Another chapter- wow, I can't believe the great reviews I've gotten. You guys rock! I know you're all expecting some Jackunzel and Mericcup soon, but I need to build up a relationship between them. And, yeah, it won't be Jarida. (Jack/Merida) Merida just has a little crush on Jack, but they won't end up together. It's a lovely pairing but it's not my OTP. : ) That said, hope you like the chapter!
"Hmm- and that would equal two over five?" Merida said, chewing on the end of her pencil. "I don't get it that much-" Hiccup mock sighed but pointed at the math book. Hiccup was over at Merida's house in her room, studying for a math test with her. Hiccup was the smart one, while Merida- well, Merida just liked archery and horseback riding. Didn't care all too much for academics.
"There. You plug x equals negative b plus or minus a square root of b squared minus four a c over two a with the numbers given, and simplify," Hiccup said. "Easy." He demonstrated on Merida's paper.
"I don't think I'll get it," Merida said defeatedly, laying her head on her hand. "What was that equation again?"
"x equals negative b, plus or minus the square root of b squared minus four a c, all over two a," Hiccup sang the quadratic formula to the tune of "Pop goes the weasel."
"Hiccup, please don't," Merida laughed. "I know yer trying to help me, but when ya sing-" She burst out laughing again.
"What? I sing perfectly fine!" Hiccup insisted. Merida laughed harder this time, leaning her head on Hiccup's shoulder to steady herself.
"Nothing, I just remembered the time Jack videotaped you singing to Justin Bieber and put it on YouTube," Merida said between laughs. "All the comments said ya stunk."
"That was one time!" Hiccup complained. "Besides, it was a dare! Jack wasn't supposed to take a video of it!" Merida's phone rang.
"A constellation of tears on your lashes... Burn everything you love, then burn the ashes..." Fall Out Boy blared full volume from Merida's phone. Merida snatched it and quickly answered while Hiccup picked up their math books and papers.
"Merida! Did I catch you at a bad time?" the voice of her friend Rapunzel said from the other end.
"Nope, just studying with Hiccup," Merida said. "Why?"
"I really need your help," Rapunzel said distractedly, her voice becoming distant. "Do you know what tomorrow is?"
"Yeah, the day of my math test that I'm supposed to be focusing on right now," Merida said. "And Friday. Is there some other day tomorrow?"
"It's Flynn and I's anniversary tomorrow, and I have no idea what to give him!" Rapunzel panicked. "I thought a painting but he always sees me painting. What does a guy like?"
"I'm not a guy," Merida said bluntly. "Don't ask me."
"You're with Hiccup, right?" Rapunzel said. "Ask him!"
"Hiccup and Flynn are two very different people ye know," Merida said with a sigh. "But fine." She turned to Hiccup.
"Hiccup! Yer a guy, right?" she said.
"Yeah, last time I checked," Hiccup said in a what-the-hell tone of voice and pointing at his groin.
"Gross," Merida said. "So, what do guys like?"
"What do guys like?" Hiccup thought it through. "They like dragons, and video games, and super-cool knights from the dark ages, and food, and inventing, and did I mention dragons?"
"Hiccup, that's what ya like," Merida said exasperatedly. Rapunzel waited patiently for Hiccup's answer. "No luck, ask someone who isn't a loser."
"Hey!" Hiccup yelled.
"Shut up," Merida retorted, then turned back to her conversation. "Sorry Punzie. You can just get him a CD or T-shirt or something."
"CD sounds safe- but of what?" Rapunzel asked. "I don't listen to much music."
"Easy. Drowning Pool. Everyone loves that band," Merida said.
"Hypocritical much? That's what you like!" Hiccup yelled. "Don't listen to her, whoever Merida's talking to!"
"Rapunzel is just asking me what guys like," Merida rolled her eyes. "Not that yer that much help."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hiccup snapped.
"Whatever you want it to mean," Merida grinned.
"So, who's Drowning Pool?" Rapunzel asked curiously. "Will Flynn like them?
"Flynn better like them," Merida said. "Look them up, you won't be disappointed." Rapunzel said her thanks and hung up.
"You know Rapunzel is so sheltered, and you introduce her to Drowning Pool?" Hiccup laughed.
"Because they rock!" Merida insisted. "She should be thanking me."
"Come on, your math book awaits," Hiccup said, holding up the book like it was sacred.
"As if," Merida scoffed. "Get that out of my face." Hiccup laughed as she and him settled side by side to study math problems.
Mavis was sitting on her bed and reading a magazine when her phone started ringing. Britney Spears rang through her room.
"Hello?" Mavis cut off Britney's song as she answered.
"Hey," her friend Eep responded. "Guess what I found out."
"Gossip?" Mavis guessed, rolling over onto her stomach. "Spill."
"There's a new girl- M.K.," Eep said. "Rick invited her to his party."
"But she'd new!" Mavis said, surprised, pulling her phone slightly away from her face as if it had said that and not Eep. "I haven't even met her yet, and she's already friends with Rick?"
"I know, right? And Flynn's set his sight on her to make it worse," Eep sighed.
"That manwhore is going after another girl?" Mavis said, the anger evident in her voice, pushing the phone back to her face. "We have to tell her, Eep. We can't keep shielding Rapunzel like this. She has a right to know-"
"Funny, the new girl said the same thing when I told her Flynn was giving her his 'smoulder' look or whatever," Eep said. "She's obviously never met Rapunzel."
"Eep, she deserves to know, come on!" Mavis said.
"You know Rapunzel! She'll break down if we tell her her precious boyfriend cheated on her! She doesn't deserve that, she's too nice!" Eep said. "We can't tell her, Mavis. She'll freak."
"Well, what great friends we are!" Mavis tossed her hands in the air, kicking her magazine off of her bed as she stretched. "Can't even tell a friend like Rapunzel, who, by the way, would tell us everything- that her no-good of a boyfriend has been cheating with, like, ten other girls in the two-year span that they've been dating?"
"Mavis, you have to think about what's best for Rapunzel!" Eep begged. "Don't tell her- she'll start bawling! She'd pretty hyped up for some anniversary of hers and Flynn's, so why should we ruin her daydream?"
"Because she has a right to know about Flynn," Mavis groaned, tucking her legs under her bottom. "I can't keep hiding this sort of stuff from Punzie, and you know it."
"I know," Eep said, thinking. "M.K. already threatened to tell anyway. We can't shelter her forever, Mav, but we've got to try." Mavis groaned.
"This is going to blow up in our faces one of these days," she told Eep. "Fine. We hide this from Rapunzel, but if M.K. wants to tell, by all means, let her."
"Alright," Eep agreed. "Are you going to Rick's party with Punzie?"
"No, she's going with Flynn," Mavis said, rolling her eyes. "Want to go with me?"
"Totally," Eep said, her voice getting muffled like she was separating from the mouthpiece. "If we go with Ella. She wanted us to go with her."
" 'kay," Mavis said. "I'll stop by Ella's."
"Cool. See you tomorrow Mavis," Eep said.
"Bye," Mavis finished their call and laid her phone down, staring at it in disgust. She was a despicable human being, not telling her friend this. But it'd crush Rapunzel's sunny personality very quickly. She had to do this. It was to protect Rapunzel. Even if it didn't feel like it most of the time.
Guy, Nod, and Jack were all at Nod's house, discussing a very important topic in the living room. "It's going to be Once-ler's birthday soon, you know?" Guy told Nod and Jack. "So- we need to plan him something."
"Got it. We'll get him a piñata, a cake, a birthday banner, and some candles," Jack shrugged. "No big."
"Uh, how would Once-ler like that?" Guy asked. "Those things are for kids parties."
"Exactly why we're getting them for Once-ler!" Jack said. "He's turning seventeen. The least we could do is remind him of his childhood."
"His childhood was stupid," Nod said. "He just had a weird obsession with saving trees and being rich."
"Well, Once-ler's not normal. So let's do it for him," Jack said.
"If you want to- but we need to include Merida and Hiccup in the planning too," Guy said. "Who wants to take the piñata?"
"I've got it," Nod offered.
"I'll get the candy then," Guy said.
"And I call the banner," Jack said. "What about decorations and cake and stuff?"
"...uh, I'll call Merida," Guy said. "She'll agree to help with something."
"This is Merida you're talking about, why would she agree?" Nod chuckled. Guy shrugged.
"Eh, I'll do it," Jack said. "I have persuasion powers Guy does not have. Watch and learn."
"Hey!" Guy protested.
"This is going to be good," Nod said. Jack took out his phone, and started dialing Merida's number. She answered.
"What is yer problem, Punzie, I just said to look up Drowning Pool!" Merida yelled into the phone.
"Actually," Jack said with a smile, "It's Jack."
"Oh- Jack?" Merida's tone instantly softened. "Hi."
"Hey, want to help with Once-ler's party planning?" Jack asked. "We need a cake person."
"Uh- sure," Merida said. "I'd love to. What kinda cake?" Jack heard a rustling of papers in the background.
"Whatever Once-ler likes," Jack said. "Say, where are you? Sounds like school over there." He knew Merida avoided homework whenever possible.
"Just in my room- Should I bake or buy it?" Merida wondered distractedly.
"Considering it's you- I'd say buy," Jack said.
"Who are you talking to now?" the distant voice of Hiccup came from the background.
"Ssh Haddock- It's Jack!" Merida yelled.
"Is that Hiccup?" Jack smirked. "Why is he- in your room?" Guy and Nod burst out laughing.
"You- you can just shut the hell up, Frost!" Merida stammered angrily. "We're studyin'!"
"Ooh, studying," Jack teased. "Sounds hot."
"WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU FROST YER GONNA WISH YE WERE DEAD!" Merida screamed. There was a smothering noise, like there was struggle going on the other end.
"Well, uh, bye," Hiccup said when he got the phone. Muffled screams from Merida was the last thing they heard before Hiccup ended the call.
"They're fun," Jack commented, raising his eyebrows as he shut off his phone.
"Decoration check?" Guy asked. "Anyone want to do it?"
"Get a girl to do that," Nod complained, leaning back into the couch cushions.
"Merida again?" Guy suggested,
"Nah, she'll only get madder. I'll get Rapunzel," Nod said. "I'll text her." Jack couldn't help it, he raised his head at the mention of Rapunzel.
"What about Rapunzel?" he asked nonchalantly. "She's friends with Once-ler?"
"Naw, with Merida," Nod said. "Rapunzel'll agree to come if Merida does. And, hey, maybe she could bring Mavis..."
"Dude!" Guy said. "Once-ler would kill us if we brought Mavis. Let's bring her!"
"You guys are evil," Jack chuckled. "Let's do it."
"I thought Merida was the matchmaker here," Nod said. "Shouldn't she do that?"
"She's not getting anything done," Jack said. "Why not try to set them up ourselves?"
"I'm all for it," Guy offered. "Now, should we focus on inviting people?"
"Just invite the whole class and then see who actually likes him and comes," Nod said. "Simple."
"Nod, that's harsh. What happens when no one comes?" Jack teased.
"You taking invites?" Guy asked Jack. He shrugged.
"Why not," Jack decided.
"And I'll call Rapunzel for cake," Nod said, taking his phone and leaving the room.
"So, who are you inviting then?" Guy asked, turning back to Jack.
"Eh, let's just do what Nod said," Jack said. "Invite a whole bunch of people and then see who comes."
"Then- how are we supposed to know how many people are coming?" Guy asked.
"Good point," Jack mulled. "Umm, I guess we'll just have a small group of people come."
"Meaning...?" Guy trailed.
"Us and whoever else we want to invite," Jack said. "Me, I'm not bringing any additional guests."
"Okay," Guy agreed. "Sounds reasonable. Let's plan ourselves a party!"
Not as long as I usually do it, and very boring. Very unimaginative and cruel punishment for my readers, who were expecting very different chapters. Hey, that party's next chapter. And- I wanted to know- (because a Deviantart friend asked me this question) Who should Violet's love interest be? I'm sort of leaning towards Wilbur from Meet the Robinsons but idk. I'd love to hear you guys's thoughts on the chapter and some help for Violet!