Chapter 14

Rapunzel

I checked my outfit for the hundredth time.

"Punz, stop yer worrying. Ye look fine," Merida insisted. She was over at my house, helping me get ready for my date with Jack. He didn't back out of it once he was sober, so I assumed that he was real about it.

"How can I trust your opinion, Mer?" I asked her. "You always wear sweats and stuff."

Merida grinned. "Fer yer information, ah have a date tehmorrow.

"Really?" I stared at her. "Wait a minute-it's Hiccup, isn't it?"

She blushed. "How did ya know?" she demanded, her face as red as her hair.

I grinned. "I told Jack what you told me about being kissed. And he believed it was Hiccup. He was right!"

"Ah'm gonna kill 'im," she muttered.

I clapped my hands. "Merida! You HAVE to let me help you get ready!" I squealed.

Merida just shook her head. "When ah get mah hands on 'im, ah swear . . ."

"Merida!" I shouted. "Snap out of it!" She rolled her eyes and shoved me out the door

Jack

I readjusted my tie for the hundredth time.

"Jack, quit worrying. You look fine." Hiccup was sitting on my bed, arms crossed and watching me try to put together a good outfit for my date with Rapunzel. I didn't know if we were going to officially date yet, but I didn't want to ruin my friendship with her by cancelling.

"Shut up, Hiccup," I told him. "I have the right to worry. What if Rapunzel likes casual? What if this is too much?"

"Then just wear a polo shirt and khakis or something." Hiccup hung upside-down on my bed. "And maybe a belt."

"Good idea!" I stuck my head into my closet and came out with a light blue polo shirt, khaki shorts, and my blue Converse. I changed into them. "What do you think, Hic?"

Hiccup looked up from playing Subway Surfer. "Eh. It's okay. But it's better than that tie with snowflakes on it."

"Yeah, I guess it did look kind of out of place," I admitted, rubbing the back of my head. "I guess it's more of a winter or Christmas thing."

"Or gay thing." Hiccup snickered as his fingers flew. I snatched his iPad away from him and swatted the back of his head with it.

"Shut up." I grinned at him as I tossed it onto the bed.

"Hey! I was about to beat my high score!" he whined.

"Dude. I liked you better when you were into dragon games," I told him. "Now why don't you go hang out with Merida or something?"

Hiccup's head shot up and his face turned bright pink. "Hubba-wha?" he spluttered. "Wait, what did you say?" he demanded. I just laughed as I walked out the door.

"Bye, Mom!" I shouted as I grabbed the keys and walked outside to the car. I got in and drove to Rapunzel's house, my hands clammy as I pulled into her driveway. I walked up to her house and knocked on the door.

Rapunzel

I finished with my hair just as I heard Mother call shrilly, "Rapunzel! Your friend with the white hair is here!"

Merida grinned at me, and rolled over. She stood up and followed me out of the room. I walked down the stairs and saw Jack, looking uncomfortable under the stare of my mother.

I smiled. "Hello, Jack." I turned to my mom. "Goodbye, Mother." I hugged her, then walked out with Jack. Merida had a mischievous look in her eyes as she watched us.

At the movie theater, I smiled at Jack nervously. "Here we are again," I told him.

He grinned. "Yup. Seems like this is our prime meeting spot." I giggled, and he led me into one of the theaters.

An hour and a half later, we burst out of the theater, laughing.

"And then, he said, 'No, no, that's not your banana, that's my apple!'" Jack said, doubled over with laughter.

I gasped, my stomach hurting. "Who knew that a movie so stupid could be so hilarious?" We laughed so hard, people looked at us funny, but we didn't care. I was having a blast with one of my best friends. That's all that mattered.

Just then, my cellphone rang.

"Your mom?" Jack suggested.

I nodded. "Probably. She might want to know if you're a wanted criminal or something." He grinned hugely at me.

"Hey, Punzie, I just wanted to know if-" Jack began. But he was cut off by my phone still ringing.

"Sorry, Jack," I apologized. "My mother is pretty persistent." I picked up the phone. "Mother, I told you, Jack's not-"

"I'm sorry, what?" a deep male voice said.

My blood ran cold. "Who is this?" I asked, my heart pounding.

"This is Officer Percy. Are you . . ." There was a quick, loud rustling of papers. "Blondie?" he asked me.

"Uh, um . . . only my ex-boyfriend calls me that."

"And your ex-boyfriend would be . . .?"

"Flynn Rider-oh, no, Eugene Fitzherbert," I corrected myself bitterly. Jack glanced at me quizzically, but didn't say anything.

"Well, miss. What's your real name, then?"

"Rapunzel. Rapunzel Corona."

"Well, Miss Corona, I'm afraid I have some bad news for you."

My heart literally stopped. "What is it?"

"Your ex-boyfriend, Flynn Rider, is dead."