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Apple knew, it was hard not to figure out when everyone has a huge reaction and the person standing beside you is your childhood best friend instead of who you thought it would be. So, later on, after asking Raven, it was verified that it was certainly Darling.
Which, she was hoping her mother didn’t figure out. Although that’s later’s issue.
“Okay, if I just continue to flirt with Darling, what are the chances they get the idea that I know?” Apple says after a long moment of thinking.
“Or, you could just tell them you know?”
“Okay but what if they just did it for like CPR reasons or something and I look like a huge fool?”
“That’s not how CPR works?” Raven answered but Apple was still insistent on their plan, even with the fact she already understood that.
“What if they think I’m just doing it for destiny?” Apple counters, fidgeting with their pencil.
“Apple, I really hate the way your brain works sometimes.” Raven scoffed as Apple gasped at the statement. But, even with that, Apple continued to work on her plan.
So, now she has to follow through the next day. Which was easier said than done. Darling came right before the bell rang, Rosabella in tow.
“Hey Darling, you ready for the test today?” Apple asks, shifting in their seat to be closer to them.
“Uh yeah, you?” Smiling over at Apple as they went to grab their folder.
“Yeah.” The teacher walking in, stating immediately that they were going to do a group project over the next three days. “Wanna work together?” Grabbing Darling’s hand to get their attention.
“Sure, uh, why not?” Both of them turning towards the board as the subjects are written. Either explaining why a destiny is important for your future or why rebellion can lead to benefits, depending on your story. A surprise choice, especially knowing how against rebels Rumplestiltskin was.
“So, which should we pick?” Apple asks as Darling lifts an eyebrow in a bit of surprise before fixing their composure.
“I think it depends on the story, if I was stuck being some damsel in distress, no offense, I don’t think I’d be able to live with myself.” Darling admits, waiting for a response.
“Yeah that’s fair.” Apple agreed, trying to ignore the fact that it’s only been a week since she accidentally released the Evil Queen from her mirror prison and almost destroyed Ever after. “You have to think for yourself to get out of that mindset, meaning rebelling against that for a better life.”
“Yeah, so rebelling?” Darling asks, still looking slightly worried.
“Rebelling.” Apple verifies, squeezing Darling’s hand and they continue to hold it as the class continues, surprising Apple as they continue to write down points with their free hand. They’d always been close friends, even before the kiss, but Apple was expecting some sort of reaction especially since no one knows Apple knows, minus raven.
“Wow, we got a lot done.” Darling smiles, shutting their notebook and throwing their folder back into their bag with their free hand. “We both have study hall, if you want to work on it next class before pied Piper’s? That is what you have third?”
“Yeah, and yeah, that sounds good.” The bell ringing as Apple agreed, grabbing their bag and following Darling, gripping their arm to keep up in the way too crowded hallways.
Apple sat in the back with them, leaning on Darling’s shoulder as they pull out the notebook again and flip to the right page.
“So, we have our notes but should we start on the outline?” Darling, most likely not on purpose, leaning their head onto Apple’s as they move the notebook between them.
“Yeah, that sounds good.” Working for the next 20 minutes on the outline before they got off topic. Apple bringing up Blondie’s new series on her blog about movie reviews.
“Have you watched it yet? The soundtrack is amazing.” Apple asks as Darling shifts their head to look at Apple.
“Yeah, I saw it with Cerise last week. I thought it was great.”
“Oh, Cerise? Forgot you guys were that close.” Apple hoped her tone didn’t give it away but Darling didn’t seem to notice.
“They made Dorothy into a villain though, in the books she understood why Elphaba was doing what she did.” Darling explained, looking over at the bookshelf in annoyance at that fact. “I get why they did the story the way they did but, it’s a weird detail to change.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that, are the books good?” Darlings face shifted at the question.
“They’re a complete shift from the original documentary it’s based off of, and the author wasn’t really right in the head when it was written.” They specify before saying “although, I do know a book I think you’d like.” A smile spreading across their face as Apple smiles back.
Jumping up and rushing to a bookshelf, their fingers grazing across the spines before pulling one out and bringing it back.
“This. This is a really good reference when it comes to a shift in perspective when it comes to fairytales. Someone who’s under the rule of a royal while these events are taking place.” Looking between the book and apple, waiting for a reaction “sorry if I’m talking too much.”
“No it’s nice, I like how into it you get, you’ve always sort of been that way.” Apple states as they go to grab the book from Darling letting their hand linger. “I’ll tell you what I think of it.”
“Yeah, I’d like that.” Moving to sit back down, smiling slightly as they go to do other classes homework as Apple starts the book. Signing that book out as Darling packs up, going their separate ways until lunch.
“I’m not that far in but wow, I wasn’t expecting it to take that turn in chapter 6.” Darling’s face lighting up at the mention of the book.
“Yeah, but I reread it as of recent and I wasn’t expecting there to be so much foreshadowing.” Cerise and Raven stuck in their own conversation although glancing over every so often at their talk. Darling frowning when they had to leave, although knowing that they’d see Apple the next day.
“See, Raven? I’ll finish that book tonight and then I can talk to Darling about it tomorrow.”
“How is this helping your big plan to get their clothes off?”
“Raven! You know that’s not what this is !” Apple squeaked while closing the book and using their thumb as a bookmark.
“My bad ! You look like you were going to jump their bones while they went on a rant about the book.” Raven jokes, struggling slightly with their homework while at their desk “I don’t think they noticed so, you’re safe.” Scribbling something down on their paper.
“I don’t know how we’re still best friends.” Apple scoffs as she goes back to the book, already halfway through. By the time she finished, Raven was half asleep and had gone through a pile of papers. They sent a quick text to Darling saying they’d finished it, getting left on read.
Sleeping on it annoyed slightly at the implications of that. But, in Apple’s class with them, Darling turned to them excited as they continue to talk about the book, finishing their essay and starting on the presentation they’d have to do the following day. Rumplestiltskin didn’t play when it came to due dates sadly.
The conversation continuing at lunch, leading to Raven’s all too familiar glance. It was knowing, smirking as Apple continued to sneak glances at Darling who was asking Cerise about a sport thing.
“It’s okay to admit that you like her!” Raven states “if I have to see you not be able to do something and looking like a loser again it will become my Lock Screen.”
“Okay!” Apple still not texting darling anything. Ready the next day for the presentation on it. He then went back to something related to potions and chemicals like he had a week prior. Apple’s hand going for Darling’s who didn’t mind.
“I was hoping we could spend time this Friday, sound good?” Apple asked as they left the class, Darling nodding, looking slightly gobsmacked at the invitation. Fidgeting with Darling’s rings before walking off. Apple wondering if they thought the only reason they’d talked the past two days was because of the project or what it was.
Darling however, is not thinking that. They’re thinking about how nice it is to be around Apple as of recent, recounting the train of events to Rosabella.
“So, are you sure she doesn’t like you?” Rosabella asks while looking displeased at their roommate.
“No, apple has always been overly affectionate to their friends, I’m no different. She doesn’t like me like that.”
“She read the whole book in a day essentially.”
“Maybe it was good?!” Darling tried to ration as they pace the floor “it’s a good book.”
“She literally asked you on a date.” Rosabella getting a headache from their roommate. Already planning on sitting with them at lunch the next day as Darling finally stops pacing and goes to brush their teeth.
Darling didn’t think of it in that way before, they didn’t want to think of Apple like that because they knew Apple probably didn’t like them back. Now, going to sleep and waking up and thinking about the implication of them hanging out outside of school.
“Hey, Apple !” Darling’s voice almost cracking as Raven looks at them knowingly.
“Hey Darling.” Apple greets, intertwining their fingers as Darling grips their hand firmly. “How is it?” Looking Darling up and down with a smile.
“Good, now that you’re here that is.” Raven’s eyebrows going up as if to show how obvious they were and Darling was really hoping Apple didn’t find out, pulling slightly at their collar.
“Hm, is that so?” Apple’s smile glinting as they all walk in together. Darling looking between the classwork and Apple, every few times she’d be staring back at them. “I’m glad you’re here too.”
“Apple, I’m going to go into class, are you joining me?” Raven asked, trying to end whatever was going on quickly.
“Oh, sure Raven.” Looking back at Darling to make sure they walked in together. The seat by Rosabella or Raven being the only ones free, sitting by their roommates for the class period
“You are so obvious, just ask them on a date already or something, there’s that new cafe?” Raven offers as Apple starts pouring stuff in the vials, trying to follow along slightly with whatever was getting told to them. “I promise you they’ll say yes.” Apple thinking on it for the rest of class, following that thought into study hall.
“Apple, you’ve been a bit, quiet today.” Darling says while looking between the wall and apple as if the wall would say if that was a bad question or not.
“Do you want to go to that cafe? The new one?” Apple rushed out as Darling looks slightly confused at the question, quickly nodding in agreement.
“So, after school?”
“Yeah, after school. I’ll see you then?”
“I’ll be there.” Darling was regretting this whole conversation. Apparently they should’ve thought ahead when agreeing to hang out with Apple if this was how it was going to be. They could help save Wonderland, they could survive Apple.
Rosabella on the other hand, wasn’t all that confident in them.
“You can’t admit you kissed them, you can’t admit you like them, and you can’t admit this is a date.” Darling pacing the floor, trying to decide what to wear.
“Do you really have to point all that out? And Apple’s probably just being nice.”
“Whatever you say.” Darling finally finding the shirt they’d been looking for.
“Well, you have fun on your date, I need to go help hunter with something in the forest.” Rosabella walking out the door as Darling rushes to get ready.
10 minutes later, throwing on a hoodie and going to Apple’s dorm where she was still getting ready. Raven walking out and looking Darling up and down as Darling dug their hands into their pockets.
“So, excited for your guys’ date?” Raven asks, laughing as Darling’s face dropping.
“Is that what it is?” Darling trying to fix their expression before Apple came out.
“It’s your date, I don’t know.” Raven smirking and walking away as Apple walks out.
“Hey Darling.” Apple reaching for Darling’s extended hand as they start walking throughout the mainly empty halls. “Thank Grimm it’s not that far.”
Darling smiling as they walk together, both of them seeming pleased as they fall into a conversation about school until they got there. Slipping into the cafe, and finding their spot in the corner. Darling going to order as Blondie walks in, microphone turned on and camera pointing towards her.
“Hey Darling ! What’d you order ? Any recommendations?” Blondie asks, fidgeting with their mic.
“Waiting on it now.” Pointing towards the menu above their heads as the drinks get called out. Darling picking up the drink holder and the bag beside it with their food. Blondie looking at the menu and forgetting that Darling was there.
“Good?” Darling finishing their own sandwich as Apple looked over.
“Yeah, yours?” Darling nodding and finishing off their drink. They didn’t know if they should ask if this was a date or not, especially since they were sure Apple didn’t know about the kiss.
“So, I know we only were planning on the cafe, but, do you want to go around the whole district?” Apple almost jumping at the chance but trying not to show it.
“Yeah, sounds great.” Darling going to stand up, dropping their trash in the bin. “Which store first?”
“There’s the closest.” Pointing to an almost empty clothing store. A posted on the front with a picture of what appeared to be the model prince and damsel, showing off his outfit and muscles. “Ew.” Apple groaned, looking away in disgust at the sight as Darling tries to ignore it. Reaching for the door for Apple to walk in, smiling as they look around.
“You planning on getting anything?” Darling standing off to the side as Apple starts looking through the racks, darling going to look through another section. Grabbing some things to try on before going over to Apple who was still looking through the dresses, trying to find one that was just right.
Finally, after a few long moments, she grabs a deep red dress and goes towards the empty dressing room, coming out only 5 minutes later. Darling knew whatever she decided on was going to look good, it was Apple of all people.
It was strapless and Apple’s hair fell over their shoulder. She really did make it look good.
“What do you think?” Laughing a bit as Darling tried not to stare or say anything that would be deemed wrong for a Charming.
“It looks great, you look great.” Darling nodding along as they said it to try and get the point across. Apple nodding, accepting the statement, and then going back into the changing room. Showing off three more dresses that Darling could only really nod in agreement to before changing back into her prior outfit.
Apple definitely did notice the similarities in behavior between Darling and other people that liked her, but more likely it was Darling being awkward. Apple didn’t want to assume that they liked them that much. They did what they had to to bring Apple back and save Ever After. This, however, is when they run into Blondie again.
“Hey, funny running into you guys again.” Blondie smiles, Apple trying not to sneer at the fact she seemed to be coming along with them, although this time without a camera. “They’re next?” Darling looking over at Apple for their opinion who only smiles and nods. Darling’s arms holding three bags as Blondie and Apple look through the shoe store, Blondie listing off the pros and cons of each one, trying to get Apple to weigh in.
Blondie wasn’t sure if they were more than friends, and so, ignoring the fact of the kiss, chose to go with them. Blondie sitting between them and asking about how they found the cafe. Apple talking about how she found it on some video on her feed. Darling thought I’d it was a date, Apple wouldn’t accept other people to come with them, maybe they were wrong.
“Cupid and Briar are going to be out tomorrow, sucks that I won’t be able to be with them, are you guys free to hang out again?” Blondie asks, looking at Apple but Darling answers first.
“No, sorry, we have to help Duchess with something.” Apple pretending like they knew about that, knowing that Darling was lying just to free them. They’d apologize to Blondie, later probably.
“Oh, that’s fun.” Blondie going to pay for the shoes, Apple following behind. Darling now having 2 bags on each of their arms, not letting Apple carry them.
“Back to my dorm?” Apple asks, forgetting the implications as Darling’s eyes go wide “to drop off the bags.”
“Yeah that makes sense.” Darling nodding along as they follow Apple back to school, Blondie going her own way after that. Dropping the bags off on a chair, Apple moving to sit on the bed, gesturing for Darling to sit beside them.
Darling did move to sit beside them, leaving space between them which Apple closed, putting their arm around them and getting Darling’s attention. They then stare at them with a confused look, looking between Apple’s arm and her. Trying to tell if Apple was doing okay.
“So, any chance you don’t have any plans tomorrow?” Apple asks while Darling just nods in agreement, not knowing what Apple was going to say next. “What do you say, we spend it together?” Okay, Darling definitely wasn’t imagining this? No, no way was Apple into them. Even if they were, Raven barges in and Darling jumps away as if they were caught in the middle of something wrong.
“Uhm, so Cupid and Briar are planning a party, it’s Sunday night since Briar thought it was important to have a party since we haven’t in like 2 weeks. Too long I guess.” Still staring at Darling and Apple, having a decent idea of what happened.
“Yeah, I’ll be there, and I’ll text you Apple.” Darling grabbing their bag and trying to get away from Raven’s insistence on glaring directly at them. The moment the door shut Apple turned towards Raven.
“So, what did I walk in on?” Raven asks, not sure she wanted to hear.
“I was going to make a move, and then you walked in.”
“Was that what that was?” Raven almost laughed as Apple fell backwards in her bed, grabbing a pillow to bury herself into as Darling walked back to their dorm, trying to figure out what everything that had happened today meant. Throwing their bag down and flopping down onto their chair.
“Bad day with Apple?” Rosabella walking in a few minutes later to Darling still on that chair “I don’t know how it’s this hard for you to just admit that you’re the one who woke her up and get together?”
“Then she’ll think she doesn’t have the opportunity to get out of that.” Darling explains, turning towards their roommate who looked like they were on the verge of laughing at them.
“So, tell me about everything that happened.” Darling explaining what had happened and Rosabella was holding it in until the end. “So you’re saying, she was doing all of that, and then Raven came along ?” Darling thinking about it all but Apple hadn’t directly said anything, or asked Darling to go with them to the party. They weren’t going to jump to conclusions that easily.
“At least I have the party.”
“I think you’re a lost cause.” Rosabella scoffs as Darling contemplates disappearing into wonderland forever, forgetting to text Apple.
“I’m going to go to the enchanted forest, I’ll see you later.” Darling slightly disgruntled at the fact they did that, hopping up to go to the door. They were not expecting Apple to come looking for them while they were already at the forest, training while they had the opportunity.
“Apple, they aren’t here.” Apple not knowing how to respond to what Rosabella said, hoping it wasn’t because of them. So, Apple didn’t text them the next day, hoping Sunday would be different. Darling noticed that, thinking Apple would just be busy over the weekend. Darling spent most of it training and working out, they were the White Knight and there was a reason for that.
So day off, Rosabella went early to help their cousin while Darling was trying to find an outfit that worked. Finally finding a shirt to wear, a blue long sleeve and a necklace before slipping on their shoes and making it to the party. Chase standing awkwardly in the corner and calling them over.
“Wow, we’re almost matching.” Chase joked, wrapping an arm around Darling as Kitty walks over with Lizzie, talking about how happy they were for their plans later. Something that was supposed to be top secret, and neither of the knights asked further questions.
“You gonna keep staring?” Raven asks, finally finished setting up with them as Apple stood off to the side, glaring directly through Chase’s head.
“I can’t believe they’d choose him over me.” Apple grumbled with their arms crossed.
“I promise you that is not what is happening.” Raven groans as they turn towards Apple, glaring at her. “Just go and talk to them.”
“Okay, sure.” Apple agreed, taking a breath before walking over to Darling who turns over to look at Apple, jaw dropping slightly as they look her up and down.
“You wore the dress.” Darling muttered under their breath, staring at Apple as they move closer. Chase looking rather confused at the incident going down but taking a step back to continue talking to Lizzie.
“Yeah I did.” Apple really planning on saying something considerably different but Darling was looking flustered as it was. “Haven’t seen you all weekend. Yet you’re with Chase.” Choosing not to look towards him.
“Are you jealous? Apple white, next queen, jealous? Wasn’t expecting that from you Princess.” Darling now, for sure, knowing that Apple was into them. Or at least Apple hadn’t had a bad reaction to what they said. That was a win their books.
“Well Darling, were you planning on staying at this party long?”
“Depends.” Raven watching the whole interaction, seeing Apple finally making a move for once.
“On what?” Apple seconds away from pulling them away from the party herself.
“If a pretty girl asks me to go with them.” Darling was getting too comfortable with messing with Apple.
Cupid going to announce something, about how amazing the sports teams had been this year and how now the party could truly commence. Darling going to bother Rosabella and ask for their opinion on what to do. Apple standing off to the side, looking for where they were.
“You were confident enough to do all that, you’re confident enough to ask her out or something.” Rosabella saying that, turning them around and pushing them towards where Apple is standing, running into Chase again who looked happy to run into his friend again now that Kitty and Lizzie ran off together.
“Hey Darling,” hand wrapping around Darling’s waist, keeping their finger stuck between their belt loops. “I was wondering if you found a pretty girl to go with.” Whispering it into their ear as Darling nods.
“Yeah I think I found them.” Darling says as Apple starts leading them out, Chase taking that as his sign to go talk to someone else. “Your dorm?” Apple nodding and leading them the whole way.
“Something tells me this isn’t to talk about tomorrow’s classes.” Getting held against the wall when they walk in, Apple’s hands reaching for the shirt collar, pulling them down into a kiss “okay, definitely not homework.”
“You are so lucky you’re charming.” Darling’s arms going to hold Apple’s waist as Apple moves to kiss them again.
“Am I?” Moving to kiss Apple back, not trying to hold back as they hoped this actually meant something to them and not just a fun weekend. Apple going to leave a hickey on Darling’s neck until they get a text from Cupid, needing their help with hiding from Grimm which Apple completely ignores, going back to what they were doing as they move to lay down, forgetting that Raven was probably coming back.
“Apple, I’m about to walk in.” Darling jumping out of bed and going to sit down at Apple’s desk, acting as if both of their wrinkled clothing and trying to catch their breath. Raven walking in and looking between the two of them, making an educated guess on what had been going on. “Your roommate was looking for you Darling.” Them taking that as their sign to leave, looking back at Apple.
“Apple, I wasn’t expecting you to do all that, you act like they weren’t going to live til tomorrow.” Raven inquired as Darling started their short walk back to their dorm.
“Raven ! It could’ve been worse, if you didn’t walk in.” Whispering the last half but Raven still heard.
“Wow Apple, never thought I’d see this side of you.” Going to do some homework they had due in the morning, which was when apparently Rosabella saw what Apple did to them for the first time, looking between Darling and her.
“Last time I checked you weren’t a poison apple.” They muttered as Darling fixes their hoodie to hide them. Rumplestiltskin going on a lecture about safety in the classroom because someone blew up their partner and turned into a frog at the same time. It was the start of Apple and Darling’s happily ever after, even if they didn’t know if the other knew. Daring joking about how he knew his sibling could do it and neither Apple or Darling knew how to respond to that.