Chapter 4! Question: Am I the only one who likes Maddie and Alistair together? I'm sure Bunny and Alistair is a popular ship, but I tend to stray away. Enjoy and as usual, please review.

"The meeting is now called to order!" Apple White called, tapping the gavel on her desk. She gave her co-president Maddie a smile, but Maddie barely managed a grin back.

"Um…" Apple started. The crowd of student council members watched the two leaders in silence. Maddie was supposed to discuss today's topic.

"Maddie," Apple whispered. Maddie sprung up. "Oh, cheese and crackers!"

The curly-haired girl stood up and cleared her throats and took out a stack of papers. "Today, we are discussing the gardening project that is happening Wednesday for the Gnome Community Building Project. So far we have collected supplies such as shovels, seeds, pails, and fertilizer due to donations, but we are left with funding for the dinner with the gnomes. Remember, only those who help out with the gardening, participate in the dinner," Maddie said glumly. Everyone was silent. Usually, Maddie's chipper demeanor would encourage anyone, but she was unusually glum.

"Any donations? Anything as small as on gold coin can be enough to fund this dinner. Please help the gnomes rebuild their homes!" Apple said, fluttering her eyelashes. The people of the council, started to raise their hands shouting, "Ooh, ooh, I'd like to donate! I'll tell all my friends! Of course, Apple!"

Apple smiled. She was a bit worried about Maddie, but she needed to focus on the bigger picture. Maddie looked at Apple, who was like a ray of golden sunshine. She had a great personality that anybody would love to be around.

"Meeting adjourned!"

Maddie took her papers and shoved them into her book bag. She was tired of being gloomy and miserable. She needed a cure for her un-madness. She caught up with Apple in the hall.

"Apple… what do you do when you're not feeling yourself?" Maddie asked.

Apple felt happy inside. This was a chance to figure out what was up with her friend. "Well, I usually sing about it. Or I talk with my best friends about it. Or munch on a good snack, that always makes me feel better. Especially apples."

"Huh. Well, thanks, Apple." Maddie then waved at the princess and went her separate way. Maddie was told her singing voice wasn't the best, so that wasn't an option. She could always talk to Raven, but she didn't know how to say it without making it weird for her. But there always was a snack.

Maddie wandered the halls of the school, in search of Ginger. Maybe she could whip her up some double-peanuty butter and chocolate cookies. Those were good.

She thought back to the night after the party. Raven had hexted her and asked where she was. She replied that she was sick and would sit out on the party. Kitty had also appeared later on and tried to coax an answer out of her, but Maddie told her she wasn't in the mood. Maddie told everyone after that that she felt lightheaded.

She whipped out her phone to hext Ginger.

Maddie: Ginger!

Ginger: Maddie!

Maddie: Would you be willing to make me some cookies? I'm kind of in a slump.

Ginger: Anything for you, Maddie. Double-peanuty butter with chocolate?

Maddie: Yes of course!

Ginger: :) I already made some, so lucky you. Come by when you can.

As Maddie tried to hext Ginger back, she bumped into a person. She fell onto the ground with an oof!

Maddie: Actually, it's more of an ump, Brooke.

Brooke: What?

Maddie: The sound you make when you fall—

"—Maddie?"

Maddie broke out of her conversation with Brooke, and looked up to see Alistair, holding out a hand to her. She ignored it, and hopped up herself and dusted herself off.

Alistair looked awkwardly on the ground and rubbed his hand on the back of his head. "So… that game on Friday right? I didn't see you at the party…"

"Yup," Maddie said, starting to walk. Alistair walked with her, much to her annoyance.

"Bunny's cheer really helped us win out there. It was amazing, like the cheer was like magic! We suddenly played better, thanks to her—"

Maddie whirled around. "Alistair. If Bunny is the one you owe all your thanks to, why are you talking to me? It seems like you two were doing just fine before coming to Ever After." With this words, Maddie stalked towards Ginger's room, leaving Alistair behind.

As soon as she said them, she began to regret her words. Maddie wasn't rude and harsh. This was so unlike her! She must be sick, that could be the only thing. She was sick, and it caused her to be irrationally angry and sad. Especially when it came to Alistair. That was it. She was just feeling a bit under the weather.

Maddie reached Ginger's room and took the cookies on from her friend.

"Thanks, Ginger, you're a real life saver," Maddie sighed. The smell of the cookies wafted over to her nose. Just what the doctor ordered.

"Of course, Maddie. Are you sure you're okay?" Ginger asked, placing her hand on her friend's shoulder. Maddie have a half-hearted smile.

"Yes. I just need to collect my thoughts."

She turned away from Ginger and ran back to her own dorm. Kitty was nowhere to be found, thank goodness. Maddie flew onto her bed and started to cry. She wasn't a crier. She didn't cry. Why was she crying so much?

Brooke: Maddie… you have to tell your friends what's wrong!

Maddie: Nothing's wrong, Brooke.

Brooke: You like him.

Maddie: I don't! I've just lost a bit of my madness, that's all. It's just cause I haven't visited Wonderland fully yet.

Brooke: That's never stopped your madness before. Admit it, you're crushing, hard.

Maddie: No. I won't admit it! I'm fine.

Brooke: Whatever you say.

Maddie tried her best to ignore the Narrator chanting in her head and took out a soft cookie. It tasted so good. Raven would enjoy it. She sighed and thought about what had happened.

She wasn't crushing on anyone. She was fine.

—-

"Raven! Dexter!" Alistair panted, rushing into the Hocus Latte Café. The pair were seated next to each other, and seemed lively. Alistair hated to ruin Dexter's shot with Raven, but it was important.

He pulled up a chair and sat down, brushing his blonde hair with his hand. He faced his friends and opened his mouth.

"Guys, Maddie is seriously upset with me."

Raven sighed and took a sip of her drink. "Maddie's been acting strange. Something tells me you have to do with it. She...recently...she asked me about a crush."

Dexter's eyes widened. "Maddie? A crush? That's ridiculous, Raven, even for Maddie!"

Raven clicked her tongue and placed her head in her hands. "I think maybe the crush and her anger at Alistair are connected."

Alistair sat back and thought. "Maybe so…"

He thought of Bunny. Surely Maddie couldn't be angry about them, right? Was...was she perhaps upset that he hadn't confessed to her yet?

"Guys… is it obvious that I'm crushing on Bunny?"

Dexter eyed Raven and she smiled. "Yeah, pretty much."

"Oh… then I think I get why Maddie's upset with me. Thanks, guys!" Alistair stood up and took his messenger bag before bolting our the door.

Raven eyed Dexter. "That's not it. Why would Maddie be so angry that Alistair won't confess that he likes Bunny?"

Dexter shrugged. "Wanna go figure it out?" He stood up and held out his hand to her. Raven beamed and placed her hand in his. "Of course."

—-

It was during Grimmnastics class when Bunny found herself sitting out with Faybelle during capture the flag. She didn't feel like talking, and apparently neither did Faybelle. Bunny instead focused on picking the lint off off her shorts.

"Bunny," Faybelle finally said, "Thank you for the cheer."

Bunny sighed and turned to Faybelle. "That's the thing: I didn't make the cheer. Maddie did, but everyone thinks I did."

Faybelle shrugged. "That's the problem. You care too much. You saw how happy the new cheer made the bookball players! They celebrated us at the after party! If Maddie can't see the good that brought everyone, that's her own issue."

Bunny sighed. She wished Alistair had given her a chance to tell him the truth. Maddie deserved to be happy. Bunny thought long and hard. But would Maddie care if Bunny took the credit? Would she really? Maddie didn't seem like the kind of person to be uptight over those kind of things so perhaps, it would be alright.

Faybelle placed a manicured hand on Bunny's shoulder. "Bunny… you're a good addition to this team. You've made real progress and you're really close to a bookball player, too. And we could be heading to cheer championships one day, so that means we have to keep practicing! Don't you see? You don't need any distractions! Whatever's wrong with Maddie, is her own problem. You don't need any negativity in your life. Shouldn't you focus on yourself for once?"

Bunny considered this. She had asked Maddie numerous times what was the matter with her, but she would never answer. Maybe it was time to take a little break from Maddie, just to give herself some space. It was really stressing, trying to balance school, and extracurriculars, and friendship drama made it all the worse. Maybe a break from Maddie's melodrama would help her. Besides, Maddie had other friends, too.

"I think you're right, Faybelle. Thank you," Bunny smiled.

Faybelle grinned. "Of course. That's what friends are for."

—-

Alistair ran back to campus, where he went over many one liners in his head.

I really like you, do you feel the same?

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Bunny, you're my best friend, but I think I'm in love with you.

No, no. All of those seemed too cheesy and awkward. Alistair ran his hand through his hair. Maddie must've been angry that Alistair wouldn't confess to Bunny. It would be the only way that she would be happy again, right?

Alistair walked across the field to where Bunny's gym class was. He approached her with his heart thudding in his chest. She was talking to Faybelle, but she suddenly she stopped when Alistair came up to her.

"Alistair!" she said, waving him over. He smiled at Faybelle before looking back at her. "Um, Bunny, can I talk to you privately?"

She cocked her head and nodded. She stood up, waved to Faybelle and followed the nervous Alistair to an area far away from the class.

Alistair swallowed. He could do this. He could tell Bunny how he felt.

"Bunny, I—"

She looked him in the eye. "Yes?"

"I think...I think…"

Bunny gripped his hand. "Alistair, you're my best friend in the world. You can tell me anything."

Alistair sighed. She was right. That's what he couldn't tell her. He was her best friend, and to ask to be something more, could ruin everything they had built together.

"I think Maddie is upset about a crush. Raven told me," he spit out. He couldn't bring himself to confess.

Bunny looked shocked. "Does Maddie like someone?"

Alistair shrugged. "Maybe. I-I'm sorry I wasted your time...I just thought you might want to know."

Bunny smiled. "Thanks Alistair." She thought back to what Faybelle said, but decided not to tell Alistair.

Maybe she shouldn't listen to Faybelle. But she did call Bunny her friend.

As Alistair left her behind, Bunny had this slight feeling that she was forgetting something. But she wasn't sure what.

—-

Raven and Dexter were seated at Maddie's dad's tea shoppe, watching as Maddie served her customers on her shift.

"It's not weird that Maddie has a crush, right?" Dexter said.

Raven shook her head. She looked at him. "I mean you like me, and I'm apparently evil, I like you, and you're a Charming, so it's possible Maddie likes someone. It's not like she's a robot, she has feelings too."

"Yeah, I don't know why I thought it was weird. I guess Maddie's always seemed so independent, I could never imagine her like that. But if she does have a crush, and that's why she's sad, we have to figure out who it is."

Raven quickly put the menu over her and Dexter's face. "She's here," she whispered. Dexter peeked over the menu it see Maddie diligently taking orders. She didn't seem to notice her two friends hiding behind the menu—

She looked Dexter in the eye. Her face wasn't smiling, it seemed almost stoic. She didn't seem to recognize Dexter, even though she was starting right at him. Maddie turned back to her table, before walking away.

"Wow," Raven said, putting down her menu. "She's got it bad." Raven was increasingly worried about her friend, and knew there had to be something done about it soon.

She had an idea. She would text her friends to have a sleepover so they could confront Maddie.

She texted Apple, Briar, Ashlynn, Cerise, Cedar and Maddie and asked them for a sleepover later in the week. She texted in all caps to show how urgent it was, and made sure to turn off her ringer.

Raven: GUYS, SLEEPOVER IN MY ROOM SUNDAY NIGHT! WHO'S IN?

Apple: That's very very sweet of you Raven, but I have to go see my parents this weekend.

Ashlynn: I'd love to!

Cerise: Sure.

Maddie: I'll come.

Raven looked up as she saw Maddie looking at her phone. She was surprised to see that Maddie didn't follow her text message with a billion emojis. That mean she really wasn't feeling okay.

Raven looked down at her phone and saw that Briar and Cedar has answered.

Briar: I'd never pass on a chance to have a party, but this royal has family plans. Le sigh.

Cedar: Count me in, Raven.

Dexter leaned over Raven's shoulder. "What are you doing?"

"Planning, Dex. I'm going to figure out who Maddie likes."

Dexter smiled, his blue eyes lighting up. "I like the way you think."

Raven smiled back. "Thank you very much, I couldn't have done it without you."

Raven didn't even have time to think until Dexter kissed her on the cheek.

"I don't know if you knew this, but I really like you, Raven," Dexter sighed.

Raven giggled, "I already know. And I like you too."

"So would you want to be—"

"Yeah, I'd want to be your girlfriend," she interrupted. Dexter looked surprised that Raven had agreed to this. He could barely believe she was seated right next to him.

"Raven Queen is my girlfriend… Raven Queen is my girlfriend," Dexter kept repeating.

Raven giggled. Things… were starting to look up.

A bit of Dexven for ya! Like I said, I'm having a hard time writing a chapter for The Book of Ship Names, so I'm sorry if it seems like I'm delaying again. I'm trying my best to get back into writing better, but it'll take me a while, so I apologize if my storytelling seems stale. As per usual, please review!

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