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This day couldn't possibly get worse.
First thing in the morning, Amelia had to deal with her mother scolding her for waking up 2 minutes late and using her dead name because she had chosen to wear something slightly masculine. Then she had to take the bus, as Emira had a doctor's appointment that morning and wouldn't be in until lunch. The bus was far too loud and cramped; Amelia swore they were about to have a breakdown. At lunch, her head felt like it was going to explode due to Bosha's non-stop talk about sports, and Willow, the lights being overly bright didn't help. On top of everything, the shirt she chose had been constantly irritating her skin. It felt like any little thing could break her; all she wanted was to go home and take a nice cold shower.
She just had to survive one more class.
A class she had with Lucia.
Amelia's breathing was sharp, her attention split between staying calm and the assignment Ms. Goodwitch was telling the class about.
"For this quarter, your book reports will be done in pairs. I will be choosing partners for you. First is…"
She hated group projects; she just hoped that she didn't have to work with… Tap. Tap. Tap. Her hand clenched into a fist. She couldn't stand the sound of the tapping right now; she could barely concentrate on what Ms. Goodwitch was saying. Her breathing became sharper, trying to focus on anything but the tapping.
"Willow and Bosha…" She could feel the tension behind her spike. She kept trying to listen to the pairs, but she could only focus on the… Tap. Tap. Tap.
'I really hope that it is anyone but her, I'll even take Matt Tholomule. I mean, honestly, I'd prefer working with Skara or Cat. Though I would probably be doing most of the work. Honestly, that is fine, just not Lucia.'
Her mind snapped back to the present moment, nearly forgetting that she was in class. 'I really hope she didn't call my name yet.'
"Skara and Celine, you two will be working together, and lastly…"
'Wait, who else was left? Did she call my name, did she call…'
"Amelia and Lucia, you will…"
Her heart sank as her body heat rose. This was the last thing she wanted right now. Maybe she could convince Lucia to do nothing and let her handle the assignment.
The tapping had stopped, a wave of relief washed over her till she looked over at her partner, they didn't even seem to have been paying attention. They were always drawing, especially when they should be paying attention.
Amelia rubbed the bridge of her nose as she let out a sharp breath. She figured Lucia didn't even know what the assignment was about.
"… Both partners will be presenting a topic of their choice, and please actually work together. I can tell when someone hasn't worked on the assignment." She watched Ms. Goodwitch sit down and look at her watch. When she looked up, the bell rang, and the noise felt like it was stabbing her temples. "Have a good weekend, presentations start Monday. Be prepared."
Amelia quickly picked up her backpack and rushed out of the class. Hopefully, she could get home and relax, maybe even read the new Azura book, definitely change out of this shirt, and take a long, cold shower.
Thinking about what she planned on doing when she got home felt nice; she wouldn't have to deal with…
"Hey Amelia…" She nearly had a heart attack when she felt the tap on her shoulder. "We should talk about what we are going to cover. I was thinking maybe something we both know a decent bit about, oooo, maybe something about writing fantasy? Honestly, we could base it on the Azura series. We could start with…" Amelia turned sharply on her heels; her face felt like it was burning up.
"I don't need your help, Lucia." Her tone sharpened. "I can do this by myself…" Lucia interrupted her. She felt like she was about to crack.
"What, worried I'm going to lower your grade, Blight. Don't forget I have the second-highest grade in Ms Goodwitch's class."
Her blood began to boil as the dam that had been holding back the flood of rage finally busted open. Everything when red, redder than Lucia's dumb beanie. Amelia gave control over to anger, having no power to stop it anymore.
She grabbed Lucia by her jacket and slammed her against a locker, not noticing the shock or fear on Lucia's face. "You know what, Noceda, I don't need your help; all you will do is slow me down. And I can't even believe that you dare compare yourself to me. You are constantly distracted, you are always tapping on something, you are always talking, and when you aren't, you are drawing in that stupid book…" She snatched Lucia's art book. "YOU ARE JUST A CONSTANT ANNOYANCE, Lucia!!!" She tossed the book on the ground as she fumed. She heard something break, but didn't care to look. For a moment, she felt a day's worth of built-up anger and annoyance rush out of her, giving her some sense of relief. It disappeared quicker than it came.
Lucia's eyes were flooded with tears, face stained with their streams. She watched Lucia run off, leaving the drawing book on the ground.
Once she felt in control of herself, regret flooded her system. Why did she do that? Why did she say those things? She couldn't believe what she did. While both of them have fought, it hasn't ever been like this. She didn't really believe the things she just said.
Amelia fell back against the locker, collapsing to the floor a short time after. She brought her knees to her chest when she reached the ground. 'Why did I do that? I mean, she was just being how she usually is. I can't believe I just blew up like that, I mean, I slammed her into a locker. What's wrong with me…'
A hand placed on her shoulder caused her to jump and fall onto her side. Relief washed over her when she realized it was just Emira. Amelia let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding.
"Sis, are you okay? What happened, also, isn't that Lucia's book?" That's right, she didn't see Lucia pick it up. When she looked at the book, she noticed a ceramic Azura bookmark; one of the interests they had shared. It was broken.
She leaned into her sister. "Hey, it's okay, how about you tell me what happened when we get back home?" She felt Emira pull her into a hug. She only felt the tears steaming down her face when her face was pressed against Emira's shoulder.
"Hey Em… Do you think you do my nails. I think they look better when you do them." She looked up at her older sister for a moment before looking back down at the book. A knot formed in her stomach, and it was only growing tighter.
Emira tightened the hug for a few seconds before slowly releasing. "Of course. When you feel ready, we can talk. Now we should get home before mom blows up my phone." She reached up and pulled Emira back into a hug before letting go.
Before she got up to head to the car, she made sure to pick up Lucia's book and the pieces of the bookmark. She had to make things right; she just needed to figure out how to. Looking at the pieces gave her an idea.
"Oh, by the way, Ed is 'studying' with Katya and Derwin, so you can have full control of the radio." Emira ruffled her hair a bit; she didn't mind it, though. It was honestly calming.
Once she got home, she immediately went to her room; her mother was away, so that was one thing she didn't have to deal with.
She set her bag down next to her desk, placing the book and broken bookmark down, taking extra care with the bookmark. After she'd fall face first onto the bed and grabbed a pillow before screamed into it.
After the screaming was finished, she felt her body go limp. This was up there for one of the worst days of her life. Not only did she have a breakdown, but she directed all of it at Lucia; she knew that they didn't deserve any of it. 'Why did I do that? What is wrong with me?' She let out a sigh as she rolled over onto her back before jumping up out of the bed. She tore off the shirt that had been irritating her the entire day, which helped alleviate some of her problems.
"Okay, shower first, then talk to Emira." She let out a sigh as she began to get ready for a shower, hoping that it'd help her feel better. It usually did.
While she went to grab the items she needed to shower, the bookmark on the desk kept grabbing her attention. She knew the shower would feel nice and that she would have time to work on the bookmark after, it's pull felt stronger the more she looked at it. She figured that it would only take a few minutes to arrange the pieces properly, after all puzzles were easy for her.
She decided to work on the bookmark for a few minutes before she would get her shower.
Once she finally got all the pieces together, she looked over at the clock and was surprised that thirty minutes had passed since she began.
"Shit, okay, shower now." She set out more comfortable clothes and grabbed a towel before heading to the shower.
…
After a very long, cold shower, most of her stress was washed away, though she didn't feel much better.
She let out a breath after hanging up her towel. "Okay, time to talk to Emira." She knew she needed to have this talk, but was still dreading it, hoping that Emira wouldn't think less of her after watching her blow up at Lucia.
Looking over at the broken bookmark, she would carefully move the pieces on a board so it would be easier to move later on. She hoped her mother wouldn't catch her in her dad's old workshop; she wished he had been able to get full custody.
Knock Knock Knock
"Sis, mind if I come in?" She jumped a little at the knocking.
"Ya, of course…" She watched Emira walk in with a tray of nail polish. "Sorry for making you wait so long." Amelia hopped on her bed as Emira sat on the side.
"Hey, it's okay, Ams. Now what color do you want?" She looked through the tray Emira slid over.
"How about… this one?" Amelia held up a lavender polish.
"That will look perfect!" Emira motioned her to come over.
…
"Okay, while your right hand dries how about you tell me what happened?" Amelia let out a held breath before she spoke. Her left hand nervously tapped one of the glass polish bottles.
"So, during class today, we were assigned a presentation, which I felt fine about, as it is what we usually have around this time. But Ms. Goodwitch decided that we were going to do it in pairs, which you know is something I have never liked doing." She looked Emira in the eyes for a moment before her eyes darted down at the tray. "I was hoping that I would work with Skara or Cat, but Ms. Goodwitch partnered me with Lucia." She didn't really dislike it as much now as she did at first, mostly worried about how Lucia would react seeing her again.
"Okay, but aren't you and Lucia friends?"
'Are we friends? I mean, we are around each other more often than not. But I also don't always like her around, or wait, do I like her around? We are usually insulting each other, but it never really feels targeted. Wait. Fuck, she really wasn't insulting me before I blew up. I am such a fucking id…'
"Ams?" Amelia's attention was immediately snapped to her older sister. "You spaced out. Are you okay?"
"Y-ya, I was just thinking about your question. I mean, I haven't really seen her as a friend, but like, we are always around each other and talking and sharing things. But I don't know if that makes us friends. After all, we do insult each other more than not." After a few moments of looking at Emira's face, her eyes would snap down again.
"I, personally, would say that does make you friends. I'd say it is safe to say Lucia considers you a friend. And on the insulting each other, I think Lucia thinks that is how the dynamic between you is. Now, what about you yelling at them?"
"I know this is completely stupid, but I rushed out of the class as soon as the bell rang, and Lucia followed me. She wanted to talk about the assignment and who was going to do what. I snapped at her I didn't need her help', she teased me about my grades, and I completely snapped. I yelled at her about stuff that honestly didn't bother me that much, but in the moment, they were things I hated for some reason. I wish I could take it back." She looked down at her legs. "I am such an asshole to her."
"Amelia, please don't say that about yourself. Yes, you have treated them unfairly, but you also recognize that, and it seems like you want to change that?" Amelia gave a soft nod. "Then, how about next time you see Lucia, you apologize. That is always the best way to start."
"Thanks, Em." She knew what she could do to make things right, or at least better.
"Now, let's do the other hand." Before Emira started painting again, Amelia pulled her into a hug before letting her sister finish painting her nails.
Amelia paced back and forth in the park. She had asked Lucia if they would be able to come by to talk about the project. There was no response, but it had been seen. She could only hope that Lucia would come.
She let out a breath before sitting down, beginning to fiddle with an envelope she had brought with her. Amelia hoped that it would help repair things between them.
…
It felt like it had been hours to Amelia, in reality, it had only twenty minutes since she got there. Lucia was still a no-show, and her anxiety only grew.
'Where is she? I mean, she saw the text, right? She probably ha…'
Ding
Amelia scrambled to get her phone out, hoping it was Lucia.
Her hope was rewarded.
D4rk_0tt3r: 'Be there in 4 minutes.'
Pl4gue_Cat: 'Okay, I have something I want to give you.'
She let out a breath she had been holding. While nothing was assured, she would at least have a chance to make things right between them.
…
It had been four minutes, and there was still no sign of Lucia. Amelia's anxiety was through the roof, only maintaining her composure due to a breathing technique the Latina had taught her.
She felt looked around the park, having sat down a minute after the text. She made sure to carefully set the envelope down next to her, it's contents getting damaged was the last thing she wanted or needed right now.
'She isn't coming, is she? I am such an idiot. Maybe mother's right, maybe I am a mi…'
Tap
Amelia nearly jumped out of the bench, falling onto the concrete path in front of her. There was only one person who could sneak up on her like that.
"Wow, Blight, you still startle so easily. I'd dare say you're going soft on me." Typically she would be angry at Lucia for this, angry nearly sparked here but the relief of hearing that familiar sarcastic tone quenched it.
"Goddess, Lucia…" She looked up at the hazel eyes staring her down, and her heart stopped for a moment. "You really are the only person who can sneak up on me like that, and I definitely deserve it this time. But thank you for coming." Amelia stood up, still having to look up at Lucia since she decided against wearing anything with a heel.
"Well, you said you wanted to work on the presentation together. I'd like to keep my grade up. What made you change your mind anyway? Last time you made it very clear that you didn't want to work together." The tone sharpened at the end; it felt like a dagger was plunged into her heart. She knew she deserved that, though.
She took a deep breath in, hoping it would make things easier to say. "What I said last time was… wrong… of me." Why was that so hard for her to say? She knew who was responsible for that. "I shouldn't have blown up on you like that, and the things I said are wrong and not remotely fair to you. I don't know much about it, but I know you have ADHD, which, from what I researched, makes things harder for you, and I know you do work hard to keep your grades up, honestly harder than I do a lot of the time. But I shouldn't have gone after you like that, and I am so, so sorry I did." She felt her chest tighten up a little as she felt her eyes well up. Amelia was afraid to look at Lucia, fearing that piercing look.
Lucia, taking a deep breath, caused her to flinch a little.
"Well… that was definitely new." Amelia cringed at the response, her mind racing on what to say. But nothing came up before Lucia continued. "You are right, that you said wasn't fair, and it honestly hurt, but I can tell that you are sorry. I mean, I don't think I have ever heard you apologize before, too well, anyone."
She looked at Lucia and was met with the familiar, if not slightly dulled, smile.
Lucia continued speaking. "Also, I will say, I should have been able to tell that something was wrong. I mean, seriously, I don't think I have ever seen you bolt out of class like that before. You usually talk to the teacher about something or organize your things. In the future, if there is anything I can do to help when something is wrong like that, I want to." She felt her chest begin to loosen up a bit as Lucia's tone warmed up.
"So, friends?" There was a bit of hesitation in her voice.
"Mhmmm, it's a start, Blight." Amelia looked down a little before noticing the envelope.
"Oh, also, I brought you something, technique it is already yours, but still." Amelia reached past the brown-haired girl to grab the envelope before presenting it to them. "I hope I did an okay job at fixing it."
She watched Lucia's face turn from curious to heartfelt. She saw tears beginning to form in their hazel eyes, but was pulled into a hug before she could say anything. A faint blush formed on her face.
"Oh my goddess Amelia, it's perfect. Thank you so much." She felt the hug tighten for a few seconds before she was let go. Honestly, a part of her wished it were longer.
"How did you do this?" She was moved to arm's length. Now able to see Lucia's face again, she saw a few tears slowly rolling down their brown face.
"Well, my mother hadn't cleaned out my dad's old workshop, and I remembered my dad had a few things he used to repair ceramic objects. I have a good eye for detail, so I managed to fit the pieces back together and repair them. I am sorry I broke it in the first place." Amelia watched the Latina wipe away the tears that had formed on their face.
"Well, what matters is that you repaired it, seriously, it looks amazing. Honestly, you have no idea how much this really means to me." Both of them sat down on the bench next to each other. Lucia leaned her head on Amelia's head, causing a faint blush to form again.
A questioned formed in Amelia's mind. "What does it mean to you." At this ask Lucia sat up and turned to her, clutching the bookmark.
"I know this is going to sound sad, and I don't think I have told you this before. But before my dad passed away, he left me a few things he had gotten or made just for me, the Good Witch Azura book, a few letters, and this." Lucia presented the newly repaired bookmark. "Before, well, everything that happened, one of the things he loved doing was making things out of ceramic. I would go with him sometimes and help him come up with things to make. Honestly, it was something I loved doing with him. But then he was diagnosed with something terminal, I think cancer, and he started becoming bedridden. This bookmark was the last thing he made, so repairing it means a lot to me. Actually, that reminds me of something he said whenever I broke something, 'breaking something isn't the end of whatever it is you break, it is an opportunity to make something new with what it used to be'." Amelia knew now why it meant so much; she couldn't believe that she broke it in the first place.
Before she could think about what she was doing, she pulled Lucia in for a hug; resting her face in the taller girls collar bone. Her heart began racing. The fear of having over stepped mounting, then she felt Lucia wrap their arms around her, accepting the hug.
When she realized how close they were her heart skipped a beat, her face warming up. They were really close, but it did feel nice, it felt right. Then her mind snapped back to everything Lucia had just told her.
"I-I am so so so sorry Lucia, I am such a asshole for breaking it. I am so sor…" She felt Lucia quickly pull away and put a finger to her lips before holding her face. Amelia's face turned bright red at the placement of Lucia's hand.
"Hey, no more of that Blight, or I'll tell everyone that you are going soft." She smiled a little at the remark.
"Not like anyone would believe you, Noceda." Her smile matched the sly smile on Lucia's face.
Then she remembered something else. "Oh, by the way, I brought your drawing book. I didn't look through it." She added the last part quickly before getting the book out of her bag.
"Oh, thank you." She watched a smile grow on Lucia's face before she spoke again.
"Want me to show you some of the stuff I drew?" The excitement in their voice caused her smile to grow, too.
She looked down at the book for a second, her mind going through a few ideas. They could focus on getting the work done. No, a better idea appeared.
"Sure, after, do you want to go back to my house to work on the presentation? I think the topic you mentioned would work."
"Would love to, remind me to text my mom about it. But first, I want to show you some of my Good Witch Azura fan art. If I remember, you asked me to draw you a few things." Amelia's eyes went wide for a moment, having completely forgotten that she had asked Lucia to draw her Azura fan art.
"Right. But ya, I would love to see the stuff you have drawn, honestly, I do envy your art skills."
"Well, you aren't bad at it, Blight, but glad to hear I am better than you at something." Amelia laughed a little at the comment before Lucia began showing her through the book.
When they got to the most recent drawing, Amelia was completely shocked at it. Lucia had drawn her. She saw a bashful smile on Lucia's face.
"W-Why did you draw me?" Amelia's heart felt like it was racing, her face turning red.
"Ahhh, well, the other day I looked at you and thought you were really pretty…" Amelia's face turned as bright as a tomato. "I, ahhhh, I mean like, the lighting, and how you were, ahhh. Just I thought that it how you were posed and stuff would be really nice to draw."
She watched Lucia look down to hid their face. She couldn't believe that Lucia found her pretty, Her. Out of all of their friends, only Amelia was in the book. When she looked down at the image again she saw the title, her head felt light due to how red her face had gotten.
'Mint haired goddess!!!'
Before Amelia could say anything about it Lucia closed the art book and stood up. "So, ahhh, do you want to go work on the project?"
She stood up, trying to look at Lucia's eyes, but eye contact felt impossible. "Y-ya, that would be a good idea." She clasped her hands together and stretched them out to one side. "I will go and call my sister then." Her words were slow and more than a little awkward.
"Then I will go and call my mom and let her know where we will be." She noticed that Lucia's pace matched her own.
Amelia felt her heart skip beats, something new felt like it was burrowing it's way into her heart. A new feeling about Lucia felt like it was at the beginning of forming. Something that she liked.
…
Even if the other day was horrible, even if their friendship had been broken the day before, it gave them an opportunity to make something new from what was before. She didn't know what the future held, but knowing Lucia made it a little clearer.
…
…