Chapter 3 – Dream Boy

The next day, Rapunzel's father required the use of the car so Rapunzel had to ride the train to work. The night before, right after George and his mother left, Rapunzel had stayed up late to finish three magazine covers. She was very tired and her eyes kept drooping. She wished her father would let her drink coffee, but he said women don't drink coffee.

At the train station, Rapunzel kissed her father good-bye, the three covers wrapped in brown paper under her arm. She got on the train, after accepting cab fare from Nic, and sat down by a window. She tried to read the morning newspaper, specifically seeking George's pieces, but her tired eyes kept wandering out the window. It was easier to look at a lot things, than one thing at all.

At the back of the car, a man in a dark blue suit and matching hat opened the door and walked down the aisle. He looked over his shoulder as he casually strolled the length of the car. He saw that there was a seat next to Rapunzel.

"May I?" Rapunzel looked up just barely registering that someone had addressed her.

"Oh, yes." She moved her things from the extra seat and put them all in her lap. She turned back to the man to smile at him, but instead she took a double take. The man had dark hair and dark eyes. It was her dream boy! Or at least a very close likeness. She really couldn't tell from his side profile. She continued to stare at him as he looked around. Rapunzel didn't even notice that he was nervous. Rapunzel leaned forward, trying to see his face from the front. The man finally noticed her fidgeting. He cocked an eye brow at her. She grinned, embarrassed and turned her head away, flipping her newspaper open again. From the corner of her eye, she still looked at the man. The similarity was alarming.

The conductor called the next stop; East street.

The man turned once again around in his seat and quickly faced forward, pulling his hat low. In the back of the car was a large red haired man with a scar running down the side of his face.

The man in the blue suit stood up. Rapunzel tried to not look at him, sad to know he was leaving. The man paused for just a second as he looked back at a large man in the black suit in the back of the car. The man was mean looking and he was scanning the people. Suddenly, the dark haired man stooped down to Rapunzel.

"Good-bye, darling." He kissed her straight on the mouth. "I'll be home early tonight." He quickly walked away, leaving Rapunzel dumbstruck.

Rapunzel was so put off by her strange encounter on the train that she almost missed her stop. She had to practically leap off the train as it pulled out of the station.

Rapunzel walked down the street, looking to see which taxi she should hail. She saw a parked taxicab on the side of the street. She glanced at it, then focused more clearly on it. She saw the man from the train sitting in the back. The window was down. Rapunzel bent her head down to it.

"Hello."

"Oh, hello." The man barely looked up, but then he recognized Rapunzel. "You're the girl I kissed on the train today," he said, smiling. "Please, let me first say I usually wait a few dates before I go that far." Rapunzel giggled, to show she didn't mind the kiss. "You actually got me out of jam today on the train by accepting my kiss. Thank you."

Oh, you're welcome," Rapunzel said, breathy and light-headed. He extended a hand towards her. They shook. Over Rapunzel's shoulder, the man noticed the same thug who had scanning for him on the train. Their eyes met. The dark haired, dark eyed man reached his head through the window and kissed Rapunzel again.

"Of course we can go to brunch together, darling." He opened the cab door and pulled Rapunzel in. The taxi drove away and the thug stared at it, grimacing. His target had gotten away again.

In the cab, the man was staring at Rapunzel, but not in a bad way.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Nothing, just that you've a good face."

"Oh?" Rapunzel flushed. "Well, thank you. So do you." The man grinned.

"I think I can trust you, Mrs.-"

"Miss. Miss Mitty. Rapunzel Mitty."

"My name is Eugene Fitzherbert."

"How do you do? Gee, that's a nice name."

"You think?" He smiled again, then sighed, turning serious. "Miss Mitty, I need your assistance. Will you help me?"

"Me? How?"

"I'm on my way to meet an associate of mine. I'm being followed, and I need to now keep this cover that I've made with you."

"With me? You mean, us, m-married?"

"Of the like, yes. Please, come with me. I promise to keep you safe."

"Safe?" For some reason, Rapunzel started to feel uneasy.

"Yes. I can't explain it right now, but what I'm doing is very important."

"Y-y-y-you're being f-f-followed and you, you want me to, to help you?" Rapunzel's voice quivered with trepidation.

"Yes."

"Gosh, that's a lot to throw on a girl."

"I'm sorry, but I really do need your help." The man's face so pleading and hadsome

"Oh, well, when you say it that way, I suppose I could help you, as long as we don't get into too terrible of a pinch."

"Thank you, Miss Mitty." Eugene took Rapunzel's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Driver, forget the Corona building. Please head straight to pier 50."

"Yes, pier 50- what? No! No, I'll be late. I'm sorry, but I must get to the office. Please, stop the cab. It's right here. Stop the cab!" The cab halted with a squeal, tossing Rapunzel into the back of the front seat as she stood up. Rapunzel climbed over the man, opening the door. She was about to leave, when she remembered her manners. She turned back to him. "Good-bye, Mr. Fitzherbert." She dashed into the crowd of people on the sidewalk. Eugene looked after her, disappointed. He sat back, sighing. Rapunzel showed up beside the car again, startling him.

"Here's my share of the cab ride," she said, holding out the fare. "I hope everything works out for you." Eugene took the money.

"This isn't necessary." He tried to hand it back to her, but she was already leaving again.

"Bye."

"Good-bye, Miss Mitty." Rapunzel watched the cab leave. She turned to walk into her office building when she realized she was missing something.

"Oh, no! The covers! They're in that cab!" Rapunzel ran to the edge of the sidewalk, madly waving an arm. A taxi pulled up quickly. "Pier 50, please. And hurry."