Ever after high (ApplexDarling)

Daring?!

Darling Charming's POV

Godmother, why was I such an idiot?! I was completely going behind Daring's back, not to mention betraying Apple's trust. Obviously, I couldn't help that I loved her, loved the way she smiled, loved the way she looked at me, loved the way she giggled softly and then burst out into heavy breathless laughter, loved the way she looked at me like I was a person, that I mattered. No, I couldn't help any of that, but I could do what was best for everyone, and back off. I needed to back off. I loved Daring more then Apple. He was family. I had to grow up and be realistic. I couldn't be friends with Apple anymore.

Then I remembered the goddamn project.

I decided it was fine, as long as I made sure to control the boundaries. I was still walking away from Apple, and I could feel her stare piercing the back of my head, and I shivered. There really was no way for us to ever to work. She was so.... alive. Important. Noticeable. And I was so.... not any of those things. Not to mention she noticed the sword scratch on my arm. I had probably gotten it when i was practicing n the woods. Why was I so careless?

I cleared my throat and jogged up the hill. I was breathing raggedly, clenching my fists and trying to get her out of my mind. I went back up to my dorms, a bit surprised to see Rosabella was gone, but not concerned. Then I made my way down to breakfast.

I zipped through my morning classes, happy to have gym second, as it was the only class I truly enjoyed. I wasn't really in the mood for the cafeteria, and kinda wanted to be alone, so I grabbed a sandwich and took a small walk around the gardens, smiling and replaying my conversations with Apple in my head. Then I shook myself out of it and told myself to focus. I sat down on a marble bench and munched on my sandwich for a while, basking in the sunlight and liking how quiet it was. Until I heard voices.

"Oh yes; because you're so original, and perfect and intelligent Daring," a voice spoke up in a sarcastic and condescending manner, and I instantly recognized it. Rosabella. What was she doing here with Daring? I didn't even know they knew each other.

"Thank you for pointing out just how special I am Beauty. Really refreshing. Just what I needed on this beautiful day." It was Daring this time, and his voice reeked of flat sarcasm. It was weird, I had never heard him speak to anyone that way, much less a lady.

I made sure to stay very still, hoping not to make too much noise. I could hear them, they were most likely sitting on the bench behind the tree a few yards away from me. It was a bench couples usually went to make out on because it was so quite and hidden. No...that couldn't be what they were there for...right? Daring was with Apple. That would mean he was cheating on her. I heard Daring speak again, and I craned my head to hear better, banishing my thoughts until I had actual proof.

"Look, I know you want me to help plan this stupid party, and I'm all for it, but you need to fix your attitude." I heard a dry chuckle that sounded suspiciously like Rosabella, and I grinned to myself, knowing Daring had his hands full with her.

"If you think I'm going to change myself to suite your needs, think again you pompous ass. I'm just doing this for her. We just have to plan this together, and when it's done, we never have to speak to each other again. Alright?" I didn't hear Darings response, so I assumed he nodded when Rose replied, "Good. We'll meet back here when it's both convient for us." I heard her get up and I scrambled to hide in a bush, trying not to be seen snooping. Once she and Daring were gone, I made my way back to school, thankful that I still had time to get to my next class.

That night, I found Rosabella in our dorm, getting ready for bed. I hoped that she would say something, confess that she was planning something with my brother and try to include me, but I was disappointed. It wasn't like her to keep secrets from me. We told each other basically everything.

I got into bed, yawning and getting ready to turn off the light when I heard a knock. I groaned heavily and sluggishly jumped out of bed, making my way to the door.

It was Apple White. Of course it was, with my luck. My hair was in a messy ponytail, I was wearing a loose flannel, so long it probably looked like I wasn't wearing pants, and I was in mid yawn. And of course my crush just happened to knock.

My cheeks were on fire as I grinned nervously and rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly, trying not to act as nervous as I was.

"What's up Apple?" She was fidgeting with her fingers and I noticed she looked deeply concerned.

After thirty seconds of her thinking I was getting seriously freaked out, and I was about to speak up when she blurted out, "Raven needs your help. She just-just had a visit with her mother and she-she's crying, and Maddie isn't responding to her phone, and Cerise isn't in her dorm, and Raven really needs a friend and I don't know what to do!" My eyes widened when I heard Raven had visited her mother, because those never ended well. "She just wanted one of her closer friends, not me; she's just really not doing so well. " I nodded without a word a quickly started walking towards her dorm.

When I got to Raven's dorm, I saw the door was open and let myself in, taking in the huddled figure in Ravens bed. I sat myself down next to her, cautiously reaching out a hand a placing it on her shoulder. I heard a sob and Raven's body came out from the blankets and she leaned her head on my shoulder. I stole a glance at her face, red puffy eyes, stuffy nose, tears streaked down her face, her hair a fluffy mess.

"Rae?" I had only seen her once like this, when there was a memorial for all the Wonderlandians who had died during her mother's attack. She looked so frail and sad, like someone had drained the life right out of her, and my eyes begin to well up with tears. I wanted to reach over and hug her till she was happy again. So I did. I wrapped my arms around her tight and sighed.

"Rae talk to me. Is it your mother?" I felt Raven's magic in the air and suddenly a vase on the other side of the room exploded.

I pulled Raven into my arms and hugged her as hard as I could without hurting her, and whispered nice words till she calmed down. It was moments like these when I wanted to punch the Evil Queen. Wanted to smash her face in and feel her nose break, because no one deserved to go through this. Especially Raven.

I felt Raven begin to calm, and she turned her head at me, a sad look in her eyes. "I went to visit my mom today." I nodded my head and grabbed her hand, anything to keep her from slipping away from me.

"I know that visiting her is always a bad idea. I don't know why I keep lying to myself. I keep thinking that after another year, she'll get better. She'll love me. B-but she never-never will." Raven's voice started catching again, and I squeezed her hand.

"People don't get it. She's a psychopath. She's killed thousands. And they just expect her to be a good mother anyways, because what? Because they need a new Evil Queen. The next psycho freak to play the bad guy and lock up." Her eyes began to burn purple, and I hugged her again. She was the kindest person i knew, and yet I had to spend the rest of the night convincing her she wasn't evil.

I got into my dorm late at night, yawning and hoping I wouldn't wake up Rosabella. I saw Apple, crashed on our couch to give Raven some space, and I smiled softly when she yawned in her sleep. She really was adorable. I crawled into bed and stretched, thinking about Raven. About Daring and Rosabella. About Apple. About me.

It wasn't fair. None of it was. Raven shouldn't be forced to be someone she's not. I shouldn't.

Maybe I wouldn't give up on Apple White after all.