Chapter Text
It was a cool and brisk morning in the small railroad town of Arrendelle, Wisconsin. Arrendelle was a quaint railroad town filled with all walks of life. From the local town merchants chit-chatting at the mercantile to the young woodsmen trying to sell their leftover furs. On the outskirts of town, stood a row of little houses for families who are working with the local railroad company. The majority of the homes were with plain colors and dainty windows. The only areas that were decorated were the gardens and the little curtains hanging by the windowsill. Some curtains were decorated with floral patterns and bright colors, while others had patches with some basic stitching along the edges. In one particular windowsill, there was a bright young woman slowly waking up from her peaceful slumber. Today’s the day. the young woman had thought as she jumped on out of her bed. Today’s the day!
Her heart was cheering at the thought of starting the new school year as the teacher’s assistant. She knew that she was one of the older student at the school; therefore, she was chosen to be the new teacher’s assistant. Maybe she’ll be pretty, just like Mrs. Garvey. she thought while she was choosing her outfit for the day. I should probably wear something nice then. She smiled at the thought of looking her best while she was going through her garments. “Aha! Perfect!” she whispered as she got on her dress. “This will do!”
She smirked as she felt every piece of green fabric at her touch. The embroidery on the hem of her skirt was very detailed while the shirt was just the comfort that she needed for the day. Now I just need to comb this tangled up mess here. she though was she was looking at herself in the small mirror.
Normally she would braid her strawberry blonde locks into two plaits, but today was a special day. A day where she could prove to others that she wasn’t a little girl anymore. For she became a woman in her own eyes. Maybe people will see me as a young woman now. she thought as she made her way on out of her bedroom. Maybe Elsa will see me as a woman, not her kid sister.
“Good morning Anna.” a voice had interrupted her thoughts as Anna made her way into the kitchen dining area.
“Oh good morning, Elsa.” Anna lets out with a nervous laugh.
“Anna,” her sister began as Anna sat down at the small table, “what are you wearing?”
“Ah,” Anna mutters with her thumbs twirling, “they’re my regular school clothes.”
“Oh really?” her older sister raises an eyebrow at her.
Anna bit her lip as she placed a small strand behind her ear. “Yep.”
“Okay then.” Elsa lets out with a sigh. “I guess that you are planning to wear your hair up that way then.”
“Yep.” Anna nods with a nervous smile.
“Why are you nervous?” Elsa asks as she quickly pulls her platinum blonde hair up into a tightly braided bun.
“Oh um,” Anna began while she was eating the oatmeal right in front of her, “it’s because we have a new teacher this school year. So Mrs. Garvey had asked me to help out the new teacher.”
“Interesting.” her older sister smiles as she pours herself a cup of coffee. “I’m assuming that’s why you’re all dressed up.”
“You can say that.” Anna nods in agreement, just as she was finishing up with her bowl of oatmeal.
“Of course.” Elsa began with a smile on her face.
“Say are you heading into town today?” Anna had asked as she got up from the table to put her bowl in the sink.
“As a matter-of-fact,” Elsa answers, making Anna feel a bit unsure, “I heard that there are some job openings in town.”
Anna simply rolls her eyes. “Elsa, why do you have to go and get a job?”
“You know why, Anna.” her older sister answers with a stern look.
“I know, I know.” Anna repeats while she was quickly washing the dishes. “The money is gone.”
“And since the money’s gone,” Elsa continues with a concerned look on her face, “somebody has to get a job in order to pay for the bills.”
“Oh right.” Anna sighs in defeat.
“Plus the fur trade has hit an all-time low so.” Elsa adds as she quickly grabs her maroon shawl on her chair and placed it over her slim shoulders.
“Right.” Anna nods in agreement while she was grabbing her school books nearby.
Her heart was pounding at the thought of the new school year, as she and her sister were making their way on out of their home. Sure Anna knew that Elsa was too focused on the family finances, yet Anna was told to do well in school and to leave the worrying to Elsa. But that doesn’t seem fair to Elsa. Anna had thought as they were leaving the railroad houses and heading straight into town. She knew that Elsa was her big sister and that they were meant to stay together, unless if fate had other plans. Maybe one of us will find someone and fall in love. she thought while she was strolling along, her heels digging into the earthly soil. Highly unlikely though.
“Anna,” a voice had interrupted her thoughts, causing Anna to look at her older sister, “would you look at that.”
“At what Elsa?” Anna gave her sister a confused look.
Elsa points at the building right in front of them. “That!”
“So somebody had finally bought this old building and decided to spruce it up, huh?” Anna says as a matter of factually.
“Yeah well,” Elsa continues while Anna was looking around the railroad town, “I’m sure that whoever bought it, will make the place very comfortable and cozy for everyone in our town.”
“I hope so.” Anna sighs in defeat, just as they heard some ruckus coming from the inside the old building.
“Well who knows.” Elsa lets out with a shrug, just as a disheveled woman had appeared from the canvas over the old building.
“Well hello girls!” the woman calls out while she was fixing up her purple mess of a dress.
“Hello Mrs. Westerguard.” Anna answers for her sister. “How are you doing today?”
“Why ah,” Mrs. Westerguard bit her lip as she made her way down to the two sisters, “everything’s fine. Helena will be graduating today.”
“Oh yes.” Anna puts on a smile, trying to hide her true feelings about Helena.
“Oh sh’es so grown up now.” Mrs. Westerguard lets out with a dramatic gasp. “Pretty soon, she’ll be off and married to a charming young man.”
“Well that does sound nice.” Elsa smiles faintly, hoping that the school bell would ring for her sister.
“Say,” Mrs. Westerguard continues as she looked at Anna, “have you accepted my son’s offer?”
“Oh no,” Anna answers with a confused glance from her sister, “Hans didn’t even say a word to me about it.”
“Well I....”
“Mrs. Westerguard,” Anna had interrupted the older woman, “as much as I would love to sit and chat, but I’m afraid that I have school to go to and I’m sure that my sister has some errands to run.”
“Good day Mrs. Westerguard.” Elsa adds, making the older woman look cross at the two sisters.
“Well then...”
“Good day!” Anna smiles with a wave as she left without her sister and went straight to school.
“Anna,” Elsa shouts in hopes of her sister hearing from afar, “please come straight home after school! We have chores to do!”
“Don’t worry,” Anna shouts back just as she arrived at the school playground, “I will!”
“Anna!” a familiar voice had called out, causing Anna to turn around and face the children in the school yard. “Welcome back!”
“Louisa!” Anna exclaims as she made her way to her dear friend. “How are you?”
“I’m doing alright.” her friend answers while she was fiddling with her blonde hair. “Wow, you look different.”
“Why thank you, Louisa.” Anna had smiled to her friend.
“Do you think that the new teacher will be strict?” her friend had asked while they were making their way to the other children in the school yard.
“Well who knows,” Anna lets out with a shrug as she held her books close to her heart, “but I bet she’ll do well as our teacher.”
“Are you sure?” Louis quirks an eyebrow at her.
“I’m sure.” Anna winks at her friend while they were watching the other children play in the school yard. “Besides Mrs. Garvey needed a break from us.”
“What do you mean Anna?” her friend asks.
“What I mean is...” Anna began just as they heard a wagon pull on up to their little schoolhouse.
“Now I wonder who could that be.” Louisa wonders aloud as they watched the wagon pull on up.
“Oh I don’t know.” Anna lets out with a sigh while she was watching the driver the old lady on down from the wagon. “But I sure would like to know.”
“Well why don’t we go on and introduce ourselves? I’m sure they won’t mind.” Louisa smiles to her dear friend.
“You go on ahead,” Anna stutters a bit, “I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ll be fine.” Anna smiles with her heart beating towards the driver. “Just fine.”
“Alright.”
Her heart was beating faster by the second, while she was watching her friend interact with the new teacher and driver. The driver seemed so rough and rugged, yet his honey brown eyes were calm and focused. His body movements seemed rather stern, yet her heart was telling her something else. She noticed that he seemed rather focused at the task at hand, unlike her. His blond hair was a bit disheveled, yet it was well kept and clean. His rough look demeanor could scare off some animal, yet her heart was telling her otherwise.
He seems so. Anna had thought as she watched the young driver pull away wit his wagon. Different.
The school bell was ringing, causing Anna to snap back into reality. Great I have class today! she thought as she quickly made her way into the little schoolhouse.
“Almost late again, weren’t you?” Louisa had asked, just as Anna sat down right next to her friend up front.
“I had to go to the outhouse.” Anna answers while the new teacher was writing on the front blackboard.
“The outhouse?” her friend raises an eyebrow.
“Good morning class.” the new teacher began, just before Anna had answered her friend.
“Good morning.”
“My name is Mrs. Bulda Bjorgman,” the teacher continues to address the class, “but you will be calling me Mrs. Bjorgman.”
She seems so nice. Anna thought while she was watching the teacher continue on talking to the class. Mrs. Bjorgman was a tad bit older, no thanks to the laugh lines around her dark brown eyes. Her glasses were plain as day, but her smile was genuine. She must have good taste. Anna had thought as she watched the new teacher move about the classroom. Mrs. Bjorgman did have her chesnutt brown hair and her dress was built with some red embroidery fabric.
“Now I’m looking for Anna Dale.” Mrs. Bjorgman had asked as she stood in front of Anna.
“I’m here.” Anna answers, making the new teacher smile.
“Oh good,” the new teacher smiles, “Mrs. Garvey had told me...”
“Yoohoo!” a familiar voice had interrupted the new teacher. “Hello!”
“Why hello Mrs....” Mrs. Bjorgman had answered while Mrs. Westerguard and her daughter, Helena, were making their way to the front of the schoolroom.
“Westerguard.” Mrs. Westerguard finishes for the teacher as she and Helena were right in front of the schoolroom close to the teacher. “This is my daughter Helena.”
“Why it is a wonderful pleasure to meet you.” Mrs. Bjorgman lets out with a nod, making Helena smile mischievously.
“Nice to meet you, too.” Helena nods just before she had turned to face her peers.
“Now my daughter has a commencement speech prepared for the class.” Mrs. Westerguard had stated with her prickly hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Would you mind if she shares it with her peers?”
“Oh I don’t mind at all.” Mrs. Bjorgman answers. “Now class, please pay attention.”
Oh boy! Anna had thought as she watched the redhead begin the commencement speech.
“Fellow friends, students,” Helena began as she smirked down at Anna, “and others, today is the day I embrace my new horizons.”
Seriously. Anna thought with a roll of the eyes.
“My new horizons will bring me some challenges in life,” Helena continues with each of her curls brushing up against her shoulders, “and I must be ready for them.”
Anna simply relaxed her shoulders as she continued on watching her fellow student recite her commencement speech.
“I do plan on doing what I want with my life,” Helena continues with a sly grin on her face, “but I will always remember my time here in this tiny schoolhouse.”
Of course she would. Anna thought, reliving the memories of her and Helena being in that schoolhouse.
“Thank you.” Helena finishes followed by an applause from her mother.
“Oh bravo! Bravo!” Mrs. Westerguard continues her applause along with encouraging the other students to follow through. Wonderful my darling!”
“Well that was a fine speech, Helena.” Mrs. Bjorgman smiles at Helena and Mrs. Westerguard. “Thank you. Now I...”
“Oh Mrs. Bjorgman,” Mrs. Westerguard interrupts the new teacher, “me and my husband have a special surprise for our Helena. Well....uh.... I was wondering if Helena would like to share the surprise with her friends.”
“Oh well I....” Mrs. Bjorgman tries to add in.
“It’ll be only for just a few minutes.” Mrs. Westerguard interrupts again.
“I’m curious to see what it is.” Louisa whispers to Anna, making Anna smirk a little.
“Me too.” Anna whispers back.
“Well alright then,” Mrs. Bjorgman lets out with a sigh, making Mrs. Westerguard smile, “come along children. Let us see this surprise.”
“Yes, yes.” Mrs. Westerguard adds with such a rush as the children were filing on out of the schoolroom, “come children, I’m sure Helena would want to see this with her classmates as soon as possible.”
“More like she wants to show it to everyone, just not Helena.” Anna whispers to her friend Louisa while they were following Mrs. Westerguard to their destination.
“Sounds about right.” her friend nods in agreement, earning both her and Anna a glare from Helena.
“Now,” Mrs. Westerguard began, just as they all had arrived at their destination, “I’m sure that all of you are curious to see what’s behind the canvas here.”
“More like a curtain.” Louisa whispers to Anna just as Mr. Westerguard and the older son, Hans, had appeared from behind the canvas.
“Now I’m sure that my dear lovely daughter would be happy to know that...” Mrs. Westerguard continues with some tears in her eyes.
“Edith will you please...” Mr. Westerguard interrupts Mrs. Westerguard.
“Benjamin, don’t interrupt me!” Mrs. Westerguard gave her husband a cross look. “Now as I was saying, I’m sure that my dear lovely daughter would be happy to know that...”
“Mother,” Hans had interfered with his usual smile and charm, “I’m sure that Helena would love to see her surprise, now.”
“Oh alright.” Mrs. Westerguard sighs as she wipes away her tears. “Helena, this is for you.”
Oh boy. Anna had thought while Mrs. Westerguard was pulling at the rope, causing the canvas to fall ever so dramatically. Here we go again.
“Helena,” Mrs. Westerguard lets out with a dramatic smile, causing Anna to giggle just a little, “your very own restaurant!”
“Why thank you, Mother.” Helena smiles, just as she made her way to her mother.
“You’re welcome my Helena.” Mrs. Westerguard grins while she was guiding her daughter to the entrance of restaurant.
“Well congratulations Helena,” Mrs. Bjorgman began, “and thank you for sharing your surprise with us.”
“You’re welcome.” Helena had nodded, just before she was being escorted on into the new restaurant.
“A restaurant? For Helena?” Louisa gave Anna a confused look as they were heading on back to school. “Why on Earth would her family give her a gift like that?”
“Well I know why,” Anna began, “it’s because her mother wants her to get a husband.”
“How do you know that?”
“Easy,” Anna continues just as they were approaching the schoolhouse, “when Hans was gifted the mercantile, he asked me to be his sweetheart.”
“Well what did you say?” Louisa had asked.
“Well I for one,” Anna continues as she dramatically flips her bangs, “wouldn’t be attending school, if I said yes.”
“Oh.”
“Heck,” Anna adds, “I’d probably be married by now.”
“Right,” Louisa rolls her eyes playfully as they entered into the school room, “you a married woman?”
“Well you may never know.” Anna adds, making her friend smile.
“Now children,” Mrs. Bjorgman claps, getting Anna and her friend to pay attention in class, “I’m sure that you have enjoy seeing Helena’s surprise, but we need to get to our schoolwork.”
The class groaned at the teacher’s response.
“Now Anna Dale, would you mind helping me for today?” Mrs. Bjorgman had stated as she faced Anna.
“Yes I can help.” Anna lets out with a smile.
“Well alright then,” Mrs. Bjorgman grins. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Anna nods while Mrs. Bjorgman was writing some math problems on the blackboard.
“Now children,” Mrs. Bjorgman began as she pointed at some of the problems, “I would like for you to do these problems on your paper tablets.”
The class had groaned at her words.
Well I guess we better get to work then. Anna had thought as she began to write the school work problems.
_____________________________________
It was mid afternoon by the time school was let out. Anna was sure excited to be out of school, no thanks to the amount of schoolwork Mrs. Bjorgman had given her. Maybe she’ll be a good teacher here after all. she thought as she made her way on out of the schoolhouse. She could tell that majority of her classmates weren’t too keen on the extra work, but that didn’t really matter to her. All she cared about would be getting to be with her friends, just before she would get to her schoolwork.
“Anna!” her friend calls out, causing Anna to stop in her tracks outside the schoolyard. “Did you know how much homework she gave us today?”
“Yes Louisa.” Anna answers.
“Well it seems a lot.” Louisa shrugs as they were making their way home.
“Well I think that she’ll be a great...” Anna continues, just as the familiar driver was heading on past them.
Ohh he’s back. she thought, making her cheeks blush with a bright hue of pink.
“Anna,” her friend gave her a confused look, “are you alright? You look flushed.”
“Oh um,” Anna murmurs with her heart beating a little bit faster, “I.... oh I forgot something.”
“What?” Louisa lets out in confusion.
“I’ll be back!” Anna shouts as she was racing on back to the schoolhouse. “I forgot something!”
“Anna!” was all that she could hear from her friend afar.
What did I forget at school again? she thought as she stopped at the edge of the school yard. She knew that the young man must be related to Mrs. Bjorgman, no thanks to how he was treating her right at the schoolhouse. Maybe she’s his aunt or something like that. she thought while she was making her way to the schoolhouse
“Why hello Anna.” Mrs. Bjorgman smiles just before she had gotten on the buggy.
“Hi Mrs. Bjorgman.” Anna lets out with a smile.
“Did you forget something?” Mrs. Bjorgman had asked her.
“Well I thought I did,” Anna began while she was rolling her on heels, “but then I remember I have my tablet in my hands.”
“Oh really?” Mrs. Bjorgman quirks an eyebrow at her.
“Yep.” Anna nods quickly.
“Well just make sure that you do all of your homework now, alright?” Mrs. Bjorgman had instructed Anna, while the young driver was remaining focused on the road.
“Yes ma’am.” Anna replies.
“Oh where are my manners.” Mrs. Bjorgman lets out with a smile. “Anna, this is my son, Kristoff.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Kristoff.” Anna smiles warmly at the young man.
“Same to you, Anna.” the young man had nodded.
“Anna Dale.” Anna lets out with such haste and urgency.
“Well then Ms. Dale,” Kristoff gave her a confused look, “it was pleasure to meet you.”
“Goodbye now Anna.” Mrs. Bjorgman waves just as Kristoff flicked at the reins for the horse to pull the buggy. “See you tomorrow.”
“Goodbye Mrs. Bjorgman.” Anna waves back with her heart sinking by the second.
Anna Dale. she thought with a disgusted look on her face. She couldn’t believe that she was embarrassing herself in front of Kristoff. Maybe I just need to watch what I say and do in front of him. she thought as she began to head back home.
Her mind was telling her that she must continue on with her studies, yer her heart was telling her that there was something particular about Kristoff.