The Alpha and His Rapunzel

No matter how hard she thought about it, she had no idea why she agreed to her mom's idea. More like her mom's pleas, to be honest. That woman had begged for months. And there she was. Standing in front of her full-length mirror dressed and ready to go to her school's prom dance .

"This isn't you, Frances Nora James, but you don't wanna be you tonight," she mused as she looked at her reflection. After a lot of back and forth, her mom finally relented to Nora's one condition. She'd go to the blasted dance. But she had to pick her own dress. Had her mother been left to her own devices, she'd be standing in her room staring at an oversized fluffy pink scrunchie.

Her normal attire of tattered t-shirts, faded jeans, and worn sneakers was long gone. Both she and her mother were shocked when she picked out that particular dress. It was a far cry from the Nora either of them knew. The color was a delicate shade of lilac tulle with iridescent flower appliques on the bodice. It made her olive skin sparkle. The skirt was triple-tiered and bounced in an almost hypnotic way when she walked.

"Nora, honey. Are you sure?" her mother asked. Her voice held concern, but the glint in her eyes told Nora everything she needed to know. "It's so different. So unlike you."

"It's everything I'm not," Nora lamented, her voice small.

"Sweetheart," Mrs. James knelt in front of her and held her face with tender hands. "Don't say that. You are a bright, beautiful, and wonderful child. If this dress speaks to you, then it's the one you'll wear."

Nora smirked as she recalled their mad dash to look for accessories. In the end, the look came together in a way she couldn't even have hoped for. Sparkly purple shoes that gave Nora more height than she'd ever known . They wrestled her too-long raven hair up and out of the way with matching rhinestones clips.

Smoky eyeshadow, and long thick lashes framed her round, doll-like, hazel eyes. Nude gloss accentuated her lips. As she stared, she was feeling more than just a little cute.

"Nora!" her mother called from downstairs. "It's time to get going. Come on down so we can take pictures." Nora heaved a sigh and tore herself away from her sanctuary. Her parents waited at the bottom of the steps. The sight of her elicited a reaction worthy of the most dramatic telenovela. Nancy James, a bookworm like her daughter, gasped and fanned her face. Frank James, a loveable big bear of a man, smiled and did his best to hide the glossiness in his eyes.

"Well, I'll be damned," he laughed. "Hell must have frozen over. Is that Nora? In heels?"

"Oh, you look beautiful, honey."

"""Thanks." Nora blushed. Nancy took about 1,000 photos. She gushed and preened over her daughter. The attention, while nice, only served to make Nora more self-conscious.

'She has to think I look good. She's my mom,' Nora thought. The words ate at her as her dad drove her to the dance. The closer they got to the school, the butterflies in her stomach began to die, pterodactyls taking their places. The car stopped, but her heart was still racing.

"The dance ends at one, right?" Frank asked.

"Dad?" Nora squeaked. She was tense in her seat and looked down at her hands.

"What's wrong?" He eclipsed his daughter's tiny shoulder with his hand .

"Am I pretty?" she whispered.

"Yes," he answered. There was no preamble, or sympathy in his tone. The answer was straight-forward and matter of fact , as though she'd asked him if the sky was blue. "You're beautiful. You're my daughter, aren't you?" he smiled. Nora giggled.

"I look like Mom."

"Do you think your mom is pretty?"

"Well yeah…"

"And then you add me into the mix?" He brushed imaginary dust from his shoulder. "We made a pretty good-looking kid"

"You're a mess." Nora rolled her eyes, but some of her fear dissipated.

"A hot mess, as you kids say. Now go." He kissed her forehead. "Have fun. I'll be here at 1:00 AM to pick you up."

Reassured by her father's goofiness, she got out of the car and stared at the school entrance. 'The walkway sure does seem longer than normal. Maybe if I walk slow,' Nora thought, 'I'll miss the whole thing.' She shook the thoughts from her head and walked towards the dance. Music flowed from the building, and the air was filled with the buzzing of thrilled teenagers, ready to have a great night.

Groups of students milled about. Some with dates, some with friends. No one else had come alone. Merriment overflowed from the school as she entered the transformed gym. "A Night to Remember" was the theme. Pretty generic, but she had to hand it to the prom committee. The gym was almost unrecognizable. Black and gold decor covered about every inch of the ceiling, and none of the equipment was in sight.

Boys mostly ignored their dates in search of whatever lonely girls they could find. No one looked at her, though. Not even the thirsty, horndog boys even glanced her way. She wished her best friend, Kai, would have come. Then at least it could have looked like she had a date. But he was at a dance competition, and so she had to fly alone. She found a spot over by the refreshment table, and decided it was a safe enough place to linger. But as she tried to nestle, a loud voice shattered through her defenses. Hours ticked by, and Nora hadn't moved from her spot. No one spoke to her; no one looked at her. She was just as invisible as she'd always been. Most of the dance was over, and all she'd done was cower by a wall. She knew it. It was what she was afraid would happen. Having prepared for it, she believed she would have reacted better. The hollow ache in her chest jumped into her throat and she couldn't deny her tears any longer.

"I'm so pathetic," she whispered. "Why am I even here?" 'I should get up and leave… and just walk home. I don't belong here. No one wants me here. No one even care that I'm here. And I bet no one thinks my dress is cute.' As Nora ran from the gym, she collided with something solid and fell towards the ground. A pair of muscular arms wrapped around her, catching her. She looked up and was captured by a pair of blue eyes.

"I-I'm sorry," she stammered, righting herself.

"Don't be," he said as he looked her up and down. "Would you like to dance with me?"

Nora's thoughts came to record scratch halt. His voice melted her insides a little. But more importantly... did she hear him correctly?

"W-What?"

"I noticed you earlier. I was hoping you would dance with me."

"You noticed me?"

"Yes. You sort of stand out."

He extended his hand towards her. As their skin touched, Nora felt something stir within her. 'Oh, stuff it,' she admonished herself. 'You'll ruin the moment.'

"Your date won't mind?" There was no way this unbelievable specimen was at the dance alone.

"She'll live," he smiled. Nora was sure her knees would buckle if he smiled at her like that again. It was sweet, but there was hint of danger there. "Besides, I wouldn't be much of a gentleman if I didn't ask a pretty girl in a pretty dress for a dance, now would I?" His fingers laced with hers and he led her to the dance floor.

Nora was lost in the blue of his eyes. Not bright like the sky. But deep like the ocean. Mystery and intrigue hid within those eyes and something in her longed to uncover his secrets.

"I don't think I've ever seen you before," Nora managed to say in between songs.

"I didn't go to this school," he offered as an answer, but didn't elaborate further. He dipped her and it took every brain cell for her to remember his statement. He was an amazing dancer.

"Didn't?"

"Caught that, huh? I graduated last year," he answered. The song ended, and he pulled her close. "Had I known that someone like you was here, I may have considered a transfer." He winked at her.

Nora's brain lost the war for coherence. They stared at each other for a moment. His expression was troubled, and Nora could feel the tension in his hands from the way he held her.

"All right everyone gather around! It's time to reveal your Prom Court!" one of the teachers announced.

"I should go,," he whispered.

"Why?" Nora could feel the disappointed look on her face.

"I should have left a while ago, but I guess I got a little distracted. There's just something about you..." He shook his head like he was trying to force himself out of a daze. "Take care. Maybe we'll cross paths again." He placed a quick kiss on her cheek and turned to walk away.

"Wait! I'm Nora! What's your name?" she called out to him

"Goodbye, Nora. I really do hope that I get to see you again."