❧ 8

Weekends in Vienna were mother-daughter days. But weekends in Hallstatt see Annika whisked away to Esoteric Herbals for tourist season. Erika doesn't let Emerynne come again, like always, suggesting that she go into town and make more friends. When Emerynne protests, Erika sighs and says, "if you want to help so much, you go pay the laundromat a visit. Now that there are three people in the house, there's a pile of laundry demanding a good wash."

"Fine." Knowing that Erika is not up for further discussion on this matter, Emerynne concedes. She wishes she'd just gone exploring instead.

Lugging three full bags of unwashed clothes about the thoroughfares of a new town in search for the one and only laundromat around makes Emerynne wish she brought Annika's car along. She manages nonetheless.

One last heave and Emerynne drags the bags to the line of washing machines facing another line of steam-dryers. She fills a machine with one bagful, starts it up, then begins working on emptying the other two bags. Two tablespoons of detergent and a cap of fabric softener for each, a twist of the timer, and all she has to do is wait the duration out. While scouting for an unoccupied seat in the waiting area, she espies a familiar shock of wild, pale-blond mane.

Frost Prince, out to do laundry on the same day as her. Well, if luck isn't being absurdly kind to her today...

Wearing a gray hoodie and blue jeans, sitting in a manner that is deemed poor posture by all parental adults – lengthy legs stretched out in front of him, torso lackadaisical, his tailbone resting on the edge of the plastic chair – he languidly scribbles away in his constant companion of a journal. Emerynne slips into the seat next to his; he lifts his head and spares her a glance. Smiling, she takes the chance to break the ice that is the Frost Prince's sub-zero hideout. "Hey. Matthias, right?"

Visage moving from deadpan to recognition, he nods.

"I'm the girl that was dancing in the dock." She thrusts her hand at him for a formal shake. "Emerynne Kaufmann. Call me Emery."

Matthias's hand encircles hers, and she is surprised at its clamminess and the calluses that scrape against the skin of her palm. Supposedly, after having affiliated him to the coldness of frost and the smoothness of verglas, she expected him to feel marbled, not warm and... human. What a ludicrous presumption that was.

Matthias has returned to his task at hand, which is scrawling in his red journal. He then holds it up for Emerynne to see. In his slim and sloping handwriting, she reads:

sorry about crashing into you that day

i just wasn't expecting you around the corner

"Oh, no. No, it wasn't your fault at all." Warmth flushes Emerynne's cheeks as she assures, "that's on me. I shouldn't have been dancing out there."

you promised Noemi and me another dance

Emerynne can't help the grin that pulls at her lips. "I'd dance right now, but," she waves a hand around, "it's not exactly spacious here..."

His response is a single word:

pity

There's a silence which Emerynne tries to fill with some conversation, however, her brain comes up blank for conversation starters. By then, Matthias writes something else and turns the page towards her.

i like your hair

it's the color of begonias

Emerynne self-consciously cards her fingers through her tresses. "Thanks," she says and her voice feels uncharacteristically high. She clears her throat, then adds, "I like your hair. It reminds me of snow. And I like your eyes, too."

Discerning how uncomfortably straightforward that was, Emerynne bites her tongue. She wishes she had stuck to her stalker-ish approaches of watching Matthias from the shadows and left him in peace. "Sorry, that was... weird," she tells him hurriedly. "Umm, I—I better go finish my laundry."

Standing up, she turns on her heels and beats a hasty retreat to the washing area. The wash isn't over yet, so she waits by the machine that will stop first, inwardly cringing at how off-putting she must have been to Matthias. They haven't yet broached friendship and here she is, complimenting his eyes, of all things. Emerynne releases a frustrated sigh and brings out her phone, hoping to find distraction in music. She just wants to disappear.

Thankfully for her, the washer beeps soon after, loud enough to disrupt the melody playing in her ears. Rolling up the sleeves of her sweater, Emerynne begins transmitting the damp clothes from the washer to an empty dryer. Then she does the same with the other two washers as they finish one by one. After moving the laundry for drying, she turns around to put down the lid of the last washer, only to see that it is already shut. An open notebook sits on it.

Emerynne looks around finding Matthias opting for a rewash on the second machine to her left. Their eyes meet and he inclines his head at the notebook, like a request. Emerynne shifts her attention to it again, and this time, she notices something scrawled on it.

i like your tattoos

they're so intricate.

Emerynne reverts her gaze to Matthias to see him watching her, the corners of his lips arched up the faintest of smiles. She finds it hard not to return his smile.

"Thank you. I designed them all myself," she declares, proudly lifting her sleeves further to show off her handiwork. One of her dryers starts beeping almost offensively, interrupting their interaction. Before going to attend to it, Emerynne taps a finger on his notebook and tacks on, "I love your handwriting. It's very, very neat."

A strangely ticklish contentment at the accomplishment of making him smile fills her tummy. Emerynne waits – with barely contained excitement – for their conversation to advance. His response is:

you're very kind

so you draw?

i do too

This is when an idea forms in her mind. Bashfulness has never been Emerynne's characteristic, but now she is shy when she says, "I didn't bring my sketchbook today, but I'd love to show it to you sometime. If you show me yours."

As Matthias writes, she reads along.

thank you, i'd like that

She receives another smile from Matthias, this one a little bit fuller, making him handsomer somehow. A fresh spell of silence lapses between them and it isn't as uncomfortable as last time, the two getting busy with their laundry. When Matthias is done with the settings on his dryers, he picks up his journal to jot something again, holding it out for Emerynne.

do you need any help with your laundry?

That fluffy feeling fills her once more upon reading his earnest offer. Beginning with, "um, no—" Emerynne stops short to correct herself, "—actually, yes. I'd very much appreciate it."

Setting his notebook atop a washer, he starts working alongside her. Side by side, they fold the skirts, shirts, jeans, and sweaters – Emerynne had already tackled all the underwear by then so, thankfully, any further embarrassments are avoided. Their elbows brushing occasionally as they move, she is struck again by his very humanly warmth.

After they're done, the clothes assiduously pleated and gathered into the bags, they both stand facing each other, about to bid farewell.

"Thank you," mumbles Emerynne. Matthias nods graciously. She turns her gaze down to her Converses, unable to look him in the eye without getting nervous. There is a chuff in the carpet and she toes at it, debating on whether she should ask him out or not. Deciding it will make things awkward, and things are already awkward enough, she hefts the laundry bags up. "I'll see you around, okay?"

Matthias retrieves his journal and pen, opening it to a new page and writing. When done, he turns the page to Emerynne.

see you dancing around

sorry i don't know why i thought that was funny

That makes Emerynne giggle. Just then, a beeping dryer draws Matthias's attention. He jerks a thumb in the direction of the machines. "Yeah," says Emerynne, "I'll leave you to it."

Giving her a last smile, he walks off to attend to his own laundry. Emerynne watches him for a while before turning away to finally leave. She begins her trek homewards, barely feeling the weight of the clothes, a new bounce in her step.

That night when Noemi arrives for their sleepover, Emerynne drags her straight to her room and relays the day's events. By the end of her narration, Noemi's voice is so high-pitched that Emerynne is convinced her ears are going to fall right off. Annika pokes her head around the door, asking, "you girls alright? What's happened?"

Before Emerynne can stop her, Noemi blurts, "Emery has a crush on Matthias."

"Matthias?" Curiosity inveigles Annika fully into the room. "The boy who brings plants for the shop?"

Emerynne shakes her head to deny, but Noemi sing-songs, "the one and the same!"

"Oh, my, my." Annika claps her hands together in glee. "He seems like such a nice boy. I hope it goes well between you two."

"Don't you worry, Annika," says Noemi, "they're gonna be perfect together."

Snorting, Emerynne rolls her eyes. "You guys need to hold your horses. I haven't even asked him out yet."

In what appears to be an attempt at motherly encouragement, Annika says, "I'm sure you'll figure it out, sweetheart. Noemi will help you. Right, Noemi?"

"Absolutely! I'm a great wingwoman, I've been told."

"Aw, this is adorable," Annika coos. "Goodness, I have to tell Erika!"

"Nooo," Emerynne wails, pleading, however, Annika has already sped off in search of her sister. Groaning, Emerynne falls back on her bed, hiding her face in her hands.

Poking Emerynne with her foot, Noemi says, "oh, don't be so glum. I'll properly introduce you two to each other. I have a plan."

Emerynne snaps upright, worried. "Noemi... what're you gonna do?"

"The job of a wingwoman..." Noemi shrugs nonchalantly, as if that is obvious.

Slapping Noemi on her shin, Emerynne demands, "elaborate!"

"Ow! Okay, okay! No need to get violent."

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