*****Hello again, sorry for the wait. This is a Modern AU for Meripunzel, because I haven't seen even 1 fanfic on this site strictly dedicated to it. Also, Merida is not usually scottish-sounding… read on. Yes some Hijack is included. Okay sorry that it took so long now read it fools.******

The sudden realization hit Merida like a bomb. The reason why she didn't want to get married. The reason why she never really even thought that guys were attractive, or anything like that. And now, standing in a room full of changing girls at the beginning of physical education class, she understood all of it. Merida…she liked girls.

She bolted out of there as quick as possible, deciding to change in the bathroom instead. She couldn't believe it. Maybe she knew already, somewhere in the back of her mind. Maybe she just hadn't wanted to admit it to herself. But seeing as she had already figured the whole thing out, there was no going back.

There was so much she had to think about now. Would she tell everyone? No, she couldn't do that. What if she was wrong… she knew she wasn't, but what if? Besides, if she told people, eventually it would get around to her mother, who was the Mayor after all. There was no way that she wouldn't find out. Unless she kept it a secret of course.

Uhg. Merida hated secrets. All the time the kids in her old classes told secrets, which never even stay secret for always annoyed her. That wasn't why I transferred schools though, Merida thought, all the dark memories rushing back. Never Mind that though.

Of all days, why did she have to realize that today!? She had to figure out a way to fit in, make some friends, and like… not realize something life-changing! It was her first day at her new school, and she really didn't want to be labeled as an outcast. She was distracted most of the day though.

There was a voice. "Wait…what are you doing here Red?" Merida's eyes were wide as she turned around and saw that kid. The one that got bullied so bad at her old school because he was gay. Back then, Merida hadn't known she was but she still felt bad for the kid.

"Wait...Hiccup? What are you doing here?" And then a boy with white hair (Seriously, white!?) came up and scooped up Hiccup's hand with a grin. Merida knew she was definitely not going to like this kid.

"Oh...um yeah, we used to go to school together before…" he trailed off with a dark look on his face. Suddenly the kid pulled Hiccup behind him in a show of protectiveness, before Hiccup rolled his eyes and sighed, "Jack, it's fine really, she was my friend."

The kid, Jack apparently, eyed me suspiciously and mumbled an apology. "I'm Merida Dunbroch" She stuck out her hand. "Seriously if you laugh at my hair I will freaking kill ye." she added, regretting a little that the Scottish accent her parents had sometimes rubbed off on her, especially when she was mad.

"Ahaha, this girl seems pretty cool. I'm Jack. Jack Overland, Hic's boyyyyyfrrrrriend." He dragged out the last word and kissed Hiccup on the forehead, causing him to blush. "You should sit with us at lunch… I'm sure that you and Astrid would be great friends." Merida raised an eyebrow but agreed in the end, wondering who Astrid was.

"Ehm...Hi guys" Hiccup said awkwardly, still thinking it was more than a little weird for Merida to have transferred, since he couldn't really think of any reason except for… well it didn't matter. "This is an old friend of mine...we went to school together." Merida laughed awkwardly and explained who she was.

A chorus of introductions rang out, she got one being a larger blonde boy named Fishlegs, who looked as if he was dating the girl next to him, who Merida knew as Sophie. There were twins who Merida swore were identical even though they were different genders, Ruff and Tuff, a blonde mute named Sandy, and last but not least, the one Merida had wondered about.

"Look, 'red' I don't know who you are but I hope you have a game plan if you decide to hurt me or anyone of us, because you better be prepared." She said scarily. She was confused when Hiccup started laughing though, he knew Merida wouldn't take that crap. "Whoa, Hiccup what?" Hiccup only pointed to a fuming ball of red hair.

"Lookie, here, lass I don't plan on makin' a fuss but if ye are gonna go and beat me with yer words fer not doing it in the first place, we migh' have a problem. I can fight ye if that's what ye want but I swear, on my honor, I wont let it happen. Are ye satisfied now?" She nearly spat at Astrid. For the first time anyone had seen, she looked terrified. Everyone was silent. then the laughter came.

Merida covered her mouth, immediately embarrassed. She was so angry her scottishness had flown through. Astrid asked, "Are you really scottish!?" She embarrassingly explained how it was easier to just fake an american accent, that way no one asked questions. But when she got mad, it couldn't be helped

"Here, I'll properly introduce myself, I'm Astrid. I feel like we will be great friends!" She laughed. Merida agreed, and lunch went on as usual. Well, at least until Merida noticed the loner girl. When she asked all her friends said was that she never really had friends, and clearly didn't want them. Her name was what...Rapunzel? What weird names...but she was pretty cute. Gorgeous. She blushed. What was she thinking about? She turned away, hoping nobody saw. But one person did. He lifted his bushy brown eyebrows at her, his forest green eyes obviously saying, we'll talk later. Then he blew a strand of auburn hair out of his face and continued with the conversation.

All the while, Merida kept finding herself glancing at the beautiful girl, who somehow managed to stay cheery, even if she was alone.

"Hey! Merida, over here!" Hiccup called in the science lab. "Red!" Merida winced at the name. After all, it was the name they had all called her with at her old school, and part of the reason she got so made fun of….

She ran to Hiccup's seat and asked him if he really wanted her to sit with him, to which he replied yes, he did. So they sat together, not really paying attention and having their own conversations. It was light hearted at first, but then in the middle of a story Hiccup was telling her he paused.

"And so, we…Merida." He said with a sigh, "you couldn't have left Scots High just to come here...so why did you leave?" Merida knew it was coming, but she still felt the drop in her stomach and the tears threaten to leak out, but she wouldn't let them.

"I left...because of….mostly the same reason as you. But a little different… and because of my Mom." Merida finished. Hiccup's eyes were wide as he remembered lunch. He nearly choked from shock.

"Wait...you're telling me that you're… that you're…"

"A lesbian, Hiccup, yes."

Hiccup, once again, nearly fell out of his chair. He didn't see that one coming at all. But then, if he thought about it, it made a little sense… "Merida." he suddenly said, "Are you being bullied?"

Merida shook her head. Really, what was the use in telling him? She was already gone so it had already stopped, so why worry about it?

Merida walked into Honors Art I and noticed her. The strange girl. Why not talk to her… there were none of her friends in this class anyway. She walked up and sat down next to her.

"Hey, what are you drawing?" Merida asked the girl. Without speaking, she moved her arm and let her see. It looked like… floating candles? It was over some sort of water, and there was a boat. At first Merida thought that the girl with super long blonde hair in the sketch was Rapunzel, but that couldn't be it. She had short brown hair.

"It's me." She suddenly stated, as if she could read minds. "It's supposed to symbolize the fact that such a little thing like your hair color or style could change the way one may perceive anothers dream. Lame… I know. "

Merida was alarmed. "That is so definitely not lame! It's actually quite...beautiful."

And both of them knew that there was some sort of hidden meaning behind those words.

And both of them knew then this was the start of a great and powerful force of affection, known to many as friendship.

Even if Merida wanted something more.

****R&R please and I will love you for most of forever. *****