Let the angst begin!

Review time...

The Angry American : They do sound really appetising.

Story Lover : I do too, he's even more of a skank in this chapter and I have seen the beautiful truth. Cedar's just such an awesome character.

Zuul : Yep, it was so not a date. *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*

Anime Pop Circle : I loved writing it too and is my fave chappter so far. This one's a bit depressing.

A/N: A tip for the haters - Just cause Apple/Daring/Duchess/Briar etc. are the kids of fairytales doesn't mean they're not teenagers. Teens drink alcohol. They party and wear short clothing. This chapter brings out the more real kid side of the Ever After High group so- just saying.

Chapter 6 - Books, Ballrooms and Break-ups

Duchess was totally hexcited. The whole school was a buzz with the news. Briar's Book-to-school party was tonight! Briar had sent little invitations by dove (with Apple's help of course) and if you weren't invited- let's just say the year wouldn't be the most social one. Duchess had received her invitation in Damsel-in-Distressing. Frankly she was surprised to get an invitation considering how hostile she was towards Briar's best friend. The invitation was dark pink and smelt like roses. The invitation itself was curt. Time (22:00 to 2:00), Place (EAH Ballroom), What to wear (Dress/heels) and Duchess's name printed in black writing. She slipped the note into her binder and looked across the room to Briar and gave her a little nod. The rest of the day passed without incident until lunch...

"Apple, come on don't be silly- she meant nothing to me!" Duchess looked up from her tray of pescitarion foods to see Apple and Daring standing in the middle of the lunch hall having a fight. She wasn't the only one. Briar had stopped sleeping for a moment, Raven's tray hovered in mid-air just above her table as she was about to sit down. It was as if the whole school had frozen.

"Really Daring? Are you sure? Because it sure looked like something when you had that little witch pressed up against your locker!" Apple was shouting at him now. She looked like she was restraining herself from slapping Daring's face. Duchess sat down and nibbled a shoestring fry as she watched the drama unfold.

"I don't care about her Apple I care about you, you're my happily ever after darling. Please, forgive me?" He went down on one knee and looked at her with such a fake look in his eyes Duchess felt like throwing up. Apple was probably going to accept the apology and their sweet sugary romance would continue as always.

"I always forgive you Daring," Apple ruffled his hair like he was a lost puppy, "But I'm afraid that this time it just isn't going to cut it." She rubbed her arm awkwardly and left the room with her head down so her blonde curls would cover her face. Daring just stared after her as if he had been hexed. He sore under his breath and got up. Everyone in the room was still staring at him. He turned and punched the table behind him before dragging a hand through his hair. Idiot! You shouldn't have let her catch you! One of the three little pigs squeaked and ran from the room. Everyone started murmuring.

"I have to put this on my mirror-cast show! Daring! Daring are you willing to comment?" Blondie ran across the castleteria and stood in front of Daring trying to get him to talk. Briar and Ashlynn looked at each other and left the room together. Time started again and a smirk spread across Duchess's face.

The episode in the lunch room obviously affected Apple later in the day. They had a pop quiz in Princessology and Apple only scraped an A, she looked shocked and Ashlynn had to comfort her. On the way out of the classroom Duchess waved her A+ paper in front of Apple's face. It was moments like these when Apple liked the fact that shedidn't have Apple's fame. In about 2 minutes everyone in the school would have word of Apple's A. Duchess needed to brag to someone.

"Sparrow! Fancy meeting you here!" Duchess followed the sound of guitar to an oak tree in the woods. Sparrow sat up there broodingly, playing his guitar softly. He sighed and looked down at Duchess from his spot in the tree.

"What do you want Duchess?" Duchess's smile vanished and in it's place sat a pout.

"I want to tell you something!" She flew into the tree and pooffed back to normal next to him. Her eyes were bright with happiness and she was the picture of glee,"Apple and Daring broke up! Which means I can finally have my Prince Charming!" Sparrow shook his head and laughed humorlesly.

"Daring isn't that amazing Duchess. In fact, he's kind of a sleaze," Duchess laughed and mock punched him in the arm.

"Are you jealous of Daring?" She was curious, Sparrow usually didn't care about anyone or anything that was on the popularity stage even though he himself often had a girl around.

"No, what is there to be jealous of? I am way more awesome than him," he strummed his guitar again.

"Whatever after, I think Daring is totally handsome. His hair is too hex for!" She started daydreaming of Daring choosing her over Apple when Sparrow's words snapped her out of her haze.

"Fine, don't believe me. I have to tune my guitar in any case." He jumped down from the tree and left her there on her own. She didn't know what she had said to offend him but it was obvious he was angry. Oh well. She had a party to get ready for.

Lizzie was singing to her adorable pet hedgehog while brushing her silky black and red hair out. Her roommate Duchess was nowhere to be seen. A Short black dress lay spread out on her duvet and her usual shoes were sitting at the foot of the bed but Duchess wasn't to be seen. Lizzie was upset, Duchess had promised to do her hair in a fishtail braid and help Lizzie complete her wonderlandiful outfit. She dug in her heart-shaped purse for the make-up she usually used to draw a red heart over one eye but all she came up with was a handful of playing cards. She sighed, at this rate she was never going to get to the party and dance with Alistair. Tonight they were going to one of the swankiest parties of the year. Briar Beauties Book-to-school party. It was the only time of the year Headmaster Grimm allowed a party that size on school grounds. Duchess burst into the room most unceremoniously. Her hair was completely messed up and part of her tulle skirt had ripped. She looked like she had just ran a marathon through the enchanted forest. She squealed like a little girl and swept up Lizzie's hedgehog to dance around the room with. The poor creature looked terrified. Lizzie cocked an eyebrow and looked at Duchess with a 'what the hell happened' look.

"Daring and Apple broke up! My man is single!" Duchess's eyes were bright and her cheeks were aflame. She was ecstatic and couldn't wait for the party. But she needed a shower. She had heard the break up and watched it happen earlier in the day and had chattered to Sparrow about Daring. He hadn't seemed as happy as her though. In fact he seemed rather cold towards her and left with the excuse of having to go tune his guitar before playing at the party that evening. That was the only blemish in her day. She had even gotten an A+ on her Princessology assignment when Apple only got an A. She washed her hair quickly and blew it out even faster so that Lizzie could french plait it quickly. She then did Lizzie's fishtail braid while she hawked on about Alistair. She had such a crush on him. Duchess smiled. At least one of her friends was happy. Other than Sparrow Lizzie was probably her best friend. She understood Lizzie well compared to some other people (read Apple). She and Lizzie had spent hours in a dress store looking for the right thing to wear. Lizzie was decked out crown to thigh in red. Her heels were so high Duchess wondered how she managed not to fall over. Duchess's dress was plain black fabric with thin rose patterns over it in tulle. Her heels were spotty black white thick heeled shoes so she could dance all night though her dress felt just a bit short. She dealt with it and she and Lizzie made their way down to the school's ballroom.

Briar's Book-To-School party was a blowout every year. The music was always amazing, the refreshments were awesome and Briar somehow always managed to sneak alcohol into the party without Headmaster Grimm noticing. This year their was beer in every second flowerpot and the punch was spiked. The party was in full swing by the time Duchess and Lizzie got there. Lizzie giggled as Alistair came up to her and offered her his arm. She took it gladly and walked into the teenager filled room turning to wink at Duchess before becoming lost in the crowd. Duchess just shook her head. She scanned the room for Daring. It wasn't hard to find him. He was always surrounded by girls and stood out in contrast. He was leaning against a pot plant and sipping a glass of punch. He smiled and three of the girls surrounding him fainted dead away. Apple was nowhere near him. Duchess looked for the blonde bombshell in the crowd. She stood next to Briar near DJ Enchant. Her dress was long, gold and had a conservative neckline as usual. Briar was a different story altogether. Her hair was in a top knot and her rose coloured micro-mini dress showed so much cleavage that Hopper was practically drooling nearby. Duchess danced her way over to the punch bowl. People always assumed that since she did ballet she couldn't dance any other styles. On the contrary - Duchess danced hip-hop all the time just not usually in front of people. Parties were her time to shine.

The dateless girls and guys crowded around the punch bowl. If you couldn't dance you drank. If you could dance you drank anyway. She grabbed a glass and poured a glass of the stuff. She sipped it slowly. It tasted awful but it made the night seem even better. After two glasses Duchess felt brave enough to accept a dance from Humphrey Dumpty. All she hoped was that her wouldn't stand on her toes. By the time the clock struck midnight she had drunk three more glasses of punch, had danced with nearly every boy in the room and was feeling amazingly happy. Another boy asked her to dance. She vaguely recognised him before something clicked. She was dancing with Daring! He pulled her closer and she giggled tipsy-ly. The muse-ic had become a dull throb to her ears and she didn't focus on any other aspect of the party. They danced closer and closer until she could see very clearly into his swimming pool blue eyes. The music seemed to disappear and she leaned closer, closing her eyes slowly when she was yanked backwards with surprise. She turned to see Sparrow with a mad expression on his face. Daring stumbled away from her and looked to see Duchess being held away from him by Sparrow. He growled.

"Fine, I don't need her," he walked away through the crowd and Duchess looked at Sparrow confused and angry.

"What the hell was that for?! We were about to kiss!" She was angry at him for ruining her moment. She yanked her arm out of his grasp and called after Daring.

"He's just using you to get to Apple, Duchess." He said this with a sigh and she whipped her head around.

"How do you know? Are you psychic or something?" She shook her head and tried to go forward but Sparrow grabbed her arm again and pointed to the stage. Apple stood there with tears glistening in her eyes while Briar was buy trying to comfort her and keep an offending Hopper back.

"Look, Apple's upset and-"

"I don't care if she's upset! Let her cry for all I care!"

"No! Just listen to me for once in your life Duchess! Look, Daring's latched onto another girl now!" He turned her around to see Daring sucking face with a red-head. Duchess blinked and shook her head. This wasn't happening. She pushed Sparrow's hand off her arm and ran. She didn't care where. The alcohol was getting to her now. She pushed through the sea of people as Sparrow called after her. The room had started to Spin and she knew Sparrow was following her. She ran faster and burst into the hallway, flooding it with light as tears clouded her eyes.

"Just leave me alone!" She went to the best place to clear your head. The balcony at the very top of Ever After High.

She leaned on the ornate metal railing and tried to sort through the messy haze of memories from the awful night. It was cold out on that balcony alone at night but she relished in the cold. Her cheeks were burning and the breeze helped to cool the flame. Her eyes were probably red from crying. All those years she had thought Daring was the perfect prince but he was really just a skank all along. Sparrow had told her this, why didn't she believe him? Oh right, she was blinded by the perfect smile and charming demeanor. She started to feel sorry for Apple. Maybe what happened really wasn't her entire fault. But it was too late in any case. The damage had been done. Duchess didn't think she and Apple could ever be friends again. What about Sparrow? He must be so angry with her right now. Maybe he would never forgive her. She looked up at the starry sky. They said you could wish upon a star and your wish would come true. A star crossed the sky in a flash of golden light. A tear slid down her cheek as she stared into the night.

I wish for a happily ever after. Please.