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It was no secret that Amelia Blight was at the top of her class. Ever since she could remember that's all she was, miss gold star, straight-A student with not a flaw to her name. At least, that's who she was trained to be. In reality, Amelia would kill for a slushie and to kick back at some sketchy yet peaceful lake and watch the fish swim by. Oh, what a dream that would be. But she has no time for that, no. What she had to do was hurry past these annoying freshmen and turn in her damn history quiz before she beats one of them into a locker. And that she almost does after finally getting pissed and shoving past them.
Of course, freshmen never give a shit, even to the best of the best in the school. Regardless, her nerves were on edge. Finally getting to her 4th period, turning in her assignment, and waiting it out, Amelia filled her time with future due homework. Really, how hard was it for someone to get these math equations wrong? It's practically childs play.
She bets Noceda would be begging the teacher for help, that girl is as helpless in every course as she was the first day she arrived.
Ugh! No, what are you doing?! Who gives a shit about that stupid troublemaker. She's one of the reasons you can never focus, always bringing her into whatever you're doing. She was annoying just as much when she transferred in junior year too, always getting in your way and teasing you on things she only heard and doesn't actually pay attention to a single thing about you. Typical for Noceda. Well, except for the few times where she hugged her when she had that bruise from her mom's abuse she forgot to hide well. Or that other time she gave her hat for
Amelia to wear because her ears were bright red and “freezing looking”. She regretted giving that beanie back the next day when her mother bought her earmuffs. She only did it because she hated amelia wearing “peasant” clothing Tch, god she fucking hated her mother, stupid bitc- “Amelia blight?” her thoughts were snapped quickly at her teacher calling her.
Why did he sound disappointed?
She got up silently and swiftly made her way to the front, he held her paper, “You’re normally our perfect score student. The quiz was something you should have passed with ease.”
What? What is he talking about? Did she do badly?
He handed back her quiz, the score mortified her in an instant.
“But it's okay, your score is still better than most students and it shouldn't affect your grade consid-” she completely zoned him out. All her senses had zoned in on the red circle in the top right of her paper.
An 87... She got.An 87…
What??? How could this be? She studied for this quiz, she was sure she aced this. “Miss Amelia, you can sit down now, class should be over in a minute or so.” he gestured back to her chair.
“Uh-huh” she echoed and kept staring unblinkingly at her paper all the way back to her seat. She sat, and again stared. Her mom..her mom is going to kill her. What is she going to do?! Her mom is going to punish her again! No no! Amelia’s face was blank, but inside she was combusting. The screaming bell sounded, and she turned up the notch on autopilot. Packing her things silently, tucking the quiz away like it was just another perfect score as always, and shuffled towards and out the door. She had no period to go to. And usually, she’d go to the library to study but... She just doesn't feel good anymore.
She walked with the crowd until she was free to shuffle at her autopilot state. Her eyes never focused nor did they stare at anything other than the floor. She felt a pit form in her stomach and her face grew hot suddenly. She's never felt so vulnerable like this in..forever! This is scary. What's going to happen when she gets home? Her mom's gonna hurt her again she doesn't wanna get h-
“Ayo, minty, what's got you looking like you just got high?” that voice, she knew that voice. It stuck out like a sore thumb. She froze in her tracks, she didn't want Noceda to look at her. She didn't want Noceda- the only one that genuinely talks to her like a human, to realize that she's nothing but a stupid failure.
“..uh, blight?” she had yet to respond. Her shoulders rose at the sound of her last name. Her head hung low and tears started to well in her eyes.
She feels like a little girl all over again, why does she feel like everyone's going to hit her? Everyones going to go away and leave her alone! She messed up bad, no one is going to want to be with such a stupid little girl that never made a single friend! Lucia raised an eyebrow, what the hell is up with her?
“Hey, it's no fun when you don't do anything.” she reached out to her but the mint-haired teen let out a broken sob. It shocked Lucia immediately, “Amelia?”
She leaned forward to get a view of her face, but the teen curled her head inward and turned. It was clear though, from her bright red face, that she was barely holding it together.
“Hey hey, Ame, what's wrong..?” Lucia came in front of her now, both her hands wanting to touch and hold the now shaking girl but not knowing if Amelia would smack her away. Amelia just contorted her face, her brows arched up high only to furrow. Lucia frowned seeing her try to cover her face with her palms. It's like she had no coordination, her palms wiped and wiped at her cheeks, but tears kept coming.
Lucia bent forward closer to her and shielded her all at once. She doubted Amelia wanted anyone to see her like this.
“Hush, Ame. It's okay..” she tried to coax the blight into calming down, but it was clear she didn't hear her. She let her arms come around the girl the moment Amelia starts lifting her legs as if to jog in place. She was distressed and in a complete meltdown. Her sobs are getting too loud to be a normal cry anymore. Lucia looked around, seeing that everyone had gone to their period class. Lucky for Lucia, she was free too. She looked down at the girl she was now holding tight to her chest. This amelia was not the same. Her small frame now made her look so much smaller and young. It didn't help that her face looked as if she was a toddler who got hit for the first time. How ironic.
“Ame, Ame, hush senorita'' she softly said, rubbing circles into the small teen's back, “do you want to get out of this lame hallway, Ame?” She half asked, half said, as she was already tugging the forward. Amelia whined and shook her head vigorously.
Her sad eyes shut tight together. Lucia had a little struggle getting Amelia's weakened body to stay put again but that only made her choke out another sob. “Blight, I'm only trying to get you somewhere safe.” Lucia frowned, she hated seeing Amelia like this, who did this to her?
Amelia hiccuped and whined
“I-I can't!” she ended that plea with more broken sobs and shaking her head.
Lucia shook her own head, “Ame, I promise I won't mess with you, I only want to help okay?” She said in a gentle voice again peering around to see if anyone was looking.
“You trust me, don't you Ame?” she hushed and brought Amelia back into a gentle hug. Amelia broke down further and nodded into Lucia's chest. It left an odd feeling in her chest, she hadn't expected Amelia to agree. But she blamed it on her hysteria.
“Then follow me, Carino. I'll take you somewhere safe I promise.” she offered and while still holding Amelia close, the two finally were able to go down a few hallways. Amelia clutched tightly into Lucia's side, her face buried into her green jacket. Lucia kept a protective arm around her torso as well as hold her closer with her other.
She whimpered as they passed classes with excited students yelling away their answers, but the distress was cooed down by Lucia's soothing comforts. Amelia didn't poke her head up until Lucia stopped. They were in the library. Lucia hadn't said anything, only giving a small wave to the desk lady then guiding a still shaky amelia to the most barren cozy corner of the area.
“Here we go, Carino. Come”, Lucia smiled sadly when she looked down and found Amelia's small pale hands curling into her jacket still. One eye closed and pressed into her side while the other still leaked heavy tears.
“Ame?~” Lucia brought a finger up to scratch under the little girl's jawline. The action made Amelia cry out and bury her face completely into luz. Lucia frowned, she was hoping her antics would make the girl go to sit. Not that she hated this contact, but she doubted breathing in her jacket's subtle musk was fun.
“Ameee~” she tried again, this time much sweeter.
“Can you look at Lucia for me babydoll?” she smiled brightly when that puffy cheeked face looked up at her.
“Hi love, don't you wanna sit down? I don't think I'm very comfy for you..” she tried, and amelia's lip quivered, her arms let go but now they reached upward. The gesture confused Lucia for a moment until she realized just what was really going on with her. Amelia had regressed, she heard of this! It's a coping mechanism some students do in the calming room she goes to sometimes when her ADHD really gets to her. She smiled warmly again, Amelia was asking to be picked up.
“You want me to pick you up, huh?” she used a sweeter voice, one she'd use with a little baby. Amelia merely whimpered and nodded her silent plea. Her arms now more confident, reached out further, fully going past Lucia's head. But Lucia was close behind. She scooped up the little girl, her forearm resting just under her bottom and the other arm going around her torso. Amelia buried her face quickly, her nose making Lucia laugh.
“Look at you, how precious.” she rubbed the sniffing girls back. “Such a strong top student, you needed a break this whole time.” Lucia turned herself around and softly plopped herself on the bean bag. The hand under her bottom now rested in Amelia's fluffy mess of hair. Amelia's ears wiggled and Lucia found amusement in that. Taking one of Amelia's ears, she began to wiggle it subconsciously. She hadn't expected a bubbly giggle to erupt into the side of her neck. Amelia’s face nuzzled before shifting to now be visible to Lucia. Her eyes drooped but she held a small blush and smiled. Lucia grinned.
“You liked that, kittens? You like Lucia playing with your ears?” Lucia playful brought her hand up and tickled the tip of Amelia's ear causing her to smile and giggle again now burrowing into the front of Lucia. It was high-pitched and so full of happiness. Lucia joined her laugh. She rubbed the witch's back and nuzzled into her minty hair. She didn't mean to think too far but a part of Lucia was curious. She reeled back just enough to see Amelia's face but not pull them apart. Amelia was playing with the strings that stuck out from her jacket that she hadn't noticed eyes on her.
“Little ame~” Lucia rocked the girl to get her attention. When the sleepy golden orbs looked at her, Lucia knew she wasn't as old as her mental guessed.
“Wanna tell Lucia how old you are, Carino?” she tilted her head to her question. Amelia blinked at her and then rubbed her eye with her palm. She shook her head and yawned before resting it on Lucia's chest, sighing deeply. Lucia rubbed her cheek and she leaned into the touch. She didn't know, that's okay. It must've been her first regression then.