Tangled Luck Ch 12

Love is a very finicky thing.  When you realize you love someone, you either accept it, or run into it like a brick wall.

Chapter 12 – Lucky Love  

Eugene was doing better.  You could no longer hear his ribs crack when he moved and he could lie down by himself now.  Rapunzel had been sleeping on the couch for three weeks and she was beginning to get a crick in her neck.  She tried to hide it from Eugene, because she knew he would insist she take the bed.  She didn't mind; it was the least she could do for him.
No one except Rapunzel had spoken to Eugene for an entire week after the fight.  That was his punishment; being ostracized.  Eugene didn't mind; Rapunzel was paying an awful lot of attention to him, so he didn't need anyone else.
When Eugene decided he was well enough to go back to work (much to the protests of Rapunzel and everyone else), Rapunzel was scared that the Stabbington brothers would show up again, but after a few days, there was no report of the two.  No one in the group wanted to take any chances though.  If Rapunzel didn't work too late, she would go home with Raven.  The school she worked at was in the area and she took the same bus to get home.  Five o'clock, everyday, Rapunzel would wait inside Sea Shell Paint for Raven to show up.  The two women would then take the bus to Rapunzel and Eugene's apartment and Raven would sit around, lolling about until Rapunzel or Eugene would shoo her out.
The incident with the Stabbington brothers was more or less behind Rapunzel.  She still looked over her shoulder when she was walking down the street, even if she was with Raven, but she told herself things could have been worse.  They could have actually raped her.
Since Rapunzel and Raven were going home together, Rapunzel was becoming more and more open with her.  At first, Rapunzel didn't want to share anything with the busy body, but the woman had real charms when it came to being a friend.  Rapunzel had never had a 'girlfriend' before, only Pascal, so, it was a whole new experience for her, and she was learning new experiences weren't that bad.  Raven told her things about married life, without getting too deep, and funny stories from work.  Rapunzel, likewise confided in her, even gave her suggestions for her class.
"If you ever have a day where you don't want to make a lesson plan, I could always come in and have an art day with the kids," Rapunzel had told her one day.
"Ooh, that'd be fun, but no finger painting.  There was a kid who ruined a perfectly good pair of pants with a green hand print.  
After a little bit of time, Rapunzel felt comfortable enough to talk to Raven about personal things.  One day, Rapunzel actually told Raven that she had kissed Eugene the night of the fight.  She was hoping for some guiding advice, that would explain her irrational behavior, but instead, Raven looked at her like a cat eyeing a mouse.
"And," she asked.
"And…what?"
"Did anything else happen?"
"No…"
"Nothing went further?"  Raven moved her hips to get her point across.
"Oh, Raven, no, no!  Get your mind out of the gutter."
"Well that's boring.  Course, I'd be surprised if Eugene could even do it with a broken rib; he did look pretty bad.  I suppose cowgirl style would suffice."
"Subject change!"
"What, you brought it up," Raven said back, laughing at Rapunzel's red cheeks.
"I only brought it up because… I want to know what you think I should do…as a friend."
The two were riding on the bus, heading towards the apartment.  Rapunzel twisted her hair around her finger.  Raven stared at her, confused.
"What you should do?  I think I'll need to know what you didn't do, first.  If you kissed Eugene, shouldn't you two be… dating?  I mean, you're already living together."
"As friends," Rapunzel said defensively.  "And the kiss, it was… sort of…a moment, thing, you know?  He took my hand, he looked at me, and… I just kissed his forehead."
"Just his forehead?  Well, that's cute, but, how does Eugene feel about this?"
The bus stopped on Clairboure Road and Rapunzel and Raven got off.  They walked to Flynnigan's Tower of Books bookstore.  
"I don't know.  We actually haven't…talked about it," Rapunzel mumbled meekly.  Raven slapped her face.
"Good Lord, could you two move any slower?"  Raven shook her head as the two started up the stairs.  "Are you two Amish, or something?  The spark is there, just go for it!"  Rapunzel rolled his eyes as she unlocked the door to get into the apartment.  Raven kicked her shoes off in the entry room and followed Rapunzel in.  
Eugene wasn't home.  Rapunzel found a note on the kitchen table saying he was taking a shift at Vlad's and he'd been home at ten.  She sighed.  She wished he wouldn't push himself so hard.
"What's that?"  Raven peered over Rapunzel's shoulder.
"Oh, Eugene is working at Vlad's tonight," said Rapunzel as she crumpled the note.  "I wish he wouldn't."
"Should he even?"
"No.  He still can't lift things.  Honestly, he makes so mad sometimes."
Rapunzel started heating a kettle of water for tea while Raven sat down at the table.  She pulled out a schedule book and began to scribble in the dates.  After awhile, Raven eyed Rapunzel as she worked around the kitchen, putting dishes in the dishwasher and pulling food out for dinner.
"Eugene's at Vlad's," Raven said, "why are you pulling out food for him?"
"He won't work long.  He'll be home at ten."
"Ah.  You know, you baby him too much."  Rapunzel shrugged.  
The kettle sang and Rapunzel poured the water into a tea pot she had prepared.  She dropped a tea bag in and turned to Raven, her hands on the counter.
"He's done so much for me; I just do what I can for him."  Raven clicked her tongue.
"That's an excuse and you know it.  You know, you never really said how you feel about Eugene going off to beat those two up.  We all know how the rest of us feel, but what about you?"  Raven put her hands up on the table and leaned in.
"Does it matter?  What's done is done.  I wish he hadn't, but everything is fine now."  Even as Rapunzel said this, she didn't believe it.  She was still furious with Eugene for his heated behavior, but what could she do about?  She already scolded him and things were done.  She just tried to not let the memory get to her.
"Oh, Rapunzel," moaned Raven as she put her head in hands.  "You are just too adorable."  Raven looked sternly at Rapunzel.  "You need to analyze this; Eugene did something crazy for you and then, you kiss him.  What does that add up to?"  Rapunzel said nothing.  Raven tried not to scream.  "You like him!"  Rapunzel scoffed and turned back to stir the tea bag.  "Don't brush that away.  It's true.  Just admit it!  I don't think Eugene would rebuke you.  I mean, seriously, how many guys will go beat up two thugs twice their size just for a girl."
"Jeff would."
"My Jeff is a special case, and we're talking about you.  Come on, Rapunzel, do you like Eugene or not?"  Rapunzel stared at the floor.  She chewed at her bottom lip.
Her heart fluttered every time he looked at her.  Her eyes screamed to look away when their gazes locked, because he made her so nervous.  His voice sent a flurry of butterflies swarming in her stomach.  Her knees knocked together whenever just one of his fingers barely brushed her skin.
"I do…think…I have feelings for him," Rapunzel mumbled.
"But do you like him?"
"I….I don't want to."  Raven blinked her eyes.
"What?"
"I don't want to have these feelings that I keep having for Eugene," Rapunzel shouted as she threw her hands up.  She pulled out a chair and banged her head on the table.  She left it there.  "I'm so confused…"  Raven patted Rapunzel's head.
"That happens when you're in love."  Raven paused.  "Why don't you want to have feelings for Eugene?  He's a nice guy, good looking, smart, stable."
"I know all that," Rapunzel muttered into the table.  "Most girls would probably die to have him as their boyfriend, but…I'm not like most girls."
"Well, we all know that," Raven smiled.  "So, what's the problem?  You like him, it's not that complicated.  Just tell him, I'm sure he won't tell you to go away."
"That's what I'm worried about most and that's what makes it complicated."  Rapunzel lifted her head to put her chin on the edge of the table.  "I know Eugene likes me," Rapunzel's head bounced as she talked.  "I see it when he looks at me, but…relationships mean intimacy."  She looked up at Raven, wincing.  "And intimacy means sex."  Rapunzel paused.  She squeezed her eyes shut and whispered, "I'm scared to have sex."  Raven's eyebrow's came down.
"Because you almost got raped?"
"No…"  Rapunzel's head came up.  "I've been scared of sex for longer than that.  Since high school," she mumbled.  She took a breath.  "There was a story about a girl who bled down there during sex and…."
"Ah, now I understand."  Raven took Rapunzel's hand.  "I figured you were a virgin the moment I laid eyes on you.  Rapunzel, you've been raised and taught to fear sex."  Rapunzel looked at her, confused.
"What?"
"Rapunzel, think about it; your whole life, people have been telling you to not have sex, sex is bad.  There's the risk of pregnancy, the risk of STD's, and pain, if your partner is rough, which is all true and one should always be careful, but that's not all sex is.  Now, you and I have got a few years between us, and I'm sure the way things are taught in high school have changed, but, when I got sex education, they actually told us about it.  Your problem is you only know the bad parts."  Rapunzel stared at Raven.  "What I'm saying is, you've been conditioned to fear sex, even when you don't know anything about it."  Rapunzel was becoming upset.
"You make it sound like I'm being completely silly for being scared of sex."  Rapunzel pulled her hand from Raven's and went to pour herself a cup of tea.
"No, Rapunzel, I'm not saying that at all.  I'm trying to help you get past your fear.  If that's all that's holding you back from Eugene, it's not that big of a mountain."
"Not that big of a mountain?"  Now Rapunzel was mad.  She slammed her mug of tea on the table.  "How exactly is it not that big of a mountain?  It's how ALL relationships involving love end up.  And I'm scared of it.  How is it not a mountain, Raven?"
"Rapunzel, calm down, please."  Rapunzel crossed her arms and tapped her fingers.  Raven sighed.  "I'm only telling you this because you're my friend and I want to see you happy, and I know you'd be happy with Eugene.  You already are, even without sex.  Come on, sit back down and let me pull my foot out of my mouth."  Rapunzel sat and clicked her nails on her cup.  She became very interested in the gold color of her tea.  "I'm not telling you to go and have sex; I would never tell anyone that.  If you're uncomfortable with it, okay.  It's your decision, but, you like Eugene, right?"  Rapunzel nodded.  "Well, then nothing should stop you from just being with him, just even holding hands or having gooey picnics."
"Heh, you sound like Jeff."
"I should, he gave me this speech too."  Rapunzel looked up, surprised.
"Wha-"
"Yeah, I was a real Mary Sue.  I knew more about sex than you do, but I still didn't want to do it.  That's why I didn't want to get married.  Then I met Jeff and when he proposed to me, I-I broke down crying.  I explained to him that I couldn't marry him, because I didn't want to have sex, and you know what he told me."  Rapunzel shook her head.  "He told me, 'we don't have to have sex, I just want to spend the rest of my life together with you."  Raven smiled at the memory.  "I knew right then and there that he was the one.  And I also knew that I could be with him.  He made all my fears go away."  Raven grew silent.  She suddenly remembered where she was going and turned to Rapunzel.  "Do you get what I'm saying?"
"I guess," Rapunzel said.  "If it's with someone you love and if they love you, it's not as bad."  Raven almost laughed.
"Well, yeah, I suppose that's part of it, but I'm also saying, if you're afraid now, you might not be later, if you're willing to have the strength to go after what you want.  Don't be afraid of what might happen, because that's the future.  Go for the now."
 "Well, that's all fine and dandy, but I'm not you.  I can't just forget my fear.  Just the thought of…being that close," Rapunzel shuddered.  "…my biggest fear is that it will hurt."
"Well," Raven said, putting her hand in her chin, "it depends on the woman.  When the man goes to penetrate the woman for the first time, he has to break the hymen, and depending on the size and/or thickness of the hymen, depends on if it hurts or not.  It also depends on if the woman is nervous; that makes her tight and the sex is bad."  Rapunzel blinked, thinking that would chase the science lecture out of the head.  "If a woman has a large hymen, they really won't feel a thing, but if it's small, it might hurt, but only for a little while.  It's polite if the man doesn't move right away after first going in; let the pain subside.  Then, if the man does it right, sex can be…" she grinned, "pretty enjoyable.  Even the first time."
"That's what people keep saying, but it doesn't help me."
"I know that."  Raven placed a hand on Rapunzel's arm.  "So I have two suggestions.  First, research sex.  The more you know, the less afraid you'll be."  Rapunzel opened her mouth to protest.  "Now, I know it might seem a little weird, but you might be surprised by what you learn.  And my second suggestion is as a friend; go after Eugene.  He'll help you get past this and if he cares about you, he'll wait."  Raven smiled at Rapunzel.  She grinned back, weakly.  Raven looked at the clock.  "Well, I better get a-going.  We've got a field trip tomorrow to the zoo.  Raven stood up.  Rapunzel did too and followed her friend to the door.
"Raven, I'm sorry I snapped at you.  I know you were only trying to help."
"Oh, it's alright, sweetie.  I actually get snapped at a lot.  I overstep a lot of boundaries."  Rapunzel laughed.  Raven hugged Rapunzel before she left.  "Eugene is a good guy.  If he wants what you want, he won't push you.  He'll wait.  I know he will."  Raven squeezed Rapunzel tight.  "I'll see you later."
"Have fun at the zoo."
"Oh, yeah, cause it's so much fun keeping twenty six kids out of the lion's den."  Rapunzel waved Raven out the door.  She closed it and went back to the kitchen.  She looked at the clock.  The small hand was at the six; the big hand was at the twelve.  Eugene would be home in four hours.  She decided to get his dinner started.


Eugene's back was to Max, so his best friend did not see him moving his mouth in a mocking manner.
"You really are stupid, aren't you?  It's been three weeks.  It takes at least six weeks for breaks to heal and ribs are touchy when it comes to healing.  You still look like you got chewed up by a Decpticon, I hope you realize, which means you look terrible.  Can you even breath properly yet?  You should be at home, letting Rapunzel baby you."
"Rapunzel has not been babying me."
"Oh, I'm sure she hasn't."  Eugene turned to Max and gave him his Guinness, putting it a little hard on the table.  "Hey, watch it man."
"Sorry."  Eugene didn't mean it.  "And I don't look that bad anymore.  At least my left isn't still swollen."
"It's still bruised."
Eugene and Max were still acting like two brick walls arguing at each other to move.  The two friends were at an impasse of sorts in their conversations.  They were walking on eggshells around each other and were mainly just seeing who could get whose goat first.  Both understood where the other was coming from, concerning the Stabbington incident, but they were guys, and guys don't discuss their feelings.
"I don't know why you're getting on my case, Max.  The doctor said if I wear the stabilizer, I could work and I'm only serving drinks at the bar."
"Of which, you really can't handle with the cast.  And you shouldn't be lifting anything over ten pounds."
"And a wine bottle is two.  Vlad isn't having me do extraneous stuff, so, chill man."  Eugene leaned on the counter.  Max took a draft from his glass, glaring at him from over the edge.  He set the glass down.
"You know, you're lucky those two are criminals, otherwise, they'd have gone to the police.  Do you realize you cracked the younger one's skull?  And the other guy had a concussion and you punched out practically all his teeth."  Eugene brought his casted hand up to his face and blew on it, like it was a smoking gun.  "And you're proud of that."
"Hell, yes.  Come on, Max, they should have known what they were getting into.  I told them when I left the gang not to bother me.  And now, they won't and they won't go near Rapunzel either."  
 "You sound awfully sure of that."
"I don't know, officer, what does the station say?"
"They say they want to find the guy who beat 'em up, give him a medal and then charge him with aggravated battery.  Eugene, this is serious.  You could have killed them."  Eugene said nothing.  "If it was anyone else, you would have gotten your ass in jail."
"Oh, my, God, here we go again.  Every time I break someone's nose who I had to throw out of the bar, you swear I'm headed straight for the electric chair!"
"Because you have a past, Eugene.  If the people you bounce out of here knew just what sort of a loaded pistol you are, they'd see your fat ass in jail."
"I don't got a big but, you got a big but."
"And then you go and slap my words right back in my face.  I'm trying to help you and you never listen."
"Aw, will you look at that, he cares.  I'm so lucky," Eugene said in a baby voice.
"Oh, sure, cause nothing says luck like an Irish kiss and a busted lip.  Why do you always gotta be such a dick?"
"Dad's a convict, mom's a bitch.  Runs in the family."  Eugene picked up a bear mug for a man who had ordered a drink.
"Mm-hm.  By the way, what'd your parents say about all this?"
"Mom refrained from throttling me, Dad yelled at me.  Then I told them it was for a girl, and, hoo-boy, did they hit the roof."  Eugene slid the mug down to the man.  He caught it and walked back to his booth.  "Then they asked me her name, who she is, what she does, when am I bringing her to dinner: usual stuff.  Actually, it was mostly Mom asking that."
"Did you tell them you aren't dating her?"
"Course," Eugene said, turning away from Max.  "I just said the girl was a friend who almost got hurt, and that my strong sense of justice-."
"Wait, you didn't even tell them her name?"
"Why bother," Eugene turned back to Max.  "We aren't dating."
"Oh, I hit a nerve, didn't I?"
"Just a bit."  Eugene put his hand up with his index finger and thumb just centimeters apart.
"Dude, why don't you just tell her you like her?  It's so painfully obvious, I feel like crying for you."  
"Jack off.  I can't tell her.  I'm afraid she'll freak out.  And she called me a friend."  Max sucked in breath through his teeth.
"Ouch.  Strong blow below the belt, and right after what you did for her."
"Eh, I don't care too much."  It sounded like he cared a lot.  "Just seeing she's alright is fine."
"You sure you can handle that forever?"  Eugene opened his mouth like he was going to answer, then he closed it.  He shook his head.
"I don't know, man."
"What are you all talking 'bout?"  Jeff had walked over.  He sat down next to Max and glanced between the two.
"Rapunzel called Eugene a friend."  Jeff sucked in air between his teeth.
"Ouch, and right after what you did for her."
"That's what I said," Max smiled.
"Oh, come on, guys, it's not that bad," Eugene laughed, putting his arms out like it was no big deal.  A man came up to the bar.  
"A scotch on the rocks, please," he said.
"Coming right up, sir."  Eugene turned to fix the drink.  Jeff got an idea.
"Excuse me, sir, we're having a discussion and I think a third opinion would help.  What would be your reaction be if I told you that a girl called a man, who likes her, a friend, right after he beat up two guys who attacked her.  And got seriously injured doing it."  The man sucked in air between his teeth.
"I'd say that's salt in the wound."  Eugene turned back to the man with his scotch.  He looked solemn.  
"Here's your drink," he muttered
"Thank you."  The man took it and walked away.  Eugene glared at his friends.
"I was not seriously injured."
"You couldn't move on your own body for an entire week," Max said.
"I could stand," Eugene said defensively, hitting his left fist against the counter.  He jarred his side.  His casted hand went to his ribs, but the stabilizer was in the way.  Max and Jeff stood up a bit.
"Are you alright."
"Yeah.  I'm fine," Eugene said, willing the pain to go away.  "It's just tender is all.  It'll pass."  Max sighed, sitting back down.
"This is why you should be at home, with Rapunzel, letting her baby you."
"She does not baby me!"  The sudden intake of breath started up the pain again.  He doubled over, groaning.
"Just go home," Max said.
"I've got another hour," Eugene wheezed out.
"Go home."
"You wanna know what I think about this situation with Rapunzel," Jeff asked.
"No," Eugene and Max said together."
"I think" Jeff continued, not caring, "that you should wait for Rapunzel to make a move.  She's a shy girl and from my observations of her, I think she would react negatively to anyone confessing feelings for her.  She would probably go into a severe defensive state."  Eugene chewed his tongue.
"Actually…she did make a move."  Max and Jeff's eyes snapped to attention.  "She kissed me.  Right after I got home and she put me to bed."
"What?"
"She put you to bed," Max asked.  "What are you, four?"
"Dude, she does not see you as a friend if she kissed you," Jeff said, putting an arm up on the counter.
"I think it was sort of a moment thing for her, you know," Eugene stammered out, whishing now he hadn't told them anything.  "She got really embarrassed about it and practically ran out of the room.  And when she came to check on me, she didn't mention it.  She hasn't actually said anything about it, so, I'm not touching it."  Jeff and Max slapped their faces in unison.
"You are an idiot," Max mumbled.
"I concur," muttered Jeff.
"Oh, right, gang up on the seriously injured guy."
"Eugene," Jeff said, taking his hand away form his face.  "What is stopping you form being with Rapunzel.  She's a nice, pretty, level headed girl.  Any guy would like to be with her."  
"You don't think I know that?  Besides, you just said it yourself; Rapunzel would react negatively to anyone telling her they like her."  Eugene looked over their heads, then down to the floor, his lips out in a pout.  "And Rapunzel is sort of…damaged, somehow.  She didn't have it easy before she came and started living with me."
"Well, we know that.  Pascal told us about her aunt."
"But that's only part of the problem.  Rapunzel is afraid of relationships.  Period.  She hasn't told me, but I can tell; the way she jumps when someone brushes against her, how she'll get uncomfortable when she sees a couple holding hands.  I don't know what got her like that, but I just don't want her to freak out and send her back into that defensive state."  Jeff sighed.
"I see where your concern is coming from, but, you are way too nice for your own good," he said.  "That's going to get you killed someday, I hope you realize."
"I'll take my chances."  
Just then the door opened.  It was Raven.  She sauntered in, her eyes fixed on the bar.
"Hi, honey," Jeff said, expecting a kiss.
"Hello."  She didn't give one.  She was looking at Eugene.  She pointed at him.  "You.  Me.  Talk.  Now."  She walked around the bar and went into the kitchen.  The three men looked after her.  Eugene twisted back to Jeff.
"Did I do something?"  Jeff shrugged.
"Eugene," called Raven.  Eugene gave a confused look to Jeff and Max, putting his unbounded arm up, and went into the kitchen.  He followed Raven out to the alley behind the bar.
"Alright, you got me out here.  What?"
"Rapunzel likes you, but she doesn't want to be with you, because she's afraid you'll ask for sex."  Eugene stared blankly at her.
"What?"
"I know, silly.  I talked to her and I might have gotten through to her, but-"
"Wait, Raven, you meddled with her?"  Eugene's heart dropped and set like a rock in his stomach.
"I wouldn't say meddle, more like a push.  She's too afraid of her own feelings and I don't want that to get in her way of being happy with you."
"Oh, God," Eugene rubbed the bridge of his nose.  "You just crossed sooooooo many boundaries.  Why did you have to go and do that?"
"Well, she brought it up when she told me she kissed you.  And everyone is tired of seeing you two beat around the bush."
"Oh, God."  Eugene pressed his hand into his eyes.  "Please, please tell me you did not give her the 'if two people love each other" spiel, because if you did-"
"Uh….."  Eugene looked at Raven, horrified.  She smiled sheepishly.
"Oh, no, you didn't.  You did!  Damn it, Raven!"  Eugene's voice echoed in the alley.  "What state did you leave Rapunzel in?"
"Calm down, before I get Jeff, and don't think he won't think twice about hitting you, because he will.  She actually wasn't too upset, once I calmed her down.  Don't look at me like that, she got what I was saying."
"So, what?  You told her to be with me?  To force herself past her own conflicting feelings and then be even more confused?  Damn it, Raven, I was waiting for her to realize things for herself.  For Rapunzel, I'd wait an eternity."  Raven's jaw hung open a little.
"Wait Eugene, are you saying you actually are already in…love with Rapunzel?"
"Yes!  Apparently it's obvious, isn't it?"
"We all think it's just 'like, like,' you know?"
 "Well, no, it's not."  Eugene took a breath.  "I think I've loved her since the day I met her.  I couldn't get her out of my head.  I kept thinking about her and kicking myself for taking her back to her aunt's house.  When I saw her at the school that Monday, my heart stopped.  It literally stopped.  But I could see she was uncomfortable with me and I was willing to wait however long it took until she could fall in love with me."
"And what if she never did?"
"Then I don't think I'd be able to live another day."  Eugene looked at the ground.  "You know what my life's been like, Raven.  It was a red fog of hate and anger for so long.  I still see red," he chuckled.  "I think I just proved that, but, when I look at Rapunzel, I see light."  Eugene looked Raven in the eye.  "The fog lifts, and everything is crystal clear.  With her, I know exactly where I'm going.  You know what I'm talking about, right?"  Raven didn't say anything.  She looked guiltily at the ground.
"I was only trying to help, because I know you're head over heels for her.  Everyone knows that.  But Eugene, if Rapunzel is scared of just being next to you, how can you expect a relationship with her."
"I told you, I'd wait an eternity for Rapunzel.  She's worth it."  Raven smiled crookedly.
"Geez, I think you two will be an even more lovey-dovey couple than Jeff and me."  Eugene laughed.
"I think it would be very hard to beat you two."
"Well, I think you're going to need to help her get over her fear of sex first."
"Hey, she's already kissed me.  How hard can it be?"  Raven shook her head.
"You're passive demeanor is going to get you killed someday, I hope you realize."
"Funny, your husband said something very similar to that just this night."


Raven had gotten to Rapunzel.  She had decided that Raven might have just been right; maybe she did need to know more about sex before she said she was afraid of it.
After Raven had left and after Rapunzel had cooked dinner (she left Eugene's on the stove; it was gas stove with a pilot light) Rapunzel had pulled out her computer and hooked up to the wi-fi Eugene had in the apartment.
So far, she'd learned the names of the sex organs, what morning wood was, how a woman is stimulated sexually, how to give a man oral sex (she closed out of that window rather quick), and even when it was safe for a woman to have sex without a birth control method; right before and after ovulation.  No egg.
This was all fine and dandy information, but Rapunzel found none of it eased her concerns.  She needed firsthand knowledge.  She absolutely refused to call Raven and ask her what her love life was like.  She decided to type in 'smut' (a word she'd heard Pascal use to describe 'highly romantic' literature).  She found fan written stories for movies and TV shows.  She groaned, but opened some up and read a bit.  At first, her face grew hot and she felt funny deep inside her gut, but, the more she read it, the more she realized, it wasn't that great of firsthand knowledge.  Some of the things that were being said, she wondered how many of the writers were virgins like her.  She closed out of the fan-fiction and decided to chance pictures.  She went back to web search, her face hotter than ever.  
She scrolled down the search site, looking for anything interesting.  She saw two words: Futari Ecchi.  It was Japanese, she was sure.  She clicked on the link and it took her to a manga site.  She read the description for the comic; basically, it was about a newlywed couple who were both virgins and they were awkwardly trying to get their love life in order.  The description boasted that the comic was highly educational and wasn't just smut.  She shrugged her shoulders and began to read it.
It left her highly uncomfortable at first and she was so glad Eugene was not home, but after a few hours of reading it, she began to appreciate the story line.  The couple was cute and likeable and incredibly believable.  The angles of the two having sex, left her clicking quickly ahead, but it really was educational.  She soon became engrossed in it and jumped twenty feet when she heard a key go into the door handle.
Rapunzel exited the website as fast as she could and pulled up her deviantart page.  Eugene walked in.  He saw her sitting at the dining table.
"What were you doing," he asked, cracking a smile.
"What makes you think I was doing something?  Your dinner is on the stove."
"Because your face is red."  Eugene set his things down and went into the kitchen.  He came back with a plate that had mashed potatoes, broccoli and a whole steak.  "You made me steak!  Maybe you do baby me," he mumbled.
"My face is only red because I'm hot.  I was drinking hot tea."
"Then stop drinking the tea or open a window."  Eugene sat down across from Rapunzel, his mouth drooling at the steak.  He cut a piece and put it into his mouth.  "Oh, geez, Rapunzel, where on earth did you learn to cook?  This is amazing!"
"Oh, you're just saying that."
"No, I'm serious.  I might just have to marry you."  Rapunzel's face became tight.  Eugene wished his tongue would fall out, to keep him from being stupid.  He put another piece of meat in.  "You know, just so I could have you're cooking all the time."
"Right, or you could just hire me as your cook."
"Or that."  The two became silent.  Rapunzel got up to get more tea.
"Do you want something to drink," she called.
"Glass of milk, if you would."  Rapunzel brought it out.  They did not look at each other.  She sat down with her own drink and hunched low to her computer.  She didn't feel like reading more Futari Ecchi.
She went and got her head phones and put them in to watch My Little Pony.  She'd gotten through season one and was now on season two.  Eugene had been right; Discord was pretty enjoyable.
Eugene ate his dinner, pushing around his vegetables, not because he didn't want to eat them, but because he felt like such an idiot.  He eventually got up and put the leftovers in a container and put it in the fridge.  He then went to the TV and hooked a video game console up.  He put in Tales of the Abyss.
After a few minutes of watching him play, amazed his could with his arms in such an incapacitated state, Rapunzel took her head phones off and sat down on the couch next to him.
"What's this?"
"Tales of the Abyss."
"Pascal plays this game."
"Really?"
"Mm-hm.  He had me make that outfit for him for an anime convention."  Rapunzel pointed to a male character with blonde hair.
"Guy?"
"Yeah, that's the name."  Rapunzel pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them.  Eugene couldn't stand it any longer; he wanted to break the ice and he decided since Raven had interfered, he wasn't going to chip away at it.  He was of tired of that.  He paused the random battle he'd just found.
"Soooooo, I learned today that Raven is meddler."  Rapunzel's face grayed.  Her head jerked to look at him.
"Oh, my God, what did she tell you?  She told you I'm afraid of sex, didn't she?  Please tell me she didn't.  She did, didn't she?"  
"Oh, she might have mentioned it…"  
"Oh, God…"  Rapunzel grabbed a pillow and buried her face in it.  Eugene was afraid she'd start crying.
"Hey, it's okay," he said, not sure if he should touch her to comfort her.  "I honestly, don't care."
"Argh, she said you'd say."  Her voice was muffled by the pillow.  Rapunzel didn't move.  "What else did she tell you?"  She sounded defeated.
"That you don't want to be with me because you're afraid of sex."  Rapunzel lifted her head.  She did have tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"What are you apologizing for?  I said I don't care.  It's your body and your decision."
"Ugh, why are you so nice and understanding?"  Rapunzel got up and threw the pillow at him.  "You like me, I know you do.  Why else would you keep riding to my rescue?  Why do you have to be such a prince charming?"  Rapunzel paced the apartment, ranting.  "Why can't you act like a normal guy who would get frustrated that he lives with the girl he likes, but can't have her?"
"There's a romantic comedy in there, if you're willing to jar it loose."
"Shut up, I'm scolding you for being too nice."
"Yes, ma'am," Eugene chuckled.
"Why do you have to sit there every day and never ask anything of me?  You've done so much and you've never asked for compensation.  You just want to take care of me.  Why?  Well, I'll tell you why; because you and I were exactly the same growing up.  We both had to wind up fending for ourselves and you see yourself in me.  You just went in a more violent direction than I did, but you saw me still stuck in my pain and you couldn't help but help, you crusading goody-goody!  You got to me, you got into my head and you refused to leave.  I specifically went looking for you that first night at Vlad's, just because I wanted to see you again.  Why? Why did I want to see you again?  Because you made me feel safe."  Rapunzel's voice caught as what she'd just said sank in.  "… I could talk to you and let my barriers down."  Rapunzel came back to the couch and sat down, took the pillow back from Eugene and threw her face into it again.  She gave a frustrated scream into it.
"Feel better?"
"No."  Rapunzel brought her head up and faced Eugene.  "I keep trying to tell myself, Eugene, that I just want you as a friend, but I keep wanting to be near you.  I think I've wanted that since I saw you in that music store."  She smiled.  "My heart about leapt out of its chest when I saw you that day.  I realized I needed you.  I was just too afraid to admit it."  Rapunzel leaned her head against Eugene's arm and put her hand on his chest.  "You make me not afraid to trust people.  Because of you, I'm not looking at my own life from the outside any more and I want something more out of life than just watching it go by."  Rapunzel pulled her head away.  "So, I have one question for you, Eugene; why do you like me?"  Eugene opened his mouth, then closed it.  He pressed his lips together and scrunched his mouth from side to side.  He eventually sighed, giving a chuckle.
"Rapunzel, there are not enough words in any language to explain why I like you."
"Try.  I want to know."  Eugene sighed.
"Alright, I'll try for you."  He cleared his throat.  "Why I like Rapunzel Moore, by Eugene Fitzherbert."  He paused again.  "The simplest way I can say it, you make me see my life clearly."  Rapunzel looked at him, stunned.  He smiled and cupped her face.  He spoke softly.  "When you looked at me for the first time with your beautiful green eyes, I was speechless.  I felt like I'd just been punched in the gut.  I do every time you look at me.  I'm a silly romantic, but with you, it was love at first sight.  You're gorgeous, intelligent, creative, and though you might not think it, you are incredibly brave.  How many people would go through life, living with what you've lived with and not try to end it all?"  Rapunzel swallowed.  She had tried to end it all; the day she met Eugene.  "You know my past, obviously, since you mentioned it, and you didn't run away.  Do you know what that means to me?  Rapunzel, just sitting here talking with you, I couldn't ask for more.  I look at you, and it's like that Beatles song, I Want to Hold Your Hand."  Eugene stopped talking.  "Huh, I guess there are enough words in English at least to tell you why I like you, even if you don't want to be with me."  Eugene leaned down and kissed the crown of Rapunzel's head.  His scent fissured its way up her nose.  Coffee, Old Spice.  He began to pull away.  She threw her arms around his neck, keeping him to her.
"You idiot, I do want to be with you, I'm just scared to."
"Would you be surprised if I said I am too?"  She let go and looked at him.  He laughed at her expression, then winced, his hand going to his side.  "I've never had a serious relationship before.  I've never even put my heart out on the table either, before tonight.  I still have walls to break down, just like you."  Eugene took Rapunzel's hand in his casted one.  She looked down at it.  He'd gotten himself hurt for her and she was mad at him for it, because she liked him.  Raven was right.
"So where does that leave us," she asked.
"I'd be fine with just dating."  Rapunzel contemplated the suggestion.
"I think I would be too."
"Then consider me your boyfriend."  Eugene leaned down to kiss Rapunzel's head again.  When he pulled away, he said, "You know, I'm feeling well enough, I think I'll sleep on the couch tonight."  Rapunzel put her hand on his arm.
"Actually, the bed is big enough.  We could…share it…" Rapunzel said slowly.  Eugene looked at her like she'd just told him his hair was on fire.
"Are you sure?"
"Well, I am your girlfriend, aren't I?"  Eugene smiled.
"I suppose you are."