Once Upon a Time

Chapter 44

Hope walked through the castle with a book in her hands, not paying attention to whatever was going on around her. When Hope looked up for the first time she saw Finn walking into the ballroom with his mother. Hope fast hid behind one of the pillars and pressed her book tightly against her.

‘I don’t know what to do.’ Hope heard Finn say desperately.

‘Honey it will be fine.’ Rapunzel said.

‘I don’t know about that one, she won’t even look at me and she’s avoiding me all the time.’ Finn said.

‘She’ll come around.’ Rapunzel said.

‘It’s been a week mom.’ Finn said.

‘I know, she needs time to let everything sink in.’ Rapunzel said.

‘I know and I give her as much time as she wants.’ Finn said.

Hope frowned.

‘I’m just- I don’t know, I feel so horrible.’ Finn said.

‘Love has his good sides, but also his really nasty sides.’ Rapunzel said.

‘I thought that when I would meet the one it would be easy and wonderful.’ Finn said.

The one?

‘It’ll be alright. Honey it’s true love the love experts said it, much to your father’s pleasure. The love experts are always right. You saw it with Anna and Kristoff, it started the same as with you. They were sort of friends, and you’re even best friends, Anna was even engaged to that stupid little dipshit.’ Rapunzel said.

‘Hans.’ Finn said.

‘Yes.’ Rapunzel said.

‘You know that Jace will propose to Hope in a week now right?’ Finn said.

‘What!’ Hope said, then covering her mouth with her hand.

‘How can he propose when they’re so far apart from each other?’ Rapunzel said.

‘I don’t know, but if he was planning to propose in two weeks and she isn’t there to propose to, then he’ll do it the moment she walks through his door.’ Finn said.

‘I can’t see her marrying another guy.’ Finn said.

‘Don’t worry, I don’t even think Hope wants to get married, she’s only 17. In the world she comes from they’re marrying on an older age. She told me she would want to get married after 25.’ Rapunzel said.

‘I want her to be happy, with me nearby and the information she has now. She won’t want to see me ever again. I don’t want to stand her happiness in the way, because that’s the most important thing in the world for me, so I’ll leave.’ Finn said.

Hope sucked in her breath. She wanted to say to him that he didn’t have to leave, but she was frozen.

‘Don’t run from your problems Finn.’ Rapunzel said.

Hope bit her lip.

‘Honey please.’ Rapunzel said.

‘Mom I love her. I would do anything for her, even if it means leaving and staying far away from her.’ Finn said.

Hope tasted the metallic taste of blood and when she lifted her hand up and put her finger against her lip she noticed her lip was bleeding.

Fudge.

‘Finn, just wait.’ Rapunzel said.

I can’t hear any more of this. This has to end.