Rapunzel isn't too thrilled about her first day back at school. From the start, things don't go right. At first, she and Merida wake up late and rush to get to school on time but to no avail. Instead of inconspicuously entering the classroom, they end up announcing their arrival by disrupting first period. The professor graciously lets the tardiness slide as he is also aware that this is Rapunzel's first day back since learning of her parents' death.

Unfortunately, her classmates aren't as discreet. Many of them flock to her to ask how she is feeling and to offer their sympathies. She doesn't know how to tell them that their sympathies just make her want to lock herself up in her room again.

Another thing that she isn't looking forward to is the task she set for herself. She hasn't told anyone of her agenda, not even Merida, but she is determined do it within the day. The earlier, the better.

"I'm having lunch with Kristoff today," she tells her friends as they make their way to the cafeteria.

Kristoff is waiting for her by the side exit of the school. His face lights up when he sees her, and he pulls her into a big bear hug. "I've missed you so much. I'm glad I can finally spend time with you."

She tries to return the hug and buries her head in his chest. "I'm sorry I've been so distant."

"Don't apologize," he says, holding the door open for her. They make their way to the football field and sit on the bleachers.

"No, let me," she insists. "I know you're hurt that I allowed my friends to visit me, but I never allowed you to. I'm sorry."

Kristoff tilts his head to acknowledge the truth in what she said. "It would have been selfish of me to think of myself. That was your time to heal. Why should I force you to need me around? You had every right to only see those you wanted to. But I won't pretend that I wasn't hurt.

"Maybe you think I was being unfair, but I really was thinking of you," she explains. Kristoff smiles and gives her a quick peck on the cheek. Rapunzel realizes that her choice of words may have confused him. Still, she doesn't want to ruin lunch completely, so they start eating in silence.

Kristoff begins engaging her in their usual topics of conversation. He fills her in on other news around school that Merida may not have told her yet. He tries to update her on the television shows they both like watching. Rapunzel listens and responds sparingly, but mostly she listens. Kristoff doesn't seem to notice that her mind is elsewhere.

"Yeah, the gang wants to make a trip of it," Kristoff talks about his friends' plans to attend a music festival a few weeks away. "D'you maybe want to g-?"

"Kristoff, we need to talk," Rapunzel cuts him off abruptly. She notices that they're both done eating and doesn't want to prolong things any further.

"Oh, the four most dreaded words strung together in the history of the English language," he jokes. When he sees how serious she is, he stops smiling. "What is it? Is something wrong? You know you can tell me anything. I'm always here for you."

"That's just it," Rapunzel sighs and looks down. "I wish you wouldn't."

"Wouldn't what?" Kristoff asks.

"Care so much," Rapunzel says, immediately regretting her bluntness. "I'm sorry. There I go again. I just- I just need to say what I need to say even if I don't know what or how I want to say it."

"Rapunzel, you're not making any sense."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing!" Kristoff says in irritation. He looks away and ruffles his hair, trying to regain his composure. He has an inkling of where the conversation is headed, but he can't bring himself to help Rapunzel get to the point.

She looks down, tears beginning to well in her eyes. She doesn't want her crying to make him pity her. She takes a deep breath and decides to just say whatever's on her mind. "I wish…you wouldn't…think of me that way…anymore. I think- I think we need to end this…whatever this is between us."

She waits for him to respond, but when he doesn't, she decides to go on. "I know you're probably thinking I'm a bitch right now. That I'm a bitch for dating you and allowing you to fall for me then disappearing for weeks, not letting you be there for me, making you feel like I don't want or need you to help me then, finally, dropping you altogether."

Kristoff scoffs. "Well, I'll give you one thing. You're a goddamn mind reader," he says harshly.

"You can think that about me," she continues, a little relieved that he's mad. "I deserve it. I can't even hide behind this parents thing to make me look like less of an asshole. I really am one, but please believe me. I was thinking of you that whole time. Not in the way you might've thought initially. What I meant is that I was starting to realize that we weren't headed anywhere. Why wouldn't I want the guy I've been dating for how many months to be there for me? I'm supposed to want you around more than anyone else. I just didn't feel that. When I realized that, I knew that maybe my feelings for you just aren't as strong as they should be. So, I didn't call you. I didn't let you see me. I thought, maybe I'd miss you."

"But you didn't," Kristoff completes the thought, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

"I don't know how to explain that I was trying to be fair even if it looks like the opposite right now. I didn't want to string you along any further, but I couldn't end things with you without seeing you in person. I couldn't see you in person because I was honestly still not okay. So, I decided that the first day I go back to school, I'd talk to you."

At this point, tears are freely streaming down her face. She looks up and sees that Kristoff is just looking at his shoes. She sees him quickly brush something off his face with his hand.

"I thought-" she takes a deep breath, the lump in her throat preventing her from going on. "I thought that maybe things could go back to normal when I'm back to normal, whenever that may be. I'm still not okay. I'm still broken. I know that. I'm in no condition to be in a relationship. I don't want you to wait for me, for us to go back to how we were before I became broken. I can't ask you to just put a pause on our relationship and hope that eventually we can pick up where we left off. It's really not fair. Not to you or to me." Rapunzel breaks down after this, putting her head in her hands as the last of the energy she's been holding onto is finally drained.

At this, Kristoff begins to see the reason behind Rapunzel's words. She's not just suddenly disinterested and being a bitch by dumping him. He realizes that she is as broken as she says she is. He suddenly has the urge to hold her, kiss her tears away, and swear that he will wait for however long it'll take for her to come back, but he doesn't do any of that.

"Just answer me one thing," he says quietly. "One thing that will decide things for me. Do you love me at all? Yes or no."

He waits patiently as she continues to cry as silently as she can. Rapunzel is starting to get angry. How can he ask such an unfair question? How can he expect me not to care for him enough to say that I don't love him at all? It's a trap. She knows that he will cling to the tiniest bit of hope. She wants to hurt him to make him see how serious she is about ending things. She wants to yell and tell him to stop being stubborn. He can't fix me. He's not the man to do the job. She wants to say that she gained clarity through this tragedy. Yes, there is love, but I don't know when or if I can bring myself to love him the way he has begun to love me. I'm tired, and I can't just stay because I care and am grateful to him. But no words escape her. She doesn't have the energy to speak anymore. Kristoff notices the slightest shake of her head.

He stands up. "I'll try to be the bigger man, here," he says looking down at her. "I'll try to remember our good times together. I wish you well and hope that you find whatever it is you think you're looking for. I don't think we should do the whole 'let's just be friends' thing. At least, not right now. Goodbye, Rapunzel." He steps down from the bleachers and makes his way back to the school.

Rapunzel lifts her head and watches him go. He doesn't look back. She decides to stay a while and wait for her tears to dry and her heart to lighten. Only her tears dry.