The Big Five- Lemonade Mouth AU

Dry Times

Rapunzel

"Rapunzel, dear, are you ready to leave?" Mom called from the kitchen. I hastily shoved the Lemonade Mouth sheet music Elsa had emailed me last night, thinking the voice had come from right behind  me. When I realized it hadn't, I exhaled. "Rapunzel!" I grabbed my things and headed to the kitchen after the second screech.

Before we left, Mom stopped her and took out a small, flat box.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Well, your progress report came in today." My heart did a little leap. "I'm so proud you've kept up your straight A's! So I thought I'd get you a little gift at the jewelry store yesterday." I clicked the box open and grinned at a sparkly little bracelet snuggled inside, silver navette stones hanging from its gold and red chain.

"Oh, Mother, you didn't have to do that!" Mom shook her head and cupped my face.

"Darling, I know I'm hard on you. But it's only because I want what's best for you. Thought I'd remind you of that." My heart filled up.

"Thanks."

* * *
I fidgeted with the bracelet throughout the day, unable to stop. It was the nicest gift I'd ever gotten from my mother that wasn't for my birthday or Christmas. I couldn't help but put an extra bounce in my step.

I wasn't talking to Eugene much, considering he had answered all of my texts with a single "got band practice." His ego was starting to annoy me, so I went to my fourth period without waiting for him.

I despised gym. Not because of the physical activity, oh no, but because I had to do it all inside, with tightly laced sneakers on.
I changed in the locker room, sliding the new bracelet off carefully and setting it down inside my locker. Then I left to go play a demonic version of dodgeball.

Later, as I left for lunch, I realized something.

My bracelet was gone.

I went back to check my gym locker, in case I had left it there, but found nothing. I searched my bag and pockets, coming up empty. I retraced my steps. Nothing.

"I can't believe I did this," I whispered to myself, frantically pacing the hallway in front of the cafeteria. "Mom's gonna kill me." I heard footsteps behind me so I moved out of the way. To my surprise, however, they stopped next to me. I turned around and held back a groan.

The Stabbington brothers, Bart and Alex, leaned against the wall casually.

"Hey, Rapunzel, have you seen the new screens in the cafeteria?" Bart asked. His scarred eye was wide in innocence.

"What? Scr--you guys, I'm not in the mood. What's this about?"

Alex shrugged. "They're really cool. Eugene said you'd like 'em." He motioned for me to follow.

Suspicious but curious, I followed the two gingers. Maybe I could go to the lost and found while I was there.

The senior and the junior led me to the edge of the lunch room where Eugene usually sat and where one of the screens hung.

I froze in her tracks when she saw Eugene.

He was sitting at a table next to Vanessa, laughing at something she had said. And he was clasping a silver and gold bracelet around her thin wrist.

My heart fell to the floor. I knew it was my bracelet, and I knew I had to get of there.

Eugene suddenly looked up. He made eye contact, surprise etched on his handsome face. I shot him a glare to rival my mother's. I put every familial frustration, every small insecurity, and every condescending remark I could think up into that glare. Then I shoved past Alex and Bart and ran out the front doors, ignoring my name shouted.

It didn't matter if he didn't know it was my bracelet. It didn't matter if the Stabbington brothers had planned all this. Because he had still given Vanessa a smile I had thought was meant for me.

Tears tingled behind my nose. On my way out, I slammed into two bodies.

"Rapunzel? What's wrong?" I had never been so happy to hear
Merida's Scottish brogue. I just shook her head, letting the tears come. Only then could I tell it was Merida and Hiccup standing in front of me.

"Come on. Let's get you out of here," Merida whispered.

Hey guys. remember me? Welp I'm alive