Hey everyone! Aquila here, with a brand new chapter for all you folks. I'm going to my gran's place for the weekend, so I won't be able to upload my next few chapters until Monday. I'm really sorry! Hope you enjoy this one.
Chapter 3
Apple stormed right down the stairs of the school, glaring at everyone who walked beside her. If she had been in a foul mood before, she was in a downright horrid one now.
She slammed through the doors that led to the school grounds and further on to the borders of the enchanted forest. She took deep breaths of the crisp autumn air, trying to cool down her irrational anger.
She heard sweet laughter floating in the air from the direction of the wonderland grove.
Apple stepped on her tippy toes and peeped over the hedge.
Maddie was sitting cross legged on a huge chequered red and white picnic blanket and was carefully pouring out cups of lemon and chamomile tea. Earl Grey was tucking into a sticky treacle tart and giving small squeaks of approval. Spread out on the blanket were lots of trays filled with shortcake, gingerbread, scones, fluffy blueberry muffins, princess and pea butter sandwiches, double chocolate chip cookies with orange rind as well as Maddie's favourite – crumpets, spread thickly with butter. Kitty was reclining on the blanket too, with her head in Maddie's lap while nibbling on a cookie. Maddie giggled and bent down to kiss the stray crumbs off Kitty's chin. Earl gray snorted in disgust before jumping into Maddie's hat. Kitty sipped her strawberry and vanilla tea thoughtfully and then suddenly leant forward to plant a wet kiss on Maddie's cheek. She purred in delight when Maddie became the same colour as the pot of strawberry jam in front of her.
Meanwhile, Earl Grey was squeaking outrageously and rummaging around in circles in Maddie's hat.
"I really like seeing you blush, but not as much as getting your precious little pet all worked up," drawled out Kitty, grinning lazily.
Just then, the teapot shrieked. Apple recognised it as the most hatastic teapot in the entire history of hatastic teapots – the one with the hand drawn fan art of Darling and Raven.
"Time for tea, time for tea – I SHIP QUEEN CHARMING!" sang the teapot.
"And what's this new flavour?" asked Kitty as she sniffed the suspiciously bright yellow liquid brewing in the pot.
"It's mango and passion fruit, a teariffic concoction me and my dad are working on." Chirped Maddie as she poured out the beverage in the never ending supply of teacups that she pulled out of her hat.
"Smells heavenly" purred Kitty as they clinked cups. The steam from the tea rose out in large hazy hearts.
Maddie giggled again before leaning in to kiss Kitty, her teacup forgotten by her side.
Earl Grey jumped out of the hat and dived towards the multi coloured bushes, cursing in a long string of riddlish.
Apple fell off her perch in the hedge startled, as Earl Grey zoomed by.
She got up and slunk off behind some trees, leaving the loud crowing laughter of Kitty Cheshire behind.
Apple wandered aimlessly around the enchanted woods, when she spotted a clearing up ahead. She parted the curtain of clambering ivy with her hands and hurriedly backtracked when she saw Hunter and Ashlynn sitting underneath a tree. Hunter drew his bow and shot a posy of flowers that landed perfectly on Ashlynn's head. She sighed dreamily when Hunter started carving their names enclosed in a big heart on the bark of the tree.
Apple turned around and started retracing her steps. She reached the lake and was about to dip her feet in, when she saw the most disturbing sight she had ever seen.
Duchess and Humphrey were making out rather sloppily behind the tall reeds.
Apple ran away trying to rid her mind of the scandalous image that seemed to be permanently branded on her brain.
It honestly wasn't Apple's favourite day at all.
Just as she thought the day couldn't get any worse, Apple realised that she was walking in an unfamiliar part of the woods. She had been so busy trying to get away from the lake that she had failed to realise in which direction she was walking in.
Apple slumped down under a tree. Her feet were sore from and her brain was filled with icky images of couples making out or cuddling.
She was about to get up and try to get her bearings when she heard sly whispering from the leafy canopy above her. She looked up and saw Cerise and Rosabella holding hands and swinging wildly on a tree branch. Apple's breath caught in her throat when she saw Rosabella slowly slipping away from Cerise and then found herself hanging on precariously to the branch, legs dangling wildly beneath her. Apple watched in alarm as Rosabella gave a loud scream and fell... right into Cerise's arms.
"Gotcha!"
Rosabella jumped off Cerise and dusted herself down, a light blush dusting her cheeks.
"Yeah, you g-got me" mumbled Rosabella, wringing her hands nervously.
Apple groaned. Great. Just what she needed. Awkward couple moments too.
She walked behind a huge wall of thorns and sighed with relief when she saw the footpath again.
It veered sharply to the left and soon, the little summer pavilion came into view.
Bunny Blanc and Alistair Wonderland were playing chess...in let's just say... a very intimate way.
Apple withdrew, feeling rather nauseated.
The last thing she needed to see was...
"Darling, stop tickling me!"
Speak of the devil.
Raven and Darling were sprawled on the forest floor, engaged in a rather intense tickling match.
Raven's boots and Darling's armour were heaped up in a clumsy pile on the side while Darling dug her hands into Raven's sides and grinned every time Raven squirmed and laughed.
"I didn't know that you were so sensitive!" chuckled Darling, thoroughly amused.
Apple ground her teeth and restrained the urge to lunge at Darling. She retreated and tried not to scream in fury. The monster of jealousy reared its head once again and roared with boiling rage inside her. It begged to be let out, but Apple bore it down. Princesses were not supposed to lose their tempers. If these instances kept on occurring though, Apple seriously considered signing up for anger management classes.