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Ginger stares.
She stares.
And stares.
And stares.
“You are cordially invited to the wedding
of Darling Charming and Apple White
Friday, May 27th, at 6:00”
They’d gotten the invitation a week ago. Through all the trouble and stress of opening their own business she’d almost missed it. But while cleaning out her email she’d found it.
Ginger couldn’t believe her eyes.
Darling was getting married.
Ginger to say the least, was bitter. Apple had won. She’d gotten the girl in the end.
Ginger knew there was no competition. Apple hadn’t meant to steal her girlfriend.
Still it didn’t stop the bitter taste that arose in her mouth.
A small ding broke Ginger from her trance. She snapped her head up towards the visitor.
She was tall with auburn hair tied up in a bun. Wearing a long skirt and a sweater, a messenger bag slung over her shoulder.
“Hello!” The customer chirped giving them a small wave. Ginger coughed awkwardly shutting her computer. “Hi what can I do for you today!” They responded trying to mimic enthusiasm
The girl examines the menu for a moment “Uhh I’ll have a caramel swirl with two pumps of caramel syrup and extra whipped cream please! Aaaaand” she stares at the display case full of baked goods. Gingers pride and joy. “A croissant!”
Ginger nods punching the items in “Uhhh that’ll be 9.57, what’s your name?”
“Holly.” The girl smiles softly. There was something about that smile that made Ginger want to smile to.
Holly turned around and sat at one of the tables while Ginger worked. Finally when they were done they walked over to where she sat. “Order for Holly!” She said with a smile setting the plate down. “Why thank you!” the customer responds.
That’s when Ginger noticed the papers strewn about on the table and the fact Holly was typing furiously. “What’re you working on!” They blurt out without thinking. Holly stares up “I’m sorry-you don’t need to answer-“ the pink haired girl panics. The taller women chuckles “It’s fine!” She says with a wave of her hand “I’m working on a novel. I’m an amateur writer.”
“You’re a writer?” Ginger asks in awe. The auburn haired girl smiled “Trying to be! This is the first full fledged thing I’ve wrote in awhile!” She says sheepishly. Ginger grins “Well I think it’s super cool!” They say bouncing on there tippy toes “It’s really awesome that you’re so creative!”
Holly looks back with a smile “Aw, well you’re creative to! I saw all the fabulous decorations on your deserts! You have talent”
Ginger flushes “Oh well uh thank you-“ Holly smiles sweetly “Of course.”
____
Giggles erupt from the two girls as sugar and flour fly everywhere.
“Hey you’ve Uh…you’ve got something…” Darling inches closer to Ginger putting her hand up to wipe something off the girls face before suddenly pulling the girl into a kiss. Ginger pulls away laughing
They lay their head on their knights chest “I love you….” She whispers “I love you….”
“I-I love you to….” Her knight mumbles back. She shuts her eyes with a smile.
——
Holly begins to visit more after that. Every Friday at 2:00 o’clock Ginger knows when that bell rings she’ll be staring into those gorgeous hazel eyes.
Everything about Holly is amazing. From her hair, to her eyes, to her laugh to her smile. And she’s smart. So smart, and their conversations are wonderful.
Gingers only felt like this for one other person before.
And it scares them.
They vent to their friend Melody one night about it.
“So.” Her friend starts “you’re telling me you have a crush on one of your regulars?”
Ginger groans “Yes?? No?? I don’t know!!!” She hugs a pillow tightly. “It’s just complicated yknow? I’m so busy with the new shop, and with Darling-“
“Oh come on-“ Melody mumbled “You need to get over her!” Ginger scoffs “I am!” Her friend rolled their eyes “Please, she’s still all you think about when anyone mentions romance!”
Ginger crossed her arms “It’s not like that! I’ve just been thinking about her more since…” her eyes downcast “I got a wedding invitation”
Her friends eyes go wide “wait…seriously?” Ginger nods “Mhm. She’s getting married to Apple White” Melody raises an eyebrow “I guess I can’t say I’m surprised about that” they shrug “Kinda an asshole move to invite your ex to your wedding, especially with the girl she dumped you for.” Ginger frowns and Melody has the realization they might’ve gone to far.
“Sorry-! I know that’s a touchy subject.” They say guiltily
Ginger sighs “It’s fine….”
——
“Darling…w-what do you mean??” She cries
“I’m sorry-“ Darling responds sadly “I-I just can’t keep lying to myself!” She wipes her tears “I’m sorry for hurting you-“
“To late!” Ginger snaps. “Just leave me alone” she sniffles.
——
The next time Holly comes in it’s with another person. She has short hair cut in a pixie cut and dyed purple. Holly quickly runs to the counter “Ginger! I’d love for you to meet Poppy! She’s my twin.” She thinks she remembers hearing of Poppy in their billions of conversation. The baker holds out her hand “Nice to meet you!”
Poppy shakes theirs “You to!” Suddenly she gains a devilish smirk “Yknow~Holly talks about you A LOT” her sisters face goes red slapping her hands over her twins face “Nothing! Nothing! Uh-the usual please” she rambles dragging her giggling twin away.
Ginger stands their frozen for a moment.
Did Holly really talk about her?
——
“You’re totally into her” Raven says with a
Red creeps on Gingers face “I don’t! Darling just saved my butt in the baking competition. Might as well pay it back” they say as they put their cooking’s in the oven. Raven rolls her eyes “Suuuure, and you so happen to go red whenever she’s around?”
Ginger huffs “She’s always hanging out with me in the sun!”
“The lockers are that sunny?”
Ginger sighs as she shuts the door, defeated “So maybe I have a little crush on her. So whatever!”
Raven puts a hand on their shoulder “you should go for it! From the looks of it, it…seems like Darling really likes you to.
Ginger stares as the cookies began to rise.
Maybe Darling did like her.
——
Holly comes in late one day.
Ginger is closing up shop when she shows up at the door. and even though Ginger should be abiding her own rules she lets the girl in.
Holly collapses on a near chair and Ginger goes to fetch her favorite pecan pie. When Ginger sets the plate down she finally asks “What happened?”
Holly sighs “I don’t know…I’m just overwhelmed” she looks up at the baker, eyes glossy from tears. “There’s something I haven’t been telling you….”
Ginger’s breath hitches. They’ve been waiting for this.
“I’m an O’Hair.”
Ginger would be slightly disappointed if they weren’t so surprised “Like….O’Hair as in the daughter of Rapunzel O’Hair?”
Holly nods. And Ginger feels stupid. She doesn’t know how she hadn’t realized.
Rapunzel was a socialite among town. A famous motivational speaker talking about the abuse she’d faced by her mother, Rapunzel was probably one of the most beloved people in the world. She could be considered royalty.
Ginger blinks, soaking in the information. “Why didn’t you tell me?” They finally ask. Holly sniffles “I guess I was scared….” She mumbles “It’s hard to find places where people don’t know me. Here….” She gets a dreamlike look in her eyes “Here I can be as normal as I want.” She chuckles sadly “It’s pathetic, I know”
Ginger frowns “It’s not pathetic” she says sternly “I can’t imagine being forced to be in the public eye like that” she shakes her head “Why are you just telling me now though”
Holly shrugs “My parents have just been intense lately. They never wanted me to be a writer” Ginger raises a brow “Why would that be an issue?” The auburn haired girl pokes at her pie “Dad wants me to take over the family business. I can’t do motivational speaking but I can sell insurance” she huffs “They gave up on Poppy pretty much once they found out she dyed her hair. I’m the only one who can take it over now apparently” she puts her head down
“That’s awful….” Hesitantly, Ginger puts her hand atop Holly’s. They hope she can’t feel them shaking.
Holly doesn’t rip her hand away immediately and instead smiles warmly looking back at Ginger “Thank you….” She says softly “For doing all of this. You didn’t have to.” Gingers mouth goes dry “It’s what anyone would’ve done….”
——
A silence falls between them. A comfortable “I loved you!!” Ginger sobs drunkenly into the phone “I loved you-!”
“Ginger….” A gentle whisper responds
“I loved you and you left me!!”
“Ginger I need to go” the voice mumbles
“You don’t get to run away from this one!” She screams
There’s a mumble on the other line, not from Darling but from someone else. “Is that her?” Ginger cries.
The call ends.
Ginger only weeps.
——
Poppy comes bursting through the doors of the cafe. Holly is nowhere in site. Strange.
The twin bounds towards the cashiers desk. “Sooo” Poppy leans on the counter dragging her words out. “Me and my girlfriend are throwing a party this weekend. I was wondering if you wanted to come?”
Ginger gulps. They hate large gatherings. Poppy can see their hesitance apparently because she responds with “Holly’s gonna be there.” Ginger bites her lip “Alright. I’ll go”
Poppy hands her the address and leaves the cafe without ordering anything. Ginger ignores the wink she gives them when she leaves.
——
“Can we be friends?” Darling whispers eyes to the ground.
“I don’t know if we can ever be friends” Ginger responds. She sees Darling wince. “But…I’d like to at least be on good terms” Darling looks up a glimmer of hope in her eyes “I’d like that to”
——
When Ginger arrives at the party it’s not what she expected.
The house is huge of course, that isn’t a surprise. But there’s no flashing lights or people talking or music blaring. She rings the doorbell, and a tall figure answers it.
She’s thin, with sharp features and a stare that could kill, she rolls her eyes “Poppy!!! Is this that Ginger girl you invited!!” she shouts.
She hears the sound of footsteps before Poppy appears by the girls side “Oh, you came!” She grins Pulling Ginger inside.
Once inside Ginger examines the house in amazement. It’s grand, the tables are made of marble and it feels as if it echoes when she talks.
“This is Duchess!” Poppy says excitedly. Grabbing the tall women’s arm still smiling. It takes Ginger a minute before they eventually connect the dots that Duchess must be Poppy’s girlfriend.
“Poppy??” a voice sounds in the hall. “Who else did you invite? Isn’t it supposed to be just….” the voice trails off. Ginger turns her head.
It’s Holly.
She’s dressed in a nightgown, hair down and trailing behind her. She seems embarrassed.
“G-Ginger!” She exclaims face red “I-I didn’t know you were coming!”
Poppy clamps her hands on her mouth exaggeratedly “Oh my gosh! I totally forgot to tell you!” her sister narrows her eyes, Gingers never seen her so angry.
Before Holly can say anything, Poppy grabs her girlfriends arm dramatically “Ohhhh Duchess! We totally forgot! Sparrows holding a thing tonight!”
Duchess raises a brow “But Sparrow-“ Poppy elbows her girlfriend“Ow!” She snaps before a realization seems to hit her, she rolls her eyes “Oh yes, Sparrow is having a party tonight. A shame we’ll miss the movie night” she says flatly.
Holly crosses her arms “And you’re just now remembering this??” Poppy nods “Already told ya sis, slipped our minds! Anyway me and Duchess have to go now bye!” and with that they swiftly pull their girlfriend out the door.
Holly sighs exasperatedly “I’m sorry about this-“ she says rubbing her temple “god they’re insufferable” she mumbles to herself. Ginger plays with the rim of her dress nervously. She feels stupid for getting so fancied up. Holly looks back over to them “I’m really sorry.” She starts “You can go back home if you want”
Ginger perks up her head “I want to stay!!” She blurts out. Holly seems surprised by this “Really?” She says with a cock of her head. Ginger nods “It’s not exactly what I expected but-I still wanna hang out with my-“ she holds her breath “friend-“
Holly gives a small yet nervous smile “Okay…” she says as she begins to lead them down the hall. When they get there it’s not at all what they expected.
There’s blankets and pillows strewn about the living room, Disney+ is on, though nothing is playing and there’s loads of snacks. Holly rubs the back of her neck “This was supposed to be a movie night.” She says “It’s usually Poppy and me but she invited Duchess too” Holly seems flushed, almost embarrassed “I-I know it’s childish, I really didn’t expect to have anyone else around. Duchess is constantly judging people so I didn’t give her much thought but you-“ finally she turns to face Ginger. Who simply smiles “I think it’s adorable”
Holly is clearly taken aback “really?” Ginger nods, flopping on the couch “This is so much better than what I thought you guys were gonna do”
Holly let’s out a sigh of relief “That’s great” she says flopping besides Ginger.
“Though….” Ginger starts “We could use some hot chocolate”
——
The walk home is nice. It’s mostly silence but it’s that nice silence where you both understand there’s nothing to say.
When they get to the dorm Ginger turns to Darling. She’s unsure about what to do. “Um…thanks for walking me back to my room” she says awkwardly holding her hands together and staring at the ground. Darling gives a sincere smile in return “It was no problem”
They stand like that. Staring at each other for a moment. Before Darling leans down, capturing Gingers lips. It’s quick, just a peck, but Ginger thinks it’s the best kiss they’ve ever experienced.
Darling pulls away same smile on her face. Ginger bites the inside of her cheek face warm “S-so I’ll see ya later?” her date chuckles “definitely”
——
“Soooo you guys went on a date?” Ginger hears her friend say over the phone. She groans “No! I don’t think so-we didn’t call it that” they think they can hear Melody roll their eyes over the phone “Ginger, you guys watched a movie, had hot chocolate, and then spent the rest of the night talking away with eachother”
“That’s what friends do!” Ginger responds back with a huff. “Not when they’ve been flirting with each other for weeks” Melody says back. Ginger rolls her eyes before the familiar ding of the door opening goes off “I’ve gotta go-“ she mumbled into the phone, ending the call and turning around swiftly.
She turns and is face to face with Holly. They stumble back in surprise. The taller girl giggles “I’m sorry for scaring you!”
Ginger gulps and gives out a shaky laugh “I-it’s okay-I wasn’t scared!!” She coughs straightening her posture. Holly nods and then they just-stare. Holly looks at her as if…expecting something. Ginger doesn’t know what.
The silence lingers for way to long and Holly finally just gives a small “oh-um….I’ll have a caramel latte” she mumbles awkwardly.
When she gets her drink she leaves without saying a word.
“Idiot” Melody calls them on the phone call later, and Ginger realizes they’re right.
——
“I was wondering if um-well if you wanted to-“ Darling stares at her, eyes wide and curious.
“It’s just um-oh fiddlesticks…” Ginger says defeated. God Darling must think she’s an idiot.
Darling giggles, but there’s no malice behind it “I’d love to go on a date with you Ginger”
Ginger can’t contain their excitement
——
The next time Holly comes in Ginger has definitively decided to ask her out.
It turns out to be harder than they’d originally thought. They haven’t done this in years, and turns out it isn’t any easier than it was last time.
To say the least Ginger’s a wreck. Stumbling over her words, almost getting Holly’s order wrong, almost spilling her drink on her. Ginger can’t keep it together.
Holly isn’t annoyed more just-confused. And well Ginger can’t blame her. Ginger continuously tries to find ways to bring it up, but always ends up tongue tied.
Finally when Holly is about to leave it all comes out. In a burst of emotions Ginger shouts “wait!!” She grabs Holly’s hand and starts rambling “myfriendishavingaweddingandiwaswonderingifyouwantedtocome-“
The auburn girl looks surprised but her shock morphs into a soft smile on her face. Before Ginger can mess anything up more Holly leans down and kisses her cheek “I’d love to go out with you, Ginger”
Ginger is left absolutely immobile as Holly leaves the bakery.
——
“Shit-“ Ginger mumbles under her breath. Jiggling the handle to the door.
It was the day of the bake off at the spring fair, and Ginger was positively screwed. While readying her supplies to bring to the competition (they technically provided supplies, but Ginger trusted her personal ones more) Helga and Gus Crumb had locked them in culinary room.
“Nononono” Ginger desperately pulled at the handle. She couldn’t miss the contest. She bangs and pushes and shouts, but it seems like no one can hear her. She slumps down in defeat, until she hears a voice “hello?” They jump up “hello!! Hello hi! I’m locked in here!”
They hear the door jiggle and then unlock and when it opens it reveals the prettiest girl she’s ever seen. Darling Charming.
Darling stares at her eyes wide and confused. Ginger feels flushed but pushes her feelings down only getting out a “thankyoubye!” Before rushing off.
——
Ginger at first thinks that having your first date with a girl you like at your ex girlfriends wedding is a terrible idea, and mentally chastises herself for it. But surprisingly enough things go smoothly.
Holly fits right in, she herself is a child of a wealthy family so the charming family immediately loves her. Ginger is able to fall back into the normal conversations she would’ve had with her highschool colleagues, and well the most important thing of all, she and Darling get along.
As much as Ginger would hate to admit it Darlings happier. Apple makes her smile. Wider then Ginger ever could.
And Darling and Apple hold no animosity towards Ginger or her date. Infact Apple and Holly get along quite well, lamenting about growing up gay in an oppressive household.
(It’s not the happiest conversation, but they’re having a good time so Darling and Ginger don’t stop them)
While eating cake alone (it wasn’t as sad as it looked they swear, Holly had just left to go make a few rounds (Ginger didn’t understand how she was so social) and she was tapped out from socializing) Darling plops into a seat next to her “Cake up to your standards?”
Ginger shrugs “Well it’s a little dry, and though I enjoy apple crumb I feel a nice vanilla would’ve suited the occasion better” she says taking another bite “But it’s suitable”
Both the girls giggle, and then theres silence. “I’m happy for you” Ginger finally says. And they mean it. Darling smiles, a genuine one “I’m happy for you to” she eyes the dance floor were Holly mingles with the rest of the guests, currently chattering away with Briar Beauty. “She’s nice.” Ginger rolls her eyes “Well, I think she’s pretty nice to”
Darling shakes her head “Y’know what I mean. She’s good for you. You’re happy” Ginger for some reason, is surprised to hear Darling say that. But it makes Ginger realize she really is happy. Happier than she’d been in months. She nods smiling to herself “I am.”
Holly bounds over to the table “I’m sorry, but could I steal her for a bit?” She asks taking her dates hand. Darling chuckles “she’s all yours”
Holly pulls Ginger up excitedly “Well, may I have this dance?”
Ginger smirks “I thought you’d never ask.”