I 3 My reviewers. This is quickly becoming one of my more popular fics. So I'll keep going. Granted it isn't nor will it ever be as good as What You Don't Know or Hangman's Noose, or even the original Tangled, but hey, I try. So here's Chapter 9: 20 Million Dollar Hair

Chapter 9: 20 Million Dollar Hair

Gothel

Rapunzel's behavior had been getting to me. She came home happy and smiling every day, which since that Rider boy brought her home has been happening a lot lately. She also seems more interested in her past, why I stopped growing Rampion and why the children's book she found is so similar to our lives. I know why, and I have no intentions of telling her. This morning she came down especially happy, and I asked her why. Her response,

"Can't I just be a happy teenager?" I shrugged and brushed it off, but if there was one thing I knew it was that she was hiding something from me. And when she hides something from me, I know exactly how to get to the bottom of it. I dropped her off at work, as usual, and returned home. I made my way up the stairs and into her bedroom. There was a necklace on her dresser that I had never seen before, as well as a vase of lilies. My eyes scanned the room, if I were a 17 year old girl, where would I keep my diary? I thought. Then it hit me, if Rapunzel was hiding something she'd keep it under her mattress. I ran over to it as quickly as I could, finding my treasure easily, the key was hooked on the purple pencil that came included with the book. I unlocked it and sat down on the bed to read it. I flipped the pages to the latest entry.

Dear Diary,

Eugene and I have been dating for two months as of today…

Dear Diary,

Mother still has no clue that Eugene climbs into my room at night…

Dear Diary,

Eugene and I are going to the lights festival after work today. Amanda agreed to cover for us…

Eugene… Eugene… Eugene… who was this Eugene person and why were he and my daughter dating behind my back? I dropped the book like it was burning hot and ran from the room, and into my own opening my bedside drawer and pulling out a handgun. I never wanted to have the need to use it… but it was for the best.

Rapunzel

"Hey Blondie, are you ready to go yet?" Eugene called from outside of the kitchen as I clocked out for the day. I walked out and we embraced, ending it with a kiss.

"Yep, let's get out of here," I replied in a relieved tone. It was my 18th birthday, and tonight was the festival of the lights. Not only would it be an adventure, but I hoped to find out more about my past. Eugene turned to Amanda as she stepped out of the kitchen.

"So here's the plan, Amanda and I will go ask mother if we can go to the festival, once we get there Eu- Flynn will take me off your hands and you'll take me home at the end of the night," I told Amanda. She nodded in confirmation.

"We'll be back in a minute, go get in my car," she said to Eugene. He obeyed and left the restaurant, avoiding Mother's van at all costs. As soon as he was gone, Amanda pulled a gift from her purse.

"Happy Birthday Rapunzel," she said. I eagerly opened the gift and inside was nail polish and other girly stuff.

"Thank you Amanda!" I said, hugging my friend. She smiled and beckoned the way out.

"What are we waiting for? The festival waits!" she said happily. I nodded and we made our way outside to the van.

"Are you ready to go Rapunzel?" Mother asked as soon as we approached the car.

"Actually, I was wondering if Amanda and I could go to the festival tonight, it's supposed to be a lot of fun!" I told her. Mother looked over Amanda and then looked at me.

"Well… since it's your birthday…" she said hesitantly. My face lit up, hoping she'd say yes. "I suppose you could go…" I pumped my fist in the air.

"Don't worry about Rapunzel; I'll keep an eye on her!" Amanda said to my mother to reassure her.

"Have fun girls," Mother said with a smirk on her face. We waved as she drove off. I stood in silence as Amanda made her way to her car.

"Rapunzel? What's wrong?" she asked when she noticed I wasn't next to her. I turned.

"Nothing, let's go," I said, brushing my thoughts aside and catching up with Amanda. We got into her car and she drove off. I couldn't help but wonder if Mother's behavior was weird, almost as if she had something planned. I didn't expect her to agree so readily. It didn't matter at that moment because I got to spend the evening with Eugene!

Ever since Mother and I had arrived in Corona I had heard of this festival. There was singing and dancing and special sales at all of the shops. When it got dark, the hosts of the party, Nicholas and Elizabeth Phillips, the local millionaires of Corona would release a lantern into the sky, to honor their daughter who was taken years ago. The rest of the town would then release theirs. It was supposed to be quite the sight with the lanterns. I hoped that I could find out more about my past at this party. Upon arriving in Corona Square, Amanda went off to do whatever she does while Eugene and I spent time together.

"So Blondie, what would you like to do first?" he asked upon seeing my shocked expression at everything going on.

"I'm kind of hungry. Working at a restaurant can get you really hungry sometimes," I said. Both of our stomachs let out a low growl as soon as I said this.

"Then dinner it is," Eugene said, holding out his arm for me to take. We made our way to an outdoor restaurant where I noticed that a couple of people were talking about something that peaked my interest.

"It's the girl's 18th birthday today. They still haven't heard anything?" one of the men said. He was tall and well built, with a tuxedo on. The other man, who had a similar tuxedo on and was a good foot shorter, shook his head,

"You'd think that 18 years would be enough for the poor miss, her only daughter taken? She hasn't spoken a word since that night! The girl with the million dollar hair, what I'd give for a bounty like that!" I gasped, and fingered my golden locks.

"Did you hear that Eugene?" he looked up at me from his menu.

"Hear what?" he asked. I took that as a no.

"Two guys were talking about how the girl this festival is for has million dollar hair! I wonder what that's all about," I said. Eugene shrugged.

"I'm sure it has nothing to do with you, don't worry about it," Eugene said, turning back to his menu. I couldn't help but eye the men who were talking. "So what are you getting?" Eugene asked suddenly. I turned back to my boyfriend.

"I think the summer greens special looks good," I said. Eugene nodded and set down his menu as the waiter came back to take our orders.

I kept my eyes on the men who were talking about "the girl's 18th birthday". It was my 18th birthday, so why couldn't it be about me? I dragged Eugene along following them down the road, hoping to catch more information.

"Remind me again why we're doing this?" Eugene asked as the men stopped to buy a hot dog at one of the carts.

"Because I need to find out more about my past," I told him in a whisper. When I looked back up, the men were heading toward the mansion. "Come on, let's go!" Eugene sighed and followed me to the mansion where the two men sat outside and ate. I listened in on their conversation from some bushes, hoping that I would catch something.

"I feel bad that we have to go back in there Todd, the missus is terribly upset that she's gone without her daughter for 18 years," the short, stout man said to the other. "Our job was to find her and goodness she could be hiding in broad daylight for all we know!" The other man, Todd swallowed a bite of hot dog and turned to the man talking.

"Moonlight, the sun is setting," he said, taking another bite.

"Whatever… the point is, this girl has hair that's worth a million dollars per foot, you'd think that whoever stole her away would at least sell the hair by now!"

"You never know, it takes a year to grow a foot and a half, if she stole the girl as a baby and she hasn't cut it yet then I would think she has 20 feet of hair by now!" I gasped and grabbed a bunch of my hair. Eugene gave me a surprised look as the men continued talking.

"What did they name her again? Reena? Revonda? Raphaela?"

"Mm, Rapunzel," the other man stated. I gasped at the sound of my name. "Hey! Who's there?" the tall man yelled out. Eugene grabbed my wrist and ran from the bushes with the two men screaming after us. As soon as we were seemingly safe from the men who had been talking I fingered my hair again.

"Eugene… they said that the girl's name was Rapunzel. Do you think that could be me?" I asked in a frantic whisper.

"I can't be sure Blondie, there could be hundreds of Rapunzel's with 20 feet of blonde hair," he stated. I crossed my arms over my chest and stared at him, raising an eyebrow. "Well suppose it is you they were talking about! How would you convince them that you're the real thing?"

"I- I don't know…" I said. "If I could prove that my hair was worth a million…"

"20 million," Eugene corrected.

"20 million dollars, they'd have to believe me!" I finished. I put my hand on my chin and pondered the reasons for hair being worth a million… no, 20 million dollars. Eugene did the same.

"What if there was some rare chemical in your hair that no other has?" Eugene suggested. I sighed.

"How would we prove that? I mean, it makes sense… but what chemical is so rare that it would make hair worth that much?" I asked. However, I never got my answer… because she showed up…

Okay, so I'm sorry for all the confusion regarding this chapter. It's a lot better than before so I'll keep working and make it all up to you by getting Chapter 10 posted ASAP. Please Review, thoughts are welcome!