Make Hay While the Sun Shines

Rapunzel let out a groan, falling back onto her bed as she clutched the paper to her arms. This wasn't happening, she prayed, closing her eyes for just a moment. When she opened them again, she decided, the results would report something else to her; she'd be ranked third rather than second. She must have just read it wrong the first time.

When she looked at it again, the words still shined back at her, the calligraphy inked delicately into the thick parchment:

Outstanding Scholarly Achievement Award, it read in intricate blood-red lettering.

Perfect, Rapunzel thought bitterly. Just perfect.

Only the two top scoring students of the eighteen hundred or so that took the test would receive such a prestigious award. She should have felt lucky – her mother had never allowed her to attend school, and now Rapunzel could choose any in the country. With the OSAA in her résumé, not one would be able to refuse her.

She groaned and buried her head into her pillow. Oh, if only she really could—if only she could choose that option without being burdened by guilt…!

"Hey, Punzel, why the long face?"

"Oh, Jack," Rapunzel sighed, not even bothering to look up at the pickpocket. It was no longer a surprise that he was entering her (locked) room without knocking. "I've stolen someone else's opportunity to go to the school of their dreams. It's terrible, absolutely terrible…"

There was a moment of silence—shocked, confused silence, and then at last Jack said, "What?"

Rapunzel sniffed as she turned over, holding up the certificate for him to inspect. He snatched it from her hands and read it over, and her ears turned red as she imagined what he would say next.

'Stupid! Why don't you ever think before you do this stuff?!' 'Come on, Rapunzel, you're so selfish! You knew what your mother would say, and you still reached for the top?' 'I'd take this in a heartbeat, you know, to have this kind of opportunity!'

"Stupid."

She winced.

"Why don't you ever enjoy this kind of stuff?"

She blinked now, and her gaze shifted from the ceiling to him. Jack was grinning, holding back a laugh, it looked like. Why?

He sighed and shook his head, letting his arms fall and the award drop to the ground. "So what if someone else doesn't get to go?" he asked. "I mean, geez. You earned this, and the scores prove it! Third place can suck it."

"Jack!"

"What? I'm just saying."

"You know my mother won't let me," Rapunzel said, and her chin fell as she pushed the covers over her eyes. "Even if the government is supposed to help me with financial trouble, or to ensure my safety so that my 'pursuit of knowledge' isn't sabotaged, or whatever. My mother will make me refuse to accept any of it."

Jack cocked an eyebrow and pulled the covers off of her. Rapunzel refused to look at him, clutching her pillow close to her.

"Hey." Jack nudged her gently. "I was informed of a small little tidbit today that you might be interested in hearing. You know the one kid who placed higher than you? Oh, gosh, what was his name… Toothpick? Skipper? Gosh, I know there's a 'P' sound…"

"Hiccup," Rapunzel corrected, biting back a giggle. "His name is Hiccup. His father's a powerful chieftain in the northern lands."

"Right, yeah," Jack said with a nod. "Well, apparently they did some sort of interview with this kid. He's got the highest score that's ever been recorded on that stupid test, you know. And guess what?"

"What?"

"His father's a real asshat or something, and he was totally against the idea of Hiccup becoming educated at all. Still is. So, to prove to him that education's worth something, Hiccup's going to go to the world famous University for the Gifted in the capital, double-major in Foreign Relations and Dragonology – Dragonology! – and when he's done, he'll go back home and put what he's learned to good use within the tribe, even if his dad won't let him take over as chieftain."

Rapunzel frowned, and finally she sat up. "Okay. I mean, I'm really glad for him, being able to stand up to his dad. But what does that have to do with me?"

Jack leaned forward and poked her forehead sharply. She yelped. "Ah, hey!"

"I'm telling you, Punzel, to make hay while the sun shines." Jack chuckled. "You said it yourself; the government wants you to grow and learn and is willing to escort you there and pay for all expenses. If Hiccup's going to do it and his father leads a freaking tribe, why don't you?"

"…" Rapunzel frowned. "But Jack, my mother—'

"To be honest, I don't much care for what your wannabe-florist maybe-not-mother has to say on the subject. This is about what you want, and no one else."

There was a pause, a moment of thought as Rapunzel's brow crinkled. She chewed the inside of her cheek, turning over and over what Jack had said. Was she really free to do this? Would her mother ever forgive her?

The moment, evidently, became too long for Jack to remain comfortable, as he cleared his throat and said, "By the way, her bouquets really do suck."

"Jack!"

"They do. Whenever I want to get you some flowers, I have to steal them from somewhere else. Gothel doesn't understand the concept of complimentary colors."

Rapunzel giggled. "Well, I guess I appreciate that, since it's not like we make a lot of money."

Jack grinned, before he laughed and let gravity lead him as he fell onto the bed with a plop next to her. "I promise," he said as he turned to her, and he entwined his fingers in hers; her heart pounded, "I promise that wherever you go, I'll follow. That way you don't have to be alone."

After a moment, Rapunzel laughed, and her fingers echoed the movement of his. "All right," she said, and as she did, it was as if all of her fears, her worries, her anxieties – all of them, vanished, with just two words.

The thought of informing her mother still terrified her, but as long as Jack stood at her side, she didn't need to think about it. She didn't know where Jack would stay or how he would get by – probably by pickpocketing, as he usually did, but how would he get enough money to stay off the streets? – but none of it mattered. It would all resolve itself.

Right now it was just him, her, and the possibility of the future.

And it was wonderful.

Elsa's Note: I like this one. c: I think it's cute. But then again maybe that's just my ego talking. (sobs) I'm a terrible judge of my own writing.

P-please read and review...?