Hey guys! I've recently got into this fandom, so this is my first RotBTD story. I finally got my thoughts together to actually write down so here we go!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters, sadly...I just use them for the entertainment of both yours and mine ^w^

Ah, lunch.

The only "class" everyone looked forward to.

The majority of the students clustered and rushed along in packs and cliques, quickly filling up the rather large cafeteria. The interior was pearly white, how the janitors and cafeteria ladies kept it clean, no one really knew. The popular people got the good seats; the seats by the floor-to-ceiling window. When it was sunny, it gave the cafeteria a beautiful glow.

Jack got his lunch and sat at his usual table, by himself. He had always been a loner. No one really wanted to be his friend for some reason.

It was still the beginning of the school year, his Junior year to be exact, late Augustish. There were some newbies, but he didn't bother seeing their faces. What was the point though? 'Cause for a person like Jack, why bother when people view you as invisible?

Jack sighed, opening his milk carton. He rose it to his mouth before freezing, no pun intended, and took a cautious sniff. Okay. At least the milk wasn't expired.

His mouth just came over the clasp when he heard an uproar of laughter. Eyes flickering upwards, he found everyone laughing and pointing at a boy about Jack's age; the thin, lanky brunette was sitting on the floor, covered in what appeared to be his lunch, and he looked thoroughly embarrassed. And to make things worse, one of the cheerleaders slowly poured milk on top of his head.

"Aw, man..." Jack muttered, and, feeling bad for the poor guy, he got to his feet and quickly made his way over there.

Merida had seen the whole thing from where she was in line. If anything, she hated bullies the most, and she hated that no one was sticking up for him. Well, there was a white-haired someone making his way over there already, but he was in her peripheral vision and she was already there.

She pushed passed a few jocks, blue eyes flaring with anger and irritation.

"Leave him alone!" she snapped, pushing a guy hard in the chest, now standing in front of the boy.

Jack sighed, holding out a hand to the guy, who looked up at him. Grateful, he took Jack's hand and said, "Thanks," before getting to his feet.

"What's your name?" said Jack.

"Hiccup."

Jack nodded, shaking his hand once and releasing Hiccup's hand. "Jack."

The two guys nodded and smiled at each other before they finally noticed the fuming redhead, who had a wild mass of fiery red curls.

"Go back home, Scotty!" one yelled, causing the whole area to laugh, and Merida fought the urge to punch him in the mouth. For once, she wished she had brought her bow and arrow.

"H-Hey now, uh," Hiccup said, awkwardly reaching for her and not reaching at the same time. "Why don't we just, erm, lower the fist and-"

"Head to my table?" Jack suggested, not believing his luck today. "No one sits there but me."

Merida sighed, "Okay. I just don't like it when people get picked on for no reason, that's all."

"Thanks for defending me," Hiccup told her sheepishly. "No one really does that."

"What're friends for?" Jack asked, and the other two smiled at the word. Were they as lonely as he was?

After getting a new lunch and washing the milk out of his hair, Hiccup arrived at Jack's table, where the latter and Merida waited for him.

"Don't you have other friends who sit with you?" Hiccup asked, not meaning to be rude.

Jack's lips pulled up in a smirk. "Would you believe me if I told you I have no friends here?"

"You're kidding," said Merida.

"I shit you not, Red," said Jack. "So you're telling me that you don't have friends either?"

Merida shook her head. "I just transferred last week."

"So did I," said Hiccup. "Where are you from?"

As the two talked about their homelands, Jack's gaze drifted off to the cafeteria doors as they opened.

And he couldn't look away.

Literally.

The reason he couldn't was walking slowly and curiously through the cafeteria right there and then, looking around in pure amazement. Her hair was long, like long long-falling at least to her upper thighs, like real liquid gold in hair form. Her eyes were big and green, a childlike innocence written all over her features. Lips were plump and pink, her physique was small and slim, but there was no denying that she was female and-

"Jack? Jack!"

Jack jumped, "Huh?! What? What did I miss?" he questioned quickly, trying to be cool as he rested his elbow on the table and cheek in palm.

Buuut, his elbow slipped and he fell out of his seat with a thump.

"Wah!"

"Nice one, lad," Merida complimented sarcastically while Hiccup fought back laughter.

"Hardy har har," Jack said back.

A soft giggle caused his head to snap up. "Are you okay?"

The girl he had been staring at was there, standing just behind him, peering over her tray and down at him with her head tilted to the side. Great. So she had seen him. Smooth, Jack. Jack practically flipped on his hands and knees before hastily getting to his feet. "I'm, uh, fine! Yeah. Just a little slip up. Heh," he said.

Real smooth.

She smiled at him, having to tilt her head the slightest; he was taller than her, but it wasn't that drastic.

"What's your name, Blondie?" he asked her.

"Rapunzel," she said, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.

"'M Jack," he introduced himself, holding out a pale hand, and she took it to shake.

"Nice to meet you, Jack," Rapunzel told him with a smile, giving him a subtle once-over. He didn't look that scary...His silvery white hair and pale skin might've been strange, but they were nice contributing factors about him. I wonder what Mother's talking about. Jack doesn't have fangs. He doesn't even look evil!

"Do you mind if I sit here?" she asked timidly, looking around some more. "I don't know where else to sit..."

"Go ahead," Jack said while sitting down in his seat. Rapunzel sat down eagerly in the empty across from him, nearest Merida. "These are my friends, Merida and Hiccup-" each person being acknowledged smiled and waved, Merida shaking Rapunzel's hand since she was near-"We all just met like five minutes ago."

"Oh." Rapunzel giggled. "Okay."

"So are you new?" Jack couldn't help but ask.

"Mhmm!" Rapunzel was so relieved that she was making friends so fast.

"Cool, us too," said Merida, gesturing between herself and Hiccup.

"Yeah, today's my first day," Rapunzel continued. "I've never been to a public school before."

"Ever?" Jack, Hiccup, and Merida said at the same time, and Rapunzel nodded.

"Yes. My mother's very over-protective, so I've been homeschooled until recently. I've never had any friends because she refuses to allow me to go outside, and the rare times I do, she's always breathing down my neck..." Rapunzel sighed. Sometimes she wished she could have a break...

"Ever tried sneaking out?" Jack suggested.

Rapunzel shook her head. Even if she wanted to, she'll never have the guts. "No..."

He winked at her playfully, "You should try it."

Rapunzel gasped, "You break curfew?"

"What is this 'curfew' you speak of?" Jack asked, blinking in teasing confusion.

"It is unheard of in my country," Merida agreed, crossing her leg and arms, turning her head up as she played along.

"Hiccup?" Rapunzel asked.

Hiccup looked down, scratching the side of his face and fighting the urge to snicker.

It took a moment for Rapunzel to get it, but when she did, the four friends looked at each other before they all burst into harmonized laughter.

For the first time, Jack walked home with a smile on his face. He was actually looking forward to tomorrow. He had most of his classes with them, and bonus, an extra one with Rapunzel.

He nearly skipped in the doorway of his house.

"Had a good day?"

Jack retreated a few steps, coming back in the kitchen. Standing there waiting for Jack was an elderly man, who wasn't built for his age; he was huge and muscular-his belly could be debatable though- and often seen wearing red because that was his favorite color. He had a large beard and mustache, the color as white as snow, but his eyebrows were thick and the color of coal. His eyes were a friendly, comforting shade of blue, and his nose was always slightly pinker than the rest of his face.

"Actually, yeah. I did," said Jack, setting his backpack down.

North put his hand on Jack's shoulder, looking rather pleased. He smiled down at his adoptive son, "That's good. Did you make any friends?"

Jack returned the smile and nodded.

North tilted his head knowingly. "What's her name?'

"Pssh whaaat? Who's her? There's no her...and you can't prove anything!" Jack's voice sped up as he rushed out of the room.

"It's okay if you like this girl!" North called teasingly after him; he may be a father figure, but he was also close to the fun uncle. "I was beginning to wonder about you, son!"

Jack's head peered around the corner at the top of the stairs, eyes narrowed. "Not funny, North." His head disappeared. Then reappeared again, "Besides, two out of the three are girls anyway." And disappeared. And reappeared, "One of them just caught me off guard, that's all."

"Is she pretty?"

Jack hesitated.

"...Sort of."

North grinned.

"But we just met!"

"Uh huh."

"And we're just friends!"

"I bet."

North's not the only Guardian in this story...ahem XD

Reviews are greatly appreciated!