January 6, 2018 (senior year of high school)
It's not a date, Darling silently insists to herself. You and Apple are just going as friends. It's just a fun way to hang out. As Apple grabs her hand, though, and Darling's gaze is ripped from the pine trees along the trail, her vision is immediately infiltrated with Apple, with every beautiful feature the girl possesses from her blond curls tumbling over her shoulders to her bright blue eyes to her dainty nose to her thick, ruby red lips. Her hand is soft and warm, and somehow her dazzling presence only accentuates the beauty of the lanterns hanging from the trees. They approach the restaurant with its golden light streaming from its clear glass windows. Darling takes a deep breath as they walk up the stairs of the wooden building. Darling holds the door open for Apple.
"Thank you, Darling," Apple says as she enters.
Darling closes the door.
"You're welcome."
The inside of the restaurant is delightfully warm. The large room is lit by candlelight and an assortment of chandeliers hanging gracefully from the ceiling. Apple takes Darling's hand again. Of course Darling's face is only burning up because of the sudden temperature change. It has nothing to do with the feeling of Apple's warm skin against hers.
They find Raven and Dexter sitting together at a booth.
"Hey, guys!" Raven calls as they approach.
"Hey!" Apple exclaims.
"Hello," says Darling, as she and Apple take their seats on the other side.
"How are you guys doing?" asks Apple.
"Great," replies Raven, smiling widely.
Darling notes how happy Raven looks. For the past few weeks the girl has looked stressed and fatigued. Dark circles have ringed her eyes and she's seemed uncharacteristically somber and anxious. Now, the sparkle is back in her violet orbs. A genuine smile is spread over her face, as she leans into Dexter whose arm is around her.
"I'm doing good," says Dexter, a smile on his face as well. "How are you two?"
"I'm good," replies Darling, smiling at her twin brother.
"I'm wonderful!" exclaims Apple, shining her usual cheerful smile.
Raven smiles at her.
"I haven't eaten here in forever!" Apple exclaims, as she looks through the menu.
"Neither have I," says Darling.
"Raven and I went here on a date about a month ago," says Dexter. "We loved it so much, we just had to go again."
Raven smiles at her boyfriend. She leans in, planting a chaste kiss to his cheek. Darling smiles at her brother's giddy expression.
"I'm glad you girls could join us this time," he says, flipping through the menu.
"We're glad, too," says Apple.
A waitress named Lila soon comes to take their orders. Apple orders a Caesar salad and water. Raven orders a BLT and a Sprite. Dexter orders a hamburger and fries and, being the kid at heart that he is, a chocolate milkshake. Darling orders a Greek salad and a lemonade.
As they wait for their food, the four teens make easy conversation. Dexter discusses his project that he's creating for the spring science fair. Raven smiles, insisting that he's going to win because he's a genius. Dexter blushes, shaking his head and rebuking her claim. Raven simply kisses his rosy cheek, which promptly turns red. Raven discusses how she spent her holiday break with her dad and how much fun they had playing in the snow. Her eyes gleam as she recounts the large hills that they sledded down, the giant snowman that they worked on over a course of three days, and the fun that they had on the ice skating rink. Darling notices the warmth and joy in Raven's voice whenever she talks about her father. Darling smiles, feeling happy that her friend has such a good relationship with him. Darling is glad that the girl has a good, reliable parent that she can count on. The thought of Raven only having the Evil Queen as a parental figure makes her shudder. Dexter and Darling discuss how they spent Christmas Eve at their grandparents' house and about the usual shenanigans that ensued. Darling laughs at her brother's intense retelling of the "quest" that they went on with their cousins to find their grandfather's missing armor. As Dexter continues speaking, though, Darling is suddenly flooded with memories of other events that transpired during holiday break. How her mother had been relentless in finding something wrong with Darling's every other word. How she had come into Darling's bedroom one night and harshly lectured her about what her priorities should be and how she most certainly cannot keep acting like a boy, strutting around as the White Knight. Darling remembers quietly crying herself to sleep that night, how her hot tears had dripped on the white pillow beneath her head. How she'd wanted to run away, but she had nowhere to go. She had considered calling Apple and asking if she could stay at her home for the rest of break. Apple's mother, Snow White, had always been like a second mother to her. The fair queen had always seemed to genuinely like Darling as an individual, whereas her own mother thought of her merely as a sort of a pet she had to train perfectly. What would've Darling's mother done, though? How would've the rest of her family felt if she up and left? Plus, she'd highly doubted that Snow would've picked her up without her parents' permission. So Darling had dried her tears and resigned herself to the fact that there was no escaping her mother and that she had to just put up with her insanity until her return to Ever After High.
Darling is shaken out of her thoughts as the food arrives. Their plates are placed before each of them by the waitress. Darling lifts her fork, trying to ignore how Apple is concernedly glancing at her.
They continue conversing, albeit less animatedly, as they eat their dinners. After they finish and their plates are taken away, all four teens fight over paying the check. Apple puts up a good fight, but she finally grudgingly allows Darling and Dexter to split it.
After paying, they leave the warm restaurant and return outside to the cold winter's night. Darling pulls her coat tighter around herself. Apple grips her hand in hers. Dexter suggests they go for a walk in the Enchanted Forest. They all agree and are soon walking across the thin layer of freshly fallen snow. The trees surround them on all sides. Their fresh, piny scent hangs heavily in the crisp air. A nearly full moon shines a white, glowing light on the snow and treetops.
The four of them walk together for a few minutes, talking casually amongst each other, but they soon decide to split up. Darling's stomach feels like it's on a roller coaster, as Dexter jokingly says "some one on one couple time." Apple just smiles and waves as Raven and Dexter walk ahead. Darling breathes deeply. Apple's hand in hers feels unbearably hot, but she can't seem to let go. Apple gently pulls Darling down a different trail. They walk in silence. Apple gazes up at the moon, around at the trees, and down at the creamy snow, her eyes wide with wonder. Darling tries to control her nausea, as her mother's words bombard her mind. She'd been trying to forget them, but Dexter recounting the memories of holiday break caused them to come swimming back to the surface. Apple is squeezing her hand, and Darling looks at her, trying to smile. Apple smiles back at her.
A couple minutes later, Darling is drawn from her stupor by Apple's soft voice.
"This is where we sat last spring when we had that talk about the kiss, umm-CPR thing, remember?"
Darling looks at where Apple is pointing. The mossy log comes into view. Darling's heart beats faster at the thought that Apple remembers that evening so clearly.
"Y-Yeah," Darling manages. "I remember."
Apple turns, gazing at her.
"Do you wanna sit?" she breathes, still holding her hand.
Darling swallows thickly.
"Sure," she says, her voice slightly squeaky.
She lets Apple gently pull her forward, and they settle on the log, sitting side by side. Apple still clings tightly to her hand. Darling looks down at the snow beneath them. She gazes at the crystalline particles, trying to ignore her mother's angry, condescending voice blaring through her head.
She starts as Apple wraps her arm around her shoulders.
"You've been acting off for a while now," says Apple, her voice soft. "Do you want to tell me what's going on?"
She takes Darling's hand with her free one. Darling sighs, blinking back tears. She takes a deep breath before speaking.
"I-It's just my mom," she murmurs. "She was mean to me over holiday break." She sniffles.
"Oh, Darling," Apple whispers. "I'm sorry."
She pulls her closer, giving her a tight squeeze.
"I-It's stupid," Darling says, her voice shaking. "I don't know why I'm so upset."
Apple strokes her thumb across Darling's palm.
"Well, if you're upset, you're upset," she says gently. "There's nothing wrong with that."
Darling shakily exhales.
They sit in silence for a minute. Darling leans in closer to Apple, and the girl quickly reciprocates, tightening her grip on her trembling friend.
"I just don't know where it went wrong," Darling quietly admits.
"What went wrong?" Apple asks gently.
"My mom and I's relationship," she murmurs.
"Oh," says Apple, her voice soft.
"We used to have a pretty good relationship when I was younger," she explains. "She would read to me a lot. That's how I got my love of books."
She chuckles softly. She looks up to the moonlit sky, a wistful smile on her face. Apple squeezes her hand. Darling sighs, glancing down at their entwined fingers before looking at Apple.
"Everything started going downhill when I was about eleven. She thought that my rebellious, tomboy personality was just a kid thing." She shakes her head. "She was wrong, though. That's just who I am, and she apparently doesn't like that."
Her breath hitches. Apple is silent, tracing small patterns across the back of her hand.
"She really started getting on me about being more ladylike," Darling continues. "For her, it's not just about me being kind and polite and respectful. I have to be demure and quiet. I should sew and knit and play piano and ride horses. I shouldn't play outside or learn self-defense with Dexter and Daring. My dad tried to teach me sword fighting and archery secretly, but as always, she found out and put a stop to it. She would even go so far as to force me to stay indoors during summer break. I just sat inside practically all summer and read. My books were my refuge in a sense. I could imagine myself as somebody else, a hero, a person who fought for people's honor with their own free will."
She sighs. Apple squeezes her hand.
"You know, my mom used to be very affectionate with me." She lets out a bitter chuckle. "Yup. We'd cuddle on the couch practically every day. She'd wake me up with a kiss on the forehead. She would hug me every day. When I was sad over something dumb, she would hold me until I felt better. But one day it all just stopped. I didn't notice it at first, but eventually, I realized that I hadn't been hugged in a while. I didn't ever say anything because I just felt awkward. My mom ignored me more and more. The only time she'd ever pay attention to me was if I needed help with my homework. I would try to talk to her while she helped me, but she was always just dismissive, like she didn't care. She just cared about my grades. Not me anymore."
She reaches up to brush a tear from her face, but Apple beats her to it. Her thumb is smooth and warm against her cheek. Darling closes her eyes, reveling in the gentle touch. Apple then grabs her hand again, and Darling opens her eyes, letting out a gentle sigh.
"Ever since high school started, it's just gotten progressively worse. I see her less, which helps, but over summer, it's just torture. Nothing but hours of princess training. I get barely any break from the school year. And she's so critical and judgemental. Any little thing I say or do-it's wrong. She finds any excuse to lecture me. And when she found out about me being the White Knight near the beginning of junior year-" She closes her eyes, as a small shudder racks her frame- "it's just been horrible since then. She's always insisting, you're not a boy. It's disgusting that you're acting like one. I've failed as a parent if you don't start acting more ladylike."
She takes a shaky breath. Apple lets out a quiet gasp, and she holds Darling's hand a little tighter.
"She's always mocking me every chance she gets. And nobody says anything. Dad, Daring, or Dexter. They just feel like they can't, I guess. And it hurts. It hurts my feelings so much when she makes fun of my apparent "masculinity." I guess she thinks that, if she continues to mock me, I'll stop wanting to be a knight." She stiffens, suddenly growing angry. "But I will not. Nothing she can say will ever stop me from being who I am. You know what?"
She pulls away from Apple.
"l'll be eighteen spelling years old in a month, and this summer, I'm not going home. I'll stay with a friend, any friend, until I can get a house near the college."
She takes a deep breath of chilly, fresh air. All her weepiness has faded. She feels more refreshed than she has in a long time. Talking through her issues about her mom has helped her sort them out. She's made a hasty plan, and she's going to stick to it. Unless her mother undergoes a substantial attitude change, she's never going to stay another night in her childhood home again. She's going to be an adult in thirty six days now, and she's smart and resourceful enough to find her own way.
She is so lost in her self-gratifying thoughts that she lets out a surprised squeak when she's suddenly pulled into Apple's arms.
"I've got your back, Darling," the girl says. "Whatever you need, I'm here. Of course you can stay at my place over the summer. No question about it. My mom absolutely adores you, as you know."
Darling chuckles as she rests her head on Apple's shoulder.
"And so do I," Apple says quietly.
Darling's heart begins to pound. Apple is so warm, and all she wants is to fall asleep in her arms, but it's getting late. They'll freeze if they stay out here all night. Darling gently pulls away after a moment and takes Apple's hands.
"Thank you so much," she says, "for listening. I've never felt more clear-headed than I do now."
Apple smiles, squeezing Darling's hands.
"You're such a good friend," Darling murmurs, unable to tear her gaze away from Apple's blue eyes, visible amongst the glow of moonlight.
Apple reaches out, tucking a lock of hair behind Darling's ear.
"You're such a good friend, too, Darling," she says, her voice soft and silky as chocolate.
Darling's entire body is radiating from heat, from her face to her stomach to places she blushes at the thought of.
As Apple and Darling walk hand in hand back towards the school, Darling thinks about how the other girl's fingers wrapped with hers gives her the most content and right feeling that she's ever felt.
XXX
Darling can't see through the heavy blankets of mist before her, but she knows that she's in the forest. The humid air smells strongly of pine...and something else that she can't quite put her finger on. She continues to walk down the invisible path before a sudden realization makes her stop her in her tracks. It's the scent of apples. An image of a girl, blonde hair cascading down her back, blue eyes big and bright, is immediately conjured in her mind. Before she knows it, she's running. Branches scrape her arms as she dashes by them, but she feels no pain.
The fog rapidly clears, and she squeezes her eyes shut at the blinding sunlight. As she slowly opens them and her vision returns, her heart climbs into her throat. The girl, who she suddenly recognizes as Apple is there. She's sitting on a mossy log. There's something special about this log, but Darling's mind is cloudy. Her eyes widen as she realizes that Apple is naked. Her instinct is to look away, but her head is held in place by some mysterious force. She's forced to stare at Apple's pale breasts, at the rosy nipples protruding from them. Her legs are crossed, but she suddenly stands, and the area between her legs is revealed. Her womanhood is covered with curly blonde hair and is slim yet curvy. The space between Darling's thighs is filled with unbearable heat as she stares, her eyes glued, to Apple's...everything.
Slowly, Apple walks towards her, a sultry grin on her face. Darling is only able to emit strangled squeaks as she lifts Darling's shirt up, sliding her hand under it. Her fingers are surprisingly cold against Darling's bare skin. She shivers as Apple strokes her fingers up her stomach. They slowly ascend, and Darling squeezes her eyes shut, as they ghost over her breast. Small shapes are slowly traced against the skin. Darling lets out a sharp gasp as Apple's fingers, warmer now than they were, grip her nipple.
"Shhh," Apple whispers, leaning in.
Her breath is hot against Darling's lips. She presses her mouth to Darling's. Darling licks Apple's thick lips, tasting strawberry. She begins to gnaw gently. Apple moans. She slides her tongue across Darling's lips, and the knight opens her mouth, allowing it entrance. Their tongues intertwine as the kiss deepens. Apple sucks on Darling's lip, and the girl can't help the moan that escapes her throat.
Darling squeaks in surprise as her shirt is lifted upwards. She pulls back slightly and looks Apple in the eyes. Apple leans in and nibbles the corner of her lips.
"Just let this happen," she whispers.
Darling closes her eyes, nodding. She silently lets Apple pull her shirt over her head. She shivers as the girl's fingers unclasp her bra. Both shirt and bra fall to the ground, and before Darling knows it, they're on the ground. She is pinned under Apple as she leans down and plunges her tongue into the platinum blonde's mouth again. Darling moans, chewing harder on the girl's glossy lips. Apple's hands rest on her breasts, clasping her nipples. Darling moans louder as Apple plays with them, grasping them tightly before letting go and running her fingers across them.
Darling squeaks as a loud, deep voice yells.
"Wake up!" the voice insists. "Wake up, Darling!"
She's suddenly jerked around. She opens her eyes and sees Apple's face fading, becoming translucent. Darling gasps and reaches up to touch her cheeks, but the face suddenly changes. She yells as Apple completely disappears. She bolts upright and yells again as hands grip her arms.
"Woah, hey," says a gentle voice. "It's just me, Darling."
Darling's vision gradually comes into focus. She grows dizzy as she realizes she's in bed in her room. Rosabella is sitting in front of her, still grasping her wrists. Darling takes a deep, shaky breath.
"I-I'm sorry," she manages to choke out before she's overcome by a coughing fit.
She turns away from Rosabella, covering her mouth with the crook of her arm as her body is racked with coughs. Rosabella gently rubs her back. A couple moments later, the coughing slows to a stop and Darling turns back to Rosabella.
"E-Excuse me," she croaks.
"I'll get you some water," says Rosabella, her voice soft.
Darling puts her head in her hands as Rosabella gets out of the bed. She struggles to erase the images from her mind. She shudders as she remembers every detail of her dream.
The bed sinks as Rosabella sits back down beside her. She strokes her back again.
"So it was a nightmare, I assume?" she gently asks.
Darling pulls her hands away from her face, looking up.
"No," she says. "It was just-really w-weird."
Rosabella hands her the glass, and Darling gulps the water down.
"Well, do you want to talk about it?" she asks.
Darling shakes her head as she continues to drink. She sets the glass on her bedside table when it's empty.
"No," she says. "I barely remember it now anyway "
Rosabella nods.
"Alright. Are you good to go back to bed?"
Darling nods, glancing over at her alarm clock. It's 2:07 in the morning.
"Alright," says Rosabella softly. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Darling crawls under the covers and closes her eyes. She breathes deeply, thinking of rainbows and sunshine and puppies. She's determined to not have another dream like the one she'd just had.
XXX
February 10, 2018
"You need to ask her tonight!" Holly exclaims as she gently pulls the brush through Darling's hair.
"Maybe."
Darling shrugs. Holly and Rosabella have been insisting that she ask Apple to the True Hearts Day Dance for the last couple weeks. Darling has hyped herself up for it several times now, but chickened out as soon as she looked into Apple's eyes.
Now, staring at her reflection in the mirror, wearing the same dress that she'd worn at the Holiday Talent Show, she feels just as nervous. She's quiet as Holly braids two small portions of her hair. Then, leaving the rest of her hair down, she gently pulls the two braids to the back and ties them together.
"What do you think?" Holly asks eagerly.
Darling smiles.
"I love it! Thank you so much!"
She bounces out of the chair and wraps her arms around Holly. Holly hugs her back tightly. Darling pulls away after a moment and bounds back over to the mirror. She feels like a little kid again, which is ironic, considering she becomes a legal adult tomorrow.
"Oh my fairy godmother!" Holly squeals, standing next to Darling. "I can't believe you're going to be eighteen tomorrow!"
Darling laughs. A rush of excitement courses through her stomach.
"I know! Neither can I!"
XXX
Darling walks into Briar's and Ashlynn's dorm room, which Farrah has enchanted into a large, fully decorated ballroom. A disco light hangs from the ceiling, casting bright, glowing lights on the wide dance floor. Pop music blasts through the room. A long table is filled with dozens of food dishes.
"Happy birthday, Darling!" Apple exclaims, rushing over to her.
She pulls Darling into a hug, squeezing her tight before pulling away. She grins brightly. Darling smiles back at her. Her heart pounds as she takes in Apple's appearance. She's dressed in a sleeveless knee-length light pink dress. Her hair is down, and her lips glisten with pink lipstick. Dangling silver earrings hang from her ears.
"Thank you," says Darling.
Apple smiles and moves to give Holly a hug, too.
"Where's Dexter?" asks Darling, scanning the room.
"O-Oh," Apple stutters. "He's, um-a bit busy."
She points towards the food tables. Darling follows her gaze and laughs when she spots him. He and Raven are tangled in each other's arms, making out. Darling glances over to Apple, whose cheeks are rosy pink with embarrassment.
"Oh my," says Holly, her eyes wide.
Darling doubles over laughing, and Apple and Holly soon join in.
Darling's friends wish her a happy birthday as she makes her way over to the food table. She exchanges quick hugs with Ginger, Ashlynn, Cerise, Cedar, Farrah, Blondie, and Cupid.
"Hey, Dexter!" she calls as she approaches him and Raven who are still making out against the wall.
They pull away. Dexter nervously clears his throat and waves. Raven laughs, wiping some lipstick from the corner of her mouth.
"Hey, sis!" he exclaims, coming over to hug her.
She hugs him back. They pull away after a quick moment and laugh with glee. They're eighteen!
"Happy birthday, baby brother!" Darling says, playfully poking him on the nose.
Dexter laughs.
"Happy birthday, big sis!"
They burst into laughter and hug again.
"Aww, you guys are the cutest!" Raven exclaims, as they pull apart. "Here, I need to get a picture of you two!"
She pulls her phone out of her pocket.
"Squish together!" she playfully orders.
Darling and Dexter wrap their arms around each other and smile big and bright.
"Say we're eighteen!" Raven calls.
"We're eighteen!" the siblings yell, as Raven takes several pictures.
They pull apart when she's done. Raven comes over and gives Darling a hug.
"Happy birthday," she says, squeezing her tight.
"Thank you!" Darling happily replies as they pull away.
Raven smiles, squeezing her shoulder before turning and kissing Dexter again. Darling spots Apple talking to Briar and Blondie across the room, and Darling heads over.
"Hey, birthday girl!" Briar exclaims, giving her a tight hug. She pulls away after a moment. "Welcome to the eighteen club!"
Darling laughs.
"I'm honored to be here," she jokes.
All four girls laugh. Darling turns to the drinks table.
"How's the fruit punch?" she asks.
"It's great!" Apple exclaims.
"Ooh," says Briar. "Ummm-"
Darling looks at her, raising an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
"Well, umm-" Blondie stutters. "Sparrow kind of-spiked it."
"He what?!" Darling nearly shouts.
Blondie nods sheepishly.
"Yeah. We weren't able to warn people in time," Briar awkwardly continues. "And some people are a little bit-um-"
Darling narrows her eyes.
"Drunk," she finishes.
"Oh kingdoms!" Apple exclaims, a panicked expression on her face. "I didn't know! I drank some! Oh, my gosh!"
She looks about ready to burst into tears when Briar comes forward and puts her hands on her shoulders.
"Hey, calm down," she says. "It was after you drank it!"
Apple sighs with relief.
"Oh, thank goodness!" she exclaims.
Blondie and Darling laugh.
Darling looks around and notices how wildly some people are dancing beneath the disco ball. Her heart plummets to her stomach when she sees Sparrow sitting in a chair on the dance floor, giving a girl a lap dance.
"Oh God!" she shrieks.
Apple pales.
"Oh…" Her voice is weak.
"Is that Farrah?" Blondie shrieks.
Not a moment later, Ashlynn is marching out onto the dance floor.
"Oooh, shit," says Briar.
The girls move closer and watch amusedly as she pulls Farrah off of him and proceeds to slap him across the face. She then takes Farrah by the hand and drags her over to a table. Darling guffaws as Sparrow, head bowed, walks past Duchess who is doing an incredibly difficult-looking ballet routine, pulling the chair behind him.
"He ain't giving no underage girls lap dances now!" Briar snorts.
Blondie and Darling laugh, while Apple still stands there, looking utterly scandalized. Cupid suddenly runs up to them and grabs Blondie by the waist. Blondie squeals with surprise.
"Hey, guys!" the pink-haired goddess exclaims, her voice slightly slurred.
"Hey," the girls reply.
"Come on, Blondie!" she yells, letting go of her waist and grabbing her hand. "I need you to do the Electric Slide with me!"
Blondie's eyes are wide as she's pulled off by Cupid. The girls descend again into hysterical laughter.
Darling waves as Raven and Dexter come stumbling over. She shakes her head in amusement, realizing that they're both drunk.
"Hey, Apple!" Raven slurs.
She rushes forward and crushes said girl in a hug.
"Raven!" Apple shrieks, lightly pushing the girl away to look at her. "Did you drink?!"
"You mean the punch?" Raven slurs. "Spell yeah! Best punch I've ever had!"
Raven bounds back over to Dexter and kisses his cheek.
"Kingdoms, Darling!" he slurs. "You need to have some! It's pure magic!"
Darling laughs, shaking her head.
"No thanks. I think I'll pass."
"Come on!" he insists. "Pleeeeeease!"
Darling bursts out laughing.
"Your little kid side is sure showing now!" she exclaims.
She steps forward and ruffles his hair.
"Does liking this little kid make me a pervert?" Raven slurs, leaning in and locking her lips with Dexter's.
Briar and Darling guffaw.
"Raven!" Apple screeches. "That is disgusting!"
Raven breaks away from Dexter and shrugs.
"How is it?"
Apple puts her head in her hands.
Maddie suddenly bounces over to them.
"Hello, Darling, Apple, Briar, Dexter, and Raven!" she exclaims. "How are you guys doing?!"
"Maddie!" Raven slurs.
She jumps forward, wrapping the girl in a hug.
"It's nice to see you, too!" Maddie exclaims, mussing the girl's hair before she pulls away.
"Maddie, Raven's drunk, and so is Dexter," Apple says miserably.
"Oh, it's fine, silly!" says Maddie. "Practically everybody is at this point!"
Apple groans.
"Oh, silly me, I almost forgot!" Maddie exclaims. "Happy birthday, Darling and Dexter!"
She pulls Darling into a hug. Darling gives the shorter girl a squeeze, gently pulling back a quick moment later.
"Thank you," says Darling.
Maddie then gives Dexter a hug.
Raven suddenly surges forward and hugs Apple. She pulls her close, and Apple's eyes widen as she slowly puts her arms around the girl.
"Are you okay, Raven?" she asks worriedly.
"Oh, Apple, I've never been better!" Raven exclaims.
She pulls back and cups Apple's cheeks with her hands.
"I just need to tell you how wonderful you are! You're so sweet and loving and caring and generous! You're always there for me! I don't even know where I'd be today without you! Thank you for being such a good friend!"
She hugs her tightly again. Darling, Briar, and Maddie watch the exchange with soft expressions, while Dexter goes off to the snack table. Apple wraps her arms around Raven.
"Oh, sweetie, thank you so much! That means a lot to me."
Darling looks around the room for Holly, fearing that she's drunk. She finds her on the dance floor, doing a dance off with Blondie and Cupid, and yep...she's drunk. Holly is only seventeen, and she's drunk! Darling groans. Maddie walks up to her and pats her back.
"It's fine, Darling!" she cheerfully assures her. "She's having fun! I sense that she's a fun drunk! Raven is an emotional drunk, obviously. And Dexter is a fun drunk. So is Farrah and Cupid. And Kitty and Lizzie are both super affectionate drunks!" She gestures over to a couch across the room where Lizzie and Kitty sit, making out. "I'm not looking forward to sleeping in the same room as them tonight," she mutters.
Darling's eyes widen.
"Oh, not because of that!" Maddie laughs, seeing her expression. "They are definitely going to crash before it goes that far! They are going to get sick, though. I'll have to remember to put a couple trash cans by the bed!"
"Oh," Darling breathes, relieved.
"Well, anyway, I'm going to go dance! See ya!"
She bounces off, and Darling decides to go check on Daring who is at the drinks table, chugging...the spiked punch. She sighs and walks over.
"Hey, Daring," she says.
He slams his cup down on the table and opens his arms wide.
"Hello, little sister!" he exclaims, hugging her tightly.
Darling struggles to breathe in the suffocating embrace. Finally, she manages to pull away.
"Kingdoms!" Daring shrieks. "You need to try this punch! It is life-changing!"
Darling rolls her eyes.
"So I've been seeing," she mutters.
"Come on, sis! Try some!" he exclaims. "Please try some!"
Darling scans the room, sees her friends tearing up the dance floor, and sighs, finally giving up the fight.
"Just a little," she says.
Daring scoops one ladleful of punch into a red plastic cup. She cautiously takes a sip and is surprised at how good it tastes. It's like fruit punch but with a slightly bitter tang. She likes it. She glugs down the cup before setting it down on the table. She licks her lips.
"It's good," she admits.
Daring gives her a childish grin.
"See?!"
She smiles, playfully smacking his shoulder.
"Do you wanna dance?!" he eagerly asks.
Darling is about to say yes when she sees Apple walking over to her.
"Umm-no. You go have fun. I'm going to go talk to someone."
Daring shrugs and runs off. Darling walks to meet Apple.
"Hey," Apple says tiredly. "You wanna get some fresh air?"
An unexpected thrill rushes through Darling.
"That sounds lovely," she breathes.
She takes Apple's hand. Apple's eyes widen, as she's usually the first to initiate the physical contact, but she quickly smiles and squeezes her hand.
They walk hand in hand down the grand staircase and quietly make their way out of the school through a secret exit that Darling had found a few months ago. It's located in a cabinet in the kitchen. They crawl in, open a small metal door, and slide out.
They walk through the Enchanted Forest, excitedly conversing about the party.
"I can't believe so many people got drunk!" Apple exclaims, shaking her head. "Kingdoms, I hope Headmaster Grimm never finds out!"
"Yeah," Darling agrees, laughing.
There's a slight buzzing in her head from the alcohol she just consumed. She feels unexpectedly confident and knows suddenly, without a doubt, that she's going to ask Apple right now.
As they settle on their special log and gaze up at the starry night sky, Darling's heart pounds in her ears.
"I have something for you that I wanted to give to you in private," Apple says suddenly, her voice soft.
Darling holds her breath. Her chest swells with excitement. Her stomach flutters with nerves, more intense than she's ever felt. Apple takes a wrapped present out of her purse. The wrapping paper is light blue with turquoise flower patterns. It's tied with a dark blue ribbon.
Apple hands it to her with a shy smile, and Darling gingerly takes it. She slips the ribbon off with trembling fingers, and with bated breath, rips the paper off. There's a small cardboard box inside. She slowly takes the lid off and gently rifles through the light blue tissue paper. Her fingers grasp something slightly cold and metallic, and she pulls it out. It's a shiny silver locket, and she gasps as she takes in its details. Etched into the metal are two images: a silver apple and a silver sword. They lie side by side on the front of the locket, glistening in the starlight. Tears fill her eyes, and she turns to Apple, hugging her tightly.
"Th-thank you so much!" she exclaims, her voice shaking. "Thank you!"
Apple hugs her back.
"You're welcome, sweetie." She smooths a hand over Darling's hair. "Open it up."
Darling pulls away and, with shaking fingers, opens the locket. Inside is a photo of them that was taken after the Holiday Talent Show. Their arms are around each other, and the smiles on their faces are so large and bright, they rival the beauty of the glowing Christmas tree behind them.
Before she or Apple can say or do anything else, she blurts out what's been weighing heavily on her for the last two weeks.
"Will you go to the True Hearts Day Dance with me, as like-my g-girlfriend?"
Her voice cracks as Apple's eyes widen. Apple looks terrified, and Darling's stomach crumples, feeling like it's being crushed into a small, wrinkled ball of paper. Apple stutters incoherently for a moment before placing a gentle hand on Darling's knee. Apple's touch jabs her like a needle, and she flinches away, turning around so Apple can't see the tears forming in her eyes.
"I-It's fine," Darling whispers. "I was just wondering."
"Oh, Darling." Apple's voice is choked by tears.
She tries to touch her shoulder, but Darling shrugs her away again.
"I-I'm sorry," Apple whispers. "I just-can't. I know I said that I liked you like th-that a while ago, but I-I really just think of you as a fr-friend. A really good friend."
Darling feels like Apple has stabbed a knife into her heart and is twisting it in further and further with every word. She's holding her breath, trying to not let any sobs out.
"I'm so sorry," Apple murmurs.
Darling can hear her footsteps quickly retreat.
As soon as she can no longer hear Apple, she clamps a hand over her mouth. She draws her knees to her chest, buries her face in them, and lets the sobs pierce her throat like dull blades.
XXX
"Darling!" Rosabella calls, as she enters their dorm room.
"I'm here!" Darling says, her voice weak.
She's sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket. Rosabella approaches her, and seeing Darling's red eyes, promptly takes a seat next to her friend.
"Hey, what happened?" she asks gently, placing a hand on Darling's shoulder.
Darling almost flinches away, but quickly decides she doesn't want to reject her friend, knowing how much that can hurt. There's no use anyway. Rosabella isn't the type to just leave her alone and allow her to mourn her heartbreak in private.
The tears are pushing against her eyelids like hot irons pressing into fabric, and Darling just doesn't want to hold it back.
"She doesn't l-like me," she whispers, her voice hoarse. "Like that."
She leans forward, putting her hands over her face as sobs rack her frame.
"Oh, Darling," Rosabella murmurs.
Rosabella wraps her arms tightly around her and rests her cheek on her head. A rather undignified sob bursts from Darling's throat, and she helplessly takes her hands away from her face, gripping Rosabella's arm tightly.
"I'm proud of you," Rosabella murmurs.
Darling just shakes her head.
"I am," Rosabella repeats, pressing a soft kiss to the side of her head.
Rosabella gently shifts them so that they're leaning back against the couch. Darling just squeezes her eyes shut and allows herself to fall apart in her friend's arms.
XXX
February 13, 2018
"Coming!" Rosabella yells. "Just a minute!" She turns to Darling and speaks quietly. "Darling, it's Holly."
Darling, who's dressed in blue flannel pajamas, looks up from her hextbook. Curtains of tangled platinum blonde hair shroud her face.
"Oh, I really don't want any company right now," she mutters.
Rosabella sighs.
"Darling," she says gently. "Holly is your friend. Why don't you try letting her in?"
Darling lets out a long, trembling breath.
"Okay," she murmurs. "Let her in."
Rosabella smiles softly. She pulls the door open.
"Hey, Holly!" she cheerfully exclaims.
"Hi," says Holly. "How are you doing?"
"Great, thanks," replies Rosabella. "And you?"
"I'm doing okay."
Rosabella opens the door wider. Holly cautiously steps in. She gazes across the room at Darling.
"I was just going to the library," says Rosabella. "It was really nice seeing you, Holly!"
"Nice seeing you, too, Rosabella," calls Holly, as the girl exits the room.
Holly walks over to Darling's bed and sits down next to her. Darling looks down, running her finger along the blue flannel sheet. Holly gently sighs.
"Hey," she murmurs. "You've been avoiding me the past couple days. Something's wrong. Please talk to me."
Darling is silent, gazing down at the blankets.
"Does it have anything to do with Apple?" she asks, her voice soft.
Holly sharply inhales as she sees the tears welling in Darling's eyes.
"Yes," Darling whispers.
Holly reaches out her hands, not knowing what to do. She's never seen Darling cry before. It's terrifying to see somebody so strong and confident break down.
"I'm sorry," she says, not knowing what else to say.
Darling covers her face with her hands.
"Please leave. I really need to be alone right now!"
She scoots back, leaning against the bed's headboard. Holly moves closer. She reaches out, placing a tentative hand on Darling's knee.
"Please!" Darling insists, her voice choked by tears. "Please leave me alone!"
"No. I'm not going to leave you alone," Holly says firmly.
Darling sniffles. A quiet whimper escapes her. Holly sighs sadly, slowly wrapping her arm around Darling's shoulders. Suddenly, Darling shifts, scooting closer to her. Holly reacts quickly, putting her other arm around the girl. Holly pulls her close, guiding her head to rest on her chest.
That's when Darling fully breaks down. Her body shudders as she's overcome by sobs. Holly squeezes her tight. She lifts her hand, brushing her fingers through the girl's thick curls.
Holly's eyes sting as she thinks about how she'd encouraged Darling to confess her feelings, how she'd been the one to finally convince the girl to. She'd assured her that it would go perfectly, that she knew Apple liked her back. It twists Holly's stomach into a knot to think that she's the cause of Darling's misery.
She feels regret, thinking that since that day in the stables when their friendship had begun, she has been looking up to Darling like a goddess. She's thought of her as this eternally powerful being, as bulletproof as titanium. Holly thinks that she's failed to recognize that Darling is human, too.
As Holly's ministrations turn into a rhythm, her fingers becoming aware of the pattern of their strokes, Darling's sobs gradually begin to cease.
When she's calmed, she pulls away. She reaches up, roughly swiping her hand over her eyes. Holly moves closer to her, placing a hand on her back. Darling tilts her head down, concealing her tearstained face. Holly becomes nervous, wondering if she should say anything, if she should get her friend tissues, if she should offer to order her tea from room service, when Darling quietly speaks.
"I'm sorry," she says, her hoarse voice scarcely above a whisper.
Holly shakes her head, taking Darling's hands in hers.
"No, Darling," she says, squeezing her hands. "No. Don't be sorry. It's okay. It's perfectly alright. You're allowed to be sad just like everybody else. There is nothing to be ashamed of."
Darling sniffles.
"But I'm a knight," she mutters. "How am I supposed to prove that I'm as strong as any man if I completely break down this easily?"
Holly sighs.
"Darling, sweetie, look at me," she says.
Her heart skips a beat when she realizes that she just called her "sweetie." It's not uncommon for Holly to call her sister and close friends sweet pet names. With Darling, though, it feels different, more intimate somehow; like it has a deeper meaning, something that Holly has buried within herself, but is pervading her mind now that she's so close to Darling. Now that the scent of Darling's vanilla shampoo is wafting up her nostrils.
She takes a deep breath. She leans forward, trying to see beneath the shroud of hair hiding Darling's face.
"Hey," she murmurs. "Please look at me, Darling."
Darling doesn't oblige. With a soft sigh, Holly slides her hand under her friend's chin, gently lifting it up. Reluctantly, Darling's red, puffy eyes meet hers. Holly strokes her thumbs across her cheeks, wiping the tears away.
"Darling," she says, her voice soft. "You are a knight. You're strong and courageous. You're loyal and chivalrous. But do you know what I love most about you, as a knight and as a person? You go out of your way to help people, to defend them, to take care of them. And do you know what that amount of compassion takes, Darling? It takes emotion. Loads of emotion. You use that emotion to have empathy for others. You have a big heart that genuinely aches for those around you. And part of having a big heart is, that when something happens to you, you feel it. It hurts. You, being the amazingly wonderful person you are, don't take that pain and disappointment out on others. You're not vindictive. You're not jealous. You're not bitter. No, you represent that pain in the purest way imaginable. You cry. Your emotions cause you to cry. And your emotion also fuels the hero in you. They are what makes you the brave, caring knight that you are. Your heart, your emotions, are what makes you you, Darling. So, there's nothing wrong with crying. Pain is just one small aspect of your emotions. And it's absolutely beautiful, just like every part of you."
Holly, having lost herself in the flow of her words, barely registers that her passionate speech has ended. She blinks, shaking her head.
Holly squeaks with surprise when Darling suddenly pulls her into a tight hug. Holly gradually relaxes into the embrace. The scent of vanilla is intoxicating now. It fills Holly with warmth, a boiling hot sensation in her stomach that she thinks may be desire. The thought terrifies her. She squeezes Darling tighter.
"Thank you, Holly," Darling says, her voice soft. "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome," Holly breathes, her stomach fluttering.
Holly feels suddenly cold when the girl pulls away. Darling takes a deep breath. Holly stares at her friend, at her platinum blonde curls, a tangled mess falling past her shoulders. Holly reaches out, gently tucking a stray ringlet behind Darling's ear. Darling smiles, the beautiful smile that lights up her entire face, that heats Holly's stomach with its brightness. Holly doesn't realize she's staring until Darling awkwardly averts her gaze. Holly shakes her head.
"Sorry. I zoned out there." She clears her throat. "How about I order you some tea? Does that sound good?"
"Sure," Darling says. "That sounds lovely. Thank you."
"Sure thing."
XXX
Holly and Darling sit across from each other on the bed, each nursing a steaming cup of peppermint tea. Darling gently blows. She lifts the mug to her mouth, taking a cautious sip.
"Not too hot," she says.
She takes another sip. Holly follows suit.
"Mmm. It's just right," says Holly.
Darling smiles, giggling. Holly laughs. Spending time with her friend forever after, Blondie, has definitely rubbed off on her. There's a moment of comfortable silence as both girls sip their tea. Holly stares through the large window across the room. Nothing but dark sky lies beyond the glass. She hears the whistle of the wind blowing through the trees. She closes her eyes, picturing the limbs swaying against a palette of navy blue. She's pulled from her trance by Darling's soft voice.
"I think I want to tell you what happened," she murmurs.
Holly turns and looks at her friend. Darling gazes into her mug of tea. Holly lets out a slow breath, quietly waiting for the girl to continue. Darling glances up after a few moments. She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath, before looking at Holly. She clears her throat.
"So, as you know, Apple and I have been spending a lot of time together the past couple months. Some people probably already assumed we were together because of all the hand-holding." She laughs dryly. "Well, I decided to take a leap of faith."
She reaches over, setting her mug on the bedside table. She sighs, twisting her fingers together in her lap.
"Apple and I went out to get some fresh air during the party, and I decided to ask her." She squeezes her eyes shut. "She got this horrified look on her face, and pretty much she just said she loves me as a good friend, and I just-I love her in a much bigger way." Her voice cracks.
Holly reaches out, placing a hand on her knee. Darling sniffs.
"It's not just because she's supposed to be my true love now," she says. "I feel that it's real. I love her. And I was really sure that...she loved me, too." She chokes back a sob.
Holly's eyes burn.
"Come here," she murmurs.
Darling sighs shakily as Holly pulls her into her arms. Neither of them speak for a long time.
"Can you please read to me?"
Holly is startled by Darling's sudden request. She's slightly taken aback, as Darling has never asked this before. She blinks, drawn from her brief stupor, as Darling pulls away.
"It just calms me down," Darling explains, swiping her hand over her eyes. "When I was little, my mom used to read to me when I was upset. I know you like to read, so I was just wondering…" Her voice trails off.
Holly smiles. Darling is so adorable, she's having trouble containing herself.
"Sure," she says, her voice soft. "That sounds great."
Darling smiles brightly. Holly's stomach flutters with butterflies. Being the reason for Darling's happiness brings her more pleasure than she thinks she's ever felt.
"Any idea of what you want to read?" asks Holly.
"I've been reading this book called Practical Magic," says Darling. "It's really good. Maybe you could read me a couple chapters?"
"Okay," Holly agrees.
Darling pulls the book out from a shelf on her nightstand. She hands the blue paperback to Holly.
"Ooooh. Alice Hoffman!" Holly exclaims. "I love her! I've never read this one, though."
Darling smiles.
"Yeah, she's one of my favorite authors," she says.
Holly opens the book to the dog-eared page. She glances up. Darling sits in the middle of the bed, picking at the blue sheet with her finger.
"Hey," Holly says gently. "Come here."
She pats her lap. Darling smiles softly. She crawls over, lying down and resting her head in Holly's lap. Holly reaches down, trailing her fingers through Darling's snarled tresses. Darling closes her eyes. After a few strokes, Holly turns her attention to the book. She clears her throat.
"If a woman is in trouble," she reads, "she should always wear blue for protection. Blue shoes or a blue dress. A sweater the color of a robin's egg or a scarf the shade of heaven."