tangled (taylor's version)

chapter 2

S  P  E  A  K    N  O  W

I threw a frying pan at her head. I don't know who she is, or why she's here. I did well, right?Then I tied her to the chair. And now I'm waiting for her to wake up. Do I look psychotic?

<<A pan. Good idea.>>

<<Who are you?>> I ask her. Fair question.

<<Who are you?>> she replies.

<<You're the one who broke into my house. Who. Are. You?>>

<<What's your name?>> why she keeps answering my questions with more questions?

<<Speak Now.>> I reply. It is rude not to answer questions. I'm not rude.

<<Too long. I'll call you Spekie.>>

<<What?>> what the hell did she say?

<<You're right. Spekie is ugly. Well, Evie, my name is Lavender.>>

<<Don't call me Evie.>>

<<Why?>>

<<It's not my name.>>

<<I like it, Evie.>>

<<Speak Now!>> my mother shouts from outside the window. Fuck. I have to hide her. I take the chair and start pushing it behind the curtain.

<<But what...>> she starts to say.

<<Shut up and don't make any noise.>> I reply quickly.

<<I'm coming!>> I shout to my mother, who is waiting for me down the tower, and I let my long, blond hair hang down from the window, so that my mother can use it to climb up.

<<Winter is coming... tonight I'll make a nice broth...>> she says as soon as she enters the room.

<<We are always in winter.>> i reply.

<<Well yes, but with the solstice comes winter winter.>>

<<Yes, well... you know... the solstice is also my eighteenth birthday...>> I start to tell her, knowing full well what the final point of this conversation will be. I also forget that there is a girl behind my curtain, but I can't miss this opportunity. <<I was thinking... you could let me go see the Christmas lights. Just for once...>>

<<Speak Now! We've already talked about it many times. No.>>

<<Why?>> I whimper.

<<It's a dangerous world out there. Tell me something else you would like, and I'll give it to you.>>

She underestimates me. Well, mother, I'm smart too. <<The white tempera. The one made from snow, which you got from me a year ago...>> I say, knowing full well that it takes a seven-day journey to get to the city where I had found it, and that this would give me time to sneak out and see the Christmas lights without his permission.

<<But it takes seven days just to go... you know what, okay. But you will never ask me to go and see the lights again.>>

<<Done deal.>> I reply with a smile on my face, hugging her. <<Thank you, mom.>>

<<I'll leave tomorrow. Do you think you can spend two weeks alone? You will spend your birthday alone...>>

<<I'm sure. And then I have Olivia.>> Olivia is my cat, in case anyone was wondering.

She dismisses me with a smile and goes to the kitchen to prepare her supplies for the next day's trip.

Left in the room alone, I take Lavender out from behind the curtain.<<I wasn't finished with you.>> I tell her.