Chapter Text
Apple
Raven Queen. Daughter of Mira Queen. Daughter of the woman whom Apple's own mother screwed over for the right to their company. No, not screwed over, I’m sure it was for a good cause, Mothers a good person everyone knows this , Apple reasons.
For good or not, it's not like Raven hasn’t got a reason to hate me, to hate a lot of people at this school, I mean she did establish her place as the ‘Leader’ of the Rebels last year so maybe she does. God all of this is so stupid, but Mothers right, the Rebels need to learn their place, and I need to maintain mine.
Apples best friend forever after, Briar Rose, continued on the story she had been telling for the whole car ride, luckily before Briar could ask her opinion, her personal chauffeur cleared his throat “Excuse me Madams, we are about to arrive.” Apple sighed and looked out the tinted window. This isn’t gonna be fun.
Raven
At the same time as Apple, Raven let out a sigh, but for entirely different reasons. Finally she's back, after a long gruelling summer at her fathers estate, she's back at Ever After Boarding School.
Although the weather was as melancholy as ever, the old Victorian buildings that made up the campus were a welcome sight. A shout interrupted her doting, “RAAVEEENNN!!!” Good god, I even miss that.
Raven can barely turn around before her best friend forever after, Maddie Hatter, flung herself haphazardly into Raven, cackling hysterically. Maddie Hatter was the singular child of Tarrant Hatter, more commonly known as the ‘Mad Hatter’, an overseas fashion designer known for being out there and ‘crazy’ (his daughter's state of mind wasn’t helping his reputation).
Raven and Maddie had become instant friends after they met briefly when Raven was 6. Raven doesn’t remember much of the exchange, only small snippets, Maddies shy glances, Raven suggestion of hide and seek, giggles from behind a curtain.
After they met once, they seemed to keep running into each other, although her father almost never went out to public events, the handful they did attend, she ended up seeing Maddie and getting her number. They messaged back and forth for a few years before eventually arriving at Ever After High and being roommates in their first year. Raven hugged her friend a little tighter before Maddie disengaged to wild fling her arms about as she told Raven about a dream she had. As Raven snickered with Maddie, Apple and Briar sauntered out of their car to meet their own friends.
Apple
Apple spent most of her summer fuming in her spacious room in her house, irked at her mothers indifference to her situation. “Look I don’t think I've even had a conversation with the girl, and even if I did, why would I do all this if there's nothing in it for me?”
For fucks sake Apple you’re going to be sixteen by the time school comes around, get ahold of yourself she’s not that scary.
Apple turned away from her mirror, and made the fatal mistake of looking too long at her mothers portrait hanging above her mirror, her mothers cold gaze, although not directed at her, still sent a chill down her spine.
Ugh I still have the whole summer to talk to her. I can do it later.
“Apple, sweetie I have a surprise” Mrs White's cloying voice carried up the stairs of their french country house. If this ‘gift’ is another surprise meet with a potential prince I’m gonna have a fit. Apple huffed before giving a sickly sweet “Be right down mother”
As Apple stepped off the stairs and onto the lower floor, she was greeted heartily by her friend's mother, Aurora Rose, before politely greeting by her bestie Briar. Apple beamed at her friend and embraced her although she couldn’t help feeling tense at her presence. Why are you here? Why now?
Over her friend's shoulder she made eye contact with her mother, her mothers porcelain face stretched naturally into a polite yet seemingly sincere smile, although Apple could tell it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Sweetie I know you’ve been feeling a bit pent up being confined to this house so I organised a little holiday for you, and what a better place than your friends house, don’t do you think?”
To anyone else this may seem like a fantastic offer from a thoughtful mother, but Apple knew this was not an offer and was certainly not thoughtful. “Of course, I would love to come stay at yours Briar” Apple insisted through gritted teeth, “When do I leave?” What the hell are you playing at?
“Well I’ve gotten the maids to pack your bags honey, I’m headed out to lunch with Mrs Rose so be ready to go when we get back” And with that Briar and Apple were alone.
Apple sighed,
“Briar what the hell is going on”
“Ngaww I missed you too”
“Seriously”
“Yeah okay, I have no idea, I tried listening in on some of my mothers meetings but nothing. You’d think if they were planning some business opportunity they wouldn’t be so secretive about it”
“Now I’m being sent away, I doubt I’ll even be back before school starts”
“Maybe she just doesn’t want to hear you try to get out of your new ‘duty to the family’ ”
Apple sighed deeper. “I doubt that too, she knows I’ll go through with it” Briar looked sympathetic, but not just for Apple, she was a natural at the whole good person thing, “It’s not going to be fun for Raven either, the daughter of the woman who ruined her mothers life and tore apart their family. No winners in this. You could refuse, you know”
Apple looked at her,something in her eyes, “But then I wouldn’t be a White if I didn’t at least try to send someone down the wrong path for my own benefit”
“Wow, someone's self aware today” Briar giggled, “It won’t be that bad, hate to burst your bubble but I’m pretty confident in Raven's ability to not trust you, considering the circumstances. Good luck making her follow her mothers footsteps.”
“Oh yeah the whole Royal thing”
“It's okay, I’m sure the majority of the school population will be over that by now, I mean most of us are sixteen now, or will be by the end of semester. Maturity and whatnot”
Apple scoffed, “Sure, whatever you say”
‘Now tell me about your dates with Daring“
“Not dates”