The Teasings
She had barely stepped into the dining hall before the teasing began.
“Well, well,” Raven drawled as she slid into the seat next to Darling, her smirk practically glowing with mischief. “Heard you and Apple had a romantic night.”
Darling groaned, shoving her tray onto the table harder than necessary. “It wasn’t romantic.”
Dexter, sitting across from her, smirked over his plate of waffles. “Oh, right. Because nothing says ‘not romantic’ like candlelight, secluded balconies, and hand-holding.”
Darling scowled. “I hate you.”
Raven leaned in, her grin widening. “No, you don’t.”
Darling shoved a piece of toast into her mouth to avoid responding. Unfortunately, that only gave them more time to keep talking.
Rosabella, sipping her tea, casually joined in. “You’re still blushing.”
Darling’s chewing stalled.
“I am not,” she said, but the heat crawling up her neck said otherwise.
Daring, who had been slumped in his chair, half-asleep with his head resting on his palm, mumbled, “You get used to it.”
Dexter snorted into his juice. “No, you don’t.”
Darling groaned. “I really hate all of you.”
Raven and Dexter exchanged very smug glances.
“Oh, come on,” Raven said, nudging her. “It was a whole moment last night. You and Apple, alone on the balcony, all that tension in the air. You can’t honestly expect us not to talk about it.”
Darling glared. “There was no tension.”
Dexter raised an eyebrow. “So you didn’t look like you were about to kiss her?”
“I—” Darling choked on her toast.
“Ohhhh, so that’s why you panicked and ran off,” Rosabella mused, setting her teacup down.
Darling grabbed her napkin and hid her face behind it.
She was so doomed.
Across the room, Apple was chatting with Briar, completely oblivious to Darling’s ongoing humiliation. Every time she laughed, her golden curls bouncing slightly, Darling felt her stomach twist. Every time she smiled, her heart pounded a little too hard.
It wasn’t fair.
Apple had been so close last night, looking at her with those wide, curious blue eyes, her lips slightly parted, and Darling had almost—
She clenched her jaw.
Nope. Not thinking about that.
“Darling, you’re staring,” Rosabella pointed out, voice dripping with amusement.
“I am not,” Darling snapped, whipping back around.
Dexter looked unimpressed. “Yeah, because turning bright red and ignoring your food is a totally normal thing to do.”
Darling shoved her tray away, appetite gone. “Can we talk about literally anything else?”
“Sure,” Daring said, perking up. “Let’s talk about how I—”
“No,” everyone else said in unison.
Daring pouted.
Raven smirked. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
Daring perked right back up.
But Darling was still suffering.
Her entire friend group had suddenly decided that tormenting her was their new favourite hobby, and worst of all? They weren’t wrong.
She had almost kissed Apple.
And worse? She had wanted to.
Darling pressed her hands against her burning face. “I hate this.”
Dexter, grinning, clapped her on the shoulder. “Welcome to love, sis.”
She shoved his hand off.
“I’m not in love,” she grumbled.
Raven gasped dramatically. “She said the L-word!”
Rosabella gasped louder. “Oh no, it’s serious.”
Dexter sighed. “Gone too soon. She fought bravely.”
Darling stood up so fast her chair scraped against the floor. “I swear—”
Her entire friend group started laughing.
Darling threw her napkin at Dexter’s face and stormed off.
She had never hated them more.
Meanwhile, Across the Room…
Apple was clueless.
Briar, however, was not.
“Okay, so what’s going on between you and Darling?” Briar asked, propping her elbow on the table and resting her chin on her hand.
Apple blinked. “What?”
“You know,” Briar prompted, wiggling her fingers. “The thing.”
Apple frowned. “What thing?”
Briar rolled her eyes. “The thing where Darling looks at you like you hung the moon but then immediately panics and runs away?”
Apple’s brain short-circuited.
“She does not—”
“Oh, she totally does,” Briar said, popping a grape into her mouth. “I’m honestly surprised you haven’t noticed.”
Apple’s face scrunched.
Darling didn’t—she wouldn’t—
Would she?
Briar, watching her expression, grinned.
“Ohhh, you’re thinking about it now, aren’t you?”
Apple pursed her lips.
No. Absolutely not. Darling was just her friend. A very good friend. A strong friend. A kind friend. A—
Oh.
Briar smirked. “Gotcha.”
Apple scowled. “You’re insufferable.”
Briar beamed. “I know.”
Apple turned to glance at Darling’s usual table—only to find that she was gone.
Her seat was empty, and Raven, Dexter, and Rosabella were still laughing.
Apple frowned.
“What happened?” she asked, looking back at Briar.
Briar shrugged. “No idea. But she looked very flustered before she left.”
Apple felt something tug at her chest.
Was Darling okay?
Before she could think better of it, Apple stood up.
Briar grinned knowingly. “Where are you going?”
Apple ignored her.
She needed to find Darling.
Somewhere Else in the Castle…
Darling had retreated to the courtyard, still burning with frustration (and maybe something else she didn’t want to name).
She was so, so doomed.
Why couldn’t she just be normal around Apple? Why couldn’t she just… talk to her without feeling like she was going to combust?
Why did Apple have to be so—so—
“Darling?”
Darling froze.
Apple.
Apple was standing right there, hands clasped together, head slightly tilted in concern.
“I—” Darling straightened, forcing a very unconvincing smile. “Hey! What’s up?”
Apple frowned. “Are you okay?”
Darling laughed. Too quickly. “Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?”
Apple narrowed her eyes.
Darling swallowed.
She was so bad at lying.
Apple sighed. “Did Raven and the others tease you again?”
Darling grumbled. “Maybe.”
Apple smiled, shaking her head. “They’re just messing with you, you know.”
“Yeah,” Darling muttered, rubbing the back of her neck. “I know.”
Apple stepped closer, and Darling forgot how to breathe.
“Darling,” Apple said softly, eyes searching hers. “You know you can talk to me, right?”
Darling’s heart pounded.
Could she?
Apple was so close, and the words were right there—
Darling hesitated.
And in the end, she lost her nerve.
She forced a smile instead. “I know.”
Apple held her gaze for a second longer, then nodded. “Okay.”
And just like that, the moment was gone.
Darling hated herself for it.
Because she knew—deep down—that if she didn’t say something soon…
She was going to lose more than just a moment.