Young and Beautiful (jackunzel)

Chapter Nine

    "Isn't it strange though?" Rapunzel asked after biting into her sandwich.

"I think I'm used to it by now. Why did your mother want medicine?" He shifted uncomfortably on the small blanket that lay beneath them, hiding a section of the hard floor.

"She wasn't feeling that well....why are you changing the subject?" Jack only smiled. He loved how forward she was with him. Around Gothel Rapunzel had a sudden shy streak, always mumbling and looking away. It made him proud that she acted in this way towards him and him only.

"I'm not changing the subject, I was concerned that's all." It was her turn to smile, thinking Jacks sarcasm was serious. She had thought he disliked her mother, but maybe she was wrong.

"I just...not existing is kind of hard. Out of all the people I've brought blizzards and snow days to...only you have seen me after all that."

"Isn't that enough?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well," she placed her sandwich down on the picnic blanket.

"Isn't me seeing you enough?"

"Oh." Jack fiddled with the sleeves of his hoodie, willing them to be longer so he could just crawl right into them. She looked so innocent. Full lips parted and wide eyes green and staring. He couldn't find the right response.

"Of course...but having people appreciate me would be nice. To have people believe."

"But Jack, I appreciate you." He simply smiled again, running his thumb along her lower pouted lip. She didn't understand how lonely he was.

"I don't have anyone other than mother and you. You exist as a myth at least. Nobody knows about me."

"But Rapunzel," he mocked, resting a hand on her knee.

"I know you exist." She batted him away.

"Maybe it doesn't matter. At least were here, at least were not dead." Jack huffed.

"What? There can't be anything worse than being dead can there?"

His smile wasn't happy anymore, there was no sparkling teeth, no gleam in his eye. It looked serious and sad at the same time.

"There's only one thing worse than being dead Rapunzel."

"What?" She questioned.

"Being alive."

"..and then he went flying! Straight into the air, and I swear time slowed down. Just for that second. He loved it, it was amazing. And his friends? They were so excited! They started to-" Rapunzel leaned back while she listened to Jack speak of his winter tales. Watching him talk about a thing he loved -which was mostly bringing fun days to kids- was relaxing and exhilarating. He seemed to change somehow, eyes sparkling more than usual, smile wide and misplaced. Even his laugh was louder and had more cheer behind it. Well, more than usual anyways.

"...right through me. Didn't even notice me after all the fun we had." Rapunzel snapped back to attention as he stopped talking, feeling bad that she seemed to be more interested in the way he acted when he was excited instead of listening to the story that thrilled him so.

"Oh um-"

"Sorry I shouldn't have said that part. But really, Jamie cared more about the tooth fairy than a once in a life time snow day?"

"The tooth fairy? I knew she was real! Mother said she wasn't but I knew."

"What else did your mother say about things not being real?" Jack inquired, leaning closer.