The Dance of Doubts
The school dance was only a week away, and every passing second felt like absolute torture.
Not because she didn’t want to go. No, that would have been easy. The problem was—she had no idea if Apple White was going with someone else.
She could just ask her. That would be logical. Sensible. Normal.
But logic completely abandoned Darling whenever Apple was involved.
And meanwhile, Apple was far too excited about the whole thing.
“Oh, Darling!” Apple called one afternoon, practically bouncing over to her and grabbing her arm. “Are you looking forward to the dance?”
Darling swallowed. “Uh. Yeah. I guess.”
Apple beamed. “Me too! I can’t wait to see everyone’s outfits.”
Darling hesitated.
This was it.
This was her chance.
Just ask her. Just say, Hey, Apple, do you want to go to the dance with me?
It’s so easy.
Instead, what came out was:
“Are… are you going with anyone?”
Apple blinked. “Not yet. Why?”
Darling panicked. Full-on, brain-short-circuiting panic.
“No reason!” she blurted. “Just… curious.”
Apple tilted her head slightly, then smiled. “Maybe I’ll wait for someone to ask me.”
Darling was definitely not breathing properly.
Somewhere in the corner, Dexter and Raven were watching like it was their favourite show.
“She’s hopeless,” Raven muttered.
Dexter nodded. “Oh, absolutely.”
Apple gave Darling one last small, expectant smile before turning and walking off.
Darling exhaled, running a hand through her hair.
This is fine. Everything is fine.
Except it wasn’t.
Because just as she was working up the nerve to ask Apple to the dance…
Someone else got there first.
Darling’s New Nightmare
It happened during lunch the next day.
Darling was sitting with Raven, Dexter, and Rosabella, finally working up the courage to just—do it already—when she saw it.
Across the dining hall, Apple was talking to someone.
Not just anyone.
Prince Alder Evergreen.
Darling froze.
“Oh no,” Raven muttered.
Dexter followed Darling’s gaze, then winced. “Oh. That’s… unfortunate.”
Rosabella adjusted her glasses, watching with interest. “Isn’t he the guy who only talks about trees?”
“Yes,” Raven and Dexter said in unison.
Darling, meanwhile, was panicking internally.
She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she didn’t need to.
Because right then, Alder smiled and said something—
And Apple laughed.
She laughed.
Darling’s heart sank.
Then, the worst possible thing happened.
Alder leaned in slightly, rubbing the back of his neck—looking nervous. Apple tilted her head, curious. Then—
He asked her.
Apple’s eyes widened.
Darling stopped breathing.
And then—
Apple smiled.
And nodded.
Darling felt like the floor had just been ripped out from under her.
Dexter winced. “Oof.”
Raven sighed. “That’s rough, buddy.”
Darling shoved her tray away. “I need to leave.”
She stood up so fast her chair nearly tipped over.
Raven and Dexter shared a look.
“Should we stop her?” Dexter asked.
Raven shrugged. “Probably.”
Neither of them moved.
Instead, Rosabella took a sip of tea. “She’s going to be dramatic about this, isn’t she?”
“Oh, definitely,” Raven said.
Darling’s Emotional Crisis
Darling had no idea where she was going.
She just knew she couldn’t stay in that dining hall.
Because Apple had said yes.
She had said yes to someone else.
And it was Darling’s fault.
If she had just asked sooner, if she had just said something, if she had just—
“Ughhh,” Darling groaned, dragging her hands down her face.
She had never felt so stupid in her life.
“Darling?”
She jumped.
Spinning around, she found herself face-to-face with Apple White.
Great. Fantastic.
Apple looked a little concerned. “Are you okay?”
Darling forced a very unconvincing smile. “Yeah! Totally! Why wouldn’t I be?”
Apple gave her a look. “You stormed out of the dining hall.”
Darling coughed. “Just… needed some air.”
Apple hesitated.
Darling tried not to look at her—tried not to think about how Apple was probably so excited about going to the dance with Alder.
Tried not to imagine how she was going to see them together.
Tried not to think about how much it hurt.
Apple shifted on her feet. “So, um… I guess you saw Alder ask me?”
Darling’s stomach twisted. “Yeah. I saw.”
Apple bit her lip. “I hope that’s okay?”
Darling forced a laugh. “Of course! Why wouldn’t it be?”
Lie. Lie. Lie.
Apple frowned slightly. “I mean, I wasn’t sure at first, but he was really nice about it. And no one else had asked me yet, so…”
Darling barely held back a wince.
No one else had asked her yet.
That could have been her.
If she hadn’t been such a coward, that would have been her.
Darling clenched her jaw. “That’s great, Apple. Really. I hope you have a good time.”
Apple hesitated. “You sure you’re okay?”
Darling nodded.
Another lie.
Apple studied her for a moment before sighing. “Alright. Well… I’ll see you later?”
Darling nodded again.
Apple gave her one last smile before walking off.
Darling watched her go, heart sinking further with every step.
She had messed up.
And now, it was too late.
Back at the Dorms…
Darling flopped onto her bed face-first, groaning into her pillow.
Dexter and Raven were sitting nearby, both looking entirely too entertained by her misery.
“So,” Raven said, “what’s the plan?”
Darling lifted her head just enough to glare. “Plan?”
Dexter nodded. “Yeah. The ‘win Apple back before the dance’ plan.”
Darling groaned louder. “There is no plan.”
Raven frowned. “Oh, come on. You can’t just give up.”
“She already said yes,” Darling muttered. “What am I supposed to do? Challenge Alder to a duel?”
Raven grinned. “I mean, I wouldn’t hate that.”
Darling buried her face back in the pillow.
Dexter sighed. “Look, you’re miserable. And Apple… well, let’s just say she didn’t look that thrilled when she was talking to you earlier.”
Darling froze.
Raven smirked. “He’s right, you know.”
Darling lifted her head. “She didn’t?”
Dexter shrugged. “She was smiling, sure, but it didn’t seem real.”
Darling stared at him.
Maybe…
Just maybe it wasn’t too late after all.