Chapter Thirty-Three: Flowers for a Ghost, and Thorns for the Living

RAPUNZEL(P.O.V)

I didn't leave my room for the first few weeks after the breakup. I went to school and returned to my room. With the acceptation of visiting Merida and Elsa a total of twice outside of school. Other than that my bedroom had adapted to my every need. I took the old microwave from the basement cleaned in at now it sat on my desk. My bathroom connected to my room had been well in uses with excessive bubble baths.

Id lived of junk food, Ramon noodles, school cafeteria food which was not healthy but I could care. I was grieving the loss of the love of my life. I know he's not dead but he might as well have been for I hadn't seen him once. He wasn't at school hadn't been appeared he dropped out. 

People pitied. Guys the dick kind suddenly were convinced I was free game. Since Eugene wasn't there any longer there was no looming intimidation to keep procures at bay. I wasn't the prettiest girl in school and I certainly wasn't the hottest. But I legs and boobs so I was therefore a possible hookup. 

Jeremy was the only one I allowed in my room and that was simply because he could pick the lock and get in if he wanted to. My walls ran out of places to paint and every other paintable surface had been covered. My canvases had all been used. Id used most of my paint I'd ran out of white and black two days before and red and yellow was at its limited. I only had half my shades of the purple left and my violent brush strokes had snapped seven of my wide tip paint brushes.

I had began to paint Jeremy's converse with fabric paint as we sat of the floor across from each other his feet in my lap, "Rap," he said after a half an hour of silence we hadn't talked much in the last few weeks his presences was often constant but his words rarely present. I couldn't push all the blame on him I hadn't attempted communication. 

"Hmm?" I hummed concentrating on my brush strokes painting a soft orange flower on the heel of his right foots shoe

"How'd you know?" He asked.

I raised an eyebrow to my little thirteen year old brother, "Know what?"

"That you loved Rider?" he question his head leaning against the doors of my closet. 

I froze for only a moment. A soft smile formed on my face at the thought of the early days of me and Eugene, "I don't know its weird...love I mean its hard to describe it just happens I guess, not suddenly your feelings grow over time of course what I mean is it wasn't a single particular moment that made me know I loved him it kind of like a feeling that I always had in me for him that simply grew but I guess it might have been the first time he smiled at me or maybe it was when he first twirled his finger in my hair knotting it for his own amusement."

I finished with a sigh,my eyes watering slightly but I pushed down my tears I had cried enough. Finishing the flower I started to draw the stem and leaves. Jeremy remained quiet for a moment staring off into the distance.

"Why do you ask?" I questioned. He shifted uncomfortably pulling his feet from my lap to pull his knees into his chest. 

"No reason," he says.

"Is this about a girl?" I smirked teasing. He looked at me hurt almost his eyes watering. I loose all playfulness turning concerned, "What's wrong I was just teasing I'm not making fun of you."

He shifts away from me more, "I know, I'm sorry I'm just overreacting just forget it Rapunzel."

"You can talk to me about anything you know that right Jeremy?" I asked quietly.

"Yeah, I know."

The silence was thick and awkward. I felt at fault for it somehow. What had I said? I didn't mean to hurt his feelings. Frowning I pushed aside my fabric paint. Slowly I stood up stretching. I needed out of this room. Pulling my long hair into a ponytail I reached for my keys.

"Come on," I said, "Seems like we both need a distraction lets go get some hot chocolate."

"What about the others?" he questions.

"Will bring them back something," with that I slipped on some boots and a coat over my hoodie. I knew I looked like a bum in sweat pants and everything but I didn't care. Standing up Jeremy began to head to his room to gather his coat. I didn't take my time to gather my purse and make my way to the garage. 

If my siblings were surprised to see me out of my room they didn't say anything. In fact they all continued like everything was normal. I appreciated that even Willow who had been knocking on my door like a younger version of Anna everyday for the last few weeks pretended like she hadn't noticed my absence from the outside world. But that could have been her trying to keep attention away from her as she stole cookies from the plate on the table that had a note in Moms writing that said 'do not touch'.

"Me and Jerm are taking a ride be back soon call me if you need anything," I said to the others.

They all muttered something all together variations of acknowledgement of what I said: 'Okays' and 'Whatever's' mostly. Jeremy caught up with me as I was starting the car. He slid in next to me rambling about some video game in a attempt to draw tension from our previous conversation. 

I let the car warm up while I tried to find a decent station we could both agree on.  I know what you're thinking something's wrong. And of course I know this too. I could see it in his eyes he had a secret. I know this because I've had the same look in my eyes for years.

The look of holding back something from the world. A part of you that you fear would hurt others more than it would hurt you by keeping it to yourself.

Like keeping your horrible day to yourself to prevent others from enduring your misery as well. Only this was on a larger scale. This wasn't just one day just wasn't a few hours. This wasn't a holding back of negativity or the avoidance of a painful discussion.

This is hiding yourself to prevent conflict, to stop unwanted attention, to avoid change, and dodge consequence. The drive to the small café was short and uneventful but when we pulled up all of Jeremy's rambles turned to silences as we stopped preparing to exit tension returned to his shoulders. I frowned.

"What?" I asked softly. I followed his gaze to the window of the Lucky Cat Café. I could see Aunt Cass serving tables and Hiro sitting with his friends doing homework. And a handful of others people from all ages. 

It only took a moment to find what (or in this case whom) he was looking at. In a small booth to the right of Hiro's group was a couple. A boy and girl around Jeremys age smiling at each other both holding packets of paper in hands.

"You know them?" I asked.

Jeremy bowed his head shrugging slightly, "Kind of, were in drama club together."

I raised and eyebrow, "I didn't know you where in drama."

He shrugged again, "It just started, the school musical is coming up and they need the help, and I've got nothing better to do and.."

"Hey, you don't have to explain yourself to me," I said, "I think its great, I love theater! What's the musical?"

"West Side Story," He declares, "Of courses our drama teacher Mr. Lumiere likes to put his own spin of things despite Vice Principal Clogsworth protest but Principal Potts quite likes the idea."

"What idea?" I asked.

"To put a more modern spin on things as well as opening any part to any boy, girl, or nonbinary, also a lot of the new spin idea's are coming from the students, he's kind of leaving it to the drama club to pull off the production," he explained, "Parts haven't been casted and auditions are next Wednesday, those to are going for Maria and Tony except they want to do a more of a gender bend so Lily the girl she's going for the part of Tony while Dylan is going for the part of Maria and if it works Tony will become Toni and Maria will become Mariano."

"That sound like it might be a little complicated but I'm sure Lumiere could pull it off if the two get the part, what role are you auditioning for?" I questioned.

"I don't think I'm going to audition," He tells me softly, "I'm not exactly a good singer, I think I'm just going to stick to the lights and sound crews probably help in construction. "

I frowned, "Aw come on! I think your a wonderful singer and I think you'd be really good at any of the parts."

He shook his head and got out the car. Sighing I followed, we made it inside without exchanging dialogue. Cass greeted us and Hiro sent a wave in our direction. Jeremy kept his head down and his body angled away from his drama class peers. 

"Hey, Merida isn't here," Cass tells me.

"Oh, that's okay I'm here for a pick me up anyway, can I have a hot chocolate and a vanilla strawberry filled cupcake?" I ordered.

"Of course," She said. 

"What would you like Jeremy?" I asked turning my attention to the young teen who's eyes were at the two drama students table, "Jerm?"

He snapped his attention back to me a slight blush on his cheeks. I smirked so this was his crush, "Oh..Um hot chocolate and uh like the biggest slice of pie you can give me."

"What kind?" Cass asked.

"Uh cherry," he muttered his cheeks still pink and his eyes facing the floor once again. 

Hiro noticing us in the café waved and I returned the jester. Cass handed ups our orders and I made my way to the closes table to Jeremy's peers I could but also closes enough to Hiro's group so I could exchanged greetings and small talk. 

Jeremy unhappy with my choice of seating sat angled with his back towards the girl and boy whos names I forgot already, "Merida seemed pretty upset when she left have you heard from her?" Hiro asked me.

"No," I said, "But I'm sure she's fine, she's got a lot going on probably need some time plus she needs to get out and breathe you know? I'll call her in a bit to check up okay."

Hiro nodded and I looked to Jeremy who had eaten most of his pie in the few moments we'd been sitting. He had crumbs on his chin and a smug of cherry sauce on his nose. Before I could tell him the boy Dylan? I think his name was called out.

"Hey Props!" he said and Jeremy tensed and flustered. 

The boy and girl had turned there attention to Jeremy smiles on there faces, "Props?" I repeated. Jeremy glared at me to drop it. 

"Hey," Jeremy sputter. Dylan and Lily were now standing at our table. 

"We were just talking about you!" Lily chirped. 

"You where?" Jeremy squeaked.

"uh.." Dylan muttered.

"Yes, mind if we join you to?" Lily asked. I nodded and the two young ones took a seat Dylan next to Jeremy and Lily near me separating us boys and girls, "We were talking and we think you'd make a great Riff it be perfect!"

"No I'm not much of a performer," Jeremy says. 

"Aw Props of course you are, you did awesome during monologue's and when we play drama games your a natural at acting!" Dylan declared, He nudged Jeremy slightly his face turning even more crimson at being praised.

"I..." Jeremy looked at me for help.

"Props?" I asked, "Sorry to interrupted but I've got to know?"

Jeremy glared hard at me and I gave him a look that said 'you wanted my help this is me helping'. "Funny story!" Lily piped.

"See our teacher Lumiere likes to have us play this game where we act a scene using other people as props like a door or a wheelbarrow even a clock or candle holder!" Dylan explains.

"And Props right here is the best he can be anything! He was labeled Prince of Props of in drama club! By Lumiere himself," Lily tell me.

"So the nickname Props stuck," Dylan finishes.

"That's so cool!" I gush, "Aw Jeremy you never told me that! Oh how rude of me I haven't introduced myself im Rapunzel Jeremys sister!"

"We know your sort of a legend to us theater kids you where leading roles your whole middle school career Lumiere still brags about you!" Lily hypes, "Im Lily and this is my best friend Dylan!"

"Its nice to meet friends of Jeremy's" I say. The next hour was spent talking about the up coming production and Lily demanding acting advice. Dylan and Jeremy took turns telling stories about on another in attempt to see how red there faces could get. 

Lily and Dylan had to leave eventually and by then it was time for me and Jeremy to get home. I stopped ordering some stuff for the others at home before we got in the car and began back home.

"So that Lily was lovely," I prompt.

Jeremy frowned, "Can we not talk about this."

"Okay, I just want you to know you can always come to me for advise I've had crushes not to mention I am a girl so I know a few things about-"

"I don't like Lily!" Jeremy exclaimed, "I mean not like that! She's pretty I guess and she's nice but she's...she's not my type."

"Oh.." I said before it finally hit me, "Oh!"

At this point we were in the garage and Jeremy's eyes were brimming. He jumped out the car quickly before I could say a thing and then he was gone. I sat there quietly for a moment feeling tears brim at how much i'd messed up.

"Oh."

ELSA(P.O.V)

The park we pulled up to was beautiful a lake frozen over sat next to it. Nobody was on it but there were still scratches from skates to show it was usually populated with people skating. The kids jumped out the car and rushing to the trunk which Jack popped open from the front.

"Ever been skating?" Jack asked. 

"Huh, once or twice," I admit.

"Good I brought extra skates I think you can fit into my old pair," he says and before I could say anything he was out the car. I followed slowly. It was way to early for this but Jacks eyes sparkled as he helped grab some skates and pulled me to the lake.

"Is it thick enough?" I asked as the kids sat on a near by bench to slip on skates. The twins helped Sophie and Olaf put on the skates, and pads Olafs being a extra pair of Sophies judging by the sparkles.

"Yes," he says, "trust me I know I wouldn't let them anywhere near if it wasn't."

He then handed me a pair of skates they looked a bit big but they would work. Taking a seat on another bench we changed are shoes. Jack had a smile on his face while he occasionally nudged me to hurry up.

Jack was the first on the ice followed by a stumbling Sophie and Olaf who sat more than standing as the slid on the slick surface. The twins were next Emma sliding much better than Jamie. I smiled softly stepping lightly on the ice. I knew how to skate I wasn't the best by any means but I was relatively okay at it. 

It been years since I touched ice like this and the skates I were wearing were quite dull. Being so out of practice I nearly fell as soon as I began to move. Jack grabbed my elbow steadying me. I laughed and he grinned so wide it must have hurt. 

After a moment or so he let his hand fall and I entwined our fingers. Together we shuffled forward the ice scratching under our feet. Sophie fell into a bundle of limbs with Olaf both squealing. The twins laughed helping them to there feet one again. Sophie of course took Jamie down as soon as she was upright her brother loosing his balance and hitting his bum on the ice. 

Emma snorted. An Jack huffed affectionally and I looked at him as the first snowflake touched his nose as it fell from above. I loved him. I felt so sick in a good way. He locked eyes with me and it was like all the cliché moves yet it wasn't. I felt the sparks and the butterflies but not his lips because he did not kiss me. 

He just smile and tighten his fingers. "You okay," he asked.

I was already pink from the cold so the blush wasn't noticed, "I feel like I should be asking you that," I blurted.

He averted his eyes, and replied looking at something invisible to my eye, "I'm good Elsa."

"You sure, you've been off," I state.

"Its...today...its-" He starts.

"Angel," Sophie cried, "Were the fishes go when its cold?"

She had skated her way to us her fingers lacing into my clothes to keep herself upright. Looking down at her I couldn't possible be upset about her interruption. "There still there, just under the ice," I tell her and she blinks looking down.

"Poor fishes," she looks like she wants to cry.

"There no reason to be sad there okay," I tell her.

"But there trapped and they must be cold," she declares.

"No there not trapped darling the pond is their home they like it here and there just fine," I tell her softly.

"Promise?" she squeaks.

"Promise," I agreed.

"Skate with me pleeeeassee!" she begs.

Looking at Jack he gives a smile and a nodded, "Go on I skate way better without a Evil Queen anyway," he jokes.

Sticking my tongue out at him I release his hand and take Sophie's hand and skate away. My heart flutters as I feel his eyes watching me go. We skate until our feet hurt. I skate with Olaf after Sophie then both the twins and at the end we all decide to hold hands and attempt to skate all together.

We all end up on our butts giggling and cold. By the time we make it back to the car our faces our chapped and our legs and fingers are numb. Jack waste no time turning the heat on full blast and we all sit waiting for the car to war up. Sophie and Jamie start a game of who can poke the other the hardest. While Olaf watches giggling and Emma rolls her eyes and starts playing a game on her phone. 

"So where to next?" I asked breathless.

"I'd like you to introduce you to someone," Jack replies.

--

I understand the flowers. The floral assortment is delicately set upon a fresh sheet of snow propped against a soft marble tomb stone. Jack wipes the frost off the name of his mother. "Mom I'd like to introduce you to someone very important."

He held his hand out to me and I felt the tears fill my eyes. Every thought in my head seconds before halted becoming quiet leaving me feel empty and heavy all at the same time. With air trapped in my lungs I accepted his hand and sunk to my knees next to him the snow soaking through the thin material of my clothes.

"Mom this is Elsa," he says, "The one Ive told you about, Elsa I'd like you to meet my mom."

The air exited my lungs and I watched a tear fall down Jacks cheek. Emma sunk down on the other side of her brother Jamie stood behind her and Sophie climb onto Emma's lap. Olaf snuggled into my side obviously unsure.

"Its a honor to meet you Mrs. Frost."

 I understood who the flowers where for and I knew what today had to be. Craved in stone was the name Jemma Luna Frost. Her date of birth and death just below. Loving mother and wife. A daughter and a friend. 

I felt something cold and wet on my face for a moment I thought it was snow but I realized rather quickly that it was my own tears, "She would have loved you," Jack whispered.

I didn't reply right away. I could see my breath now and the sun was casting orange and pink rays of light a crossed the earth. "I know I would have loved her to," I finally said, I looked at Jack who looked a me through sad eyes. Because I love you.

(A/N: So yeah happy pride month and all! Sorry its short and not very good im just busy with life its no excuse but I am trying Im sorry.)

-Skye