In a Different Life
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Everything belongs to their respective owner which is Disney.
Author's Note: Hey all! It hasn't been a day since I last updated. Am I in a roll? I hope so! I don't want to jinx it though. As always, I would like to thank those who REVIEWED, FAVOURITED, and FOLLOWED this story. You guys are awesome!
A certain blonde fidgeted in her seat, looking at the digital clock that hung over the doorway. 2:30 PM, it read. Only ten more minutes until the dismissal and thirty more minutes until the meet up time. Rapunzel remembered about the meeting during their lunch break and it has been gnawing at her ever since. She tapped her pen restlessly against her armchair which caused a few students to grow irritated by the second.
"Hey, do you mind?" A low voice called out from behind her. Rapunzel turned around and saw a tan teenager with long black hair that cascaded on her back.
"Oh, sorry Pocahontas, I'm just nervous," She replied and set her pen on the table. The native American raised her brow and shook her head.
"It's fine... just try to calm down," Pocahontas reassured with a small smile and looked ahead at the board. Rapunzel turned to focus to the teacher discussing their new homework but she couldn't help but wonder. As her mind drifted to somewhere else, the bell rang. The students started to pack their things, some chatting about their plans for the day, while the others woke from their slumber.
"Don't forget about the packet for your homework!" The teacher exclaimed amidst the racket.
Rapunzel got up after she finished putting her stuff away and bolted towards the exit. The distance from the high school to the state college was a good twenty minutes if she rode the bus. As she ran towards the bus stop, she could see the vehicle slowly start to leave.
"Wait! Stop!" She exclaimed as she waved her hands above her head while running. However, her efforts were futile as the bus departed and passed just before her. Screaming in frustration, she looked at her watch. It was twenty-five minutes left until she had to meet up with that thief.
"Okay, now what to do," She thought out loud. Rapunzel was deep in thought that she didn't notice the truck in front of her. After a few honks, the blonde looked up and found her classmate waving at her.
"Hey, need a ride?" Pocahontas offered as she opened the front seat for her. Rapunzel beamed and nodded her head. She got inside the passenger seat and thanked Pocahontas profusely.
"Oh my gosh, you don't understand how much of a life saver you are," she commented as she strapped on the seat belt. The black-haired teen adjusted her rearview mirror before starting the engine.
"Well, I saw how devastated you were when you missed the bus," She replied as she peered at the blonde next to her. "Why the rush?"
"Let's just say that I have something important to attend at the state college," Rapunzel replied with a sigh as she looked out the window. They had already left the high school and were now en route towards her destination.
"State college, huh? Are you late for your application appointment?" Pocahontas inquired, never leaving her eyes off the road. She turned her left signal on as they came across an intersection.
"Yeah, it has something to do with my portfolio," the blonde replied, the lie tasting bitter on her tongue. She didn't want her classmate to be worried for her sake, although she was thankful for the company.
"Wow, that's amazing Rapunzel. I hope everything goes well for you," she added. It was about five more minutes until they reached the entrance of the Corona State College. "Well, here we are."
"Thank you so much Pocahontas. How can I ever repay you?" Rapunzel turned to look at her newfound friend.
"Well... for starters, you could stop tapping your pen all the time," Pocahontas joked. "Actually, there's this event my family and I are hosting. We're planning to plant trees this weekend at the barren lots a few miles away from town. It would be nice if you and your friends could come and help."
"Oh, you can count me in," Rapunzel replied with a thumbs up. "Here, why don't we exchange numbers and we can talk more about it," She took her phone out and handed it the girl in front of her. After exchanging numbers and thanking her yet again, she got out of the truck and waved good-bye to Pocahontas.
"Well, time to face this head on," She sighed to herself as the turned towards the school. She walked towards the nearby park, which took her about five minutes, and composed herself. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she walked towards the willow tree.
Rapunzel noticed that someone was there before her as she examined the grass at the base of the tree. She stood there for a good minute before checking the time on her watch. Two more minutes to go, she thought. She sat on the ground and looked around for any signs of the thief but found none.
A few minutes later, she felt someone shake her. She jerked forward as she woke from her slumber and bumped her forehead against something hard.
"Ow! Blondie! You almost broke my nose!" The man before her yelped in pain as he covered his nose. He tended to it while the teenager was still regaining her consciousness. After dismissing the few dizzy spells that lingered, she finally composed herself.
"You! Where's my bag?!" She exclaimed as she attacked the person in front of her. The thief defended himself from the oncoming assault and tried to grasp her wrists before she could land another blow.
"W-woah calm down," He said in panic. "I have your bag... just stop flailing around."
"Fine, I'll stop if you promise to give me my bag," she replied as she stared down at him. He looked up at her and smirked confidently.
"Don't worry princess, I promise." He replied and sat up as soon as she dropped her hands. She looked impatiently towards him with her arms crossed and brows knitted.
"Well?" Rapunzel asked. "Where is it?"
"Right here," he took the bag from the back of the willow tree and dangled it in front of her. She was about to snatch it from him but he quickly pulled back. "Tsk tsk, now wait just a second."
"What. As far as I'm concerned, you promised to give it back," she spat as she glared at him.
"I will... but first, let's talk," he replied chuckling. He sat down in front of her with her bag situated behind him. Rapunzel followed suit and sat on the grass with her legs crossed together.
"What do you wanna talk about?" She asked as she eyed the man in front of her. He couldn't be but a few years older than her. He could be a student from the university but she highly doubted it. After all he was a thieving bastard.
"Well, what's the deal with this bag anyways? It's basically trash," he asked with sincerity. This took her aback, and blinked a few times before replying.
"It's what my mother gave me, and well... it has... everything I hold dear," she replied while looking to the side and remembering the paintings she had in that bag. Some of those were so old, that the edges were tattered.
"Huh, that's interesting," he replied, not knowing what to say. The blonde looked at him with a quizzical brow.
"Is that all you wanted to talk about? Because I'm in a hurry."
"O-oh I uh... guess so yeah," he replied as he rubbed the back of his head. He wasn't sure whether he should talk to her about what he was supposed to. "Hey, you said it meant alot right? What about the paintings?"
"What about them?" Rapunzel countered as she eyed him carefully.
"Well... what's your concept behind them? They seemed like they were focused on something."
"Wait, you looked through my stuff?" She gasped in astonishment but then remembered he was looking for money. She calmed herself down and tried to focus on his question. The odd thing is, she didn't have an answer. "I... uh... I actually don't know. It just comes through me naturally,"
"Huh, well I guess that answers my question," He replied as he stood up and held her bag in his hand. He outstretched his arm towards her, waiting. Rapunzel looked at him hesitantly before standing up. She dusted the soil from her pants and tentatively reached for her bag. When her fingers came into contact with the familiar cloth, she grasped on it as if her life depended on it.
He gave her a small smile that went unnoticed by the teen. As he walked away, he heard a call and stopped in his tracks. She looked at him, with her bag in hand and confusion etched on her face.
"Thanks... I guess."
"It's not a problem blondie," he replied as he turned his head to look at her. She was still confused as to why she had to go through the lengths she did just for a small chat.
"What's your name again? I don't we've been properly introduced," she replied as she gave a small teasing smile. He chuckled lightly before answering.
"The name's Flynn. Flynn Rider," he smirked and she nodded in acknowledgement.
"Flynn. My name's Rapunzel," she stated and he nodded as well. There was an awkward silence that followed and neither knew what to say. "Well, thanks again... but don't you dare steal from me again," she said as she broke the silence.
"Heh, you got it," he saluted before turning around and walked away.
Rapunzel let out a deep and heavy breath. She looked up at the clear sky, wondering what the real reason was for her to be there. I guess it'll forever be a mystery, she thought as she started walking towards her home with forty minutes left to spare.
It has been a few days since her encounter with that strange man in the library. She waited for her father to come home from the innovations expo he went to a week ago. Sitting by the windowsill with her book in hand, she glanced often, hoping her father would arrive. She was starting to grow impatient as she had tried to reach out to him several times, but to no avail. Sighing deeply, the brunette stood up and walked towards the dining table where a small piece of cardstock lay.
Belle sat on one the chairs and fiddled with the business card.
"Bellerose Innovations" she said out loud, the name left a bitter taste in her mouth. She groaned in frustration as she flicked the card away. The stress isn't doing her any good; hindering her from her creative output. She couldn't finish a book because her mind would wander elsewhere and she hasn't even started on her love poem.
"Dad... please come home soon," she muttered as she buried her head in her hands, the frustration was getting to her in more ways than one. She was worried sick about her father. Not because she didn't she trust her father but because she didn't trust him. He had an odd and menacing aura about him when they met and it didn't settle well with her.
Belle didn't want to stay put, she had to go find him, no matter what it takes. She took her shoes and slipped them on. When she was done, she took her jacket, keys, and wallet and left the house without ever looking back. A few minutes after she had left, she felt a drop of rain which then led to a downpour. She cursed at herself for being so careless and not bringing an umbrella. The only positive thing Belle was thankful for was the ephemeral warmth her jacket gave her.
Upon taking shelter at a nearby store, she glanced around and found other people completely drenched in the rain. She smiled sympathetically to which they replied with their own but continued to their merry ways. She checked her phone for any updates regarding her father, but as usual there was none. Belle checked her contacts to see if there was anyone who could lend her a helping hand but she realized she didn't have any friends.
Sighing and shivering in the cold, Belle looked around to see if there were more passersby but was met with none. It was odd how a downpour like this could occur when a few hours earlier, the sky was shining so bright. Fiddling with the insides of her pocket for warmth, she felt something hard.
Upon inspecting what the object was in the pocket of her jacket, she found the business card that she had haphazardly flicked away. Wondering how this could have gotten in her jacket; she racked her brain for ideas. She must have taken it when she took her keys with her.
Belle glanced at the contents of the business card again and found the contact number of the company. Maybe, just maybe, they know where my father is, she thought. After much deliberation, she dialed the number on her phone and waited for a response. Just as she was about to give up, heard a click.
"Hello?" a voice from the other end was heard.
"Hi, my name is Belle Belaire, and I would like to speak to Adam Bête," she answered with a little bit of the sniffles. This rain is definitely making her sick.
"This is he," Adam replied as he twirled the telephone cord around his finger.
"Is there any way that you might have my father's whereabouts?" she inquired as she rubbed the cuff of her jacket on her nose. Belle started to feel cold but ignored it. The rain hasn't stopped or lessened at all and she wondered if it ever will.
"Hmmm, I would have to talk to someone about that," she heard him reply curtly. Belle sighed in distress, her vision was getting blurry, but she had to press on. Adam noticed the distress on her part. "If you would like, I could offer you an invitation the company so that you could wait for your father here."
"I would like that, thank you," she replied with a tinge of hope in her voice. However, before she could reply to his instructions, she fell to the ground, the world slowly fading into black. On the other end of the receiver, the man couldn't hear anything but the sound of something falling then pure silence.
"Hello?" he called out but there was no reply. "Shit." He ended the call and ordered one of his employees to track the phone. The employee that was appointed to the task groaned in frustration, not knowing full well of the situation. He thought it was another one of his conquests and begrudgingly did as he was told.
Adam looked out through the window of his office and saw the downpour that covered the entirety of Corona. He sighed as he wondered where that bookworm might have been. Dealing for his father's affairs while he was out of town was certainly not his forte. He could have been somewhere with someone but he was stuck dealing with this.
A/N: So I continued where we left off with Belle's encounter with Adam. I know I left with a cliffhanger again but I will soon disclose it in the future chapters. Also, if you would to guess what Flynn was trying to hint at or confess, feel free to do so. I am more than delighted to hear from you all.
Belaire : respelling of French Belleaire, a nickname for someone with a pleasant demeanor, from belle 'lovely' + aire 'demeanor', 'manner'.