*sigh* This might be my favorite part of my story. But I'll tell you my favorite part when this finally ENDS.

Chapter 19

Jack Frost

I pulled away. Rapunzel blushed. I smiled at her and she looked away.

"I'm sorry, Jack, but I-I can't-"

"Yes. You can." She looked at me. "Flynn may be up there-" I pointed to the ceiling. "But he might still be in here." I pointed to her heart.

"Might be?" She smiled crookedly.

"Well, who knows? Maybe you've moved on," I said. She gave a little laugh. "Rapunzel, all I'm saying is that I hope you'll stop hiding in fear and let the other people who love you in."

"You love me?" Her green eyes widened.

I took her hand. "I love you."

"I love you, too." She leaned forward and kissed me and I kissed her back.

Hiccup was waiting for me on my driveway the next morning. "You're late!" he yelled.

"Don't care!" I yelled back, walking to him.

"Okay, so what do I say to her tonight?" he asked nervously as we walked down the block. "I mean, what do you say to a girl who you've feared for forever?"

"Sounds just like Astrid, dude." Hiccup didn't say anything, but his ears turned red. "Whoa, sorry. I forgot about it being a touchy subject. So, um, what to say to Merida-"

"Shh! She might hear you!" Hiccup looked around nervously.

I rolled my eyes. "Anyway, tell her how nice she looks, but don't overdo it. Don't stutter too much, even if she thinks it's 'adorable'. Which is doubtful. And just, well, talk. About stuff. Just make small talk. Like, how archery's been going, how Angus is, blah blah blah . . ."

"You think that would work?" His eyes shined eagerly.

"It should." We found Rapunzel's house and went up the steps. I knocked.

The door opened and a woman with frizzy black hair turning gray stood in the doorway. She was tall and regal-looking. "Yes?" she said. "If you're here to sell Boy Scout things, I'm not interested-"

"No, ma'am. We're here to see Rapunzel," I interrupted politely.

Her face hardened. "Rapunzel is not to be seeing anyone right now. Her boyfriend upped and died and she's been all out of sorts ever since. Poor little flower." Her sharp features softened as she talked about Rapunzel.

"Ma'am, we're Rapunzel's friends. We've come to comfort her, and our other friend Merida should be here any minute," Hiccup explained, blushing when he said Merida's name.

"I know Merida." Her tone was thoughtful. " Oh, yes, I met her the night of the dance. Very well. You two gentlemen can come in AFTER Merida does. Two boys up in a girl's room alone-preposterous!" She shut the door in our faces.

We sat down on the step. "Well, she does have a point," Hiccup said.

"I guess. I still want to see Rapunzel, though." I sighed.

"Well, tomorrow's Monday so at least we'll see her at school tomorrow."

"You're right," I agreed, looking at him.

"HEY LADS! AH'M HERE!"

"Ah, that voice," I said sarcastically as Hiccup jumped up to hug Merida.

"Hey, Hic. Frost."

"Frizzy Princess," I said in reply. She rolled her eyes but didn't yell at me like she usually did. She knocked on the door. It opened.

"Hello, Ms. Gothel," Merida greeted the woman.

"Merida! So good to see you again! Come in." She opened the door up wider to let us all in, but she raised an eyebrow at me. I ducked my head and kept walking, running a hand through my hair. "Rapunzel's upstairs in her room."

We climbed the stairs and Hic and I leaned against the railing as Merida knocked.

"Come in!" Rapunzel's voice floated into my ears and I sighed. Hiccup grinned at me and I punched his arm. As soon as Merida went in, we scrambled in right behind her.

"Hey, Punzie!" I nearly tripped over Hiccup. "Hic! You gotta stop that!"

Merida snort-laughed, but Rapunzel blushed and looked away.

"Hiccup! GET OFF OF MY LEG!" I shouted.

"Sorry!" he shot back. Merida was laughing so hard she was clutching her sides. I finally shook Hiccup off and sat down on the swivel chair by Punzie's computer. Merida sat next to Rapunzel on the bed and Hiccup was the unlucky chump who sat on the floor.

"So, what's up?" I asked Rapunzel.

"As you know, the Snow Ball is coming up. It's next month and I have signed us all up to help again!" She clapped her hands together and bounced on her bed excitedly.

We all groaned. "But-but I thought you liked doing it!" Rapunzel said.

"It was okay, I guess, but Punzie, it's not really our thing," Hiccup explained. "See, I like fixing stuff, Merida likes sports, Jack likes to be an ass-"

"Shut up." I crossed my arms. "I like sports, too. I'm taking ice hockey in the winter. I'm the fun one."

Hiccup rolled his eyes. "Whatever. The point is, Rapunzel, is that we've got other things to do."

Her eyes flashed. "Too late. I already signed you all up." She folded her arms and stuck her bottom lip out. "No backing out now unless the principal has anything to say about it."

"Ugh. Fine." Merida flopped down onto the bed and slid down onto the floor. She crawled over to Hiccup and sat down next to him.

"I'll try to squeeze some time in, Punz," I offered. She smiled sweetly at me.

"Okay, I guess I'll do it, too." Hiccup grudgingly agreed.

"Thanks, guys. Now, I just wanted to say that-" Punzie began.

"But first," I interrupted. "I wanted to say something to Punzie here." I got down on one knee and pulled out a dark blue box threaded with thin pink ribbon. I opened it up in front of her to reveal a silver necklace with a silver heart charm that lay between two emerald leaves and the heart had a pink rose quartz in the middle of it. It had been my mom's, but she had given it to me to give it to "that one special girl". "Rapunzel, will you make me the happiest guy in the world and be my date for the Snow Ball?"

Her cheeks flushed and her mouth dropped open. "Yes. Yes, I will! Oh my gosh!" I smiled, a burst of exhilaration rushing through me as I took the necklace out of its box and clasped it around her neck. And I kissed her on the cheek.

Hiccup and Merida both gasped and fell backwards. Punzie giggled and kissed me back. "This is going to be perfect," she whispered into my ear. I couldn't agree more.