Chapter 3

"I really can't believe someone would do something like that." Elsa grumbled angrily. The rusted old truck bumped along the dirt road, snow covering the ground around them.

"So he just...god..." Elsa sighed.

"I know..." Anna said, her cheeks flushed pink. "...some guys just, they think they can do whatever they want."

"But, touching you like that, hitting you..." Elsa rolled her eyes. A moment of silence deafened the air between them, as the truck slowly bumped along, finally reaching paved road. They were close to town now.

"He should be put in jail for what he did to you." Elsa grumbled, the veins in her forehead visibly popping from her anger.

"His parents are rich." Anna sighed, her head hanging low. "His brothers too. It's all just...I had to get out of that situation."

"So, you just ran away?" Elsa asked.

"Yea. Just packed up my bags while he was at work, and drove. I didn't know where I was going, I just knew I had to leave."

"Well, good for you girl." Elsas anger subsided, and she gave the redhead a small smile, and slid her hand over the bench seat, placing it on Anna's knees. The redhead blushed, and placed her hand on top of Elsa's. For a moment, their hands just sat on Anna's knee, the redhead's fingers slowly began to close around Elsa's pale hand. It was instinctive, Anna's hand wrapping around Elsa's.

After a moment, Elsa pulled her hand away, her cheeks bright red. Anna seemed a bit started, almost saddened, that Elsa pulled away from her so suddenly. She had started to enjoy the warmth and kindness from the blonde, a feeling she hadn't felt in a long time.

But she tried not to think too much of it, and instead decided to change up the conversation.

"So..." Anna said quietly, as Elsa's eyes looked straight ahead to the road.

"...how long have you lived in Arendelle?"

"I've..." Elsa paused for a moment, and exhaled, as if she was holding in her breath.

"...I've loved her for the last 10 years or so."

"Where did you live before?" Anna asked.

"...you really want to know about my life?" Elsa asked, almost surprised the someone took an interest in her.

"Of course." Anna said with a smile. "I mean, I've told you my story. Now you get to tell me yours."

"..." Elsa paused. After a moment, she sighed, and returned Anna's smile.

"...I used to live in Los Angeles." Elsa said quietly.

"Really?" Anna said, louder than she had meant to. Elsa's eyes shot wide for a moment, surprised at the redhead's loudness.

"Me too! That's where i...well it's where is used to live to."

"Then you can see why I moved." Elsa chuckled, though Anna's puzzled look showed she didn't know what the blonde meant.

"I just...I dealt with a lot of stuff there too. Not like you did, but...I had to get out of there."

"Why?" Anna asked, and Elsa's eyes dropped.

"Oh, no, please, If it's too much-" Anna started to say.

"No no, it's fine..." Elsa quietly spoke, almost a whisper. "It's just...well, I guess I should tell you..."

"Tell me what?" Anna asked, as Elsa's face became more pale than her normal pasty complexion.

Elsa slowly looked up from the steering wheel, and glanced over at Anna.

"Anna..." Elsa said slowly, as if she was holding in the worlds deepest, darkest secret.

"...Anna, I'm-"

"DEER!"

The redhead shouted, and Elsa's wide eyes darted back to the road, in the nic of time. Elsa pulled hard on the steering wheel, barely fast enough to swerve her truck out of the way, slamming on the brakes. Elsa and Anna both lurched forward, without their seatbelts they surely would've gone through the windshield, as the truck skidded to a halt. A large deer darted past the front of the truck, and just as fast as it had appeared, it was gone, disappearing into the trees on the side of the road.

Elsa and Anna day, wide eyed in their seats, both of their breathing labored and heavy. Adrenaline rushed through then bodies, coursing through their veins. For a moment, all they could hear was the creaking of the truck's engine, and their own heavy breathing.

Then, a chuckled. After that, laughter. In a fit of adrenaline fueled hysteria, they both began to laugh out loud. They laughed so hard, tears began to form in their eyes. For a minute, they laughed together.

"Holy...shit..." Anna stuttered, her voice strained and her breathing heavy.

"I know, right..." Elsa chuckled, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow, pushing a strand of platinum hair behind her ear.

"...fuck..."

After a while, they came down from their laughter, and wiped the happy tears from their eyes.

"Ready to get some food?" Elsa stuttered, still softly chuckling.

"Yea, is fucking starving." Anna giggled.

Elsa released the brakes, and the truck rolled forward.

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"Granny's diner." Elsa said, as she shut the truck door behind her. Anna stepped out of the passenger seat, snow crunching beneath her ugg boots. Elsa walked around to the passenger side of the truck, and stood next to Anna, who was just staring at the diner.

It was like something out of the 1950's. The front of the building was all stainless steel, with red stripes horizontal all over the front. Above the door, was a large neon sign that read "Granny's". Other neon signs lit up the windows, 'hot coffee' 'fresh pie' even a 'Coca-Cola' sign.

"Wow..." Anna said softly, causing Elsa to chuckle.

"I know, right?" Elsa laughed. "It's like-"

"A time machine." Anna said quietly. She stood back and marveled at the silver, shiny building, lit up in bright neon colors. Elsa stood next to her for a moment, just watching as Anna wondered at the old diner.

"Well, don't just stand there..." Elsa chuckled, bringing Anna's attention away from the diner, and to the platinum haired girl.

"Let's go in."

Elsa heals the door open for Anna, who's jaw dropped as soon as she stepped inside.

If the outside of the diner was impressive, the inside was even more so.

The floors were black and white checkered, and the booth seats were red leather, just like out of a movie. There was a stainless steel bar top, and behind it, soda fountains and milkshake machines. Multiple neon signs hung on the walls, filling the room with bright colors. Old movie poster for grease, back to the future, and others hung on the walls.

Elsa laughed as Anna slowly picked her jaw up from the floor. The redhead looked around, and saw that the diner had hardly anyone in it. An elderly couple sat in a booth, while a younger man, probably in his mid 40's Anna guess, sat at the bar with, surprisingly, a beer mug.

"What do you think?" Elsa asked, grabbing Anna's attention. "Booth, or bar?"

"Umm..." Anna puzzled for a moment, spoiled for choice. The restaurant was nearly empty, they had their pick of where to sit. Anna looked over, and saw an older woman, probably late 70's, dressed in a 1950's style waitress outfit, standing behind the stainless steel bar top.

"The bar?" Anna suggested, and Elsa chuckled. The platinum blonde lead Anna over to the bar top, where they both sat down on the red, cushioned bar stools. Almost immediately, the older waitress walked over to them, and greeted them both with a wide smile.

"Well good morning Miss Elsa." Said the waitress, in a sweet, grandmotherly voice, with a wide smile across her wrinkled cheeks.

"Morning Granny." Elsa smiled back, as the older waitress (who Anna saw had a name tag, with Granny written on it in cursive lettering) place menus in front of both of them.

"And who is this you have with you?" Granny smiled at Anna, who's cheeks flushed red, as she returned the wide grin.

"This is Anna." Elsa smiled, and Anna just gave a small wave of her hand.

"It's nice to meet you Miss Anna." Granny smiled, holding out her wrinkled hand. And smiled, taking the older woman's hand, and gingerly shook it.

"Now what will it be for you Miss Anna?" Granny asked. "What can I start you off with? Coffee? Tea? Glass of milk?"

"Umm..." Anna hummed, staring down at the menu. "...d-do you have, hot chocolate?"

"Why of course we do dear." Granny said with a smile, and Elsa stifled a laugh. "Would you like whipped cream on top?"

"Y-yes please." Anna said sheepishly, though the smile still sat on her lips.

"And for you Miss Elsa, I assume the usual?" Granny now turned her smile to the blonde, who simply nodded. The older woman turned to the other side of the counter, grabbing a couple mugs to make their drinks.

"The usual?" Anna whispered to Elsa, who just grinned.

"Half got chocolate, half coffee." Elsa chuckled. "With whipped cream and cinnamon on top."

"Damn..." Anna chuckled. " that sounds pretty good."

After a few moments, Granny turned back to the girls, with a mug in each hand, both topped with whipped cream, and with small flecks of cinnamon.

"I added a little cinnamon to yours dear..." Granny smiled at Anna, as she set the mugs down in front of the girls. "I think you'll like it."

"Thank you ma'am." Anna smiled, as she wrapped her hands around the warm mug of hot coco.

"Oh please, call me Granny." Smiled the old woman. "Everybody does."

Anna took a sip from her mug, and the drink was just as good as Elsa's. The warm, thick chocolate trickled down her throat, warming her insides. She let out a soft happy groan, as the chocolatey goodness coated her tongue.

"Mmmm..." Anna hummed.

"I told you it would be good." Granny chuckled, before turning away and walking down the bar, to the older man sitting a few seats away from them.

"Anna..." Elsa chuckled, as the redhead set her mug down on the bar top. Anna turned her head to face Elsa, who giggled.

"Anna, you've got..." Elsa gestured with her finger, whipping her own nose. Anna crosses her eyes to look at the bridge of her nose, and saw a fluff of white on the top of her nose. She blushed, quickly grabbing a napkin, and whipping away the whipped cream.

"Sorry." Anna said softly, whipping her nose again, making sure to get every bit of cream off.

"Don't worry..." Elsa chuckled. "...it was cute."

There it was again. Anna's cheeks blushed even darker red. Elsa had called her cute again. Was she just being sweet? Or was she-

"Now, what can I get you girls to eat?" Granny broke Anna's train of though, as she stood in front of the girls. Anna, flustered, grabbed up her menu and looked over the options. She had been so preoccupied that she hadn't even looked at the food options.

"I'll have-" Elsa began to say, but granny interrupted her.

"Your usual?" Chuckled the old woman.

"You know me so well Granny." Elsa chuckled, handing her menu to the old woman. Anna quickly scanned the menu, and picked her breakfast.

"I'll have...the pancakes please." Anna said quietly, folding her menu. Granny smiled, and took the menu from Anna. She shouted into the back, telling the chef what food to prepare.

"Gramps, we got a silver dollar stack, and a French toast platter."

"You got it hun." Shouted a voice from the back, lower and more grumbly than Granny's.

"Gramps?" Anna chuckled.

"Granny and Gramps have been running the diner since...well before I ever got here." Elsa smiled, taking a sip of her coffee/coco drink.

"They seem to know you pretty well." Anna said, taking a sip of her own coco.

"I come here a few times a week." Elsa smiled. "I don't really cook for myself a lot."

"I noticed." Anna chuckled. "Your fridge is pretty empty."

"Yea." Elsa smiled, her cheeks flushing pink.

After a few minutes, both Elsa and Anna had finished their drinks, and Granny was in the back, presumably helping her husband prepare the food.

"So..." Anna said, drinking in the last sip of her coco. "...what were you going to say, back in the truck?"

"What?" Elsa asked, turning her head to face the redhead.

"I asked why you left LA. And you said you were 'somthing'?"

"Oh...right..." Elsa's blush went away, and the pale returned to her cheeks. She took a deep breath in, and exhaled.

"Anna..."

"Pancake stack for you..." Granny broke the tension between the girls, both their faces turned to the older woman. Granny set down plates in front of each of them, both piled high with food.

"And French toast for you." Granny smiled, sliding the plate in front of Elsa.

Anna's plate was piled high, with at least 6 fluffy, warm pancakes, covered in dripping melted butter. Elsa plate had what looked like almost a whole loaf of bread, battered and fried to become French toast. Anna's eyes grew wide, marveling at the mountains of food in front of them.

"You girls need to get some meat on your bones." Granny chuckled, placing a bottle of maple syrup between them.

"Thanks Granny." Elsa smiled, quickly grabbing her fork and knife, cutting into a slice of French toast. Anna took a moment, and gather the strength she needed to tackle the mound of food in front of her, before grabbing up her own fork and knife, and cutting into her pancakes.

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"Oh...my...god..." Anna groaned, leaning forward over her plate of half eaten pancakes. She had managed to eat almost 4 pancakes, but there was still just as many left on her plate.

"I'm so full..." she mumbled, rubbing her stomach, which felt like it was close to bursting.

"Me too." Elsa chuckled, sliding her own plate away from her. She had managed to eat over half of her French toast, but there was still plenty left on her plate.

Without being asked to, Granny walked over to the girls, with two styrofoam containers, and started putting their leftover food in the to go trays.

"Granny, that was so good." Anna grumbled, her stomach feeling bloated.

"As always, it was delicious." Elsa chuckled. "My compliments to Gramps."

"I'm sure he will appreciate it, like always." Granny smiled, closing up the to go trays and placing them in front of the girls. Elsa reached into her back pocket for her wallet, but the old woman stopped her.

"Oh come now dear, you know your money is no good here." Granny smiled.

"Granny..." Elsa groaned, with a smile on her face. "Please..."

"No no no, you have helped us out plenty. You know you don't have to pay."

"At least let me pay for Anna." Elsa said, as the redhead reached to her own back pocket. Embarrassingly, she had left her wallet in her car, which was still broken down and back at Elsa's. Anna blushed, as Elsa and Granny argued.

"Come now, any friend of yours is always welcome here." Granny smiled, now looking to Anna, who smiled back.

"You don't owe us anything deary."

"Th-thank you, Granny." Anna stuttered, and the old woman just smiled back at her. After placing the food containers into a bag, Granny bid the girls goodbye, both Elsa and Anna stood up from the bar top.

"She's so nice." Anna said quietly, Elsa just chuckled.

"Yea, she really is." Elsa smiled.

"Hey...you..." the girls heard a slurred, drunken grumble from down the bar.

"Him, however..." Elsa groaned, as both girls turned to face the voice who had spoken out.

The man seated down the bar from them had turned in his seat, now facing the girls. His clothes were ratty and torn up, his jeans stained with grease and dirt, along with his jacket. He had a dirty 5 o'clock shadow, and his face was covered in grease and soot. He looked like he hadn't bathed in weeks, and Anna swore she could smell his breath from across the restaurant, it stank of beer and cigarettes.

"What do you want Alexander?" Elsa asked, her tone sounding very annoyed.

"You...think you can just...eat for free b'cause you fix tings?" Grumbled the drunken man. Elsa was visibly annoyed, almost on the verge of anger.

"I tried to pay, but Granny is just too nice." Elsa smiled confidently, annoying the drunk. "Obviously, she still lets you drink at 9 am."

"I...brought my...own beer." Grumbled the drunk, grabbing his beer mug and gulping down the last swing of pale yellow alcohol.

"Lovely." Elsa groaned, grabbing Anna's arm to pull her out of the diner.

"You...stupid dyke..." grumbled Alexander.

The last word cut through the air like a knife. The whole diner fell silent, even the kitchen ceased to make noise. Elsa stopped dead in her tracks, her whole body stiff with rage. Anna stood frozen, not believing what she just heard.

Elsa released Anna's arm, and slowly turned to face the drunken man, arrogantly smiling while sitting on the bar stool.

"Don't make me kick your ass...again." Elsa hissed, the words spat like venom out of her mouth. Her eyes had become angry slits, and her fists were clenched so tight that her knuckles were bright white.

"You didn't...beat me last time." Alexander grumbled, his eyes glazed over. Granny stood at the end of the bar, arms crossed in frustration, as she stared at the drunk.

"Yes, I did." Elsa hissed. "And if you ever speak to me that way again, I'll beat you so hard, you'll be drinking you meals through a straw."

Alexander gave a huff and a chuckled, and swiveled in his seat to turn back to the bar, almost falling off of the stool.

"Alright, out!" Granny shouted, flapping her towel at Alexander. He held his hands over his face, as Granny whipped him with the small towel.

"Get out of my restaurant!" She shouted. "You're not welcome here any more!"

"Alright, alright." Alexander grumbled. "I'm goin..."

Elsa and Anna both watched as the drunken man stumbled out of his seat, his legs shaking as her walked. As he walked past them, Elsas eyes shot daggers into him, Alexander just drunkenly chuckling to himself. After a few moments of drunken stumbling, he walked out of the diner, the door swinging shut behind him.

"I'm so sorry about that dear." Granny said to Elsa, as she walked out from behind the bar top. "I shouldn't have let him in."

"It's...it's okay Granny." Elsa took a deep breath, and exhaled heavily.

"He's just an asshole."

"Well he shouldn't have called you names." Granny said, patting Elsa on the shoulder. "That was very rude of him."

"I know." Elsa sighed. "But I've been called worse."

"Still, it's no excuse." Granny sighed. "But here..." she said, walking back to the bar, she grabbed two to go cups, and handed them to Elsa and Anna.

"Hot chocolate, for the road."

"Granny..." Elsa's smile returned, as she and Anna took the warm cups from the old woman. "...you didn't have to-"

"But I wanted to." Granny smiled. Elsa and Anna both thanked her, and turned to walk out of the diner, only to find that the old couple, who had been sitting in a booth in the corner of the restaurant, and had seen the whole ordeal, were standing behind them.

"Hey Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap." Elsa smiled, the older couple smiling back at the girls.

"You know..." said Mrs. Dunlap. "...for what it's worth, I'm glad you finally found someone."

Anna's eyes grew wide, as Elsa's face went gaunt white.

"No, were not...I-"

"You two make a lovely couple." Mr. Dunlap smiled at the two girls, Anna's eyes grew even wider.

Frozen in place, both Elsa and Anna were speechless. The older couple walked past them towards the register, bidding them a good day.

After a moment of awkward silence, Elsa took a step forward towards to door. Anna broke out of her confused trance, and followed behind the blonde. They walked out of the diner, and up to Elsa's truck. The blonde walked around to the drivers side, sliding in and placing the food containers on the bench seat next to her. Anna opened the passenger door, and closed the door as she slid into the seat. After a moment, Elsa started the truck, and pulled away from the diner.

For the first few minutes of the drive, neither girl spoke a single word. Anna replayed the scene over and over in her head.

'Dyke' stung her ears, even as she only imagined the word. Why did Alexander call Elsa that work. Was he just drunk? Or...

"Anna..." Elsa finally spoke, breaking Anna from her thoughts. The redhead looked over to the blonde, who looked like she was on the verge of tears.

"Yes Elsa?" Anna asked, though she had a feeling she knew what the blonde was about to say.

"Anna...I'm..." Elsa said quietly, as though the words were even hard to say.

"I'm..."

"Elsa..." Anna said, reaching her hand over the bench seat, placing it on top of the blonde's. Elsa's eyes drifted over from the road to Anna's green eyes. The redhead just gave Elsa a warm smile.

"You're a lesbian." Anna said, and Elsa's eyes drew wide.

"I know."

"H-how...how did you..." Elsa stuttered, and even though she tried to pull her hand away from Anna's, the redhead just gripped Elsa's palm.

"Your tattoos, your haircut, the way you dress..." Anna said, almost giggling.

"And the way I keep seeing you look at me."

"I...I'm not..." Elsa stuttered.

"Don't think I didn't notice." Anna giggled. "The way you blush every time our hands touch, the way you look away whenever you think you've stared at me too long. I've seen it."

"Anna, I..." Elsa stuttered. "...I just...I don't want to tell you." Elsa sighed, tears forming in her eyes. "I though, if you knew, you wouldn't..."

"Wouldn't what?" Anna asked, tightening her grip on Elsa's hand. "Wouldn't want to stay in your house? Wouldn't be more than grateful that you were fixing my car?" Anna giggled. "Elsa, you being a lesbian doesn't change any of that."

The platinum blonde sat in silence, as Anna continued to hold her hand. Elsa looked back to the road, unable to look Anna in the eyes any longer.

"And I know you're attracted to me." Anna giggled, Elsas cheeks going from pale white to bright red. "I see the way you look at me."

Elsa said nothing, and just stared right ahead to the road.

"And..." Anna said, taking a deep breath in, and exhaling. She didn't know what Elsa's reaction would be. But after thinking about it, Anna knew how she felt. She never thought she would feel the way she felt, not after Hans. And especially not towards a woman. But she couldn't deny her feelings.

"Elsa, I'm attracted to you too." Anna said it. And she knew in her heart it was true. She wasn't saying it to be nice, or just to comfort Elsa after the events of the diner. Anna really meant it.

Even after only just two days, Anna liked Elsa.

And Elsa liked Anna.

"Anna...you..." Elsa stuttered, tears forming in her eyes. The redhead just squeezed Elsa's hand, and for the first time, Elsa returned the grip, turning her palm to interlace her fingers with Anna's.

"Just drive Elsa." Anna giggled, not releasing her grip on the platinum blonde's hand.

"To the junkyard, right?"

"Yea." Elsa nervously chuckled, still grasping Anna's palm.

The rest of the drive, Anna's hand never left Elsa's. The blonde seemed much more at ease, as if the weight of the world (or the weight of carrying a huge secret) had been lifted from her.

As for Anna, she was overjoyed that someone genuine, kind and sweet, actually cared about her.

She never thought it would be a woman, let alone a tattooed, punk woman.

But she landed in Elsa's lap. And even though she wanted her car fixed, she knew that she didn't want to leave this Platinum blonde.