December 2, 2017 (senior year of high school)
"Holly, Holly, let down your hair!" Darling calls.
She hears a high-pitched giggle from above, and within seconds, Holly is at the window.
"Darling!" she shrieks. "You were serious?!"
"Well, yeah," says Darling. "I pretty much always am."
"Hmm, interesting," replies Holly, "given that you recently told me you always have your head in the clouds."
Darling can't help but laugh. Holly chuckles, as she hoists herself up to the window's ledge. She stands, turns around, and her incredibly long mane of red hair flows behind her, cascading outwards into the wind. She stretches her arms out to her side and falls backward. She sails through the air, laughing with glee, and Darling, being a Charming, has no problem catching her. Holly giggles, and lying bridal style in Darling's arms, reaches out, tucking a strand of the blond's hair behind her ear.
"Oh, my beautiful, heroic knight," she says, feigning astonishment. "Thank you for saving my life!"
Darling rolls her eyes before setting a standing Holly to the ground.
"Can't help being a Charming," she mutters.
"Weirdos!" Poppy yells before shutting the window and drawing the curtain.
Both girls look at each other and promptly burst into laughter. Their mirth is contagious, and Darling laughs until her belly hurts. She then breathes, trying to control herself, and turns to Holly, who is still giggling.
"Well, I promised you an adventure," she says, "and I think I have an idea of something you may like."
Holly smiles. Darling can scarcely make out the bright blue-green hue of her eyes through the yellow light of the lantern. Holly takes her hand.
"Well, as I'm not used to being out at night, you'll have to hold my hand and protect me."
Darling laughs.
"Well, of course," she says. "I've been to the place a few times by myself, and I assure you, it's very safe. It's through the Enchanted Forest, after all. Not the Dark Forest."
"Good," replies Holly. "If it was in the Dark Forest, there'd be no chance of you getting me to go."
"Yup. There'll be no risk-taking tonight. Just some good old-fashioned fun."
Holly smiles, and the girls walk, hand in hand, to the entrance of the Enchanted Forest.
"Gods, I'm glad I wore two jackets," says Holly. "It's freezing out here."
"Yeah. Freezing but no snow." Darling sighs. "I really hope we have a white Christmas."
"Well, we had a white summer when Crystal Winter came," says Holly. "Maybe we already used up that privilege for this year."
Darling chuckles.
Holly looks up, as they enter the forest.
"Wow, look at all the stars," she marvels. "The sky is so clear tonight. You can see so many."
"Yeah," says Darling, gazing up at the twinkling white lights spread across the indigo sky. "Just wait until we get to our destination."
"No spoilers, remember?" says Holly, laughing.
"Well, all I'm saying is you'll see stars."
"Well, it sounds wonderful then."
A comfortable silence ensues, as the girls navigate their way across the path. Darling breathes in the crisp, pine-scented air. She watches as Holly looks around, awestruck by everything, from the tall trees to the brown earth beneath their feet. Darling smiles, her heart warming at her friend's childlike wonder.
As they come to a rocky part of the trail, Darling holds tighter to Holly's hand, helping her across. The ground begins to slope uphill. The trees are shrouded by pitch darkness on either side. Darling shines the lantern's light at the ground before their feet.
"Just a little farther," she says. "We're going up the mountain now."
"It's not too steep," says Holly, panting slightly. "I just can't wait to see what's at the top."
Darling smiles, as they continue to ascend.
Within a few minutes, the trail ends and they arrive at the top. The mountaintop is relatively flat and wide. There's virtually no danger of falling. Darling, now not having to pay attention to the trail, is finally able to look up. Her heart instantly swells with wonder, as it always does when she is faced with this sight. The inky night sky spreads, an immense navy canopy stretching farther than either girl could possibly fathom. Glistening white stars decorate the palette like fairy lights. Packed together with scarcely any space between, they remind Darling of a giant twinkling blanket. Holly gasps. She squeezes Darling's hand as she looks up, gazing open-mouthed at the astronomical display.
"Oh my gosh!" she exclaims. "It's just-gorgeous!"
Her breath hitches, and Darling momentarily wonders if she's going to cry. Both girls stand, silently marveling at the perpetual beauty before their eyes. Several minutes pass before Darling pulls herself from her reverie.
"You want to sit down?" she asks.
"Sure," Holly absently replies.
She hasn't looked down since their arrival. Her grip on Darling's hand hasn't ceased. Darling smiles.
"I'm going to need both my hands for just a minute," she says, lightly laughing.
Holly looks down. She glances down at their intertwined hands.
"Oh, right."
She laughs before letting go. She crosses her arms, gazing up at the sky again, as Darling retrieves a blanket from her satchel and lies it on the ground.
"Here," she says, lightly chuckling at Holly's ceaseless amazement.
Both girls settle side by side on the blanket. Holly scoots closer, placing her hand on top of Darling's. Darling smiles before gazing upwards again. As quiet minutes stretch by, Darling's face grows numb from the freezing air. She blows a puff of air from her lips, watching as her breath forms a small, white cloud.
"I can't tell you just how inspired I feel," says Holly, her voice soft.
Darling smiles.
"I know. It's something."
"I feel more creative than I have in months. I've been having pretty bad writer's block lately, and I feel it slowly fading the more I look at this gorgeous sky."
Darling's stomach flutters with pleasure at Holly's words. Oftentimes, the girl doesn't even realize that she's talking like she writes. Darling, having been a bookworm practically her entire life, derives a sense of calm and fulfillment from beautiful writing. She knows that Holly writes, but they've never talked about it much.
"Tell me about your writing," says Darling, the words flowing forth before she can even process them. "It seems to mean a lot to you."
Holly, her face illuminated both by the glow of the lantern and starlight, brightly smiles.
"I don't talk about it much," she says. "It's just second nature to me, I guess. I mean, I can't imagine my life without it."
Darling rests her elbow on her knee, cupping her cheek with a hand, as she gazes at the girl. She listens intently as Holly begins talking, the words streaming from her with a poetic frequency. She tells Darling everything, from her fanfiction to her original characters to her adventure short stories to her two finished novels that she's too scared to show to a publisher. Darling never takes her eyes off the girl as she speaks, as she twists her index finger through a strand of hair. She talks so passionately about every character, and Darling is transfixed, imagining each one. As Holly eventually grows silent, not knowing what else to say, Darling feels a strong urge to read Holly's work.
"Can I read one of your stories?" she quietly asks.
She feels that if she speaks any louder, the moment will somehow be altered, that the lingering passion in the air will subside. Holly tucks an auburn lock behind her ear, bowing her head slightly.
"I've never had anybody but Poppy read them," she admits, her voice low.
She turns, gazing at Darling, a thoughtful expression on her face. A moment of silence ensues before a smile slowly spreads across her features.
"I would love to have you be the second person to read them," she says.
Darling smiles, feeling warmer than she has in a long time. Several minutes of silence stretch by, in which both girls stare at the sky, entranced again by the infinite beauty before their eyes.
"Do you like Apple?"
The question is so quiet that Darling scarcely hears it. She does hear it, though, no matter how softly it was uttered. She closes her eyes, wishing she could just pretend she didn't. Holly takes her hand, though, and Darling sighs, unable to ignore her friend, let alone deny her answers.
"I don't know," she mutters. "I don't know what I feel."
She pauses, licking her dry lips, as she continues to gaze at the stars. She sighs again.
"All I know is that I technically must be her true love. I didn't ask to be. It just happened, and I don't even know what I'm supposed to think, let alone feel."
Holly squeezes her hand.
"But she's beautiful," Darling murmurs. "And she's kind. We haven't discussed the whole "kiss thing" since summer. But when we did, she was so sweet, so understanding. She thanked me several times. She listened to me vent about my mother."
She lets out a low, whistling sigh.
"She was everything I needed at that time. And we haven't hung out much since then, but we were partners for a Kingdom Management project. She was so easy and fun to work with. She was respectful, letting me contribute just as much as her. She organized all our meeting times. She even brought me a hocus latte every time."
She chuckles, smiling at the memories.
"She's changed so much in the last year or so. She's always been nice and sweet, but there's this whole new side to her. This considerate, thoughtful side that she never possessed before. And her hugs-man, I-"
She laughs.
"They're so warm and soft and I just wish-I could get more of them."
She looks down, a blush creeping across her cheeks. Holly squeezes her hand.
"Awww!" she coos. "Somebody definitely has a crush!"
She squeals with delight.
"Oh, gods," Darling mumbles, burying her face in her hands. "I do. And with the most popular, loved girl in the entire kingdom! The future queen of Ever After! And apparently I'm her true love! Oh, gods!"
"Awww, Darling," Holly cooes. She wraps her arms around her. "You two will make a lovely couple! And who cares if she's the loved, popular future queen of Ever After?! You're more than good enough to be her lover!"
Darling lets out a surprised squeak.
"Don't say lover!"
Holly chuckles, squeezing Darling tighter. Darling sighs, lying her head on her friend's chest.
"If only love was as simple as our fairytales say," she mumbles. "I wouldn't have to be experiencing a lesbian crisis right now!"
Holly snorts.
"Cutest lesbian crisis ever!" she exclaims, mussing Darling's hair.
Darling groans, gently pushing away from her. She stares up at the sky, thinking ruefully that this "crisis" is only a microscopic speck of dust within the sprawling realms of the universe. She feels incredibly small in that moment, more insignificant than she ever has. Holly taking her hand only slightly grounds her.
"Would it help if I wrote a story about you two?" Holly asks, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe that would help you put this crisis in perspective."
She guffaws as Darling playfully shoves her. She collapses to the ground, rolling side to side as she hysterically laughs.
"Definitely not!" Darling exclaims, unable to stop the laughter bubbling in her throat. "That would be the one story of yours that I would never read!"
Darling's words trail off into a bout of laughter that both girls gleefully maintain until their bellies begin hurting, and then they just laugh a little more until silence eventually envelops the mountaintop.
Darling squeezes Holly's hands as a chilly wind blows past.
"It's nice talking with you up here," she says, her voice soft. "I mean, it's always nice talking to you, but up here, it's just-"
"Yeah, I know what you mean," replies Holly, squeezing Darling's hand. "We don't have to worry about anybody overhearing us. We're free to be only ourselves."
She pauses, turning to gaze at Darling, an unreadable depth swimming within the blue-green orbs.
"And that's all I ever want to be around you."
Darling smiles.
"And that's all I ever want to be with you, too," she says, a soft warmth rising within her chest.
"I guess we'll have to start doing this every night then," says Holly eventually, looking up at the sky again.
"I guess so."
XXX
December 11, 2017
"Darling, you're staring," whispers Holly.
Darling whips her head around.
"What do you mean?" she stutters, tucking a platinum blond lock behind her ear.
"I mean, somebody's starting to notice," Holly murmurs in a playful sing-song tone of voice.
Darling's head swivels again. Apple is gazing at her with big blue eyes. Briar whispers something in her ear, and Darling can see the blush that suddenly covers her cheeks from here. Raven cups a hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking with laughter. Darling's stomach squirms uncomfortably. Her heart is pounding so hard she can hear it thumping in her ears. Her face burns, and she looks down, pushing piles of rice around the tray with her fork. Holly giggles. Poppy just affectionately rolls her eyes at her sister. Ashlynn glances across the castleteria at Apple, then back at Darling. She quizzically raises an eyebrow.
"What's going on?" she asks, her voice soft and sweet, as always.
"Young love," Holly replies, patting Darling's head.
Darling rolls her eyes, breathing deeply in a futile attempt to slow her racing heart.
"Oh," Ashlynn murmurs before she looks down and lifts her fork, taking a sudden interest in her salad.
"Well, I'm trying to convince Holly to read some of her poetry at the Holiday Talent Show," says Poppy, casually trying to change the subject.
"Oh, Poppy, I just don't know!" Holly exclaims, shaking her head.
"You should," Ashlynn says encouragingly. "I'd be royally excited to hear it."
"Aww, thanks," replies Holly.
Darling is once again staring at the blonde princess across the room. Her elbow resting on the table, her cheek cupped in her hand, she gazes ahead, her eyes furtively following every subtle movement the girl makes. Darling knows she shouldn't. She knows it's wrong. She understands that it goes against everything in both their stories for a princess to be in love with a princess. She can't look away, though. Her entire body is tingling. Her stomach is fluttering, wings flapping against her gut. She knows the term for it is "butterflies," but she likes to imagine they're dragonflies. Dragonflies are her favorite type of bug. The image of dragonflies, dancing in a gentle breeze, momentarily blurs out Apple, and the next thing she knows, her name is being called.
"Darling!" Holly exclaims.
Darling's head jerks up. She rubs her eyes. As her vision clears, she lets out a sudden gasp. Apple is standing by their table, directly across from Darling. Darling's gut is infused with heat, so intense that she feels like she may melt. Her throat swells up, and her heart pounds, crashing against her eardrums. She feels desire (well, what she assumes has to be desire) infiltrating her body, in some places that just the thought of, in this circumstance, makes her blush even harder.
"Hi," says Apple, giving her a small wave.
Darling slowly waves back. Apple's eyes are bluer than she's ever seen. They're wide and bright, filled with such vibrancy and intellect. Darling, in that moment, feels like everything she ever needs to know about Apple is right there in front of her, within those cerulean orbs.
"I was wondering if you wanted to study together later after classes," she says, her voice laced with uncharacteristic nervousness.
Darling notes that she, too, is blushing. A rosy pink sheen dusts her plump, pale cheeks. Darling feels a sudden rush of exhilaration at the realization that Apple wants to hang out with her. She resists the urge to erupt into gleeful laughter and stutters out the response that comes to mind the quickest.
"S-sure. Um-I'd love to. Yes."
She smiles widely. Apple smiles back, a big, beautiful, white-toothed smile that makes Darling feel like she's floating. She's resting on a fluffy white cloud, surrounded by a twilit sky, and she scarcely registers what Apple starts saying. She shakes her head again.
"4 o' clock in the library sound good?"
"Sure," says Darling, the words coming out a tad easier now.
"Or we could go somewhere we could actually talk," says Apple.
"We could go get hocus lattes and study at one of the tables there," Darling suggests, saying the first thing that pops into her mind.
She knows that Apple loves hocus lattes-double foam, extra apple caramel, to be exact. Apple's face lights up.
"Sounds hexcellent!" she exclaims.
Darling smiles back, doing a cheesy thumbs up. She instantly blushes at the cheesiness and unconsciously ducks her head. Apple lets out a soft giggle, and Darling glances up, not knowing what else to do other than smile.
"Alright!" Apple says cheerfully. "It's a date!"
With a smile and a wave, she turns and strides back to her own table. The dragonflies soar out of Darling's stomach into her chest. She must be hyperventilating because Holly whispers "breathe" in her ear. She takes a shaky breath, reaching out to grip Holly's hand. Holly gives it a gentle squeeze. Poppy seems to be attempting to hold back her laughter, while Ashlynn gazes at her with mild concern.
"Are you okay?" she asks gently.
Darling nods, picking up her glass of water and taking a large gulp.
"I'm fine," she manages.
Holly squeals, wrapping her arms around Darling. Darling appreciates the security of the embrace, as she can't seem to stop shaking at the moment.
"Awww," Ashlynn cooes.
She presses a hand against her chest. Her heart is racing.
"I know it's just an expression," Darling says lowly, "but it's a bit nerve-wracking that she said it's a date."
Holly giggles.
"Yep, you're going on your first maybe, not-so-sure date, girl!" Holly exclaims. "I'm going to have to help you get ready!"
Darling affectionately rolls her eyes.
"Of course you have to. As you know, my fashion sense is quite misguided."
All the girls laugh. The bell rings, and Darling goes to her afternoon classes, buzzing with anticipation throughout each one.
XXX
Darling is sitting at a round wooden table, nervously smoothing her dress down. A chilly wind blows. She adjusts her hat, pulling it down to further cover her ears. She rests her hands on the sides of her paper cup, filled to the brim with hot coffee. The heat warms her bare hands. She glances around the area, searching for Apple. It's 4:02 now, and her heart is beginning to pound with anxiety. Relax, she tells herself. It's two minutes! Negative thoughts continue to race through her head, though. What if Apple noticed how much she'd been staring at her and was just hanging out with her to be nice? Apple is nice after all, an extremely kind girl whose sole purpose in life is to help people.
Darling thinks back to a day in spellementary school (first grade, to be exact) when she and Daring had been sword fighting with sticks. Daring had roughly poked her in the stomach, causing a bloody welt to rapidly rise on her abdomen. Darling had started crying, and Daring had just laughed. She clearly remembered what had happened next. Apple had dashed over, her blond curls bobbing past her shoulders. She'd first crouched down in front of Darling and grabbed her hands.
"Where does it hurt?" she'd asked, her eyebrows furrowed with concern.
"M-my tummy," Darling had sobbed.
Apple had hugged Darling.
"It's okay," she had cooed, patting her back. "It'll feel all better soon."
Darling remembers putting her head on the girl's shoulder, wanting so badly to just stay there in her comforting arms. The hug had promptly ended, though, as Apple pulled away a moment later. She'd helped Darling up, dusted off the girl's light blue dress, and turned to Daring, her hands on her hips.
"Daring Charming!" she'd exclaimed, using her strict "queenly" tone. "You do not hurt people!"
Daring's jaw had been slack, his dark blue eyes wide with shock. Darling remembered feeling the slightest bit of pleasure seeing this expression on his face.
"You're going to be the king of Ever After someday, you know, and I'm not going to marry a boy who hurts people!"
"I'm sorry," Daring had stuttered before bursting into tears and running off.
Apple had smirked, apparently pleased with how she'd handled the situation. She had then turned to Darling and taken her hand.
"Come on. I'll take you to the nurse, and she can put a bandage on your owie."
She had walked with Darling, hand in hand, to the nurse, stayed with her while the owie was treated, and had then walked her back to class, which had resumed by that time.
Darling smiles, remembering this day. She hasn't thought about it in years. That is only one of the times that Apple has shown her kindness. The girl has never been anything but sweet and helpful to Darling except, of course, that time she knocked her off her dragon during Dragon Games. She was, at the time, being manipulated by the Evil Queen, though, and Darling had quickly forgiven her.
Darling is so lost in her thoughts that she's startled by a gentle tap on her shoulder. She softly gasps and looks up. Apple is standing by the table, looking more beautiful than ever. Her bright blue eyes stand out like tropical ocean water against her cheeks and nose, pink from the bitter cold air.
"Hey," Apple breathes, gently setting her pile of books on the table. "How are you?"
"Good." Darling stutters slightly. "I'm doing well, thanks. How are you?"
Apple smiles brightly.
"I'm great."
She plops down on the chair opposite Darling.
"Stressed about this Kingdom Management hexam, though. It's why I wanted to study together."
She pauses, her eyes wide.
"I mean," she stutters, "that's not the only reason I wanted to study together! I also just really want to hang out."
A scarlet blush blends with the pink sheen already spread over her cheeks. Darling giggles, not knowing what else would be an appropriate response.
"Me too," she says. "I mean, I really want to hang out with you, too."
Apple smiles, her face becoming even brighter if possible.
"Great," she says, her voice a little squeaky. "Let's get started."
They open their books. Apple takes sips of her latte, and Darling, suddenly remembering hers, takes a sip. They open their books.
"I think we should go over the reading guides from every chapter in chronological order," says Apple. "Does that sound good to you?"
"Yeah," Darling replies. "I can't think of a better way to do it."
Apple grins.
"Okay. How about one person reads the questions and the other answers? We can switch on and off for each chapter."
Darling nods.
"That sounds good."
"Okay. I can start with asking questions in the first chapter. Is that okay?"
Darling smiles, adoring the sweetness of Apple's constant checking in. Noticing Darling's amused expression, Apple smiles, twirling a strand of curly hair around her finger.
"I'm trying this new thing where I ask people how they feel before plowing ahead and doing what I think is best."
Darling nods.
"The events of last year made me realize some things. I've been pretty pleased with myself since starting high school, and I never really stopped to consider if other people were okay with what I was doing."
A hint of sadness shrouds her sunny expression. Darling is tempted to reach out, take her hands, and tell her not to blame herself, that she made mistakes but she's a wonderful person no matter what. She remains silent, though, not wanting to interrupt Apple's train of thought. She assumed that Apple had been doing some soul searching since the previous spring. Apple gently sighs.
"Raven's been trying to spell it out for me practically since the beginning of sophomore year. And I was so ignorant. I-"
She shakes her head.
"Oh-Raven, that reminds me. I'm sorry I was late. I was helping Raven out. She has this date with Dexter tonight, and on top of it, she has a ton of schoolwork. And she failed her last Home Evilnomics exam. She's super stressed out, and-"
Her eyes grow wide. The blush returns.
"And I probably shouldn't be telling you this," she says, her voice tight with anxiety. "I'm not usually one to blurt out my friend's personal business or anything. Just-"
Darling reaches across the table, taking Apple's hands in hers. Apple gazes at her, wide-eyed. A burst of shock surges through Darling. She just surprised herself more than she ever has. Well, other than when she woke Apple (her princess apparently) with "True Love's Kiss." Boldly gripping Apple's warm, delicate hands without even a second thought. Her heart races, and she imagines her blush must be brighter than Apple's.
"Apple," she says, her voice slightly shaky. "It's okay. Just relax. You're not on trial here."
Apple smiles. She lets out a quiet nervous giggle. Darling gives her hands a gentle squeeze before letting go. She's clueless for a moment as to where she should put them, so she finally settles them on her lap.
"Sorry," says Apple, her voice soft. "It's just been a hectic week. I've been stretched to what I believe may be my limit. I didn't know I had one, but apparently I do."
She laughs. Darling smiles.
"Hey, don't be sorry. Seriously. We all get stressed out sometimes."
Apple grins.
"I would never guess that you are. You always seem so cool and collected, so confident. I mean, obviously you have emotions to deal with, but you never show it if you're feeling sad or stressed."
Darling shrugs. Her mind has always been a huge mess. Worries are always there. As a young child, she always fretted over proving herself to be strong and competent. She would often be unreasonably competitive with Daring, as she sometimes felt the urge to upstage him. By the time she was a preteen, the perfectionism had kicked in. This mostly stemmed from her persnickety mother, who was always relentlessly critical of her. From her clothes to her hair to her manners to her schoolwork-everything had to be immaculate. Darling had internalized this expectation and nearly made herself sick with anxiety. Over time, though, she'd learned by herself to control it. She became better and better at managing everything. Eventually, she had settled down and mastered the art of appearances-always appearing poised and in control no matter the circumstance. The relentless drive and the compulsion to prove herself never died down, but she gradually found outlets to channel her desires into without anybody else noticing. Her becoming the White Knight had been her largest and most defining milestone. It signified her independence, her ability to be herself and do what she wanted to do. She'd kept her double identity hidden for over a year, but had been inspired by the events that took place in Wonderland to reveal that she-shy, well-behaved Darling Charming-was truly a knight. A hero who risked their life to protect people at all costs. This had been the most freeing experience of her life. She no longer had to silence her dreams, not follow that voice in her head-the voice telling her who she wants to be, what she needs to do to be happy and to make a positive impact on the world.
She looks at Apple, smiling.
"Well, it's nice to hear that I hide it well." She sighs. "Because I'm stressed all the time."
Apple gazes at her, blue eyes filled with concern. Darling laughs, though it sounds forced.
"It just comes with being a princess, though. We all have a lot to deal with. There's no use complaining about it."
She lightly laughs, shaking her head. Apple's concern doesn't cease. Before Darling knows it, warm hands are grasping hers. Darling gently gasps, glancing down at their intertwined fingers. Her head shoots up as Apple speaks, her voice soft and more inviting than ever.
"You can talk about it, though. I'd be more than happy to listen."
Darling gazes into her eyes, her mind numb, as the cerulean irises stare back at her. She swallows before she replies, her voice low.
"Thank you. You can talk to me, too. Anytime. About anything."
Apple gives her a dazzling smile. She squeezes her hands. Darling's stomach feels like a mosh pit. Her heart is stumbling around in her chest. She breathes deeply. Apple lets go of her hands, setting them, folded, on the table. She clears her throat.
"Alright. Let's get to work."
Darling smiles.
As they read and answer questions, the atmosphere gradually loosens. Darling feels more and more relaxed as the minutes stretch by. They make casual conversation between the questions. They laugh and joke as they read about Norman Chuckledwirth, the composer of the Five Simple Rules of Kingdom Management Song. They order two more hocus lattes as they finish the first ones. Darling feels blissfully warm inside, and she somehow knows it's not just the hot drinks.
After nearly two hours, they've read through all the chapters, and Darling wishes more would magically appear. Apple stretches her arms. They walk over to the trash bin, throwing their cups away.
"That was royally fun," says Apple, as she grabs her purse, slinging it over her shoulder. "We need to do it again."
"Yeah, definitely," Darling replies as they walk down the sidewalk. "Would Thursday work? I'm hanging out with Rosabella and Cerise tomorrow, and I'm sword fighting with Daring after school on Wednesday."
Apple laughs.
"Now that I'd love to see."
Darling chuckles.
"He just keeps wanting to do it over and over again thinking he's finally going to win. Sorry, it's not going to happen. This damsel's got better technique."
Apple guffaws.
"Well, of course you do! You actually pay attention in class! Daring just thinks he knows everything without any instruction!"
Darling laughs.
"Yep, that's my brother alright."
They both smile, as they make their way down the trail towards Ever After High. The sun gas nearly finished its descent, and the meadow around them is encased in a twilit hue. Apple happily sighs.
"I'm glad Daring and I are back on the same page now. It was so horrible and awkward right after the-you know, kiss."
Darling is grateful that the sky is darkening. She can feel her cheeks burning up.
"I mean, we'd been told that we were destined to be together for as long as we could remember. Before we were teenagers, it made sense that we didn't feel anything other than friendship for each other. I mean, our hormones hadn't kicked in yet. By the time we were in high school, though, I found it strange that there still wasn't any attraction. We never really talked about it because Daring can be a little-preoccupied."
Darling lets out a rather unprincessly snort. Apple chuckles, gazing amusedly at her.
"I tried to be especially kind to him after the kiss, um, failed-"
Darling's blush returns with greater intensity.
"After I found out, I realized why he'd been seeming so depleted lately, so-lost. The least I could do was be there for him. Gods, I was such a wreck the first couple months after my story played out. Raven, Briar, Ashlynn, and Blondie were always there for me, though."
Apple smiles. Darling smiles back.
Inside, she feels slightly ashamed that she hadn't been there much for Apple. She knew at the time that the girl had been experiencing immense guilt for letting the Evil Queen out of her mirror prison. She'd seen the way Apple had been acting around Raven, so overly sweet and helpful. She was getting the girl's lunch for her while Raven sat at the lunch table, waiting. Darling had asked her about it one afternoon. Raven had just shrugged.
"Don't ask me. She just wants to, I guess."
Darling had seen how clingy Apple had been with Raven (alarmingly more than she usually was). It seemed she could never go an hour without hugging her, no matter where they were at the time. Apple would always sit next to her in class, holding her hand. Raven hadn't seemed too surprised by the behavior. She'd just decided to go with it, Darling guessed.
Dexter had once quietly voiced his concerns to Darling when they were sitting, playing chess, in the student lounge. Apple and Raven were on the couch watching TV. Raven was lying down, her head on Apple's lap. Apple was giving her a back rub, as they both stared at the television screen.
"Don't they seem like-well, they're in a relationship?" Dexter had stuttered.
Darling had simply laughed, as she took his hands.
"They're not, Dexter," she'd quietly assured him. "It's just Apple. She's very affectionate."
He nodded, but still looked fairly upset.
"I'm sure, if you asked, she'd give you a back rub, too," she said, as she struggled to keep a straight face.
Dexter's eyes had gone wide. He'd playfully slapped her hand.
Darling smiled at these memories from last year. Apple and she approached the school. Darling looked at the sprawling towers above them. Her eyes went wide as Apple suddenly took her hand.
"I'm glad you're the one who woke me up," the girl said, her voice low. "I-I feel something when I'm with you or even when I'm just thinking about you that I never ever experienced with Daring-or anyone else."
Darling can swear her heart stops. She pauses where she's standing, turning to face Apple. She can scarcely make out the features of Apple's face. She can feel her hand in hers, though, softer and warmer than a quilt. She suddenly realizes how silent it is. She clears her throat.
"I'm g-glad I woke you up," she says. "I-I think-no, I know I feel something for you that I haven't felt for anybody else, too. You're sweet and kind and generous and smart and-"
She swallows.
"I just really like you," she breathes.
Apple's smile is radiant as she steps closer and takes her other hand. Darling's heart rate increases. Is what she thinks may be about to happen actually going to happen?
She's pulled into an embrace. Darling squeezes her eyes shut, letting out a breath that she wasn't even aware she's been holding. She hugs Apple back. Apple is warm, and she smells like her namesake. She's letting go before Darling can even fully detect every smell. Darling breathes slowly as Apple squeezes her hands.
"I like you too," Apple murmurs.
Darling can only try to breathe as Apple gently pulls her along. As they walk through the school's entrance. Apple lets go, dropping her hand to her side.
XXX
December 12, 2017
Darling reaches down, touching her toes. A chilly wind blows past. Her hair whips around her face. She pulls her hat further down over her ears. Small cracks of daylight are beginning to shine on the treetops. The birds are chirping, serenading the winter morning. Darling breathes deeply, inhaling the crisp, clean air. She suddenly detects footsteps treading softly upon damp fallen pine needles. She spins around, her heart pounding, and comes face to face with none other than Apple White.
"Hi!" she says cheerfully.
She's dressed in magenta running pants, a cherry red coat, and a pair of hot pink tennis shoes. Her blond, curly hair is pulled into a high ponytail. Darling stares, open-mouthed, at the sight. Her breath appears as a cloud of white fog in the bitter cold air before her. She stares into Apple's eyes, frosty blue against the gray mist. Apple smiles, and Darling shakes her head as she notices how uncomfortable this situation is becoming. She shakily laughs and attempts a smile.
"Hey, Apple. What's up?"
"I just wanted to go jogging with you," the girl explains as she glances around the meadow.
Darling's heart skips around her chest. Apple got up this early to go jogging with her? She closes her eyes for a second, fuzzily wondering if this could just be a dream. Ice blue orbs snap open, though, and Apple is still there, gazing at her.
"Are you okay?" the blond asks, looking slightly concerned.
Darling shakes her head, trying to clear her thoughts.
"Yeah," she stutters. Just, um-surprised, that's all."
Apple's smile falls.
"Not in a bad way, though!" Darling exclaims. "Just-nobody's ever joined me out here before. How did you find out?"
Apple grins.
"Well, I see you come into the shower room sometimes in the morning, and you're wearing running clothes. And I just assumed you'd run in the Enchanted Forest because where else would you, really?"
Darling shrugs. A smile tugs at her face.
"Well, good timing," she says. "I'm doing my long run this morning. Let's stretch a little, and then we'll be off."
"And just how long is your long run?" asks Apple.
"Five miles," Darling nonchalantly replies.
She sits down and proceeds to start the butterfly stretch. Apple settles down across from her and follows Darling through the stretching routine.
"Okay." Darling checks her phone. "It's six. Let's get going."
She stands, and instinctively reaches out to help Apple up. She blushes as she realizes how unnecessary it is, but Apple smiles, takes her hand, and hoists herself off the damp ground.
"Okay," says Darling. "Let me know if you need to stop. Five miles can be rough, especially if you don't train everyday."
Darling starts to jog. Apple simply smirks and runs ahead of her.
"Try to keep up, Charming!" she calls.
Darling laughs and races to catch up. They gradually fall into a steady momentum. Apple is mostly silent, which Darling appreciates. Her morning run is her time to relax and clear her mind. Though Apple lately has been causing Darling to feel more anxious than ever with her charm and allurance, somehow having the girl by her side gives her a strange sense of calm. Apple has a strong, steady presence that Darling, for some reason, desires to take refuge in.
Dawn slowly lapses into a bright, cold morning. Apple is running faster, her head swiveling around every which way as she tries to take everything in. Sunlight is streaming through the dark green leaves of pine and oak trees, bathing the dewy ground in a soft, golden glow. Small woodland creatures rise from their slumber and begin scurrying around the layers of pine needles.
Apple nearly trips on a rock, and Darling, with her laser fast instincts, catches her by the arm. Apple lets out a deep, slow breath.
"Sorry." She nervously laughs. "Everything's just so beautiful!"
Darling laughs, reluctantly letting go of Apple's arm.
"And thank you for catching me!" Apple adds.
"No problem," replies Darling. "It's kind of my family's thing."
Apple gently laughs. Darling smiles as she checks the running app on her phone.
"We have half a mile more to go."
"Okay, let's do this!" Apple exclaims.
She starts running. Darling stares for a moment at Apple's ponytail whipping in the breeze before shaking her head and quickly running to join her.
XXX
December 13, 2017
Darling is walking through the halls Wednesday morning, heading to her Crownculus class. She lets out a surprised squeak as somebody grabs her shoulders from behind. She swivels and comes face to face with Apple. The girl laughs.
"Sorry," she says. "Trying to scare you. Didn't get much of a reaction."
Darling grins. Apple effortlessly links their arms and gently drags Darling along. She cheerfully greets people as they pass. Darling's cheeks burn as she sees students curiously staring at them. Apple doesn't seem to notice, but Darling's heart certainly does. It pounds against her ribcage.
"Hey, Briar!" Apple calls, as they approach her.
"Hey, Apple," says the brunette. "Hi, Darling."
"Hi," Darling squeaks.
She nervously clears her throat. Briar gives her a soft smile.
"So, Apple," says Briar, as they continue down the hall, "are we still on for this afternoon? Shopping in Book End?"
"Oh, of course!" Apple exclaims. "I can't wait! And I hope you have fun sword fighting with Daring, Darling!"
Darling smiles, her cheeks heating.
"Thanks, Apple."
As they approach the classroom, Apple unhooks their arms.
XXX
"Oh, this lavender looks fairest on you!" Holly exclaims.
Darling looks down, inspecting her nails.
"It is pretty," she admits.
Darling isn't one to paint her toenails, but it's okay when Holly does it for her. The girls are sitting on a fuzzy pink rug in Holly's and Poppy's dorm. Taylor Quick music is blasting from Holly's phone. Darling twists her silver necklace around her fingers.
"Are you okay?" asks Holly.
She glances up from her painting.
"Oh, I'm fine!" Darling exclaims, shaking her head.
Holly gazes at her. Darling deflates slightly.
"Well, I'll admit I'm nervous."
"About Apple?" Holly asks.
"Yeah. I mean, last time she told me she was glad I'm the one who woke her up with True Love's Kiss."
Holly's blue-green eyes light up. She squeals.
"Oh my gosh, Darling!"
She sets the nail paintbrush down on a tissue. She claps her hands.
"That is so wonderiffic!"
Darling smiles.
"It was, but it was also hextremely nerve-wracking at the same time! I just couldn't believe it!"
She shakes her head. She still hasn't even fully processed through it yet.
"Well, I can believe it!" Holly exclaims.
Darling smiles.
"Thanks."
Holly grins.
"Of course!"
Darling lets out a slow exhale.
"And I thought she was going to kiss me, but-" Holly gasps. "It turned out to just be a hug."
Holly deflates.
"Oh."
She hugs Darling, squeezing her tight.
"Well, hugs are nice," Darling grunts.
Holly pulls away after a moment and laughs.
"Well, let's hope you can take it to the next level tomorrow!" Holly exclaims.
She gives Darling's nose a playful poke. Darling laughs.
"Well, that wouldn't be too bad, but-I mean, we haven't even gone on a real date yet."
"Um, wasn't your thing yesterday a real date?" asks Holly, eyebrow raised.
"I don't think so. But even if it was, it's not proper to kiss before the third date!"
Holly shrugs.
"Everything seems to be becoming a little less traditional this day, which is definitely a good thing."
Darling nods.
"It definitely is."
Holly smiles. A moment of silence ensues. Darling glances down at her partially painted nails.
"Well," says Holly suddenly, "let's finish painting these cute little toesies!"
Darling squeaks as Holly wiggles her pinkie toe.
"Holly!"
She playfully slaps her friend's arm.
"No 'This Little Piggy' right now!"
Holly makes a pouty face.
"I would tickle your feet, but I don't want to mess up this beautiful nail job."
Darling jokingly rolls her eyes.
"It wouldn't work. I'm not ticklish anyway."
Holly smirks.
"I guess we'll see once the polish comes off."
Holly bursts into laughter.
XXX
December 15, 2017
"Hey," calls Apple.
She weaves her way through throngs of students.
"Hi," says Darling as Apple reaches her.
She steps out of the traffic, leaning against a locker. Apple follows suit.
"What's up?" asks Darling.
"I was just wondering if you wanted to come shopping with Briar and me after school today. We're going to get dresses for the Holiday Talent Show!"
Darling smiles as she mentally goes through today's schedule. She's 99% sure she has nothing planned this afternoon. The idea of going shopping with Apple sends a wave of excitement crashing through her middle. She already can't wait.
"Sure thing!" she exclaims. "I'd love to!"
She's honestly surprised at her own enthusiasm. Apple clearly loves it, as the brightest, most dazzling smile spreads over her pale face.
"Great!" Apple exclaims. "Can you meet us at the school entrance around four?"
Darling excitedly nods.
"Yep!"
Apple's smile hasn't faded in the slightest.
"Okay. See you at Crownculus later!" she exclaims.
Darling waves as she walks away.
XXX
Darling, Apple, and Briar sip their hocus lattes as they walk towards the mall. They easily make conversation. Though Darling and Briar haven't hung out much in the past, the daughter of Sleeping Beauty is incredibly laid-back and easy to talk to.
"But seriously Apple, I need help planning this after-party! It's gotta be wild! We all need to have some fun before we go home for the holidays!"
Apple smiles at her friend's enthusiasm.
"I will definitely help you out, Briar. Now that our Crownculus test is over, I can actually do something other than study!"
"Yeah," says Darling. "That test almost took it out of me!"
"Well, I'll plan another study party for our next big test," Briar announces.
She smiles brightly.
"But no more tests until after winter break!"
She raises her arms in celebration.
"Whoo hoo!"
Apple and Darling laugh.
"I know," says Darling. "I'm so relieved."
They approach the mall. The parking lot is packed with cars. Swarms of people are entering and exiting the large building. Some are lounging at tables outside of Starbucks. Darling holds the door open for Apple, Briar, and various others.
Multiple "thank yous" are uttered.
"You're welcome," says Darling.
XXX
"What do you guys think?" asks Briar, holding a hot pink crop top to herself.
Apple's eyes grow comically wide.
"Y-You can't wear that to the talent show!" Apple stutters. "All the faculty, not to mention Headmaster Grimm will be there!"
"Aww, but it'll go so well with this black leather mini skirt," Briar whines.
Apple looks as if she's moments away from an aneurysm before Briar doubles over laughing. She comes forward, playfully slapping Apple on the shoulder.
"It's for the after party, girl!" she exclaims between laughs. "Silly, silly Apple!"
Apple lets out a deep, relieved sigh.
"Briar!" she shrieks. "You had me there for a minute!"
She playfully shoves her friend. Darling laughs, thoroughly enjoying the girls' antics. She's searching through a rack. A sleek light blue dress scattered with understated silver sparkles catches her eyes. She checks the tag and smiles when it's her size. She rifles through the section and finds a couple more that appeal to her. A short dress, made with a thicker fabric, that has a spellbinding blend of various blues especially piques her interest. She's able to find one in her size near the end of the rack. She feels silly for being so excited at merely the sight of a dress. Her girly side rarely takes over, and it can throw her through a loop when it does.
"Hey, guys!" she calls as she pulls the dress off the rack.
Both girls who are at different nearby racks look over intently. Darling blushes as she holds the dress up to herself. Apple squeals and claps her hands.
"Oh kingdoms! That dress is off the page, Darling!" she enthuses.
She's bouncing with excitement. Darling smiles, finding the girl's reaction adorable, to say the least.
"Wow, that's gorgeous, girl!" Briar exclaims.
"I know," says Darling happily. "I've never seen any dress quite like this one! I should probably look a little more, though, before deciding."
"That does seem like the logical thing to do," Apple remarks.
Briar laughs.
"Sometimes something just pops out at you, though, and you have to take the opportunity."
Darling smiles at how thoughtful Briar's response is.
"Wow," she says. "Never knew shopping advice could be so deep."
Briar chortles.
"This philosophy elective is rubbing off on me!"
"No. It's amazing," says Darling. "Your wisdom helped me come to the conclusion that yes, I want this dress."
Briar and Apple laugh.
"Glad I could help out," says Briar, as she walks over to another rack.
Darling continues to look just for fun, as Apple and Briar continue to scour the store for another half hour. She tries to include her input, as they hold up different dresses, but she has little to no knowledge about fashion. She knows what she likes, and that's about it.
Eventually, Briar and Apple have accumulated an armful of dresses and all three girls are headed off to the changing rooms. Apple and Briar head into a stall together, and Darling walks off to find an empty one for herself.
"Hey," says Briar, holding the door of her and Apple's stall open. "How are we supposed to tell you how cute you look if you're in a different stall?"
Heat instantly floods Darling's cheeks. Her insides begin to flutter and writhe incessantly.
"U-um, well I-I-" She stutters.
"Come on, get your cute butt in here!" Briar playfully exclaims.
Darling can hear Apple giggling from inside of the stall. Darling lets out a shaky sigh as she walks on legs of jelly over to the stall and tentatively walks in. Briar shuts and locks the door, while Darling situates herself in the corner of the stall. She crosses her arms over her chest, staring with bated breath at Apple's reflection in the full-length mirror. The girl, apparently noticing Darling's discomfort, bounds over to her. She takes her hands.
"Hey," she says encouragingly. "Don't worry. We're all girls here!"
Darling's heart pounds in her ears. Girls?! her brain screams. How does that help?! You're a girl, I'm a girl. Sure. The other night you told me that you're glad I'm your true love and that you like me, and now we're supposed to see each other without clothes in a completely platonic way?! She doesn't say any of this, just letting go of Apple's hands.
"I know," she murmurs. "It's totally fine."
She tries for a convincing smile and Apple seems to accept it. The girl walks over to the other side of the stall and starts undressing. Briar begins undressing as well. Darling quickly averts her gaze and turns around so that she's facing the wall. Taking a deep breath, she strips down to merely her underwear and bra. She refuses the sinful urge to turn and glance at Apple. Utterly refuses. Apple and Briar talk casually amongst themselves, thankfully ignoring her. Her stomach squirming with nerves, she wiggles her way into the blue dress. Her breath quietly hitches as Apple walks over to her.
"Hey, want some help with the zipper?" she cheerfully asks.
"S-sure," Darling manages.
A slight shudder rushes through her as Apple's fingers skim across her upper back. The zipper pulls shut and Darling lets out a soft breath of relief. Apple backs away, and Darling turns, walking over to look at herself in the mirror. The dress extends to just above her knees and flows gracefully downwards from her hips. The sleeves are ruffled at the shoulders and spread down her arms like multi-hued rivers. Every portion of the fabric is a serene, majestic blend of blues, all entwined in one sweeping, colorful body of water.
Darling can't hold back the smile that builds from the corners of her lips to her cheeks to her eyes.
"That dress is just out of this kingdom, Darling," Apple breathes. "You look absolutely incredible."
Darling blushes deeply. She can feel the heat coming off of her cheeks in sweltering waves.
"Wow-just wow, Darling," says Briar in awe. "You pull that dress off amazingly!"
Darling is smiling so widely that her cheeks begin to ache. Even all those years of smile training haven't prepared her facial muscles for enduring the compliments she's now receiving.
"Thank you," she murmurs, glancing down at the floor for a few seconds before slowly raising her head and facing her reflection once again.
She holds her breath as Apple reaches out, gently pulling Darling's hair behind her shoulders. She runs her fingers through the curly tresses a few times, smoothing out the tiny snarls before stepping back and admiring the girl's reflection again. Darling can still feel the ghost of Apple's soft fingers against the back of her neck, gently brushing over the skin. She shivers with pleasure.
XXX
December 16, 2017
"It's going to be okay," Darling murmurs as Holly grips her hand, shaking. "You can do this. I've heard you nail the recitation at least a dozen times. You're going to be perfect!"
She gives her shoulder a gentle squeeze. Holly nods, taking Darling's hand. Darling holds on tightly.
"Just breathe," she whispers. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. In, out, in, out."
Holly closes her eyes and breathes deeply. Darling can gradually feel her shaking start to lessen.
"Welcome to the Ever After High Holiday Talent Show!" Headmaster Grimm brusquely announces. "First up is Holly O'Hair with her recitation of her poem about the homeless, Starlit Particles."
Darling squeezes her hand, repeats a soft "you can do this," and runs from the stage wing to take her seat in the front row. Apple turns to her and smiles just as the lights dim. She takes Darling's hand. Darling's face flushes. She turns her attention to Holly who is standing onstage, her hair cascading down her back in a plaited braid. Her legs tremble beneath her bright pink knee-length dress, but she holds the microphone with a steady hand. She closes her eyes for a count of three before opening them and letting her melodic voice flow forth.
"Little specks of stardust floating amongst the infinite realms of the universe. Do you deserve this? The numbing pain, the consuming grief that spreads throughout your veins. Mere starlit particles in the dark, swirling abyss called life are we. Our existence is cruel as can be. As reality presses in on us from all sides, we cannot run. We can only hide. The inequities of this world set us apart. Human beings we all are, but for some it's as if they're not. Shaking on the cracked ground as they lose all control. Crying, as they have not the slightest clue what's down the road. Our sisters and brothers are suffering through this hell. Isolated they crawl, empty shells. While their equals regard them with condescending distaste. I say that each of us, as parts of the human race, need to find the sources of our strength. Wake up to the harsh realities outside our protective front doors. Look inside, learn to love, to care more and more. To accept each person no matter what. Open our hearts, let the light visibly glisten. Feel the pain, the despair, the hopelessness, and just listen."
There is dead silence throughout the entire auditorium as Holly slowly lowers the microphone. A tear traces its way down Darling's cheek. Holly places the microphone in its stand, clumsily bows her head, and hurries off the stage. As if the sun has suddenly returned, risen to shine its radiant beams upon the earth, loud, crashing applause fills the room. People are cheering at the tops of their lungs. Darling screams right along with them, pounding the air with her fists. Gradually, rows of students and faculty begin to stand. In moments, the entire auditorium is upright, forcefully clapping and cheering.
Darling sees Meeshell step out from the wings as she gently pushes Holly towards the stage. Holly slowly walks back out, her gaze cast to the floor. The cheers rapidly increase in intensity. People are hollering at the tops of their lungs, and Darling is right with them. Her throat is turning raw, but she doesn't stop.
In that moment, she wants to proclaim to the world how proud she is of her friend. Holly glances up after a moment, a shy smile on her face. She awkwardly waves and, if possible, the cheers grow louder.
"That's my sister!" Darling hears Poppy yell from three seats away.
Darling laughs with delight and continues to clap even after her hands begin to burn from the incessant friction. Her heart swells with pride for Holly, her amazing BFFA. As she takes Apple's hand and gazes ahead at her smiling, blushing friend onstage, she feels more Christmasy than she ever has.