Chapter Text
Raine was a shy and reserved witch which is why it was so surprising to see them at a grudgby match on a Friday night. These types of games weren’t for the faint of heart. Aggressive crowds, loud yelling, and injured players left and right made it hard for the music-loving witch to come to these school events. Especially tonight’s game, the finals against Hexsides rival school Glandus High.
Almost every student was here to watch witches fight for their lives on the field, dodging wild beasts and acid-like potions. But Raine was only here to see one witch.
“Raine? What are you doing here?” A voice called from behind making them jump. Turning around they recognized the taller girl. She wore her messy curly hair in a ponytail with her usual large glasses on her nose. It was Lilith, the grudgby captain. But more importantly, it was Eda’s older sister.
Raine had been cowering outside of the grudgby field, trying their best to gain enough courage to join the rest of the students in the stands but their fear of loud and unsanitary crowds had been keeping them there up until the older witch interrupted their little episode.
They had only ever talked once or twice before. Like when Raine would swing by the Clawthorne house to see Eda or at less rowdy school events when they both decided to stick with the younger Clawthorn sister. Although Raine’s interest was with Eda they still wanted Lilith to think well of them, after all, she was Eda’s sister.
“O-oh! Hello Lilith!” The witch plastered a painfully awkward smile onto their face.
Their violin case was strapped onto their back. The witch’s hand grasping onto the strap that went from under their arm and over their shoulder. They had been at an after-school practice before making their way to the grudgby field which left them no time to leave the instrument at home. Although they didn’t mind much. The instrument had always brought them some sense of comfort. The same way Eda did. That’s why they were here.
“Hi, Raine.” The redhead’s face held a bit of confusion, “ So..?”
The green-haired witch began to quickly look around confused. Had they missed something?
“So?” They responded.
“So what are you doing here?”
“Oh right.” A blush began to form on their cheeks “I’m here to watch the big game of course! Go Hexside! Kill those Glandus freaks! Kill! Kill! Kill!” They raised their arm in the air for emphasis but their voice lacked passion making the sentence come off as forced, which it was. They let out an awkward chuckle making the situation even more ridiculous.
“Really? I didn’t think this would be your scene?” Lilith said with a knowing face. She would often see her little sister harmonizing with the bard-struck witch on the hill near the school. It wasn’t hard for her to put the pieces together.
“Well, I just wanted to come support my f-friend.” Raines’s eyes refused to meet Liliths.
It wasn’t like they were lying. They were here to see Eda play and Eda was their “friend”. At least Raine thinks Eda is their friend but then again it would be ignorant to ignore the stolen moments they’ve shared while alone. Okay, they weren’t sure what Eda was to them. But that didn’t matter right now. What mattered was getting through this conversation.
“Right.” Lilith let out a small smiling meaning she would let the younger witch get away this time.
“Well, the game’s almost about to start. Why aren’t you in the stands?” The redhead asked.
“W-well you see I was just… um-” Raine couldn’t find an excuse that was any less embarrassing than the truth.
“I guess big crowds kind of freak me out.” They felt the blood flow to their face again as they scratched the back of their neck.
“Hmm” The grudgby captain nodded in understanding. “Yeah, I know what you mean. But the thing about crowds is that once you’re in them you’re just as unnoticeable as the rest of the witches there. So you just have to go join them.”
She smiled at the younger witch comfortingly. Though Raine had only talked to them in passing Eda would tell them about her. She was also shy and reserved, often being the victim of bullying at Hexside. But after becoming the grudgby captain she stepped into her element. She wouldn’t laugh at Raines’s insecurities because they were also hers.
“I was just about to check on all of the girl’s things on the bleachers before they come out. Do you want to walk in with me?” Lilith began to walk towards the bleachers and Rained nodded following her.
Although the team captain had just appeared in front of the Hexside student body, few applause or cheers were made as they walked by. Raine would have thought the crowd would go crazy at her appearance but they had been wrong. Maybe they were saving their voices for the first injury.
While Lilith began checking the water cooler and some of the bags left for the team, Raine realized the bleachers were filled to the brim with students, teachers, parents, and alumni. It seemed there were no seats left.
This is what they got for waiting so long to join the rest of the students. No way they could find a seat in this crowd. No one would even have the kindness to make room for them either. They should just leave. This was too embarrassing. But. No. They were here to see Eda play her big match. Right. For Eda. Maybe they could sit on the stairs? Would that be too humiliating?
“Hey, do you think you could make some room for my friend?” Lilith asked a student sitting in the front row, pulling Raine’s attention away from their potential seat on the stairs.
The witch who wore brown sleeves gave Lilith an annoyed look before going back to the conversation he was having with the girl next to him.
“It’s okay Lilith I can just-”
“Hey!” Lilith yelled over the crowd, catching a few people’s attention, “I’m asking nicely for you to make some room for the grudgbys captain’s friend, do you think you can do that?”
“The grudgby captain?” The teen said in a surprised tone, almost scared, “Oh gosh I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize that was you! Of course, I’ll make room. I’m so sorry Lilith.”
He put up his hands in apology as he moved to the right making room for Raine. Lilith motioned for the witch to sit in the space that was just made for them. Taking their seat they placed their instrument under the bleachers and took it all in. They had never been to a grudgby match. Much less sitting in the front row of a grudgby match. At least they would be able to see Eda well from here.
“All right well everything seems to be up to par out here. I’m gonna go join the rest of the team before we make our big entrance.” Lilith turned to walk away before stopping and turning back to face Raine.
“Actually before I leave could I do something real quick?” She said while taking something out of her letterman jacket.
Well, she had been so helpful to Raine. They wouldn’t just deny her. Why not?
“Sure. What is it?” They looked at the object in Lilith’s hands as she popped off the cap. She held… a marker?
“Here.” She grabbed ahold of the younger witch’s face and began to write something on their cheeks. “It’s non-permanent. Just wash it off with some water after the game.”
Pulling back she checked both sides to make sure it hadn’t come out wonky. But she nodded to herself which let Raine know that it was up to her standard. She put the marker back into her jacket now pulling out a small hand mirror. Putting it to Raine’s face revealed that she had written “#34” on both of their cheeks. They knew what that number was.
“It’s Eda’s number.” Lilith said letting Raine know in case they were unaware, “Most of the player’s partners write their girlfriend’s numbers on their cheeks to be supportive and all so I thought you might want to follow suit.”
“Partners? Girlfriend?” Raine immediately felt their face go white and then red in a matter of seconds, “I’m not! Eda’s just a-”
“Okay, I have to go! Bye Raine!” Lilith had already begun walking away. Waving her hand as she disappeared behind the crowd.
With her gone Raine could take in what she had said. Or implied. Which was that Eda was their... That they were someone to write her grudgby number on their cheeks. But did that mean Lilith would approve if they were…
They wondered just how much the black ink stood out against their flushed skin.
Soon enough the announcer came onto the speaker to introduce the teams. First came Glandus High. As they ran onto the field the students around the young witch began to boo and shout in disapproval but from across the field came cheers of encouragement. The Glandus side was also filled up to the brim leaving no seat empty. It seemed like this was a night not to miss for both schools.
“Now welcome our home team! The Hexside banshees!!” The voice over the speaker roared, making the crowd go wild. Witches stood around them cheering player’s names as they ran onto the field. First came Lilith running in front of the bleachers waving to the crowd. Behind her came a girl wearing green under her chest guard, then a girl in pink, and then-
“Eda!” Raine stood up almost as an involuntary reaction to seeing the pale girl. Waiving their hands above their heads trying to gain her attention they shouted again, “Edalyn!”
As they cupped their hands around their mouth to call for Eda’s attention from the field they began to notice some of the other students doing the same.
“Babe! Baby look over here!” A girl a few seats down with “#12” written on her face and a sign that read “Go #12” shouted, “Babe I sAID LOOK OVER HERE!!” She began to get agitated.
As both of the teams began to settle down near the bleachers to talk game the younger Clawthrorne finally caught Raine’s eye in the crowd. She began to jog towards the witch, ignoring her sister’s shouts from behind her. She wore a letterman’s jacket similar to Lillith’s and paint under her eyes for decoration.
“Raine! You made it!” She grabbed onto the railing that separated them, “I thought for sure the crowd would make you bail.” She spoke in a teasing voice.
“Yeah right, this crowd doesn’t scare me.” Raine rolled their eyes to show just how little they cared.
“GO HEXSIDE! KILL THOSE BITCHES!!” A voice shouted from behind the green-haired witch causing them to jump. Raine’s reaction caused a loud and violent cackle straight from Eda’s gut.
“Ah. Raine, you kill me.” She wiped the tears that began to form in her eyes.
That smile did things to them. It was something not many people got to see. Eda was the school’s trouble maker after all. It wasn’t something that a troublemaker would show off. Sure she had that shit-eating grin she would wear proudly when she would be caught spray painting the lockers or using magic on the lunch tables but this smile was different. This smile held joy, calmness, and even some vulnerability. Many only saw her as a menace. An inconvenience even. But not Raine. To Raine Edalyn Clawthorne was… everything. She was the music in their heart. The flutter in their stomach. And that smile was reserved for them. How lucky were they? To be able to say that. That this smile was theirs and just theirs. And here and now that smile, that mouth was so close. Close enough to-
“Hey, you’re wearing my number!” Eda’s voice snapped Raine back to reality.
“Huh? Oh yeah.” They reached up to touch the paint on their cheek. It had already dried. “Lilith lent me her paint marker.”
“Lilith?” Eda turned to look at her sister who was currently talking to the rest of the grudgby team. Probably game planning but Eda could care less, “You guys talked before we came out?”
“Yeah for a bit.” Raine shrugged
“Sounds like bullshit. We both know you can barely talk to kids in our grade. No way you talked to my older sister. Even though she’s nothing to consider cool.” Eda curled her fingers in quotations.
Though what Eda was saying could be considered mean, Raine knew that she meant no harm from it. In fact, she would only tease those she really cared about like this. It was the opposite of mean.
“Har har Edalyn” Raine returned her cocky smile. “How about you go win Hexside this game so I can get out of this freezing cold weather.” Raine hadn’t realized just how cold it would be this Friday night and although they had on their long-leaved Hexside school uniform it did little to trap their warmth.
“Well I definitely am going to win Hexside this game,” Eda leaned over the railing, “Buuutttt it’s gonna take a while.”
The witch let out a scoff in response.
“Good things come to those who wait and some other wise crap,” Eda spoke in a voice that mimicked some of their professors. “But till then you can have this.”
She stepped back and unbuttoned her jacket, wiggling it down her arms. She took it into her hand, holding it out for Raine to take.
“Your letterman jacket?” They felt blood run to their cheeks for just about the thousandth time tonight. “I can’t take that! It’s yours and… you’ll get cold!”
“Ah, I won’t be needing it soon. I’m about to get all sweating running around on the field,” She reached out wrapping her sweater around Raine’s torso. “Keep it safe for me till I’m out of here okay?”
“Okay,” They said in a low whisper. Unsure if they’d be able to speak any louder.
The idea of wearing Eda’s jacket caused stress to the witch.... well... because that’s something that couples did. The popular kids would always show off their partner’s jackets in the hallways of school, wearing them with pride. Raine never liked it. They thought of it as something similar to a leash. A decoration to say “this one’s mine”. It was a bit demeaning.
Wait. Does this mean that the “this one’s mine” ideology applies to them too? They were… Eda’s?
Maybe those popular kids didn’t have it so wrong. Because being someone’s didn’t feel so wrong when it was Eda.
“Meet me behind the bleachers after the game,” Eda spoke quickly into Raine’s ear before running back to her team. She spoke so quickly they barely caught what she said.
As the teams finally began to head onto the field, Raine put their arms through the sleeves of the jacket, putting it on properly. The grey jacket had a large fit on them. Eda was a few inches taller than them but this seemed a bit excessive. They supposed Eda just likes her clothes to fit a bit big.
As the referee blew their whistle the game began. Witches of all ages and sizes began running around the field throwing all types of spells and potions at each other. It was something that Raine had never seen. They focused on music-related magic which tended to be peaceful even when it was used to harm. These spells were violent and aggressive. Suddenly the talk of injured players made sense. Although Eda knew how to take care of herself Raine still worried. She could be genuinely hurt. But she’s been through enough games to know how to keep herself safe. Right?
Almost like clockwork, a shout came from one of the Glandus players. A plant witch had gotten her with a vine that sprouted from the ground causing her to grab at her ankle in pain. From the looks of it, it was probably broken. As medics came onto the field the crowd shouted to card the player who had sprouted the vine but others shouted back in disagreement. It was going to be a long and stressful night.
As the game went on both teams scored points and both teams lost players to injuries. But just as quickly as they lost them new ones would appear from off the bench. But Eda was unscathed which was all that mattered to Raine. She had even managed to gain the team 15 points which was more than anyone else had done so far. She really was something. They really had been missing out by not coming to these games. They were definitely going to be at the next one.
After about an hour the teams were head to head, both with 35 points on the scoreboard. Calling for a time out Lillith gathered the team into a huddle. As most of the team leaned in listening to every word Eda instead leaned away from the huddle shooting a smile at Raine before a hand reached out to grab the witch’s head pulling her back into the huddle. Raine couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.
The call for time out had ended after a few more seconds, leading the team back to the field. As the players took their place Eda looked back once more and gave a wink to the witch that sat in the stands. As Raine let out a soft sign they noticed that they weren’t the only one looking at Eda.
Next to here stood a rival player from Glandus. She had her dark green hair in a braid and was looking straight at her and then at Raine. Slowly she grew a smile of understanding. They could tell this wasn’t going to be good.
Slowly the girl leaned towards Eda and cupped her hands around her ear whispering something to her. Eda’s face changed from courteously to something else. But the green-haired witch couldn’t tell what it was. Was it confusion? Hurt? Astonishment maybe? But right as the referee was about to blow his whistle Raine realized what it was. It was anger.
Before the referee let his breath flow through the whistle Eda jumped on the girl. Climbing on top of her she held her down with her legs throwing punches at her face. She wasn’t using her magic. It was obvious this wasn’t about the game. It seemed this took the whole arena by surprise as it took a few seconds for someone to react. Lilith ran over to her sister trying her hardest to pull her off the Glandus girl but Eda thrashed against her causing the older sister to let go until more players gathered. Eda grabbed onto the girl’s braid as three players pulled her away from the girl. Although she was too far to hear from the stands you could tell she was cursing and swearing with all her might. What had this girl whispered to her?
Although no red cards had been pulled all night Eda managed to have the first one called on her. As she sat on the bench for her 10 minute timeout the game was close to finishing. Both teams were now at 40 points each with just a minute left on the board.
Although mostly everyone was paying attention to the game, Raine hadn’t even looked at the field since Eda left it almost half an hour ago. They kept their eyes locked onto the back of the red-haired girl’s head. She hadn’t moved since she sat down with her arms crossed staring at the clock. They’d never seen her like that. Sure they had seen her annoyed or irritated but never mad enough to attack someone. And sure, this was a game where attacking players was encouraged but this seemed personal.
Just as a Hexside player missed her shot at the goal Eda’s timeout had finished. She stood up immediately and cupped her hands around her mouth.
“Lilith call a timeout!” She shouted and her sister reluctantly did as she said. It seemed like she had nothing to lose with now 40 seconds on the clock to make a final score.
The whole team huddled around her and it seemed like Eda was actually interested this time. Raine rarely saw Eda like this. Putting her whole head into something, taking it seriously. And from the look on her face, this was the most important thing in the world. Titan, they wish they could hear what she was saying. The grudgby talk would probably go over the witch’s head but they just wanted to hear her voice speaking seriously and sternly like she was now.
After a few questions from Lilith, she put her hand on her head and let her arms fall to her side in defeat. Even from the bleachers, Raine could see her mouth form the word “fine” before the team headed back to the field.
Eda stood in the back behind a scattered row of teammates looking as determined as ever. As the referee blew the whistle they all took off. Whatever they were planning to do they had to do it quickly. They only had 40 seconds to score and they couldn’t let a single second go to waste.
But those 40 seconds seemed to go as slowly as possible. All of the Hexside players start throwing potions and spells at lighting speed, bombarding the Glandus player’s sight. Most of them stood confused as flashing lights and strange noises surround them. Soon the spells fill the field, blocking visuals for everyone. The witches in the stand were just as blind as the Glandus players. And if the Glandus players couldn’t see anything neither could the Hexside players. What was this plan?
As the crowd stared looking at the clouds of multi-colored fog and lights forming from inside and body came out from the end of it. Raine could barely register red hair before she made the goal just as the clock hit zero. She did it. Eda made the winning goal.
“EDA!” Raine stood up in disbelief. Looking around it seemed they were the first to do so as everyone else seemed to still be struck by confusion but they didn’t mind “WOOOO!! GO EDA!!”
A voice came over the speaker. “It looks like Hexside has won! Edalyn Clawthorne narrowly made the winning goal right before the timer ran out!”
As confirmation rang through the crowd everyone sprung up just like Raine had. Cheers and shouts filled the stands as the cloud on the field slowly began to fade away. The look of confusion was plaster all over the rival school’s faces. Looking around at each other as if any of them had an answer that would satisfy them.
As the Hexside players found each other in the subsiding fog they all began to hug and cheer. Turning their attention to the younger Clawthorne sister they picked the witch up parading her as they shouted her name. The crowd joined in and soon everyone had Eda’s name in their mouth. Titan, Raine was glad they came.
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It took about half an hour for everyone to leave. Mostly Hexside alumni lingered, trying to keep the feeling of a good game alive but eventually, they left too. Leaving Raine by themselves under the bleachers. But they didn’t mind. They would wait hours for Eda.
“Raine?” A hushed voice came from across the bleachers, “Are you still here?”
Raine drew closer to Eda’s voice making them known to her.
“Yup, I’m still here. Don’t worry I didn’t leave you hanging. This time that is.”
“Like you would ever leave me hanging.” Eda smiled at the witch.
They both stood there with just the light of the moon shining through the gaps in the bleachers to keep them from the dark of the night.
“So that final play was...” Raine tried to find the words to finish their thought.
“Cheap. Dirty. Barely legal.” Eda said plainly.
“Yeah.” Raine grew a large smile across their face. “It was. It was amazing Eda. The plan was amazing!”
“I mean you all had to know exactly where you were while practically blind and everyone had to do their part perfectly or else everything would fall apart. You had to trust that they could get you to the goal safely.” Raine said in amazement.
“It was dirty and cocky and insane and…” Raine turned to look at Eda “It was amazing. Just like you, Eda.”
As they spoke it seemed Eda’s face grew softer and her eyes traveled downward. From their eyes to… to their mouth. Slowly she took a step closer to the green-haired witch. Closing the distance between them, Raine stood with their back against the bleachers looking up at the taller witch. Her face was unreadable. Just like before. When that girl…
“Eda?” They spoke in a hushed voice.
“Yes?”
“What- What did that girl say to you?”
Her eyebrows pushed together as a confused look sprawled onto her face. Tearing her eyes away from Raine’s mouth she looked at the witch in front of her.
“What?” She sounded genuinely confused. Like she didn’t understand the question. No. She understood. She just wasn’t expecting it.
“The girl. On the field. She whispered something to you and then you jumped on her. I’ve never seen you so angry.” Raine looked into the witch’s eyes as if they would find answers there. “What did she say to you?”
Eda stared at the shorter witch, registering what they had said then tearing her eyes from them, taking a step back.
“Nothing, it doesn’t matter.” She began to turn away until her hand was caught by the other witch there.
“Eda. What happened?”
Raine wasn’t one to pry. They knew to respect boundaries and that sometimes people just wanted to keep their problems to themselves but this didn’t seem like the usual problem that Eda would hide from them.
“She-” Eda hesitated to say the rest, “She said something about you.”
Raine felt their stomach fall to their stomach. They weren’t new to rude words and dirty stares. In fact, Eda had rescued them from bullies before. So what could this girl have said to make her act like that?
“What did she say?”
“She said-” Eda took a second and let out a breath, “It doesn’t matter what she said. What matters is that she said it to rile me up. To throw me off my game and it worked. I almost cost everyone the game, Raine.”
They couldn’t help but feel guilty. Like they were at fault. After all, if they weren’t there that girl would have never said anything to Eda and she wouldn’t have been thrown.
“But it made me realize something.” She looked back up to them, “That I can’t expect to have something without fighting for it.”
“What do you mean?” They weren’t following what she was saying.
“Raine what I’m trying to say is-” Eda kept her mouth open but no words were coming out. She looked to Raine for help as if they had any idea what she was trying to say. What she wanted to say
Letting out a breath she gave up on words and instead strapped forward, grabbing onto the collar of her own letterman jacket that Raine wore and pressed her lips onto theirs.
The first thing they registered was the cold bleachers pressed into their back and neck then Eda’s body pressed into the front of theirs and then finally her lips. They were soft and gentle and just a bit cold but they were Edas. It only took them a second to close their eyes and kiss her back. And Raine stood there. Experiencing their first kiss with Eda Clawthorne under the bleachers after the winning homecoming game. It was like a movie. Like a work of fiction. But it was real.
Pulling away Eda took in a large breath. She had forgotten to breathe. And Raine couldn’t blame her because so had they. They wondered if this was her first kiss too.
“Raine” Eda looked into their dark green eyes “Will you... will you keep wearing my letterman jacket? If you know what I mean.”
Raine let out a small laugh.
“Yes, Eda. I know what you mean and I will… keep wearing your jacket.” They said with a smile on their face. “But only when I’m allowed to. It’s against the rules to wear a grudgby jacket over your uniform if you’re not actually on the team and I don’t wanna get in tro-”
Eda cut off their new partner with a kiss. “You worry too much.” She said before going in for another deeper, more passionate kiss.
“Edaa” Raine pulled away whining the witch’s name. “Someone’s going to catch us.”
“No, they won’t. We're the last ones here. Now shut up and kiss the school’s hero.”