Snowflakes Fall and So Did I

~CHAPTER 83~

~Flynn~

I fucked up. Like majorly. Here I am, not single (but probably will be soon because of how badly I messed up), on Valentine's Day, and I forgot to get Rapunzel a gift. If I didn't have a late-night "task", I most definitely would have remembered, but I didn't get back to the orphanage until three in the morning. I was planning on stopping by somewhere before school started, but I slept in later than intended. Luckily, I wasn't late, but unlikely, I wasn't able to get her flowers and chocolates.

I had a feeling she was going to get me something, but I was so praying she wouldn't, cuz I felt so bad. But once I realized it was a gift card with $200, the perfect idea came to mind! I'll buy her something with her own money. Well, really, it's technically mine since she gave it to me. Ugh, it doesn't matter. What matters is that I actually paid for her gifts. I doubt she would have wanted me to steal them.

So now here I am, being escorted by her mother, to her daughter's room. Yeah, talk about awkward, but I'd rather Mrs. Corona than her husband. Which I almost had, but Mrs. Corona took over. Thank God.

"Alright, here we are," Mrs. Corona says with a smile. "And don't worry, I won't spy. I'll give you two privacy, but the door stays open. I like you, Flynn, but not enough to where I want you alone with my daughter in her room. As soon as that door closes, I'll know. And trust me, a mother knows." She gives me a warning look, and I blush under her stare.

"Yes, ma'am," I say, holding back a smirk. Because unbeknownst to her, I've been in Rapunzel's room a few times already, and nothing she is suggesting has ever been done. I am an honorable man. Well...sort of. When it comes to relations, I certainly am. "Your daughter's innocence will not be tampered with."

She bursts into laughter while I feel my face melt off. Oh god, why did I say that?! It's a good thing she's laughing. "Oh, Flynn, it's not Rapunzel I'm worried about."

Pardon?!

She pats my shoulder while I stand there, a stammering, flustered fool. "I'm going to leave now," and with that, she left, and while I do like her, I was so happy that she was gone. Talk about embarrassing. But I don't know who should be more embarrassed. Me or Rapunzel if I tell her. Ha, she'll be mortified and probably die. I can't do that to her. Although her blushing face will totally be worth it.

I walk over to the edge of Rapunzel's bed and sit down. Rapunzel's room, while it's definitely girly, is so goddamn cool too. Her walls are painted with mural-like images created by herself, and she has one of those fairytale canopy curtains hanging from her bed. It's very whimsical; princessy. Minus her creepy-looking frog, though. Speaking of which...

I set her flowers and chocolates to the side and get up to see Pascal in his tank. He's pretty fat for a frog. Or was it a lizard? Meh doesn't matter. He's green and fat and creepy. Currently, he's eating on a bug and staring at me, unblinking. But I swear, sometimes I feel he's glaring at me like a human. "Hey," I gently tap on the glass. "You are creepy. Creepy, I say!"

"Says the guy talking to a chameleon," says Rapunzel behind me, giggling, and making me jump (and yelp like a scaredy cat). I whirl around and see her standing in her doorway, looking beautiful as always. Her hair is braided, like usual, but she has flowers in it, red and pink and white roses. Roses I could not find earlier today. Luckily for me, Rapunzel's favorite flowers aren't roses, and I'm even luckier that I found a bouquet of them.

"Oh, Mama! You cannot be sneaking up on people like that," I put my hands on my hips and tilted over, being dramatic now. "Could have given me a heart attack."

Rapunzel giggles again and closes the door behind her, jolting my heart even more. "Ah, actually, you should probably keep that open. Mother said so."

Rapunzel rolls her eyes. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're scared of my mom? It's my dad you need to be more worried about."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that. A mother knows, Rapunzel. A mother knows. Plus, your dad is currently under the same roof, so please open that door."

Rapunzel is laughing again, but does as I ask. "Okay, okay. You really are a scaredy cat." She opened the door, while I took offense.

"I am not," I defend. "I just think we need to be respectful. That's all."

"Uh-huh. Sure," she says, walking up to me. "So, what's up? Why did you want to see me before heading down to the party? And where have you been? You left early today." In a lower tone, she asks: "Was it gang-related stuff?"

I crack a smile and reach for her hands to hold. "Thankfully, it wasn't. I actually left to get you what you rightfully deserve." I turn her body, so she faces her bed, and when she sees the flowers, chocolates, and stuffed teddy bear, she gasps.

"Flynn," She breathes, "You got me gifts." She turns around and smiles up at me brightly. So bright, I melted at the sight. "Thank you! I admit," she laughs, sheepishly. "I was a little upset today at not getting anything. Was this your plan all along? A secret surprise?"

This time, I'm chuckling nervously. "Uh, no, not really. It wasn't until you gave me the gift card that I knew exactly what I wanted to spend my money on."

Rapunzel's jaw drops, and she gently smacks my chest. "Eugene–"

"Hey, no need for the legal name now–"

"That money was for you only." She says, staring at me with those green apple eyes I can't help but get lost in. It's a struggle to focus every damn time I dare stare into them. She could get away with so much with those eyes. I mean, hell, it was because of those damn eyes that I ended up telling her the truth about myself. Those damn eyes, and lips, and freckles, and hair. God, all that hair.

Hair that she literally tied me up with.

I thought her knocking me out with a frying pan was the most craziest time of my life, but nope. It was that moment right there. To have hair so long and thick that you're able to tie someone up and still remain a good distance away is honestly like a superpower.

But now that I'm thinking about it, the craziest night of my life actually goes to the night I had unintentionally helped aid in Hans's kidnapping. He's got to be dead. I've tried bringing him up to the Stabbington Bros, but they told me it's best not to ask questions. I didn't dare ask another. I'm pretty ornery with them, but I know my limits.

"You shouldn't have done that." Rapunzel continues. "I wanted you to use that for yourself."

I put my hands on her hips and gently bring her forward. I noticed the way her eyes slightly widened at my action and how she quickly tried to play it cool by keeping her face stern. But I saw it, the little slip-up. And oh, how my ego is loving it. "Last I checked, once you give someone a gift, it's theirs to do whatever they please with. And what I wanted was to give you flowers and chocolates and a stuffed bear like every other girl in school. I felt so bad–"

She puts a finger on my lips to silence me. "Just shut up and kiss me already."

Hot.

Grinning, I say: "Yes, ma'am."

And right when our lips were about to touch–literally right that very second--Astrid decides to burst into the room.

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AN: Ugh I hate that this is so short, but it felt right to end it right there. Hehehe ^_^