AppleHeart

Chapter Eight

Dif·fer·ent/ˈdif(ə)rənt/adjective: Not the same as another or each other; unlike in nature, form, or quality.

"Jack?" Apple question as he propped himself with his elbows. His eyes laid upon the entertainer, who stood in front of the bedroom door that was now closed. He held a tray with a bowl of soup and a single utensil. "Hi."

"H-hi Apple," Jack walks over to Apple and places the tray on the sick man's lap.

"I saw the cake. Apology accepted." Jack sits on the bed by Apple. "I think we both acted like..." Jack struggled to find right the words, "not like each other." He's pretty sure that his grammar was incorrect but it's been done.

"So we did," Apple replied as he reached for the spoon.

"I wanted to ask if we could continue on where we left off on our haunted house project."

"Yes, I would like to do that. How about we get started right away?" Jack nodded in agreement. "I have paper and pencils in the drawer next to you." Jack opens the drawer and reaches for two pencils and a piece of paper. For the next few hours, Apple Poison and Jack Hearts talked and talked about their haunted house. Not once did the two argue or fight over the ideas, sure they had disagreements, but they handled it maturely. Every now and then, Dalmatia would enter Apple's room wearing an apron and refill Apple's soup and giggle at the two. (Dal is most likely creating mental scenarios about Jack and Apple finally getting together) Eventually, Dalmatia had to leave to meet up with Veil.

Night fell upon them. Jack yawned as he collected the many sheets of paper on Apple's blanket. "Well, I think I should get going," Jack places the paper on the desk across the room, he goes back to Apple's bed and picks up the crumpled papers and throws them in the trash.

"Jack?" Apple calls out.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks, for staying with me." Jack sits on the bed again and pokes Apple's nose.

"No problem, Candy Apple." Apple rolls his eyes and lays his head on his soft pillows, "Will you be okay by yourself?"

"Yes, I just need rest." Apple yawns softly before closing his blue eyes. Jack sat still on Apple's bed until he heard soft snores from the poison man. Apple looked different while he's sleeping, he didn't seem so irritated or cold-hearted but rather at peace. Jack smiled genuinely at his sleeping partner. I could just kiss him right now. Jack's eyes widened, why would he think that?

Maybe just a peck? It wouldn't hurt, right? Jack slowly leaned in on Apple's face, then froze as Apple groaned in his sleep. Jack waited a few seconds then leaned in more until his lips met with Apple's left cheek. The entertainer quickly pulled away and stood up and walked towards the bedroom door and exits the room, afterward Jack closes the door slowly behind him.

"I can't believe I did that." He whispered to himself as he power walks down the hallway and the staircase. "He won't know I kissed him, right?" Jack makes his way to the kitchen and grabs a cake box sitting by the sink and takes the red cake. With caution, Jack places the cake into the box and wraps it up, neatly. "I can't wait to eat this." With that, Jack Hearts grabs his coat and fedora and leaves the cottage with the boxed cake.

The next morning, Apple woke up to the sound of chirping from outside his window. His eyelids fluttered before carefully opening. Apple sits up and stretches until he felt a satisfying pop. He then inhales.

"Hey," a wave of realization hit him, "I actually feel much better." His nose wasn't stuffy, his eyes weren't itchy and wet, and he could breathe properly. Apple removes his blanket and stands up.