Work Text:
What a bitch of a year it’d been.
First Ryder was offered a job on the other side of the country. And though she was happy for her brother and all the animals he’d be helping it still sucked to lose her best friend. There was times few and far in between that the twins were apart and suddenly their separation became eminent.
Then she lost her aunt. To say that it had been sudden and heartbreaking was a severe understatement. The last family member other than her brother that remained and just like that, she was gone forever. She was granted only two days of bereavement but that was nowhere near enough time to prepare for everything let alone to even begin to grieve. It was the longest two weeks ever.
She’d only been back at work for a week when a letter from her employer came in the mail. She was being let go. Don’t show up to the office on Tuesday. She would have no assistance from her boss in collecting unemployment. For a passing moment she wondered if she’d done something in that one week to screw up so badly that her boss couldn’t even tell her to her face. Or if maybe all the little things she’d done wrong had finally added up. Or, spirits forbid, in the course of a single week she had become that incompetent after such a traumatic event.
Her only saving grace had been her girlfriend. At least she could still greet her when she came home every night. At least someone was still by her side. At least she still had something to look forward to. At least there was something worthwhile left in her life.
But that, too, came to an end. They broke up a month later.
No family. No job. No girlfriend. No home.
Oh, and no health insurance.
That was not a fun conversation to have. She argued with the representative over the phone for a good hour that, no, she could not afford six hundred dollars a month for health insurance.
Maren could not recall a worse year in her life.
Now here she was, working the ticket stand at a small movie theater just outside of town on New Year’s Eve.
It was a shit show.
Oh, don’t get her wrong; the theater itself was decent enough. And she did make minimum wage, which…well, was pathetic. But it was still better than nothing. Unfortunately Maren was still far from being out of the woods.
She couldn’t drive her car that far out. While the theater was only a fifteen or twenty minute drive from her new apartment – and by new, she meant old as dirt – her car was nearly twenty years old. It was not in great shape. If anything happened to it Maren was screwed; she was barely able to afford it as it was. She’d never be able to replace let alone fix it if it caved in. As a result she had to resort to taking the bus, making her days even longer and causing her to struggle to return home after a late shift.
To say her apartment was a dump was putting it politely. It was a tiny studio apartment with the kitchen and bathroom as one room. She had to choose between a bed and a couch because there was only enough room for one…also, she could only afford one. It was the cheapest possible place she count rent between her paycheck and government assistance. It may have beat sleeping on a park bench, though not by much. It was certainly no home.
The theater was constantly understaffed. Maren would often be the only one to work the ticket stand – an even poorer choice considering this particular establishment didn’t pre-sell tickets online like most theaters nowadays. Some instances where, it was slow on her end, she’d have to operate the register at the concession stand and take orders while her coworker prepared everything. It was both a blessing and a curse. Understaffing meant more hours and, while she could never go above thirty-nine and a half – spirits forbid she work enough to be considered full time and therefore be entitled to health insurance – money was still money. She could always use it. However the extra hours resulted in fatigue, moodiness, and a lack of focus.
Also less time to eat.
Lunch? What was that?
Maren should be grateful, she supposed. At least she was earning money. Almost none of it was for her specifically and she was just barely scraping by, but she was still making something. She had a job; any part time job was better than nothing. Pheh, it was probably a miracle she was able to find anything with the shape she’d been in. She was probably doing better than some people were.
It wasn’t that Maren needed much; not really. She just…didn’t want things to look so damn hopeless. She wanted to feel like an actual person again; to have things to look forward to instead of constantly running on autopilot. She wanted life to stop shitting all over her.
She dared a glance at the time.
Ten-fifteen.
Just a couple more hours and this nightmare of a year would be over.
Yet all time did was drag on like a turtle on the highway. It was another slap to the face, as if Maren hadn’t suffered enough. It felt as if she were forced to revisit the hell of a year all over again.
It would have almost been nice if it were busy; the crowds were a good distraction. It was a shame that New Year’s Eve wasn’t a busier night. But people had actual parties to go to. People to see. Things to celebrate. Who wanted to spend the end of the year in a movie theater?
Peh.
Parties.
Celebrations.
As if there was a reason for those anyway.
There was nothing happy to look back on and nothing to look forward to.
It was all bs to Maren.
“GOTTAPEEGOTTAPEEGOTTAPEEGOTTAPEEGOTTAPEE!!!”
“Anna, slow down!”
The doors slammed open, causing Maren’s head to jerk up. She thought she saw a redhead speed through the lobby and towards the hall past the concession stand, where the theaters and bathrooms were located. A tall blonde trailed behind her, though she hated at the first poster by the entrance, unable to keep up with the literal ball of fire.
“ELSAGETTHESNACKSANDTICKETSTHANKSBYE!”
The woman’s voice faded the further down she went, apparently disappearing into the nearest restroom, and leaving what appeared to be a mortified…Elsa, was it?...behind.
Was it wrong to say that this was the most excitement Maren got out of her job all month?
Yes, that included Christmas Day.
Although, Maren would confess, she did not realize there were that many people in the area who didn’t observe the highly capitalized, overly pushed, obvious holiday. It was a nice breath of fresh air for the day.
Maren straightened her posture, unable to help but eye Elsa.
Not because she was cute!
Though it did help….
But no, that was not the point.
Elsa remained where she was, rubbing her temples. Maren tilted her head, uncertain of what to expect. In her short time at the theater she’d seen…some things. She quickly caught onto the idea to expect anything and everything. Elsa’s head shifted in Maren’s direction, though turned away just as quickly. Her hand relocated to her chest and a blush drowned her face.
Again, not that Maren was staring!
It was just so painfully obvious against her pale skin.
Pulling in her lips, Maren glanced to her left where the concession stand was located. To her knowledge her coworker was either in the bathroom or on break. She expected it to be the latter as he had a terrible habit of waiting until the end of his shift to take his break. Either way it would likely mean that Maren would be pulling double duty for the two new patrons.
And, evidently, it left her alone with the woman that she was not staring at.
“So…. Tickets?”
Really, Maren?
Could she have asked anything stupider?
She came to a fucking movie theater.
Of course she wanted tickets!
“Yes…. Um…thank you.”
Elsa’s response came much quieter than anticipated, certainly nothing like the almost authoritative tone she’d used upon entering. She remained where she was for the moment, refusing to even look in Maren’s direction.
Not that she had to, anyway.
It wasn’t like Maren was much to look at.
Her uniform perpetually smelled like popcorn. It probably still had butter stains from her shift last week that she could never get out. The hat never sat on her head just right, with how thick her hair was. Not like it made a difference when she forever had hat hair regardless.
She shook her head.
Who was she kidding?
She wasn’t in a place to be thinking such things.
Hoping a cute girl would look her way.
Hoping for another chance.
There was a reason her last relationship exploded so spectacularly.
“So what’ll it be?” she asked in her best default customer service voice.
“I’msorryaboutmysister.”
Pause.
Maren blinked.
“I don’t think I heard of that movie. What’s it about?”
Not that she was trying to be a smartass; but if she didn’t find the humor in her job once in a while Maren would be even more screwed than she already was.
Elsa, however, didn’t seem to take it that way. “No…I didn’t mean…. That is to say…. Well, my sister can be….”
Wait, was she trying to apologize?
She really felt that bad that her sister announced to the entire theater that she was running to the bathroom?
Shit now Maren felt like such a jerk!
“It’s ok!” she gasped. “It’s not a big deal, really. I was just teasing. You don’t have to apologize for anything. I promise I heard worse.”
“I’m sorry…I couldn’t imagine. That must be–” Elsa cut herself off midsentence as if she were realizing that her blabbing, while adorable, was indeed pointless. Clasping her hands in front of her, she allowed herself to face Maren fully. “May I start over? Please…?”
Maren gave a nod and watched as the woman steadily approached the stand. Her gloved hands seemed to run over and tug on each other and as she drew closer Maren couldn’t help but notice how the dark blue hues of her coat and gloves contrasted her pale skin and platinum blonde hair yet highlighted her eyes perfectly. Elsa seemed to exhale as she focused on the screen that separated the two of them.
“Two tickets for West Side Story, please.”
“You and everyone else,” Maren couldn’t help but remark. She lost count of how many people asked to see that movie.
“It was the only one my sister and I could agree on. She wanted the romance; I wanted the music,” she explained.
“A musical person,” Maren commented as she entered the information. “You can pick your seats on the screen to your left.” She took a pause as Elsa seemed to weigh her options. There hadn’t been many other customers, at least during Maren’s shift, so nearly all the seats should be open. That was, unless anyone purchased tickets at the stand earlier in the day. “I’m guessing you saw In The Heights then?”
“I did. Although I can’t say I’m much of a theater person. The crowds can be…a lot,” she confessed.
“I get that,” Maren nodded. “I haven’t seen a movie in a while either.”
“Because you spend too much time here?” Elsa assumed, choosing her seats.
“Is it that obvious?” Maren joked. She shook her head and pressed the continue button. “I guess I could if I really wanted to. There’s something about everyone in the room experiencing and responding to something for the first time.”
“But?” Elsa inquired as if she could tell that there was more.
But I can’t afford it.
But if I wanted to sit in a cramped room I’d go to my apartment.
Except Maren couldn’t say either of those things. She might as well be opening herself to a pity party. And besides she was on the job. She should leave all of her personal problems at the door when she was on the clock.
“But I have no one to go with,” she opted to say instead.
Pause.
“That’s…why I go with my sister,” Elsa admitted.
It must have been really nice to have that option. As close as Maren was with Ryder, she could never say on a whim ‘let’s go to the movies’ even before he moved. And even though he never shut up when they watched anything she still missed that ham. When everything else looked dark as hell she still had Ryder to lighten up her life.
“You’re lucky to be so close with her.”
Maren’s comment sounded more longing than anything else.
Spirits, she was missing out.
Shaking her head she forced a smile and attempted to look on the brighter side. “And she’s insanely lucky to have you willingly pay for her.”
“Heh…she has no idea,” Elsa responded with the faintest hint of a giggle. She took out her wallet from her coat pocket and set the bills on the counter. “Keep the change.”
Maren glanced at the money briefly. She saw the fifty dollar bill which was more than enough to cover two tickets but she also didn’t expect to see…was that a twenty and a ten? Or two twenty’s? Holy shit that was a lot of change!
“We’re not allowed to accept tips,” she blurted.
She didn’t mean for it to come out so hastily. Or to sound as if she were snapping. And even if it was true that tips were not allowed, Maren didn’t want any of it. She couldn’t take any of it.
Elsa blinked. “Really?”
“Boss’ orders,” Maren shrugged immediately.
It didn’t matter how tempting the money was.
It didn’t matter how much she needed it.
She didn’t want any handouts.
It was just a reminder of how far she’d fallen.
Of how miserably she was failing.
She wanted that feeling to go away.
To not need anything from anyone.
She wanted to actually be worth something to someone again.
To be something for herself.
“Oh….”
It took a moment before Elsa reluctantly took the extra bells back, leaving only the fifty. Maren wordlessly completed the transaction, counting out the change before handing it to Elsa along with the tickets. She didn’t even bother to say which theater to go to like she normally would. Or ask if Elsa wanted any popcorn. If Maren had to deny that she was interested already, she absolutely had to push that thought out of her head now. It was painfully obvious that this woman was far too good for her.
“Can I give you something else instead?”
The question took Maren by surprise. She had to a double take before saying anything. After all, it wasn’t like she could explicitly say no. The customer was always right, after all.
“Depends what it is.”
Pause.
Taking another breath, Elsa removed an index card from her wallet and handed it to Maren. With a raised eyebrow Maren turned it over, revealing a gorgeous drawing of a snowman. There was a small gift beside him and a reindeer half out of frame behind him. One of his thin stick arms was held out, waving to Maren from the paper and he had the biggest smile on his disproportioned face. Maren blinked, having to do a second double take at the actual gesture.
“Did you draw this?”
“I know it isn’t much. But Anna and I…. We do this every year. It’s our tradition. You shouldn’t be at work at midnight on New Year’s but you are and…and I apologize for being the reason for that. Because you should be anywhere but here. I just wanted to show how much it means to me…to, to us…that you do this. And I appreciate you so much for it.”
That still didn’t exactly answer the question.
It didn’t take away from the action or the sincerity that Elsa spoke with.
Whatever the reason was that she and her sister did this; why their tradition may have started; it was clearly important to Elsa. And it meant a lot to her that this was possible.
All the more reason that Maren had to ignore the pounding of her heart.
Elsa’s sister meant a lot to her, that much was obvious.
She must have been willing to do anything for her.
Coupled with the talent that this woman possessed….
The drawing was absolutely beautiful. Maren had no words to describe it let alone how it made her feel.
All she could say was that for a split second….
She felt seen.
She felt like she hadn’t hit rock bottom.
She felt like she mattered.
But as quickly as those feelings came, they left.
At the end of the day Maren had nothing to offer anyone.
“Thank you, but I can’t accept this.” Maren set the card down and gently pushed it back to Elsa.
“I can draw something else,” she decided almost too quickly. “When do you work next? I can have it done by then. Or, or maybe I can leave I with someone if you prefer…?” Elsa must have realized how hasty that sounded; she pulled in her lips and lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me to ask. I shouldn’t have….” Her voice faded. She took a moment before willing her glance back to Maren. “What I mean is…. Is there something else I can draw for you instead?”
Was the offer supposed to hurt like this?
Was Maren supposed to feel this bad about turning her down?
Elsa was trying; she seemed to genuinely want to do something and….
But what good would it do?
It wasn’t like Maren had anywhere to put it.
Nor did she deserve it.
It would just be a reminder.
Anything good that came into her life would just leave.
She probably wouldn’t even see this girl again; so what was the point?
Maren exhaled. “I don’t have anywhere else to be. I’m not here because I have to be for you or…or for anyone else, really. I’m here because…. I have to be.”
She couldn’t make it any clearer than that.
Nor did she want to.
Maren glanced at the concession stand. Still no coworker. Ugh, why did he insist on doing this? Now Maren had to serve this girl snacks as well. This beautiful, talented, caring girl who was trying to do one nice thing and Maren couldn’t accept it. She couldn’t walk away or hide in shame like most normal people did when turning someone away. She was only being punished further.
Unfortunately for Maren, she had no choice but to shake it off. “You probably need snacks.” She left the confines of her post and crossed into the concession stand, back facing the counter while she went over the options. “What’ll it be? Popcorn? Candy? Pretzels? Soda?”
Silence.
Maren tried not to look too much into it. It wasn’t because of how she reacted; it wasn’t because Elsa was pissed. It was because it was a difficult decision. Popcorn was the obvious choice, but plenty of people came into the theater not knowing for sure what they wanted. What size of popcorn or what drinks; if they should get something else with it; if they should skip popcorn entirely; they had to compare prices. It was any of those options. Not because of Maren. She remained still, giving Elsa a moment to decide. Yet there was still silence. The moment dragged on for too long and weighed too heavily on Maren. Finally, she turned around.
And Elsa was gone.
All that was left was the drawing on the countertop.
Shit.
Maren sighed in defeat. She picked up the drawing, the only remnant she’d have of this brief chance encounter.
It really was a beautiful, lovable snowman.
It was just too good for Maren.
She had no right to keep it.
Maren turned back around, forcing her eyes to scour the area for spray and paper towels. She might as well keep herself occupied and, anyway, someone should at least start cleaning.
“Hi!”
The new voice startled Maren. Gasping, she spun around to see the ball of fire from before.
Or, rather that Anna girl, she supposed.
“H…hi, me…?” she stammered.
Ugh, how much more stupid could she sound? She worked there! There wasn’t even anyone else in the lobby! Who else would anyone say hi to?
She shook her head. Please don’t let this be about Elsa; just order some snacks and go see the damn musical. “Sorry…. What can I get you?”
“Your number.”
Pause.
Blink.
That was…unexpected.
And surprisingly blunt.
Incredibly friendly.
But still blunt.
Then again, this was the same woman who might as well have announced to the whole world that she had to pee.
This Anna definitely had guts.
Though she was still not the strangest encounter Maren had working at the theater.
“Um…. What?”
Anna blinked and hesitated for a split second, not once losing the natural light around her. She was definitely not like most customers. “Oh! I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed anything. Let me start over.” She cleared her throat, maintaining her bright smile. “Are you single?”
Pause.
“Yes….”
“Do you like women?”
Pause.
“Exclusively…?”
Cue the useless lesbian jokes.
“What’d you think of my sister?”
Wow….
Um….
Ok….
What…?
Maren averted her gaze.
What did she think of Elsa?
She….
She was beautiful.
It felt wrong to say somehow. Anyone could be beautiful. And if that was Maren’s first impression of Elsa, what did it say about Maren? She…she shouldn’t be looking. She shouldn’t even be thinking that. She had no right to. But what could she say instead? That she was polite? And friendly? And courteous? Those seemed like such…copouts. Was there remotely any decent answer she could give based off of a five minute interaction?
Maren glanced down at the index card. She held it up at eye level, once again taking in the details of the snowman. The way the shading made him look whiter than the card as if she were looking at actual snow. The big, almost bucktooth smile that looked like he was about to speak. The small red box beside him that Maren could have pulled up right off the card like a real gift. The reindeer that looked like it could have been a real, mint condition version of the reindeer plush that Ryder always kept in his room. The way the snow on the card glistened like the first powder of the season even under the questionable lobby lighting.
“She….”
Pause.
“She’s insanely talented.”
“If you think that’s amazing you should see what else she can do!” Anna offered eagerly. “Literally anything! Animals, outfits, landscapes…. Oh, not those characters in Animal Crossing, though. I think it’s something about the big heads. They drive her crazy. She could totally show you over coffee, Oh…do you like coffee? Or are you more of a lunch date kind of person?”
Admittedly, it was nice of Anna to ask.
And maybe a little creepy that she was so willing to set her sister up with a total stranger?
Unfortunately it made no difference.
No matter how tempting it was.
“I’m not looking for anything right now,” Maren lamented after a breath.
Anna’s face fell. “Oh…”
“I’m sorry,” Maren apologized. She offered the drawing back to Anna. It had to return to its rightful owner, after all. Anna hesitated before reluctantly taking the card and pulling in her lips.
“Can I ask why?”
Not really, Maren thought.
Though, as polite as Anna was, Maren had a feeling she wouldn’t give up without a fight.
She did go to the trouble of asking Maren to her face.
And if Anna was putting in this much effort, Elsa must have meant just as much to her.
“How honest do you want me to be?” Maren asked.
“That’s not any of my business. I’m not trying to be nosey.” Pause. “Well…not totally, anyway. I mean; it is my sister. It’s kinda my job to meddle in her life.”
That, Maren could understand. “My brother’s the same way.”
“I think my sister really likes you. It takes a lot for her to feel that way,” Anna admitted. “I just wanted to know if you could like her, too.”
How could she know that in only five minutes? What could she possibly see in Maren? What could anyone see in Maren?
“I had a really shitty year,” Maren confessed. “I can’t afford much. I don’t have much. So I couldn’t…” Give someone everything; she wanted to finish. She couldn’t treat someone the way they deserved. She couldn’t make time for a girlfriend. Elsa could say easily lay out a minimum of seventy dollars for two tickets; she must have been pretty damn well off. How would that be fair? To either of them? Especially when Maren proved to be such a steller girlfriend in the first place? Her ex couldn’t seem to get rid of her fast enough. Maren had lost her aunt and her job back to back. To be dumped and thrown out so soon after…. “I couldn’t,” she finished simply.
A pause followed. Maren couldn’t even look Anna in the eyes. She was expecting her to leave in silence just like Elsa did. To make a mad dash out of there because she couldn’t stand to be in the same space as Maren after that.
Not only was Maren living out the shittiest year ever but now she was ending it on an equally shitty note and taking two perfectly nice women down with her.
The pause continued.
“Didn’t there used to be a claw machine here?”
Interesting question.
And, even more shockingly, Anna was still there.
What a change of topic and to remain on such a not pissed off mood.
It threw Maren for a loop for a moment.
Actually, more than a moment if she couldn’t even think of proper grammar.
“Uh…. Yeah. T…two, actually. One with rubber ducks and another with stuffed animals.”
“That’s right!” Anna’s eyes lit up. “The one with the ducks gave you like, infinite tries! What was it called…?” She snapped her fingers in thought
“Ducks Amuck,” Maren cringed.
“That’s it!” Anna exclaimed. “The kids would crowd the machine and try to win all the ducks and would go on some sort of duck trading frenzy like who could collect the best ducks. When did they take it out?”
“I think it was October…? Maybe…?” Maren estimated with uncertainty. “It was a couple of months after I started.”
Anna’s brows furrowed. “But wait…. You were here in the summer, weren’t you?”
How would Anna know that? Maren would definitely remember if these sisters – especially Elsa – came in during one of her shifts.
“I interviewed here in the summer,” Maren clarified. “But what…?”
“Elsa and I came here to see In The Heights. We just got our tickets and there was this huge crowd of kids by the claw machine. And this one kid got so upset…. They were so close to getting one specific duck and lost it on their last chance. You went over and put a dollar in the machine and asked if you could try for them. I think you won a few…? But I guess none of them were right since you kept on playing?”
That was right. Maren remembered that day. She had just finished her interview and was instructed to go down the street and take a mandatory drug test; she’d found out later that week that she could come back and fill the official paperwork and get started. She’d stopped at the claw machine because of the commotion the kids were making. They reminded her of Ryder when he tried playing those things at the arcade. So Maren took the money she was supposed to use for the bus and put it in the machine instead. The look on the one kid’s face when Maren finally won the coveted duck on her very last chance had been priceless. It was….
It was one of the few days that were not so shitty for Maren.
Because despite how low she felt, for one moment something had been worth it.
One small thing had made her world feel just a little bit better.
“And then you gave all the other ducks away,” Anna finished.
Maren blinked. “How did you…?”
“Elsa’s been on a few blind dates here. My idea,” Anna answered with quite a bit of pride. “She saw you give ducks out when you gave out tickets.”
Not that there had been that many; Maren was sure she only had a handful of ducks. Even so….
“I couldn’t exactly keep them for myself,” Maren admitted sheepishly.
“But it was a really sweet thing you did. That you kept on doing. You could’ve spread them out on the counter or gave them to your coworkers or kept them for yourself and instead you just…you gave them out to any kid who came to you,” Anna pointed out. “Sometimes…I actually wondered why she’d always give into a movie. Elsa’s not exactly big on crowds and she doesn’t really go out a lot in the first place. But it was never about the crowds or the movie, was it. Because ever since that first time…I think she always came here for the chance to see you.”
See her?
But if….
She was….
Did Elsa….
Every time…?
She kept….
For her…?
Did she really…?
All this time….
She saw Maren and….
She wanted….
She….
Anna shrugged. “I guess what I’m trying to say is…. Even if there’s not a lot you could do, there’s still a lot you can do. Elsa sees that and…. And that’s why she wants to come here. Elsa’s not a social person so…. So her willingly coming here…wanting to see you…wanting that chance to know you…. I think that really says something.”
Maren’s thoughts couldn’t keep up with the pounding of her heart. This hadn’t been the first time Elsa came to the theater. She was there multiple times…with who knows how many different people…but it was never about the people or the movie. It was about her. And Maren never even noticed until tonight. Spirits, could Maren have been any more embarrassed? If she hadn’t spent so much time wallowing in self pity and beating herself up could they have actually…?
“Do you get off before midnight?” Anna asked.
“Sort of…” Maren admitted, partially returning to reality. “West Side Story is the last movie that starts tonight but I have to wait a while for any stragglers. I could technically go home after that…unless my coworker doesn’t get his ass back to the candy counter and I have to cover for him until everything lets out.”
Anna giggled. With any luck she understood the feeling of dealing with coworkers sneaking out of the job. “Well, if you do get out on time and need anything to do,” she took out a twenty-dollar bill and set it on the countertop, “movie’s on me. Come find us when you clock out. Oh! And don’t even worry about the snacks. We’ll split some popcorn next time, kay?” She offered Maren one last smile before disappearing down the hall.
Maren’s eyes fell to the twenty.
Come find them, Anna said.
Should she?
It felt like such an intrusion.
Even if Anna did technically invite her.
But….
But it was their tradition; Maren couldn’t just worm her way into that.
And even so….
Would Elsa want her there?
She’d left in such a hurry before after Maren turned down her every offer.
She probably didn’t want to be near Maren after all that.
Maybe it would be best to just take the twenty to invest in a ride home.
No, she couldn’t do that; the long walk home was more appropriate.
Still, throughout the remainder of her shift Maren couldn’t help but toy with the ideas in her head. Even though no one else came into the theater – save for her coworker who finally came out of hiding – she purposefully left her register open the entire time in case she opted to buy the ticket. She could show up in the middle of the movie…but was that going to make things awkward or cause any distractions? The money could go towards an Uber or cab ride home…except then Anna would come find Maren the next time and question what the hell happened. And Maren would lose her chance with Elsa for good. If she really had one, that was. But it wasn’t like she could just walk into the movie. Contrary to popular belief, Maren did not get free movies.
At least, not at this theater.
Ugh, what was the right decision?
Maren look at the hallway. Then at her register. Then back towards the hall.
Her gaze fell. She thought back to Anna’s story. About seeing Maren play the claw machine. How she and Elsa saw the whole thing. And how, through the crowds every time after, Elsa saw Maren slowly distribute the extra ducks.
Well…it was mostly accurate, anyway.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a single tiny duck, a classic yellow one with antlers on its head and a red nose on its beak. Maren gave all the ducks away save for that one. She selfishly kept it because it reminded her of her brother. How obsessed he could be with reindeers. How much he loved animals. Hell, it even reminded her of his old, torn reindeer plush. The same one that was almost mimicked into an actual reindeer in Elsa’s drawing.
The drawing.
Did she really bring that in just as a thank you for working on New Year’s Eve?
Or had she been holding onto it waiting for Maren specifically?
She came in so many times before….
Despite wanting to avoid the crowds….
Just for a chance to see Maren.
And Maren had been too dense to see.
She was so busy operating on autopilot; acting like the shell of a person she once was; struggling to get by; living in the past; and being lost in the darkness.
She hadn’t seen the light in front of her.
A light that someone saw in her.
What the fuck was she doing?
Clenching the duck in her hand, Maren took a chance and rang herself up a ticket for West Side Story. She punched out for the night, ignoring the pleading voice of her coworker not to leave him alone for another hour or so. She made her way down the hall, passing each poster for upcoming attractions and the movies that had already played for the day. Theater five, theater five, theater five…. There it was. Maren stopped in front of the double doors, feeling her breath caught in her throat. She was moments away now. But she had come this far. Despite not knowing how far it was into the movie, let alone what the movie was about – other than singing and romance, apparently – it would be a lost opportunity not to follow through. An hour ago Maren would have thought that, this close to the final countdown of the year, it couldn’t get any worse for her. But now there was a chance. That was all she needed. It didn’t have to lead to anything. It didn’t have to mean anything. Although both would be nice. But she just needed that chance. Taking a deep breath, Maren pushed one of the doors open and quickly found herself enveloped in the dark theater, save for the giant bright screen. Maren squinted, adjusting to the sudden change, as she attempted to locate the sisters. Not that many seats were filled. There were about three in the back row…. One of the first rows had a couple of people…. A few more on the side…. Maren steadily made her way down the aisle, hoping for some semblance of either woman. Wait…towards the middle…a few seats away from the aisle…bright hair…it was her. Gulping, Maren stopped behind the row and gripped the banister. Ok…. She could do this. Just the one chance. With a final breath, Maren dared to take the final step and then move two seats in.
“Um…” she stammered quietly, not wanting to interrupt but also hoping to garner Elsa’s attention. There was a pause, but Elsa did turn her head in Maren’s direction. She just couldn’t quite read her face. It was either a surprised look of relief or a disgusted look of shock.
Please let it be the former.
You can do this, Maren, she thought, you got this.
No more doubts.
No more wallowing.
It was time to do better.
And, to Elsa’s advantage, it wasn’t like she’d be stuck with Maren for the entire movie. She wouldn’t be there for the full two hours. So if Elsa really didn’t want her there….
But on the off chance that Anna was right….
Don’t run, Maren, don’t run. Not again.
“Is this seat taken?”
There was a pause. Maren tuned out the movie in front of them and attempted to ignore the rapid beating of her heart. If only she could better read Elsa’s face. If she made a mistake somehow.
There was hesitation but Elsa steadily removed her coat from the empty chair, allowing Maren to sit. Maren did her best to hold in a sigh of relief, squeezing the duck in her hand. She slinked into the seat and watched the screen for a moment, debating what to do next. Should she ask how far in the movie was? Should she ask what was happening? Who any of these people even were? Or….
She dared a glance at Elsa. She had her arms around her jacket, as if she were keeping it in front of her like some sort of barrier. This must have been so awkward for her. All she was trying to do was enjoy a traditional New Year’s Eve movie with her sister and Maren was….
No.
Don’t finish that thought.
Maren exhaled.
Ok…here went nothing.
Shifting her body, Maren faced Elsa. She thought she saw her eyes dart in her direction for a second…but that could have been wishful thinking. Maren gulped and held her hand out, revealing the reindeer duck to Elsa.
There was no mistaking it that time; Elsa definitely looked at Maren. Or maybe it was the duck. Either way, Elsa was not focused on the movie. She moved her head down and then up, likely moving back and forth between Maren and the duck. Maren gulped, waiting in anticipation.
Another pause.
Maren would have drowned out everything else around her if she could, but the applause from the song ending was certainly a distraction. Not the one she was hoping for nor was it making her feel any better. For a brief moment, Maren felt the heat in her chest when Elsa took the duck. Did…. Did that mean…? Did she…?
But before Maren could finish any of her thoughts, Elsa stood from her seat, walked around Maren, and made her way out of the theater.
And just like that Maren’s heart was in her stomach.
Shit what the hell was she thinking?
This was a mistake. She shouldn’t have intervened. She should have just left. Or…or maybe she should have just accepted the damn drawing and then maybe–
A poke to her shoulder.
Maren flinched and jerked her head up, seeing Anna lean across the now empty seat. She held her hand out which, even in the dark, Maren could tell was holding the index card. Maren looked down at the paper and then at Anna. Anna’s head tilted towards the back, as if she were trying to signal Maren to go after Elsa. Maren lifted her arm, reaching towards the drawing but still not willing herself to take it. The doubt returned to her head again. So much had happened in the past year…. Maren had been let down and hurt too many times…. Was it really right to have any hope for something better? Would it be fair to risk dragging someone down with her? What if that was all it was? False hope? And that she was just meant to stay down?
A bright light caught her attention. Maren looked down and she saw that Anna had set her phone on the seat with a note open on the screen.
Ask her to see the movie again. AND BRING CHOCOLATE.
Maren’s brows furrowed.
Ask her to…?
Like….
Out…?
Was it really that…?
Would she…?
Maren’s eyes darted towards Anna again. The woman nodded and tried handing her the drawing once more, this time with more vigor. Anna was a fighter, wasn’t she? She was somehow so sure about Maren….
Because of what she saw Maren do.
It wasn’t about what she had or anything that happened.
It was one small thing.
She saw what Maren did that one time….
Saw how Elsa reacted….
Saw what Elsa wanted….
It was her chance.
Taking the card, Maren turned and dashed out of the theater to catch up with Elsa.
It turned out to be easier than she anticipated, which was both a blessing and a curse. As soon as she opened the doors and turned to the side she saw Elsa leaning up against the wall and staring at the duck in her hand. Maren had been hoping for more time to find her, as if it would magically help her figure out what the hell to say. But it was now or never.
“I’m sorry.”
Elsa’s head snapped up at the sound of Maren’s voice.
Great start.
Just blurt out ‘I’m sorry’ and completely freak the woman out.
Maren shook her head.
“I’m sorry about before. The year I’ve had…. I’ve been expecting the worst. I’m not used to good things happening. I’m not…used to people being good to me.” Taking a breath, Maren held up the drawing. “This is one of the nicest things I’ve gotten in a long time. It…it probably is the best thing I got all year. I couldn’t accept it and…and I don’t have anything to give you. Except….” She nodded towards the duck. “I know it isn’t much but…. I hope you like it. Because I….” She took a breath. “Because I really love this drawing.”
Elsa looked down at the duck. She lifted her free hand, finger delicately rubbing the top of the head. “I do,” she confessed quietly.
A sense of relief washed over Maren. The only thing she had to give; the smallest possible thing she could have offered to anyone; and Elsa liked it. She…she genuinely liked it.
Did that mean….
Could she still….
Like her?
Pulling in her lips, Elsa lifted her head. She then held out her hand to Maren, returning the duck to her. “But I can’t accept this. You should give it to someone else.”
Give it to…?
Was this her way of…?
Like what Maren did before…?
Or did she…?
Was she thinking about all the other ducks Maren handed out?
As if she was taking something away from someone else?
But that was far from the case.
And as selfish as Maren was for holding onto that one particular duck, if she wasn’t going to have it then she wanted Elsa to.
She gently placed her hand over the duck, fingers barely brushing against Elsa’s hand, and nudged it back to the blonde. “Keep it. Please.”
She tried to ignore how close her hand was getting to Elsa. Any closer and it might have been right up against her chest. The thought was quickly ignored when she felt Elsa’s fingers wrap around the duck, clutching it in her hand. She didn’t want to give the duck back. But….
But it also felt like her fingers slinked around Maren’s somehow.
For that split second Maren dared to hope that it wasn’t just the toy that Elsa wanted.
“Oh…. Um….”
Fuck she completely ruined the moment by opening her mouth!
And now she actually had to say something else or she’d look like an idiot.
Think, Maren, think!
What was it that Anna said before…?
“You…you should get back to the movie. It…it’s your…your thing. So…I, I mean I know you missed part of it already so…. If, if you wanted to see it a…again I could…. Or, or we could….”
Dammit she was horrible at this!
Turn it around, Maren! What else was there…?
“Chocolate!”
Fuck.
“I…I mean we could chocolate…. GET chocolate. We could get chocolate. If…if you prefer….”
This could be going a hell of a lot better.
The fact that Elsa was clearly trying to hold back a fit of giggles was no help either.
“I…I’m sorry. I’m not…” Maren started to explain.
“I’m not, either,” Elsa confessed.
Oh thank the spirits!
Although Maren was sure it was for very different reasons, it still felt like a huge weight off her shoulders that it wasn’t just her who screwed up at asking people out.
“I don’t usually…that, that is I don’t like…”
Ok what the hell was Elsa trying to say?
She didn’t usually date?
She didn’t like people?
Pffft!
Of course she didn’t like people; she literally said she preferred to avoid crowds and even Anna said Elsa wasn’t much for socializing.
“But I would with you.”
Wait, what?
Elsa’s face flushed. “Chocolate, I mean. I…I would like to chocolate…to get chocolate. With, with you.”
It was Maren’s turn to blush.
She wanted to get chocolate.
With Maren.
She liked Maren.
“I’d really like that, too,” Maren confessed shyly.
“There is…I mean…I, I do have another request. If I may…” Elsa continued. She bit her tongue. “I’m sure it won’t be the same but…but there is this…I, I don’t know if you’ve seen it…there’s a new claw machine in the mall. If, if you need more ducks to give out, that is. I, I haven’t tried it out or anything….”
“I used to go to the arcade with my brother all the time when we were little. I…I kinda remember a few tricks,” Maren admitted. “I just…I don’t...."
She wanted to give Elsa that option. Maren didn't have much to offer; so the very least she could do was let Elsa know what she was getting into.
If she would want to.
"I would rather pay for a claw machine than a movie," Elsa responded.
That...was not the answer that Maren was expecting at all. If Elsa was having second thoughts, this was her chance to act on it. She didn't have to agree to such a cheap date with Maren. And yet...there she was. No questions asked.
"You just have to let me in on your tricks," she finished. "We...have a lot of ducks to give out."
She....
She wanted to do all of that?
Spend hours putting bills into a claw machine and win as many ducks as possible?
Give them all out with Maren?
To be with....
Her?
“We could be there a while…” Maren stated with a blush.
“Between a movie with person I don't know and sharing chocolate over a claw machine with you... There is no competition,” Elsa replied shyly.
That might have just been one of the best things that Maren heard all year. “So…. It’s a date?” she dared to ask.
“It is,” she nodded with a smile.
She said yes.
It was a date.
Oh thank the spirits!
“Oh…uh….” Elsa reluctantly pulled her hand back, turning her flushed face to the side. “We…we should get back to the movie.”
Oh shit the movie!
“I’m sorry!” Maren realized. “It’s your thing with your sister…”
“It’s ok. Last year’s movie was worse. Anna actually fell asleep half way through,” Elsa admitted. “We had to go back the next day.”
The next day….
Did that mean…?
What she was saying…?
Maybe they could…..
If, if it was ok, of course!
Maren would never purposefully….
But if they just so happened to be….
“So…. Uh….”
Here she went.
Her last chance.
No.
Her first chance.
To make the next year better than the last.
To have something to look forward to.
To have someone to look forward to.
“Doing anything tomorrow?”
A light blush took over Elsa’s cheeks once more. Squeezing the duck in her hand, she met Maren’s gaze once more.
And, with any luck, for what would be the first of many times to come.
“What time do you get off?”