Chapter Text
The rain started just as school ended.
Of course it did.
Apple stood beneath the front entrance, hugging her backpack against her chest while students rushed past her with umbrellas and jackets.
She sighed.
Forgot mine again.
"You're impossible."
Apple looked up.
There was Cherish.
Standing beside her.
Holding an umbrella.
Smiling.
Apple immediately smiled back.
"Hi."
"Hi."
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them stopped smiling.
It was embarrassing.
And perfect.
"Come on," Cherish said, opening the umbrella wider. "I'll walk you home."
Apple slipped underneath it.
Their shoulders bumped.
Neither pulled away.
The walk was quiet.
Comfortable.
The kind of silence that only happened when two people knew each other well.
Very well.
Apple stole a glance at Cherish.
The girl she loved.
The girl she'd been dating for almost a year.
The girl who somehow made every bad day feel lighter.
"You keep staring."
Apple nearly tripped.
"I wasn't staring."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
"You absolutely were."
Apple groaned.
Cherish laughed.
And the sound made Apple's heart do stupid things.
For a moment everything felt perfect.
Until Apple noticed Cherish wasn't laughing anymore.
"Hey."
No response.
"Cherish?"
The smile had disappeared.
Apple's stomach tightened.
"What's wrong?"
Cherish looked away.
The rain tapped softly against the umbrella.
Then she whispered,
"My family is moving."
Everything stopped.
Apple blinked.
"What?"
"We're moving."
The words felt unreal.
"No."
"It's true."
"No."
"Cherish—"
"No."
Because that wasn't supposed to happen.
They had plans.
Summer plans.
Movie nights.
Birthday plans.
Future plans.
You weren't supposed to lose people when you finally found them.
Apple felt tears burning her eyes.
"Where?"
"A different city."
"When?"
"A month."
A month.
Thirty days.
Four weeks.
Apple looked down.
Because if she looked at Cherish she was going to cry.
And she hated crying.
Unfortunately.
She cried anyway.
The first tear hit the sidewalk.
Then another.
Then another.
"Oh."
Apple laughed shakily.
"I'm crying."
"Yeah."
"This is embarrassing."
"A little."
That made them both laugh.
For exactly three seconds.
Before Apple broke down completely.
Cherish immediately wrapped her arms around her.
And Apple buried her face into her shoulder.
"It's not fair."
"I know."
"We just got happy."
"I know."
"I hate this."
"I know."
The rain kept falling.
But neither moved.
Eventually Apple whispered,
"Are you still going to love me?"
Cherish pulled back immediately.
"What?"
"When you leave."
The hurt in Cherish's eyes was immediate.
"Apple."
"What if you meet someone better?"
"Apple."
"What if you forget me?"
"Apple."
Cherish gently grabbed both of her hands.
"Listen to me."
Apple looked up.
"There is nobody better."
Apple's breath caught.
"And I could never forget you."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Forever?"
Cherish smiled softly.
"Forever."
Apple started crying again.
"You're making me emotional."
"You were already emotional."
"That's not the point."
"It absolutely is."
Despite everything.
Despite the fear.
The sadness.
The ache sitting inside both of them.
They laughed.
Because that was what they always did.
Weeks passed.
Too quickly.
Every day became precious.
Every text.
Every call.
Every walk home.
Every hug.
They held onto every moment like it was made of glass.
And then.
The day arrived.
The train station felt too big.
Too loud.
Too final.
Apple hated it.
Cherish hated it too.
Neither wanted to say goodbye.
Because saying goodbye made it real.
The announcement echoed through the station.
Final boarding.
Apple felt tears gathering again.
"No."
Cherish laughed through her own tears.
"That's not how trains work."
"They should."
"They really shouldn't."
Apple sniffed.
Then suddenly stepped forward and hugged her.
Hard.
Like she could stop time.
Like she could keep her there forever.
Cherish hugged her back just as tightly.
"I love you."
Apple's voice cracked.
"I love you too."
"Call me."
"I will."
"Every day."
"Every day."
"Don't forget."
"I won't."
The announcement sounded again.
Cherish slowly pulled away.
Neither wanted to let go.
But eventually.
They had to.
One last kiss.
One last smile.
One last promise.
Then Cherish boarded the train.
Apple watched until she couldn't see her anymore.