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It was cold, windy, and unpleasant around this time. Everyone felt like their world was stuck in some type of fog, like Ever After had taken a sudden halt at everything.
With the discovery of the Storybook of Legends being a fake, and the sudden Cheshire stunt at the Spring Fairest.. there was like a weird hole before the next chapter commenced.
Not for Darling Charming. She didn’t have time to stop, to wait the for new chapter that would most likely not bear anything good for her to work with, as usual.
A hit.
Not good enough.
Then a slash.
Still not good enough.
Another slash.
It has to be stronger.
Another one.
Just more power.
Do a small spin.
I need more agility.
Another hit in.
I need more manpower.
Darling hit the dummy with all her power, and it fell to the ground, slashed into a hundred pieces.
Taking a deep breath in, she was ready to grab another dummy to take her frustration on– no, to practice her sword skills on.
A new hit.
the sweat was dripping down her back, her hands were hard and sore, like she had been gripping the sword too hard.
Her usually gentle and smooth fingers were roughed up, it looked like a mans hand. If only the rest of her resembled one.
Darling slashed the dummy at the thought, using so much of her strength that the dummy fell down in one hit, along with the sword that she’d lost the grip on.
“For Grimms sake!” She groaned, slouching down onto the ground with an angry thud.
“This is so stupid! Just hold it correctly, Darling! Your brother’s been doing this all his life, get a grip!” She yelled at herself, covering her head in her hands.
She scoffed, looking at the beat up dummy lying next to her. Kicking it in frustration, she took one glance at her sword. The sword given to her by her brother, Dexter.
The not so amazing call she’d gotten from her parents earlier haunted her mind.
“Indeed Darling, dear. A perfect strong and handsome suitor, perfect for your gentle and sweet nature!”
Gentle? Sweet? She didn’t associate her nature with any of those things. She should be described as fearless, strong, independent. Anything that resembled who she truly was, who she aspired to be.
“You’re a princess of whom everyone fawns over, you need to remember to dress like one. When are you dropping those armory accessories you keep wearing over your elegant dresses?”
She didn’t want to dress like some elegant princess anyways.
“And those scrawny scratches you’ve been getting, that’s scars for men, not damsels!”
Right, cause all she is, is a damsel.
“Your beautiful fairest skin, Darling dearest. No one wants a beat up lady like that.”
Darling could puke at every word her pesky parents said. What a load of bullshit.
If she was a guy, she would be getting entirely different phone calls. Praise like Daring did, compliments on what she’s doing right instead of critic on everything she’s doing wrong.
Darling knew she was fucked up. Everything she did was just so fucked up, according to what she was supposed to be doing. All those years in a tower must’ve done something wrong to her brain, if only she could rewire herself.
Before she could fall into a deeper pit stuck with all her thought, a notification came from her mirror phone.
— You want to accompany me? Raven’s out with Maddie and Cerise, I’m alone in the dorm.
Darling’s smile immediately creeped up on her face. Apple’s messages always seemed to brighten up her mood.
— I’m all sweaty, be there in just a minute
She decided she should be cleaning up both herself and the dummies she had laying around if she was going to Apple’s, before she could begin, another message chimed.
— I like it when you’re all sweaty, just come.
Darling felt butterflies in her stomach at every word, smiling like an idiot once she sent a response.
— I’m coming
She laughed to herself. The all so tidy and perfect Apple White liked when she was sweaty. Not tidy and elegant. It felt like a small win in her world, when no one else liked that.
It didn’t take long, one knock at the door and Apple was already ready to greet her. Without a second to waste, Apple flung herself at the beautiful lady in front of her before she even had time to close the door properly.
“You doing all right?” Darling chuckled, closing the door in the midts of their hug before leaning in for a kiss.
“I’m all fairest, how are you?” Apple smiled, more than happy to reciprocate the kiss.
Darling felt all her worries sway away once she had Apple’s hands around her neck, neatly placing her own on the girl’s hips as she hummed satisfied at her touch.
“Out training again?” Apple asked once they pulled away from each other, leading Darling the way to her bed.
“When am I not?” Darling joked, following after her girlfriend mindlessly.
Apple chuckled at her words, seeing Darling all ready to crawl on top of her, already peppering kisses down her neck while Apple kept her head close to hers.
“You’re not hurt, right?” She asked for reassurance, letting her fingers play with Darling’s hair.
“Not at all.” She insisted, before Apple picked a smal leaf out of her hair and held it in front of her.
“I can always shower here–” Darling offered, blowing the lead away.
“No need,” Apple replied, kissing Darling again. “I already said I like it when you’re all sweaty. Messy is not hexception.” She assured her, almost turning Darling’s pupils into hearts.
“You’re so gorgeous.” Darling muttered while giving her nose a peck, picking the strands off Apple’s face and tucking them behind her ears.
“You’re even more gorgeous.” Apple smiled stupidly at her, successfully swapping their positions as Darling now lied underneath her while she sat on top.
Darling could only laugh at Apple’s stunt, humming as she felt Apple suck down on her skin.
She loved this part of Apple, really she loved every part of her, it was hard not to. Especially when she was probably the only one lucky enough to see all of her, the true her.
“You know, Briar’s really something, not giving into any of the guys that approach her on the daily.” Darling muttered with her head on Apple’s lap, feeling Apple stroke her hair as they talked.
“If I didn’t know any better, I think it’s safe to say she has her eye on someone already.” Apple muttered, catching Darling’s attention.
“Really? Who?” She asked curiously, tilting her head upwards to look at Apple.
“I can’t know for sure, but it’s definitely someone. You can see it on her, that girl’s definitely in love.” Apple chuckled, making Darling tilt her head back down.
“Wow. Good for her.” Darling smiled, leaning into the sensation of Apple’s fingers rubbing her scalp.
“Hunter and Ashlynn also seem to be doing good. That guy’s completely mesmerized.” Apple responded by humming.
“And my brother, Dexter. Grimm knows he won’t ever let go off his crush on Raven.” She laughed at her own statement, earning another hum from Apple.
She stopped for a moment, noticing Apple wasn’t playing with her hair anymore. She seemed to be looking down at her mattress, mind occupied.
“Something the matter, love?” Darling asked softly, extending her arm to stroke Apple’s fairest cheek.
Apple could only hum whilst leaning into Darling’s touch.
“You know, sometimes.. I just wish you were a guy.” She breathed out, making Darling stop in her tracks, body freezing up.
“Darling?” Apple asked, noticing the quiet girl on her lap.
“I.. I need some time to think..–” Darling breathed out, getting up from Apple’s lap.
“Did I say something wrong?” Apple asked confused, the feeling of Darling’s figure leaving her leaving her alarmed.
“Uh, yes?” Darling said, her tone coming out as if she was asking a question.
“Darling, I didn’t mean it like that..!” Apple pleaded, watching Darling stand up and turn to face her.
“There’s no other way of meaning that, Apple.” She said stern, her lips furrowed as she spoke.
“Darling, I like you for you.. you know that?” Apple said in a soothing voice, slowly standing up to face Darling.
“Are you sure about that, Apple?” Darling scoffed, backing away from Apple’s hand that reached to caress her face.
“Of course!” She immediately said, shocked at how she backed away.
“Or do you just like the idea of me?” She snarled, turning her face towards the door.
“Darling–” She attempted, and was immediately cut off.
“I too wish I was a guy, Apple.” Darling sighed in defeat, silencing Apple.
“Free to do whatever after, free from stupid comments like these. Free from feeling like such a burden.” Darling took a deep breath, feeling her eyes sting as every word crept out.
“You’re not a burden! I-I just meant, that it would be easier.!” Apple tried defending herself.
“Easier for who? Easier for you to accept who you are, is that it?” She scoffed, taking Apple aback.
“What do you mean by that?” She asked in a quiet tone, knowing deep down what she was talking about.
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe accept the fact that you like girls? That you probably won’t end up with a prince like you’ve believed all your life? That you’re a–”
“Stop it.” Apple pleaded, cutting Darling off before she could finish her sentence.
“What are you so afraid of? The word?” Darling pressured, turning around to look at Apple who was now looking down at the floor.
“I said stop it, Darling..” she whispered, her mouth curling into a frown.
“The statement of which says you’re a lesbian? There’s no escaping that, Apple!” Darling spat out, seeing a single tear roll down her cheek.
“I’m not!” She burst out, shocking even Darling.
“Are you serious?” Darling scoffed, unsure if she was joking or not.
“Maybe you are, but I’m not, Darling! I’m going to end up with a prince in the end anyway!” She looked up at Darling finally, her words seething out like poison.
“So what about us? I’m just what, an hexperience? Hexperiment?” She walked against Apple, making her back up until she backed up against her own bed frame.
“We both know this isn’t going to last! It’s just.. temporary.” She sighed out, looking to the side.
“If that’s what you think, then I don’t see why we should keep going.” Darling decided, still fighting tears as she turned around to leave.
“Wait, Darling–” Apple reached out, grabbing her wrist.
“You wanna know something, Apple? If you had any interest in guys at all, then you would’ve fallen for Daring already, not be stuck fooling around with his sister.” She finally said, leaving Apple stunned as she opened the door to leave.
“I-is this it? You’re really going to leave, just like that?” Apple managed to muster out, hands clenched as she looked at Darling with teary eyes.
“I need a break from you Apple. From all of this.” Was the last thing Darling said before leaving and closing the door behind her.
Apple finally let herself break completely down, as Darling’s scent left along with her presence.
The next day she woke up with red circles under her eyes. Still she didn’t look nearly as terrible as she really felt. Applying twice as much concealer under her eyes than usual, she left the dorm taking a deep breath and pretending she was ready to face whatever shit was thrown at her today.
“Girl, you won’t believe how headmaster Grimm busted my ass last period.. I was supposed to present some shit with Hopper and Cupid, and I must’ve been too drunk whilst making the presentation ‘cause the entire thing was filled with pictures from the True Hearts Day party..” Briar sighed, her entire table laughing at her.
“Not even I thought you could screw up this bad.” Ashlynn made fun of her, watching as Briar rolled her eyes.
“You can’t really blame a princess!” Briar hexcused herself, scoffing once she noticed Grimm by the Castleteria door frames, feeling like he was starring deep into her soul.
“So anways, party at ours tonight!” Briar announced, slamming the table as Ashlynn almost dropped her spoon.
“Wait, what now?” She asked Briar confused, only to be met with a stupid grin.
“Sounds hexcellent!” Blondie praised, making Ashlynn facepalm.
Catching Apple’s weird vibe, she averted her attention to the girl while Blondie and Briar bickered at each other.
“You okay sweetie? You’ve kind of been playing with that lead all of lunch..” Ashlynn asked in a soft voice, Apple not bothering to look at her.
“I’m all fairest. Anyways, about that party!” Apple waved her question away, plastering on a smile before engaging in conversation with Briar.
It’s all good. This thing with Darling was just temporary anyways, right? She’ll come back when she needs it.
And Apple will wait for her– not in a lovesick desperate kind of way, of course not.