Once upon a time: Ever After High in Wonderland (Book 2)

Ch.24 Confessing to love

The next morning, everyone got up and continued walking. And as they walked, Darling and Chase noticed that Maddie, Kitty, and Lizzie seemed stressed out and they were avoiding each other including Alistair and Bunny. They knew something was up.

"So is that moonstone necklace glowing yet?" Bunny asked Alistair.

"Nope" Alistair sighed.

"Isn't there like an easier way to find your mother?" Kitty asked.

"I don't know, all I know is that when I'm close to her this moonstone will glow".

"Can we stop for a bit?" Maddie asked "I'm hungry".

"And I kinda have to go" Bunny admitted.

"All right" Chase said as they stopped.

As Bunny went to find a place to do her business, Maddie went around to find food.

"I think I'm gonna, step aside and just relax" Lizzie announced as she went away.

"Yeah me too" Kitty said as she went the other way.

As they left, Darling and Chase could tell that something was on their minds, and they had to find out.

"You talk to Lizzie, I'll talk to Kitty" Darling whispered to Chase as he nodded in agreement.

"We'll be back Alistair" Darling said as she and Chase went their ways to talk to Lizzie and Kitty.

Meanwhile, Maddie was looking around for food when she then spotted some apples hanging on a tree. Urging for their sweetness, she reached up and tried to grab one, but she found that it was too high for her to get. She tried jumping but only the tips of her fingers touched the fruit.

"Need some help?" Alistair asked.

"Oh, sure" she said.

"Maybe I can lift you up".

"You sure?"

"Yeah I'm strong" he smiled.

"Well, ok then" she smiled.

Alistair bent down and let Maddie sit on his shoulder as he held her legs and hoisted her up. Impressed by his strength, Maddie felt turned on by him as she started to pick the apples off the tree. After she gather the apples, Alistair gently set her down.

"Thanks" she smiled.

"No problem" he smiled back.

As they headed back, Maddie was starting to feel the old feelings coming back. She looked down so Alistair wouldn't see her expression as she held the apples in her arms, feeling her heart thump with the feeling she hasn't felt in a long time.

Chase followed Lizzie until he watched her sit on a tree that was tilted towards the ground so she was able to sit on the thick branch. Chase saw the expression on her face, she didn't seem to be happy, so he went to her to find out.

"Hey" he said.

"Hey" she said quietly.

"Mind if I join you?"

"I guess" she shrugged as he sat on the branch.

"I can tell you've got something on your mind" he said.

"What makes you say that?" she asked.

"Well today I've noticed that you've seems pretty stressed out, and you were ignoring everyone. How come?"