Romance Fan Fiction / Other Fan Fiction ❯ Stars Above - A Cassunzel Fanfic ❯ Chapter 3: Picture Perfect ( Chapter 3 )

Cassandra groaned as the sunlight hit her directly in the face. She placed her arm over her eyes and tried to turn the other way. When that didn’t work, she decided to get up and seize the day. Groggily, she slowly opened her eyes and quickly realized she wasn’t in her room. She wasn’t in her bed. She sat quickly in a panic and looked around then immediately relaxed upon realizing it was Rapunzel’s room. Right, she slept in Rapunzel’s room last night. She took a relieved breath. Then just like that, her panic quickly came pouring back. She SLEPT in RAPUNZEL’s room. WITH Rapunzel. It wasn’t the first time she slept in the princess’s room. When Cassandra was Rapunzel’s lady-in-waiting, in the beginning, she would sleep next to the princess when she was having ongoing nightmares about her time in the tower with her abductor whom she called “mother”. But this was the first time she slept in Rapunzel’s room KNOWING the feelings she had for her. But it wasn’t suspicious, right? Rapunzel was her best friend, after all. And she hadn’t seen her in 4 years. It was completely normal having the princess sleep in your arms, in your embrace, for an entire night. Right? Right.

It didn’t take long to realize she was alone in Rapunzel’s room. In Rapunzel’s bed. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and quickly stood up. If she was quick, she could get out of there before-

“Morning Cass!”

Never mind.

Rapunzel stood in the doorway of her bedroom with a blinding smile. Cassandra noticed that her hair was all messy and she looked tired and out of breath. Her dress was covered in dirt and grime. Cassandra looked her up and down then quirked an eyebrow.

“You sure you don’t need another lady-in-waiting?” She teased.

Rapunzel let out a breathless laugh as she stumbled in the room and sat on the bed. “I’m not usually this.. messy.”

“Mhm, sure.”

“Really, I’m not!”

“Alright, alright,” Cassandra sighed and sat next to her friend. “What gives then?”

Rapunzel started fidgeting with her hands and avoided Cassandra’s eye contact. Something she always did when she was nervous. Or when she was about to ask something. “Well.. I was supposed to paint a portrait of someone for a contest I entered. I got so overwhelmed with your return and other princess duties that I completely forgot about it! I was supposed to submit it by the end of the day. But I forgot to ask someone! I tried asking around but it was last minute so no one was available to do it. Soo... I was wondering if-”

“If I could be your model?” Cassandra raised an eyebrow as Rapunzel slowly nodded. Rapunzel gave her the puppy dog look and dammit she knew she was screwed because whenever Rapunzel gave her that look, she couldn’t resist. “Fine.” Cassandra finally sighed.

Rapunzel’s face lit up. “Really?” Cassandra could only nod before Rapunzel threw herself at Cassandra and forced her into a bone-crushing hug. Then just as soon as she did it, Rapunzel pulled back and with renewed energy, grabbed a canvas, paintbrushes and her paints and stopped in front of the door. “What are you waiting for? Come on, slow poke!” Then she rushed out the door. Cassandra sighed and shook her head and got up to follow her.

She decided that all the pain she was about to go through by sitting in one position for hours was all worth it just to see Rapunzel’s beautiful smile.

Cassandra offered to get all dressed up for Rapunzel’s painting, but Rapunzel refused, stating that ‘she was gonna draw her how she is’. Whatever that means. Cassandra sat perfectly still with the bow Rapunzel gave to her as Rapunzel drew her. Cassandra had never been a patient person but she kept herself distracted by watching Rapunzel. The way Rapunzel bit her bottom lip in concentration; the way her eyes were glowing and the way her talented hands made small strokes on the canvas made it all worth it.

Cassandra wondered what ELSE those talented hands could do.. Cassandra mentally kicked herself. No, those thoughts were NOT allowed. She had to stay.. professional.

Cassandra had no idea how long she held the positon she was in, or how she did it in the first place, but her arm was seriously starting to ache.

“Uhm.. Raps? Are you almost done?”

“Just about! Just a couple more minutes, I promise!” Rapunzel responded without looking at her. Cassandra gave a short nod and tried to focus on anything other than her aching limbs. A couple minutes passed before Rapunzel’s smile lit up again as she looked at her masterpiece. “Done!”

Cassandra immediately groaned and thumped down onto the grass. Rapunzel looked up and noticed how Cassandra rubbed her aching arm. She gave her best friend an appreciative smile and placed a hand on her knee. “Thank you again, Cass, it really means a lot to me.”

Cassandra looked up and got lost into those emerald green eyes. She was so close to her. If she just leaned in, she could... Cassandra shook her head before flashing Rapunzel a smile. “No problem Raps. Now let me see!” She crawled next to Rapunzel and what she saw wasn't what she was expecting. It was beautiful. Rapunzel not only made her look tough and strong but also made her look soft and sweet. The way her eyes glowed and the sweet smile that toned her face made Cassandra’s heart soar. Rapunzel, somehow, captured both sides of her. A side she often showed and a side she rarely ever showed, a side she tried to keep hidden. Rapunzel captured both.

“Do you like it?” Rapunzel asked. Cassandra realized she had been quiet for a while. “If you don’t, I can-”

“It’s beautiful, Raps.” Cassandra gave Rapunzel one of her rare smiles. One of those smiles that Rapunzel has only ever got to witness. Rapunzel’s eyes lit up more as she wrapped her arm around Cassandra’s shoulders.

“You’re the bestest friend a girl could have, you know that right?”

“So I’ve been told,” Cassandra teased. “I think I remember hearing that somewhere in Arendelle..”

“Cass!” Rapunzel laughed and playfully swatted her shoulder. Cassandra gave her a playful grin. “Really though, you’re the best.” Cassandra and Rapunzel shared an appreciative smile. After a couple of seconds, Cassandra pointed to the painting.

“Don’t you have to submit that or something?”

Realization lit up on Rapunzel’s face. “Oh right!” She quickly stood up. Cassandra followed. Before Rapunzel sped off, Rapunzel spun around to face Cassandra. “Why don’t we take a ride tonight? Just you and I? Just like old times!”

“Sure, Raps.” Cassandra gave her a smile. Rapunzel gave her an excited smile and nodded before speeding off. Cassandra chuckled and shook her head slowly. Looking around, Cassandra wondered what she was going to do the next couple hours.