A/N The rain outside must've gotten to my brain, because it's mentioned in all of today's fics. Then again, I played in it and got soaking wet…yeah. I am SO SORRY about not updating-I've been having problems with the Document Uploader(I reached fifteen documents…)so I might be cutting the story in half by putting each chapter into two parts, and that way it's only six chapters. If you get a ton of NEW CHAPTER e-mails, that's why. I have to take down the HG fic to make room…sorry! Reviews are still loved, as are you guys ;) -Liz
Rain pounds down outside the library window. The room is silent and awkward as Nathan and I play chess. We've been playing for an hour-which is an hour too long, because I want to get OUT of here. I make my move and Nathan makes his, then leans back in his chair and glances at me.
"So, Rapunzel, you've been…where for eighteen years?"
I bite my lip and try to cover up my surprise as I move my piece.
"What do you mean, where? I've been here, obviously." I say, looking up for a second. Nathan laughs lightly.
"Then please do explain how you met my pathetic excuse of a brother." He waves his hand, motioning for me to tell him. My eyebrows shoot up. My hand jerks away from the board.
"Excuse me?" I snap, folding my arms. Nathan shrugs.
"My brother's a pretty bad excuse for a 'thief'." at this point, I'm annoyed.
"Oh, really now? Then explain to me how he stole my crown." Nathan immediately bites back, "Dumb luck and a guard who was too stupid to turn around. That's how he got it." By now, I'm too busy thinking stinging comebacks to think of smart comebacks.
"Then explain to me how Eugene brought back the Lost Princess!" I snap, and quickly realize what I've said. Nathan laughs, his ice-blue eyes glinting in the low light.
"Oh my gosh. So you were that girl trapped in a tower for eighteen years!" He points at me and throws his head back in laughter.
"Yes, in fact, I was. And for your information, I learned way more in all those years than you could learn in a million years." I retort hotly.
"Yeah, you even learned that your 'mother' didn't love you and only wanted you for your hair." That's it. That's the last straw. I slam my fists on the table, get up, and run out of the room, slamming the door behind me. I can hear Nathan's muffled cries of "Princess! C'mon, I didn't mean it like that!" I stop and lean back against the wall, and the tears come.
Checkmate.