Apple's hexcellent day had just crumbled to pieces. It took all her inner strength to keep her perfect smile on so others who weren't present during the Legacy Day's rehearsal wouldn't get alarmed from seeing their beloved princess walking around all miserable.
As she crossed the bridge to get back to school, a part of her was relieved Blondie wasn't present at that moment or the news of Raven poisoning Apple's Happily Ever After and putting others in danger by not taking the pledge would have already spread all around the school in mere seconds.
"Hey, Apple!" a voice called out to her. Speak of the Prince - that familiar sweet and lovely voice belonged to none other than the next Goldilocks. Apple had barely lifted her head up when her friend had already sneaked up to her, standing close with her familiar blue MirrorPad held to Blondie's chest. She was by herself - there was no sight of Dexter or Humphrey near her, as they usually were there to help Blondie with interviews, which was good news to Apple, because she had no energy to do one right now after what had happened at the rehearsal.
"Why hello, Blondie! How's it going?" the princess gave her a bright smile. Blondie returned the smile. "Thanks for asking, it's going just right! I don't know about you but I can't wait to learn who'll be our roommates this year-" she stopped mid sentence, remembering the reason she sought out Apple. "But never mind that," she unlocked her MirrorPad, opening its notes app.
"I wanted to know if you could give some comments about the Legacy Day or give me some scoop about how others are feeling about it, for the Mirrorcast this evening" she continued, her blue eyes on the screen, not catching Apple's perfect smile slipping for a mere second. "And when your rehearsal ends, we could have an interview about how it felt for you to be up there, knowing it's just a matter of time till you claim your destiny."
Curses. Apple did not want to talk about it. But slipping out of Blondie's questions is wicked hard, especially if you want to hide something. Like Apple does right now.
"Sorry, Blondie, but I just had the rehearsal for Legacy Day a few minutes ago" Apple gave her an apologetic look. In the end, Blondie is her friend and she didn't want to lie to her. "And I'm very tired so maybe we could resche-"
"You just had the rehearsal?" her friend looked up, with a questioning look. "Then what were you doing in the Enchanted Forest?" she pointed at the trail to the place on the other side of the bridge. Apple gulped. It was a matter of minutes till she learned about what Raven did.
Her friend's eyes light up, excitement bubbling through her voice. "...unless Headmaster Grimm is planning to hold Legacy Day there!" but seeing the confusing reaction from her suggestion, Blondie could guess she was off the mark there.
"No, no, no!" the princess anxiously shook her hands. "It's just that…I needed fresh air." This didn't count as lying because it was true Apple a space to collect her thoughts. "So they let me go quicker." She gave the girl a forced smile. Behind Blondie, she noticed Raven along with Madeline go outside through the entrance door. The future Evil Queen noticed her too. Feeling awkward, Raven turned around, returning to the school building, Madeline following her friend.
"Yikes, did something happen between you two?" Blondie asked, startling Apple. Before Apple could respond, she got interrupted once again. "But I wouldn't be surprised if something did happen? With her being your villain and all." Blondie continued, turning off her MirrorPad after closing the notes app while her friend helplessly listened, not knowing what to do outside of awkwardly standing next to her . "Good thing you don't share a lot of classes with her. I can't imagine being stuck in a room with a person who's supposed to poison you, even for such little time, without going mad as a hatter."
Apple was about to stop her to say that it wasn't that bad, when an idea sparked in her mind.
Stuck in a room…Time…
"Blondie, you're a genius!" She pulled the girl into a hug, before running into the school. "Charm you later!" Dumbfounded, Blondie scratched her head. "You're welcome? But what did I do?"
Like any problem there always was a solution. And the problem of Raven doubting her destiny was no hexpectation to the rule.
If Raven will be having pre-Legacy Day jitters then she'll need someone to be there for her and reassure the girl that accepting her destiny is the correct thing to do. But Apple doubted that Raven's best friend for Ever After - Madeline Hatter, would be the needed person for the job. A job best suited for Apple, as she and Raven do share the story and need each other.
Apple was aware they weren't close enough to call themselves friends, but they could start off as roommates. And as roommates, she'll be there to keep an eye out for her roomie and help Raven out whenever another cloud of doubt would come over. And neither will her dear roomie or their shared destiny will vanish.
Of course, it won't be since easy as the roommate list had already been made and today was the day every 2nd year student would move into dorms and meet the person they've been paired up with, but Apple was fairly sure that Headmaster Grimm would understand the urgent situation very well after hearing her out and she'll have no problem of becoming Raven's roommate.
"I'm sorry, Ms. White, but I can't do that." Grimm said. Apple's hopeful smile did it's best to stay longer, hoping the Headmaster might add something or maybe reveal he was joking. But Milton Grimm wasn't that type of man to joke. As it dawned on her that the request won't be accepted, Apple's smile faded away. She fell back on her chair, sitting in the office and listening to the clock ticking.
Tick…tick…tick - all it did was to remind her that the day of claiming her destiny was coming close, but was also in risk of going *poof* if Raven's doubts went further. But would both girls go *poof* or only Raven? - both answers scared Apple.
"B-but, Headmaster, you saw what happened at the rehearsal today," she said, catching the Headmaster flinching over the reminder. His face may be calm and collected, but there was a look of unmistaken distaste behind his green eyes. The thought of someone looking at with such dislike made the girl feel bad for whoever Grimm's stare did land on.
"If-If we don't do anything, not only me and Raven, b-but everyone's destinies could be in danger of disappearing as well, just like you said!" Apple's blue eyes started watering and her cheeks flushed out of embarrassment, when thinking how she, the future Queen, is close to start crying in front of her Headmaster.
"I'm well aware of it, Ms. White." the man sternly said, turning his back on his student, facing the window. On the other side of the window. Down below the bottom students were going on their days, blissfully unaware of the possibility they could question their destinies or even worse - write their own page in the book.
Milton has always been old-fashioned - as many who knew him would say. He preferred for things to stay neatly as they always have and not have certain people shake up the order by having their thoughts wander to strange places.
The man straightened his posture more, fixing up his already perfect ascot.
Things weren't bad so far, but there was great risk of the seeds of chaos spreading out, if Raven's doubts moved past being just ridiculous thoughts and moved into actions. Actions that no doubt would leave irreversible damage to the world and it's order.
He let out a sight.
As much as he and Giles didn't see eye to eye when it came to…destiny…at times like this, he wished he had his brother by his side to discuss such matters…but alas, it would not be possible after what Milton had done to Giles.
"But charging straight ahead will not convince Ms. Queen to change her mind. We'll only scare her away even more." the man explained, returning to his seat. He had to be careful or who knows what would happen.
"So we'll do…nothing?" Apple's eyes fluttered in confusion. The Headmaster shook his head. "No, no, Ms. White," his hand reached for his ascot. "It's just gonna take some time to gently push her right on her destined path." he gave the princess a warm smile, but Apple could see concern behind in his green eyes.
"But please," the man continued, approaching the girl. "Don't wear yourself out by such worries, Ms. White. Enjoy your year at Ever After High and leave this matter to me, alright?" he kindly asked. The girl was quiet for a while, taking in Milton's words, but glanced back at the man and gave him a nod, accompanied with a faint smile.
This whole situation left Apple conflicted and worried about the future, but she'll listen to Headmaster Grimm. She can trust him and there was no reason for her to think he would lie to her, as the man held no secrets and had everyone's best interests at heart.
"Good. Now," Milton motioned at his office's door. "Now how about you go and meet your roommate? I'm sure, you're curious to know who she is."
With all that had happened today, it had slipped Apple's mind that she was supposed to meet her roommate. "Oh, gosh! You're right, Headmaster!" she shot straight up, giving an anxious look at the clock. "It would be rude of me to keep her waiting." she said, taking her apple-shaped handbag.
"Yes, it would be." Milton opened the door for the girl, as she rushed past him. "And Ms. White?"
Apple looked over her shoulder at the man. The kind expression he once gave her had turned serious. "Please, don't do anything and don't let anyone know about this conversation." Milton sternly reminded her.
And the door was closed.