Love Thaws: Melting

Love Thaws

Elsa inhaled deeply.

"Now breathe out, sweetie."

She exhaled slowly.

"Good, see? Now that wasn't so hard was it?"

Elsa shook her head, though her hands still trembled. She clenched them tightly, keeping them concealed. The woman draped a silky cloth over her, snapping it closed at the nape of her neck, like a barber's cloth. It felt like all of last month's expectations were finally bearing down on her. And she was crumbling underneath the weight.

"Now, we agreed on all up, didn't we?"

Anna plunked her hands on her hips. "No, Elsa wants it down."

"Down? All down?! Are you sure? I can do a killer chignon. Or French twist? There's this super cute bun I saw on Pinterest with—"

"We already discussed this!" Anna huffed. "It's Elsa's wedding, and she wants it all down, got it?" Anna jabbed a finger towards the salon lady—Celeste, if Elsa remembered correctly.

"No need to get all upset about it! I just thought she would look gorgeous if her hair was all—"

Elsa sighed. "What about half up, half down?" she suggested meekly.

Her lips puckered into a frown. "Well, that's better. If that's what you want, sweetie."

Elsa considered it for a second. Would Jack like it? As long as her hair was down, Elsa was sure he would. Hoped he would. "Yes. It is."

"Alright then. I'll get started on—and where's Cordellia? Cordellia?!"

"I'm coming!" came a voice from the back. A young woman appeared. She had fine arching brows and midnight hair with stunning emerald eyes, complimented by a golden tan. Elsa had never seen such beautiful features. "So, we agreed for the natural look over the diva?" she directed the question at Anna, even though Elsa was right there. Anna had been a tremendous help in planning the wedding, the driving force behind all of it.

"Yes, we did. And not too heavy on the eyeliner or the eyebrow pencil."

Cordellia waved aside her concerns. "I know. Got it. Got it." She set out a rainbow of makeup on the table.

Elsa winced as Celeste yanked a piece of hair. "Oopsie daisy. Sorry, sweetheart."

And she tried to not blink frantically as Cordellia curled her eye lashes. "Almost done. You're doing so well."

Elsa exhaled, trying not to fidget nervously. She felt... fake, wearing all the makeup and having her hair forced into curls using a heated piece of metal.

Cordellia spoke, "Now blink. Slowly. Good. Again." Elsa blinked, adding a new coat of mascara to her lashes.

Elsa stifled a sigh. It's been hours since she'd last seen Jack, and she missed him terribly. Her heart throbbed, then fluttered as she began thinking of when she would see him again.

"Can you try not to smile for me? Please? I need to smooth some foundation around that area." The smile disappeared from her face as Cordellia began rubbing the foundation in.

"You're going to be so pretty. I think I might cry." Jessica sniffled.

Despite herself, Elsa smiled again. "But your mascara!"

"Don't worry, it's water-proof." Jessica blinked, clearing away tears.

Cordellia cleared her throat, and Elsa immediately smoothed her features.