I updated something so I'm quite proud of myself. :) This one's a bit more- plot related- but it's leading up to something bigger next chapter. I'm not leaving it with a cliffie, but rather an open end. My goal is to leave you wondering what'll happen next. Ahem, so I'd like to thank some people! First of all, I'd like to thank Pierce the Veil. Their soundtrack "Selfish Machines" helps me write.
Now, for people that deserve it much more-
Redblues - I loved your review! Trust me, Flynn and Rapunzel won't exactly end up together. But I'm glad you liked the Mericcup moments!
KyandiX - I'm honored that you read my story in school. :) And I've seen a few of your stories around, so it's amazing that an author such as yourself reads it!
Cocoaflower -Don't worry. They will all get proved wrong. ;p
ShadowXMoonlight -Thanks! I always worry about that. Like- am I losing interest?
Super-Dash - thanks so much! I hope you get an account soon. :)
Guest - More Mericcup to come, don't worry. :)
AliceCullen3 - thanks!
DisneyAddictGirl - aww thank you!
there will always be fear -Thank you, dear, you're too sweet!
I believe that's it. So, um, here's my next chapter!
Hiccup was leaving the classroom with Fishlegs, in a heated conversation about a video game they had been playing.
"Are you kidding? No way the rifle beats the machine gun. It's less likely to even hit the zombie," Fishlegs was saying.
"But it's got a more accurate aim than the spray of bullets," Hiccup argued. Hiccup and Fishlegs were on a roll, spiting back and forth arguments that kept getting louder. However, both boys stopped short to see who was leaning against a bank of lockers, waiting for Hiccup.
Jack Frost wasn't anything special anymore in Hiccup's eyes, just a friend. But to Fishlegs, he looked rather menacing. The dark sweatshirt, ripped jeans, and glare. A glare that turned into a smile when he saw Hiccup.
"Hey, Hic," he said. Fishlegs gaped. "Figured I'd wait for ya to get out of class. I'm not up for going to Pitch alone."
"Sure," Hiccup said like it was normal. Fishlegs turned to him, his mouth still hanging open.
"Hiccup, can we talk?" Fishlegs managed to close his mouth and shove Hiccup away from Jack, safely out of earshot by the classroom door again.
"What? Fishlegs, I don't want to be late to-"
"Why are you talking to him?" Fishlegs grabbed Hiccup by the shoulders, giving him a shake. "He hates you!"
"No he doesn't, he's my friend," Hiccup said, scrunching his eyebrows in confusion.
"He's not your friend! Last year, his football buddy and the rest of them beat you up by the lockers!" Fishlegs's eyes were practically bulging out of his head. He shook Hiccup again as if that would make him regain his sanity.
"Relax!" Hiccup said, shoving Fishlegs's fingers off of his shoulders. "He had nothing to do with that. He doesn't even know that happened."
"What do you mean?" Fishlegs was panicking. "Of course he knew that happened. He's friends with-"
"He and Aster aren't even friends, they're-"
"And he's just pretending to be your friend so he can play a huge prank on you, it's what he does!" Fishlegs said. "There are rumors going around that he-"
"Jack is not a bad person, Fishlegs," Hiccup said, trying not to get angry, but his tone was growing hostile as the two friends continued arguing.
"But Hiccup-"
"I'm going to be late for class," Hiccup said firmly. "And Jack is still waiting for me. I'll see you after school, Fishlegs." He walked away, leaving his friend gaping after him, meeting Jack halfway.
"Who's that friend of yours?" Jack smirked, looping towards him with a confident, lazy swagger. "He seems freaked."
"Fishlegs doesn't think that we're friends," Hiccup explained. "He- uh- didn't get that memo."
"And I suppose you're embarrassed to show me to your nerd friends?" Jack grinned.
"Don't call them nerds," Hiccup said. "They prefer the term- uh-"
"Relax, nerd is the new cool," Jack shrugged. The two kept walking, and it took all of Hiccup's willpower to not look back at Fishlegs to see how he was taking it.
"What are you, then?" Hiccup asked.
"I like the term charming," Jack said, smirking. "Or how about handsome?"
"...Seriously?" Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"Kidding," Jack grinned, elbowing Hiccup. "How about that girl you've been fighting with?"
"Huh?" Hiccup wondered what prompted that.
"Merida tells me she likes to straddle you-"
"No!" Hiccup blushed such a deep red, he wouldn't be surprised with the color spread all the way to his toes. "Astrid isn't- I don't-"
"I'm just messing with ya!" Jack ruffled Hiccup's shaggy hair, shoving his jaw. "Merida did say you two looked pretty cozy though."
"Oh, sure, she likes to beat me up. Only she's allowed to, because it's 'training'." Hiccup deadpanned.
"Sounds fun," Jack's cocky smirk was still there as he pulled open the door they were supposed to enter.
Hiccup followed him, to find that everyone had already sat down and were taking notes. He winced.
Pitch Black turned to them with a wicked grin. His amber eyes took Jack and Hiccup in with plans already forming in his head.
"You children are late," he gloated. "I've got no choice but to write you both up for deten-"
"Correction, Pitch," Jack slid into a seat next to a girl who gazed at him dreamily. "I'm two minutes late. And I'm already serving you for another two months. I thought we established last week that Hiccup never does anything wrong, by the way. So what's the point?"
Pitch scowled in his direction, and then turned it to Hiccup.
"Well?" he barked. "Sit!" Hiccup quickly did so, practically toppling the chair in his haste as he sat next to a random student.
From across the room, Jack gave Hiccup a wink.
"Rapunzel!" Mavis met the blond girl at her locker, smiling widely. "Huge party at Once-ler's tonight. Gonna go? The whole squad's going."
Rapunzel closed her locker door carefully, locking it again before answering. "I don't know, mother won't like it," Rapunzel said. "Unless I can tell her I'm at your place. It is Friday, she doesn't mind if I stay over. But your dad has to tell her that I'm in your house. She trusts him."
Mavis just smiled some more. "Dad's on a trip, he won't be back till next week."
"Oh," Rapunzel replied. Her face fell. "Too bad."
"Bu-t," Mavis sing-songed, "Uncle Frank's staying over to watch me. He does a mean impression of my dad. And he's totally cool about me going to a party."
"Okay," Rapunzel shrugged. "Sure."
"Awesome!" Mavis scribbled something down onto a paper she fished out of her backpack with a black lipstick produced from her backpack. "Here's the address. Bring the boyfriend if you want."
Mavis offered one last smile before taking off in a run, flagging down the next cheerleader that was in the hallway.
"Hey," Merida showed up next, just as Rapunzel was leaving. "What's up?"
Rapunzel sighed. "I have to lie to my mother again- I hate lying to her."
"Ah do it all the time," Merida shrugged. Rapunzel gave her a look. "Okay, okay. What about now?"
"Party today at Once-ler's," Rapunzel said flatly. "Are you going?"
"Ah wasn' invited," Merida snorted, "An' even if ah was, no."
"Why not? You could come with me," Rapunzel asked. "Please?"
"No," Merida said firmly.
"You can bring your boyfriend if you want!" Rapunzel pleaded some more.
"Even worse."
"You can bring your soccer team!"
"Ugh. Hell no."
"How about Hiccup and Jack? If they come, will you?" Rapunzel tried a new tactic. Merida scrunched up her face.
"How about just Hiccup?" she asked. "He's okay. Jack's an asshole."
"He is not," Rapunzel bumped Merida playfully, giggling.
"But sure," Merida sighed. "Wanna carpool?"
"Uh-" Rapunzel wasn't sure if she still had to go with Mavis. And there was still the issue of her mother. "Sure. Who'll drive?"
"Hiccup," Merida said. "He's the designated driver. Because ah said so. He can use my car."
"Alright," Rapunzel smiled. "Can we get ready together? At your house? Hiccup and Jack could meet us there!"
"Argh," Merida groaned, "Ah have to say yes."
"Yay!" Rapunzel tossed her arms around Merida's neck excitedly. "Now we just have to let Jack and Hiccup know!"
"Know what?"
The girls turned to face Hiccup and Jack, who had obviously just gotten out of class by the way Jack had his hands deep in his hoodie pockets and Hiccup was cramming notebooks into his backpack.
"Party," was all Merida said. "Tonight. Ye two are goin'."
"What?" Hiccup sputtered.
"Awesome," Jack said at the same time.
"Once-ler's having a party," Rapunzel explained, "And you two are going to meet me and Merida at her house so that we can go together. Hiccup's driving Merida's car."
"You guys have this all planned out, don't you?" Hiccup sighed.
"We're going to a cheerleader's party?" Jack raised his eyebrows. "Rapunzel, hate to break it to you, but they all pretty much- don't even know me or Hic exist. Maybe not even Merida."
"That doesn't matter," Rapunzel said firmly. "They don't have a say in it, because you guys are my friends."
"What about Flynn?" Jack asked, pushing his hands further in his pockets than humanly possible.
"What about him?" Rapunzel asked uncomfortably.
"He's not coming?" Jack quirked his eyebrow.
"N-no, I don't think so," Rapunzel said quickly. She began to play with her hair again, twirling the golden strands beneath her fingers. "I mean, I haven't told him yet. I don't think I'm going to."
"Why not?" Damn Merida. Couldn't take a hint, Jack rolled his eyes.
"Just because," Rapunzel huffed. "Are we doing this or what?"
"Sure," Jack said.
"Erm," Merida wrinkled her nose but nodded.
"You three would kidnap me if I said no," was Hiccup's response.
"Guys! This is going to be so fun!" Rapunzel said excitedly.
She was met with half-hearted smiles and worried looks.
"LIPSTICK!"
If anyone stumbled upon Rapunzel and Merida inside the Dunbroch home, it would be quite a sight. Rapunzel was chasing Merida around the room, waving a tube of red color in the air. Merida was trying to avoid her, ducking her head into anything that could conceal her lips.
"Merida, the red color will look soo cute!" Rapunzel pouted.
"No," Merida said flatly. "Ah put on yer stupid mascara, that's it."
"A little blush?" Rapunzel asked.
"No."
"Concealer?"
"No."
Rapunzel huffed, but gave up trying to put the lipstick on her friend. It was a shame, though. It would've fit with the redhead so well.
Merida had opted for a black tank top with some band's logo on it, fitted dark blue jeans, sneakers, studded skull earrings and a small black barrette that was getting lost in her curls.
Rapunzel admired how she wore what she wanted. She had tired to get her to wear less black, even offering one of her light purple shirts, which Merida looked at as if it offended her. It had already taken at least an hour to convince Merida out of a pair of black jeans as it was.
Rapunzel, meanwhile, went for something casual but fashionable. Jean shorts, a sleeveless flower print top, pink ballet flats and hair pulled back into a long braid. Her makeup was minimal, with mascara and lipgloss.
They both were so different. Both had their own style. But they were friends.
"Is Hiccup gettin' here yet o' what?" Merida grumbled, trying to fix her curls some more in the mirror of her room.
Her room, when Rapunzel first entered, was as if she were staring into Merida's soul itself. By the heavy metal bands that were lining the walls in their posters. The dark green and black that accented her lamps, walls and bed covering. The giant stuffed teddy bear that was kind of creepy and laid on her bed.
Merida was apparently loosing her patience, because she just let go of her hair and scowled at her reflection.
Rapunzel was about to speak, but was cut off by a ping of her phone.
"Jack's here," Rapunzel read the message quickly and informed Merida.
"About time," Merida said grumpily, grabbing a jacket. Again, black. Rapunzel sighed at the choice. She had a white coat herself, which she pulled over her shoulders, following Merida down the staircase towards the front doors.
Merida's parents had left for a few days; business trip, diplomatic or something, as Merida had described it.
They were alone in the house save for the housekeeper and Merida's three brothers. Rapunzel had met them and thought them the cutest little boys in the world. Merida had rolled her eyes at that. And their housekeeper was currently sleeping. Merida had said she'd sleep until tomorrow, at best.
Merida flung the door open, greeting the sight of Jack and Hiccup there.
"About time," Merida repeated. "Who dropped ye off?"
"My dad dropped us both off," Hiccup said.
"What did ye tell him?" Merida asked, curious.
"The truth. That I was going to a party, that I might not be back till late, and that Jack was coming with us," Hiccup said.
"He- He took that?" Merida looked flabbergasted.
"He, uh," Hiccup scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Said that I was finally getting my nose out of the books. He liked Jack. He thinks I'm finally manning up."
"Ha!" Jack laughed. "Guys, we're a terrible influence on him."
"Speak for yerself, Frosty," Merida teased back. Rapunzel pushed past Merida to greet the boys herself.
"Hi guys!" she said cheerfully.
When Jack saw her, he lost all composure. She looked radiant under Merida's porch light, her hair shining and her eyes brilliant. He wasn't even aware he was staring until Hiccup gave him a subtle poke.
"Umm, hi," Jack managed.
"Hiccup!" Rapunzel crowed, turning to the shorter boy. "You look so different! Whose clothes are those of?"
"Jack's," Hiccup admitted, splaying out his arms so that she could take in his appearance. He wore jeans and a band t-shirt, and his glasses were replaced with contacts.
Jack wore jeans and a band shirt himself, nothing special, so only Hiccup stood out.
"We goin' tae stand around here all night?" Merida huffed. She tossed a set of keys towards Hiccup, who caught them at the last second.
"Hiccup's the designated driver," Jack announced. "If one of us wants to leave, we've got to tell everyone 'cause I'm not up for being stranded."
"Agreed," Rapunzel nodded.
"And if anyone's drunk, we hold their hair back," Merida said. "Yeah?"
"I don't know about you, but Princess here can't touch this," Jack ruffled his pale hair, cracking a smile.
"We're making a pact," Rapunzel said eagerly. "That we'll be there for each other. Even when people say stupid things like that we can't be friends."
"Yeah," Hiccup nodded, and the other two followed.
"We're like the kids in the one movie," Jack said. "That- er- breakfast something-"
"The Breakfast Club!" Rapunzel said happily. "It's a classic. We are so like them!"
"Then Merida here's the jock," Hiccup said. "I guess I'm the nerd. Rapunzel can be the princess. And Jack's the basket case."
"Pfft," Jack scoffed, "I'm the princess."
"We're not exactly like 'em, are we?" Merida had to smile. "Bit of weird, all of us."
"Then we're the not-so-breakfast club," Hiccup shrugged. "Whichever."
The group of friends all laughed comfortably with one another, before Merida gave Hiccup a shove towards the sleek black car parked in the driveway.
"Let's do this," she said with a smile, "The not-so-breakfast club."