Chapter Text
Days pass, and everything within the manor is coming back to normal. Unfortunately, my parents returned home and informed us about the extra snails they will receive after the promotion. I tried to forget about that incident with Gus on that infamous night, but the memories always come back in my dreams or whenever I enter the kitchen.
I was approaching the finish mark of my abomination assignment when my pink rabbit lunch bag fell, causing all items to scatter. I stopped what I was doing and turned my attention to picking up the dropped items but froze at the sight of the blue plastic container. The memories started to come back like a curse. I went back to pick up the items and placed my lunch bag in a safer position.
The container is all that remains from the mess, and I picked it up with more care. For the past few weeks or so, my only crush was Luz. She has this different energy when she enters the room and makes my day brighter whenever she smiles at me. However, that incident made me feel and think differently about my emotions towards another individual and her. Unlike Luz, Gus makes me more relaxed and puts me at ease, even on my darkest day. Not only that, we kiss! TWICE!
I've never considered him a love interest in a million years, but now that I compare the two, he has similar qualities as Luz. They're both cheerful, never in a bad mood, and both have the biggest, brightest eyes I've seen. However, what separates him is his intelligence and overall demeanor. While he can be loud and careless at times, he knows when to stop and can be severe when the time comes. Anyways, I need to finish this project, or else I'm running into Hexside with an unprepared assignment.
The school bell screamed, indicating that it was third-period, the class I share with Augustus. The class before third was my abomination class, my favorite one of all. My abomination teacher was always impressed by my work, but I was never confident, even when I finished. Despite this low confidence, I was still awarded an A+ grade for my abomination assignment. I knew that stardust would work. However, the third-period class is anatomy, where we learn about the different skeletal structures of every creature type in the Boling Isles. I was never a fan of it.
After settling down to my sitting position, the third left row, the anatomy teacher appeared with her unique skeleton staff. "Good afternoon, everyone, I know we're almost halfway through this day and many of you are tired." She said with an awkward smile and followed it up with a forced laugh. You can say that again, I thought to myself.
The teacher continued, "As part of your final skeletal examination, you will be partnering up to study each of the three random bones that your partner selects. Afterwards, you will identify who do they belong to by providing the species name, and identify at least ten similarities and ten differences between the three bones." Every classmate moaned after hearing this. "Keep complaining because I will be selecting your partners." I heard More moans from my classmates but was nervous about having Augustus as my partner.
Ms. Amspoker pulled a sheet of paper from her red folder and started calling out the names in pairs. "Jason and Tyrone, Majesty and Asterisk, Lindy and Maximus…" So far, she hasn't called my name, but neither did she call Gus's name. It felt like an eternity before she said my name. "Amity and…" Not Gus, not Gus, I repeated to myself. "Augustus." Of course.
If the teacher didn't have enough control, she also chooses what table each pair will work at to identify the bones. Gus and I were on the far right back corner of the classroom, opposite the windows. When he sat in front of me with the three random bones, no word was spoken between us. Even making eye contact was a difficult task.
"Enough of this." Gus said to break the ice. "Let's just move on from what happened because I don't want things to be problematic whenever we're face-to-face." After saying this, Augustus spread out the three bones and started writing his name on the worksheet. He was right. Even though I said I don't want anything complicated between us, I couldn't stop thinking about that night or him.
I admired his leadership and his resilience in moving forward. I, too, wrote my name, but I accidentally touched his hand, which caused us to lean back from one another. I used my best efforts to finish writing and gave Gus the worksheet.
It's been almost thirty minutes, and only a few minutes were remaining before my fourth-period class started. I already gave my five similarities and differences, so Gus had to do the final portion of the assignment.
His big eyes kept going in a back-and-forth motion, from the bones to the paper and back to the bones. I started to realize how cute he looked—such a little guy with immense determination. I didn't know I was staring at him until he pointed it out. "Amity, what are you doing?"
I had my elbow on the table and my arm supporting my head as it tilted to one side. "No-nothing, I was just, uh," I looked around the room to find a good excuse, "looking at...the clock on top of you." I said while pointing at the clock.
Gus's head turned around to see the clock with tiny bird bones like the arms to indicate the time. "Okay…" He said uncomfortably and went back to finishing our group work. I knew I made the situation worse. I think to myself, how can I make it better. The blue container! I pulled out my bag and took out the toothbrush container from the top pocket of my bag.
When putting the container in his vision, Gus dropped his pencil and gasped with surprise. "No way, I thought I lost it for good." He took the piece of plastic from my hand and opened it to make sure if his toothbrush was still in tack. "Thanks, Amity, I'm sorry I left it after you know what." I blushed a little, but I gained more confidence.
Gus pulled out his bag, but when he tried to find a good place for the toothbrush, two rectangular pieces of paper flew out suddenly. "Don't worry, I'll get that for you." After bending down to receive them, I read the name on the paper, and it turned out that they were tickets for the Annual Witching Hour, located at the skull.
I knew all of this because it was my dream to go, but they were too expensive, even for me. My family went there one time when we were on vacation, but that was before I met Willow, such a long time ago, I said to myself. I could not believe Augustus had two tickets for the event, and then I realized the Witching Hour was tonight!
"Oh yeah, the Annual Witching Hour," Gus struggled, "My father and I are supposed to go later tonight, but he had to work double overtime to pay for them. Now that I think about it, he doesn't have time at all to even attend." He bowed his head with a depressed look as I gave him his entry to the event. I didn't know what to say at that moment. His dad worked extra hours to realize that he won't have time left over even to accompany him during the event.
"Maybe I can come with you…." I said so nervously. There were times when I talked without thinking, and this was one of them. Nevertheless, my words changed Gus's expression with a surprised wide-eyed appearance. "You mean it?" He replied.
"Of course, you know, if your father is too busy with work, I can come," I said with a smile, "but as a friend!" I said to reassure him of our current friendship. Now filled with excitement, Gus put his tickets away and got up from his chair to give me the longest hug I could remember receiving. I hugged back, knowing that I got to go to one of, if not my favorite, events.
The school day flew by after anatomy, and I sat on the staircase leading to the front entrance of Hexside, waiting to see if Augustus needed me. "Hey, Amity!" Out of nowhere, a voice called my name, and after turning around, it was Luz. "You got any plans tonight?" She said with a smirk as she sat down next to me, but I felt less nervous around her.
I looked back at my scroll before answering her. "So far, no." After saying this, Luz took out an Azura book, especially the second edition, and flipped through the pages before saying another word. "Well, you know it's Azura book club today, and I still can't get my mind off of the grand mountain Azura had to conquer before facing the three-headed tiger." I completely forgot about our club today, but I still knew what chapter she was indicating.
"Oh I know, but it was technically Azura's fault for not taking the flying clouds from mother nature herself." Luz quickly reacted to my statement. "Yeah, but those clouds have a chance of zapping her out of the air." Our little Azura conversation went on for a while until my scroll vibrated with a notification. While Luz was still fangirling about the scene, I checked to see that it was Gus. He told his dad that I would hang out with him during the Witching Hour, so his father said that I could come along.
"Hey Luz, I love this talk, but something came up and I am needed somewhere else." Luz understood, and she picked up the book and her conspiracy theory notes before waving goodbye. "Maybe later, best friend!" Ouch, that still hurts, but thankfully, pain is only temporary.
After arriving home, Augustus informed me that he would use his dad's palisman and pick me up after sundown. The only conflict would be my mother since she never let me out of the manor, especially if it's a school night. Gus took care of that problem by sending me an illusion of myself sleeping when he arrived.
The plan was full-proof, but there was a lot of time between now and when he arrived. Luckily for me, all my homework is almost done, so I spend most of the time selecting what to wear. Like I said to Gus, I didn't want to be in a relationship that involves us being more than friends, and I used this desire to see what dress is most appropriate. The Grand Witching Hour was a special occasion since it's been forever since I attended the Witching Hour, and I wanted to finally set the record to Augustus and everyone that we are nothing more than friends.
The dresses inside made my wardrobe look like a rainbow because of its wide range of colors and pigments. I spend several minutes going through the dresser before settling on a pink spaghetti strap dress. I thought that if I looked too fancy, Gus would have the wrong impression of this late-night event being a date rather than a hangout. At the same time, I can't be putting on the same black dress because it will show that I don't care.
After putting it on, I summoned a large mirror to see my entire body in the reflection. I looked better than expected, but my scroll was vibrating, interrupted my admiration. Gus said that he had arrived, so as part of the plan, I used the teleportation portal for him to walk into my room from the front yard. I didn't want anyone in my family to know about this hangout because it breaks at least 19 rules that my parents placed.
I cleaned my room before performing the spell, and I soon saw his attire when he walked through the portal. He was wearing a teal color shirt with a unique pattern all over and lighted brown leggings. He looked more excellent than before, but I immediately stopped having these thoughts. "Are you sure everyone is asleep?" Gus asked with a whisper. I nodded as I looked at the time on my scroll, and it was already past my curfew.
As part of our plan to get me out of here without any Blight knowing, Gus would teleport to my room to perform his illusion magic in making a sleeping Amity clone. After drawing a circle in the air, my bed covers were lifted by an unknown object underneath. I pulled the blankets to reveal the clone, resting in a deep slumber with my ordinary nightgown. "Wow," I said with amazement, "you are a lot better than my siblings." His eyes widened with surprise. "You really mean it?"
"I do," I replied while placing the covers back on top of my clone, "all Edric and Emira do is procrastinate and never bother completing their assignments. Unlike them, you're not lazy and you're really smart." That last part made Gus blush, and seeing him blush made me do the same.
We went through the portal, which took both of us outside on the manor's front lawn. We were in the clear, and I followed Gus to his father's Pailsman. It was a long, pure white dove waiting for our arrival. "My father's palisman isn't the fastest, but it can still get us there in one piece." Gus said with an act of confidence. He lowered the palisman to a reachable sitting position, and as he put his right leg over the staff, I did the same.
Unlike the day, the Boiling Isles at night felt like a different world, with its glittering stars and shades of green and blue filled the sky. The wind, too, felt different for its comforting blow as the gust moved my hair. Augustus surprised me again with his riding skills. For sure, he knows more than me. Another reason why I despise my parents because they would never let me touch, let alone ride their palisman.
The ride to the skull was longer than anticipated, so I stared at the sky for most of the trip before realizing that I was leaning my body towards Augustus's back. "Oh I am so sorry!" I said while leaning back to my original position. "No it's fine," Gus replied, "it will be a while before the Witching Hour starts, so just relax if you can." I didn't know what to say at that moment. I felt too embarrassed to answer back, so I leaned towards him again but felt more relaxed and soothing than before.
The remainder of the trip was short, but I ended up sleeping while leaning on Gus's back. I woke up with a red face after realizing it, but Gus just laughed and shrugged it off like it was no big deal. After stepping off of the dove, it flapped its wings into the distance. I was concerned. "Don't worry," Gus said. "He comes back when you whistle. Let's go!" He took my hand, and we were both running towards the gates like kids.
The entrance was as grand as I remembered it, tall long gates with the bars painted in a green and red color scheme. The four-eyed tentacle ticket holder was upfront to see if we had an admission. He let us through after Gus showed the two tickets I saw come out of his school bag earlier today.
The hangout is happening, I thought to myself. I mean, going to the Grand Witching Hour after 13 years is one thing, but spending so much time with Augustus late at night is another. The main event is where all the witches holding the event come together around a giant hole with no bottom. The witches pour and demonstrate all the wild magic they know and throw them into the bottomless pit, which is technically the eye, but no one can see the end. The reason why the event is so late and out of sight from the public because these wild witches need to keep a low profile or be captured by Belos's army.
Since the main event doesn't start until an hour, Gus suggested that we experience every ride and carnival game. He showed me the number of snails he has in his cute little pouch. The amount of snails he has is unbelievable; we can stay here all night playing together if we wanted to.
The first game we played caught the snake, where you need to grab the snake before it hides its hole and tosses it to the bucket to see what random prize you get. The games were nearly the same with a few modifications to the rules, but that is one of the many reasons why I love this annual event. It always stays true to itself.
After a couple of tires, Augustus finally grabbed the snake's rattle and slowly took hold of the entire body before lifting it off the ground. He threw the snake with all his strength he had to remain, and a sound effect played when it went through the large brown and black bucket. The leader of the game booth clapped with joy and proceeded to give us a large stuffed heart.
Gus and I were both blushing when receiving this prize. "Excuse, sir." I said as the game leader turned his crab head around. "You wouldn't mind giving us another prize?" He replied to my question with a laugh. "Sorry kid, but if you want to change your prize, you have to play the whole game again." After he said this, Gus and I looked at each other before deciding to keep the heart. We were exhausted anyway.
After walking around the carnival to pass the time, Gus looked ashamed while I was holding his heart. "I'm sorry I couldn't win another prize, Amity. I know I said where we're going to play every game, but chasing after that snake really took my lungs away." I turned my head to him. "What are you talking about? I love this heart." I said with a smile.
"Wait, really?" He stopped walking and turned his whole body towards me. "Yeah," I said with a grin as I stopped in my tracks. "I know it's a reminder of the sleepover, but I don't mind at all. We're still friends at the end of the day and the heart is really soft. I could use it as my new pillow." We both laughed after I said this. "But still, you did promise me we were going to ride every attraction."
We rode on all kinds of dangerous rides; the Dreamer Shaker, Charlotte's Revenge, Tea Cups of Death, and my favorite, Cluster Rounder. A couple of times, we held onto each other every time something scary was approaching, but the more we did it, the less uncomfortable we were. After we received our pictures, we always commented to each other, and we both shared a good laugh about it.
Finally, the main event was starting. Gus and I were running to Titian's left eye to meet with a crowd of people, but we were all blocked off with a fence with the same architectural pattern as the front gate. All seven wild witches were all sitting down on the ground, waiting for the crow to give the signal.
“KKRRAAA...KKRRAAA...KKRRRAAAAA…”
They stood up and began to cast every magic trick they knew. Every witch was doing their own thing; one was summoning vultures out of thin air, the other made exotic plants sprout from the Titian's skull itself. It was random yet organized in what each of them did. More spells came into fruition, growing extra limbs, making their skin glow in the dark, and the ultra finale happened when all seven breathed different color fire up to the sky. It wasn't long before every single flame went back down and went through Titian's left eye, causing an explosion of color and sparkles to fill the sky above. After the blast settled down, all the wild witches bowed towards the crowd from every direction, and soon we all applauded their talents.
Despite it being the main event, the rides and games were still operating for only a limited time. Gus took me to other passages he heard about from his father, who went to the Witching Hour multiple times as an adolescent. He knew about the event more than me. We finally decided to head back home before the sun rose. I am now sitting on this bench on the right front side of the carnival. I have the heart still in my arms as I wait for Gus from the bathroom.
The four-eyed ticket holder was in the middle of packing his bags before coming towards me. "Fun night, was it?' I nod in response. He continued as he cleaned his four lens glasses. "You look like you were having fun. I remembered you and your boyfriend riding almost every ride, but you missed the Atlantic Nightmare, which had a long line anyways."
I straighten up to meet his glance. "Boyfriend? Gus and I aren't dating!" I said with frustration. "We're just friends hanging out past our curviews. That's it." The holder took a step back with his hands up high as if he was arrested for a crime. "Sorry. I mean you and that other young witch looked cute together." He put his hands down. "I guess that is why you can't make assumptions or else everyone will be offended." He walked back to his workplace and soon out of my sight.
What a jerk, I said in my mind. Creatures like the ticket holder need to mind their own business. I hugged the heart pillow even more because the night changed from neutral to cold and windy. "Sorry for the long wait," I heard someone say from my left side. It was Gus. "Suprisley there was a line even though the carnival was closing." He walked closer to the bench before giving a loud whistle to the sky. The dove palisman flew in, along with the staff.
Gus took hold of it but didn't bother using it yet. We both sat on the bench staring into the view, and we could see the ribcage and the knee from our position. "Well," I finally broke the silence. "Aren't you going to use your Palisman to take me home?" Gus still looked relaxed as ever, as if all the problems in the Boiling Isles were gone.
"What's the rush? There's still time left and I just want to spend some time with you. No romantic stuff of course." He said in a low tone voice, but I was not in the mood to talk. "I want to spend time with you too, but I'm cold and I know for a fact my mother wakes up early for no reason." Gus was still looking into the distance while I said this. "I'm just afraid that she will go into my room and figure out that it's an illusion. Then there will be real consequences."
It took some time before Gus could respond, which made me more irritated than before. "Before that incident we had a couple of nights ago, you were always my favorite from the group." My angry expression turned puzzled, and I soon forgot about the cold. He turned his head to me before expanding on his statement. "I mean it. Luz is great, but she's only different from the other girls because she's not from here. Willow Park, I knew her for almost my whole life, but she can be a buzzkill when it comes to taking risks. For me, you're like the perfect friend for me. Tough and loveable, all at the right time."
My heart skipped a beat when he finished that last part, but I was confused about what he was trying to say. "So? What does that have to do with the situation at hand?" Augustus didn't say anything again but instead touched the heart pillow that I was still hugging close to me. "You're right, what was I thinking? All I wanted to say was...can we please hang out again. Sometime in the future?" I knew he was catching feelings for me, yet I was the first one.
"Yes, we can hang out some other time." He smiled with those big gorgeous eyes. "Just take me home, or else you and I will see the real Ms. Blight." We both laughed, and soon we were up in the sky again. It was strange how the weather is so cold from the skull but warmer when closer to outer space. I hugged both the heart and Gus as he stirs the palisman to my manor.
I was finally in my room after walking through the teleportation portal. I couldn't use the doorway to get us to the Grand Witching Hour because teleportation can only work in close-range locations. The room was pitch black, but I used a small light spell to light up the room. After placing the pillow on one of my wall shelves, I took off the spaghetti strap dress and my undergarments. I was completely naked.
I was too tired to change into my nightgowns, so I turned back to my bed; GUS IS IN MY ROOM! I yelped and fell backward onto the wooden floor. I got up slowly, still naked, before Gus said anything else. "Sorry," He said in a whisper. "I almost forgot, these illusions are more advanced. The only way for them to disappear is…."
"Why are you in my room?" I cut him off with an angry whisper. I took one of my carpets from the floor to cover myself. "That's what I'm trying to explain. They only disappear if I slice them." He demonstrated by using his hand to swipe on the clone's waistline. The illusion disappeared in a blue cloud formation and soon faded away. "See."
My face was as red as ever before. I squatted so the bed can cover my lower body. "You should've warned me that you were coming through the portal too. Now you saw me naked." Gus stepped back from the bed and looked down at the floor with a sad look. "Amity, I didn't mean to…" He was cut off again, but this time it was my parents' voices. "Oh no." We both said.
"I thought I heard a sound coming from Amity's room, dear." My father said, "Or perhaps an intruder." Gus and I both heard their footsteps as they made their way to my room. Panic filled both of us, and out of quick thinking, Gus turned the light orb off. I tossed the carpet away and jumped on my bed before Gus jumped on top of me. We were both under my bed covers.
The door creaked open, and through the silk sheets, we can see their shadow silhouette from the hallway light. A slight pause felt like years, and now I was sweating out of fear. Thankfully, my mother closed the door. "You're probably hearing voices again. Maybe one more appointment to the psychology institution?" I heard more footsteps, but they were towards the master's bedroom, and they soon faded away. They were gone.
Now underneath the covers with me, Gus is currently pressing onto my naked body, hoping my parents were gone. His right hand held on to my left breast, but I did not notice until the manor was dead silent again. "Okay Gus," I said in the lowest whisper that he could hear. "The coast is clear."
However, when he did press off of me, the weight difference on the bed made the floor creak, loud enough for the whole family to hear. There were more mumble phrases from the bedroom, but they went away without footsteps following it. Gus tried again, but there was another loud creak, so he returned to his original position. He was stuck lying on top of me.
Luckily for me, I could move my right hand without any noise, and I cast another small light spell underneath the sheets. After creating the light orb, I saw Gus's disturbed face, and I, too, was nervous about what will happen next. "Amity," he said. "What do we do?" His breath on my face felt nice, but I shook it off as I tried to come up with a plan. "I think...we need to face the obvious. We have no other choice but to stay where we are and wait it out." After saying this, Gus and I stared at each other, but our worries slowly transformed into love.
It's been two hours since we laid here, and I used my right hand to stroke his hair as Gus used his right hand to stroke my breast. He reminded me of a baby laying on his mother's chest, but at the same time, Augustus reminded me of an adult caring for his loved one. I never looked at Gus's eyes this long, but I can see the universe in them. His skin was softer than the bed, and his hair was even more delicate. I remembered the first time I stroked his hair at the sleepover, but that was the worst first impression.
After everyone in the manor was sleeping and the abomination guards shut down, I finally dared to ask Augustus about that conversation we had in the Witching Hour. "Remember back in the event when we both sat on the bench and you said I was your favorite?" He nodded in response. "Well why did you say that? Just to flirt with me or raise my self esteem?"
"Because you are." He said as he moved his right hand to my neck. "I still like Luz and Willow as friends, but the vibes you give off, I just can't explain it. You're the smartest person I know, definitely the most responsible, but you know how to have fun." This time he was blushing, and for a witch with dark pigment skin, he had the brightest red blush I've seen.
"It's funny really." I started to say. "Luz almost never gives her time to me. I did see her catch feelings for me one time."
"Do you still want to be with her?" I shook my head to answer his question. "I'm probably wasting my time with her. Even as friends she would get herself into trouble then I have to save her or she has to save me. If we do become a couple, I think the problems would get worse. I just need a distraction from my stressful life and you seem to be the antidote to all those problems."
Gus smiled a little, showing his teeth. "Can we become more than friends?" My eyes widened at his statement. "What?"
He continued. "You know, in secret? I like being around you and this was my best night of my life. I know you want to be friends, but I don't. At the very least, can we kiss again?" I didn't know what to say. I was paralyzed even to answer.
I didn't answer at all. Gus's face was so close to mine, and his breath on my face felt way too lovely. I leaned my neck forward without thinking, and he did the same thing. This kiss was the peak of the night and probably my life. He put both arms around my head as he lay still on top of my nude body. The floor creaked a little from our movements, but everyone in the manor was already asleep to even hear them.
When we were finished, we found ourselves finally lying on the bed and taking one side for each of us. Staring at each other with amazement, Augustus lay still on the left while I lay still on the right. My string to keep my ponytail up vanished, so I ended up laying on my pillow with my hair down while Augustus slept without a pillow.
It was settled. We are boyfriend and girlfriend, but no one has to know about it. We soon drifted to our dreams, and even if someone did find out, I didn't care what anyone said about our relationship. I love the way Augustus looks, the way he talks, the special moments when we share a laugh, and he cares about me more than anything.
And I care about him.