Chapter 4

Rapunzel

I tip toe down the stairs, careful not to annoy Mother, since she is on the phone. I'm not really paying much attention to what she's saying. Then I hear the words "Blind date". I stop in my tracks and hide behind a wall.

Mother's voice drones in from the other room, "...sure he'll be perfect for Rapunzel. From what I hear from the teachers is that he is very studious and smart and very athletic." Mother paused. "Well I don't think that matters. Rapunzel doesn't judge people by looks or their history." A long pause. "She wants me to tell her who he is because someone else might ask her. Should I?" I could hear the person's voice on the other end and Mother pulled the phone away from her ear. "Okay! Okay, I won't, okay?"

She clicked the off angrily. Well that went nowhere for me. I was back to square one. I sit down onto a stool by the counter. Will she tell me now? I asked myself. It does not seem like it. Not the way she shouted at him or her. I sighed and rested my head on my hands, well now it looks I now have a date to the dance, no matter what I say.

Mother waltzes into the kitchen, "Hey Rapunzel, I just got off the phone with your date's mother." I nodded.

"So..." I started. "Can you tell me, maybe?"

Mother chuckled, "Of course not dear. That would ruin the surprise." She laughed. "Also I already picked up a dress that I feel will be perfect for you."

My body tenses, "Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa, wait!" I hold up a hand. "You got me a dress that I had no choice of!" I nearly screamed.

"Your date's mom gave it to me," Mother said calmly. She turned to the stove. "It's very beautiful, actually, perfect for your age."

I held my face in shock, "Can I see it then?" Mother nodded.

"It's right on the bed." I dashed off, faster than ever. I stopped at Mother's doorway. The white door loomed in front of me and with a shaking hand, I opened it. On the queen size bed there was a garment bag. It was zipped up half way, so I pushed the rest down and closed my eyes as I pulled out the mysterious dress. The fabric was smooth and silky but not silk. I opened one eye then gasped at what I saw.

Jack

It's been about three days since I climbed through Rapunzels window and found out about her blind date. All week I have tried to figure out who it is. Not because I'm being a stalker, it's because some of these guys are man-whores at times. Not all of them though.

Half of the guy population at Burgess has been trying to ask out Kelsey, but she has her sights set on me. Same as half the girl population. All week I have been getting these stupid invites in the mail. On Wednesday there were so many that I had to pull them out in clumps from the mailbox in order to throw them away. Kelsey is going through great lengths to try and get me as a date. Bribery is her strength apparently.

"Earth to Jack," Hiccup waves his hand in front of my face. "Are you alive?"

"Of course, can't get rid if me that easy," I smirked half-heartedly.

Hiccup seemed to notice this and leaned back in his chair, I stared blankly at the board and the droning teacher. Rapunzel was in a different spot now and Hiccup had replaced her. Rapunzel was jotting down notes, brow furrowed. I felt the need to laugh at her concentrated face.

It was odd to suddenly hear the quiet room. I looked up sheepishly.

"Well Jack?" Mr. Burke asked.

Hiccup whispered, "Bees fertilize the angiosperms in this time year."

I opened my mouth, but Mr. Burke spoke first, "Thank you Hiccup for helping Jack here, but next time let Jack answer." I glanced to the corner to see Rapunzel staring out the window frowning.

"Jack!" I heard Mr. Burke say. I glanced back at him. He sighed. "I know that it's almost the day of the dance and you're all dreaming about how it will go, but you have to get back to reality. Now Jack, how do you..."

Class went on with me trying to keep up, but always getting distracted. When the bell rang, everybody let out a sigh of relief. I rushed out of the classroom after Rapunzel and chased after her all the way to the commons.

"Rapunzel!"I called. She turned her smile dazzling.

She walked back to me, "Hey Jack I haven't seen you since Tuesday. It's been a long two days huh?" I smiled and nodded.

"Are you still going to the dance?" She asked.

"Yeah but I don't have a-" Arms circled me from behind and crushed me as I was about to speak.

"Jack!" An annoying voice screeched in my ear. Kelsey.

I shouldered her off, "Can't you look past your perfect self and see that I was talking to someone!"

She gaped at me, her brown hair shining, "You think I'm perfect!" She squealed. Rapunzel rolled her eyes and walked away. I tried to follow suit only pink claws were digging into my arm. "Wait! We need to color coordinate for the Gala tomorrow!" I stopped.

"But we aren't going with each other!" I shouted.

Kelsey huffed, "Well of course we are. I told the whole school. You know I'm thinking black, because it's so sexy and can be accented by any color..." I left then after Rapunzel, though she had disappeared. I stepped into the wintery world and spotted her opening her truck door.

"Hey! Rapunzel!" She started the old truck up and drove away from her parking spot. I ran to where she was driving and, without thinking, stopped in front of her. The tires squealed as they bit into the icy ground.

"What are you doing?" She yelled from the window.

My brain scrambled for a reason, "I... I need a ride."

She sighed and rolled her eyes but motioned for me to come. I smiled and tossed my bag into the truck and sat in the front seat.

She kept the music low but hummed to it. The windows were down, allowing her braided hair to flutter in the wind. I smiled as we drove along, this almost seemed magical. The soft glowing of the sun made her hair shine like a halo. She stopped her rusty truck on the curb, but made no move to get out.

"I need to study tonight," she sighed.

"In what class?" I asked

She gave me a dubious look, "Biology of course."

My eyes widened, "Crap."

Rapunzel laughs and tosses me a book, "We could study... together... you know." She tugs on her braid. I smile. That little movement made her look so much more... angelic. I guess.

"Sure."

We walk into the house and crack open those books. By the time we get to chapter 2, twenty pages from the first page, Rapunzel is asleep. I did not even notice until I heard a small snore. I chuckled at her position. One leg on the top of the couch, one leg on the arm, head upside down, and her arms all over the place.

I carefully wrap my arms around her waist so I can move her to a better position. When she looked comfortable enough, I finally moved away, allowing her to sleep. I moved onto a chair and study some more, quietly though. Yet it does not matter, because not ten minutes later did my phone ring, loudly. It shocked Rapunzel so much that she sat up, lost her balance, and fell off the bed.

"Ow!" She mumbled. I reached down and pulled her up.

"You okay?" I ask.

She rubbed her hand across her temple, "I'm fine, I just hit my head a little bit." I picked up my phone and checked the caller id. It was an unknown number. I sighed, "I better take this."

"You go on ahead," she says with a smile.

I walk out into the hall and press the talk button. The one person that I did not want to talk to, spoke up.

"Hey, Jack!" Kelsey. How'd she get my number?

"Um... hello?"

"I was just calling to see what you're doing. I get curious like that..." her voice kept droning on, boring to every end of my nerves. "So then I was walking through the tie section and everybody..." Does she ever get over herself?

Rapunzel must have decided to save me, "Hey, Jack! Where is the other science book?"

"Who is that?" Kelsey's voice dripped with suspicion.

I smirked and called over to Rapunzel, "I got it right here." To Kelsey, I said, "Somebody who needs me right now." I turned off the phone, interrupting Kelsey screaming, "What!"

I walked into the other room to see Rapunzel reading out of a textbook. I silently sigh at her. She just looks so perfect. I shake my head to clear it. Too bad, she doesn't feel the same about you.

Rapunzel

I wake up early to the buzz of my alarm. My head flings off the pillow. It's Friday, the day of the Gala. The juniors and seniors have only half a day to get ready for the overly swanky dance.

I groan, it's also the day of the unit test in biology. I fall back onto my bed. Everything that I read last night has flown out of my head.

One roll off the bed and I am getting ready for school. I get dressed into a white shirt, blue speckled skirt, and a gray beanie. I rush downstairs to grab a pop tart and my bags before racing to my truck. I thank the heavens when it starts.

"Rapunzel!" I hear a familiar voice. The white haired boy trots up, snow crunching. "School's out for a few hours, there was a power failure."

I look into those deep blue eyes, "But by the time school starts, we'll have to leave to get ready."

"Exactly," he smirks. He moves away as I repark my truck on the curb. "So what now?" I stretch my arms.

Jack sighs and ruffles his hair, "I have no clue."

"I haven't been to your house in a while."

Jack motions for me to come and we step into the house.

I have only been in a few times and it remains unchanged. Still untarnished and neat. No dirty dishes or stains anywhere. The room is a few degrees lower than regular room temperature. He leads me upstairs to his room, where, like the house, is spotless. His bed sheets were a light blue and the wood floors were bare. His desk had a computer and a few books and some photos. My eyes scanned the shelves where I saw dozens of trophies. I looked closer and saw a hokey stick and a puck with his name engraved on a plaque. I smiled at a picture of Jack with Manny on the ice in a hockey rink. I look at the walls and see bookshelves and a few hockey flags.

I giggle to see Jack leaning against the wall with a goofy smile on his face. He snaps out of it. My skirt ruffles as I sit in the desk chair.

After ten minutes of looking at his trophies, Jack leads me outside where he shows me his winter skills.

"Snowman contest... go!" I scramble to get snow and start rolling it. Before long, I have a five-foot tall snowman, though Jack's is better. His has a full face, arms, even legs! I have to say he won.

After that, we started a snowball fight. My screams and Jack's laughter brought all the neighborhood kids out and they started playing too. One kid, Jamie, I think, used his bobsled to shield himself from the snowballs. I laughed as I slipped and fell on my butt. The jeans that I had quickly changed into were wet and heavy and my beanie had fallen over my eyes.

When I pulled it up, I noticed everyone chasing after Jamie, who was on his bobsled and careening down the hill. Well, everyone except for Jack. We watched Jamie speed out of sight and all the other kids screaming and yelling behind him. I laughed and tried to get up, but ice is a slippery thing. I was able to get up into standing position (Finally) and Jack came closer. I also stepped forward, but my good friend, Ice, made me slip forward and fall into Jack's arms.

Unfortunately, he fell back too and we hit the earth, one on top of the other. He winces and I turn a bright red, I scramble away from him as fast as possible sit a few feet away from each other, snow cold and pricking at my skin.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. The text was from Merida, Got a date, some wimp who isn't that bad. I'll be over in five.

I stood up, "I have to go." Jack nodded staring at the ground. "I'll um... I'll see you tonight, right?"

He nodded again and I left, shivering in my wet clothes. When I got back to the house, Merida was already there.

"Where ya been?" She put a hand on her hip. "It's kind of the middle of winter." Merida's accent was thick today; she must've hung around with her parents.

"Sorry," I put my key in the lock. "I was with some kids." Merida follows me into the house, her red hair swishing. "We were having snowball fights then one of the kids slid onto his sled and went down a hill."

"It doesn't explain why ya're all wet," Merida says.

"I kind of slipped and fell, luckily Jack caught me," I smile. "But then we fell."

Merida quirks a brow, "Jack? Who's Jack?" Oh no.

"Uhh... nobody," I shuffle my feet.

Merida has an evil look in her eyes, "Ooh, Punzie, has her first crush! Ah can't believe et!" I groan.

I stare daggers at the red head, "He's not my first crush! Remember Flynn?"

"Oh yeah, tha' guy tha' you met a' th' club who was drunk and high?" Merida smirked. "Ah remember tha' he had broken up wi' his girlfriend and he was wi' you to make her mad."

I sighed and rolled my eyes, "Can we just start getting ready?"

She nodded and ran out the door to grab her dress. I went and got mine, still tucked in the garment bag to keep it safe.

"Close yeh're eyes," I obeyed. I hear the garment bag come off and hit the floor, and then I hear, "Open!" I open my eyes to see a beautiful dress in Merida's arms.

Her dress was probably knee length, with tattered edges, a gold color, and blue accenting. There was a pattern of a dragon. Her shoes were silver.

"Oh my God! It's beautiful!" I squealed in delight. "Okay close your eyes."

I stepped over to my garment bag. With a flourish, I unzipped the bag and out came my dress. Merida's eyes popped open and she looked at my dress.

I held it up higher and said, "I hope my blind date likes it."

Hey guys, I have been working on this all week so I feel really tired. I think I am going to go sleep. In addition, I kept the dress a secret so you can be left in suspense (In case that wasn't clear). Bye! Type to yah later!