Chapter 1

"He's running late again!" Rapunzel groaned. "If I am late one more day this week I will have to stay after and clean up."

"Hey! Sorry I'm late again, Stupid horse was being unreasonable this morning." Val said cheerfully and started walking with Rapunzel to get to their final education dormitories. That's what they called them; they were just finishing schools for young princes and princesses.

"It's okay, just don't do it again, I am going to have to stay after school today because of my tardiness." She told her him.

"Oh, sorry." He said honestly. He looked at his female friend and noticed how she had grown over the years. She wasn't the little girl he used to play with when he was young. Her blond frizzy hair had grown into long golden curls that were in complete control, her small little arms that had barely reached up to the low branch of their favorite tree were now long enough to reach up to the second or third branch, her legs that were short and made her only come up to his shoulder were now long and slender helping her reach up to his chin. And obviously, she being a woman and all had acquired some curves upon her small frame, some very wholesome ones at that.

"Hello! Are you even listening to me?" Rapunzel asked him annoyed.

"Yeah, sorry I was just thinking." He replied, looking down at the ground as if it was fascinating, but really he was only embarrassed about what he was just thinking about.

"I don't know why I even put up with you, first you show up late to walk me to school and now you aren't even listening to me!" Rapunzel cried.

"Because you love me?" Val asked teasingly.

"Huh! Love, what is love anyways?" she asked him. "Huh? What is it really Val? I want to know!" She teased.

"I don't know I suppose it's a strong feeling towards another person." He answered not quite getting that she was kidding.

"That doesn't answer my question, Val. What kind of feeling?" she edged him on. She noticed that they were getting close to the school.

"I don't know! I tell you what, I'll figure it out before we walk home and then I'll tell you." He said trying to hurry to school. "See you later!" he said as he walked away.

"All right, I suppose that can do." she said disappointed. "See you later." She said as she made her way to the door. She didn't know why she felt disappointed. It's probably just because she was hoping he'd give an answer to why he decided to date her other good friend, Princess Rose.

Princess Rose, I'm beginning to dislike her. Rapunzel thought to herself. It's not that she's mean or anything; she's just becoming quite an annoyance. She added on to her conversation I her head.

"Now ladies, remember… Oh, Miss Rapunzel, your late again, you're going to have to stay after school today and help clean for your punishment." Lady Brinsworth said to Rapunzel interrupting her own sentence. "Anyways, as I was saying. Ladies don't forget that in a few weeks, is the Annual Grand Ball." The teacher went on.

Rapunzel made her way to her seat and sat down next to her friends, which included Snow white, Ella Brown, and Rose Brier. "You're late again; what are you doing to keep on coming in late?" Rapunzel's friend Ella asked.

"It's Val, he's always coming late. He always has a different excuse every day; I think that he just makes them up. I bet he's hiding something." Rapunzel whispered to her friends.

"Oh, I'm sure he has a good, real explanation. He never lies to anyone, he's so sweet!" Rose butted in. God, she is always saying that Val is perfect, everyone likes him, and he's so sweet! It's making me sick! I mean I'm his friend, I trust him and care about him, it's not like I hate him or think he's evil or anything. I'm just saying that I think he's hiding something, like he's up to something. It doesn't have to be something bad! Rapunzel thought to herself.

"Yeah, your right." Was all Rapunzel said smiling fakely at Rose and then turned to her other friends that felt the same way that she did and she rolled her eyes. The girls giggled quietly. Rose didn't notice.