Chapter 6-Dependable

As the days went on, Lottie found herself struggling- and she didn't know exactly why. Maybe it was those times with Tom, with his consistent challenges for her to be both honest with herself and with others- and his constant question to her: Is it the truth. Maybe it was watching Rapunzel and Eugene continued to fall more in love every day, while she remained alone. Maybe it was the increasing demands on her as a princess.

Whatever it was though, she just couldn't stand her life anymore. She kept being the good princess she knew she should be, but every day she grew more tired of it. So whenever she had an opportunity she snuck off to see Tom.

She thought that her parents would be angry, but they didn't even notice. They were too busy with getting to know Rapunzel and making sure she had everything she needed to miss Lottie.

That was both good and bad. It was good because it was nice to have a little space. But it was bad because she felt like the only times they talked to her anymore was to ask her to do something, typically involving some annoying noble or another- or doing some task that they knew full well that she'd hate. It was dealing with those nobles that bothered her the most though. Nobody, including her parents, wanted to deal with them, and so they asked her to do it. It made her feel like she was the dumping girl- like anything anyone did not wanted to do, they dumped on her. Sometimes she grew so very tired of it. It seemed anytime she took a few moments to do something for herself, like read a book or practice the pianoforte, someone would come and tell her that there was yet another thing they needed her to do. She found it very difficult and she might have lost her mind somewhere if she hadn't kept seeing Tom.

He was her island of sanity, and she always enjoyed the time she spent with him. He was probably the best friend she'd ever had. Besides that, there was the fact that they told each other lots of things. After only a few weeks, she felt like she knew Tom better than many of the nobles she'd known her whole life and it was mostly because of his game. She knew what he liked, what he didn't like, his dreams….the fact that he loved to write, and had a fetish for coffee. She always encouraged him to write a book because she wanted to see someone achieve their dreams. Yes, she knew him very well know. And he probably knew her better than anyone too. Besides that, she could tell him things. He was a great listener, and he never seemed to judge her.

One day, she decided to tell him how she felt about being the "dumping girl" and how frustrating it was. He listened quietly. "So…what are you thinking, Tom?" she asked hesitantly after she finished.

He looked thoughtful. "I can understand why you feel like that, but I think you're not taking it the right way."

"I'm not?" What was open to interpretation? They gave her annoying princess stuff to do because
they knew she'd do it. End of story.

"No," he said. "You should see it as….almost a compliment."

Lottie felt like Tom was speaking Greek to her. "I should?" she repeated.

"Yes," he said. He noticed her confused expression, and he explained what he meant. "Lottie, they keep asking you to do more because they know you can do it. Don't you see? You're so competent as a princess that you can handle more."

"I can?" Was she even capable of any sentence longer than two words now?

"Yes, you can," he said. "But if they ask you to do something you don't want to do, then ask if anyone else can do it."

Lottie found that very amusing- because in what universe could she do that? "I can't and you know it." Rule number 11- Princesses never say no.

"Well, then don't complain later about it," he retorted. She just stared at him, surprised at his tone, and his voice immediately softened. "Look, Lottie, I understand that you have a hard time saying no to people, but you're going to keep feeling like this until you do." He looked at her kindly. "But it is okay to do that every once in a while, you know. I give you permission."

"Tom-…." She began, about to list off all the reasons why she shouldn't do what he said.

"Just think about it, okay, Lottie?" he interjected. "Please?"

"All right." She was thinking about it. She thought he was crazy. Soon after that she excused herself, saying that she needed to go back home, all the while wishing that she really could do what he said.

But she knew that, in her typical way, she'd say nothing and continue to stuff it down.

It was just what she did.

XxXxXxXxXx

Meanwhile, Eugene couldn't decide what to think about his new life in the palace. Well, he knew he loved being with Rapunzel, and he was even growing fond of her entire family. But he soon discovered that Rapunzel was busy nearly all the time between her lessons and all the demands of being a princess. Sometimes he felt like he never even saw her anymore except for their brief visits in the afternoon. Beyond that, those short visits were one of the only things he did all day- and he found himself growing more and more bored as the days went on. He also felt lazy, which surprisingly troubled him. Maybe it was because he wanted to be lazy, but not…..lazy. He didn't want to feel insignificant or useless, which he sometimes felt here. Besides being here for Rapunzel, he didn't have a role at all. It bothered him tremendously, and as the days went on, it was increasingly hard for him to hide.

One afternoon, when he was meeting with Rapunzel, he sat next to her and listened to her talk all about her lessons. But inwardly, he felt somewhere far, far away.

"Eugene, are you listening to me?"

He blinked, reminding himself that he was with Rapunzel now so he should focus on her. "Um, of course I was."

She looked closely at him. "Then what did I just say?"

He had no idea, because he hadn't been listening. "Um…."

A concern look crossed her face. "Eugene, are you okay? Is there something bothering you?"

It was crazy how well she knew him already. He always considered himself a mysterious enigma, but she seemed to read him as easily as….well, a book. She was able to see what was inside his head so well that there wasn't any point in lying. "I just am….bored."

Her expression clearly said that she found that incomprehensible. It was probably because she had so many of those stupid princess lessons. Personally, he thought she was the perfect princess already. She didn't need to be taught anything. "Bored?"

"Well, yes," he said. "I mean, there's only so many times you can wander around the castle all day every day before it gets dull." He forced himself to laugh.

"Go on," she urged.

"And well….I'm used to more action and life on the go. This living in a castle stuff is all new to me." He shrugged. "Besides, you're so busy with your lessons…it's like I never get to-…" He stopped himself there. It was much too close to whining, and he was not a whiner. Besides, it wasn't as if Rapunzel had much choice in the matter. She had to go to her lessons, whether he liked it or not. But he still felt like he never got to see her anymore. He missed her, even though she was sitting right next to him.

She was quiet for a moment, and he assumed she was thinking. "Yes, that is a problem, now isn't it?" she said, half to herself. She smiled at him. "Well, I'll see what I can do, Eugene."

"You will?" he asked her in surprise. "But what can you do? Can you magically conjure up excitement? And if you do, can you…maybe bottle it and sell it?" He warmed to his lunatic remarks. 'Cause then we could totally make a fortune and go on the road and-…"

She rolled her eyes. Clearly she didn't find his comments as witty as he did. "Eugene, do you trust me?"

"Implicitly."

"Good," she said. "Then stop talking nonsense and kiss me."

He was happy to oblige.

XxXxXxXx

Throughout the next day, Eugene couldn't help but wonder what Rapunzel was thinking. He knew she was trying to do something to help him adjust to life here, and he loved her for it. But he couldn't help but hope that it was something he'd actually like. Rapunzel had the tendency of bringing out the best in him by forcing him to do good things that he wouldn't normally do. He couldn't help but think that this might be another occasion of that.

Therefore, it was with some amount of trepidation that he went to their afternoon meeting in the garden. When Rapunzel came, he made chit-chatty remarks in an attempt to delay the inevitable.

Rapunzel would have none of it, and quickly changed the subject back to yesterday's conversation. "So, Eugene," she said. "I've been thinking about your problem."

He knew she would. When she said she'd do something, she would. That's just the way she was. Typical Rapunzel. "And?" He tried to keep that careless air in his voice, like he really couldn't be bothered either way. It was a Flynn Rider staple, and he was rather proud of it.

"And I have two things to tell you," she said, completely unimpressed by his act. Also typical of her. "First, I talked to Lottie and Mama and they said I could take off the day tomorrow from my lessons and be with you instead."

A whole day with Rapunzel? He felt a large rush of excitement. "Really?"

"Yes," she said. "And the other is this. I've been thinking about what you told me and I think you're bored because you don't have enough to do."

"Hey!" he protested, even though she was absolutely right. "Being lazy is an art form. I've mastered it."

"Whatever, Eugene," she said with a slight eye roll. "You can think that if you want to. But I talked to Mrs. Everhart over at the Corona orphanage and told her you'd be happy to help out."

He stared at her. The orphanage? That was so much worse than anything he'd come up with! He hated being there most of the time, and he never wanted to go back. "You did…what?"

"I talked to Mrs. Everhart over at the-…." She repeated as if he hadn't heard her.

He waved his hands to stop her. "I heard that. But I can't believe you'd say I'd do it."

"Why not?" she asked innocently. "You said you were bored. So I found something for you to do."

She made it sound so simple even though it was not. Nothing was simple about a return to the orphanage. "But I don't want to do that," he insisted. "I won't like it."

"How do you know you won't like it if you won't try it?" she asked logically.

"I just do," he said stubbornly. Sometimes he would have to say no to her and this would be one of those times. He would not budge.

"Eugene," she said patiently. "All you have to do is play with the kids, and maybe read to them. You did that before. Why is this different?"

"It just is." That wasn't an explanation, but he wouldn't be able to come up with one that would satisfy her anyway. Rapunzel could be a complete bulldog sometimes when she wanted something, and he knew she wanted this.

"Okay, how about this," she offered. "I'll go with you the first time, and if you don't like it, I'll try to find something else for you to do."

"Rapunzel-…."

She looked at him again, with her adorable Rapunzel big eyes that he never could resist. Oh, he was a goner now. Did she know how completely wrapped around her finger he was? "Please?"

He sighed in resignation and gave in. So much for his resolution. "Fine. I'll go."

She squealed and hugged him. "Oh thank you, Eugene!" She pulled away and smiled. "You won't regret this."

He already did. "But I'm telling you now that I'm not going to like it."

"Okay, Eugene."

"And I'm not going to go back."

She just smiled, like she had some kind of secret. "Whatever you say, Eugene. You know best."

Well, it's about time she realized that.

XxXxXxXx

Lottie hadn't minded giving Rapunzel a day off at all. She'd worked so hard on her lessons, and she deserved a treat. Besides, Eugene had looked a little forlorn lately, and she figured he missed her. It'd be nice for them to have a day together.

And she herself got an afternoon off too. She knew just how she wanted to spend it too- in the garden, reading a book. That's exactly what she did. She settled next to her special tree with her book, looking forward to a little peace and quiet. It was so nice to have an afternoon off. She didn't mind teaching Rapunzel, but it was nice to have a break every once in a while. She had just begun reading the first page of Le Morte d'Arthur when she heard her mother calling. She silently groaned. Was it too much to ask for her to have a few moments to herself for once, she thought sourly. She didn't bother answering. Mama knew where her special place in the garden was and she'd find her soon enough.

Which she did. "Oh, good, Lottie," Mama said. "I've been looking for you."

Lottie closed her book. So much for my nice quiet read, she thought. "Yes, Mama?" she asked with infinite patience.

"I was just wondering if we could talk about your maid," she said.

"My…maid?" What could Mama be talking about? Catherine consistently worked hard and one of the kindest women she knew. She was the best maid she'd ever had.

"Yes," Mama continued. "You know, Rapunzel doesn't have one, and I was thinking that since Catherine's so experienced…." She paused for a minute. "That maybe she could maybe work for her a while."

Her mouth went dry and she licked her lip. She didn't particularly want to change maids. There'd been years of absolutely dreadful ones before Catherine came. "Um…"

"Of course you don't mind," Mama said confidently. "Do you?"

Now, what could she say to that? No, I do mind? If she said that, she'd come across as a total brat. She hated when people asked questions like that, because they weren't really asking. They were telling. Mama was telling her that she didn't mind. Even though Lottie did in truth. She did a lot. But she would never ever say that she did. "No," she managed to say. "I don't."

Instantly, Mama looked relieved. "Good," she said. "Thank you, Lottie. I knew I could count on you."

"Of course." Good old dependable me, she thought. Being dependable was a good thing, she knew. So why didn't she feel better about it?