#theduplexpart8

Two weeks had passed since the barbecue. Anna was at SunTrust Bank today, where she worked as a teller on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and every other Friday (the first Thursday of each month had Anna going to car auctions with Uncle Kai for Arendelle Luxury Motors to replenish their inventory). Wednesdays weren't overtly busy but she enjoyed getting to know the people of Arendelle Park by helping them, even though she didn't need to work. As she did deposits and withdrawals for the customers, she thought about Kristoff. Anna had to admit that her neighbor and closest friend was becoming even more special to her. She began to wonder what it would be like to go out on a date with him. Where would they go? What would they do? This alone kept a dreamy look on her lovely freckled face.

Kristoff was hard at work at North Mountain Motorworks, replacing a transmission for a Highlands County Sheriff's cruiser (North Mountain Motorworks had the contract to repair vehicles for the City of Arendelle Park and Highlands County). He loved being a mechanic, working Monday through Friday, to repair any car, truck, van or motorcycle, making it like new again. As he put the transmission in, he thought about Anna. Kristoff had to admit that his neighbor and closest friend was becoming even more special to him. He'd never thought that a wealthy young woman would ever want to hang out with a long haired, tattooed biker but she did. He began to wonder what it would be like to go out on a date with her. Where could he take her on a poor man's budget? What would they do? This alone kept him in a dreamy haze, wonderment on his ruggedly handsome face.

It was four in the afternoon. Bulda came over to Kristoff (she worked the front counter and did the books for the business), a locked deposit bag in her fleshy hands. "Krissy," Bulda said. "I need you to run to SunTrust and make a cash deposit for me please." Kristoff wiped his oily hands on a shop towel. "Okay, Mom," Kristoff said, Bulda handing the bag and key to him. "Just bring the bag and receipt back and you can get off early." "Sure thing." He quickly put his tools back into the toolbox, locked it, punched out, hopped onto his Harley after putting the bag into his saddlebag and drove to SunTrust.

Anna had just finished cashing a check for an elderly woman when she called for the next customer in line. Kristoff approached Anna's teller window. She looked up from her computer and saw Kristoff there in front of her. He wore his uniform: navy Dickies work pants, a blue button down shirt with patches on the short sleeves and chest (his ASE and master mechanic certifications, North Mountain Motorworks on the right and his nickname "Kris" on the left) and work boots, his hair in a low ponytail. He looked really hot to her. He saw how pretty she looked today in a cream sheer blouse (sleeveless) with a white cami top underneath, cream espadrilles and linen slacks, her hair in a French braid today, smelling sweetly of spring lilacs. "Hey, neighbor," Kristoff teased. "I didn't know that you worked here." "I do, three to four days a week, mostly for fun," Anna said. They smiled, blushing.

"Did you need to make a deposit," Anna asked, breaking Kristoff's concentration. "Wait, what? Oh yeah, I do. Sorry," Kristoff stammered, his long, thick fingers fumbling with the key to the deposit bag, making her giggle. He handed her the bag. She pulled out the cash and the deposit ticket. An idea came to him then. He took a deep breath and prepared himself, hoping that she'd say yes. "Uh, Anna," Kristoff asked. "Yes, Kristoff," Anna asked, handing him the now empty bag and receipt. "What time do you get off?" "Five but I have to count my drawer down first. Why?" "Would you like to share dinner with me at Homer's Smorgasbord?" He waited, holding a breath. She didn't hesitate. "Sure. I'd love to." He smiled, exhaling. "Great. I'll meet you there at 5:30." "Great. See you then." They smiled as he left, she admiring the view of his firm, taut backside in the confines of his work pants, excited for their impromptu get together.

Anna had parked her car next to Kristoff's motorcycle and saw him waiting for her. It was 5:15 P.M. (she'd counted quickly). They went in, he paid for them both (he'd insisted) and they chose a table near the buffet line. Homer was an elderly man who owned this buffet restaurant that served all sorts of things from fried chicken (the best around) to ham to roast beef at dinner, salads, pizza, desserts, you name it. Once they got their food and sat down, they began to talk. "Thank you for dinner, Kristoff," Anna said. "This was very sweet of you. I love this place but haven't eaten here since my parents died. Hans hated coming here; he didn't want to hobnob with poor old people, he'd said." "You're welcome, Anna," Kristoff said. "I come here every Sunday. My late mother had worked here bussing tables." They kept sneaking glances at each other as they ate and sipped on their Cokes.

"What made you decide to be a mechanic," Anna asked. "My late father was one. When he lived in Norway, he'd worked for the Royal Norwegian Navy, fixing planes and ships. He'd met my mother when she'd left her Sami village of Karasjok for Stavanger. Yes, they had a twenty year age gap but I'd never seen two people so in love like they were. Both wanted to come here, so they did. I was three when we came here. Pappa worked at North Mountain Motorworks, befriending Cliff and Bulda while Mamma worked here. I'd go there after school and both Pappa and Dad taught me about fixing vehicles. I love to fix things," Kristoff said. "I only work three, sometimes four days a week at the bank. I do help Uncle Kai, mainly at car auctions," Anna said. "I don't need the money but I needed something to do. Hans thought I was stupid for working." "I don't think you working is stupid. You seem to enjoy it from what I'd seen." She smiled. "I do. I just can't work at the dealership. I can't sell a car and I think of my late parents, how they'd died. Besides, it gives Uncle Kai something to do as well." He smiled.

After they ate and had dessert (she had chocolate ice cream and a slice of chocolate silk pie, he had strawberry ice cream and peach cobbler), they drove home. After they'd pulled into their respective garages, they came out onto their shared driveway. "Thank you for dinner tonight, Kristoff," Anna said. "You're welcome, Anna," Kristoff said. "I'm happy that you'd said yes." They smiled. "Let's make Homer's a Wednesday night thing for us. What do you think?" "I'd love it." Smiling, they closed their garage doors and went inside, their impromptu first date going well and they looked forward to next Wednesday.