She's a Little Slow on the Uptake (Inanimate Insanity)

We're Like Legos, You and I

March first. It was a day that Apple didn't have any care for, really. In fact, it was nowhere near her birthday, it was far away from any holiday she cared about, and nothing special had ever happened in March.

March was one letter away from Marsh, too, so that factored in.

But still, she couldn't stop smiling as she knocked on Marsh's door, match in hand, and waited.

No response.

"Come out, Marshmallow! I know you're in there. You drink apple juice at breakfast every other day to make me angry. But today you didn't even come to breakfast."

Silence. Apple raised an eyebrow, irritated.

"You don't seriously think I'll leave if you don't answer, do you? I can just burn this door down!"

There was another moment of silence. Apple raised the match to strike it against the door, but there was a sharp clicking sound, and then Apple was knocked to the ground by the door being swung out.

"What do you want, to beat me up some more?"

There was something weird about Marshmallow's voice. Apple opened her eyes to see her aggressively rubbing her eyes, then glaring at her.

Her breathing was audibly ragged, too.

"...Were you crying?" Apple asked.

Marsh's eyes widened, as if she wasn't expecting it to be so obvious. "D-don't answer my question with a question, idiot."

"I'm not an idiot! I'm smart, I tell you!" Apple swung her arms for emphasis. "And that's lame. Crying is for babies."

"Shut up. If you want to attack me, I'll bite. At least it's something to do."

'Uh... What? It almost sounds like she wants me to. I-it kind of takes the fun out of it if I know she wants to be beat up.'

"Eh, I don't feel like it," Apple mumbled, tossing the match away. "It's no fun when you want me to do it."

'She never cries. Usually she comes out here and puts up a good fight!'

"I-I'm fine. Don't pity me, because I wasn't crying." Marshmallow punched Apple's stomach, but it was a weak punch. A token punch.

"Show me your room."

"What? No, you're not allowed in!"

"Too bad." Apple barreled in, brushing roughly past Marshmallow as she did so.

She'd never really taken a good look at Marshmallow's room before. It was furnished in hues of pink, purple, and white, all pastel-looking. The pillows on her bed looked super soft, punchable like Marshmallow herself was. Her bed was completely unmade.

"You're not allowed," Marshmallow repeated hollowly. "I'm not in the mood, idiot."

Her voice crumbled. Apple retorted, "Well, maybe I'll leave when you tell me what's the matter."

"Why should I? You're my enemy!"

"But there is something wrong."

Marshmallow was silent, not turning to look at her. 'It'd make a great sucker punch,' Apple thought, considering giving up her emotional torture in favor of the usual, but opted to instead belly-flop onto her fancy bed. It was still warm. Marshmallow was still staring outside her door when Apple added, "I'm not leaving until you tell me. Your bed's comfy!"

Suddenly Marshmallow slammed the door. When she turned to face Apple, tears were already pooling in her eyes. "It's none of your business. But if you must know, I-I miss someone."