—"

Elsa turned to her computer, shaking her head. "No, no. Well, I am working, but I'm on my break right now. It's fine." Before her aunt could begin apologizing, Elsa added, "What did you need?" Her eyes slid meaningfully to Olaf.

He turned away, pulling a yogurt cup and spoon out of his pocket. He swung his feet back and forth, pointedly looking out the office windows. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, it's nothing Elsa. I just—"

Elsa hardened her jaw.

"—wanted to know how you and Anna were doing."

Elsa checked the calendar on the computer and clenched her hands. She remembered how close Anna and her had been the other night. Their bodies inches apart. The catch in her sister's voice. Elsa swallowed hard.

"We're doing fine," she said. "Anna started classes today you know?" She ignored the small voice in her head that pointed out she hadn't seen her sister off that morning.

Anna's a big girl. She can take care of herself.

She wished that sounded more convincing in her head.

"—just call me if you need anything—"

Elsa blinked, snapped out of her haze by the somewhat frantic tone in her aunt's voice. She flushed and nodded, stammering, "Yes Auntie, I'll let you know. Listen, my break's going to end soon and I need to get back to work on this project. Do you mind?" Her aunt mumbled something and Elsa smiled tiredly. "Okay, bye."

A click and the line went dead. Elsa set her phone down and sighed heavily. She ran her hands through her hair before burying her face in them. A headache pulsed behind her eyelids.

"How bad was it?"

Elsa stiffened. Slowly, she raised her head and stared at Olaf. "I'm sorry?"

Olaf shrugged, but the edge of his mouth was curled downward. "Whatever went on between you two."

Elsa curled her hands into fists. "What makes you think something happened between us?"

"You don't hide it well," he said.

Elsa sighed and hung her head. Olaf scooted closer to her and if he'd been anyone else, Elsa would have scowled both at his actions on her desk and the subject of their conversation.

"I don't want to talk about it," she mumbled.

Olaf frowned. "Elsa…"

The frustration from the last several days boiled under Elsa's skin. All of a sudden, her jacket was suffocating, her collar too tight. Her exhaustion was like an iron weight on her shoulders and a knot of pain formed between her shoulder blades.

"Don't 'Elsa' me," she hissed. Olaf's eyebrows shot up and he cowered back on her desk. Immediately, Elsa felt a wave of regret. She rubbed her temples and sighed. "Oh Olaf, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just—I don't want to talk about it."

Olaf gave a small nod, poking at his yogurt cup. There was a thoughtful look in his eyes. Elsa squirmed in her seat, but after a few minutes of silence, she returned to her work reluctantly. She was looking over the last figures when Olaf spoke again.

"Family relationships can be complicated."

Elsa's fingers hovered over her keyboard. A lump caught in her throat and she blinked away the sting behind her eyes. "Not this complicated," she murmured, voice barely rising above the hum of her computer.

"Your sister's here now though," Olaf said. "That must mean things between you two can't be that bad. What are you worried about?"

Elsa glanced up at him and the pleading, earnest look in his dark eyes almost made her smile.

She sighed and wrapped her arms around herself wrapped her arms around herself. Anna's face flashed in her mind, white as a sheet and eyes shut. A chill spread through Elsa's blood. She looked away from Olaf and fingered the silver chain around her neck. "I'm not trying to avoid her...But I don't know what to do."

"Hey, hey now!" Olaf scooched closer to her and tilted her chin up. "No more of this doom and gloom, okay? Your buddy Olaf has a plan."

Elsa gave a sad chuckle. She doubted he understood the extent of her and Anna's tense relationship. Even so, she didn't have the heart to turn him away. "What do you suggest?"

His eyes lit up. "You two are Norwegian right?"

The bus ride had gone off without a hitch. Despite her jittery knees, Anna had enjoyed it; something she was secretly proud of. It had taken her a longer time to get used to the buses and subway in New York.

So when she walked onto campus with a smile on her face, a voice at the back of her head kept pestering her about all the things that could go wrong.

Anna scanned the directory again, gnawing on her bottom lip. Her first class was photojournalism and she would've been waiting by the classroom already if she were decent with directions. Living in New York hadn't helped her at all in that regard.

"Okay, it's in Building—"

Wheels skidding on pavement grabbed her attention. Anna glanced over her shoulder just as someone skated by. Two people followed him and her eyes flicked between their toothy grins and the small boards they rode. A familiar ache clawed at her chest. It had been years since she'd ridden a board. She couldn't even remember how the wind felt on her face.

Elsa's eyes— wide and horrified—flashed through her mind.

Anna scowled and hefted her bag up. She turned on her heel and headed towards her journalism class. Before she knew it, her feet were marching along tiled floors. The halls were empty. Anna chewed on the inside of her cheek and quickened her pace. She wasn't going to be late. She wasn't. This was an all new start. Moving to Los Angeles, attending a new college.

Living with Elsa again...

Distracted by her thoughts, Anna didn't notice the person in front of her. She yelped as she collided with a firm shoulder. Righting herself, she turned with an apology on her lips.

Sharp green eyes glared at her.

"Hey, watch it," he snarled before looking back at his phone.

Anna frowned, the urge to apologize dulled. "Sorry, I didn't see you there."

The young man glanced back at her and narrowed his eyes. Anna fought the urge to tap her foot as he made a show of looking up and down the hallway before concentrating on her again.

"That's an impressive feat since I'm the only one waiting here," he said.

The flush that sprouted on her cheeks was half from embarrassment and half from the irritation boiling in her veins. She humphed and crossed her arms.

"Maybe you shouldn't stand in the middle of the hallway then," she snapped.

The man's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. Then he smirked and Anna leaned back slightly at the sight of his smile. He had teeth so white she swore he'd been prepped for a dental commercial. That, coupled with his pressed slacks, expensive-looking blazer, and impressive sideburns reminded her of a better kept Wolverine.

She preferred Wolverine.

"You know what? I have better things to do than spend my time arguing with you."

Anna scowled. "That makes two of us."

Without another word, he turned down the hallway and disappeared around the corner.

Anna huffed. So much for starting the semester strong. With a sigh, she shook off her irritation and hurried to class. She still had time before it started, but after that fiasco she didn't want to take her chances.

When Anna walked into class and sat down however, her stomach dropped. Standing beside her teacher and speaking with him was the same guy she had just run into. After a few more minutes of conversation, her professor turned his attention to the class and smiled.

"Well, I'm glad to see so many of you made it on time for your first day." He clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "That's always a good sign. Anyway, hello everyone I'm Professor Santos and I will be your instructor for photojournalism." He gestured to the young man beside him and Anna frowned when the brunette flashed a brilliant white smile. "This young man here is Hans Westergard and he will be my teaching assistant this semester."

Anna's stomach plummeted to the floor. She had guessed he was just another student, not a teaching assistant. Hans's eyes scanned the classroom and she straightened when his gaze landed on her. His smile turned smug and her cheeks puffed in mixed embarrassment and irritation.

This was going to be a long semester.

It was a God given cliche that Anna's first day started off rough. Anxiety on the bus? Check. Bumping into someone and embarrassing herself? Check, check. Forgetting to pack a lunch for later so she was left to use what little cash she had in her pocket? Triple check. At one point, Anna thought about pinching herself to see if she was dreaming. She wasn't. And then she had to deal with an angry red spot below her elbow. Ouch.

But after today, she'd get to see Elsa with the knowledge that she was a fully-fledged student. It was silly, but the whole thing made Anna happier than she expected. And even better, after the rough start with her journalism class, the rest of Anna's classes went by in a flash. Sure, her head was crammed with overview lessons, necessary materials information, and more worry about finances than she'd like to admit, but Anna was grinning when she wandered into the art gallery.

Her mother would have wanted a photo of her standing there, lost in her element.

By the time photography rolled around, Anna was buzzing. Her feet fidgeted as her instructor—an older woman with a soft accent—went over the syllabus.

"And, since I believe art is an opportunity to unveil our deepest desires, one of your major projects will be a small series of photos that must be personal and—"

Anna ran a thumb over her camera bag as her professor continued. Her mind was already two steps ahead, bouncing potential ideas around. What it felt like moving from the middle of nowhere in Pennsylvania to a big city? Her time in New York? New York to California?

I could do something about me and Elsa.

She snapped out of her thoughts when the guy next to her got up. Anna blinked and looked around, realizing everyone else had started packing their bags. When another student tried to squeeze by her Anna leapt to her feet and shoved her notebook into her backpack. She muttered a quick apology before sliding out the door.

Anna panted and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, cheeks red. "Okay, note to self Anna, don't doze off this semester," she muttered. She brushed imaginary lint off her camera bag. "This semester you're gonna be cool, efficient, and on top of everything."

God, listen to me, I sound like I'm trying to be Elsa.

She frowned. A little voice at the back of her head laughed shrilly. Anna clamped a lid on it and walked towards the building's exit. But it wouldn't hurt to be more efficient. While her start in community college had been rough, with cram session after cram session, it had showed her the value of time management.

She could do this. She was ready.

She couldn't wait to get home and tell Elsa her first day had been smoothing sailing.

Well, except for—

Her face crashed into someone's back. Anna yelped and stumbled back, holding her nose. The other person cursed and turned around.

"Hey, watch where you're—"

Anna gaped at Hans. He gaped back, disbelief etched on his brow.

"You have got to be kidding me," he said. "Are you just naturally clumsy?"

Anna glared, blood hot in her veins. "Are you just naturally ignorant of the people around you?" she spat back. His stare morphed into a scowl. Anna expected him to make a smart remark back, but instead he just humphed and headed down the hallway. Her mouth dropped open a bit. After a few seconds, she closed it with a harsh snap and shifted her backpack on her shoulder. Anna muttered something under her breath and hurried to the exit.

Hans's gaze slid towards her when she appeared a step behind him. "Following me now Red?"

Anna narrowed her eyes. "It's Anna. And I'm not following you; the exit's this way." A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "I'm surprised someone as sharp as you didn't realize that."

Hans snorted. "With your sense of direction, I'm shocked you even knew where the exit was."

But Anna wasn't listening. Her eyes honed in on the bulletin board just before the double doors. Excitement bubbled in her stomach, replacing the angry course in her veins. Like a streetlight on a dark night, the poster shone brilliantly.

"HELP WANTED!"

Anna snatched the paper off the board and read it over. The hours were a little tight, but she could manage. She'd have to figure out transportation, but it wasn't far from her university. And the best thing? No experience was necessary. She could almost see the look on Elsa's face—blue eyes overjoyed and sparkling. Anna couldn't believe her luck. She hugged the paper to her chest, an ear-splitting grin on her face.

"What's gotten into you?"

Anna turned to see Hans by the exit. He had stopped walking when she bolted from behind him and was now staring at her as if she had cackled out of nowhere.

"Nothing," Anna replied too quickly. She flushed when he raised an eyebrow at her.

"Sure," he said, low and disbelieving.

Anna bristled, but let his tone slide. She didn't want her moment to be ruined by some guy she had just met!

It was like her own personal sun had shone down on her. Anna hugged the paper to her chest again and squealed, bouncing on her toes. It was the first time since coming to Los Angeles that she felt well and truly happy. No underlying bitterness, anxiety, or awkwardness locked tight in every joint of her body.

Hans leaned away from her, perturbed. "Weirdo."

"Am not!"

He laughed and reached for the door handle. A grin spread across his face. "Don't get so bent out of shape. It's okay to be a little crazy."

Anna spluttered in surprise. his change in demeanor catching her off-guard. Hans glanced at his watch and then pushed the door open.

"This has been fun, but I've got places to go, people to see." He threw her a final smile before slipping out the door and saying, "I'll see you next class Freckles!"

Anna scowled and called out, "It's Anna!"

Hans's laughter filled the air and left her fuming as the doors shut.

And she was the weirdo?

Anna stood there for a few minutes, wondering how she was going to deal with this guy for the whole semester. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Anna jumped and pulled it out. Her lips quirked into a tiny grin when she saw Rapunzel's name.

"Hope your first day went well! Mom and Dad send their love—XOXO."

Anna's heart skipped. Her relatives' devotion still made her feel warm and fuzzy. She'd have to get them something when she had the time. Or cash.

Her smile dropped when she noticed her phone's clock.

"I'm going to miss my bus!"

When Anna arrived back at the complex, the sun had set and all of the windows of the apartment were lit. Even her sister's. She blinked several times before rushing up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time. The light under the apartment door spilled into the hallway and made her heart race faster than the run.

Anna panted from exertion and shifted her backpack closer to her. The jingle of her keys filled her ears as she reached for the knob, her head spinning as she pushed the door open.

"Elsa?"

The sound of metal hitting the floor made her jump. A frustrated shout followed another clank. Elsa appeared a few seconds later and Anna's mouth dropped. Several strands hung loose from her sister's immaculate bun, the top button of her blouse undone and her makeup smudged. Anna's eyes dipped down to Elsa's waist. The black skirt was covered in flour prints.

And Elsa's prim, ironed jacket was slung haphazardly over one of the kitchen chairs.

She wanted to say Elsa was home early, but what came out was, "You look like crap."

Elsa rolled her eyes. "Thank you for your observation." She ducked back into the kitchen.

Anna hurriedly tugged off her shoes and dropped her backpack on the couch. "What are you doing home so early?" she asked, poking her head into the kitchen. She frowned at the sight of Elsa furiously stirring some kind of batter.

"Construction starts tomorrow so Mr. Weselton let us off early for finishing today's work sufficiently." Elsa curled her fingers in an air-quotes gesture and Anna was torn between laughter and sympathy. Sympathy won over when she noticed the dark bags under Elsa's eyes and the wrinkles along her brow.

Anna hesitated before grabbing the bowl in Elsa's arms. "Let me do that. You should shower." Elsa glanced at her and Anna gave a half-smile.

Her older sister bit her lip and Anna loosened her grip, hesitating. Would Elsa say no?

"I can't."

She was getting better at predicting her sister's moods. Anna's shoulders dropped and she let the bowl go. Elsa hugged it close to her chest, fingertips tapping repeatedly against the rim.

Anna turned towards the hallway. "I guess I'll go get started on homework if you don't need me—"

"This was supposed to be for you."

She whirled around so fast her feet slipped against the hardwood flooring. "Huh?" she asked intelligently. At last she noticed the iron contraption on the kitchen counter. Her eyes widened. "Where did you get that?"

Elsa grimaced, pink tinting her cheeks in embarrassment. "A coworker of mine let me borrow it. I thought we could celebrate your first day with krumkake." She pointed at a few spots on the griddle where batter had stuck and turned black. "As you can see, it's not going so well."

Anna glanced between Elsa and the griddle. With flour on her work clothes and her bangs plastered to her forehead, Elsa reminded Anna of their mother. A pang hit her in the chest. Except for her hair, Elsa was the spitting image of her. She even had Idunn's light dusting of freckles.

Elsa shifted under her gaze and with a start, Anna realized she'd been staring again. She cleared her throat and asked, "Does this have anything to do with Mama and Papa's anniversary?"

Elsa's shoulder twitched and she returned to stirring the batter with a vengeance. "Sort of. I wanted to practice the recipe, but," she faltered, "I really did just want to make it for you…"

Heat flooded Anna's cheeks. Her stomach somersaulted and a lump rose in her throat. This morning she had wondered if Elsa realized how important today was to her. And here her older sister was; tired from work, yet trying to treat her.

Elsa frowned worriedly at her and stopped stirring. "Anna?"

Anna jumped and tried to hide her grin. Her face—no, her whole body was tingling. Being wrong had never felt so right.

I could kiss her.

She wouldn't, of course. Elsa didn't take too well to overt displays of affection.

Her sister brushed her palms over her skirt, trailing more flour over it. Anna wanted to comment on the mess, maybe even lightly tease Elsa about it. The white flour brought out her sister's blue eyes. She thought better of it when she noticed Elsa's blush spreading down her neck. With a twinge, Anna remembered Elsa's childhood shyness. She bit her lip and glanced back at the iron griddle, eying the small, burnt remains of Elsa's failed attempts.

"So does this mean we're having dessert for dinner?" Anna asked.

Elsa let out out a surprised, undignified snort. "Don't test me Anna, there's a chicken salad in the fridge."

Anna flexed her fingers. The tingles in her body spread to her toes. A flutter, like a butterfly's wing, started in her chest and dipped to her stomach. Her mouth formed a silent "Oh," as Elsa returned to stirring. This time Anna didn't fight the smile forming on her lips as she turned to the fridge. The clank of dishes and sizzle of the krumkake griddle filled the kitchen for the next several minutes.

When the table was set and a platter of golden brown krumkake was placed down, Elsa excused herself to clean up. Anna watched the tail end of her flour-covered skirt with amusement. She plopped down into her seat and rubbed her knee until Elsa came back, dressed in a simple baby-blue dress.

Anna grinned up at her sister. "So is the 'you're home early' deal going to be a thing?"

Elsa slid into her seat with a dark frown. "Don't bet on it," she muttered. Anna's smile faltered as Elsa stabbed into her chicken salad. "Weselton's been a bit more lenient these days because we're starting construction, but as soon as he has his eye on another client, we'll be back to square one."

Anna clenched her jaw. "You ever think about quitting?" Elsa snapped her gaze to her and Anna winced. "Right, stupid idea. Sorry."

Elsa shrugged and returned to her dinner. "I liked what I do and it pays the bills."

"Even if your boss is a dick?"

Elsa snorted and Anna brightened.

"Language, Anna," Elsa said.

Despite the seriousness of her tone, her eyes glimmered with amusement. A smile tugged at the corner of Elsa's mouth and she returned to her meal with loose shoulders. Anna watched her eat, chewing on her lip. The tips of her ears felt warm. She didn't know if it was from exertion and the Los Angeles heat or because—

Elsa's rare laugh was slowly becoming intoxicating.

A jolt ran through Anna. She gulped and jumped from her chair.

"Speaking of paying bills!"

Elsa jerked back and stared at her as she hurried to the living room. Anna returned to her sister's side with the "help wanted" paper in her hands.

"It's part time and close to campus," Anna said, grinning.

Elsa took the poster and looked it over. Her brow furrowed and Anna's stomach tightened.

"An automobile shop?"

Anna shrugged and nodded, hands in her pockets to refrain from twiddling her fingers. Elsa's eyes flicked to her.

"Is that going to require heavy lifting?"

There was an edge to her voice that made Anna's insides coil. "I don't think so…" she mumbled. Elsa's eyes narrowed. Anna rubbed her arm. "It says no experience necessary Elsa. I think they'd want someone with experience to handle the heavy lifting. I'll probably just be a cashier or something."

Elsa bit her lip and Anna wanted to throw her hands up in the air, but she resisted. Instead, she fixed her older sister with a set of puppy-dog eyes, pouting for maximum effectiveness.

"Come on Elsa, you have to admit this is a good opportunity."

Elsa sighed and ran a hand through her bangs. "Anna, I'm just being cautious. If you strain your knee—"

Anna ground her teeth together. "I'll be fine Elsa. It's not like I'll try to hurt myself." Guilt flashed across Elsa's face and Anna unclenched her jaw. "Elsa, you know I can't stand lying around." She dropped her gaze and fiddled with her hands. "I need to do something. Besides school."

Elsa sighed and the defeat in her voice made Anna's gut wrench. "Can you at least promise me you'll talk to me about the job before accepting?"

Anna's eyes widened. "Really?!"

Elsa squirmed in her seat, but nodded. The redhead squealed and darted forward to kiss her sister's cheek. Her lips had barely brushed smooth skin before Elsa tensed and drew back slightly.

"Tomorrow then?"

Anna dug her fingernails into the palms of her hands. She pushed away the hurt from Elsa's retreat and smiled sheepishly. "I'll call you right after."

Elsa returned her smile, though it looked forced. Anna hesitated, wondering if she should step back. They were still close.

The seconds passed between them, the air hot and stifling. Anna longed to touch Elsa's cheek. Brush the back of her hand along ivory skin and caress Elsa's jaw. In a flash, she remembered her sister, almost seven years old, cupping her cheeks and kissing each one.

Then Elsa averted her gaze and Anna was brought back to LA's still night.

"Your dinner's getting cold," her sister mumbled.

Anna blew at her bangs and slid back into her seat. "Nothing gets cold here," she said, trying to keep her voice light.

The corner of Elsa's mouth lifted the slightest bit. "Soon as the wildfires die out, you'll be singing a different tune."

Anna's muscles relaxed and she dove back into her meal. Kale and chicken were halfway down her throat when Elsa spoke again.

"So how was class?"

Anna's gaze flicked over to her sister. Elsa kept her eyes on her plate. She frowned. "It was okay, except for this one jerk," she said around a mouthful of greens.

Elsa grunted, pushing her fork around. "Was the bus ride okay?" There was something off about her voice, as if Elsa was preoccupied.

"Other than trying to get on?" Anna joked, grinning. Her sister's brow furrowed and she shrugged. Anna's frown returned, disappointment heavy in her chest. She set her fork down and sighed. "Elsa what's wrong?"

Elsa started, blue eyes wide. "What? Wrong? There's nothing wrong. Everything's fine."

Anna crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "You've been stabbing the same leaf this whole time."

Elsa opened her mouth and closed it. Her hands flitted from her plate to her chest and then down to her lap, as if she wasn't sure what to do with them. Anna's eyes darted from her sister's slender fingers to her face, taking in the crease along her brow and the twitch of her lips. Finally, Elsa placed her fork down and rubbed the back of her neck.

"I was thinking," she began slowly, "besides holding an anniversary for Pa and Ma, maybe we should do something for ourselves…?"

Anna blinked several times. Her heart sped up. They had already planned to bake together, but Elsa wanted to do more. Anna wasn't used to that. A grin split her face and she reached across the table, clasping Elsa's hand. Elsa jumped in her seat, but Anna ignored it, holding the pale fingers as close as she could across the table.

"What did you have in mind?" she asked, eyes shining.

Elsa chewed on her bottom lip, pensive. After a moment, she smiled shyly and said, "How about ice-skating?"

Anna blinked several times again. "Where are we going to ice skate in this desert?" she blurted out.

Elsa burst into laughter. Anna frowned in confusion, then pouted as her sister tried to cover her mouth. A delicate blush sprouted on Elsa's cheeks and Anna's chest clenched. Her confusion mounted as an odd mix of embarrassment and delight fluttered in her stomach.

She hadn't heard Elsa laugh since they were kids.

Even if Elsa was laughing at her, Anna couldn't find it in her to react. So she sat there, a bashful smile teasing the edge of her lips.

Eventually, Elsa's laughter dissolved into giggles and coughs. She cleared her throat, cheeks red from exertion. Anna humphed, though she wasn't really mad. Guilt flashed across Elsa's face.

"I'm sorry Anna, I didn't—I wasn't laughing at you. I just—" Elsa groaned and slapped a hand over her face.

Anna grinned crookedly at her and leaned her head on her arms. "It's okay. I didn't really mind. I'm just glad your job hasn't robbed you of all sense of fun."

Elsa's shoulders bunched up to her ears, but she smiled shyly down at her cold dinner. Anna mentally cheered that for once her awkward mouth behaved.

"So mind sharing your age old wisdom with me on where we could ice skate?" she asked. When Elsa chuckled, Anna added in a softer voice, "I would really love to…"

Her sister straightened. "LA has ice rinks."

This time Anna's embarrassment overwhelmed her. "Oh," she said, ears flushing scarlet. "Right, that makes sense."

Elsa's lips twitched. "I know one that's open all year round. It'd be perfect for our schedule." With her free hand, she pulled out her phone from her jacket, grunting at the awkward position of her shoulder.

Anna's brow furrowed. She let go of her sister's hand as Elsa searched through her phone. "Does this mean you're going to request the day off?" Anna asked.

Elsa frowned at her phone and Anna worried she'd struck a nerve.

"I was planning to take a sick day when we first agreed to do something together," Elsa said. Her eyes hardened and she placed her phone down with a sigh.

Yeah, I definitely struck a nerve.

Anna sat up in her chair and bit the inside of her cheek. Her back pressed awkwardly against the plastic of her seat. The corners dug into her shoulders and the discomfort heightened the atmosphere's tension.

"Elsa, I'm sorry. I didn't—that came out wrong," Anna stammered. Elsa's mouth twitched. Anna tugged on one of her braids and tried to work around her thick, clumsy tongue. "Oh boy, that was really stupid of me. You probably got the day planned out already."

Elsa chuckled and shook her head. "Well, I don't have the whole day planned. That's why I asked if you wanted to go ice-skating in the first place."

"Right," Anna squeaked. Why did it always feel as if her mind couldn't keep track of things whenever she was around Elsa? It had been like that since she was a little girl. And growing up? It had gotten worse. Even before the accident, Anna had been incredibly conscious of her wayward mouth and gangly, awkward limbs around her sister.

The sound of nails tapping along a phone's touch screen pulled her back to the present. Anna blinked as Elsa typed away rapidly, the very tip of her tongue poking out of her mouth in the most thoughtful and relaxed way.

"So ice-skating early in the day and a memorial at home. How does that sound?" Elsa asked.

Anna's stomach fluttered. Though Elsa had barely made eye contact with her throughout the whole conversation, Anna's skin tingled at the thought of Elsa coming home, making dinner for her, and waiting for the right moment to discuss what they could do that day. Together.

Anna gripped the edges of her seat to hide her trembling hands. She grinned and leaned forward, trying to get a glimpse of her sister's cell phone screen.

"Can we go early?" she asked.

Elsa laughed. The sound tinkled like a bell and ignited a sweet longing in Anna's heart.

"So long as you don't oversleep," her sister said. Teased!

Anna's eyes widened. She splayed her hand over her chest in mock offense. "Me oversleep? Never!"

The corner of Elsa's lips curled up. She looked away from her phone and fixed Anna with a fond smile. The blue in her eyes glowed from the yellow-orange of the kitchen light.

"Knowing you, you'll stay awake all night," Elsa said before turning back to her phone.

Anna gulped at the rosy hue on her sister's cheeks. Was Elsa flushed from the heat? Probably, her mind rationed. Her pale complexion had always shown an overheated blush like a nightlight in a dark, dark room.

Yeah, Anna thought, palms suddenly sweaty. Her eyes flicked from the apple of Elsa's cheek down to the slender curve of her ivory throat. It was probably the heat.

She distantly heard Elsa say something about checking to see if they could score a slot at eight or nine. She couldn't focus. Again, she couldn't focus.

Elsa typed a little more before eating the last few bites of her dinner offhandedly. The tension along her shoulders had dissipated. She looked the most relaxed Anna had seen since she had arrived. A part of her wondered if it had something to do with getting off work earlier. A selfish part wished it was because of her.

Regardless, Elsa wore a tentative smile.

Anna grinned crookedly. She'd take what she could get.

She had just turned back to her plate when Elsa spoke up again.

"Although, before July comes, I want you to check in with the doctor."

Crap.

"Seriously?"

Elsa fixed her with a look.

Anna wilted and nodded. "Yeah, okay." God, she hated doctors. But if going to the hospital again meant Elsa was willing to spend time with her then damn it, it was worth it.

"So you mentioned some guy before?" Elsa's words came out slow and quiet.

Anna beamed. She ducked her head so Elsa wouldn't see how red her cheeks were. It was silly to be so happy over a simple question. But with the low light hitting Elsa's white-blonde hair and the quiet of the streets, she couldn't help it. It was like being in Pennsylvania again. When it had been the four of them.

"The jerk? Oh god Elsa, you know those guys in movies who are like, rich kids from some billionaire? Well, this guy—"

Elsa giggled at her opening line. The little snort made up for the whole day's anxiety and frustrations.

"You sure you don't want me to help you with the dishes?"

For the third time, Anna rolled her eyes. "I did dishes by myself last week." Elsa winced out of the corner of her eye. Anna tensed and stammered, "You made dinner so I should wash the dishes. Get a system going if we can, you know?"

Elsa relaxed a little and nodded. "Good point. We should really…" she trailed off for a moment before nodding more firmly, "embrace the whole living together thing."

"Does that include leaving clothes on the floor?"

Elsa scowled. "No Anna."

Anna grinned cheekily. "Worth a shot."

Elsa rolled her eyes and disappeared down the hallway. "I'm going to shower," she said.

"Good, because you have flour fingertip prints on your face!"

Elsa's exasperated groan made Anna giggle. Minutes later, the apartment was filled with the sound of rushing water. The traffic sounds outside rolled in through their small balcony and mingled with the rushing water. Anna let the atmosphere consume her as she washed.

Her first day had ended well. She and Elsa were bantering back and forth like actual siblings. Even the prospect of doctor visits couldn't get her down.

She bit her bottom lip, frowning.

So why did it feel like something was missing?

The sound of the shower slowed and a timid voice called out to her.

"Um, Anna?"

Anna blinked a few times and glanced over her shoulder. "Coming!" she said. She put away the last plate and hurriedly dried her hands. She made one final check-over to see if everything was in order. Satisfied, she rounded into the hallway and squeezed past the bathroom door. "Elsa? What did you need—"

Beyond the light steam, a shadow filled her vision. Anna's heart lurched in her throat.

Elsa's slim figure shifted behind the shower curtains. Even hunched, Anna noticed the dip of curves. Her eyes jumped to the line that moved from shoulder blade to lower back. Blood rushed to her ears.

"Anna?'

Elsa's shy voice cut through the fog in her mind. She flushed and realized Elsa had been talking.

"W-what?"

"A towel please," Elsa moved closer to the wall, curling into it, "I forgot mine…"

Something about seeing—hearing Elsa be so vulnerable put her into overdrive. Anna whirled around and bumped into the toilet. She yelped as her knee flared in protest.

"Are you okay?" Elsa shrieked.

"I'm okay. It's okay!" Anna said. She was flustered and sweating. It was the heat, she told herself. The heat in the damn bathroom. Her socks slipped on the tiled floor in her haste. She grabbed the door and caught herself, yelling, "I got—I mean, I'll get it! One towel coming right up!"

Anna bolted to the closet where they kept their towels. She stopped there and tried to catch her breath. Her skin was buzzing. Her face was burning. Her pulse was louder than the sound of the shower. She pressed a hand to her chest, heart pounding beneath her fingertips.

She was just...embarrassed right? She had—well actually, she hadn't walked in on Elsa showering. Elsa had called her. Anna hadn't done anything wrong or weird. But it felt like she had.

What the hell was wrong with her?

Anna let out a breath and rummaged for a towel in the cabinet. She pulled out an extra soft, light blue one and hurried back to Elsa.

"H-hey, sorry for taking so long," Anna called as she re-entered. Elsa was up against the wall again. Anna frowned. "Did the water get cold?" she asked as she set the towel down on the tiny towel rack near the shower.

Elsa shifted and a lump formed in Anna's throat when her older sister wrapped her arms around herself. Goosebumps traveled down Anna's neck.

"No," Elsa said. A beat passed and she asked, hesitantly, "Is your knee really alright Anna?"

Anna let out a wheezing cough. "Y-yeah! It just stings a little is all."

Elsa leaned closer to the curtain and Anna took a step back.

"Are you sure?" her sister asked, low and quiet.

It sent a shiver down Anna's spine.

"Totally," Anna chirped. She forced a smile on her face even though Elsa couldn't see it and jerked a thumb over her shoulder. "I'm going to get started on my homework so, uh, bye!"

Slender, pale fingers appeared from behind the curtain. "Wait, Anna—"

Without another word, Anna rushed out. She ran into her bedroom and slammed the door shut behind her. It almost drowned out her thundering heartbeat. Anna let out a shuddery breath and wiped her clammy hands on her jeans.

Deep breaths Anna, deep breaths.

The image of a svelte, hour-glass shadow appeared in her mind's eye.

Anna flushed hotly and stumbled to her bed. She plopped on it and grabbed her pillow, hugging to her. God, it had been way too long since she imagined another girl's form. The last time she had been on anything resembling a date had been even longer.

"Wait, that's it!" Anna bolted upright and grinned to herself. "That's what I'd been missing! Romance!"

A sudden wave of cold relief rushed through her and she flopped back down. Why hadn't she thought of that before? She had a new school in LA, a new home. A new start on everything. Her love life could get a makeover too.

Anna sighed and pulled at the edges of her pillow. "That's probably why I felt so weird around Elsa just now. Projecting or whatever that word was Punzie used. God, why am I so weird?"

Anna rolled over to face the wall. She curled into a fetal position and touched her cheek with her fingertips. Her skin was still warm.

"It's hot," she whispered to herself.

It was the heat, she told herself.

The Los Angeles heat.

And then I had the week that came from hell