Disclaimer: The EAH universe doesn't belong to me, and the plot partly belongs to me (Silver Wolf), and partly to my BFFA, Aquila. The way this chapter is written, most of the incidents and some other aspects are the ones that belongs to me completely. Hope you like it! ;)

The cafeteria was filled with the usual hum of chatter as Raven was waiting in the usual lunch line to fill her plate with the usual cafeteria food and made her way towards her usual table. Nothing was out of the ordinary.

Raven huffed annoyed at the monotonous schedule that she had formed.

Wake up, get ready, go to the cafeteria, eat with her friends, suffer the class hours, get a quick lunch, more torture, get back to her room to complete her homework, get dinner, more homework, and sleep.

What happened to the excitement, the wonder that was associated with Ever After High? It was a school of enchanted beings, for magic's sake! The only highlight of her day was when she would hang out with her BFFAs. And…

Raven blushed lightly at the thought of her… well… she didn't know what to call that person.

What do you call a person who is your Best Friend Forever After, but you want them to be… more?

Oh, and don't forget, said person openly says that she doesn't prefer boys, and yet is single.

And may have very subtly flirted with her.

And even though that doesn't mean that said person has a definite interest in her, which does mean that she has a chance, right?

Right?

Raven got her food and started walking slowly towards her table, lost in thought.

'It isn't like its hopeless,' she thought to herself, recalling the time when the two of them were sitting side by side in the enchanted forest, brushing their hands against each other softly. When Apple had brought news that her mother had tried to take over the enchanted worlds, after the initiation of the dragon games. She was the only one who had been there to comfort her.

The memory made Raven blush ever so slightly, and made little moths run amok around her tummy.

Speaking of dragons, she needed to spend time with Neverbeast.

It had been a while and Neverbeast usually gets jumpy when she doesn't visit for a few weeks.

Maybe she could ask her whether she'd like to join her…

No, don't think of her, think of something else, she's practically all that you think of nowadays.

She smiled softly at her friends who were already at the table.

Cerise raised her hand in greeting, before going back to gorging food into her mouth, under the partially amused and the partially defeated gaze of Rosabella. Maddie gave a giggle as Kitty whispered something into her ear, before she smiled hello. Cedar waved cheerfully before burying her nose back into her new masterpiece.

She looked around in hope to spot her... crush, for lack of a better word, but was unable to.

It was like the afore mentioned person was avoiding her. Maybe her 'crush' was a little hopeless. She let her gaze wander around the hall with a defeated sigh.

Her gaze went across the room idly, falling across the raucous football team, the equally boisterous music band, the dainty looking Royals, until her gaze fell on Apple.

Suddenly, she was struck with a pang of guilt.

She hadn't really talked to her roommate since the ground breaking truth of the storybook of legends was revealed, that it did not specify that that they must inevitably follow their forever afters, that they may re-write their destinies.

While it was a dream come true for Raven and the other rebels, it would probably be a nightmare made reality for most royals. Especially for Apple, since her 'one-true-love' Prince Charming, Daring was now in an official relationship with Lizzy Hearts.

Goodness, what a horrible friend she was!

She vowed to sit down this evening and have a good, long, heart-felt talk, and a pillow fight later on to ease the tension. Maybe she could get some hot chocolate with a few marshmallows floating on top. And some cinnamon cakes. Or maybe chocolate cake since that was Apple's favorite. Maybe she could bake it herself, and give it to her as a surprise. It would certainly cheer her up! But no, she would need some help. Maybe she could rope in…

No! She would not think of her. No, no, no, no, no!

Couldn't she keep her mind off of her for more than 30 seconds?

Gods, she was pathetic.

She perked up when she saw the subject of her thoughts, Darling come in through the door. She really did look very beautiful. Her platinum blond hair streaked with a complementary shade of blue cascading across her back in luscious curls, her healthy peaches and cream complexion, her beautiful blue eyes which were practically glowing with life, her lithe figure, her graceful gait, her… wait, why was she climbing onto the table?

Eyes were drawn to Darling and conversations were ceasing, as Darling stood comfortably on the cafeteria table. Then, in a strong yet sweet voice, she said softly,

"Could I have everyone's attention, please? I wish to make a confession." A pin drop could have been heard in the silence. Darling smiled softly and said,

"Thank you. The subject of my confession is Raven Queen." Raven's jaw dropped. Darling looked at the brunette in the eye.

"Sweet Raven, I know not the outcome of this, but if you feel humiliated by this gesture, then you have my most sincere apologies, and I beg your forgiveness."

Darling took a deep breath and continued, "That being said, I wish to confess that… I think I may have developed feelings for you. Feelings which at first made me confused as they were not purely platonic. But they were quite different from that which I have ever had for anyone. They were not familial, which I had first thought it to be, nor merely a physical infatuation, or any of the other options I considered. I did not wish to chance the ruin our friendship over a misplaced emotion, so I kept quiet, thinking it would pass with time. However, with each second I spent in your company, my feelings grew. Fearing that they would grow out of control, I tried to avoid you for a while. That proved to be even more pointless, as every second I spent away from you was torture. I should have known how I felt when we were together, and even more when we were apart. It was then I realized the depth of my feelings."

The entire hall listened spell-bound as the girl continued,

"Recently, every time you looked my way, I would feel as if there were a million little butterflies in my stomach, every time you smiled in my presence, it was like the world stopped turning, every time you were sad, I would get into a near unstoppable frenzy to get you anything you'd ask of me to get that frown off your face. Be it a simple flower or the very moon, I would have given it to you on bended knee and on a golden platter.

"I will not say what I have for you is love, for love is a deep and powerful emotion, a word too special to be thrown around carelessly. And I don't wish to make you any false promises. But what I do promise is that I believe with all my heart that they will become love if given a chance to pursue them. And that I am now willing to.

"If you consider my advances unwanted after this, say the word, and I will stop immediately."

Darling leapt gracefully down the table and went down onto one knee right in front of Raven, and took her hand while saying,

"I will understand if you turn me down, but I must say this. Even though you are not a princess, nor I, a prince, will you give me a chance to be your princess Charming, so that I may treat you like the queen you are?"

Raven could not believe what her each senses were telling her, and it was in a daze that she rather dumbly nodded her head, amidst the roar of approval from the crowd. Everyone were on their feet, most of the girls sniffling softly at the beautiful speech given by Darling. Even Dexter momentarily forgot his rather, well... hopeless crush in favor of screaming his support of the new couple, and to express his happiness on behalf of his little sister.

Beside him, his brother was screaming, "Atta girl Darling! Now, that's how you get your girl!" and then, Daring whispered to him, "They grow up so soon," with a fake sniffle while trying desperately to suppress his already too-wide grin.

Not one member of the cheering crowd noticed the only person who wasn't cheering their head, or in some cases, heads, off.

Apple White had her head down, her princess blond locks covering most of her face, shielding her facial expression from anyone who would chance a glance her way. If anyone had taken the effort to take a look at her face, past the curls, then they would have seen a plastic smile and a lovely, if not a slightly wooden, expression. Only if one noticed her blue eyes would they have noticed something amiss. Eyes are the windows to the soul, they say. Well, if that was true…

Apple's eyes showed a vortex of emotions- a good dash of anger, a streak of sadness, an undertone of loneliness, a ton of hurt, maybe a swirl of betrayal, a touch of something very close to desperation, but the most dominant emotion being jealousy. And they were fixed on Darling.

Yes, Apple White was jealous of Darling Charming, over Raven Queen.

And no, she wasn't gay, she was bi, thank you very much.