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The cold touch of the night made the hairs on Apple's arms stand up. She looked up at the sky, seeing that clouds covered the great vast blue that always brought her more comfort, but soon imagined that in a short time, rain would fall again.
This thing about living in a small town has always brought Apple peace. But after she met Darling..
She would just like to hit the road and explore everything with her.
She would. If only she were brave.
Darling was studying at Cambridge.
Apple had never met anyone her age when she was at such a renowned university. Except for Briar, who had left the city to study at Oxford.
So different from the life Apple had planned for herself.
She looks at the ground, at the sidewalk. A shine... Maybe because of the little rain that fell earlier.
When looking at the 24-hour Cafeteria that is next to the gas station, there in the parking lot. She saw Darling finally placing her order, after that short line, thanks to the machine that had gone wrong. It always happened.
The smell of gasoline made Apple a little sick. He went to the entrance of the cafeteria. Before entering, Darling was already leaving.
The platinum girl was wearing an outfit that Apple didn't normally see anyone wearing around there. Modern, very big city. And a warm jacket, especially to avoid the wind. Apple was there with her, she had only known the girl for 5 days, after she was almost run over by her. But she had already observed Charming with different eyes. It was Darling's last days in the city, Apple knew that after the girl left, White's life in Woodstock would be boring again.
How fearless she wanted to be.
Just enough to shout to the world that I couldn't take that small town anymore.
- Here it is. - She smiled and handed the coffee into my hand. - The machine had broken.
- It always happens. - Apple shrugged and smiled. and she sipped the hot coffee. - They never exchange.
- Ah, I miss my latte. Every day, during free time.
- Do the coffee shops go broke there too? - Darling smirked.
- It depends on the coffee shop. The one I go to has a very varied menu.
- Oh really?
- Of course. I love using it as a study space.
Apple laughed softly and faced the sky again. The atmosphere gradually closed, she heard Darling saying something in the background, but she was in her own little world again. Her eyes looked back at the platinum-haired girl who was now staring back at her.
- What is it? - Apple took another sip of her coffee cup, trying to hide the pressure from the taller girl above her.
- Will it rain again? - She disguises it, leaving Apple confused and lost.
- Ah.. I think so..
-Come on, let's get the car. -Darling took her hand, for Apple it was like being dragged, her head even spun like a merry-go-round.
Apple followed the older girl, Darling seemed to hum a tune as she headed to the parking lot. Apple appreciated the girl.
- What a beautiful melody, what is it called?
- And the melody from the Cinderella movie.
- Who sings? -Darling looked at him confused, then softened her face.
- Cinderella?
- Ah.. it makes sense.. I don't recognize it. - Apple is confused when she sees Darling being surprised. - I should?
- Have you never watched any Disney classic?
- It depends... which one would it be?
- Beauty and the Beast? Cinderella?? Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs??
-Hm.. I prefer Sleeping Beauty.
- oh God Apple White, how old...
- oh God I say. "Snow White" is older than "Sleeping Beauty"
Darling laughed softly. - Don't like Snow White?
- I like it, of course. It's a classic. But I don't remember the songs from the film.
- Actually, I only remember that one. - Darling smiled and turned to walk. - I participated in a theater play when I was younger. My mother loved that each child had a different talent for each thing. - Apple tried to stay next to the girl and pay more attention to the conversation. - I practiced the piano and the violin.
- Do you play the violin? Okay, you're on another level. -Darling's laugh echoed in the ears of the youngest, who was next to her.
- It is not so difficult. In fact, I knew very little how to play, after my mother signed me up for the play without consulting me, my duty was to learn how to play or at least be able to keep the rhythm.
- What was the theme?
- Cinderella..
- Oh, that explains everything.
- I always got the rhythm change wrong, so I spent days watching the film and listening to the music.
- Have you watched "The Swan Princess"?
- I've never seen it... and about what?
- And an adaptation of "Swan Lake". It already has a beautiful melody. Ugh... I was even going to ask you to hum.
The smile on Charming's lips was welcoming.
- You do it.
- I? no no. This is very embarrassing.
- there's only the two of us here.
Apple looked around. Really, there was only their souls there in the parking lot. Besides the coffee shop, of course.
- Do you dance? - The question was asked in the air, Apple stared at Darling, waiting for an answer.
- No..?
- What a shame... It's a great form of expression.
Darling stared at Apple. The way the girl changed the subject so quickly. Darling knew Apple would ask her to dance.
Right there, in the empty parking lot.
They found themselves next to the car. Darling opened the door so Apple could enter effortlessly. Upon entering, she was startled to see the door closing, she thought for a while. Maybe she was kidnapped by a stranger she met a few days ago.
To Apple's fright, Darling got into the car and got into the driver's seat. The platinum blonde reached into her purse and pulled out a large hair pin to secure her curls. Darling was quite careful in everything she did, and driving wasn't a pleasure, it was a matter that could easily end everything. She always tied her hair up to avoid accidents. Apple admired this, Darling was delicate, just like her.
fearless..?
Coincidentally, Darling met Apple, almost running over her.
-Don't worry, I won't kidnap her..-As if she had read her thoughts. - As much as I must admit that I would like to do it.
Apple blushed naturally for silly reasons and also with rapid changes in the weather. Now, when a pretty girl teased her, it was much worse. Lucky for her, the light was off. Darling started the car. She seemed to know very well what to do, her eyes, with each quick glance at the road, were placed on Apple, she captured them one by one, each fresh smile left in the wind. Apple smiled back, she didn't know any better than that.
Driving down the empty road. She was calm and peaceful, did not cause fear and much less anxiety. It was comforting and delicious. Small, small cities were like that, a city for riding horses, for wandering around aimlessly. Darling stopped the car on the road and rolled down Apple's car window to breathe in some fresh air. Apple got goosebumps all over, her hair started to blow in the wind, she laughed softly, it felt really good.
- Close it, please.. - She tried to hold her hair while Darling tried to close it.
. The youngest was a mess. Apple ran her hand through her hair, in a distracted way, Darling, was distracted by that.. It was too little time to feel desire.. But Darling absentmindedly desired her.
Trying not to get caught looking...
Her eyes returned to the road. The slow direction of the car. Apple was also looking at the road ahead, she knew she wasn't on the way home as it was on the other side. Could she worry about that? it could. But Darling heading down the road brought confidence.
- Before you ask... we're just taking a walk, okay? - Apple nodded, Darling's voice was calm and low, which scared the blonde. -Apple? - The answer came with "hm?". - Have you ever thought about leaving Woodstock?
A question that Apple had been waiting to be asked for so long, but not by Darling, but by her mother. How long had she been waiting to return to the big city, which she hadn't seen since she was 13 years old. Her obligations were above any freedom. Her mother never called her to talk about studies.
- Ah... Well, I've thought about that a few times. But I don't know if I would like it. -And of course she would like to..-Darling nodded as if she understood those words. - And you?
- What about me?
- How long have you lived in Cambridge?
- 2 years. I bought an apartment with my brother near the university.
- I thought I lived there since I was little...
- No no. - Apple still looked confused. Darling laughed and stopped in a square, there were people enjoying the place. They decided to stay in the car - Feel free to ask a university student if you have any questions.
Apple rolled her eyes, Darling could feel it and laughed.
- So, where are you from?
- It depends... Where was I born or where did I live? -Her eyes followed the road. Apple was slightly confused, took a look at Darling. She looked interestingly beautiful when she was focused.
- Where were you born?
- France. During a trip to grandma's house. -Apple put her hands over her mouth to avoid making noise, she ended up not holding back a light snore, which caught the girl's attention. Apple stopped laughing and got scared. - What's funny??
- Are you French?
- Technically yes. my parents are French, and I was born there... Does that make me French?
- For sure. - They laughed together. - So European girl, what's it like living in France?
- I don't know. - Once again Apple was confused.
- Like this? Didn't you grow up there?
- I was just born. I lived in New Jersey. - Apple widened her eyes, FUCK.
- Are you rich or what?
- I'm not rich, okay? My parents only dedicated themselves to taking care of the three children and their monthly expenses.
- May God free your parents from all evil. - Darling smiled. - Darling? You're disappearing... - The smile died, a malicious smile grew on Apple's lips.
- You're no good
- What do you go to college for?
- Law faculty.
- Do you want to be a Lawyer?
- Not exactly. Judge of law, for sure. - Apple stared at the girl with a slight smile. Sometimes she would fool around and catch herself looking at her hands, which were making various gestures. Sometimes her hair, the waterfalls coming down. Sometimes for the lips.
[...]
And once again they were on the road. It was cool, Apple was already used to it. She wishes Darling would tell them to run away. She wanted to explore distant horizons. If she was fearless enough, she would ask Darling to speed up and leave town, she would leave everything behind, but only if it was Darling, it was so ridiculous. She wanted to be in the passenger seat, next to her.
Apple didn't have a good relationship with her parents, with her mother even worse. And of course she didn't tell Darling much about it. But what would she say? "My mother is going to put me in an arranged marriage with our neighbors' eldest son just to produce heirs and gather the land." It was ridiculous. It was despicable to need a man. How many dreams did she have to bury just to please people? Why couldn't she be brave and fearless like Briar?
Briar was her childhood best friend. Of life. Both grew up in patriarchal and misogenous families, but they had each other's support. Briar was not afraid to speak out, she always made it clear that she hated that place. Her parents said she had a childish temper tantrum. When she finished high school, she secretly applied to several universities and scholarships that she found on the internet. It was all worth it to get out of there.
That scared Apple, of course. She tried to get this crazy idea out of her friend's head as much as possible, until the day they argued. Briar had managed to get into Oxford, it was her dream come true. Her parents were so detached they would never notice this. She told her best friend, of course. Apple's reaction was to freak out, she couldn't take risks like that. That week Briar had already argued with her father, and had even suffered aggression just for giving her little opinions. They fought so badly that Apple cried and hit the Latina, who didn't let it go and did the same.
That day was the last time she saw her. She had already planned everything. She managed to get out of that place. She should be so far away. Apple was put against the wall by her own father. They asked for weeks if she knew anything. She acted just so she wouldn't cry in front of everyone. She would never tell on Briar, and hoped that she was happy and far away from all the misfortune that Apple went through due to her own choices. Apple could have gone along, she could have gotten rid of that whole curse. And now, she didn't know how to get any better than this.
Her eyes turned to Darling. The girl looks at him with confusion. They seemed to be looking for information. She soon looked back at the road. The silence lasted about 4 minutes, a bit uncomfortable. Apple just looked out the car window to avoid looking at Darling.
- What are you thinking? - Apple bit her lip. Darling took a brief look and looked straight ahead again. - Do you want me to take you back?
- No. I'm fine.
– Are you sure? You look distressed to me.
- Who uses "anguished" in a direct question? - Darling laugh softly.
- I use. - A few more silent seconds are only comfortable now. - Where do you want to go?
- What? - The confusing question takes a few seconds to be answered.
- We can go to New York, or Michigan. My parents have a house there.
- What are you talking about? - Darling smiles again, now without showing her teeth. a simple and comforting smile.
- Apple, from the moment you agreed to run away just to hide with me, I realized how brave you are. That's just a walk. You seem amazed by all of this, when in reality it's just one side of the place you've lived in for 22 years...22, right? - She nodded embarrassed. - I realized, the moment I met your mother. The way she treated me. I understood everything.
Apple looked scared of Darling. In less than a week, Darling said so much, told so much truth. All in her face. Darling was not afraid to talk about things that Apple was ashamed of, such as sexuality, feminism or sex education. Things that her mother insisted on banishing in conversations. Darling didn't speak in codes, she was understandable and direct. She always cited laws, norms, rights and duties without even realizing it. Apple tried to understand.
- Come on, Apple. Give the orders, I will do whatever you want, princess. - Apple felt like asking Darling to accelerate aimlessly, far away. She laughed, a good laugh in the air. For a moment, Darling didn't care that she was racing the car. Apple felt strong.
- So, Darling, drive slowly. - No sooner said than done. Darling slowed down. - I want to see us run out of roads.
- You are a little outside the house. She looks like a friend of mine.
- I want to stay here, on this bench.. - She puts her head back on the bench, Darling bites her lip for the 300th time in that time. Walking with the girl was like taking her out of a tower. She knew that the girl's future in that city would not be great.
Darling normally didn't feel attraction, much less have a relationship. She was a lesbian, she knew it. But her focus was on study and personal growth. Darling, before choosing law school, had dropped out of psychology school after 3 semesters. It wasn't what she wanted. But she still learned some things. She could read Apple with ease.
- Apple.. it's past midnight. We have to go back. - She nodded. Darling wanted her to say "no." She wanted him to tell her to get away from there.
[...]
The noise in the sky scared the girls. Halfway to Apple's house. Brave and fearless. Without any fear of being caught. Apple for a moment remembered. She remembered that Darling was leaving the next day. She remembered that all of this was temporary. Maybe, after 1 month, the girl would forget about her, go on with her life, fall in love with someone... A storm of confused thoughts.
Darling was a chance to get away from there.. since she didn't have the courage with Briar, maybe she would with Charming..
If only she was fearless like her..
In front of the house, the street was only lit by a streetlight. Darling stopped the car two houses away from the White family's large home. Apple thought of everything again. The escape, her life, an unhappy marriage, her best friend, college, freedom, Darling. Above all.
Apple woke up to see the door next to her open, Darling opened the door for her, took her hand and helped her up. When she left, she squeezed the platinum blonde's hand quite tightly. Darling closed the door and let the girl pull her closer to the house, always looking to see if anyone was there. Apple let go of his hand and went to the entrance, Darling followed. He noticed that Darling stood with her at the door.
Her hands shake. Her eyes turn to Darling. The girl smiled small. Apple reminded her again that Darling would be returning to England in a few hours. But even so, it didn't hurt to ask.
- See you tomorrow? - Apple smiled with some hope, which soon died when she saw Darling become a little distressed.
- Unfortunately not, Apple. - Darling smiled and put his hands in his coat pocket. - I rented the car until tomorrow... that is, today. - She laughs awkwardly. - I'm going to leave the car in Burlington and catch my flight to New Jersey. I have to see my parents before next semester.
- Ah.. England..? So far away..
- We both know it was going to end, right? Darling smiled. -Apple? I don't mind buying an extra plane ticket
Apple smiled. Should she accept? I didn't even know her well...
-I will miss you. Of everything. - Charming smiled with some sadness. - A future lawyer. - She adjusted Darling's coat as if it were a suit. She laughed.
Darling pulled her back by the waist. Her body shuddered, but covered it with a laugh that she stifled by placing her face against Darling's body. Normally Apple wasn't like this, but Darling did it first.
Apple gathered her courage and was fearless enough.
Within seconds, the older woman's hand had already made its way to White's neck. A light affection that would make anyone lose a little of their sanity. Apple sighed heavily. Darling pulled her closer. It was a slight outbreak. The blonde couldn't hold back that immense desire inside her. Like a leap, her lips met. And the first kiss Apple gave someone, she had no experience and didn't even know what she was doing. Darling noticed, so she took it easy.
Charming squeezed Apple against her. A slow kiss. She bit her lip. She held the girl's face with some brutality, she was afraid she would move away, even though she showed that she was more involved with it. White tried to keep pace with Darling. Without meaning to, much less without realizing it, she gave way. Darling wasn't expecting it, but she took advantage of every space in the new location. There in front of her house, Apple gave herself completely to an unknown girl. Who knew her, more than she knew herself.
It was perfect, really incredible, and a little fearless...
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