Apple was at her desk, admiring the flush of new spring growth from her window while she worked, when the storm clouds rolled in. She heard the dorm door swing open with a clap like thunder, followed by the loud groan of her roommate.

Apple turned to find Raven face-first in a wad of black and frilled bedding, her knees bent and high heels in the air above her. The disgruntled Queen flicked her wrist without so much as lifting her head when all of the skull candles on her nightstand ignited, filling the now-darkened room with a somber air to match the clouds.

Apple sighed.

She daintily placed herself on the edge of Raven's bed, mindful of the space between them. Asking what was wrong seemed like the natural first question, but Apple didn't have to ask. She knew the cause of the magical storm outside her window. She knew it was all Dexter Charming's fault.

Raven and Dexter had only been dating for six months, but it seemed there had been enough heartbreak in the brief relationship to last Raven a lifetime by now. And, of course, Apple was always the first to hear about it, to lend a shoulder for Raven to cry mascara-stained tears on until she went running back to him, like always. It was a game, Apple found, that tore more than just Raven's heart in two.

She was Raven's friend, Apple reminded herself. It was all but her job to comfort her in times of need. Only it wasn't that simple when desire for Raven beat at her chest every time she so much as looked at her. Despite their friendship, she would be lying if she said she never thought about it, what it would feel like to indulge in dark eyes and soft curves. She thought about it a lot, actually. More than she should. But still, Apple knew she could never confess her feelings for fear that she'd get between Raven and Dexter. As a princess meant to encourage romances, she couldn't imagine anything worse than tearing one apart. As far as she could tell, the only thing she could do about her feelings was to cram them somewhere deep down and forget. Unfortunately, that was something easier said than done when Raven was mere inches away. Thoughts of touching her were already swimming in Apple's head, guiding her to reach out a hand…

Before Apple could touch Raven's shoulder, the darker princess rolled onto her side and looked up into Apple's dovelike eyes. She wiped at her face, mascara and glitter smearing across her cheeks. Her makeup was an absolute wreck from crying and the tilted crown of spikes had become tangled in her long hair, but the truth was she wore heartache more beautifully than anyone Apple knew.

"We broke up again," she said, staring forward with misted eyes.

Despite everything, Apple wanted to say she was sorry and soothe Raven the way she did so well. She wanted to be both resilient and caring, though it didn't make any sense. So she settled for silence instead.

"I don't understand why things keep going wrong. Sometimes I think I'm the one who has something wrong with them," she whispered. "I'm the one who can't commit to him. I don't feel the same way he does about me. No, that's not true. I do, but only when I'm…" She glanced away, furrowing her brows. The silence between them stretched and the only sound to fill the regal room was Raven's trembling breath. "I care about him. I need it to work between us, no matter what I have to do. It just has to."

Raven barely spoke and yet Apple could already feel her heart aching. She turned away, worrying a pink, bottom lip between her teeth. The next thing she knew, Raven's hand was over top of hers on the comforter.

Apple startled at the touch and instantly whipped around in a sweep of blonde curls. She watched as Raven sat up. Her eyes dropped to her plum lips, shimmering with gloss, and just like that the space between them was too small for her to think clearly.

"He's been so good to me. Kind, courteous… Even charming, in his own goofy way. And he's good for me too, you know? People treat me differently when I'm with him. Nicely. Like I'm the girlfriend of a Prince Charming rather than the daughter of an Evil Queen for once." Raven tousled her dark hair, the perfumed scent of warm spices drifting to Apple's nose, as if her hand on Apple's wasn't distracting enough. "And it feels good," she admitted.

"Hm? Feels good?"

"The last thing I wanted was to break up again. Maybe I could try harder next time."

"Break up?" Apple breathed.

Raven caught her eye, tears pooling along the edges of her own, and Apple swore she felt her heart leap. "I wish I could be better. He deserves someone better. Why can't I be that girl?"

Before Apple knew what to say, Raven threw her arms around Apple's waist, weeping into her lap. Apple hesitated a few beats before finally giving in out of sympathy and, if she were honest, her own selfish reasons. She stroked Raven's hair, like black silk between her fingers, and comforted her through her sobs and shudders.

They sat like that for some time, until Raven's breath slowed to quiet gasps and she was finally able to lift herself by fistfuls of Apple's pristine jacket, now crumpled in her hands.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to dump that all on you," Raven said, and Apple nodded because she understood and because that was one thing that continued to draw her to Raven. She was in some ways kind and considerate, even at her low points. "I mean it. You're always there for me, Apple. You're such a good friend, I don't know what I'd do without you." Raven released one hand from Apple's jacket collar, instead tracing the golden thread that lined its diamond pattern.

Apple looked down to watch Raven's finger sweep across her jacket, then up again at Raven's eyes, fixed on what she was doing. She wondered if Raven had always been so close. She was definitely close enough now for Apple to see individual flecks of silver glitter shimmering on her cheeks.

Raven's eyes lifted, half-lidded beneath a thick layer of lashes. "You really are a good person. Sweet like sugar. I bet… you taste like it too."

Raven smoothed her hand over the jacket, joining her other hand at Apple's collar, where she buried both her knuckles as she grabbed hold and pulled. Apple couldn't think, couldn't breathe. She couldn't even remember to close her eyes as Raven's lips pressed against hers, warm and plush. She realized Raven kissed the same way she looked, soft, wanting, when Apple's eyes slipped closed.

Apple pulled back, the taste of salt on her tongue, and she realized it was the taste of Raven's tears on her lips. Her thoughts clouded over in bliss as she stared, drunk to the way Raven looked leaning back, smoothing her tongue over her bottom lip. Until Raven's eyes fluttered open, a look of horror on her face.

Guilt washed through Apple almost instantly, taking with it all the warmth the kiss had given her. "Oh god," she whispered and Raven regarded her warily. "Oh god," she repeated, moving off the bed. "This was a mistake, clearly. You're hurting and I'm here, I'm… I know it didn't mean anything and I'm not the one who you… really want. God!"

"Apple," Raven pleaded.

"I have to go," Apple rushed, scarlet burning behind her cheeks. "I can't, I can't be here right now. I'm sorry."

Without waiting or looking, Apple ran. The last sound she knew was the door slamming closed, and yet there was some small part of her, some really small part, that wished the sound could have been Raven calling after her, just once.