I still need to edit it and add the music but I thought I'd show you what I've got so far. It's the opening for this series.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Good morning and good night
(Jeremy Jordan-Varian Meyer)
I'll wake up at twilight
(Eden Espinosa-Cassandra Guard)
It's gonna be alright
(Mandy Moore-Rapunzel/Sunny Corona)
We don't even have to try
(Zachary Levi-Eugene Fritzherbert)
It's always a good time
(Jonathan Banks-Quirin, M. C. Gainy-Mr. Guard)
Whoa oh oh oh, whoa oh oh oh
(James Monroe-Lance)
It's always a good time
(Sean Heyes-Pete, Diedrich Bader-Stan)
Whoa oh oh oh, whoa oh oh oh
(Peter MacNicol-Principal Nigel)
We don't even have to try
(Julie Brown-Ariana, Clancy Brown-Fredric)
It's always a good time
(All other voices)
Written by Cupcakegirlpower
Tangled is owned by Disney
Theme Song: It's Always a Good Time
By Owl City and Carly Rae Jespen
Operation: Christmas Scrooge
"No a little to the left. No, no, to the right!"
Varian let out a large breath. "Since when did you direct Christmas plays, Brad?"
The seventeen year old chuckled. "Since last year."
"I'll make a mental note on that," Varian said.
"You're not going to be in the play are you?" Cassandra asked, carrying a large crate.
"Naw, just helping in the background. I was asked to take care of the lighting…" he turned a knob, but it fell off into his hand. "Uh… Progress!"
Cassandra rolled her eyes as she continued to walk the crate to its destination. Suddenly, Varian realized what she was doing. "Cassie! What are you doing? Do you want to hurt your back again?" he snatched the crate from her.
She rolled her eyes again. "Varian, my back is fine. If it makes you feel any better, I took a muscle relaxer to be safe. I'm fine. Doing these crates will hurt me a lot less by tomorrow than it will you."
Varian's turn to roll his eyes. "We had this conversation last week and you didn't stop complaining about your back until yesterday. So if you want to help, do something that isn't going to take back work!"
Brad looked between the two. Cassandra looked like she was about to rip Varian's head off, but he looked unfazed. He gave a defiant gaze to her glare, which seemed stupid to Brad if the kid wanted to live. The two had a staring contest. Cassandra threw her hands in the air. "Fine! Whatever."
Varian's stern face turned into a smile. "Thank you, m'lady." He began to carry the box to the back of the stage.
"Yeah, don't get used to it," she huffed.
What just happened? It took everything in Brad to not gawk at the scenes with his mouth open. Instead, he turned around to Rapunzel who was painting the backgrounds. There were other seniors about the place, setting up the play.
Varian set the box down with a huff. He leaned back and cracked his back. Cassandra was right about one thing. He was going to hurt the next day, for he wasn't naturally built for this sort of work. Cassandra was always doing this type of thing. He wouldn't be surprised if she actually lifted weights.
"Hey, there, looser."
Varian looked up at the owner of the voice. "Burt."
"Long time since we talked." The teen leaned against the wall.
"Huh, I don't recall," Varian snarked.
Burt faked a hurt expression. "I am offended you don't remember."
"Well, if you're talking about pushing me in a frozen pool and almost giving me hypothermia, I do remember that. I actually had it a couple weeks ago. You should try it some time," Varian said sarcastically.
"Ha, and people thought I was the rude one," Burt snorted.
"This is my way of saying that you don't scare me Burt! So, unless you're here to be friends, you better pack up and move out." Varian clenched his fists. He was not letting this guy mess with his day.
Burt's face grew red with anger. "Are you sure about that?" He stood face to face with Varian.
Burt was almost as tall as his older brother, Brad. He certainly took after his brother with the broad shoulders and large muscles. He was pretty big for a fifteen year old. Varian, on the other hand, was the typical, scrawny nerd. He was slightly shorter than the average height of his age, which drove him nuts.
Varian just stared up at the other boy, not losing a beat. He gave him a glare almost fit to rival Cassandra's, but it was hard to take his big blue eyes seriously. Burt huffed and backed down. He stormed out of the room behind the stage.
Varian sighed with relief. His heart was pounding in his chest. Eugene was right. He had told Varian to just stand up to Burt and he would leave Varian alone. Or, so he thought.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Alright, I think we got it all done today, so we're gonna wrap it up!" Brad said.
Varian gave him a mischievous grin. He was in a good mood. "You know, you're a lot better in person, than I thought. You're not half bad."
Brad shook his head and laughed. "Not half bad? Does that mean I'm all bad, or not bad?"
Varian shrugged. "Take it whichever way you want."
"Alrighty, then," Brad nodded in approval.
"Cassie! Why are you carrying the sheep?" Varian shrieked suddenly.
"For the last time, Varian! It's Cass! And the sheep are cardboard for goodness sake! They're lighter than my dinner plate!"
"Oh…" Varian blushed at his mistake.
Rapunzel laughed as she put the paint supplies away. "It's ok, Varian! I just got after her for picking up an empty box. It was the size her fists too."
"Well just because it's small, doesn't make it any less heavy," Varian put his finger up as he stated the fact.
"No, it had my paint," Rapunzel chuckled.
"Both of you seriously are on my nerves," Cassandra growled. "I can take care of myself just fine."
"But you can do better with us," Varian pointed out.
"You're about to get a fist in the face, kid," Cassandra threatened.
Varian shrugged as if he didn't care. Brad was still amazed Varian had made it that far without a threat. Let alone him still being unfazed by it.
Varian got a message on his watch. "Dad's here to pick me up. Gotta fly!" he waved to his friends. He could have easily walked home on his own, but both him and his dad were still shaken from the hypothermia incident. Of course, Varian would have to walk some days because his dad couldn't get off work that early all the time.
~~~~~~~~~~
Dennis was in the library the next day. His red and black checkered scarf hung loosely on his shoulders. He pulled a book that was at his eye level, revealing the other side of the shelf. His eyes widened. As did the big blue ones meeting his gaze. Dennis shoved the book back in its place, which he immediately chided himself for doing.
He looked to his right. Varian was already coming to him. Dennis grabbed the book again, but refused to meet Varian's gaze.
"Den, wait."
Dennis stopped. He turned back around to see Varian. His eyes widened when Varian bent over and picked up the glasses on the ground. Dennis felt the pockets of his coat. His glasses were not there.
Varian stood up and handed them to him. "Thanks," Dennis muttered as he took the glasses back.
"I like how the frames were made of steel..." Varian gave a shy grin.
"Oh, thanks. I was thinking about using iron, but steel looked better. However, when you're comparing the two side by side-"
"Both win at being the best metal," the two finished the sentence together. "Because steel is made up of some sort of percentage of iron, depending on the steel, but steel is much more durable."
"You're fun when you're a nerd." Varian grinned.
"Yeah, well. You'd be the first," he muttered.
"You know, we can still be friends…"
"No, we can't. If I do, I become the outcast. I become the nerd who's the victim," Dennis said.
"That didn't stop me. You can have true friends," Varian tried again.
"Well, I'm not you." Dennis huffed. "I don't have a mother's science legacy to live up to. I come from an ordinary family, with ordinary minds."
"Den, your family is far from ordinary," Varian disagreed.
Dennis snorted. "I'm not my sister either, Varian. Don't think I don't know about your crush."
Varian shrugged. "Sometimes you act like her."
Dennis rolled his eyes. Great. He just proved Varian's point. "What I'm saying is, don't count on me being ok with it." He turned around and began to storm off.
Varian's shoulders slumped as he watched Dennis continue. He wasn't going to give up though. He was going to keep going. He wouldn't stop until they were set right. For Cassandra.
Varian didn't feel like finding more books, so he went to check out the ones he had. As he passed by a table, he saw Cassandra. She must have come with Dennis. "Cassie."
Cassandra groaned. "Varian, I swear, if you call me Cassie one more time, I will end your life, and with no mercy!"
Varian chuckled at threat, in spite of it not being empty. "Sooo, the school wants Team Awesome to sing a song for the Christmas play to end it, but Eugene's kinda lost his voice on me…"
"No," Cassandra cut him off. "Whatever you're asking no."
Varian sat down at the table and unconsciously made a pouty face. "But I know you can sing like mad yourself."
She snorted. "How would you know that I can… Rapunzel." she squinted her eyes in realization. "She secretly recorded me singing, didn't she?"
Varian smirked. "You are one of the best I've ever heard."
"No. The answer is still no," Cassandra stated.
The fifteen year old sighed. He tried. He could say that much. He couldn't say he had succeeded, though.
~~~~~~~~~~
Varian was walking home from the library. He was shifting his back pack from one shoulder to another when he felt something snag it. He was forced backwards. His head snapped back to look behind him, only to see two gray, cold eyes staring at him. Varian's face scrunched up into an angry scowl. "Let go, Burt!"
Burt yanked off the backpack. Varian went to launch at the boy, by two pairs of hands grabbed his arms, holding him back. Lewis and Jill. "Hey! Let go of me!" Varian barked.
Burt unzipped the backpack and poured out it's contents onto the ground. "Hey, hey, hey! Those were library books…"
The bully kicked Varian's backpack and flew over to a stranger's lawn. He had a cruel smirk on his lips. Varian gave a glare at Burt through clenched teeth.
"We'll talk about who's scared of who once we're through!" Burt grinned.
Varian clenched his fists, sweat dripping down his forehead in fear. He refused to let up his glare though. His eyebrows pointed downward in anger. "Get. off."
That was when Varian felt the first blow. The punch snapped his neck back. He sucked in a deep breath to keep from shouting. He was then slammed to the ground by Jill and Lewis. The air was knocked out of him from the impact.
"Scared yet?" Burt taunted.
Varian was trembling. He wiped the back of his hand across his chin. He noticed the red liquid smeared on his hand. Passing out was not a choice yet, but he sure did want to at the sight. Without giving the bullies a warning, he launched himself on top of Burt, giving an equally hard punch on the nose to the bully.
Burt kicked Varian off of him. Varian rolled across the lawn of some unknown person. His stomach ached from the hit. He panted, trying to keep from crying. He felt another kick in his side that sent him back flat on the ground. The victim couldn't help but cry out this time.
"What about now, pip squeak?"
Varian was almost sobbing, but he refused to let a tear fall for the sake of Burt's enjoyment. He glared up at the three. There was no way he could take them on his own, but Burt didn't look too well himself from the beating Varian gave him.
Varian was grabbed by his shirt and was yanked up. He gasped in pain. Burt pulled his arm back for another punch. Varian squeezed his eyes shut, preparing himself for the blow.
"Hey! Hey, you! Get off my lawn!" a large man was standing in the doorway of the house. The three bullies dropped Varian and bolted.
Varian groaned as he held his stomach. He got on his hands and knees. He noticed the large shadow looming over him. He looked up. The large man squatted down to help Varian. "Are you alright?"
Varian nodded, but he felt a tear finally rolling down his cheek. "Th-thank you, Mr…"
"Please, just Xavier," the man said.
"Thank you, Xavier." Varian breathed.
The man smiled and put everything back in his backpack. "Do you need help home?"
Varian shook his head. "N-no…"
"Why don't we call your parents," Xavier said.
"Yeah..." Varian nodded.
~~~~~~~~~~
Quirin helped his son in the door. He had rushed to pick Varian up, and brought him to the emergency room. He looked pretty bad. Varian slumped on the couch and groaned.
His father sighed. It hurt to see Varian look so beat up. He was not letting the other kids treat his son like this. The pain on Varian's face was heartbreaking.
"Can I get you anything?" Quirin asked.
Varian shook his head. "No… I'm alright," he assured his father.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Thank you."
~~~~~~~~~~
"Varian! Are you alright! We heard what happened!" Rapunzel was hovering over him the moment he stepped inside the school theater.
"I'm alright," he said.
"That's one beauty of a black eye, V." Cassandra even cringed at the sight. "Did you score a number on Burt?"
Brad cleared his throat. Cassandra flushed. "Sorry."
Brad shrugged. "As an answer to your question, Cassandra, yes. The answer is yes. He's got two black eyes."
Varian couldn't help but chuckle at the news. Brad grinned himself. "I kinda knew he was gonna get bit back sooner or later, but I never thought that you'd be the one to score a number on him. Ha! He even had two buddies with him… no offense."
"Eh," Varian shrugged. "None taken."
"I'm glad you're alright." Rapunzel went to hug him.
"Woe, woe, Rapunzel! I'm alright, but that doesn't mean I'm not sore," Varian said.
Rapunzel stepped back, giving a sheepish, apologetic grin. "Sorry."
The other three teens laughed.
~~~~~~~~~~
"So, Cass. If I made a bet with you, would you do it?" Varian asked slowly.
Cassandra shrugged. "Depends… Hey, you called me Cass."
"Anyways. If I win, you have to sing the duet with me." Varian smiled.
"And if I win?" Cassandra scoffed.
"I will… not talk to you for a whole two days." Varian said.
"Deal."
"Wait, what? I haven't even said the bet yet," Varian began incredulously.
"Deal. Now, what are we betting on?" Cassandra leaned in closer.
Varian scowled. "You were supposed to come up with something different than me not talking to you for two days."
"You said it. You deal with it. Now, what's the bet?"
One week later…
"Cass? Are you really doing a duet with Varian? I thought you said that you weren't going to sing," Rapunzel asked.
"We had a bet. I won." Varian's chest puffed out with pride.
"Oh…" Rapunzel snickered and Cassandra rolled her eyes and groaned. "You playing your drum set, Cass?"
"Wait, you play the drums too?" Varian gasped.
"Don't count on hearing it anytime soon," Cassandra deadpanned.
Varian shrugged. "Come on, Cassie! It's our turn!" Varian began to drag her.
"It's Cass!"
The two were on stage. Varian had his famous blue and white guitar and Cassandra was using the keyboard. They began to play the notes to the crowd.
V: The first Noel,
The Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
In fields where they lay
C: In fields where they
Lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night
That was so deep
V: Noel
C: Noel
B: Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
C: They looked up and saw a star
shining in the East beyond them far
V: And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
B: Noel, Noel
Noel, Noel
Noel, Noel
Noel, Noel
Noel, Noel
Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
V: Born is the King of Israel!
C: Born is the King of Israel!
Noel, Noel
Noel, Noel
Varian looked out in the crowd. He noticed the sick Eugene with no voice in the mix. He was giving a thumbs up. Varian could see his dad beaming with pride in the crowd as well. His Aunt Adira and Uncle Hector were all in the mix. Varian smiled. He didn't even mind that the crowd could see his blackeye.
End of Episode
Next episode is-New Year's Resolutions
Song is the First Noel Cover by Pentatonix. Video is not mine.