SEEK And Find

Chapter 17

"Hey, wanna dance?"

That was the fifth guy to ask Anna that question that evening, and it had only been half an hour since she got her appletini. She had never even ventured down into the main floor; that was a daunting prospect, indeed. Casting a glance at where Elsa was chatting with Buzz, who also seemed to be glancing in Anna's direction with great interest, she turned back and said, "I don't dance."

"You don't have to know how," the cocky boy said, sunglasses catching the flashing lights. "Just, y'know... feel the music. Dance with me, groove with me."

"Even if I did dance, I'm not interested," she said, trying to be polite - and failing. She could hear it in her tone. "Can you please just leave me alone?"

His expression soured, but he threw up both hands and left. At least he hadn't been as persistent as the last few guys; the burliest one had almost earned a kick to his "perfect glutes".

"Not doing so hot?" Elsa asked when she came back over. To her credit, she never strayed far, but Anna still felt the fun factor die off the minute they were apart.

"I don't know anybody," Anna whispered. "I've never been to any kind of social gathering where I don't know at least half of the guests, you know? So this is super weird for me."

"Well, I saw quite a few guys hanging off you," Elsa said with a suggestive smile. When Anna looked at her with a deadpan expression, she blinked, then her mouth opened in a tiny "oh."

"Yeah."

"R-right, that's my fault for forgetting," Elsa said with a quiet, apologetic smile. "But hey, one in ten of these girls is supposed to lean your way, right? Let's start looking!"

Glancing down at her still half-full drink, she shrugged. "I'm n-not good at that, either. Even worse than turning away all these dudes."

"Well there's your problem." Flicking the rim of her glass, she announced, "Finish that. Right now. Then we'll get you another."

"It tastes weird!"

"It tastes like alcohol," she laughed. When Anna looked even less happy, she slid an arm around her shoulders. "Alright. Finish that, and I'll order you a daiquiri; it'll be fruity as you are, and a lot easier to drink if you're not used to the flavour of alcohol. It was my first drink, actually. Then we'll linger another hour, see if anything opens up, gets more fun for you; if it doesn't, we'll leave."

"I don't know..." When Elsa made a pouty face at her, Anna asked, "You'd really go back that early just because I suck at having fun?"

"You do not! And hey; I know how to get this started. You need..." Her hand shot into her clutch and rummaged briefly, then pulled out her tube of lipstick. "...a signal."

"A what?"

Setting down her empty martini glass, she pulled out a hand mirror and began to apply a fresh coat. "Well, not that I would have any way to know better, but I did make a big mistake when picking out your outfit. You look incredible; I meant that before and I still mean it. Unfortunately, you also look straight. I mean, I can't tell you apart from all these other straight girls - and if I can't, how are they supposed to?"

"Yeah! See, that's my problem; even if I saw a cute chick, how am I supposed to know she won't go 'ew' if I hit on her?!"

"Exactly. Which is why..." She smacked her lips, putting the tube back into her clutch. "...you need the signal.

When Elsa's hands fell on her shoulders, Anna felt a weird little thrill shoot through her stomach. When Elsa leaned in, it got strong enough that she leaned away and held up a hand.