Ever After High Summer Camp AU

Last Day of School

Raven was walking through the school looking for Briar. Apple had seemed down lately and if anyone would know what was going on it would be her best friend. It was the last day of school before summer break, and Raven's last chance to ask.

Thankfully, Raven looked to her left and saw Ashlynn and Briar, speed walking to the last gym class of the year. Ashlynn spotted Raven and waved her over. Raven dashed over to the two. Briar smiled as Raven ran up.

"RAVEN! OMG I'm so excited! We are going to have so many summer parties! Last class of the day! Do you know what we're doing? Oh whatever after, it's the last day!" Briar babbled. Ashlynn hopped up and down as she spoke, clearly excited. Raven wondered how Ashlynn could understand her when she talked so fast. 

"Woah slow down, what?"

"What are we doing in gym today?!" Briar asked, now bouncing around with Ashlynn.

"I think the pacer test." Raven said. Briar and Ashlynn frowned for a second, then looked at each other and were smiling ear to ear. 

"Hey I have a question for you guys too-"

"You coming to my party after school!" Briar said clearly not listening, while Ashlynn waved at Hunter across the hall and blew kisses. 

"Yeah...But have you noticed Apple-"

"ONE more party before a SPELLTACULAR camp adventure at the lake! So excited! Apple said she  would bring some of those giant hamster ball things for us to run around on the lake in! Ok so who all is gonna be there, Me, Ashlynn, Apple, you, Kitty, Darling-" she said counting off on her fingertips.

"BRIAR!"

Ashlynn and Briar turned to look at Raven.

"What?" Briar said as Ashlynn slowly walked off to the girls locker room. 

"Doesn't Apple seem off lately?" Raven said stopping in her tracks at the locker room door. Briar pursed her lips, which Raven had noticed was a thing that Briar, Ashlynn and Apple did while thinking.

"Yeah, she gets like this in the summertime, ya know, having to go back to her mom and her expectations for the summer. Of course she loves her mom though, and this summer it all about camp! But anyways, I think she just gets depressed with nothing to occupy her all summer." Briar shrugged and unpursed her lips. Then she skipped off to the locker room, catching up with Lizzie on the way there, to ask her if she had finished making their swimsuits.

Raven thought about what Briar said, wondering what she could do to make Apple feel better.

"I guess you do the lips thing when you think too now huh, we rubbed off on you Raven!" 

"AGH Apple you scared me!"

Apple laughed at Raven and they both started towards the locker room.

"What on your mind anyways?"

Raven hated lying to Apple, but also didn't want to wipe the smile off her face. Even though she smiling, It wasn't the same smile it's Briar and Ashlynn's. Apple also had dark circles around her eye, which was weird because she had never been and an insomniac before.

"Umm, just thinking about camp! One more day of school, One day at home, and then camp all summer long!"

Apple smiled and Raven smiled back. They saw everyone already wearing their gym uniforms, lined up at the door, waiting for the teacher to call them in. They rushed to get their uniforms on, Raven getting her head stuck in her skirt. Darling laughed at the two struggling. Apple waited for Raven to stand behind Darling before nervously standing behind Raven, looking at Darling.

Raven raised her eye brows at Apple.

"What?!" Apple said.

"Nothing..." Raven said, looking between Apple and Darling. Darling's voice snapped Raven out of her trance. 

"So, excited for summer!" She said happily, calm and collected as always. Although, there was a hint of dreaminess in her voice.

"Yep!" Raven said, hearing Briar and Ashlynn talking about the after school party very loudly at the front of the lineup. 

"Wow, that party sound sick huh?!" Darling said. Raven nodded and Apple looked at her shoes as Darling turned to look at Raven. 

"Apple, you good?" Darling said.

Apple nodded, "yeah, just nervous about the pacer test...athletic stuff was never my strong suit."

"Don't worry I'm sure you'll be great!" Apple tensed up as Darling spoke and Darling turned pink.  Raven rolled her eyes, why did she have to be between the two weird-acting girls? Cerise tapped Darling on her shoulder with her long nails, and Darling turned around to see the rest of the kids had already lined up the start.

The four rushed to the start and the teacher glared at them. They nervously looked back at him and the bursted into small giggles, trying not to full on laugh.

"Omg how did we not-" Raven started, but was interrupted by the loud speakers blaring out the rules of the Pacer. Everyone stopped talking to their friends and jumped, though Darling remained un phased. 

Everyone started running, the first out were Briar and Ashlynn, who clearly missed the finish line on purpose so they could talk about the party on the bleachers. Kitty was out next for teleporting to the finish line, and  Lizzie joined her, unable to keep running while laughing at an annoyed Kitty. 

Soon, Raven, Apple and Darling were the last three left. Raven was out at 69 laps, to which Kitty responded with a loud "69 NICE!" Raven sat next to Maddie and watched Apple and Darling run. Maddie looked over to Lizzie and Kitty, arguing about whether 69 jokes were funny or not, Then back at Raven, who was chugging some water.

"Good job Raven!" Maddie said. Raven just nodded, to tired to speak. Maddie took Raven's hint and looked over at Apple and Darling. "Apple looks tired, I hope she isn't overexerting herself!" Maddie said. Raven looked up to see Briar and Ashlynn looking worried as well, Ashlynn squeezing Briar's arm.

—————-

Apple was running as fast as she could, determined to be the fastest runner in the class. She had to, or else her mom would surely bring it up in the one day they had together before camp. So not how Apple wanted to spend that day.

On the other hand, Darling ran easily, with barley any strain. Soon Apple felt her eye blur and realized how her legs hurt and how her mouth felt like sandpaper. Darling looked at her worriedly, and just before hitting lap 103, Apple fell to the ground, hitting her nose on a sharp rock.

The cheers from her classmates faded into worried chatter, as Darling lifted Apple to her feet and into a bridal carry. "Are you ok?" Darling said, as the gym teacher handed Apple some water. Briar placed a bandage onto the scar on Apple's nose.

"I'm fine, nothing broken..." Apple said, blushing once she realized Darling was carrying her to the bleachers. Darling blushed and placed her onto a bleacher. Everyone crowded around her as Apple assured everyone she was fine.

"Why did you do that?! You should have stopped before you got that tired!" Raven shouted and Ashlynn nodded. 

"Whites are always on top!" Apple replied, resting her head on the bleachers. Everyone gave her a look and Raven suppressed a chuckle.

"WAIT! NO! I MEANT MY LAST Naaaammmmeee...." Apple said, realizing what her words could have also meant. 

Everyone burst into laughter as Apple placed her bag over face, trying not to laugh. Apple took her bag off her face to meet Darling's giggling gaze. Apple attempted to compose herself, wondering why she cared how Darling looked at her.

"Though I agree, what you did was stupid..." Darling said, her face all shades of pink, "I appreciate your determination!"

It shocked Apple how much those words meant to her.