The Apple of My Eye: Book Two (An Ever After High Crossover)

Exposed

A piercing holler reverberated in Kyle's ears, muffled by the incessant ringing that plagued his eardrums. The sensation was almost too much to bear, as if his ears would bleed right through his hat. Struggling to regain composure, Kyle shook off the pain and scanned his surroundings, only to find that he was alone.

So where did that yell come from?

Kyle's MirrorPhone vibrated. He retrieved it from his pocket to check an alert from the school's message board. Opening it, he found a message that brought his world to a standstill.

All he could think of... was "how?'

Kyle crammed his phone into his pocket and dashed back into the building. With every gaze locked onto him, he understood that his secret was revealed; hiding it any longer was pointless. He bulldozed through the crowd, elbowing his way forward. Cartman latched onto Kyle's wrist, dragging him through the crowd of people.

"The headmaster's nabbed Apple. She's a goner, dude," Cartman declared.

"Madame Yaga zapped them out of here. Bet they're in the headmaster's office right now," Kenny chimed in.

'I need to get to her, fast. What if the headmaster expels her? I have to do something!'

Daring stepped in front of them, blocking the exit.

"Move out of the way, Daring!" Stan shouted.

But Daring wouldn't budge. Anger was etched across his face.

"How could you let this happen?" he demanded.

The background chatter ceased, and the hall fell silent as a tomb.

"Darling... I didn't mean for it to escalate to this extent..." Kyle's voice began to waver.

"Now, because of you, Apple is going to be hexpelled!" He lashed out, venting all his frustration on his roommate.

"You should have just stayed away. Everyone here thinks that you're a nobody, but I never did! I defended you like a brother but look where that's gotten me! Apple is like a sister to me and now I can't even defend her. All because you had to jump into her life, declaring your 'true love' for her. If you truly 'loved' her, then you wouldn't have rushed your relationship on her. If you two truly believed that you were destined for each other, then you should have just let your stories played out!"

Kyle felt a hand grasp the collar of his shirt. The others clenched their fists, ready to intervene.

"Why, Ky?" Daring's voice started to falter.

He slowly loosened his grip.

"I don't want us to fight anymore..."

Kyle retreated slowly from Daring, his gaze sweeping over the faces in the room.

Since when did the hero...become the villain?

***

"You have a lot of nerve, Miss White."

Apple sat before Headmaster Grimm's desk, striving to remain calm. She had never been in such deep trouble with an authority figure before. The thought of people discovering that Snow White's daughter was a troublemaker filled her with constant dread. Her mother would never tolerate such behavior, which is why she always took great care to steer clear of trouble.

'Wonder what she would think of me now?' thought Apple.

"I told you that you were not allowed to have any romantic ties to that boy! Now look at you, my finest student... falling from grace..." The headmaster never once looked her in the eye.

Apple remained motionless, seated firmly in her chair, refusing to budge an inch. Headmaster Grimm settled into his desk chair, with Baba Yaga standing behind him.

"I really don't want to do this Apple, but you leave me no choice... starting next week, your little friends will be hexpelled and sent back to their world."

Her blood was boiling. Rising from her chair, she was ready to unleash all her pent-up anger.

"The Storybook of Legends is creating their destinies as we speak. If you send them back, then who knows what will happen to their developing story?" pleaded Apple, trying to reason with him.

This feeling... this emotion... she knew it was forbidden... One that can never be shown by princess who obeys tradition.

"Their story will simply disappear. Just as yours will if you and that roommate of yours continue down this wretched path! Your story is more important than theirs!" He fumed.

'MY STORY? MY STORY!?'

How is it HER story? It's the same basic story that's been told throughout tradition. A story becomes stale if you retell it over and over again in the same manner.

"If my story is so important, then I will renounce my destiny if you send them back! Not only will you lose your precious Snow White tale, but you will also lose your beloved 'future queen' of Ever After!" Apple responded defiantly.

Headmaster Grimm and Baba Yaga were taken aback by her words.

"Is that a threat?" Madam Yaga asked, questioning Apple's confidence.

'Who's to say that tradition can't be changed. If we don't start now...'

"It's a promise."

Then when will it?