"Rapunzel! Rapunzel!"
"Coming Miss Gothel!" The brunette came bounding down the stairs.
"My goodness child, you're no longer seven! No need to let out the elephants!"
Rapunzel laughed. "I'm sorry, I can't help it! My birthday's going to be here soon! I'm so excited!"
"Yes, yes, and I will be here for that. I just need to know if there's anything you need before I leave."
Rapunzel thought for a moment and shook her head. "No, nothing I can think of." She pouted. "Are you sure I can't go with you? I should start learning about how to handle art shows."
"Nonsense!" said Gothel, placing a kiss on Rapunzel's forehead. "Why should you go out into the world and expose yourself to all those deadly diseases and criminals? No, stay here where it's safer, dear. Besides, you can work on your next big piece while I'm gone."
"You're right, of course," said Rapunzel with a soft smile.
"Of course I am," said Gothel, kissing Rapunzel's forehead again. "Are you absolutely positive you don't need anything?"
Rapunzel gave a firm nod. "Positive. I have enough food in the freezer and the pantry for the next month and enough eggs and milk for the next two weeks. I'll be fine until you get back. Oh, and I had an idea for a story, I want to try to work on that."
"Ooh, that sounds like a great idea, but don't forget, the art comes first, that's where your income comes from."
"Yes Miss Gothel."
"Good girl. Now, wish me luck, though I doubt I'll need it. Your art sells like hot cakes."
Rapunzel chuckled. "That's good that so many people like it!"
"Yes yes, now, I really must go, I have a plane to catch. I'll be back in a week!"
"Bye Miss Gothel! And good luck!" Rapunzel waved as the woman walked out the door. Rapunzel closed and locked the door. She turned, let out a huff, and rolled up her sleeves. "No time to dwell on it. Miss Gothel's right, it's dangerous out there and I've got work to do!" Her mouth trembled slightly as she frowned. "Though I really, really wish I could have gone. Just once! But maybe next time. After all, I do want to celebrate my birthday at home." She smiled and chuckled. "Besides, there is still a lot to be done. And I do want to work on my story!" She rubbed her hands together. "Alright, Raps, time to get to it!"
She started by cleaning up the house and taking care of her pet lizard, Pascal. Then she got to baking and prepping her meals for the week. Once she got that finished, she finally sat down to eat some breakfast. Then she got to work painting. She painted a couple of nature scenes, plus a couple of dance scenes based on a few movies she had seen recently. She really liked seeing the long gowns cascade and twirl so gracefully when the women moved. She tilted her head when she deemed one finished. It was of a couple caught mid-twirl. They seemed to be laughing, enjoying the thrill of the dance. She wondered if this was how Cinderella felt, watching all those balls from afar. How would she, Rpaunzel, enter herself?
In her mind's eye, the painting came to life. Couples dancing gracefully in time to the beat, enjoying the party and having fun. Rapunzel envisioned herself in a similar dress to the other women. But what color? Pink? Purple? She decided on a pale mauve before descending the stairs to join the party. Several men asked her to dance, and she obliged. She danced and twirled and sang and talked, just being the life of the party. One man, though, stood just out of reach. He never approached her, but he always waved when he caught her eye. He was kinda cute, brown hair, brown eyes, a merry twinkle to those eyes too. Why did he not come out to the dance floor even though he waved to her? Did he want her to go to him?
A loud banging startled Rapunzel out of her daydream. She blinked several times as she came crashing back to reality. Someone banged on the door again. Thinking that maybe Gothel forgot something by mistake, which was unlike her, Rapunzel quickly ran to the door, unlocked it, and threw it open. She gasped when the twinkling brown eyes of the man in her daydream was looking back at her, hand raised to pound on the door again.
"Uh, package for Rapunzel Green," he said, holding out a box to her.
"Oh, uh, um, ok?" said Rapunzel taking the box from him. "Um, thank, thank you?"
He raised an eyebrow. "What's the matter? Don't get out much, do you?"
Rapunzel blinked. "Uh, um, what, what makes you say that?"
"I've never seen someone so engrossed in their daydream that they don't see me through the window."
Rapunzel's eyes and mouth flew open. So that was why he kept waving and never joined her on the dance floor! "O-oh! Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry about that!"
He grinned. "You're fine, it looked like a fun daydream."
Rapunzel chuckled. "It was." She bit her lip. "Um, well, uh, thank you again for delivering this package." She glanced down at it, realizing with a start that nothing had ever been delivered to her before. Miss Gothel would have a fit that someone delivered something to her and would move her again. Maybe she could avoid that. "But, um, is there any chance you could take this to another address? I'm, I'm not supposed to be receiving packages."
The fellow raised an eyebrow. "What? How come?"
"Oh, my agent wants me to be safe, that's all. Someone tried to kill me once and she's been making sure nothing like that happens again, so we have things like this sent to another address."
"Oh, well, the guy who told me to deliver it said to deliver it to you and that it can only be opened by you. But, I can deliver it . . ."
Rapunzel placed her hand on his arm, eyes wide. "What did you say? What man?"
"Uh, this guy who practically pulled me off the street and paid me to deliver it to you. He said there wasn't much time and you needed this." He shrugged. "That's all I know." Rapunzel glanced down at the package. What should she do? Gothel always knew what to do. "I mean, if you think this guy is trying to kill you . . ."
"I, um, I want to open it." She paused. "But, but I don't know if I can do this alone and, and . . ."
His hand touched her shoulder gently. "Do you need me to stay? Because I will and I will track down that guy for you if he was intending to kill you. I don't want to be put in jail for his crimes."
Rapunzel bobbed her head. "I don't you to either, Mister . . ."
He extended his hand. "Jackson Overland, but you can call me Jack."
She smiled and shook his hand. "I'm Rapunzel Green, but you can call me Raps. But uh, I guess you knew that."
"Well, Rapunzel Green, yes, did not know about the Raps. Good to know, and nice nickname."
"Thanks!"
"Shall we find out what's in this mysterious package?"
Rapunzel nodded and opened the door wider to let Jack in. Once he stepped in, she closed and locked the door before leading him to the dining table. She pulled out a pair of scissors and quickly opened it. She reached into the box and pulled out some papers.
"Well, unless that guy wanted to kill you slowly by way of a papercut, there doesn't look like there's anything that will harm you," said Jack, rummaging through the rest of the papers in the box.
Rapunzel, however, was reading the papers she had pulled out. She gasped as she sat back in the chair. "Jack!"
Jack walked over to where she was sitting and read over his shoulder. "'Princess of Corona went missing at only six years old after a near attempt on her life. If anyone has any information on her whereabouts, please contact the king and queen or the chief of police immediately.'" Jack took the paper from her. "Wait, I've heard about this story. The Princess simply vanished into thin air!" He glanced at Rapunzel. "Does that guy seriously think you're the princess of Corona?"
"I-I don't know. I don't know anything about my parents."
Jack grabbed her hand. "Then let's go find out!"
"No! Miss Gothel told me I should never leave! There are so many deadly diseases out there, and all those criminals? Oh, we're bound to catch some horrible disease and shrivel up or get murdered!"
Jack blinked. "She, she did?" Rapunzel bobbed her head. Jack crossed his arms. "Ok, I think that warrants the need for you to do this just so you can leave this house. Don't you want to do anything beyond shriveling away in this house?"
Rapunzel winced at the words before glancing at the painting she had finished. "Well, I've, I've always wanted to go to a party, to a museum or an art show . . ."
"Then we'll look into this and go do all three before your agent finds out."
"Oh, but she'll be gone for only a week!"
"Then we'd better get started, Cinderella." He waved his finger. "And you know what, I've got an idea. I'll be right back." Jack dashed towards the door.
"Where are you going?" asked Rapunzel, chasing him to the door. He had it unlocked and open.
"To see a friend. You be ready when I get back! Won't be long, promise!" He shut the door and was dashing down the street. Rapunzel bit her lip. Should she really? She glanced down at the papers, papers that hinted that she might be a princess long thought missing, or worse, dead. Her fingers tightened around the papers. She had to know, she had to find out more. Perhaps she and Gothel could have a good long laugh over it afterwards, but right now, she just needed to know. She tossed the papers on the table before dashing up the stairs to pack.
She had a suitcase and a backpack packed and ready to roll along with a box for Pascal when Jack came back. He carried in a bag, but stopped short when he saw the luggage.
He let out a low whistle. "Boy, you look like you're heading out on the vacation of your dreams!"
"I, I didn't know how much to pack, so, I packed some clothes, some food, and art supplies."
Jack raised his eyebrow. "I see. Mind if I double check?"
"Oh would you? I don't want to forget anything!"
"Well Ok then." He opened the backpack. It was mostly art supplies with a few cans of food and some shirts and undergarments. He dumped the contents on the dining room table. He went and got the suitcase. More art supplies along with food and clothes. He pulled out a week's worth of clothes and a few art supplies and stuffed them in the backpack. "Here, that's all you need."
Rapunzel's eyes widened. "What?"
"We can get the food while we travel and your lizard can catch bugs. If you want to get back here before your agent, you need to pack light."
Rapunzel gulped as she took the backpack. "Um, alright."
"Great, and now . . ." He opened the bag and pulled out a blonde wig. He placed it on her head. "Now your agent won't recognise you should anyone take a picture of you."
"But then, the king and queen wouldn't either!"
"We can take the wig off for the king and the queen, that's not a biggie. But we've got to go, now." He grabbed her arm and led her towards the door. She stopped at the doorway. He paused and glanced at her. She turned and looked back at her house. It was cozy, warm, and safe. Maybe Gothel was right and she really shouldn't expose herself to deadly diseases or nasty criminals. But then she turned and glanced at Jack, and out at the street. And yet, she still wanted that taste of freedom, just one small bite. If she didn't like it, she could come back and stay home forever. Besides, this seemed important and needed her special attention. She took a deep breath and let it out before stepping down the steps of her house, the first steps out into the world.
(Author's Note: This will be turned into a longer story later, got no clue how the rest of it is going to go right now, lol. Plus, I have other stories to work on, and I have been procrastinating when I have the time while only getting in a few minutes when I don't. So, some self-discipline is in order, and it's going to be a few tough weeks. Thanks for sticking around, and I hope you enjoy it! God bless!)
