Previously in Expect the Unexpected
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.
February 10, 2018 (senior year of high school)
Apple dashes through the halls, sobs tearing through her throat. She wants nothing more than to curl up under her blankets and cry. She bursts into her dormitory, relief flowing through her when she sees that it's empty. Raven must still be at the party. She slams the door behind her. Finally, she lets herself cry. The sobs pierce her throat like knives. She kicks her shoes off, yelling angrily as they sail through the air. With a loud clang and a deafening crash, the antique snow globe on her nightstand falls to the ground. The glass sprays like rain, sprinkling onto the floor in hundreds of tiny shards. She gasps, her heart crashing to the pit of her stomach.
"No," she whispers, her breath leaving her. "No."
She drops to her knees beside the pile of broken glass, her eyes swimming with tears. An unbidden memory flashes through her mind.
She's nine years old, sitting on her favorite red fuzzy rug in the playroom, brushing her doll, Bethany's, hair. One hundred strokes, just as she's been trained to do to her own hair every morning and night.
"Applepie, sweetie," Snow White says, smiling softly at her daughter, as she walks through the door.
"Hi, Mommy!" Apple exclaims, setting Bethany carefully down and standing up. "What are you holding?"
"This is a snowglobe, my dear," Snow White says, crouching down and holding the item out for Apple to see.
I know that, Apple thinks. Of course she knows what a snowglobe is. She doesn't say this, though, because a good princess never talks back.
"Oh, pretty," she says instead.
She looks through the glass globe, seeing an apple tree and a girl surprisingly like her with flowing blonde locks standing next to it, a bluebird perched on her shoulder. White snow covers the ground.
"Here, my little dove," says Snow White, handing her the globe. "Shake it."
Apple gingerly holds the snow globe, afraid that she'll somehow break it. Carefully, she shakes it side to side. Specks of snow swirl around the globe, a white whirlwind surrounding the quaint scene. She knew it would happen, but it still sends a tiny thrill through her. She smiles, watching as the falling snow slows to a stop.
"Listen closely, Applepie," Snow White says. "This snow globe was made specially for you, crafted by the most talented craftsdwarf in this castle."
"Oooh," Apple says, her eyes wide as she stares at the girl in the snowglobe, her dainty hand outstretched to pick an apple.
"Who do you think that little girl is?" Snow White asks, a playful lilt in her voice.
Apple grins.
"Me!" she confidently exclaims. "And she has blonde hair just like me!"
Snow White laughs softly, her eyes aglow with the love she has for her daughter.
"Yes, my little dove," she murmurs. "She does have blonde hair. And it's absolutely beautiful, just like yours."
Overwhelming happiness roars inside of her like a bright flame. She throws her arms around her mother, squeezing her tight.
"Thank you, Mommy. Thank you."
XXX
Present Time
Apple White lies on her bed and cries, the memories of her mother's love flashing through her mind, filling her with guilt. That was one of the few moments of completely pure happiness that Apple had experienced with her mother; one of only several moments where her mother had no agenda but to love Apple with all her heart. And now the memory is tainted by one mere second of recklessness. She sees the shoes thrown by her hand sailing through the air, and is suddenly reminded of a similar sight: a shiny red apple streaking through the air, hitting the mirror with an ear splitting crash. She remembers the horror that had welled inside of her, the regret that had instantly consumed her. Once again, she's let her temper take over her, and she's again made a grave mistake that she never intended to make. Whether she meant harm or not, though, it still happened. There's never a way to escape the truth.
Her sleep is restless, as images of flying objects float in and out of her mind; the apple that has haunted so many of her dreams; which then turns into her sparkling shoes, crashing into her snowglobe; the snowglobe falling to the unforgiving ground with a deafening crunch, leaving a void inside her where a treasured memory once lay.
XXX
The next morning, her first thought as she blinks her swollen eyes open is how bad of a nightmare she'd just had. Then her gaze settles on the pile of glass by her nightstand, and the night of horrors she'd had hits her with full force.
"No," she groans, burying her face in her hands. "This can't be happening."
When she opens her eyes again, though, the glass is still there, illuminated by the glow of the morning sun. The memory of Darling's heartbroken expression still sticks to her mind like a heavy magnet that won't budge. Why did she do that? Why did she reject the girl she's been in love with for months? Why did she once again sabotage herself, crush her own dreams in a flurry of fear and uncertainty? Her eyes sting.
She's pulled from her stupor by a loud yawn from across the room. Her blurry gaze rests on Raven who rolls over in her bed, groaning. Sudden relief fills Apple as she registers Raven's presence. Somebody must've brought her back to the dorm last night. Judging by how neatly she's tucked in, it was probably Ashlynn.
"It hurts," Raven moans. "My head. Owww."
Apple hurries over to the water jug in the corner of the room and fills up a cup.
"Here, Raven," she says softly, sitting next to the girl on her bed.
She helps her sit up, holding her steady as she grabs the cup of water and hands it to her.
"Drink this," she says. "I'm going to go get you some Tylenol."
Raven squeezes her eyes shut as she takes shaky sips of water.
"The sun," she complains. "It's so bright."
"The drapes are closed," says Apple, as she grabs the bottle of Tylenol.
"Well, it's still bright," Raven says, her voice hoarse.
Apple rolls her eyes.
"Here you go," says Apple, handing Raven the medication.
She sits down on the bed next to Raven and sighs, picking at a loose thread on her dress.
"Thanks," Raven says, her voice low, after she gulps down the pills.
"Of course, Raven," says Apple, forcing a smile.
It feels hypocritical of her to act cheerful when she feels like she's dying inside. She shakes her head, trying to clear away the negative thoughts. She needs to distract herself. If she doesn't, she's going to fall apart.
"Here, I'll go down to the castleteria and get you some breakfast," Apple says.
She freezes. What if Darling is there? What if she tries to talk to her? What if she glares at her and walks away? Her head spins with the overwhelming amount of possibilities.
"It's fine," Raven groans. "I'm not hungry."
"No, Raven," Apple says. "You're going to get sick if you don't eat some food with that medicine."
"I think I might get sick anyways," says Raven, running her hands over her face. "I feel awful. What the hell happened to me last night?"
Apple almost laughs, as she realizes that Raven doesn't know she's hungover.
"Raven, my dear," she says, "you have a hangover."
"A hangover?" Raven asks, sounding confused.
"Yes," Apple says. "Somebody spiked the punch at the party last night, and a ton of people got drunk, including you."
Raven gasps as the revelation that she drank sets in.
"I drank alcohol?!" she exclaims. She puts her hand over her mouth. "Oh kingdoms! My dad would freak if he ever found out!"
Apple snorts, a momentary happiness washing over her.
"Don't worry," she says, patting Raven's shoulder. "I'll never say a word."
Raven looks at her and immediately barks with laughter.
"Oh my fairy godmother!" she exclaims, slapping her knee. "Me? Drunk?! Oh gosh, I must've been a mess!"
"You were pretty sentimental," Apple divulges, giggling at Raven's shocked expression.
"Oh kingdoms!" she groans. "What did I do?"
"Let's just say there was a lot of hugging and dramatic declarations of your love for me!"
Raven buries her face in her hands. Apple laughs. She pats Raven on the back.
"Oh, come now. It wasn't that bad."
Raven looks up at her, her cheeks flushed.
"Well, at least I was being honest," she says. "I do love you."
Warmth spreads through Apple's chest. Her cheeks suddenly burn. She takes Raven's hand.
"I love you too, Raven," she says softly.
Raven grins, her face pink as a rose. Suddenly, she gulps and grabs her stomach.
"Apple, I think I'm going to puke!"
Apple jumps up, running across the room to grab the trash can. This is going to be a long morning.
XXX
An hour later, after Raven's stomach has settled and she's been able to keep down some fruit, she's sitting in her bed, sipping a cup of tea that Apple had ordered for her. Apple sits at her vanity, brushing her hair. Apple's stomach is tight, clenched by the iron fist of regret. How could she break Darling's heart like that? She feels like a monster.
"Are you alright, Apple?" Raven asks, her brow creased, looking at her quizzically.
Apple's hand tightens around the hairbrush. She takes quiet, shaky breaths, roughly biting her lip as she struggles to rein in the tears pricking at her eyelids.
"Apple…"
Raven's voice is soft, filled with concern. Apple looks down, realizing that her fingers have turned white with the force that she's gripping the hairbrush with. She lets go and sets it on her vanity. She stares ahead, unblinking, at the wall, trying desperately to not let her composure slip. Her eyes are burning.. Raven, perceptive and empathetic as always, even when hungover, must realize she's attempting to not cry.
"Aww, Apple," Raven murmurs. "Come here."
She reaches her arms out, and Apple, her vision swarming with tears, stumbles across the room toward Raven's bed. Raven pulls the covers aside, and she grabs Apple's hands, helping her onto the bed. Apple sits beside Raven and instantly crumples, suddenly overcome by sobs.
"Come here," Raven murmurs as she pulls Apple into her arms.
Apple grips Raven tightly, burying her face in her chest.
"Shhh, it's okay," Raven whispers.
"No, it's not!" Apple sobs, the words spilling out of her. "Darling asked me to the dance, and I said no, and now she probably hates me! And I broke my special snowglobe, and my mother is going to flip when she finds out! And I-" She can't continue, as the sobs rip through her body like churning waves.
"It's going to be okay," Raven murmurs, slowly rubbing her back. "We'll figure it out. I promise."
XXX
Later, after the storm has passed, Apple sits back against Raven's pillows. Raven sits beside her, an arm wrapped around her shoulders. Apple looks across the room at her snowglobe, which Raven had repaired with magic. She feels silly for getting so upset over it when her best friend is literally a sorceress.
"I'm sure Darling doesn't hate you, Apple," she says. "If you just talk to her, I'm sure you two can work it out."
Apple shrugs.
"Maybe," she says, her voice hoarse.
"First, we just need to figure out how you feel. Do you, you know, like her?"
"I do," Apple says, her voice cracking, "but I just don't know!"
She buries her face in her hands, sighing shakily.
"What do you not know?" Raven asks, her voice gentle.
Apple lifts her face, looking at Raven.
"How I'm going to do this!" she exclaims. "Love and be with a girl in this reality, where people are so prejudiced, and my mom is so critical, and the whole kingdom expects me to marry a prince! It doesn't matter how I feel! What about how everybody else feels about me?! For all they know, my true love is Daring! They don't know that I, you know, like girls." She whispers the last part.
Raven takes a deep breath.
"That's all very valid, Apple. Really, it is. I know how scary it is to deviate from the path that's been expected of you your whole life, but in the end, your happiness is what matters. And if Darling makes you happy, screw what anybody else thinks. Your mom and the kingdom will just have to get used to it. You deserve to be happy, Apple. You're my best friend forever after, and more than anything, I want you to live a full life, with no regrets. I want you to be who you are and never be ashamed of it. Because Apple–you are incredible, and I mean that."
Apple's eyes swim with tears. Her heart has never been fuller than it is in this moment, looking at her friend and knowing just how much she loves her.
"Thank you," she chokes out, throwing her arms around Raven. "Thank you so much!"
"Of course, Apple," Raven murmurs, pressing her lips to the top of her head. "Of course."
XXX
Apple takes a deep breath before walking into the Princessology classroom. Nerves erupt in her stomach as she spots Darling sitting in the corner of the room, looking down at her textbook. Holly is sitting next to her. She looks over at Apple. Apple instinctively smiles; but Holly's expression is cold. Apple sighs softly, looking at the floor as she walks over to her chair. She sits down between Ashlynn and Blondie.
"Hey, Apple," Blondie says cheerfully.
"Hey, Blondie," she replies, forcing a smile onto her face. "Hey, Ashlynn."
"Hey, Apple," Ashlynn says gently, reaching over and squeezing her hand.
She must sense that something is wrong with Apple, as her expression is soft with concern. As always, when she sees Ashlynn nowadays, her gaze inadvertently travels to her stomach. There's no baby bump yet, but Apple still can't help glancing at it. Apple quickly looks up as Mrs. Her Majesty The White Queen enters the room.
Throughout the lesson, she can't stop glancing over at Darling. Darling is apparently determined not to look at her, though, as her gaze is constantly on the teacher. Her face is gloomy, but maybe Apple's just projecting. After all, her heart feels like it's been ripped open. When class is over, Darling quickly leaves the room, Holly at her heels. She sighs, wincing as she realizes how loud it was.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" Ashlynn asks, her brows furrowed with worry.
Apple quickly stands, slinging her bookbag over her shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she says.
She attempts a smile, but as Ashlynn's face only grows more concerned, she figures it must be more of a grimace. She forces out a laugh, which thankfully sounds more convincing. She links arms with Ashlynn and Blondie, pulling them out of the classroom and down the hall.
"Come on, girls," she says. "Crownculus awaits."
XXX
The next few days pass in the same fashion, going from class to class, a heaviness in her gut that leaves her drained by the end of the day. Raven spends time with her whenever she can, paying extra attention to her at meals, doing homework with her in the evenings, watching shows with her before bed. Apple appreciates Raven trying to cheer her up. She still can't escape the sinking feeling inside of her, though; the panic she feels whenever she spots Darling. Holly is always with Darling, fixing Apple with a cold stare whenever they cross paths. Apple hasn't felt this much guilt since after she let the Evil Queen escape. She forgot how exhausting it is. No matter how tired she is, though, she can't sleep.
XXX
Two nights before the True Hearts Day Dance, she lies awake in bed , staring at the ceiling, listening to Raven's sleepy mumbling. Visions of Darling vandalize her mind-her ice blue eyes gazing at Apple, her soft hand warm against Apple's palm, the sweet scent of vanilla flowing up Apple's nose.
"Darling," she whispers, the word feeling foreign on her tongue. "Darling."
She falls asleep with the ghost of Darling's name on her lips.
XXX
February 15, 2018
Thursday morning is bright and cold. Apple sits with Raven, Briar, Ashlynn, and Blondie at breakfast. She stares down at the rivulets of syrup on her pancake, determinedly averting her gaze from Darling and Holly who are sitting at a table across the room. Her friends casually chat, oblivious to Apple's inner turmoil. The only person she's told about her predicament with Darling is Raven, who has been doing everything she can to lift Apple's spirits. Even with all the quality time Apple has gotten to spend with one of her favorite people, nothing can stem the flow of pain that constantly courses through her.
"Aren't you girls so excited for the True Hearts Day Dance tomorrow night?" Ashlynn asks, her voice ringing with enthusiasm.
"Hex yeah!" Briar exclaims. "Cupid and I have been working extra hard this year to make sure we have the time of our lives tomorrow!"
"Well, I can't wait!" Blondie enthuses. "Cupid has really been looking forward to True Hearts Day, and she's so adorable when she gets all hexcited!"
Blondie clasps her hands to her chest, a dreamy expression on her face.
"Awww, you two lovebirds!" Briar exclaims, slinging her arm over Blondie's shoulders.
Blondie giggles.
"Having a girlfriend is the best," says Blondie, smiling wider than ever. "You just want to be with them every second!"
Briar laughs, pulling Blondie close and mussing her hair.
"Oh, speaking of girlfriends," Blondie continues.
Apple stiffens as Blondie's eyes move to her.
"How are you and Darling doing?" Blondie asks. "Are you going to go to the dance together?"
Apple freezes, her insides writhing like a heap of snakes. Her eyes dart over to Raven who looks as scared as she is, her eyes wide.
"Oh um, I-I, um we-we" No matter how hard she tries, she can't get out one comprehensible word.
She grits her teeth, her cheeks burning as she sees all her friends looking at her, confused expressions on their faces. She feels like her brain has exploded, the wires that hold her thoughts together snapped by the incessant anxiety that is building up inside of her. Now sparks are flying everywhere. She can't think.
Just when her friends are starting to look worried, the bell rings.
"Oh, th-there's the bell!" she stutters, finally managing to speak.
She jumps up from the table, hurrying to put her tray away. She doesn't look back as she rushes to her first class of the day, Kingdom Management. Her heart is pounding like a drum. I can do this, she tells herself. Just calm down. She takes a deep, shaky breath and continues on, ready to face the day no matter how difficult it is.
XXX
Apple didn't know she could feel any worse. But as her eyes, for the first time this week, meet Darling's across the room, her heart stops. Her organs feel like they're shrinking away, drying out, leaving her emptier than ever. Just as quickly as their gazes connect, though, they slip away. Apple squeezes her eyes shut, the memory of Darling's sad blue eyes pasted to her eyelids. They're at the front of her mind all day, blurring out chalkboards, drowning out teacher's voices.
At lunch, she hides in the bathroom, sitting on the toilet and putting her feet up so that nobody can see she's there. She takes slow, deep breaths, trying in vain to settle her mind. Darling–her beautiful mane of hair, her crystal clear eyes, her gentle voice, her soft hands stroking Apple's arm, the love in her heart that always brightens Apple's day. Her mind is consumed with image after image of Darling. She doesn't know how much longer she can take this. For now, she just leans back against the wall and counts her breaths, praying that the bell for afternoon classes rings any moment.
XXX
After the final bell of the day rings, Apple bypasses the crowds of students and hurries towards the Enchanted Forest. She arrives at the gazebo, her place of solace that she retreats to whenever the pressures of her life become too overwhelming. She heaves a sigh as she sits on the white marble steps, staring with tired eyes at a patch of clover flowers. As always, when she's out in nature, animals flock to her. Bluebirds land on her shoulder. Her favorite bunny that she named Leopold hops into her lap. A fawn canters over to her.
"Hello there," she says softly, petting Leopold. "It's nice to see you guys."
She doesn't know how long she sits there in the warm presence of the woodland creatures, the neverending image of Darling flashing before her eyes, when she hears a twig snap. She gasps and jumps to her feet. The bunny hops away. She only realizes then that it's gotten dark. Moonlight shines through the branches of the trees, casting a pale, milky glow on the forest floor.
"Apple!" a voice calls. "Are you there?"
She blinks, seeing a glowing light approaching her. She recognizes the voice.
"Briar?" she questions. "What are you doing out here?"
"I could ask the same of you," Briar says as she comes into view, holding a lantern.
She sits down next to Apple on the gazebo steps.
"What's going on, Apple?" she asks, her voice soft.
Apple squints, just barely making out Briar's face through the light of the lantern. She sighs, looking down, scratching the hem of her skirt.
"Well," she says, "the truth is–" She takes a deep, trembling breath. Her next words come out as rapid as a river current. "Darling told me that she liked me and wanted to be my girlfriend and she asked me to the True Hearts Day Dance, but I was scared and said no and ran away and now she must hate me because I broke her heart and now I cheated myself out of my one chance at true love and–" She gasps for air.
"Breathe, Apple," Briar says, placing her hands on her shoulders. "Just breathe."
"Okay," Apple squeaks.
She takes a few deep breaths, Briar's firm grip on her shoulders grounding her.
"Okay," Briar says, her calm voice soothing Apple even further. "Now, first of all, I need you to know that you haven't ruined anything. Darling doesn't hate you. You have the whole rest of your life for true love. It doesn't all depend on this very moment."
Apple nods, some of the tension she's harbored over the past week draining out of her.
"What matters the most right now," Briar continues, "is how you feel. Do you like Darling? Do you want to be with her? Something tells me you do. But you need to hear it from yourself."
"I do," Apple says, her voice cracking with a sudden burst of emotion. "I do love her."
Briar sighs softly, gently tucking a lock of hair behind Apple's hair. Apple closes her eyes, relaxed by the familiar touch of her best friend.
"I know you do," Briar murmurs. "And she loves you too. I can see it in her eyes."
Apple laughs shakily.
"Thank you, Briar," she murmurs, pulling her friend into an embrace. "You're the best."
Briar hugs her back tightly.
"You too, Applepie. You too."
Apple smiles, more content in her friend's warm arms then she's been all week.
"Now you just need to tell her how you feel," Briar says. "She'll listen. I know she will."
Though the fear of confronting Darling is still there, it feels much more manageable now that her friend is by her side.
"Okay," she says resolutely.
She pulls back, taking the most deep, refreshing breath she's taken all week. She squares her shoulders.
"I'm going to tell her how I feel," she says.
She smiles brightly.
"Good!" Briar says happily, giving Apple's shoulder a squeeze.
Briar's smile suddenly drops, though. She looks down, picking at her dress like Apple always does when she's upset. Apple frowns.
"Oh no. What's wrong, Briar? Are you okay?"
Briar sighs. She looks up, a pained smile on her face.
"It's just that, um, my parents–they're–" She sighs again. "They're getting a divorce." Her voice breaks.
Apple gasps, her stomach sinking.
"Oh, Briar," she says. "That's awful! I'm so sorry."
She pulls Briar into her arms, squeezing her tight. Briar sighs shakily, hugging Apple back.
"It's okay," she says, her voice strained. "I mean, they haven't slept in the same room with each other since I started high school." She laughs bitterly. "I should've seen it coming. It's still just such a shock, though. You know, I wanted to believe that they were, you know–happy." Her voice cracks.
"Oh, Briar," Apple cooes, feeling like a fist is squeezing her heart. "They were happy. And they are. Just because they don't get along doesn't mean they haven't had the time of their lives raising you and your brothers. They've just decided that living separately will make life easier for them."
"But what will holidays be like?" Briar asks, her voice small. "Will Christmas ever be the same? Or Thanksgiving? Or our birthdays?"
Apple sighs softly.
"They might be different, Briar. But they're still going to be special. Your family is still a family, and nothing is going to change that. I promise."
Briar lets out a shaky breath, relaxing in Apple's arms.
"Thank you, Apple. Talking to you always makes me feel better."
Apple giggles.
"I always feel better after talking to you, too, Bri."
They sit there in each other's arms, quiet and content, until the winter wind becomes too bitter.
"Hey, let's go back to me and Ash's dorm and watch a movie," Briar says, sounding profoundly more cheerful then she has all night.
"Sounds like a plan," Apple agrees.
XXX
February 16, 2018
The day of the True Hearts Day Dance has arrived, and Apple is on a mission. On her way down to breakfast, Apple slips a note under Darling's dorm room door. Meet me at our log after school, the note says.
Butterflies zoom through Apple's stomach the whole day. The anticipation is killing her. She tries to meet Darling's eyes from across the Princessology classroom, hoping that she'll give her some indication that she got the letter; but Darling's gaze stays determinedly turned towards Mrs. Her Majesty The White Queen the whole time.
When the final bell rings, Apple's anxiety is at full force, sending adrenaline coursing through her. Raven meets her in the hallway, linking arms with Apple as they walk through the throngs of students. Apple smiles, surprised, as she's usually the one to link arms with people, not the other way around.
"You ready?" Raven asks.
She smiles at Apple, swinging their arms as they walk. Apple giggles. This is the happiest she's seen Raven since she found out her father has cancer last month.
"I think so," Apple replies.
They stop at the school entrance. They stand there for a moment, just holding hands and looking out at the clear, bright day. Apple takes a deep breath.
"Okay," she says. "I'm ready."
XXX
Apple sits on her and Darling's log, kicking at the ground with the toe of her boot. Birds flutter around her, chirping their sweet melodies. Squirrels and chipmunks skuttle in the trees surrounding her. Her favorite bunny, Leopold, as always, hops in her lap. She breathes deeply, the soft fur of the bunny against her hand soothing her. The pounding rhythm of her heart consumes her body.
"You're okay, Apple," she whispers to herself. "Everything is fine."
The bunny nuzzles her hand, clearly trying to comfort her.
"Thank you, Leopold," Apple cooes. "Aren't you the sweetest bunny ever?"
Apple is so caught up in her adoration that she doesn't notice Darling's presence until she's standing in front of her. Apple gasps. Leopold jumps out of her lap, hopping away. She looks up, and for the first time in what feels like forever, sees Darling in all her glory. Her wildly beautiful hair, her icy blue eyes, her pale pink lips. Everything about her is stunning. Before Apple knows what she's doing, she jumps to her feet, rushing over to Darling. Darling lets out a squeak as Apple grabs her hands.
"Darling," Apple says, suddenly consumed with urgency, "I made a mistake! I was scared, so scared, and I didn't know what to do! I wanted to say yes so badly, Darling! But the fear got the best of me, and I rejected you. And I'm so, so sorry that I did that! Because Darling-" she inches closer to Darling, so their faces are nearly touching-"you are everything to me."
Darling breathes out, a small smile curling her lips.
"So, is that a yes?" she asks, her voice scarcely above a whisper.
Apple laughs, tears of relief filling her eyes.
"Yes!" she exclaims. "Oh kingdoms, yes! I want to be your girlfriend, and I would be absolutely honored to go to the True Hearts Day Dance with you tonight!"
"Okay," Darling whispers. A tear drips down her cheek.
Suddenly, she surges forward, pulling Apple into her arms. They kiss with a fierceness, more intense than Apple has ever felt. She's always wondered what her first kiss would feel like. She never could've imagined how thrilling it is. She loses herself in Darling's soft, warm lips, unaware of anything else but Darling. Her knight, her hero, her girlfriend.