Chapter Text
The first time it happens is the afternoon preceding Briar’s book-to-school party marking the start of the fall semester. Everyone had returned to school to begin the new school year that weekend and Briar was, of course, taking the opportunity to throw a party for the occasion. It was Ashlynn’s fantastic idea for some of the princesses of Ever After High to pregame the party in Rosabella and Darling’s room that afternoon.
Early to every event, no matter how informal, Apple White was the first to arrive. Ordinarily this wouldn’t be an issue, but Rosabella and Ashlynn were out getting mani-curses, which means that Darling is alone in her dorm room when it happens.
‘It’ being Darling finding herself alone with Apple.
Darling immediately feels her palms begin to sweat once she opens the door and comes face-to-face with the future Queen of Ever After. Matters are only made worse by the fact that Apple appears to have arrived alone.
Noticing Darling’s gaze searching behind her, Apple says, “Raven’s coming later with Maddie. They wanted to pick up their course books from the li-fairy once they got their class schedules.”
“Smart.” Darling mutters as Apple breezes past her into the dorm room. Apple’s bright blue eyes roam the walls of the room and Darling gets the paranoid feeling that her decor choices are being assessed.
After the chaotic events of the Dragon Games and the halting impact that Crystal’s Epic Winter had on the previous school year, Headmaster Grimm and Mrs. Her Majesty the White Queen altered Darling’s curriculum and class schedule for her final year at Ever After High to align with her new status as a Hero instead of a Princess/Damsel. Following this change, Darling negotiated a compromise with her mother, Queen Charming, to toss out half of her closet of ballgowns and stifling dresses in favor of tunics, hose, cloaks, and furs. Thus, Darling had spent the summer gleefully downsizing on her Princessly possessions and acquiring assets of a general Heroic nature.
She’s uncomfortably aware of that fact as Apple’s curious gaze remains on Darling’s side of the dorm. Her bookshelf now features books on animal and damsel rescue, beast training and care, and embarrassingly, Daring’s old copy of Advanced Wooing: Edition 5. In sharp contrast to the floral drapings and accessories on Rosabella’s side of the room, a bookball helmet sits in front of Darling’s closet and her baby blue wall features posters of landmarks in the Enchanted Woods and pictures of herself and Dexter from this summer, riding their dragons.
“Have you gotten yours yet?” Apple asks.
Darling blinks at her, feeling stupid. “Pardon?”
Apple’s cheeks flush under Darling’s stare and she looks deliciously like her namesake, Darling thinks. “Your class schedule for this chapter.” She explains, pulling a neatly folded piece of parchment from her crossbody purse.
“Oh!” Darling swivels to grab hers off of her nightstand then returns to face Apple. “Dexter and I just picked ours up this morning. I haven’t had a chance to look at it yet.”
Apple takes the parchment from Darling with elegant hands and holds the paper out in front of her, right next to her own. Darling follows suit and moves to look over Apple’s shoulder to compare their schedules with her.
Apple’s shoulders tense slightly and Darling is abruptly aware of how closely she’s just positioned herself behind the other princess. She’s grown a bit taller than Apple over the summer, she notices. The scent of Apple’s shampoo is heavenly– something sweet like caramel or butterscotch.
Taking a step back, Darling shakes her hands out, hoping to regain her composure.
Apple clears her throat primly. “We have less classes together this chapter, but it looks like we have some overlap with Kingdom Management and Throne Economics.” She spins to face Darling, presumably to hand her schedule back. “We could do our thronework together, or…” She trails off, finally looking up at Darling.
Gods, have her eyes always been so round and doe-like?
“Or?” Darling repeats, not sure she could find the words herself.
Apple’s tongue runs over her red bottom lip once. Darling wants to kick herself when she feels her eyes track the movement. “Well, I just didn’t want to presume…”
“Do you make a habit of not finishing your sentences, Apple White?”
“I-” Apple begins to say, and the door to the room flies open.
Darling and Apple fly apart from one another and avert their eyes to opposite directions, startled. A cacophony of girlish giggles fills the space as Ashlynn and Rosabella toe off their heels at the door, clearly missing the panic of the two girls inside the room.
“Apple!” Ashlynn squeals. “Look, I took your advice and got slipper-pink! Aren’t they just fableous?” She says, wiggling her fingers at the blonde.
“They certainly are!” Apple says, but she doesn’t sound as hexcited as Darling thinks she means to come across as. The moment between the two of them is broken, but Darling feels the tension linger and wonders if Apple feels it too.