Sorry had to make a minor change to the dog...

StarrySea wrote this chapter

Dreary.

That just about summed up the school year. It was rainy and cold, and Rapunzel suffered through boring classes everyday. Today was no exception.

Rapunzel sat in math class drawing suns on her royal purple binder. She flipped it open to get another marker and Eugene's picture smiled up at her, his brown hair was tousled and his mischievous smile gleamed. She ran her fingers over it as if trying to summon her boyfriend through the photo paper, and giggled.
"Do you find anything about irrational numbers amusing, Miss Rapunzel? If so please share it." The teachers craggy voice made her jump.

"No, no, Mr. Kyle. Nothing."

"Then open your notebook and pay attention." He turned back to the board.

Rapunzel flipped open her notebook and drummed the desk with her pencil, eyes darting around the room.

It's grey and rainy.
Tick, tock, tick, tock.

I miss Eugene.
Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

When is this day going to—

The bell rang loudly and Rapunzel gathered her books and followed her class out the door.

Thank the gods the day was over and there was minimal homework. She twisted her lock, 21-39-33. The door popped open. The small interior was plastered with pictures, magnets and a mirror. She grabbed her blue backpack and started throwing books in.
Chem test on Tuesday, Social Studies project, Algebra 2 quiz, and an english essay on the summer reading that she hadn't finished. She stuffed her sketchbook and choir folder in and slammed the locker. Second week of school, and she was already ready for it to be over. And to make matters worse it was only Monday.

The halls were clearing out as Rapunzel made her way to the bus stop. The cold fingers of rain fell down and made her shiver. When the bus finally arrived she plopped her bags in the second row and leaned against the window until it stopped at her street. She thanked the bus driver and walked up to her house.

The drive was soaked and the manicured lawn was swampy. Rapunzel let herself in and collapsed on the sofa. She turned on her iPod and spread her books out. After an hour of going through her Chemistry notes several times, doing algebra practice problems over and over, she turned off her iPod and started singing the choir music. It was Latin, something about living or maybe it was the seasons. Her voice echoed around the house. She held the last note for twice the length just for good measure and then flopped back on the couch.

Raaaaarrf! Her dog Scruffy bounded up and laid down next to her. He wasn't supposed to be on the furniture but Rapunzel let him whenever her dad wasn't around.
"Hey!"

He was a lab. She scratched behind his ears and he barked again. The rain drummed on the window pain and Rapunzel started singing a song from her ipod.
"I see sparks fly whenever you smile get me with those green eyes baby as the lights go down give me something that'll haunt me-"
The opening garage door sent a tremor through the house.

"Scruffy, go get down. Dad's home." She straightened the couch, grabbed her books and flew up the stairs to her room. It was fairly small, nothing luxurious. The walls were a cheery pink on one side and a deep purple on the other. She had a mirror, a chest, a desk and two windows. Her bed had a purple comforter with gold trim, a Japanese lantern hung over it and cast a yellow glow.

"Rapunzel? I'm home." her dad called from downstairs.

She walked down and hugged him. "Hey dad."

Her dads name was Jacob Miles. He had a darker version of Rapunzel's blonde hair, but that was about the only thing they had in common. He was tall and wiry, he looked like a pro-runner even though he was a businessman. He had a kind smile and green eyes. Since he was a regular mortal he didn't know that Rapunzel's mother was Aphrodite, and she had decided not to tell him.

"So how was school?"

"Dull."

"It's high school, what do you expect?"

"I guess." She ran back up to her room. The clock on her nightstand said 6:24. No doubt it would be another hour before her dad got situated and made dinner. Or tried to make dinner then called take out.

She lay on her stomach and started drawing. The storm got worse. The rain pounded harder and thunder rumbled in the distance. She flipped on her lamp, something out the window caught her eye. Someone was walking up their driveway. She flew down the stairs and started into the living room. Whoever it was, was knocking frantically on the door now. Rapunzel flung the door open and lightning flashed. Standing on the front porch step, dripping wet was...

"Eugene?" Rapunzel said with disbelief.

"Rapunzel..." he panted.

"Well come in!" She grabbed his arm and hauled him inside. His face was pale and he looked as though he hadn't slept in days. A torn backpack was slung across his back.

She sat him down on the couch and gave him a blanket. "Eugene, you big dope! What are you- How did you- I missed you!"

"Monsters... Dreams... Chased me all the way..." He panted. "Gotta get to camp." He went limp and fell sideways. Passed out from wounds and exhaustion, no telling how far he'd run.

"Rapunzel, what are you—" Her dad said. When he saw Eugene his eyes widened.

"Dad this is Eugene my friend from the... Uh camp I went to this summer. Remember?"

"Yes. And did you invite him here?" He looked completely baffled, maybe even mad.

"He just came over, it's fine. Sorry its a little- sudden. But he's hurt, and-"

Mr Miles eyed him warily. "Alright."

Rapunzel ran upstairs and came back with nectar, ambrosia and bandages.

She cleaned his gashes out and gave him ambrosia. His eyelids fluttered open and he tried to sit up.

"Do you have any idea how bad you're hurt?"

He slumped back.

"Tell me what happened."