In Another Lifetime

Chapter 11 - Never Growing Up

The alarm went off on Merida's phone.

"It's eleven o'clock!" she whispered to Rapunzel. Her eyes lit up in the light of the screen and they both jumped up, instinctively sorted out their hair (the main difference was that Rapunzel actually picked up a brush to try and tame it) and sneaked as quietly as they could outside. They knocked on the door three times and entered the boy's room.

"Well," Rapunzel whispered to Merida, "I know for certain now that I would never want to stay in a boy's rooms longer than a day." Merida nodded feverishly. Clothes were strewn everywhere, literally everywhere, and they'd only been there one day, if that. Merida did notice that Hiccup had attempted to clear his stuff up slightly, and she grinned.

"I'm glad you two actually wear pyjamas to bed," Merida said to the two boys sat on their beds, "my brothers just sleep in their underwear."

Jack was wearing entirely pale blue while Hiccup wore brown and green. The girls noticed the pair of them seemed more nervous than usual, but why?

"Cat got your tongue?" Merida joked. Hiccup blushed and looked at the floor. Merida sat down next to him.

"What's WRONG Hiccup?"

"Nothing..." Hiccup sighed and stared at the floor.

"Let's crack open these sweets!" Jack said, attempting to lighten the mood. It seemed to work too. A couple of bars of chocolate and a packet of Oreos later Rapunzel started giggling uncontrollably and Merida couldn't stop chortling. Even Hiccup seemed to losen up.

Midnight came and Jack whispered - "Time for a game."

Merida's stomach lurched as she realised what he meant.

"Merida, truth or dare?"

I hate life, she thought as she prepared herself for the worst.

"Dare."

Jack grinned.

"I dare you," he looked over at Hiccup who was trying to convey a message to him in rapid eyebrow wiggling, "to kiss Hiccup. For ten seconds."

"What?!" Merida panicked, "No - I want to forfeit!"

"No forfeits," Jack grinned evilly.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Nope!" Jack smiled. "Look, it could be over and done by now!"

"Fine!"

Merida moved closer to Hiccup, whose heart was beating at the speed of light. She took his face in her hands and pressed her lips against his. Whatever she had expected, it certainly wasn't this. His lips were warm and soft; they moulded against hers perfectly. She moved her head in sync with his - wait a second, was he kissing back? But she didn't have time to wait, because soon, all too soon, the ten seconds was up.

Merida pulled away, but didn't move too far from Hiccup. He was breathing heavily; trying to comprehend what had just happened. His head was whirling. Why did Jack do that? Then again, Merida was a good kisser... Wait, they had only just met. How could he feel so happy and content with a girl he barely knew, and why was he thinking this? He should be angry, upset, or confused right now. Not happy or relieved!

"Happy now?" Merida snarled at Jack, who merely smirked and said,

"Hiccup. Truth or dare?"

"... Truth?"

"If you had to go out with anyone in this room who would it be?"

"Pass."

"Not an option."

"Fine." Hiccup sighed and stared at the ground, desperately trying not to make eye contact.

"Merida - I guess..."

There was a small silence as Hiccup and Merida's faces went redder and redder.

"Right," Merida recovered herself quickly and turned to Jack. "Truth or dare?"

Jack smiled smugly and said in absolute confidence, "Truth."

"What's your favourite colour?" Hiccup gulped.

"What?!" Merida whisper-yelled at him, "What kind of a question is that?"

"I, I'm sorry, I panicked..." Hiccup stuttered, still beet red as Merida glared at him.

"It's blue," Jack grinned smugly.

"Rapunzel," Merida turned to face her. "Truth or dare?"

"... Um, dare?" Rapunzel wasn't sure.

Merida grinned before speaking.

"I dare you to kiss Jack."

"That's just copying!" Jack protested while blushing bright red.

"Doesn't matter," Merida grinned. "Come on!"

Rapunzel breathed hard, held Jack's shoulder and leaned in quickly. Their lips collided quickly and fiercely; a rush of the sun meeting snow. He seemed to melt into her touch; he felt weak in the wake of her. Rapunzel was slightly confused as to why he wasn't rejecting her, in fact, he seemed to be moving his lips in sync with hers! She thought she had had no chance with him! She drew away slowly, catching her breath. Jack was still blushing.

Merida and Hiccup felt like a little bit of dignity had been restored to them as they saw Jack and Rapunzel shuffling awkwardly. Merida grinned and reached for another Milky bar button.

"What's so funny?" Rapunzel looked up to see Merida's smiling face looking up at her. "What?"

Merida said nothing, just bit into the chocolate button, creating a perfect curved bite mark along it.

"Nothing," she said innocently.

Hiccup sniggered a little as he picked up a piece of Cadbury and grinned at Jack.

"What is it?" Jack asked as Hiccup tried to keep a straight face.

"Doesn't matter," Hiccup calmed down as he glanced at Merida and they both started giggling again.

"Fine," Jack and Punzie looked at each other, confused. "I don't want to have another round of this game to be honest."

"Really?" Merida grinned, "you seemed to be enjoying yourself last time!"