Chapter Text
And just as quickly as junior year started, it was over. Senior year seemed to go by even faster, jammed full of exams and after school activities. Dexter of course still needing to work everyday after school. Some days, Raven would be too busy to stop by for his lunch break. Dexter knew that she had lots of things to do, she was working towards taking over a kingdom one day. Advanced Kingdom management had a huge end of the year project for the seniors, they had to come up with something that would better their kingdoms and build new relationships with others. Since Dexter had no rights to any kingdom, he dropped out of the class. Raven had been working so hard on her project it had taken up most of her time.
Dexter didn’t mind, he loved how passionate she was about this project. Raven had been so excited about presenting it to the school. She wouldn’t tell anyone what it was or what it was about but she’s been working non stop since the project was assigned. Dexter would sometimes find her in the library after his shifts, digging through mountains of books on psychology and human behaviors. Most of the time, he would have to wake her up to get her to go to her room, he'd walk her to her doom room and wish her a good night. For the last month of school, those nights would be the only time the couple would get alone.
The two had missed each other deeply, but there was nothing that they could do.
*
This week was the last week of classes, by Friday they would be high school graduates. By Saturday they would be packing up their things and be on their way to the rest of their adult lives. So many things were uncurtained about what would happen after that, but at least Raven could finally get a break.
Dexter had finally reached a day off, and with Raven busy working on her project, he had found himself in the courtyard. Dexter was sitting on a bench watching as his siblings practice their swordsmanship. Also known as watching Darling kick Daring’s butt over and over again. Darling had gotten so much better with her fighting, she didn’t need the practice anymore. Watching Darling with a sword was like a form of art.
Daring was quick but not nearly as witty. The only reason he would agree to duel Darling was because of how prideful he was about losing. Dexter was just enjoying spending this time with his siblings. Especially since he wasn’t sure when the next time this sibling bonding would happen.
Last year, Dexter was able to go home due to being 17 still. Even though they didn’t provide anything for him money wise, his parents still had a legal obligation to take care of their child at least for the summer. Now Dexter was 18, his parents had made it clear that he was not welcomed back after school was over. It wasn’t something that Dexter had thought too much about, the school was letting him stay until he found somewhere to go. He also didn’t want to think about being completely on his own either.
Dexter had yet to tell his siblings, or Raven.
“Alright Daring, have you had enough yet or what?” Darling said, looking down at her older brother on the ground.
As always, Darling looked perfect, as if she had just been standing there the whole time. Daring on the other hand had looked like he had gotten attacked by a wild griffin and barely escaped with his life. His hair all over the place, his face was covered in sweat, the same with his shirt.
“I’ll be done when I finally make you break a sweat, baby sister,” Daring said, rising to his feet.
“That’s never going to happen,” Dexter chuckled.
“Lady’s don’t sweat Daring,” Darling responded.
“That makes no sense, everyone sweats,” Daring said, getting back into a dueling position.
Dexter watched as with one simple movement, Daring was once again on the ground. Darling once again taking him down. Beating Darling was not only impossible now, but twice as humiliating. Hence why Dexter no longer vontered to train or practice with the girl anymore. Dexter still practiced his swordsmanship but with his job and homework he had become rather rusty.
“Alright, I think I’m man enough to know when I’ve been beaten. You win sis” Daring said as he laid on the ground. The twins couldn’t help but laugh at their older brother.
“If you insist my dear brother,” Darling said. She put her sword back in its sheath before sitting next to Dexter.
The three just sat there, Daring still sitting on the ground, just talking. Catching up about classes, grades and graduation. Things have changed a lot for the three since last school year. Daring and Rosabella had gone public with their relationship. It had just passed a year since they made things official. Darling and Apple had just started dating earlier that year as well.
Besides their dating lives, the three had grown closer together. No more fighting, no more secrets. Even if there was something to hide from their parents, it was never hidden from each other. Things felt normal, better than they were before.
As the three were talking amongst themselves, Hunter approached, looking dejected. Dexter, being the first to notice, waved the boy over. Hunter, being Dexter’s best friend, seeing him upset was rare and made Dexter a bit concerned. Hunter walked over to the Charming siblings, now that he was closer you could tell he had been crying. Hunter sat down on a rock near the bench, plopping his head into his hands.
“Hey man, what's wrong?” Dexter asked.
“It’s Ashlyn, she broke up with me out of nowhere” Hunter said woefully.
The three siblings collectively gasped. Hunter and Ashlyn were the it couple, they meant so much to everyone looking to change their stories.
“What? Why?” Darling questioned.
“She kept going on saying ‘it’s just what I have to do’ and ‘It’s what my heart is telling me’. What am I supposed to get from that? I kept asking her why she felt like she had to, if her parents wanted her to or anything like that. All she said was that we weren’t meant to be” Hunter explained.
“That really sucks man, I’m sorry” Daring said.
“Yeah buddy, I’m really sorry to hear that” Dexter said, “maybe she just needs some time to think, things are pretty stressful right now”
“No, no I don’t think so. She brought up that I should have known this was going to happen since we were never supposed to be together in the first place” Hunter explained.
“That’s not a real reason for her to break up with you, we don’t have to be or do anything anymore” Dexter brought up.
“Yeah, I’m nothing like I was on legacy day” Daring brought up.
“You didn’t sign the book, Ashlyn did,” Hunter said.
“Hunter, the book she signed was a fake. Look, let's give her a couple of days, I’m sure we can figure this out” Darling said.
“I don’t think it matters, I don’t think any of it matters. It’s destiny, we’re all doomed to follow it one way or another” Hunter said.
“Come on man, you’re just saying that because you’re upset” Dexter said “you don’t actually believe that”
“Come on Dexter, both of your siblings didn’t sign anything and yet both of them still followed their stories. No choices were involved with either of those. It’s because we don’t have a choice” Hunter said, his sadness turning to anger.
“What happened with Darling and Daring doesn’t we’re all going to follow a story, no one else has had anything related to their stories happen. Plus Daring had a completely different story as the one assigned. No one has to follow anything” Dexter explained.
“You don’t know that they won’t, we don’t even know how destiny works. It will happen whether we want it to or not.” Hunter said.
“Hunter, you and Ashlyn love each other so much, I’m sure this is just a rough patch. You guys will come out together in the end, I know it” Dexter said, getting up from his seat and placing a hand on Hunter’s shoulder.
Hunter lifted his head from his hands, looking Dexter directly in the eye. His face was filled with sorrow and bitterness. Now that Dexter was closer, he could see the tear stains that flowed down the young man's cheeks. He was truly heart broken. Hunter rose to his feet, walking away before stopping and turning back to look at Dexter once again.
“Live in this made up dream all you want Dexter, you know the same thing could happen to you” Hunter said.
The insinuation that Raven would not only leave him, but leave him to become evil had to be the most insane thing that had come out of that boy's mouth. Raven would never throw away everything she had worked so hard for. Dexter couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
“You think it’s funny but you know deep down I’m right. Raven could walk up one day with just a simple feeling in her heart that she needs to harm someone. She could snap any day now” Hunter said.
“What are you even saying? Raven is your friend too” Darling interrupted.
“Raven would never hurt anyone and you know that.” Dexter said.
“Do I? I don’t even know the girl I’ve been with for the past three years. Raven could be playing the long game, using us all in the process. She could be worse of a hag than her mother” Hunter countied.
That last sentence seemed to push Dexter over the edge. Insulting his girlfriend for no reason was completely uncalled for. Comparing Raven to her mother still, even after everything she had done was insane. Dexter began to walk towards Hunter, getting rather angry himself. Now Dexter wasn’t much of a fighter but that didn’t mean he could just let something like that slide.
“Did you really just insult my girlfriend?” Dexter said. Darling could feel the energy shift, she quickly stood to her feet. Daring following her lead.
“Come on guys, that’s enough,” Darling said.
“You know I’m right. If Ashlyn could just wake up and leave me for the chance of meeting some prince. Raven could get power hungry any day and choose that power over you. It’s just in her nature to be evil.” Hunter said, the hate and anger flowing out with each word.
Logically speaking, Dexter knows that Hunter doesn’t mean a thing he’s saying. He’s just upset and heart broken. Dexter knew how much Hunter loved Ashlyn, he was just speaking of a broken heart. However, it’s incredibly hard to think logically when someone is calling the girl you love an evil hag. Dexter felt his fist clench, as he stepped closer. He was only able to get a single step closer before his brother and sister stepped in. Daring stepping in front of Dexter looking at Hunter.
“Alright that's enough of that, Hunter, come with me. Let’s go find something to take your mind off this” Daring said walking up to Hunter. Turning the heart broken boy away from his brother, both of them walking away.
“You better apologize when you go back to the dorm!” Dexter shouted over his sister.
“Dexter, you know he doesn’t mean any of that, he's your best friend” Darling said, pushing her brother back to the bench.
“That doesn’t matter, bringing Raven into this was totally not cool” Dexter responded.
“I know, but getting in a fist fight with your best friend who just got dumped isn’t a good look for you” Darling explained, “We’ve been in the spotlight a lot the past couple of years as a family, we don't need that”
Darling was right, after Daring not being Apple’s prince, Dexter denouncing his throne and Darling coming out as Apples true princess, all eyes were on them. "The perfect family has gone bad" according to some lame magazine.
“You’re right.” Dexter said.
“Of course I’m right, plus what if you lost? Then Daring would have had to step in and that would have made things even worse. Just let him cool off” Darling countied.
“You really think I'd lose just like that? He insulted Raven” Dexter questioned.
“Come on Dex, you’ve never been in a fist fight in your whole life. If you started now, I don’t think it would end in your favor” Darling said.
She wasn’t wrong, Dexter had never fought anyone and at times found violence pointless. Issues can be solved just fine with simple discussion. He wasn’t even sure why this time his only thought was to sock Hunter right in the jaw. The words Hunter used just made him think of how his parents would talk about Raven. People speaking about Raven in that manner made him irrationally angry. Hearing from his best friends mouth made it even worse,
“I would have though, for her” Dexter said.
“Oh writers, we already know Romeo. ‘Oh I just love Raven sooo much I’d run head first into a fight with a wild griffin if it would make you smile’ kissy kissy face” Darling mocked her brother. Clasping her hands together and puckering up her lips.
“As if you aren't that way around Apple. I see you carrying her books in the hallway and her walking around in your jackets. And what about the love notes you tape to her locker everyday too?” Dexter mentioned.
He had watched his sister’s relationship with Apple grow rather quickly since last year. They had started hanging out together more often once they accepted their feelings for each other. Dexter would find them together everywhere, giggling in the library “studying”, picnics in the everfree forest, and of course coffee dates at his job. It took them a while before becoming official, Apple saying that if they were destined to be together then they’d have all the time in the world. They were just as inseparable as they were when they were all kids. Growing up thinking they were going to be sister in laws, they used to do everything together. It made Dexter happy that his sister’s first ever best friend ended up being her princess.
“That’s completely different,” Darling said.
“Oh really, how about you enlighten me as to how?” Dexter asked.
Darling went to open her mouth, her eyes looking slightly upward. Dexter knew that look, she was thinking of something to say. Usually his sister was quite quick witted, but he could tell she was completely stumped.
“Really insightful sis, you’re completely right” Dexter teased.
“Come on Dex, it's a little different. Me and Apple have only been together for four months, you and Raven have been together for almost two years now. We’re still in our honeymoon stage” Darling responded.
Dexter hadn’t even realised how close he and Raven had been to their two year mark yet. Only two months away. They weren't able to spend their first anniversary together as Dexter’s parents wouldn’t allow him to leave the castle grounds. They tried everything to get Dexter to change his mind and take back his place inline for the throne. Yet the boy remained unbroken, Raven was the only thing he needed in his life, everything else will be figured out later.
“Just because Raven and I have been together longer doesn't mean that I can’t be just as romantic and in love as I was in the beginning” Dexter said.
Darling was trying to come up with another response when she looked past her brother and smiled. Dexter raised an eyebrow before turning around to see what she was smiling at. To no one's surprise, it was Apple of course, but with Apple was none other than Raven as well.
Watching the two from afar, he could tell that she was still working on her project. She was holding a stack of books and had a slight look of stress on her face. Raven also had a slight purple hue of magic surrounding her body, the stress overflowing her body. She had been working so hard on this project and she was so proud that she was going to be able to showcase it tomorrow. Dexter was just happy that she could finally relax after the presentation.
As Raven looked up from her stack of books, locking eyes with Dexter. He watched as the purple magic disappeared and a smile spread across her face. Oh how he adored that smile. As Dexter was busy looking longingly at his girlfriend, his sister had started jogging over to Apple. Dexter followed behind his sister, approaching the two girls. Darling walked up to Apple greeting her with a slight kiss on the cheek.
“Hello my Darling, what are you two up to?” Apple asked.
“Oh we were doing some training with Daring, but… We got interrupted” Darling said, unsure how to bring up what happened with Hunter.
“Oh? What happened?” Apple asked.
Dexter used them talking as a chance to give Raven a proper greeting. He leans down, kissing Raven's lips gently. As he did that, he lightly took the stack of books from Raven's arms. Dexter would carry her books from time to time, even though Raven had thought it was silly. She thought that she was perfectly capable of carrying her own books, and if she didn’t want to she could always use her magic. However, it made Dexter feel good so what was the harm?
“I don’t think that’s my story to tell love, but I’m sure you’ll hear about it soon,” Darling replied.
“Well, what are you two up to?” Dexter asked, not wanting to talk about what happened with Hunter anyway.
“We were trying to find Briar to ask for some help with my presentation tomorrow but we weren’t able to find her. So now we are heading to my locker to put these books away and then we’re heading charmitorium to rehearse my speech for tomorrow.” Raven explained.
“I'm sure everything is going to be perfect,” Dexter responded.
“I sure hope so,” Raven said.
The four walked together into the school. Dexter could tell news about Hunter and Ashlyn had gotten around. People were crowded around talking amongst themselves, pointing to their mirror phones. Blondie must have gotten the news and already posted about it. Not the best story to spread, but Blondie would take whatever she could get these days.
“Raven, what is your project about anyway? You’ve been so secretive about it, building the hexcitement so much I just can't wait anymore” Darling asked.
“She’s not gonna tell, hex I don’t even know what it is” Dexter said.
“At first I kept it a secret because I didn’t think it was going to work. Now it feels like it will all fall apart if I mention anything. There are only a couple of people who know what its about and that’s because I needed their help to pull it off” Raven explained.
“Girly, it's just a final assignment. You know that right?” Darling questioned.
“What I’m doing isn't just for the assignment, it's something I’m truly passionate about” Raven said.
“Do you want me to go with you to the charmitorium? You know I’ve worked in tech for the theater department. I can help with lighting, sound, digital displays, whatever you need. I'm your guy” Dexter said as they approached her locker.
“I wouldn’t want you to spend one of your only days off doing more work for me. I got this, you go have fun” Raven said as she opened her locker.
“It’s not really work if I get to spend some time with you,” Dexter said. He could hear his sister giggling slightly behind him. He knew exactly what she wanted to say, ‘That's exactly what I was talking about earlier’.
“It's okay Dex, thank you anyway.” Raven said as she finished putting the books into her locker.
“Okay, well what if we-” Dexter started.
“Oh there she is. Hey Briar!” Raven shouted over Dexter’s shoulder.
Dexter turned around to see Briar and Ashlyn walking down the hall heading to the dorm rooms in the opposite direction. Raven’s voice made both girls turn around. Even from a distance, you could tell that Ashlyn had been crying. Seeing the look of her friend made Apple let out a gasp before running over to the two girls.
“Oh no, what happened?” Raven questioned starting to head into the direction of Briar and Ashlyn.
“Ray, hold on,” Dexter said as he gently grabbed her hand.
Raven turns to look at Dexter with a slight confused look on her face.
“Oh right” Raven said, she moved closer to him kissing his lips quickly, “I love you, hex you later”
“I love you too, but lets-” Dexter started up once again.
Just like that she was half way down the hall, walking with the rest of the girls to the dorm rooms. Dexter was hoping that he would be able to plan something for dinner or after dinner. After all, they haven’t had any alone time in a month due to how busy they both have been. He had missed his princess so much it almost hurt. Dexter knew it wasn’t either of their faults, he just couldn’t wait for this all to be over. Just a few more days, and all of this will be behind them.
Even if some new issues could arise.