Hey you guys! Whats this another update so soon? Yup! I was overly inspired randomly by a song and a bunch of tumblr!

Anyway I want to apologize for any and all spelling and grammar errors that have been popping up in the previous chapters. I really don't mean to overlook them it just happens sometimes.

Anyway the other thing is that I want to thank everyone that Reviewed over the last chapters. I love hearing from you guys. I love knowing what you guys think of these chapters, so please continue!

The last and most important thing is that this chapter and probably the next two are the same story line. For whatever reason my mind decided that I should make them into two-three parts… And I agreed… with my brain... So don't worry if the way this chapter ends is confusing, saddening, or whatever it continues! Bwahaha!

*clears throat* so on to the chapter!

{~:~}

Chapter 4: Homecoming Days

Rapunzel twisted her hair in her hands once more before Merida slapped the strands away from her.

"Ye done yet?" The redhead smirked knowingly. "C'mon it ain't gonna be so bad. Ye love each other don' ye?" Rapunzel smiled slightly and nodded.

"Of course I… I love him… I'm just… I'm scared. All my life I've been watching from the side-lines. Waiting to be able to start my life… And now that it's here, facing me down…" Rapunzel took a shaky breath. "He loves me… And I..." She let out a sigh. No, no she did not love him. She could not. She was still loving a certain childhood friend.

"He migh' still make it Punz. Don' be givin' up yer hope jus' cause yer mum says its fer the best, aye?" Merida placed a hand on her friends shoulder, giving a light squeeze before turning to leave the room. "Ye still 'ave a week Punz. 'Ave jus' a wee bit ta faith."

Rapunzel gave a small nod as Merida left the room. She turned to look at herself in the full length mirror. One more hour, could a single hour truly change so much?

"Yes. Maybe it could." Rapunzel let a smile touch her features as she touched a snowflake pendant. It was her most prized possession. "You promised Jack… Please don't break this one."

{~Flash Back~}

Rapunzel flopped down on a worn down old couch; it was one of the few things in the club house she and the others had to pay for. Most of the other furniture, including an old lazy Boy and a few tables were picked up from the neighbor's surrounding the gangs neighborhood. Many of the adults along the street were people Rapunzel and her friends had known their whole lives. She took a moment to look around the club house. It was an old shack she and her friends had taken over.

After entering freshman year, the group decided it was time to make their hang out a place to get away from the stresses of life. Slowly over the summer Rapunzel, Jack, Hiccup, and Merida had managed to turn the drab leaky shack into a teenager's paradise. Both Hiccup and Merida's fathers had agreed to help the teens out with quite a bit of the rebuild. Rapunzel spent most of that time with Jack; the two went over different designs, arguing over who's vision was better, Rapunzel had won by a long shot. After that the two were placed in charge of making the shack a comfy cozy hide away.

"Oi, Punzie got 'ere first. I told ye we din' need ta stop fer food on the way." Merida brought Rapunzel out of her reminisce as the girl flopped down next to her best friend, picking up one of the cookies Rapunzel had brought.

Home cooking… She's so good to us. Merida thought as she gave the other girl a quick hug.

"Hey I didn't even know she was gonna come today. Jack said—" Rapunzel cringed. Jack. She had been avoiding him the past few days.

"That's my fault… I haven't spoken to Jack since…" She shifted uncomfortable. It had been three days since the last time she spoke to Jack. Two days since the last time she saw him. She was too embarrassed to face him. She had gone so far as to pretend to be sick, something that turned out to be a lot easier then she imagined. Her mother was told in passing, a quick phone call and a voicemail informed her mother that she had a migraine. Nothing was said on the matter that evening.

"He rejected you?" Hiccup asked oblivious to the depressed mood that lingered in the air from his words.

"He din't reject her. He mus' ta fergot tha's all." Merida wrapped an arm protectively around Rapunzel as the girl pulled her knees to her chest, burying her face, and shame in her arms. She gave a small shrug when she was asked if she would be alright. In truth she was more heart broken then she cared to admit.

After a few more minutes in self-pity, Rapunzel dragged herself up.

"Well anyway, we're supposed to be studying for the test tomorrow. So let's crack these books and get star—" She was cut off by the sound of high-pitched giggling growing closer. Her jaw clenched as a pain associated with heart break filled her chest. The room was quiet as the sound of the front door opening and then closing raked over everyone's ears. Jack was the first one in the room as he laughed about some unknown joke, on his arm was Thiana, the girl who had asked Jack out to the dance before Rapunzel.

"Hey guys. Sorry I'm late, Tooth texted me about needing to study so… I invited her. That cool?" Jack looked around the room at his friends before looking at Rapunzel. He was asking her, she was the only one that could tell him no without him getting defensive. However, she refused to meet his eyes. It was not until Thiana spoke that Rapunzel made any movement.

"Well if no one has a problem then can we get started?"

Something in Rapunzel snapped. Tears poured down her face without her knowledge as she stuffed her books back into her bag. She began to hiccup while holding in her unwelcomed sobs.

"I'm sorry guys…" She hiccupped. "I just remembered that thing I have to go do." And hiccupped again. "Sorry…" She moved around Jack, quickening her step as she tried to offer a smile.

"Punz!" Jack rushed after her, flinging the door open as it shut seconds before he could reach it. "Rapunzel!" He jogged up to her, grabbing her arm to turn her around and face him. She did not budge even the slightest of an inch. "Talk to me Punz. Whats wrong? You've avoided me the last three days. You haven't answered a single one of my texts since Friday. Your mom keeps telling me you're in the shower whenever I call. And then you pull this shit? What did I do?"

Rapunzel let out a sobbish-laugh as she wiped her face, finally having realized the tears that were rolling down her cheeks. She tried to pull her arm away from him but found it to be futile.

"You really don't remember?" She turned slightly to look at him, the sadness in her heart coating her voice and eyes. Jack hated seeing her this way, but worse hated knowing he had caused it. Slowly he shook his head, letting her arm go once she was fully turned to him. "Freshman year. We made a promise." She let of a sob as a new wave of tears flooded her vision. "We promised each other that we would all go to the homecoming dance together. That we would be each other's da—"Rapunzel cut herself off with a shaky laugh. Why was she doing this to herself? Letting a little promise breaking upset her this much…

"Forget it. It clearly doesn't matter. But bringing your date to OUR paradise… Unforgivable." She quickly turned and ran off leaving all she had said to sink into Jacks thick skull.

"She got this upset because I asked someone else to the dance…" Jack ran a hand through his hair as he sighed to himself. He was starting to believe that he would never understand women.

Merida glared at him. Daggers were being shoved into his back as her eyes bore burning holes.

"Seriously Mer I don't see what the big deal is. So I forgot something from three years ago. That's not exactly reason enough for her to cry, is it?" Merida scoffed, crossing her arms as she turned her back on Jack.

"Ye dun know women tha's fer sure. She ain't upset because yer fergot a silly promise Jack. If ye had told her ye were thinkin' of taking someone to the dance 'M sure she would 'ave been fine." She paused for a moment. "The real damage is that yer blind to her feelin's."

From the silence that followed her words, Merida figured he was still lost to her meaning. "Ye really don' know do ye? Honestly Jack, do ye really think tha' she would turn down ten er more invitations ta tha' stupid dance if tha' were ta be all? Has ten years a knowin' the lass really been nothin' ta ye?"

Hiccup placed an arm on her shoulder.

"Mer you know how long it took me to figure your feelings out. Give the guy some slack. Let me talk to him." He leaned over and gave her cheek a kiss before nudging her toward the door. "We'll see you tomorrow okay?" Huffing and muttering about boys being idiots, Merida made her way out of the club house, slamming the door behind her.

Jack sighed, slumping down in one of the chairs. He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck before looking up at Hiccup. "What am I missing?"

Hiccup chuckled settling onto the couch. "It really is obvious. You're gonna think you're a fool. Which you are." Jack scowled, gesturing for his best friend to hurry up. "Jack, Rapunzel has been in love with you since like fifth grade, maybe even longer. You really never noticed?"

Heat filled Jacks face as he leaned back to contemplate this information. In love with him… for all those years? "Why didn't she ever say anything to me?" Hiccup shrugged.

"Probably for the same reason Merida never said anything. I had no idea I even had feelings for her until she asked me to the dance sophomore year." Again he shrugged. Jack remembered that. It had been clear to everyone but Hiccup that Merida liked him.

She would bring him lunches at least three times a week; she always attended every chess match he had while being a part of the chess team. She had been his only cheerleader when he joined the swim team.

Oh yes it was clear that she was head over heels for him. The more that Jack thought about it the more he came to realize the same to be said about him and Rapunzel.

"She's been to every one of my hockey games." He placed his head in his hands. "She once cheered herself hoarse even after we came out as the losing team." Jack groaned. "She's brought me a specialized cake every year the night before my birthday. How could I not have seen it?" He glanced up at a pouting Hiccup.

"Not even Mer gets a special cake… She's too good for you." Jack agreed. She was too good for him. She deserved better then someone who forgot a promise from three years ago.

"I'm such an idiot… I gotta make it up to her." He jumped to his feet. "What should I do?"

Hiccup rose to his feet and slung a hand over his best friend's shoulders. "Here's what you're gonna do…"

Rapunzel contemplated staying in bed. It was a welcomed thought as she pulled the plush comforter around her more. But a nagging voice inside her head told her that she would have to face the rest of the world eventually. Groaning, she threw the comforter off her head and glanced at her phone perched on her side table. There were two texts flashing over the screen; one from Jack and the other from Merida. She opted to answer the latter first.

{U rn't serious R U?}

Rapunzel shuttered at the grammar errors. Merida knew it bugged her to her core, that was one of the reasons she would type that way. The other being her technical challenges with her advanced cell phone, making text-talk ideal.

{Why not? Is he that bad of a guy Mer? QB and top 10 in class? Besides its not like I have to marry hi}

She was cut off mid text to answer a call. Five long minutes later she erased what she had been typing and tried again.

{Its too late now. He already agreed. See you at school.}

She switched her phone off, having forgotten the other text left unanswered. Rapunzel sighed as she got up to get ready for the day. She did not see what the big deal was. Jack had a date and now so did she. So it was with Flynn Rider, known playboy of the senior class. It was one night.

"Who cares?" She asked herself over again, pulling her hair up into a messy bun. "One night. Not like I'm marrying the cheat." She rolled her eyes as she walked down stairs. She shook her head; even her thoughts had begun to sound like her convincing herself. Rapunzel stopped once to look at herself in the hall mirror, she slapped her cheeks before heading out. "It doesn't mean he's my boyfriend."

Jack stared for a moment begrudgingly. In the back of his mind he knew that she was doing this to get to him. Unfortunately it was working. The entire week had been a terrible one; the topping was seeing Rapunzel enter the dance on the arm of that playboy. She still refused to talk with him. She had not shown up to the club house once that week. Every time Merida asked her to come she had some excuse. Finally on Thursday, Jack had managed to stop her in the hall between classes and ask her why she was avoiding him.

"Jack you hurt me." She shrugged turning to leave. "I'll save you the last dance though."

Jack made his way around the gym as the DJ announced the final song. He noted the way Rapunzel seemed to look for him, it was enough to make him walk his depressed butt over to her and offer a hand. He half expected her to turn him down, while also expecting her stupid date to try and cut in. However with a quick look around he spotted Thiana and Flynn making out against the wall. He did not however, expect Rapunzel to take his hand and smile so warmly at him as she led him out into the chilled night air.

"Let's dance outside okay?" He nodded following her closely. Once they were outside, and far enough from the school to really be alone, Jack pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Thanks for saving me the last dance…" He smiled down at her. She returned the smile, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Who else is gonna take me home?" She giggled. He missed that giggle, it was one of the sounds that he learned made his day better each time he heard it.

"I missed you this last week… I know I screwed up Punz. I'm really sorry." Jack placed his forehead against hers, causing Rapunzel's face to flush.

"Hey don't worry about it. Water under the bridge right?" Jack shook his head.

"Rapunzel… I know I'm like five or so years to late but, I think I'm—" Rapunzel did not hear a word he said, she back up and placed her hand over his mouth.

"Jack I've been in love with you since I moved here ten years ago! That's why I got upset. You mean so much more to me than any other person, other than my mom… I… I love you Jack." She offered a smile. Jack in return removed her hand from his mouth and captured her lips in a kiss. It was soft and did not last long.

"I love you too Punz. Sorry it took me so long to figure out."

They laughed and shared another kiss as people began to pile out of the school; somewhere in the crowd were two people spying on the kissing couple, sharing a victory hug before rushing over to the other couple.

Best dance ever. Rapunzel told herself as she and Jack were tackled into a group hug.

{Flash back end}

The sound of knocking brought Rapunzel out of her memories. She dropped the pendant back into place, making her way over to the door.

"Y-yes?" Rapunzel inched the door open. Her mother stood on the other side, a lace veil in her arms. With a smile, Rapunzel opened the door fully, giving her a smile. "Mother, you made it." Her mother chuckled stepping into the room.

"Of course I made it. Now come here so I can help you with this veil. Wouldn't want it ruined for your big day." Rapunzel's smile faltered as the thought of what lay ahead of her jumped back into her mind. She was bombarded by questions and doubts pointed at herself. She could not help but feeling as though she was making a mistake.

"Mother? You like Flynn don't you? I mean he's a good choice for a husband isn't he? I'm not doing something stupid I am?" Rapunzel tried to hold still as her mother clipped the veil into place. Once the offending piece of material was in its place her mother turned her toward a mirror so she could see herself.

"I think that Flynn is a lucky man. And I think he knows that. And I also think that there is someone who would like to see you before the big ceremony." Her mother turned her around and embraced her tightly. Rapunzel returned the hug, finding peace in the warmth that was her mother's arms. "I'll send him in." They parted and Rapunzel was once more alone with her terrible thoughts. Her mind planted seed after seed of doubt.

Was she doing the right thing? Did she want this? Would she be happy?

"Do you love him?" A familiar voice brought a wave of tears to her eyes. Rapunzel turned to look at the door. Standing in the door way, giving that stupid boyish smirk that even as an adult sent her heart fluttering, was her Jack. A smile spread over her lips as she moved toward him, arms extended to invite him into a hug.

"You made it. I was so worried you wouldn't Jack." Jack let himself be pulled into loving arms. Let him be enveloped into a false sense of right. He chastised himself for thinking that he belonged in those arms; those arms that he had left voluntarily.

After four years he still pinned after the blonde, still thought about her daily; continued to dream about her every night. She was a drug, he was an addict, and being there was nothing more than him getting his fill. Reluctantly they parted; Jack continued to hold her at arm's length though.

"Hey. I made a promise."

{Flash back part 2}

They were sitting in their clearing; the clearing Jack had found freshman year, the one that over looked a lake the group tended to hang around during the deep months of summer. The two were lying side by side, enjoying the last rays of sun before the direct warmth was hidden by the tall looming trees.

Jack watched her carefully, took in every breath she took. Noting each time her eyes would flutter as she would readjust her position. It was bliss, if there were was such a thing.

"Next year's really gonna suck Jack. A whole 8 months without Mer, Hiccup…" Rapunzel hesitated before continuing. "Or you. Why couldn't we have all gone to the dame school?" She propped herself up on an elbow so she could look at him directly.

Jack chuckled, reaching up to brush a few stray hairs from her face.

"Its not like we'll never see each other again. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years; who else am I gonna kiss as the ball drops Punz?" He offered that stupid smirk that melted away her fears, normally. This time however a new thought played against her mind as she chewed her lip.

"What if you meet someone better Jack? I'm just a stupid girl from this one town, going off to be an art major. I'm nothing special." Hearing this for what felt like the millionth time, Jack sighed and sat up.

"You're right. You're absolutely right. You are just one girl in this one town." Rapunzel's face showed the hurt she felt from his words. She froze when he cupped her face and pressed his forehead against her own. "But you are the most amazing, unique girl I have ever met. There is no one that could ever compare to you by a long shot Punzie. I meant it. I love you."

Tears rolled off Rapunzel's cheeks as she smiled, a laugh was caught in the middle of a sob.

"I love you too Jack."

~Two years later~

It was over.

She was done. There was nothing more to be said about the matter, and ever if there was she knew he would never listen to her. He never did. He would brush her off, saying that it was for her best interest.

How is breaking my heart my best interest?! She screamed at herself. She had been an idiot to think that he would take the relationship serious.

He had never cared before.

"Father of the year strikes again." She laughed bitterly as she pulled into the diner she had asked Jack to meet her at. "What am I supposed to say…?"

A wave of hot angry tears threatened her. Rapunzel took three deep breaths, slamming her hand down on the steering wheel. She refused to cry over this. "Stay angry Punz. If Jack sees you cry he'll think badly of you."

She knew he would not though. One of the best things about Jack was his knowledge of Rapunzel. He knew her inside and out.

"That's why he's my best friend…" A choked sob of a laugh escaped her lips as she got out of her car. She steeled herself as she set off to break two hearts. By the time it was over she had fresh tears streaking her cheeks.

~Flashback To be continued in chapter 5~

See you all in chapter 5! Reviews are drugs! :3