Rapunzel ♔ n.h.

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

He saw me.

Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no.

If Mother finds out about this I will be in so much trouble. She would for sure never let me leave.

"Excuse me?" I feel my breath stop when the man shouts up at the tower. "I know you're there!"

"This is what Mother has been trying to protect me from. She's been protecting me from these evil men from the village."

"But he doesn't look evil."

"Stop it Rapunzel."

"Admit it's true!"

Did I mention that when you're alone all day every day you start talking to yourself? No? Well you do.

"Please come outside. I won't hurt you." The man continues to shout up to me.

I decide to agree with the part of me that doesn't think he's evil and cautiously open the doors and step out from the shadows.

"Excuse me, young maiden, but why are you inside this tower?" He shouts but I don't answer.

"My bad," I hear him mumble. "My name is Niall Horan." I still don't answer. "What's your name?"

"Rapunzel." I say with a sudden boost of confidence.

"Well Rapunzel, may I ask why you're in this old tower?" Do I tell him? No I can't. If I say to protect me he'll surely never leave me alone.

"That is none of your business." I gulp. Hopefully he didn't see that.

"That's too bad," he smiles. "I wanted to play hero for the day and rescue the beautiful princess from the tower." Did he just call me beautiful?

"Would you like some company Rapunzel?" he adds.

Would I? It is my birthday as I've said millions of times today. He doesn't seem evil either. I'm 18 now. I can fend for myself. Right?

"No." My mouth betrays me and I'm sure frustration is written fresh across my face.

"Some other day then." he smiles and mounts his horse. "Until next time Rapunzel."

I watch the stranger ride off. What does he mean 'next time?' He's probably just trying to be nice. Who would want to come meet a girl who's never had a proper conversation with anyone other than her mum.

Yet I can't help but feel my insides warm at the thought that someone actually wants to talk to me. To hang around me.

But why would the man- Niall want to? What's so great about me?

When I can no longer see Niall or his horse, I look in the direction of the village. We're close enough that I'm able to see the turrets on the top of the castle. Right now I can see the smoke rising which is usually my sign to start cooking dinner as Mother will be home soon.

I scurry into the kitchen type of room. It's not quite a kitchen you see because it has a small wooden table that I use as a cutting board, an oven/stove top, an old sink and a crate Mother fills with ice to keep things cold.

My favorite meal is quite a simple one so I think I'll make it. I can call it my birthday dinner.

My favorite is spaghetti made by one of the shop owners in the village with diced tomatoes and, if we have it, cheese that I've chopped up into very small pieces. Mother doesn't like this as much as I do so hopefully she'll let it slide today. I don't feel like making anything complicated. I really just want to go to bed but I must wait to let Mother up before even thinking of something like that.