Apple's Prince Charming

Chapter 8

Darling's pov

     I couldn't let her finish her sentence, scared of the rejection that would follow after those words. It was selfish but I had to kiss her. At least once. Even if she would hate me forever after.

     I moved my lips desperately against hers. Desperate for some kind of sign. A sign that this wasn't platonic. A sign that Apple could be as happy with me as she would be with Daring. That maybe I could be enough for her, even though we both knew the awful things that would be said about us.

     But I knew Apple didn't deserve this. Apple deserved the happy story she was promised. She deserved to end up with a prince, not some wannabe knight desperate to escape the damsel role she was written into. It took everything in me to pull away from her. To pull away from what Apple and I could become.

     Slowly Apple's eyes fluttered open, filled with a conflicted look.

     "I'm sorry Apple, I'll-"

      I was cut off mid sentence by Apple wrapping her arm around the nape of my neck and slamming her lips back onto mine. She was now kissing me as desperately as I kissed her. Her soft lips moving roughly against mine. I pushed her down onto the snow, straddling her. I trailed kisses down from the corner of her mouth down to her neck and back up to her red lips. Kissing Apple felt like heaven. It's all Ive ever thought about since we were children. Me watching jealously as our parents shoved her in Daring's direction.

     But now I finally had her right where I wanted her. And even though it was the most selfish thing I would ever do, I couldn't let go of her again. I was tired of having everything decided for me. I had to perfect the sweetest charming smile, keep a strong voice even on the verge of tears, and would even fall in love with any prince my parents picked for me. But I was tired of living up to all their expectations. Of pretending I'm happy even when I have had to sacrifice everything that I loved. So as selfish as it was I would keep Apple, as long as she wanted me. I would protect her. I would be her knight. Her dragon.

     Apple pulled away from me breathing heavily. I rested my head down on her chest, listening to her heart race.

"You didn't let me finish." Apple broke the silence.

"It's okay Apple, it would be selfish of me to expect you to be with me." I said too scared to meet her eyes.

"No Darling listen to me. I was terrified after finding out about the kiss. My whole life had always been planned out for me. Raven would poison me, Daring would save me and we'd live happily ever after together. But nothing was ever going to be the same after Raven didn't sign the book I just couldn't come to terms with it until now. I never wanted my story, at least not the way they had it. I never wanted a prince, I knew that. I was so focused on doing what everyone else wanted I forgot what I wanted. And I want you Darls." Apple stroked my hair soothingly.

Tears slipped from my eyes streaming down my frostbitten cheeks. This was all I ever wanted to hear from her. To know that she wanted me just like I wanted her.

Apple lifted up my chin, cupping my face in her hands and gently wiping the fallen tears away with her thumbs.

"Say something." Apple said with a desperate look in her eyes.

"You're all I ever wanted," I choked out, "Ever since I was little you were all I ever wanted. I just cant believe you want me too."

Now Apple was crying too. I lost count of how long we laid out there in the snow. The temperature must've been below freezing but I wasn't cold. I felt warm and fuzzy with the feeling that Apple White loved me back.