hi everyone, it's been a long time since i posted the last one but i hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 4- the night in
Watching her mum from the stairs, Rapunzel felt guilty because her mum was cancelling her book club meeting at the house for tomorrow.
"I know...what about having it at Debbie's house" she heard mum on the phone to Annabelle, who was head for the the book club. "Alright, thank you and again, I'm sorry" her mum finished her call, she put the down and sighed.
The only reason why she had done it was because they weren't taking any risks of anyone finding out about Jack.
6 days passed since Rapunzel's mum and dad had found out, since then they did they're best to keep people away from their house. They met their friends and family at their houses and other places.
"She said it's ok to have the book club at other peoples homes for a while" her mum explained to Rapunzel. " I still don't know how you did it for a month"
"I just kept saying don't to use the toilets because we're having problems with them". The girl said softly and then stared at her feet. Her mum gave her a warm hug.
"It's ok sweetheart, it must be hard keeping Jack from being discovered" her mum said reassuringly. Rapunzel return the hug and buried her head in her mum's shoulder.
"You know, it's not the first time I've cancelled" Rapunzel heard her mum say. She pulled down and looked up and listened.
"What happened?"
"When you were 3, your dad was fixing the wooden panels on the floor upstairs. Some of them were so old that your dad stepped on one and fell through it. He was stuck for hours before we got him out and repaired the hole"
Rapunzel couldn't help but smile at this.
"I know, I had everything under control till then" they heard her dad call out.
"He always says that" her mum whispered and the two giggled.
After this, the girl climbed upstairs to visit the merman.
"Hey Punz" Jack greeted, when Rapunzel peered behind the door.
"Hi, my mum called her book club and manage to move it from the house. So we don't need to worry about them finding out" she explained as she saw Jack placing a book down to listen. The merman could read a little, he was fine with small words but couldn't read the bigger ones and needed Rapunzel or her parents to help.
"Well thats good, so now what" he asked,
"I'm not sure" She thought aloud.
The two thought for a moment with Pascal who was reading with Jack before, even he tried to think.
Then something came to Jack."what about we watch one of those movies, is that what you call them?" He remembers Rapunzel talking about them and was curious.
She thought it was a good idea " ok, sounds like good idea. My parents are going out tonight so we can watch one tonight".
"That's great, which one do you want to watch"
"Ur...let me check. I have a lot of them and I don't..." As she went to find them but then she tripped on Mr Quackers's and almost fell, but luckily Jack caught her. He held her by the arms as she got her balance.
She took a moment to catch her breath before she turned to her friend "thank you, Jack" she said and she felt butterflies in the stomach as she looked at the handsome merman.
"You're welcome" Jack replied. He himself felt his cheeks heat up just by holding her arms and staring at her, she was so lovely.
Both of them leaned towards each other and closed their eyes. They were just a inch away from each other their lips reached towards each other to kiss when...
"Rapunzel, Jack, I made you lunch" they heard Rapunzel's mum calling from downstairs. They snapped out of the moment and pulled away, blushing like mad.
Pascal had closed his eyes, he had his hands covering his face and groaned after watching the whole thing. He knew there was something between Rapunzel and Jack for a long time, he could sense that his friends had grown feelings for one another but were too shy to express it.
The chameleon sighed as the girl sat on the toilet and the merman had his hand toward his head. Rapunzel's mum opened the door with a tray of cheese sandwiches.
Since Rapunzel's parents had found out Jack had got to know them and really like them, they were just as Rapunzel said they were. He enjoyed talking to them about all sorts of things and they asking him mostly the same things Rapunzel asked, but she answered some of them which was helpful to him.
"Thank you" Jack said as he was handed a sandwich. Rapunzel's mum smiled at him and then handed another to her daughter.
"So how do you feel today Jack?" She asked about his wounds. Jack looked at his tail, the gash had completely disappeared like it was never there.
"Great actually" he replied swishing his tail around.
"Well that's good to know. Pretty soon you'll be back in the ocean, swimming live an Olympic champion" Rapunzel's mum said, then noticed the merman and her daughter's faces changed. She wondered if it was something that she had said. She looked at Pascal who just shrugged.
"Rapunzel, do you mind coming to get some food with me?" She asked a moment later.
"What" Rapunzel called as she stood up but before she said anything, her mum said calmly
"Sweetheart, you've be in the house for days and you need some fresh air"
Rapunzel could understand what her mum was saying. She was spending more time in her bathroom with Jack rather than being outside like she use to. She didn't want to leave Jack on his own even knowing her dad and Pascal would keep him company, also she wished he had legs, so he could stay on land.
"All right"
"Good" her mum said hugging her. "When you ready we'll go".
"I think she's right Punz" Jack said after a moment "you haven't been out anywhere lately, ever if it is only for a little while. It might help"
Rapunzel sighed, she knew he was right and she needed to go out even if it's for food. "I think your right, I have been in for too long"
"I'm always right".
"Always Jack?" Rapunzel commented holding her hand and giving him a smirk.
The Jack let out a laugh at what she was doing. "All right, not all the time, but no one should be stuck in one place forever".
Soon after Rapunzel had got her bag and was in the car with her mum. They made it to the supermarket. It did feel nice being outside again, doing things she had done before. Her mum told her that she and Rapunzel's dad were going to the cinema and dinner tonight so if Rapunzel wanted, she could cook for Jack and herself what ever they wanted, because she can cook homemade meals. She decide on spaghetti and cooked fish with cookies for dessert.
They finished getting what they needed and were walking to the car. "So, it will be different when Jack returns home" Rapunzel's mum said which made Rapunzel sigh. By this her mum could see something was wrong, so she thought something anything to say "what do you think about Jack?"
She saw instantly a smile appear on Rapunzel's face " Well he's funny, cool and very caring. Why do you ask?" Rapunzel questioned.
"I thought you possibly liked him".
Rapunzel eyes widened at this " mum, Jack and I are friends and anyway boys scare me".
Her mum placed her hand softly on her daughter's shoulder reassuringly. "I thought like that when I was your age until I met your father and I wasn't scared anyway"
Rapunzel couldn't help but smile at this. The smile disappeared now when she thought about would she be good in a relationship? Seeing the worried look on her daughter's face, Rapunzel's mum hugged her which Rapunzel returned easily.
"Just ask yourself one thing, does he make you happy?" Her mum said and Rapunzel began to think about it as they packed the car and drove back home.
She questioned her feelings, she knew Jack made her laugh and she did feel comfortable around him. She also felt her cheeks going red every time he smiled at her. Rapunzel didn't see him as a creature of the sea, but as a kind hearted boy who would never change for anything.
At that moment, an idea came to her. "Mum, can we just pop to the craft shop" she quickly asked.
"Ur.. sure sweetheart" her mum said and question to herself what was she up to.
At home Jack was sat on the toilet seat as Rapunzel's dad was cleaning the bathtub. He had been in there for a while now, so seeing it empty and filthy, was a big shock.
"Well at least merfolk never have to do this" her father mention as he scrubbed it
"Do what?" The merman asked
"Cleaning, it's nothing but water, but then again I did see shipwrecked boats become rusted underwater" Rapunzel's dad said before went back to scrubbing.
Jack had Pascal sitting on his tail, he had got used to the little lizard using his tail as a scratching post. Pascal sighed peacefully this made Jack chuckle before he patted Pascal on the back.
"So" Jack heard Rapunzel's dad said " what do think of Rapunzel?"
The merman was silent for a moment before answering "ur... she absolutely amazing, she sweet and creative"
The man gave a knowing smile that make Jack wonder "Well, you and Rapunzel seem to be getting on really well"
Jack's eyes nearly popped out and his face turned red "Urr..." Was all he could say. He didn't have a clue how to answer this. He did like Rapunzel (maybe more than like but he wasn't sure yet) but telling her dad was nerve wrecking because if he said the wrong thing he could be in trouble.
"I do know how your feeling right now Jack. I was your age once, it maybe scary and confusing but when you meet the person who you care for, it can be amazing" Rapunzel's dad reassured.
"But I bet your father told you that" he chuckled but then noticed Jack had a sad look on his face.
"I don't have one" Jack murmured with a tear rolling down his face. Rapunzel's dad remembered Rapunzel telling him and mum about his mum and sister but nothing about his dad.
He patted the merman to reassure him "It's ok, we won't bring it up but if you need to talk man to man, just let me know".
Jack smile gratefully to him. He couldn't remember his father and his mum had never talked about him. He wonder if talking to Rapunzel's dad was what fathers and sons did.
At round 5 o'clock Rapunzel waved goodbye to her parents as they went off on their date night. She began to prepare the spaghetti, the sauce and cooked fish. While they cooked she helped Jack move into her bedroom, mostly by pulling him along.
"Sorry about this" she apologised.
"No need. You couldn't really carry me even if you tried" Jack said. It didn't take long till she stopped, for Jack to sit up right.
He took a good look around her room seeing her bed with a pink and purple cushions and blanket. He saw a small house which was where Pascal slept. There was a mirror on a table with jewellery hanging on it and boxes next to it. Next to the table was her wardrobe that was decorated by Rapunzel and a few paintings she made on canvases and some on the walls. He turned to Rapunzel's easel and his eyes widened, there was a painting of him on a block of ice looking up at the moon. The picture was so beautiful, he felt his eyes fill with tears, he blinked them away.
"Jack, is something wrong" she asked in concern " if you don't like I.."
"No, it just" she heard him say faintly "its just...no one ever did anything like this for me before"
The girl couldn't help but smile brightly by what he said about his picture.
"Thank you for the gift".
"Actually, this is your gift" she pulled out a homemade necklace. It had different blue beads in different sizes and a shark tooth in the middle.
"Punz" was all he could say as he looked at her then to her gift. "I love it", he said in amazement. Rapunzel helped put the necklace on the merman which really suitsed him.
Rapunzel's wonderful gift made Jack think about making something for her " Man, I should give you a gift".
"Jack you shouldn't.." Rapunzel began but Jack said.
"No I really want to do something, for you" and he began conjuring something now. Rapunzel and Pascal watched him using his ice magic until he was done. They saw in his palm a beautiful necklace make of ice, with a snowflake And gems around on a chain.
"Jack. I didn't know what to say"
"Well maybe, I am surprised that it does not look like a seashell"
Rapunzel giggled at this before letting him put it on her. It looked perfect on her.
She remembered the food was still cooking, so she quickly rushed to check, the next time she came up, she had a tray with their dinner.
The teens and Pascal enjoyed eating the meal Rapunzel made. One of the things he would miss was food that wasn't raw fish, he'd miss a lot of things on land when he return to the sea, but the biggest one would be Rapunzel herself.
He didn't have any friends back home except his sister but meeting Rapunzel made his life seem brighter by her smile. Before he could think of anything else, Rapunzel returned with a plate of cookies she had made. While they ate the cookies, Rapunzel was teaching Jack how to draw. She showed him an easy way to draw fish, pigs, flowers and other things for Jack to start .
After this Jack found a photo album of Rapunzel and her family. Rapunzel heard Jack laughing at something in the book.
"What's so funny" she asked
Is this you?, dressed as a mermaid" he chuckled and Rapunzel's face turned red.
"Hey, give it here" she yelled trying to grab it, but Jack held it too far for her to reach.
"You were really cute back then" he comment as he chuckled. He chuckled because it was sweet, not to be mean.
"Give it" Rapunzel said again, she nearly got the photo but it ended up falling off the bed with Rapunzel on top of him.
The two forgot about the photo as their eyes met. They both felt their hearts racing, unable to move. Pascal looked down at them from the bed, slightly hoping they would tell each other their feelings.
"Sorry. Why? It was my fault " they both said that the same time. The two then laughed about what just happened.
Rapunzel began to help Jack up but felt something tugging on her necklace, she saw her's and Jack's necklaces had gotten tangled. Jack and Rapunzel glanced at each other and smiled at their gifts before Jack got them free.
After helping the merman back onto the bed, Rapunzel looked through her film collection and picked one to watch. She thought about one about the sea but then decided to pick one of the greatest ones " Back to the future". The teens and Pascal watched it and Jack enjoyed the movie even though he did asked a lot of questions during it.
There was a scene that made the merman sit up slightly. When two characters had kissed, he began to think if he should confess his feeling to her. He decided to do it now before anything else happened.
He took a deep breath "Rapunzel I need to tell you something... something I've been thinking about and I know it's crazy but I can't hold it in any longer"
"Rapunzel I ll...", he stopped when he turned and saw she was asleep.
Jack sighed, he was disappointed but smiled seeing how peaceful she looked. As the film ended, Pascal turned the TV off and Jack pulled the blanket over the still sleeping Rapunzel and lay down next to her. He moved a loose strand of hair behind her ear and let himself fall asleep.
Rapunzel's parents retuned home around 10 o'clock. They went to check on them and found them with their arms around each other. It was a sweet scene but Rapunzel's dad tapped Jack and offered him help back to the bath, Jack thanked him a was soon lifted up and placed down in the bath. Her mum kissed her daughter's head before she closed the door.