A Step Forward
Dating Apple White was terrifying.
Not because of Apple herself—oh, no. She was wonderful. Supportive, kind, understanding. After the party, she had given Darling the softest smile and simply held her hand, like it was the easiest thing in the world. Like she hadn’t spent the past few weeks being utterly destroyed by Darling’s indecisiveness.
No, the terrifying part was Darling’s own mind.
Because every time Apple so much as looked at her, Darling’s brain would scream:
Are you sure you can do this? What if you mess it up again? What if everyone finds out? What if her parents—
“Darling?”
Darling blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. “Huh?”
Apple giggled. “You’ve been staring at the same page of your book for the past five minutes.”
Oh. Right. They were in the library.
Darling shut the book. “I—uh—just deep in thought.”
Apple gave her a knowing look, tilting her head slightly. “Are you okay?”
Darling wanted to say yes. She really did. But something about Apple’s expression made her pause.
“…I don’t know,” she admitted.
Apple closed her own book and turned to face her properly. “Talk to me.”
Darling hesitated. “It’s just… I still don’t know how to do this. I mean, we’re together, but… are we together together? Are we telling people? Are we keeping it a secret?” She ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t even know what the next step is.”
Apple hummed thoughtfully. “How about this? No pressure. No expectations. Just… one step at a time.”
Darling blinked. “One step?”
Apple nodded. “For now, let’s just focus on us. We don’t have to tell the whole school. We don’t have to define everything right away. Let’s just be together.”
Darling felt her heart squeeze. She didn’t deserve how easy Apple made it sound. How much grace she was willing to give Darling, despite everything.
“That sounds… perfect,” Darling murmured.
Apple smiled. “Good. Because I’m about to take the first step.”
Before Darling could ask what she meant, Apple reached over and intertwined their fingers together.
Darling stopped breathing.
Apple just squeezed her hand. “See? Easy.”
Of course, things were never that easy.
Because the moment they walked out of the library, hand in hand, they ran straight into Rosabella and Daring.
Both of them stared.
Darling yanked her hand away instinctively.
Apple shot her a look.
Rosabella grinned. “Well, well, well,” she said. “What exactly was happening in there?”
Darling turned bright red. “It’s not what it looks like.”
Apple crossed her arms. “It is exactly what it looks like.”
Daring’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait. You two?”
Rosabella smirked. “Called it.”
Darling groaned. “This is why I didn’t want to tell anyone yet.”
Rosabella shrugged. “It was bound to happen eventually.”
Daring looked at Apple. “Are you sure about this? She’s kind of a disaster.”
Apple laughed. “I know.”
Darling placed a hand over her heart. “Betrayed by my own family.”
Daring grinned. “Hey, just making sure she knows what she’s getting into.”
Apple leaned toward Rosabella. “Do you see how he deflects? He definitely has a crush on you.”
Daring choked. “I—I do not—”
Rosabella just smirked. “Interesting.”
Daring turned bright red. “We are not making this about me!”
“Oh, but we are,” Darling said, crossing her arms. “In fact, I think it’s time for some revenge.”
Rosabella raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
Darling grinned. “I dare you both to go on a date.”
Daring and Rosabella froze.
“Absolutely not,” Daring said immediately.
“No way,” Rosabella agreed.
Apple sighed dramatically. “How tragic. Two people so obviously in love—”
“We are not—” Daring started.
Apple continued, “—who are too stubborn to admit it.”
Rosabella narrowed her eyes. “You are so lucky I like you, Apple White.”
Apple winked. “I know.”
Daring groaned. “This is a nightmare.”
Darling grinned. “No, this is karma.”