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"You set my heart on fire!" Marella announces dramatically, drawing a spell circle that produces a flaming heart shape. Linh quickly douses it.
She laughs. "You're going to start the fire alarm!"
"I'm trying to be romantic! Linh Song, will you be my Grom date?" She holds out a violet, one Linh accepts with a smile.
"Of course! You didn't have to nearly burn the school down asking me."
The two continue chatting, and Biana and Maruca watch as they walk down the hallway. Of all the gromposals echoing around the school that day, Marella's was definitely the most entertaining. The other awkward couples are starting to get a bit annoying. Maybe Maruca's just jealous. That they all go to the dance with their crushes, while hers won't be anything other than her best friend. Which she's happy about, of course, but... it would be nice to go to Grom with Biana Vacker, is all.
Feedback from the loudspeaker cuts off both the chatter and Maruca's pining train of thought. Dame Alina's syrupy sweet voice sings "Foxfire students, I'm happy to announce this year's Grom Queen... Biana Vacker!"
Biana winces.
Maruca looks over at her.
Biana groans and slams her head against the row of lockers.
Maruca takes a step forward, cautiously.
"Bi?"
"This is gonna be a nightmare," she mumbles.
Quite literally. If Biana doesn't manage to stop it, Grometheus will terrorize the whole town, taking the form of each person's worst fear. Maruca doesn't know what Biana's is going to be, but it can't be fun to cope with, especially not in front of the entire school. Grom was meant to be a night for the pair to have fun, albeit not as a couple like Maruca would like, and Biana definitely shouldn't have to battle her worst nightmare. "I'm sorry," she says, and it feels inadequate.
Biana sighs and lifts her head from the locker. "It'll be fine. Fitz was Grom King last year. And Alvar was a few years before him. Both of them did alright, and if my idiot brothers can survive Grom, this should be no problem." They've known each other for long enough that Maruca can tell just how faked the cheer in her voice is. "I should go choose a weapon."
"I recommend a sword," Maruca offers. If Biana wants to distract herself, she'll let her.
"Swords are cool."
Biana does indeed find a cool sword, and once she settles on it, goes home to get ready for the dance. Reluctant as she is to leave her friend, Maruca does the same, and when she gets home, Livvy is standing at a mirror in the hallway and glaring at her half-done bow tie. She eagerly abandons it when she sees Maruca. "Hey, kid! How was school?"
"Good. I need something to wear to Grom."
"Luckily, your cool aunt is going to take you shopping," Livvy says, huffing and tossing the bow tie to the side.
"How about this one?" Maruca says, pointing as they walk through the store. "It says 'I'm a witch with a dark side.' Ooh, or that one! It says 'I'm an otter! ...with a dark side,''
Livvy laughs. "How about that suit jacket?"
It looks nice. "And that skirt?"
"Sounds good." Livvy buys the clothes and they head back home. Maruca changes into it, hoping Biana thinks it looks nice. Even if she does, that doesn't necessarily mean... it's... whatever. She waits for Livvy to figure out the bowtie, yelling some words her mother won't be happy were said around children. Finally, Livvy manages, and takes Maruca back to Foxfire. "Ah, I remember my Grom," she reminiscences on the way. "Your friend's mom was Grom Queen- Della Vacker. She looked badass with a sword. I spent most of the dance on the side eating cookies and getting made fun of by Elwin. Good times."
These times might be slightly less good, considering what her best friend is about to endure.
She runs into Biana in a dimply lit hallway, wearing a purple dress that flares around her knees. "Wow- you look great!" she blurts.
"And you look... nice. Strange, but nice." Biana clears her throat. "I think I'm about to be sick."
"You've got this," Maruca tells her, putting a hand on her shoulder before coughing awkwardly and stuffing it back in her pocket.
Biana's mouth opens, like she's about to argue, but before she can, a booming voice announces "And now, our Grom Queen will fight Grometheus. Give it up for Biana Vacker!"
"Wish me luck," Biana mutters, face pale.
"Luck."
She takes her sword and brandishes it at Grometheus. Both their eyes glow for a moment. Then, Grom takes shape. First, shards of broken glass scattered across the floor. Then, a spider. Then-
Her. Biana. Handing a note to a shadowy figure Maruca can't make out. The note unfolds. Then, another silhouette. Taller. It snatches the note from the first, tearing it to shreds. "I won't allow it," it declares, voice distinctly like Biana's father.
The real Biana stands, paralyzed.
"Get away from her!" Maruca yells, running down to the arena before she's entirely aware of what she's doing. She grabs a knife from the stand of weapons and brandishes it at Shadow-Alden. From up close, she can read the note Shadow-Alden tore. Will you go to Grom with me? -Biana. "Oh," she whispers, mostly to herself. Then, louder; "Hey, if... that didn't work out, want to go with me instead?"
"Really?" Her voice is shaky.
"That's what friends do."
A small smile. "Well, if that's settled, may I have this dance?"
She extends her hand, and it's all Maruca can do not to faint as she accepts it. Biana whirls her around as they take turns blasting Grometheus with spells until, finally, it retreats. The crowd cheers, and the dance resumes its dancing and talking and eating, leaving Biana and Maruca with slightly more privacy. Maruca nudges Biana. "So, who'd you want to ask out?"
"It's- it's not important." Biana kicks the scrap of paper off to the side, blushing. Maruca takes her over to the snack table. She doesn't look at the discarded paper. Doesn't see who it's addressed to.
Maruca,