Chapter Text
Darling let out a quiet groan as the ball struck her forearm and flew off the court.
“Oh my God, Darling, that’s the second time. Focus!” Poppy called from the other side of the net. “Come on, serve already.”
“Sorry, sorry. I’m not exactly having my best day,” Darling replied. She rubbed her arms and tried to focus on practice again.
“What’s wrong? Skip breakfast this morning?” Holly asked from beside her.
Lizzie, the team’s libero, let out a dry, mischievous laugh, as if the answer were obvious.
“She’s upset because she got rejected.”
“I did not get rejected.”
The girls fell silent and exchanged glances across the court.
Melody and Holly, who shared Darling’s side of the net, looked at each other but said nothing. On the opposite side, Poppy, Ashlynn, and Lizzie grinned knowingly at one another.
“What?” Darling asked, suddenly feeling left out.
“Apple rejected you?” Melody asked.
“What? Of course not!”
“Then why didn’t she come to the restaurant with us last night?” Lizzie crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
“Because she didn’t want to.”
“So it wasn’t because she wasn’t invited, then?”
The girls exchanged another round of looks before breaking into quiet laughter.
“Aw, Darling, you’re adorable,” Ashlynn said. “But you have to understand. Apple can’t stand us.”
“Let her live out her little romance,” Poppy teased, nudging Ashlynn with her elbow before turning back to Darling. She motioned toward her with her chin and smiled. “Go get the ball already. I’m dying to try that mocha place.”
“Ooh, do you think it’s good?” Holly asked. “I’ve never had it before.”
They slipped back into conversation as Darling stepped off the court to retrieve the ball.
Honestly, Darling hated it when the girls were right.
Not only had she been turned down, but Apple White had practically dismissed her without a second thought.
She’d really hoped that, this time, Apple would agree to come with them. Just so they could spend a little time together before heading back south, where they’d begin preparing for the national championship.
And, God, Apple had looked beautiful the night before.
Darling had barely managed to focus on the match once that woman had looked at her from across the court.
Her golden hair spilled over her shoulders like a waterfall; her blue eyes, as clear as the sky, seemed to look straight into Darling’s soul; and her freshly touched-up lipstick made Darling’s stomach threaten to reject everything she’d eaten before the game.
And the way Apple looked at her…
As if she wanted to pour gasoline over her and strike a match.
Darling simply couldn’t resist. Apple was far too mesmerizing to ignore, sitting on the bench and staring at her as though the volleyball player were personally responsible for every problem in her life.
Once again, her mind drifted away from reality, and she barely noticed she was already standing behind the service line, every teammate watching her.
“Take your time, sweetheart!” Holly called.
Darling rolled her eyes and got into position.
She bounced the ball against the floor a few times. She always liked breaking it in before serving; it made her feel like there was no chance she’d miss. Then she tossed it several feet into the air and sprinted forward.
The instant her palm struck the ball, the familiar sting brought the rush of the game flooding back through her body.
She hurried back to the middle blocker position just in time to see Lizzie receive the serve with incredible speed, diving onto the floor for yet another perfect save.
Practice resumed.
As soon as the ball rose into the air, Poppy jumped, setting it even higher with flawless hands.
Darling moved before her brain could even process what was happening.
Or rather, what was about to happen.
Ashlynn was already at the net, one arm raised to attack, when Darling leaped beside Melody to form the block.
But the moment the ball met their outstretched hands, it dropped outside the sideline.
“Weak block!” Poppy teased with a grin.
“Shut up, Poppy,” Holly shot back. “Can’t you see Darling’s sick?”
“I’m not—”
“Yeah, sick with love!” Melody finished, earning another round of laughter from the team.
“Has anyone ever told you you’re not funny? No? Well, now you know.”
“Don’t be such a grump, Darling,” Melody replied. “We’re just messing with you.”
“Hey!” Lizzie shouted. “Are we playing or what? I’m starving!”
“There’s crackers in my backpack.”
“Real food,” Lizzie hissed, emphasizing every syllable.
“Girls,” Ashlynn called.
When everyone looked over, she subtly nodded toward the side entrance of the gym.
Darling felt her face warm and her heart race far harder than it ever did during a match.
Once again, Apple White looked absolutely breathtaking.
A dark red button-up shirt hugged her figure (magnificent, Darling couldn’t help but think) with the first two buttons left undone, paired with a white skirt.
Darling only snapped out of her daze when Holly nudged her with an elbow, tilting her head toward Apple.
“Go on. I’ll get the ball.”
Darling smiled at her friend, smoothed down what were probably now messy strands of hair, and walked toward Apple wearing the brightest smile she could manage.
“You came.”
Apple seemed to force a polite smile before shrugging.
“I finished what I had to do. For now. So… how much longer are you all staying here?”
“Oh, we’re just about to leave.”
Darling gave a small yelp and jumped to the side when Melody suddenly appeared beside her, waving enthusiastically at Apple as though she were a celebrity.
“Could you wait until we get changed, please?”
Apple nodded and watched the girls with her eyes.
The court they were using was different from the one the night before. Much smaller, clearly rented by Coach Snow White for three days so the team wouldn’t lose its rhythm.
Even though they were already sitting at the top of the National League standings.
And even though they were physically exhausted.
But according to Snow White, keeping the adrenaline flowing was essential to maintaining peak performance, and letting the team cool off while they were playing so well wasn’t an option.
So they’d agreed to resume practice at a lighter pace, with stretching exercises and a three-on-three scrimmage.
Or rather, only between Ever After High’s starting lineup.
But Darling didn’t have time to waste. As soon as they returned south, the intense practices would start again, and she intended to push the girls just as hard as she pushed herself.
“I’ll go with them,” Darling said. “We won’t be long, I promise.”
“You came by car, right?”
“Yeah. We rented one before we got here.”
The girls usually traveled by bus, but that Saturday morning they’d decided to make the most of their day off.
Six people squeezed into one car had sounded like the perfect recipe for fun.
Apple, however, didn’t seem entirely convinced. Or at least, that was exactly what her expression suggested.
“You could split up, if you want. You can use my car.”
For a moment, Darling could’ve sworn there was a ringing in her ears.
Had Apple White just offered them a ride?
“Really?” Darling found herself asking.
Bad idea.
Apple immediately put on that unreadable expression she always wore during matches.
“If my mom catches all six of you crammed into one car, I seriously doubt she’ll let it slide without giving you an earful.”
And she was absolutely right.
Snow White would tear the entire team apart if she found out they’d improvised something like that.
The thought made Darling laugh.
“You’re right.” She smiled. “Well… if it’s not a problem, we can split between the two cars.”
Apple nodded, and silence settled between them once again.
Darling couldn’t help noticing how beautiful she was.
Her thick blonde hair, the sunglasses resting on top of her head, the handbag hanging from her shoulder.
And her lips, full, red, impossible to ignore.
Darling quickly looked away and straightened her posture.
“I’m going to get changed. Just… give me a minute.”
With long strides, Darling headed for the locker room. She crossed the dimly lit hallway with her face burning hot, flushed with embarrassment.
She hadn’t expected Apple to show up. Much less this early.
Seriously, Darling was a grown woman. How could she get this flustered in front of another woman?
And then…
“So?”
“Did you talk to her?”
“I bet she came to tell you she doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
“Oh, Liz, knock it off. So, Darling? What did she say?”
Darling suddenly felt like she was fifteen again, back when her love life seemed to be the center of the universe.
Her friends, all grown adults, it should be noted, had her cornered against the wall, waiting impatiently for answers.
“Spill it, Darling!” Poppy shouted. “Well?”
“Well, she’s…” Darling swallowed hard. “She’s coming with us.”
Relieved sighs and cheers echoed through the locker room. They had all changed into casual clothes, leaving their red-and-white uniforms behind.
“You owe me five crowns now, Lizzie,” Holly said.
Darling raised an eyebrow as Lizzie rolled her eyes.
“Were you guys… betting?”
“Hey! Focus!” Ashlynn clapped her hands in front of Darling’s face before planting them on her hips. “What did she say?”
“Uh… she said she’d finished what she had to do and…”
Darling swallowed again, suddenly nervous under so many expectant stares.
“And she said that… if we wanted, some of us could ride with her.”
“What?!”
“No way.”
“Darling, you actually did it! You tamed the beast!”
“Stop it. All of you.” Darling raised both hands as if trying to physically push the words away. “She’s just being polite. Seriously, can we all calm down a little?”
“Ah, love is beautiful, isn’t it?” Holly said, resting a hand on Poppy’s shoulder.
“Magnificent!” the twin replied.
“Then it’s settled.” Melody grinned, practically buzzing with excitement. “I’m driving.”
“But—”
“Shhh! No more arguments, Charming,” she cut in. “The car’s coming with me.”
“Yeah, great,” Lizzie said. “I can’t stand Darling’s playlists.”
“What’s wrong with my music?”
“Nothing.”
“Yeah, sure. Nothing at all.” Ashlynn cleared her throat and gently rested a hand on Darling’s shoulder. “Go get changed. We’ll wait outside.”
“With the car!” Poppy sang as she snatched the keys from the pocket of her jeans.
“Poppy, give me those keys.”
Melody hurried after her, followed by Poppy, Lizzie, and Ashlynn.
Honestly, Darling wasn’t sure she trusted those girls alone with a car.
She walked over to the duffel bag resting on the locker room bench and changed as quickly as she could. Letting her hair down, she pulled her brother’s baseball cap over her head, hiding the strands left messy from practice.
By the time she returned, the silence in the gym almost startled her.
Gone were the conversations, the footsteps, the shouting, the constant smack of volleyballs flying from one side of the court to the other.
Near the side entrance they had come through earlier, Ashlynn and Apple waited patiently.
“You changed fast,” Ashlynn commented. “The others went ahead.”
“They seemed… excited,” Apple observed.
“Holly’s always excited, and Poppy just feeds off her energy. Don’t worry, you get used to it.”
“You’re sure Melody’s the one with the keys, right?” Darling asked.
Ashlynn shrugged as she pushed the door open.
“We’ll find out once we get to Mocha… assuming they’re still alive by then, or Lizzie hasn’t murdered all of them on the way.”
Apple opened her handbag and pulled out her car keys.
“You can put your bags in the trunk.”
With a click of the key fob, the trunk popped open, and she headed toward the driver’s seat.
As Darling and Ashlynn placed their bags inside, Ashlynn wore an oddly satisfied smile.
“Why are you smiling like that?” Darling asked.
“Well, I’m happy Apple decided to come with us. It was about time.”
Oh, Darling couldn’t have agreed more.
She didn’t want to show how happy she was in front of the others, because she knew they would only become twice as excited.
But the hopeless romantic hidden somewhere deep inside her, the one that had seemed asleep for so long, had woken the moment she first saw Apple during the team introductions a year ago.
And now that same girl was doing cartwheels inside her chest.
She was going to share a car with Apple White.
Seriously.
It wasn’t until she found herself settling into the passenger seat that it truly hit her where she was.
And, more importantly… Who she was sitting beside.
Darling memorized every single movement.
First, Apple pulled the seatbelt across her torso, fastening it with a soft click. A moment later, the key slid into the ignition, and the engine purred to life beneath them. Then Apple rested her delicate hands, long nails painted a glossy red, on the steering wheel, and Darling had to clench her jaw to keep a sigh from escaping.
She turned to the window instead, where the gymnasium, the nearly empty parking lot, and the blazing afternoon sun stretched beneath a cloudless sky.
“Would you like me to roll the windows down?” Apple asked.
Ashlynn leaned forward between the front seats and looked at the driver.
“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d rather keep the air conditioning on. It’s so hot here.”
“This time of year usually is. It is summer, after all. At least up here in the North.”
Darling looked back at her, mildly surprised.
“You’ve been to the North before?”
“A few times. For work, vacations. Mostly work.”
The car eased out of the parking lot, moving at a slow, steady pace.
“Your mom mentioned you’re a lawyer,” Ashlynn continued. “Do you like it?”
The question seemed to catch Apple off guard, but her expression quickly settled into one of quiet confidence.
“I do. It was difficult at first. Dealing with clients’ problems, especially the desperate ones. But eventually… it becomes part of your routine.”
“That’s so cool. I had an aunt who was a lawyer. She ended up becoming a judge.”
“Well…” Apple smiled faintly. “That’s what I’m studying for.”
“A judge?” Darling smiled before she could stop herself. “It suits you.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw Apple raise an eyebrow.
“Oh yeah?”
Darling’s stomach twisted.
“Why?” Apple continued. “Because I’m good at judging people?”
Darling’s stomach lurched all the way to her throat. But Apple was teasing her.
Or… something close to teasing.
She could only smile, letting out a quiet laugh.
“You tell me.”
Apple didn’t answer. She glanced at Darling for the briefest second, and Darling could have sworn she caught the hint of a smile.
But no.
It was only that same guarded expression she always wore.
The silence lingered as the car wound through the city’s streets, rocking gently with every turn.
Ashlynn was the one who finally broke the tension with a small cough.
“Just… for the record, Apple, you never asked where we were going.”
“Oh, I didn’t have to. You mentioned Mocha, didn’t you?”
“Oh, r-right. Have you been there?”
“Yes. It’s practically a tourist attraction around here.”
“You really do know this region well, don’t you, Apple? It would’ve been great to have you with us on the first day. Too bad today’s our last.”
Darling had been watching Apple for quite a while now, and she noticed something shift across her face.
Surprise, maybe.
It was subtle, but unmistakable.
“But it’ll be an honor to have you with us on future trips,” Darling added with a warm smile.
Apple, however, didn’t react. She didn’t even blink.
From the back seat, Darling could practically feel Ashlynn holding back a laugh. She could almost picture Lizzie cackling if she’d seen Apple ignore her so ruthlessly.
She turned toward the window instead, resting her head against the glass as best she could with the brim of her cap in the way.
Not long afterward, following an awkward silence, they pulled up in front of a small café decorated with fairy lights hanging over the entrance and little tables spread across the sidewalk.
The rest of the team was already there, chatting and laughing over their drinks.
“Oh, good.” Ashlynn smiled. “They made it. And they’re alive.”
Darling unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to Apple.
She was adjusting herself in the rearview mirror, her wavy blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, sunglasses resting on top of her head.
Darling had no idea how, or why, she found that woman so mesmerizing.
It didn’t even make sense.
Apple didn’t like her, she couldn’t stand her.
Darling didn’t even know whether Apple liked women, or whether she had the slightest chance.
Even if the girls insisted she did, Darling figured her odds were about the same as any random movie star’s.
She wasn’t convinced.
But she liked dreaming, just like any other girl.
She cleared her throat, waiting until Apple glanced at her.
“Could you open the trunk for us?”
“No need. We’re all going back to the same hotel later anyway, aren’t we?”
“Yeah! She’s right!” Ashlynn jumped in before Darling could answer. “Thanks, Apple.”
Darling caught the small smile Apple gave Ashlynn before unlocking the doors.
The moment they stepped outside, the heat hit Darling’s skin like boiling water.
“There they are.”
Darling looked up and spotted Lizzie waving as though they hadn’t already seen them.
She walked over to the table and immediately noticed the rather amusing seating arrangement.
The table was rectangular, certainly large enough that no one needed to be crammed together.
And yet, somehow, the girls had managed to place Melody at the head of the table. Holly and Poppy sat on either side of her, studying the menu.
There was an empty chair beside Holly, followed by Lizzie.
The two seats beside Poppy, however, were also empty.
Darling understood the plan immediately.
“We’ve only been here for, like, five minutes,” Melody said.
“What are you guys getting?” Ashlynn asked quickly as she slipped into the chair beside Lizzie with a smile that wasn’t suspicious in the slightest.
Darling resisted the urge to roll her eyes (the gesture came out looking more like gratitude instead) as she sat beside Poppy, hoping Apple would take the chair on her left.
When she did, Darling offered her a shy smile.
“There are so many options,” Poppy commented.
Holly hummed in agreement, lowering her menu.
“What if we split the little pastries?”
“But I don’t want pastries.”
“I’ll split them with you, Holly.” Ashlynn leaned over the table to grin at her.
“Here.” Poppy handed Darling a menu with a smile.
Darling accepted it gratefully and opened it like a book.
As hungry as she was, she could’ve easily eaten an entire meal by herself.
But what if…
She glanced at Apple and found her staring absentmindedly at the street, elbow resting on the table, chin propped against her hand. She’d put her sunglasses back on and seemed completely uninterested in the girls’ conversation.
Still, Darling could be incredibly persistent when she wanted to be.
“Apple,” she called softly.
Apple turned toward her, and Darling realized she was smiling.
Her cheeks immediately flushed, and she was fairly certain she’d never been so red in her entire life.
“Yes?”
Darling only realized she’d been staring when Apple held her gaze.
“Oh… right. Sorry.” She laughed awkwardly. “Would you want to split a drink? Or maybe some food? I’m starving, but… if you don’t want to, that’s totally fine.”
The words tumbled out in a hopeless mess.
God, she really was an idiot.
A complete idiot who couldn’t stop talking.
“You can order whatever you want,” Apple replied as though she hadn’t even noticed Darling’s rambling. “I ate before I left the hotel. I’m not that hungry.”
“Right… okay.”
Darling cleared her throat and buried herself in the menu again.
By the time the waitress came over, everyone had already decided.
Coffee, a few snacks to share.
Except for Apple, who ordered nothing but an iced cappuccino.
Darling settled on a vanilla milkshake and chicken hand pies.
“Will that be all?” the waitress asked, notepad poised in her hand.
Darling tried not to notice the way the young woman kept looking at the team. It was painfully obvious how hard she was trying to remain professional.
Melody started listing the rest of the table’s orders, and Darling leaned toward Apple again.
“Are you sure you’re only getting a cappuccino?”
“Thanks, Darling, but I’m good.”
“Well, then don’t ask for my hand pies,” she teased. “They’re going to be amazing.”
Apple simply laughed, probably rolling her eyes behind her sunglasses.
“You know… I think that waitress recognized you guys.”
A crooked smile tugged at Darling’s lips.
“You noticed too. Do you think we should’ve offered her a picture?”
Apple let out a quiet laugh.
“Sometimes I wonder if there’s anything bigger than your ego, Charming.”
“Maybe.”
Darling desperately wanted to know what went on inside that woman’s head.
Every time Apple made that expression; her lips pursed into the faintest pout, tiny dimples appearing in her cheeks, her brows knitting together just enough to suggest she was one sarcastic remark away from speaking.
And for some reason, Darling found it absolutely enchanting.
“I can’t believe we’re actually going to get a chance to relax before Nationals.”
That caught Darling’s attention, and she turned toward Melody.
“You’re planning to relax?”
Melody seemed to stiffen.
“Aren’t you?”
“Absolutely not.” The very thought of resting sounded ridiculous to Darling. “The moment we get back, we’re reviewing our plays and waiting to find out who we’ll face.”
“Darling, we still have one more match before Nationals,” Holly said.
“And that’s exactly why we’re going to relax? If they beat us, we could still lose first place.”
Silence settled over the table.
Darling didn’t mind scolding her teammates. As captain, it was her job to keep everyone in line.
“I agree with Darling,” Lizzie said after a moment.
“We all do,” Ashlynn added. “But we can’t afford to get injured right before Nationals.”
“Yes, but relax?” Darling felt an annoying throb begin behind her temple.
“I worded it badly, Darling, that’s all,” Melody replied. “Relax, Coach.”
Darling clenched her jaw and pulled her phone from her pocket.
She wasn’t getting into that argument.
Not again.
The idea that the girls wanted to take it easy with Nationals so close made her deeply uncomfortable.
She’d already been irritated enough over it.
She didn’t need to make herself even angrier.
The conversation drifted elsewhere, but Darling stayed quiet.
She was already irritated, and saying nothing was far safer than saying something she’d regret later.
Not even Apple, sitting beside her, seemed particularly distracting anymore.
She hated conversations like that because, in the end, she was always the one who had to be the difficult one.
The grounded one.
The one who reminded everyone of reality.
But they would never understand why.
None of them had a father like hers.
“Hey.” Poppy nudged her shoulder. “We’re thinking about ordering fries. You in?”
“Wipe that grumpy look off your face, Darling,” Lizzie scolded. “You already know how this ends.”
“Your bad mood is starting to infect the whole table,” Melody added.
“I’m not in a bad mood. I’m thinking.”
“Relax, Captain.” Poppy nudged her again. “We’ll stay at the top of the standings. But you need to rest too.”
Ashlynn smiled from across the table.
“The last thing any of us wants is to see you, or any of us, get injured.”
Another discussion about the team started up, but Darling tuned it out once again.
Somehow, the tiny potted plant sitting in the middle of the table had suddenly become fascinating.
Still, she couldn’t let herself be consumed by thoughts of the future.
She had to live in the present.
And live knowing she had to give everything she had.
“Excuse me.”
Darling looked up to find the waitress carrying a tray large enough to feed an army.
Or simply a starving volleyball team.
“Thank you so much,” Melody murmured.
Within moments, the table was covered with food; hand pies, coffee, pastries, and shared appetizers spread between them.
Darling almost felt guilty for finishing her milkshake so quickly.
And the chicken hand pies really were incredible.
The conversation had returned to normal, but Darling remained focused on her food.
“They really do look good.”
Hearing Apple speak to her was a pleasant surprise.
Darling nearly choked trying to swallow a bite of pie and had to wash it down with a generous sip of her milkshake.
“They are,” she answered once she caught her breath. “They’re amazing.”
After coughing a couple more times, she slid the small plate toward Apple.
“Here. Try one.”
Apple looked at her, raised an eyebrow, and smiled.
A genuine smile.
Though there was still the faintest hint of teasing behind it.
“I thought you weren’t going to let me have one.”
“Oh… right.”
Darling felt her cheeks heat up yet again, but she didn’t argue.
In the silence that followed, Apple reached over and took one of the hand pies.
The drive back to the hotel was peaceful.
Soft music drifted through the car, blending with the cool air conditioning and the bright afternoon sunlight pouring through the windows.
When they arrived, no one even had to ask Apple to open the trunk.
They climbed out in the hotel parking lot and made their way through the busy lobby until they reached the elevators.
One served the even-numbered floors.
The other, the odd-numbered ones.
As they waited, Darling was surprised to see Apple smile at her.
“That was a nice outing.”
“It was… pleasant.”
Darling smiled as warmly as she could.
After their conversation at the café, however, her good mood had faded considerably.
Just thinking about taking time off again made her restless.
Even if she knew she needed it.
“You should come out with us more often, Apple,” Ashlynn said.
Once again, Apple took a few seconds before answering.
“We’ll see.”
“Ash, I think we should start getting organized for the trip,” Darling said. “We barely rested today, and we’ll be spending hours on the bus.”
“…Yeah. You’re right.”
Just then, Apple’s elevator arrived.
She adjusted the strap of her bag and turned back to the girls.
“I guess I’ll see you in a few days.”
Ashlynn raised an eyebrow.
“A few days? You’re not coming back South with us?”
“Not right away. I have a conference the day after tomorrow in Avalon. And probably a few lectures at the university after that.”
“Avalon?” Darling asked.
“I’ve never been there,” Ashlynn admitted. “But I know Camelot High is dangerous. I mean… they have an incredible volleyball team.”
“I’m not planning to conspire with them, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Darling laughed.
But the last thing she was worried about was Apple secretly cheering for Camelot High.
What truly bothered her was knowing she’d probably go quite a while without seeing her again.
Still, she didn’t have time for distractions.
There were more important things to focus on.
With a soft ding, the elevator doors slid open.
Apple let out a quiet sigh, looking oddly relieved.
“Anyway, I should go. See you.”
“Bye, Apple! It was really nice seeing you.”
Darling simply waved.
Apple disappeared the moment the elevator doors closed.
A second later, Darling felt an elbow jab her arm.
“Ow! What was that for?”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Ashlynn complained. “We won’t be seeing her for a while, you know.”
“I know, Ash. I’m just… a little tired.”
A sigh escaped Ashlynn.
For a few moments, a comfortable silence settled between them.
“You’re not a machine, Darling. Sooner or later you were going to get tired.”
She smiled gently.
“Come on. We’ve only got a few hours before we leave for the bus terminal.”
It was six in the evening.
Darling’s suitcase lay open on top of the bed, with only a handful of clothes and her volleyball gear scattered inside.
On the bed across from her, Lizzie was finishing folding her T-shirts while quietly humming along to whatever song was playing through her earbuds.
Darling was gathering the rest of her things, pacing back and forth across the room, picking up everything that belonged to her.
If she’d accidentally grabbed anything of Lizzie’s, she’d return it later.
A knock at the door pulled them both out of their own little worlds.
“Darling, someone’s at the door!” Lizzie practically shouted.
“I know, Lizzie. I heard it.”
Twisting the doorknob, Darling expected to find one of the girls.
Instead, she froze when she found herself face-to-face with Apple.
Heat rushed to her cheeks instantly, embarrassment sweeping through her like an avalanche.
She was definitely not wearing her best outfit to answer the door for Apple.
She had on an oversized T-shirt she’d stolen from her brother and a pair of shorts so short they practically disappeared beneath the hem.
“Apple?” she stammered. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“Did you say Apple?” Lizzie called from inside the room.
Darling gave her a thumbs-up over her shoulder before turning her attention back to Apple.
“Sorry for interrupting you,” Apple said.
“No, it’s fine. We’ve still got some time before we leave for the bus terminal. But… what are you doing here?”
Apple’s expression was unusually serious.
She always looked reserved around the team, but this time, it looked like genuine concern.
She pulled her phone from her pocket and held it out to Darling.
“What’s this?” Darling asked.
“Just… look. Did you know about this?”
The screen was open to the Ever After High sports club’s news page.
MirrorCast.
The headline featured a woman Darling had never seen before in her life.
But that wasn’t the problem. The problem was the caption.
Snow White Announces Ever After High’s New Assistant Coach.
At first glance, it looked like nothing more than another coaching hire.
Their previous assistant coach had barely spoken to the team, and her work had never seemed to make much of an impact.
Even so, Darling hadn’t expected her contract to end so quickly.
“Who is she?” Darling asked.
Apple looked stunned, almost offended.
“My God, you’re the volleyball player here. How can you know so little about your own sport’s history?”
“What? What do you mean? Who is this woman?”
“That’s the Evil Queen. One of the greatest volleyball players Ever After High has ever had.”
“The Evil Queen? What kind of name is that…?”
“That’s not the point, Darling.” Apple took a slow breath. “The point is that she’s going to be your new assistant coach.”
She waited a few seconds when Darling continued staring blankly at the screen.
“She’s my mother’s nemesis. Her greatest rival. Not just on the court… but in life.”
Something clicked inside Darling’s mind.
“I’ve seen the two of them together before,” Apple continued. “You girls are in trouble.”
Only then did Darling understand.
The switch her brain had just flipped was the emergency one.
Maybe things were about to become far more complicated than she was ready to admit.