Expect the Unexpected (Chapter 36: Shame)
Tuesday April 18, 2017 (junior year of high school) 12:03 pm
“95% is not a bad grade, Rosabella!” Darling exclaims. “That’s an excellent grade!”
The girls are walking down the hallway toward the castleteria. Rosabella is lamenting about getting a 95% on her Princessology test.
Rosabella groans. “It’s not perfect though! I want to be perfect!”
Darling frowns, placing her hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Nobody is perfect, but you’re pretty darn close.”
Rosabella scoffs, but can’t suppress a small smile. She gives Darling a playful shrug.
“I am not close to perfect! If anything, it’s you who is!”
“Me?” Darling scoffs. “Yeah right. I can’t even talk to my own brother.”
Darling can see the sympathetic expression that forms on Rosabella’s face out of the corner of her eye. This is a matter Rosabella is intimately aware of, as Darling has cried about it to the girl on several occasions.
“Darling, that isn’t your fault,” she insists. “It’s nobody’s fault. It’s just one of those things. You didn’t go out and try to steal his fairytale or anything. It just happened to be you that was meant to inhabit the Prince…I mean, Princess Charming role.”
As usual when this subject is brought up, Darling’s stomach writhes with anxiety. She quickly shakes her head.
“I wasn’t meant to inhabit it. It’s a mistake. A mistake I need to make right…somehow.”
“Then how did it happen if it wasn’t meant to be?” Rosabella counters. “That’s not how destiny works. What’s destined to happen is what happens.”
A flash of irritation sparks in Darling’s chest.
“Well, it was wrong this time, okay?!” Darling exclaims.
Shame immediately replaces her previous frustration as she sees Rosabella’s eyes widen. Nobody else seems to have heard her outburst luckily, as no one turns to look at her. She’s often getting stared at these days, as every student knows what happened between her and Apple, but luckily she’s not being gawked at as of right now. She sighs softly.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped. It’s not you. It’s just…” She sighs shakily before admitting the truth… “this is hard for me.”
Rosabella’s sympathetic expression quickly returns. She reaches out, giving Darling’s shoulder a squeeze.
“I know,” she murmurs. “It’ll be alright. You and Daring will work it out. I know you will.”
Darling nods and gives her a small smile, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“You’re right,” she says, voice soft. “It’ll be fine.”
XXX After getting their lunch, Darling and Rosabella sit across from Cerise and Cedar. As Darling picks up her fork, ready to dive in to her spaghetti, out of the corner of her eye she sees Daring walk into the room, side by side with Hunter and Sparrow. She quickly looks away, staring at her food. There’s no point of averting her gaze anyway though. He’s not going to look at her. He hasn’t spared her one glance since the fateful day she woke Apple up with True Love’s Kiss. As she begins to eat her spaghetti, she ignores the looks of sympathy from her friends and Dexter. There’s no use discussing the rift between her and Daring any further. Nothing is going to change…unless she does something, that is. She just doesn’t have the courage right now though. So much has happened and she’s reeling from the shock of all that has transpired. She knows she and Daring will have to make up at some point, but right now she just needs time to process everything. Time is all she needs…right?
XXX There’s somebody else’s gaze that she needs to avoid, and that is Apple’s. Apple still has no idea that Darling is the one who woke her up. Still, every time that Apple looks at her, gives her a smile or a wave, a cyclone of emotions erupts within Darling…fear, confusion, and most of all shame. What happened between them in the Enchanted Forest is completely wrong. Daring should’ve been the one to wake Apple up from her enchanted sleep, not her. Darling has betrayed both Apple and Daring. So all she does is smile or wave back for the sake of politeness before looking away and doing whatever she can to look busy.
In Princessology today though, Darling can’t help but note how distressed Apple looks. From the slight redness of her eyes to the dark bags under her eyelids to the tremble of her hands as she takes notes…something is clearly going on. Raven did mention that the girl has been having nightmares, waking up screaming and crying. The thought sends a sharp stab of pain through Darling’s heart. She knows the guilt Apple is feeling about letting the Evil Queen out of her mirror prison is intense. Yes, Apple isn’t entirely innocent when it comes to the matter, but she knows from what Raven has told her that the Evil Queen baited the girl, used her insecurities against her.
Darling has never been especially close with Apple, but they are friends and she knows how seriously Apple takes her mistakes, so in no way is she going to hold the Evil Queen debacle against the girl. Still, Apple is clearly tormented by the mistake. There’s rarely a day where she doesn’t look pale and exhausted, and she even looks on the verge of tears some days. Darling wishes there was something she could do to help her, but as of now she can’t even look at the girl without nearly having a panic attack. She would just make things worse if she tried to help. So she just has to hope that Apple’s closer friends are doing whatever they can to help her.
XXX As has been their custom since the True Love’s Kiss debacle, Darling and Rosabella end the day with bowls of popcorn and a light-hearted movie. They watch “The Lorax” tonight and other than Rosabella’s five-minute speech mid-movie about environmental destruction and how everybody needs to play their role to stop it, to which Darling just nods along, it’s a relaxing evening. These movie nights help Darling forget for at least a couple hours about what a mess she’s made of things.
XXX Thursday April 27, 2017 8:08 am
Ten days later, Darling and Daring still haven’t made eye contact once. At breakfast, as usual, Daring walks right by her on his way to his table and she goes entirely ignored. As always, Darling does her best to push down the sting and just keep focusing on her friends’ conversations. She can’t help but glance at Apple as the girl walks by, and concern immediately rises in her chest as she takes in the girl’s state. Her face is even whiter than usual and her hands are shaking. Darling knows that the girl gets bad test anxiety and it’s the day of a big Kingdom Management hexam. Darling is quite nervous about it herself; butterflies have been swarming through her stomach all morning. But she’s in nowhere near as bad shape as Apple. The girl looks like she’s seen a ghost.
Darling continues to eat her porridge and does her best to contribute to the conversations, but she can’t help glancing over at Apple every couple minutes. The girl is sitting at a table across the room with Briar, Blondie, and Ashlynn, and she’s looking worse by the minute. When she quickly stands up and rushes out of the room, Darling knows she has to go after her and make sure she’s okay. The other girls don’t seem to have noticed Apple’s distress. Darling excuses herself before speedily exiting the castleteria. She has a feeling she knows exactly where Apple is going.
As she enters the bathroom, the sound of retching immediately assaults her ears. The terrible noise makes her cringe, but she has to push her disgust down and help Apple. She hurries toward the stalls. The poor girl didn’t even have time to shut the stall door. She’s on her knees, hunched over the toilet, body heaving. All awkwardness and confusion surrounding the nature of their relationship forgotten, Darling rushes to her side. She crouches down behind her, quickly pulling back her hair. Then she places her hand on Apple's back and gently rubs, trying to provide all the comfort she can.
When Apple’s vomiting finally comes to a stop, Darling hands her a wad of toilet paper.
“Thanks,” the girl croaks.
Clearly she thinks Darling is Ashlynn or Briar. She’ll be in for a surprise when she turns around. Darling’s heart begins to pound in anticipation. Shoving down her anxiety and putting her focus back on supporting Apple, she takes off the ponytail holder from around her wrist and carefully ties the girl’s hair back. Apple flushes the toilet.
Then the girl turns around and the whole world stops. Apple’s eyes widen. Darling hears nothing but the thump of her heart in her ears, sees nothing but the mesmerizing ocean blue of Apple’s eyes, before the girl speaks and reality snaps back into focus.
“Darling,” she chokes out, her voice hoarse.
Darling, despite the intense fluttering in her stomach, the harsh pounding in her chest, forces herself to speak.
“Hey,” she murmurs. “I saw you leave the castleteria in a rush, so I decided to follow you. Looks like you’re not feeling well. Are you alright?”
As she observes the defeated look on Apple’s face, the weary slump of her shoulders, her nurturing instincts overpower the fear simmering in her chest. She gently places her hand on Apple’s shoulder. The touch alone sends a wave of panic coursing through Darling, but she forces her hand to stay, to continue providing solace.
Apple clears her throat. “I’m okay. I’m not sick or anything. I’m just nervous about that Kingdom Management hexam.”
Darling nods, surprised by the small reassuring smile that forms on her face. It’s as natural as breathing, this urge to put Apple at ease.
“I’m nervous too,” she assures.
Heat floods her body as Apple giggles. She can’t help but think of how adorable the sound is. She’s never thought of anything the girl (or any of her friends) does as adorable before.
“Not so nervous that you’re throwing up,” Apple says. “At least you’ve got it together more than I have.”
Darling opens her mouth, about to chide her for the self-deprecating comment, but she promptly closes it, deciding it best to keep things more laid back. Apple did just throw up after all. She doesn’t need a lecture right now.
So Darling just shrugs and says, “I think you’ve got it pretty together, Apple.”
Is Apple blushing? Darling schools her features into a neutral expression, resisting the sudden, confusing urge to grin.
“By the way, thanks for helping me out,” Apple says.
Her cheeks are still pink as she gives Darling a small smile. The fluttering in Darling’s stomach intensifies. The heat flowing through her body rises in temperature.
Though the buzz of adrenaline coursing through Darling is growing higher and higher in velocity, she manages a nod and a smile. “No problem, Apple.”
XXX Saturday April 29, 2017 4:06 pm
“That has to be the best chai latte I’ve ever had!” Rosabella exclaims.
Darling scoffs playfully. “You say that everytime, girl!”
Rosabella sticks her tongue out at her. They’re walking down the hall toward their dorm. They just went out for their weekly coffee shop “date” and as usual Rosabella is raving about her drink.
“I’ll say it as much as I’d like, Darling,” Rosabella says, hands on her hips.
“Believe me, I know you will.”
Rosabella scoffs in mock offense. “Rude!”
Darling giggles and Rosabella quickly joins in.
As they approach their dorm room door, Darling brings out the key and unlocks it. They’re not even through the doorway before Darling realizes people are here. She shrieks, panic racing through her. It’s only a second before she realizes it’s only Dexter and…Daring. They’re both sitting on her bed. Dexter has a soft, apologetic look on his face. Daring’s eyes are cast to the floor, his hands fidgeting in his lap. Her eyes widen. She freezes, too shocked to take another step. What in the world is Daring doing here?! She turns to Rosabella.
“Did you know about this?” she whispers, though Daring and Dexter can undoubtedly still hear her.
Rosabella shrugs, but the sheepish expression on her face gives her away.
“Why didn’t you warn me?!” Darling hisses.
Her mind is hazy with panic. She can feel her heart pounding in her ears.
“I’m sorry,” Rosabella says, her voice soft. “We were having a good time and I didn’t want to put a damper on it.” She sighs gently. “Here, I’m going to go and give you guys some privacy. We can talk later, okay? I’m here for whatever you need.”
“Thanks,” Darling whispers.
Rosabella gives her shoulder a squeeze before exiting the room.
Darling doesn't know how long she stands there. It could be seconds. It could be minutes. She's snapped from her stupor by Dexter's soft, tentative voice.
“Darling…why don't you come sit?”
She clears her throat, but her voice is still hoarse when she speaks. “Okay.”
Her legs tremble as she slowly makes her way over to the bed. When she sits on the opposite end of the bed than Daring, she's never been more aware of the distance, both physical and emotional, between them. Her stomach is tight, swarming with anxiety. Her muscles are so taut, she feels like she might snap.
When Dexter speaks again, she stiffens even further.
“Guys…” He takes a deep, shaky breath. “This has gone on too long now. I can't stand to see you two like this.”
His voice breaks and Darling doesn't know if she's ever felt so terrible. She's hurt both of her brothers. She's a horrible sister. Her eyes sting, but she blinks back the tears. She can't play the victim. As she looks at the defeated expression on Daring's face, the slump of his shoulders, she's not sure anything she can say will make things better. But she has to try. He's her brother. So, with a deep, trembling breath, she addresses him.
“Daring…I'm so sorry.” Her voice cracks. “I promise you I did not mean to take your destiny away. It just–it just happened. In the blink of an eye it was already done and I had no idea what to do. I still don't…” Her voice trails off.
She can hear him shifting, but she doesn't look up, staring at her lap with blurry eyes.
When he speaks, voice hoarse and raw with pain, she flinches.
“I saw it, Darling! You kissed her! I saw it with my own eyes!” His voice grows more and more agitated with each word.
She shakes her head frantically. “It–It wasn't supposed to be! I swear! It was supposed to be mouth to mouth!”
Her heart is pounding wildly. Her body is growing hotter and hotter by the second .
He scoffs. “Yeah right.”
She can feel the tears slipping from her eyes and streaming down her cheeks. Their presence only adds to the shame boiling within her. When he speaks again, he sounds so utterly broken, she feels like a knife is twisting into her heart. She still is staring at the floor, too scared and ashamed to look at him.
“My destiny…” He sniffs, his voice trembling…”is all I had. I'm not smart like you and Dexter. I'm not a good student. The only things I had going for me were my famous destiny and my looks. And even though I still have my looks, my destiny…the most important part…is gone.”
He bursts into tears, and Darling's heart crumples in her chest. She finally looks up. Dexter who is sitting between them has his hand on Daring's shoulder, a mournful expression on his face. She squeezes her eyes shut, taking a deep, calming breath before doing what a good sister should do. She nods at Dexter and he gets the message, getting up from the bed and leaving the room. Darling scoots closer to Daring. His head is in his hands as he sobs. She tentatively places a trembling hand on his shoulder.
“Daring,” she whispers, her voice shaking. “I'm so sorry.”
She yelps as he suddenly turns and throws his arms around her. She reacts quickly, wrapping him in a tight embrace.
“It's okay,” she whispers. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I love you,” he chokes out.
A wave of warmth rushes through her, a welcome distraction from the shame and fear whirling through her.
“I love you too,” she whispers, her voice shaking. “I love you so much.”
XXX After her talk with Daring, Darling feels a million times lighter. Sure, the situation with Apple is still a looming threat that she'll eventually have to deal with the repercussions of, but she has her brother back and right now that's enough.
XXX Saturday March 3, 2018 (senior year of high school) 4:17 pm
“Ugh, Mom wants to talk to you? What for?”
Darling is sitting on her bed, surrounded by textbooks. She’d been doing her homework. She could immediately hear the frustration in his voice. When he announced that their mother wants to have a talk with him, it became clear why. Her eyes widen, stomach tightening, as she thinks of something.
“You don’t think she knows something, do you?”
It’s been nine months since Daring became a part of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale and started dating Rosabella. As of far, they and the rest of the students have managed to keep it a secret from the rest of the fairytale world. They’ve also managed to keep an even more essential secret: that Darling and Apple are True Loves and are dating. A wave of panic rushes through Darling at the thought that maybe that’s what their mother wants to talk to Daring about, but she quickly reasons that that doesn’t make sense. If Marie Charming in all her homophobic glory had discovered that her daughter is a lesbian and took her son’s place as the Prince Charming of the Snow White fairytale, it would be her phone ringing, not Daring’s.
“Probably not,” he replies, fear creeping into his voice.
“I’m sure it’s not that,” she assures him. “It’s probably the C you got on the Kingdom Management hexam.” She winces, realizing that wasn’t the most considerate thing to mention. “Sorry to bring that up. I just wanted to reassure you.”
Daring laughs softly. “I understand. It’s fine.”
She smiles, relieved that she didn’t upset him.
Daring sighs. “Well, I should probably prepare for the call. She said 4:30.”
“Alright. Good luck!”
Daring chuckles. “Thanks. I’ll need it.”
XXX 5:06 pm
Darling is so engrossed in a math problem that the sudden noise of her phone ringing makes her flinch. She’s trying to get all her homework done before she hangs out with Apple at six. She picks it up and rolls her eyes when she sees it's her mother.
“What does she want?” she grumbles.
Despite the repulsion she feels at even the thought of talking to her mother, she has to oblige.
So she answers the phone and in her most cheerful voice says, “Once upon a hi, Mom!”
“Darling!” her mother shrieks.
Her voice is raw, filled to the brim with hysteria. Darling's eyes widen, her heart dropping to the pit of her stomach. She's never heard her mother this panicked before. What in the world is going on?!
“Mom, what’s wrong?!” she exclaims. “Did something happen to Dad?!”
“Something happened alright,” rage seeping into her voice, “but it’s got nothing to do with your father.”
Relief floods Darling’s chest, but as her mother starts speaking again, it’s replaced by waves of panic.
“It has to do with you being a filthy dyke!” She spits the last word out with such venom, Darling shivers.
Darling feels like her whole world is crashing down. The perfect lie that she, Apple, and Daring had constructed--that everything is normal and Daring is still destined to be Apple’s true love--has been decimated in the blink of an eye. Now she’s hated by her own mother. The waves of shock and panic coursing through her body are so powerful, she can barely get words out. But she has to know.
“Who told you?” she croaks.
Her mother scoffs. “It wasn’t hard to get it out of your brother. I knew something was going on with you guys! I can’t believe you, Darling! How did this happen anyways? I mean, everybody knows that princesses can’t be together! Destiny should know that!”
The urge to argue back is powerful, but Darling frantically shoves it down. It’ll only make things so much worse if she does. She just needs to let her mother wear herself out. But the monologue she expects to burst forth doesn’t come. Instead, it’s just three words, bitter with hate, that her mother says: “You’re no daughter of mine.”
XXX 6:00 pm
Darling barely registers the knock at the door, but as Apple begins talking a few moments later, she starts to take notice.
“Darling, are you in there?” Apple calls. “I’m here!”
Darling is in no state to speak, much less get up to answer the door. All she can do is lie there and let out gut-wrenching sobs as sheer devastation rolls over her in crashing waves.
“Darling, are you here?!”
Darling doesn't answer. She can't. It's all too much. She feels like she's going to be sick. Nausea bursts through her as her stomach writhes like a snake. Her throat is tight, breath coming in sharp gasps.
“Wait, baby, are you crying?!”
Shit, Apple heard her! Darling turns, burying her face in her pillow; but her sobs are too intense to muffle. The fabric of the pillow only suppresses her breath more, so she turns onto her side again.
“Oh my God, you are! Baby, please let me in! I'm really worried now!”
Darling curls tighter and tighter into a ball. She couldn't answer her girlfriend even if she tried.
“Crap,” Apple hisses. Her voice softens then. “Baby girl, please let me in. I just want to be there for you.”
Darling shakes her head, despite the fact that Apple can't see her. She wants to tell her to leave her alone, but she can barely breathe, much less talk. Her throat is tightening more and more by the second.
“Okay, that's it! I'm coming in! You could be in danger for all I know!”
The door opens and closes. The pure horror coursing through Darling is already so strong, Apple's unwanted presence barely has an effect on her spiraling state.
Apple gasps. “Oh my God! Baby! Oh no!”
She rushes to Darling's side, crouching down beside the bed. Darling clasps her hands over her face. She needs to be alone in her grief; it's too overwhelming to share with anybody else. There's no way Apple is going away though.
“Baby, please look at me!” Apple insists, voice shaking with concern.
“Oh my God you're shaking so bad.” She takes a deep, calming breath. “It's okay, baby girl. I'm here now. I'm right here.”
Darling feels the sinking of the mattress as Apple slips into bed next to her. Warm arms wrap carefully around her. Soft lips gently press to her scalp.
“Baby, are you hurt?” Apple's voice trembles.
It takes the tiny bit of strength Darling has left to slowly shake her head. Apple breathes a sigh of relief.
“Okay, baby,” she murmurs. “Okay. Everything is going to be alright. I'm right here with you.”
The panic tearing at Darling's chest only continues to increase until her throat feels like it's closed up entirely. Ragged gasps are all she can emit.
“Apple, I can't breathe!” She can barely get the words out through her heavy sobs.
“Shhh, it's okay,” Apple soothes. “Baby, look at me.”
Apple, backing off from the embrace slightly, gently prizes Darling's hands off of her face. Darling squeezes her eyes shut. Apple rests her hand on her face, gently stroking her cheek.
“Everything is going to be alright, sweet girl. Just follow my breathing. You can do this.”
With her other hand she takes Darling’s hands in hers, squeezing tight. Darling slowly opens her eyes. Her vision is blurry from the tears and lack of oxygen, but she can make out the indistinct figure of her girlfriend.
Apple takes deep, exaggerated breaths. “Just breathe, baby. Just breathe.”
Darling squeezes her eyes shut, trying to follow along, but oxygen continues to evade her.
“I can’t!” she sobs.
“Yes you can,” Apple assures her.
She moves her hand from Darling’s cheek to her hair, which she begins to stroke. Darling’s muscles relax slightly at the soothing sensation.
“It’s okay, my love,” the girl whispers. “I’m right here.”
It’s a long and agonizing process, but Darling is finally able to regain her breath. Her sobs still won’t cease though. She buries her face in Apple’s chest, breathing in her cinnamon scent. Apple holds her tighter, planting soft kisses on the top of her head. Darling finally can’t keep it in anymore. The truth bursts out.
“My mom hates me!” She can barely get the words out through her sobs.
It’s a moment before Apple answers her.
“No she doesn’t.” The girl’s voice is laced with confusion and sympathy. “She’d never hate you, Darling. She might get angry with you, but hate you? No.”
“She does though! She found out, Apple!”
Apple gasps softly, body tensing. “You mean she found out about…” Her voice trails off.
Darling nods frantically against Apple’s chest.
It feels like minutes before Apple responds, though it could've just been seconds. Darling has lost all sense of time to the storm of grief and fear within her. She can feel Apple trembling as she speaks.
“It's going to be okay,” is all the girl can manage before her voice breaks.
Apple pulls Darling even closer, stifling a sob by pressing her lips to Darling's head. Apple's distress is obvious, though it's clear that she's trying to keep it together for her girlfriend. Darling appreciates this more than words could ever express.
As Darling breaks down full force again, Apple squeezes her tight, gently shushing her. They stay that way, wrapped in each other's arms, for the rest of the evening.
XXX After what feels like hours of crying and the unfortunate circumstance of vomiting into her trash can, Apple is helping Darling into her pajamas. Though her sobs have calmed, sniffles and hiccups still rack her frame.
“I’m sorry I puked.” Darling sniffs. “And that you had to clean the trash can out.”
Apple shakes her head, a soft, reassuring smile on her face. “That’s not your fault, sweetheart. You’re upset. And of course I don’t mind cleaning it up. You’re my girlfriend. It’s my job to take care of you. I love you, okay?”
Darling’s eyes sting again, but this time with tears of gratitude.
“Thank you.” She hiccups, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. “I love you too.”
As Apple finishes buttoning up Darling’s flannel pajama shirt, she gently draws Darling forward into a kiss. Darling’s muscles finally begin to relax as the kiss warms every inch of her body. The softness of Apple’s lips on hers is a promise: no matter what happens, the girl will be there for her. Being true loves means that they’re meant to be together forever, and Darling can’t wait to live her life with Apple by her side. She knows everything will feel horrible again in a few minutes, but in this moment, she just savors being in the girl’s arms.
XXX Sunday March 4, 2018 10:26 am
Apple has never felt the sheer amount of rage she does as Daring’s dorm room door opens and she comes face to face with the boy. His eyes widen.
“Apple?!” he exclaims. “What-What are you doing here?”
Her fists are clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms. Her body is vibrating with the fury coursing through every inch of her body.
“I’m here to ask you why the hell you betrayed your sister!” she shouts.
She didn’t even know she could yell that loud. Daring’s eyes dart side to side, making sure nobody else is in the hallway. It takes all the restraint she has to not slap that stupid shocked expression off his face. She scoffs.
“You really care the most about people seeing your precious ass getting yelled at?! You care more about that than the fact that you sold out your own sister?!”
His startled expression quickly morphs into one of anger.
“Of course I care that I hurt her! I didn’t fucking mean to! My mom had to fucking go and manipulate me!”
The thought that she knows exactly what that feels like crosses Apple’s mind, but she quickly shoves it away. She’s not interested in empathizing with Daring right now. She’s interested in setting him straight.
“Her heart is broken, Daring!” she yells. “Absolutely shattered! She's done hardly anything but cry since it happened! She didn't even touch her dinner or breakfast!”
Tears prick her eyes as she thinks about the state her girlfriend is in. She scoffs as she notices the tears filling Daring’s eyes.
“Really?!” she exclaims. “You’re going to play the victim right now?! The real victim is your sister who’s currently unable to get out of fucking bed!”
She very rarely curses, but this is an occasion where she’ll gladly break out every curse word in the book. She flinches as Daring bursts into tears.
“I’m so sorry!” he sobs, hands flying up to cover his face. “The last thing I wanted to do was hurt Darling!” He can barely get the words out.
Apple scoffs again. “Well, maybe you should’ve thought of that before revealing her biggest secret!”
“I know!” he wails. “I know! I’m so sorry!”
Apple fights the part of her that wants to forgive him, to feel bad for how harsh she’s being. But the bigger part of her--the part that is heartbroken for her girlfriend--reigns supreme.
“If you’re really sorry,” she hisses, “you’ll make it right!”
Deciding that she’s made her point clear, she turns on her heel and leaves him to wallow in his well-deserved guilt.
She heads back to Darling’s dorm. When she enters and sees the girl sitting hunched over on her bed, staring with bloodshot eyes at the mattress, in addition to the crippling sadness that overcomes her, she wonders: would her girlfriend approve of her yelling at Daring? She doesn’t have to know, Apple reasons with herself. Not now at least. And he deserved it! He did! Pushing down any semblance of shame she feels, she approaches Darling’s bed. Rosabella is sitting next to her, hand on her shoulder. She gives Apple a small smile and wave before going back to her conversation with Darling.
“Believe me, I let him have it. He’s going to need to remedy this situation before I talk to him again.” She scoffs angrily.
“Thanks,” Darling croaks, sounding so defeated, Apple wants nothing more than to scoop the girl into her arms and protect her from anything that could ever cause her harm.
So Rosabella went off on Daring too. Apple shouldn’t be ashamed then…right? Apple shakes her head, resolving to forget about it for now. Darling still needs her. So she takes a seat on her other side and takes her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Darling lightly squeezes back. She turns, giving Apple a weak smile. Apple softly smiles back before gently kissing her temple. All she can do right now is be there for her girlfriend, and she will do just that.
XXX Present Time (Thursday December 24, 2020) 1:03 pm
“So you’re bringing a dessert to the party too?” Daring asks.
Darling is talking to Daring on the phone while she picks out her outfit for the Christmas party, which is going to be at Briar and Ashlynn's house.
“Yeah, pumpkin pie!” Darling exclaims. “Apple’s baking it right now. Can’t wait to have your, er I mean, Rosabella’s apple pie!”
Daring scoffs playfully. “What is that supposed to mean?!”
“That Rosabella’s the cook in that household!”
“That is so not true!”
But Daring can barely get the words out before bursting into laughter, and Darling quickly follows suit. As their laughter peters out, a comfortable silence falls over them.
A few moments later, Daring speaks, his voice suddenly soft. “I love you, Darling. And…I’m sorry…for what I’ve done in the past to hurt you.”
“Awww, Daring…you’ve apologized so many times, but of course I’ll tell you again-I forgive you and love you so so much.”
He sniffs. Tears of sympathy fill her eyes. He still blames himself every day for how he outed her. She wishes there was something magical she could say to convince him that it’s okay now, that all is forgiven, but there isn’t. All she can do is reassure him when his guilt invades his mind.
“I love you so so much too.”
The tears slip from her eyes as she hears the pure love in his voice. She’s beyond blessed to have two brothers that love her with all their hearts. And she loves them right back.
