CHAPTER 4

RAPUNZEL'S POV

I opened my mouth and then closed it…and then opened it again. Then I nodded.

"You know," it was a statement not a question, but Jack answered anyway.

"Yeah," he said. And there goes that little smirk again. I rolled my eyes and looked away.

"Should've known. I mean, since I have my own personal stalker and everything," I said, jabbing at him with my words.

"That's me! Personal stalker and everything." He didn't even miss a beat. I grumbled and he stared at me in wonder for a second and then started laughing.

"What?"

"I just didn't think you could make a noise like that!" he cried between laughter. He doubled over in laughter and held his stomach.

"What's THAT supposed to mean?" I asked, crossing my arms and facing him. He took a couple of deep breaths and put up a hand, a smile playing on his face.

"Now, let's not get our panties in a wad," he said quite seriously. I narrowed my eyes at him and sharply turned away from him. I didn't know why, but he irritated me to the point of insanity! Suddenly, I felt that painful prickly feeling again and I quickly yanked my hand out his grip.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO TOUCH ME AGAIN!" I cried, reaching for my frying pan. That's when I realized that I left it back in that room with the weird Russian Santa Claus that had tattoos. I must've looked like a dog chasing my tail because he was trying to stifle his laughter. Then he looked really seriously all of a sudden.

"Rapunzel, you have to leave." I stopped and just stared at him.

"What?" I asked, even more irritated.

"I don't want you to get hurt," he said, his eyes pleading with me.

"You don't even know me. I'm not going to get hurt," I snapped. His face hardened. He sort of reminded me of a glacier.

"You're part of the Circle," he stated.

"That doesn't mean you know me," I pointed out, sort of sing-songy. He gritted his teeth and looked away for a second before looking back at me.

"You don't know what they might do to you. They HATE the Circle. Probably because all you stuck up Princesses think you're better than the Guardians," said Jack, insultingly. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I do NOT think I'm better than ANYONE."

"Oh yeah?"

"YEAH!"

"Right, okay. Because ever since you got here, you've been walking around with your nose higher than the ceiling and you keep DEMANDING THINGS LIKE A SPOILED PRINCESS!" he yelled. I flinched, but I kept my demeanor. His eyes widened and then he sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Why are you here anyway?" he asked. I stared at him, slightly afraid to speak, "Why did they send you?"

"You." He looked up, meeting my eyes. His ice blue eyes cut through my soul, and suddenly I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Me?" he asked. I nodded. I didn't have enough oxygen to speak. He didn't look surprised.

"You knew," I finally was able to say. He nodded, not meeting my gaze.

"They don't trust me. No one trusts me."

"They're afraid you'll mess things up," I agreed. Then he sharply looked up at me.

"Do you know what things I might mess up?" he asked, taking a step forward. I quickly stumbled backwards.

"I—No, they only told me something was wrong with the children," I stammered. He stopped. As if he was frozen, a statue. His blue eyes far away. Then he slowly started to shake his head.

"No, the children are the Guardian's domain…"

"They said it was bigger than the children," I whispered. His eyes snapped over to mine. Then he started to nod.

"That's why they need me," he whispered.

"But if it has to do with saving the world as a whole, then the Circle has to be involved," I demanded. I stopped talking, my eyes widening. I DID sound like a spoiled Princess… Jack didn't even listen to me. Then he started to step forwards as I stumbled backwards. I hit a wall and then he paused.

"But it stems from the children. Don't you see, Rapunzel? There's something bigger going on here. North just doesn't know it yet," said Jack, getting excited. It was kind of contagious, so I cracked a smile.

"Sure," I said agreeing, though I had no idea what he was talking about. His smile was suddenly wiped from his face.

"But then…then the Circle HAS to get involved. Your powers deal with more killing and murder stuff—"

"HEY!" I interjected.

"—It's not against your code. But it is pretty much against our code—"

"You just said 'our'. Does that mean you're part of the Guardians then?"

"So, if we're going to defeat whatever this is, then we need the—No! I am NOT part of Guardians!" said Jack, finally listening to me.

"But you DID say our…"

"I follow the same code because we were conjured by the Man in the Moon."

"Whatever. So, you agree that the Circle needs to get involved," I said. That was the important thing. Jack looked over at me warily.

"Yes…I agree…"

"You're smarter than I previously thought you were, Mr. Frost."

"And you're dumber than I previously thought, Miss Rapunzel," he rebuked. I stood frozen, my jaw dropped to the floor.

"C'mon," he looked like he was going to reach for my wrist again and then he pulled away quickly, "Now we're going to keep this a secret from North, for now."

"Oooo. I feel like a rebel."

"Yeah, get used to it, kid."

"Who're you calling kid?"

"I'm like a couple hundred years older than you, lady."

"Yet you look like you're eighteen. And I'M eighteen. So, we're equal," I ordered. He looked over at me, and then genuinely smiled.

"Whatever, kid. Let's go."