After movie night, Carmen was still vacant, even with the fearfully sanguine showing of Confessions of a Bookaholic and serving of pear tart. She was overwrought from the event, yet the apple pie delivery had given her much hope. If only Apple would forgive her.
It was the morning after that night, and Carmen was curled up, shivering wildly on her bed. Alizarin, who had now delivered the parcel and took to a quick rest on a local tree branch, was perched casually upon Carmen's shoulder as she rubbed her eyes. She somehow hadn't slept, just as she could barely shut her eyes when she took a late nap just after the event. She was fatigued, but nevertheless, she moved upwards and from the cosy mattress that was upon an ornate silver bedframe. She hazily stumbled into Aurelia's sleeping quarters, where for a spontaneous moment Aurelia wasn't hasty with Carmen in the morning. For once, it was Carmen who poked her roommate, obviously over clothing so she would not run the risk of alchemy on her finger.
"Morning, glory." Carmen sarcastically shouted to her friend, as Aurelia leaped up from the bed.
"Sorry, I've been pretty tranquil." Aurelia remarked. "Unlike you."
"Don't criticise me." Carmen blurted. "You know I'm stressed over the Apple problem."
"Carmen, I get it. You're sorry." Aurelia reminded her of her knowledge. "Speaking of Apple, I'm going to one of her parties down at the Novella Club. I heard that My Fairytale Romance is playing there."
And that's when it hit her. Carmen had finally found a way to solve all of her problems – she never went to Apple's parties, and she meant ever. But this time, she had the chance to prove to Apple that she wasn't just some stinging hornet. If she wanted to make it up to her cousin, she would need to go to that party. Even though she didn't want to.
"Can I come with you?" the words fell out of Carmen's lipstick-stained mouth. "It's really important."
Aurelia raised an eyebrow. "And why would you go to some banal organisation, your words exactly."
"You know what it is!" Carmen uttered. "I have to make it up to Apple, and if that means going to some insipid gathering with the Prissy Posse, then that's exactly what I'm going to do."
Aurelia blew a strand of hair from her face, rolled her eyes and stared wilfully at Carmen. "Fine. You can come with me." And for once in Carmen's life, she felt that she was doing something by the book. However, it was her book.
The night of the party came, and Carmen was not prepared for this. Still, she was strutting out of the en-suite like the regular Carmen would – casual, slick and sandpaper-tongued. This time, she had a whole lot more things written in her mind. As she admired her outfit, she glanced onwards to Aurelia, who also stood around, admiring her outfit. Despite the fact that the two girls' outfits were exactly the same as usual, something felt special. Obviously, this was loosely a special occasion; Carmen rarely if ever attended parties, especially if it was in the mainstream crowd that included Apple and her friends. Yes, definitely a special event.
"I hope you're ready to get yourself a social life." Aurelia attempted conversation, and sweetly giggled.
"Please, I'm not looking for anything close to a social life." Carmen retorted. "This is purely to make it up to my cousin." And it was. But somehow, Carmen knew that Aurelia desired to give her roommate the experience of popularity. However, Carmen didn't desire to make friends and be popular. All Carmen wanted was to change her destiny. "Come on, we're going to be late."
As Aurelia turned up to the door, she smiled at the person guarding it. This was a certain Castilla Turque, a fairy with brilliant bold turquoise hair and perky eyes.
"Hey, Castilla!" Aurelia greeted the fairy, and managed to elbow Carmen in the stomach, to encourage her to greet her too.
"Hello." Carmen popped up from behind her roommate, with a quirky grin on her face.
Castilla stared, wide-mouthed. She turned slowly to Aurelia. "Are you sure she should be here?" Aurelia pleaded silently, using only her hands and an adorable expression, threw onto her face within a matter of seconds. Castilla sighed, and opened the doorway to the club. "Have fun, girls!" she enthusiastically chirped as the two girls walked out of sight.
Carmen knew exactly how she planned to enter, and followed the idea closely. Aurelia, however, wasn't aware.
"Good evening chapters. The rose blooms in your presence." Carmen casually wrangled to the guests. Silence filled the room, as the content of guests stared at Carmen, wide-eyed. Some were scared, and jittered in their standing states. Others were furious.
"You have got to be kidding me." Briar muttered. "Why are you here? Apple does not want to talk to you, and I'm pretty sure you really don't wanna talk to her either!"
"Zip it, thorns." Carmen snapped. "I'm here to see my cousin for a friendly conversation. Hit the bricks."
"Well you can't. You really upset her yesterday." Briar remarked.
"Yes, well now I'm going to make it up to her." Carmen fired her word ammunition. "And I cannot do that if you're in the way. So shove."
"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, OKAY!" Apple shouted. She was sat down on a comfortable-looking couch, and stared at Carmen, half upset, half angered. She was not in her usual chirpy mood, and she had nothing nice to say to her cousin. But she had something to day.
"I don't need you to keep on pushing me down, Carmen! I don't want you to make my week a misery, like you did yesterday!" she continued.
"Apple, let me explain!" Carmen interrupted.
"No, Carmen!" Apple persisted. "Why are you doing this? Why do you hate me so much?"
"I don't hate you, Apple. If anything, I envy you!" Carmen quickly responded.
"So that's why you're doing this! You're pushing me down because of jealousy!" Apple bellowed.
"That was kind of obvious…" Briar muttered under her breath.
"You know what, Carmen? I want you to leave here right now." Apple cited.
"Just listen to her, Apple!" Aurelia jumped in. "She has something nice to say for once. Trust me, I've listened." But soon enough, Daring Charming was over to protect his princess, and grabbed Carmen by the legs.
"Out you go, toots. Nobody hurts my princess!" Daring mumbled. Carmen was soon draped over his shoulder, kicking and screaming, shouting every curse word she knew, until he was out of the door, and dropped Carmen on the cold hard ground. She was flat on her chest, her head turned upwards in fury.
"You have got to be kidding me." She uttered. Getting Apple back was going to be a wild goose chase.