hello everyone. i'm surprised that i done two chapters so close each other. i hope you enjoy this one.
Chapter 3- the truth
"That's a awful story, Punz".
"I know it's has a sad ending, but that what he wrote, although other people have given it a happy ending since."
It was a few days since Rapunzel had met Jack. She just had read "the Little Mermaid" to him and judging by his face, he didn't like it one bit.
"It is not much the ending, which is sad, but the fact that she gave up her happy life for some guy she barely knew and he never knew the whole time". Jack commented as Rapunzel and Pascal listened.
"You may be right, from what you've said. The sea sound like paradise to me!"
The merman grinned from what she said "Yeah, but it has it's problems and it's dangers" he said laying his head on his hand.
"Like what?"
"Well, there are Predators like sharks and other fish with teeth, dark places with who knows what hinting and don't get me started about the fishmen".
Rapunzel thought about it, true, there was all that but those things didn't scare her at all. Then she wondered if there were other magical sea being out there.
"Are they other sea creatures like mermaids", she asked as she placed her fairy tale book down.
"I think my mum told me about some, most to scare me and stop me from doing anything silly" Jack admitted.
It made the girl smile "My dad did that too, I remember I hid in a box knowing it was nap time. They knew I was in there and pretended to throw my toys out. They put the box with me in it outside, I finally got out, they said it was still really funny".
Jack knew from what Rapunzel told him about her mum and dad, that she was a wonderful daughter, she told him that before she was born, her parents had problems having children. Rapunzel was their miracle baby and they cherish her with all their hearts.
"Anyway, my mum told me there are some creatures that look more like fish and some which are half and half like the Selkies in your mum's book" Jack finished but before Rapunzel replied they heard her mum called " Rapunzel love, can you come and help your dad with dinner?"
"Yes mum" Rapunzel called before she turned back to the merman "Sorry, I promise I won't be long".
"OK Punz" Jack said and with that, Rapunzel and Pascal left to help her dad. Jack lay back in the bath and stared up at the ceiling. He did this most of the time when Rapunzel wasn't around. He then look at his tail. It had gotten much better, he could move it without any pain now, his cuts were gone and his gash was shrinking.
He started to think of Rapunzel again. He seemed to do this a lot. He had come to like her since they'd met and it wasn't because she was human, It was because she was a wonderful person, kind, sweet and creative. He was surprised that other people in her school picked on her for no good reason, she told him one of the popular boys ruined a painting she done that day, Jack hated hearing that someone like Rapunzel was being bullied. Rapunzel said that maybe it was because that she didn't go out at night and party which made people think she was weird. Jack thought she was awesome and those people were jerks.
He wished he could do something to make them stop. He imagined freezing them into statues. He smirked at the thought and sat up. He put his hands underwater when he lift them out he cupped the water in his hands. He froze the water into the shape of a heart, he knew that he was feeling something in his own heart, but the only thing Jack knew was that he wanted to do more.
Meanwhile Rapunzel was cutting up carrots and potatoes while her dad cooked a chicken. Her gaze kept going to the stairs where, hoping no one went up. "Sweetheart, are you all right" she heard her dad ask. "You seam to be on the another planet."
"Oh, I'm fine. Just lost in thought I guess" she replied with a smile, hoping her dad wouldn't be suspicious.
"Ok Rapunzel but if anything is bothering you, you know me and your mum are right there" he sighed patting his daughter's shoulder, but what they didn't know was Rapunzel mum was walking up the stairs. She had be doing the washing and had some clothes in her arms and was putting them away. She still had Rapunzel's clothes and towels still left to sort. As she was about to head into her daughter's bedroom, she could hear a faint sound coming from Rapunzel's bathroom. So she opened the door and with one look, she screamed.
Rapunzel and her dad instantly turned when they heard her mum and quickly rushed upstairs. Her dad wondered what had happened, but Rapunzel already knew. When they reached her she was as still as a stone "What happened love? Are you..." He asked her wife but gasped in shock when he saw the merman. Rapunzel couldn't think what to do. She saw her parents staring in shock and Jack showing half of his face in the water looking scared and nervous. This was as bad as Rapunzel had imagined.
"I...I...I can explain" Rapunzel said to her parents. They both slowly turned to her with looks of disbelief saying "You know about this?" Nervous and worried all she could do was give a small, weak smile.
"Why didn't you just tell us?"
Rapunzel had her head down while sitting at the dinner table with parents. She just explained to them the whole story from when she found Jack. She knew they would be upset her with for not telling them.
"Because you wouldn't have believe me" Rapunzel said as she tugged on her hair.
Before her mum could reply, her dad said "She does have a point" and her mum began to think about it more. Her daughter was right they wouldn't have believed her, but they did not like secrets, but saving him was also right.
Rapunzel's mum cleared her throat before she spoke calmly to Rapunzel "Sweetheart, we can't blame you for doing the right thing and it's true we probably wouldn't have believed you at first but you should have told us anyway."
Then her dad said softly " like your mum said we can't blame you for your kind actions and for that, Jack will stay. Until he gets better, then we have take him back to the sea."
Rapunzel sighed in slight relief. "Thank you. I was going to take him back anyway"
"Well it will be easier now" her dad added. Rapunzel gave a grateful hug to them both. She felt lucky to have kind and understanding parents. After that, she made her way upstairs to her bathroom to tell Jack the news.
"So what happened?" The merman asked when she closed the door behind her.
"Well it's good news, you can stay until the time when your all healed" Rapunzel said leaning against the door.
"Well thats good, now what" Jack asked her. He could see that she was tired, he felt tired himself, it had be a very long day.
"I don't know. I feel sleepy" Rapunzel yawned and rubbed her eyes.
"You should get some rest Punz"
"You're right, I'll see you in the morning" she waved to him and he waved back before she went to bed.
Rapunzel woke up from a nightmare and was breathing as if she was drowing. She sat up still thinking of the nightmare, all she remembered was something pulling her down and Jack being killed. She glimpsed at her clock, it said 2.27 in morning. Still shaking from the dream she got a drink and a biscuit from the kitchen and went back upstairs. For a while Rapunzel sat quietly deep in thought, she saw Pascal still sleeping peacefully which which her smile.
She then saw the "Merology" book and decided to read for a while, Rapunzel loved the illustrations in it and wondered if life there was like this. Looking at them gave her ideas for drawings and paintings. Wasting no time, she began painting on her easel. She didn't know how long she was painting her designs for, they were all of sealife and mermaids dancing in the sea. She started one of Jack sitting on ice looking up at the moon, as she painted she couldn't help but think of him. To her, he was not only handsome but funny, clever and even if he didn't think so. he was kind, caring and talented with his magic.
She just finished jack's face when she heard singing, it sounded like Jack. Rapunzel turned to look at the bathroom door, she had asked if he could sing, for merfolk are know for being beautiful singers but he said he didn't sing, then again he did say he didn't not can't. To the human girl, the merman had a great singing voice.
Quietly she tip toed to the door. She slowly opened the door and peeked in to see Jack softly singing to himself. The song itself was hauntingly beautiful, nothing like she had ever heard before. Soon Jack had finish and Rapunzel clapped which made the merman jump and let out a slight gasp.
"I thought you were a sleep?" He said.
"Sorry" she answered back laughing nervously while tugging on her hair "I woke up from a nightmare and I ended up painting before I heard you singing"
The merman couldn't help but smile at her.
"By the way, your singing is amazing!, you said you couldn't sing" Jack turned red at her comment.
"Thanks I said I don't sing not couldn't, it's my secret, I usually sing when I'm alone, no one, not even my family have heard me sing" he explained feeling shy right now.
"But merfolk are well known for being great singers, why are you ashamed for it?" Rapunzel asked as she sat on the stool.
Jack began to think, he himself didn't know why but he thought that he wasn't confident with showing he is singing, he was fine showing off his ice powers but was scared of what others would think.
"I really don't know why. I'm just...scared" Jack admitted, it came out as a whisper.
Rapunzel reached and took his hand. "Maybe when you get home, you can show your family. I bet your sister would love it".
Just mentioning his sister brought a smile to his face. "Yeah she will and she would definitely love you".
"Really?"
"Really, you two could talk about girl stuff like jewels and hair and boys"
Rapunzel laughed at what Jack thinks girls talk about. "I would love to meet her".
"Maybe one day" Jack wondered about his family and how they were. He hoped they were ok. He missed them, as if she could read his mind, Rapunzel squeezed his hand which made him turn to her.
"You'll see them again. I am sure"
"Thanks" he said and the two looked into each other's eyes. To Rapunzel, Jack's blue eyes seem to be full with magic and mystery she wanted to discover. As for Jack, Rapunzel's green eyes were a green he never seen before but loved them anyway.
Rapunzel yawned covering her mouth with her hand. "I suddenly feel tried again".
"You should probably go back to bed" Jack suggested. She was going to do that but a thought came to her.
"You don't mind if I sleep in here tonight, do you?" She asked she didn't know why but she wanted to.
"Sure" he said and soon Rapunzel made a bed out of her blankets and pillows next to the bathtub, she soon fell asleep. Jack watched her for a bit, he couldn't help but be memorised by her. The merman yawned and lay down in the tub before long he was asleep along side Rapunzel. Hoping things will be easier now.