Chapter Text
The afternoon air crackled with tension as Celine stomped through Hexside's gym doors.
"Celine! Wait!" Boscha called, her third eye narrowing in frustration as she hurried after her friend, still in her Grudgby outfit and hastily throwing her jacket on over it. "What's your problem?"
Celine's singular eye seemed to burn with an intensity Boscha had never seen before.
Her claws clenched into tight fists as she continued marching forward, not bothering to look back.
"Celine!" Boscha grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop. "I demand an explanation. Now."
The demon girl whirled around, yanking her arm free.
"You really want to hear it, Boscha? You really want me to spell it out for you?"
"Obviously," Boscha replied, crossing her arms and jutting out her hip with practiced disdain. "Since you're being so dramatic about whatever this is."
Celine stared at her for a long moment, then placed a hand on Boscha's shoulder.
Her touch was surprisingly gentle, almost pitying.
"You're awful, Boscha. That's it. You're just… awful."
Boscha's three eyes widened, her mouth opening in shock.
"Excuse me? I don't think you—"
Celine cut her off with an ‘aht’ sound, removing her hand.
"I've been trying to make this work for months now, and I just can't do this anymore."
Celine turned and continued walking down the hallway.
Boscha followed, her face flushing with anger and confusion.
"Do what? Be friends with someone who actually pushes people to be better?"
"What you did to Amelia today was the last straw," Celine said, her voice echoing down the hall as they passed. "That wasn't 'pushing someone to be better.' That was cruel, even for you."
"What are you talking about?" Boscha demanded, grabbing Celine's shoulder to spin her around again. "What did I supposedly do that was so terrible?"
Celine's eye widened in disbelief, then narrowed to a furious slit.
"YOU DISLOCATED HER SHOULDER!" she shouted, her voice reverberating through the empty corridor.
Several classroom doors cracked open as curious students peeked out.
"You chucked the ball into her so hard that you dislocated her shoulder, and you didn't even care!"
Boscha rolled all three of her eyes. "Oh, please. Amelia was fine. She's just soft."
"She was crying, Boscha!" Celine's voice cracked with emotion. "I had to go get Viney and Bo to patch her up. And what did you do? You stood there and told her to 'walk it off' and 'toughen up.' You didn't even go get help like I asked, Cat had to do that!"
Boscha opened her mouth to retort, but Celine wasn't finished.
"You just stood there yelling at her to get back up, like her pain meant nothing to you. Like she meant nothing." Celine's breathing was heavy now, her face flushed with anger. "Well? What do you have to say for yourself?"
Boscha crossed her arms defensively, her third eye blinking rapidly.
But the moment passed quickly, replaced by Boscha's familiar sneer.
"Grudgby is a contact sport," she said finally, lifting her chin. "If Amelia can't handle that, maybe she shouldn't be on the team. I was doing her a favor by pushing her."
"A favor?" Celine's voice dropped to a whisper. "Is that what you call it?"
"Yes," Boscha insisted, though her middle eye darted nervously to the side. "Look, when Amity was still on the team—"
"Don't." Celine held up a hand. "Don't bring Amity into this. She left your little circle for a reason, and now I see why."
The mention of Amity sent a visible jolt through Boscha.
For a split second, genuine hurt flashed across her features before the mask of indifference slipped back into place.
"I thought Amelia was your friend," Celine said, her voice quiet but cutting.
"She is my friend," Boscha shot back immediately, frowning.
"Is she?" Celine tilted her head, her singular eye narrowing. "Because I don't think you even know what that means."
"What's that supposed to—"
"I see you for who you really are now," Celine continued, her crescent-shaped horns seeming to cast longer shadows as she stepped forward. "A pompous, arrogant bully who treats her so-called 'friends' like personal servants. You don't want friends, you want subjects! You probably had me join the team just because Skara left to go do Flyer Derby instead!"
Boscha's third eye twitched, and a flush crept up her neck.
“That's ridiculous. Not the part about you being Skara’s replacement, though. Celine, my friends like me. They choose to hang out with me."
"Do they like you, Boscha?" Celine let out a hollow laugh. "Or are they just afraid of what you'll do if they don't play along? Afraid they'll end up like Amelia today? They're already thinking of hanging with people cooler- No, kinder than you. Like Luz?"
The mention of Luz made Boscha's jaw clench.
"Nobody respects you anymore," Celine continued, her words gathering momentum and volume. "Not like they used to. Cat only sticks around because she values Grudgby over you. Skara's only sticks around because… well, I don’t know why! Amelia's definitely not talking to you anymore. But everyone's moving on, Boscha. Your little ringleader act? It's over. It doesn't work anymore."
Boscha's eyes widened, genuine shock spreading across her features.
For a moment, she looked young and vulnerable—like someone had just pulled the rug out from under her entire world.
"Why not?" she asked, her voice small.
Celine's expression softened just slightly, seeing the crack in Boscha's armor.
"Because things have changed, Boscha." Celine's voice grew gentler, almost sympathetic. "Ever since Belos... nothing's the same anymore. The things you think matter… popularity, ruling the school, putting others down to feel powerful, they just don't anymore."
Boscha's mouth opened, but no sound came out.
"Look around you," Celine gestured toward the window. "The Boiling Isles is still being rebuilt. People lost their homes, their families. Everyone's focused on what's actually important now."
Boscha's third eye darted nervously.
"You're living in the past," Celine continued. "Clinging to some idea of how things were before. But we've all grown up. We had to. There's just no room anymore for… whatever this is." She waved her claw vaguely at Boscha's Grudgby uniform, at the sneer still frozen on her face.
Boscha's cheeks flushed dark pink, her hands trembling at her sides.
Her lips pressed into a thin line as she struggled to find words, any words, to counter what Celine was saying.
She had known she had heard it all before, from others who’ve 'left' her as well.
"But I..." she started, voice uncharacteristically small.
"I hope you figure it out, Boscha. I really do." Celine's eye softened. "For your sake."
She turned away, pushing open the heavy front doors of Hexside. Sunlight streamed in, lighting up the dust in the air.
"Take care of yourself."
And then she was gone, leaving Boscha standing alone in the hallway, the echo of the closing door reverberating through the empty corridor.
For several moments, Boscha didn't move.
Her third eye blinked rapidly while the other two stared unblinking at the doors.
A variety of emotions fought for dominance on her face.
Rage, humiliation, disbelief… before finally settling on something that looked dangerously close to hurt.
"Boscha?"
She whirled around to find Skara standing a few feet away, concern etched across her features.
"Were you eavesdropping?" Boscha snapped, her voice brittle.
Skara winced but didn't back away.
"I was looking for you after practice. I wanted to see if Amelia was okay."
"Oh, not you too," Boscha groaned, throwing her hands up. "Amelia's fine! Everyone's being so dramatic."
"She's in the healing track classroom with a dislocated shoulder," Skara said quietly. "That's not dramatic, Boscha."
Boscha's shoulders tensed.
"So what? You're going to abandon me too? Go ahead! I don't need any of you!"
Skara stepped closer, her gray eyes searching Boscha's face. "Is that what Celine did? Left?"
"Whatever." Boscha crossed her arms tightly, her eyes squeezing shut.
"I'm not going anywhere," Skara said softly, reaching out to touch Boscha's arm.
Boscha flinched away, her third eye focusing sharply on Skara's hand while her other two eyes remained fixed on the floor.
"Why not? Didn't you hear what Celine said? I'm awful. Everyone thinks so."
Skara sighed, tucking a strand of gray hair behind her pointed ear.
"I heard. Yeah, sometimes you can be a bit much, but—"
"A bit much?" Boscha laughed bitterly, finally meeting Skara's look. "Of course I'm a bit much, I have to be. Have you ever met me? I'm a big deal!"
Skara just stared at Boscha, almost amazed by the audacity.
"Look, what happened with Amelia today wasn't okay," Skara continued, her voice gentle but firm. "You went too far."
"So I'm supposed to coddle everyone now?" Boscha's voice rose defensively. "Back when Amity was captain—"
"This isn't about Amity," Skara interrupted, echoing Celine's earlier sentiment.
Something in Boscha seemed to deflate at those words.
Her shoulders sagged slightly, and she leaned back against the corridor wall, sliding down until she was sitting on the floor, knees pulled up to her chest.
Skara hesitated for a moment before joining her, careful to leave a small space between them.
"Everyone keeps saying that," Boscha muttered, crossing her arms over her knees.
"Well, yeah, of course they do. You keep talking about her, and it's kind of weird now."
Boscha just scoffed.
Skara studied her friend's face.
"You miss her."
It wasn't a question.
Boscha's third eye squeezed shut as if in pain.
"She was my best friend."
"I know."
"And now she's with… her." Boscha practically spat the word.
"With Luz," Skara said carefully, not exactly making an effort to comfort Boscha, and more so just supplementing the venting.
Boscha's jaw tightened. "Whatever. It's stupid anyway."
Skara quirked an eyebrow, studying Boscha's face with newfound understanding.
The way Boscha's eye twitched at the mention of Luz, the bitterness in her tone when discussing Amity.
It all clicked into place.
"Boscha," she said carefully, "is there something… more to how you feel about Amity?"
Boscha's head snapped up, all three eyes widening before narrowing defensively.
"What?! No! Screw you..." she hissed, but the deep blush spreading across her cheeks betrayed her.
Skara opened her mouth, a dozen observations ready to spill out, how Boscha still kept photos of her and Amity in her locker and her walls in her room at her place, how even now she couldn't stop bringing her up.
There were so many criticisms she could voice about how Boscha had handled everything, pushing people away instead of dealing with her feelings, refusing to grow, refusing to learn.
But looking at her friend now, huddled against the wall with her own walls up so high, it was abundantly clear to her that neither comfort nor criticism would reach her.
Not yet.
"Hey," she said instead, standing up and offering her hand. "Let's go get something to eat. Grimgrub's just re-opened in town."
Boscha stared at the outstretched hand, suspicion evident in all three eyes.
"…The place specifically Luz was repairing before she looked like she got hit by lightning?” Boscha inquired coldly, her voice flat.
She then snickered obnoxiously.
Skara’s eyes narrowed.
“Um… maybe don’t make fun of her for that. S’not funny.” Skara uttered, sounding genuinely offended for Luz.
Boscha rolled all three eyes dismissively.
She seemed irritated that Skara apparently knew the story behind all of that, whatever it was.
"What? You mean how she looks like she got all busted up and glued back together? And that weird eye that keeps looking in the wrong direction? Come on, you have to admit it’s- it’s at least a little funny!"
She snickered, mimicking Luz by crossing one eye dramatically pulling her eyelid down.
"Oh look at me, I'm Luz! I can't even see straight anymore~! Bleh~!"
Skara's face fell, her lips pressing together in disappointment as she inhaled through her nose deeply.
Boscha didn't seem to notice as she continued her routine.
"Bet she can't even throw a ball straight with that twitchy hand of hers! Not like she can even do magic anymore since those glyphs don’t work now."
Boscha cackled, making exaggerated jerking motions with her arm.
Skara leaned in, shaking her head in disgust.
“N- No, Boscha. No, she’s still in our classes, she can still do magic, she has that snake-shifter Palisma—”
"No wonder Amity has to help her with everything. Like a helpless widdle baby who needs—"
"Hey, um, are we going somewhere or not?" Skara interrupted, her voice tight but controlled.
Boscha paused mid-mockery, finally registering Skara's discomfort.
For a brief moment, something like shame flickered across her face before it hardened again into practiced indifference.
"Fine, whatever," she muttered, pushing herself off the wall and brushing imaginary dust from her uniform. "Not like I have anything better to do anyway."
Skara's shoulders relaxed slightly as they walked toward the exit together.
The afternoon sun hit them as they pushed through the double doors, casting long shadows across the path up to the steps.
As they crossed the school grounds, Boscha's third eye kept darting back toward the healing track classroom where Amelia was still being treated.
Her eyes remained fixed forward from there on.
"Maybe we could stop by and check on Amelia after we eat." Skara suggested carefully, watching Boscha's reaction from the corner of her eye.
Boscha's steps faltered for just a moment.
"Why would we do that?" she asked, but her usual bite was missing.
"Because she's our friend?" Skara offered. "And it would be nice?"
"Nice?" Boscha scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Being nice doesn't get you anywhere in life. It certainly didn't get me where I am."
Skara stopped walking, her gray eyes suddenly sharp.
"No," she said firmly. "It didn't."
Boscha's three eyes blinked rapidly in succession, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
"I—you—" Boscha sputtered, her cheeks flushing an even deeper pink.
"Oh! I'm sorry," Skara quickly backpedaled, her hands fluttering nervously. "I didn't mean it like... well, I just meant... you know what, never mind."
She forced a smile.
Boscha crossed her arms tightly across her chest, her third eye narrowing to a slit while the other two glared at the ground.
There was a bit more tension as they resumed walking, their footsteps echoing in uncomfortable silence.
After a few minutes of this, Skara cleared her throat.
"So... what else do you like to do? You know, besides Grudgby?"
Boscha's pace slowed. "What do you mean?"
"Like, hobbies and stuff. Things you do for fun. You never told me."
Boscha opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her third eye darted around as if searching for an answer somewhere in the air around them.
"I... well, I..."
Nothing came.
Skara waited, watching as Boscha's confident facade crumbled slightly at the edges.
The question shouldn't have been difficult, but the longer the silence stretched, the more obvious it became that Boscha had no answer.
"That's okay!" Skara said, a bit too brightly. "We'll find something fun to do. Or we could check out the Night Market later? Well, I guess it’s just… a market at night now that the Emperor’s Coven is out."
Boscha gave a shrug, but the tension in her shoulders had eased somewhat.
As they walked, Skara couldn't help but piece things together.
Before the Day of Unity, Boscha's days had been neatly divided between Grudgby practice and holding court with her circle of friends by way of hanging out and/or bullying.
Now, with the team fractured and most of her followers scattered, what was left?
The realization hit Skara.
The old circle of Boscha's friends were her hobbies. There wasn't much else to begin with.
"We could stop by my place after Grimgrub's," Skara suggested. "I've been working on this new melody to use for my magic. Could use some feedback."
"Whatever, sure." Boscha muttered.
They rounded the corner toward town, the streets still bearing scars from the Day of Unity.
Construction scaffolding lined several buildings, and patches of new stone stood out against weathered facades.
Boscha seemed determined to look straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with passersby who gave her a wide berth.
"This place looks even worse than before," Boscha commented, kicking at a loose cobblestone.
"It's getting better," Skara countered. "Slow progress is still progress."
Boscha snorted. "You sound like one of those motivational posters."
"Maybe those have some good points!" Skara said, nudging Boscha's shoulder gently, her voice brightened as they approached the newly renovated building.
The sign for Grimgrub's Pub swung gently in the evening breeze, its fresh paint gleaming.
Boscha rolled her eyes.
"Finally. I'm starving."
"I heard they offer some Human Realm food now, as a courtesy to Luz for all her help!" Skara offered with a hopeful smile. "Might be fun to try out a-"
"I’m good, thanks." Boscha cut her off, but there was less edge to her voice now.
As they pushed through the door, the noise of conversation abruptly ceased.
Dozens of eyes turned toward them, or more specifically, toward Boscha.
The silence spread until the only sound was the faint sizzle from the kitchen and the uncomfortable shuffling of feet.
Boscha's eyes darted around the room, taking in the staring faces of their classmates
Her spine stiffened.
"What?" she snapped, her voice cutting through the silence. "What's the problem?!"
Skara winced beside her. "Boscha, don't—"
"No, seriously," Boscha continued, her voice rising. "Is there something wrong? Or are you all just naturally this rude?"
"I'm so sorry, everyone!" Skara jumped in, placing a gentle but firm hand on Boscha's arm. "We just came for some food. Please, go back to your conversations."
She tugged Boscha toward an empty table near the window, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
"Oh, you have a lot of work to do, Skara…" she whispered to herself, rubbing her temples before clearing her throat.
"Let's just sit down and—"
But Boscha had frozen in place, all three eyes fixed on something across the room.
Skara followed her gaze and immediately understood why.
At the bar, sitting close together on two stools, were Amity and Luz.
Amity was laughing at something Luz had said, hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. Luz gestured with her scarred hand, the other holding what looked like a fizzy blue drink.
The lightning-like scars that traced up her form wherever there was skin seemed more pronounced in the pub's warm lighting.
"I need to go," Boscha muttered, already turning toward the door, her voice suddenly small and tight. "This was a mistake."
"Wait," Skara caught her wrist, holding her in place. "Maybe... maybe you should talk to them?"
Boscha stared at her like she'd suggested drinking poison. "Are you insane?"
"No, I'm serious," Skara insisted. "You keep bringing up Amity. Maybe if you actually spoke to her—"
"And say what?" Boscha hissed.
Skara waited for the comically exaggerated hypothetical dialogue to come from Boscha.
She didn’t say anything, actually.
No, she was genuinely asking for what to say.
Skara's expression hardened.
"Just... try being nice. What's the worst that could happen?"
"I could die of humiliation?"
"Or, orrr…" Skara countered, "you could start to fix things. Your choice."
Boscha's third eye blinked rapidly as she glanced back toward Amity and Luz.
Her shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Fine," she muttered. "But if this goes badly, I'm blaming you forever."
"Be nice," Skara reminded her firmly.
Boscha let out a dramatic groan.
"Yes, fine, I'll be nice. Whatever."
She smoothed down her uniform, took a deep breath, and approached the bar with what she hoped was a casual stride.
Her heart pounded against her ribs with each step.
"Hey, Amity," she said, her voice coming out much, much higher than intended.
She cleared her throat.
"And, uh... Luz."
Both girls turned, surprise evident on their faces.
Amity's expression quickly shifted to wariness, while Luz offered an uncertain, but genuine smile.
"Boscha," Amity acknowledged coolly. "What do you want?"
"Nothing! I mean—" Boscha struggled to keep her voice even. "I just saw you two and thought I'd say hi. So… hi."
An awkward silence followed.
"Hi," Luz finally replied, extending her scarred hand slightly before seeming to think better of it and lowering it to her lap.
"How've you been?"
Boscha's eyes fixed on Luz's face, unable to stop herself from staring at the discolored skin around her form.
The eye itself seemed to drift slightly, not quite focusing in the same direction as the right one.
A grimace formed on Boscha's face before she could stop it.
"I've been… fine." she managed, still staring.
Amity's posture stiffened immediately upon noticing.
"Boscha, I asked what you want."
Her voice had dropped to a monotone mutter.
"I already said, I just wanted to say hi." Boscha's third eye twitched with irritation. "Is that a crime now?"
Amity's eyes narrowed, her arm moving slightly closer to Luz's.
"You never 'just say hi' to anyone, especially not us."
Boscha's throat tightened as she noticed the protective gesture.
Of course Amity would think she was up to something.
"Look, I just thought we could... hang out or something," Boscha insisted, her voice rising defensively. "I mean, is that so hard to believe?"
"Yes, actually," Amity replied flatly.
Boscha's third eye darted nervously to Luz again, who was taking a sip of her drink.
The way the liquid sloshed when her scarred hand trembled slightly made Boscha's stomach turn.
Those lightning patterns crawling up her arm, disappearing under her sleeve only to reappear at her collar and trail up her neck to that unsettling eye—
"I've been trying to, you know, make amends and stuff," Boscha rushed on from those thoughts, words tumbling out too quickly.
She turned to look at Skara, only to find she had strategically retreated to a table across the room, pretending to be deeply fascinated by the menu.
Luz set down her glass, smiling at Boscha.
"Oh, wow… That's actually really mature of you!"
But Boscha couldn't look at her.
Not with that eye drifting slightly to the left while the other stayed fixed on her.
In a sudden panic, she lunged forward, slapping her elbow on the bar and wedging herself directly between Amity and Luz, her back now to Luz as she faced Amity.
"So anyway," she said loudly, as if this were a completely normal position, awkwardly sandwiched between the other two.
"How've you been, Amity?"
Amity's mouth fell open in shock.
Behind Boscha, Luz blinked in surprise, leaning back to avoid being hit by Boscha's hair.
"Hey, um… what are you doing?" Amity demanded.
"Nothing! Just getting comfortable!" Boscha's third eye swiveled around erratically. "I mean, it's easier to talk this way, right? More… intimate."
"Boscha," Amity's voice had dropped to a whisper. "Move. Now."
"I just— Y’know, I can't—" Boscha stammered, her hands fluttering. "It's just that Luz is so— I find it really distracting with all the… the…"
She made a gesture, moving her hand on front of her face and making an ‘eesh’ face.
Across the room, Skara lowered her menu just enough to see over the edge, her eyes widening in horror.
The moment she heard Boscha's words and saw the gesture, she let out an audible groan, slapping her palm against her forehead hard enough to sting.
Amity's face transformed from confusion to pure, undiluted rage.
Her eyes narrowed to slits as she stood from her stool, fists clenching at her sides.
"Are you seriously—" Amity started, then stopped as she caught sight of Luz's expression.
Behind Boscha, Luz had gone very still.
Her eyes dropped to her scarred arms, which she seemed to tuck away as she crossed her arms tightly, closing in on herself.
Though she tried to maintain her smile, there was a bit of hurt in her expression that made Amity's protective instincts flare up.
"Back off. Now."
Boscha finally began registering the edge in Amity's voice.
Her eyes widened as the realization of her consequences crashed over her.
"I— I didn't mean—" she stammered, taking a clumsy step backward, nearly tripping over her own feet. "Whatever. I was just leaving anyway."
Her face flushed a deep crimson as she straightened her shoulders, desperate to salvage some dignity from the wreckage of the moment.
"Have a good night, I guess," she muttered, not quite meeting Amity's eyes.
Then, almost as an afterthought, she added loudly, "You too, Skara!"
She whirled around and practically sprinted for the door, her long hair flying behind her like a banner.
Skara froze as both Amity and Luz turned toward her table, suddenly aware of her presence.
She considered diving under the table for a brief, desperate moment before offering a weak wave instead.
"Um... hi?"
Before she could even think about following Boscha, her friend had already vanished through the door, leaving nothing but an awkward silence in her wake.
Luz and Amity exchanged a look before making their way over to Skara's table.
"Hey, Skara," Luz said, her smile gentle despite the lingering hurt in her eyes. "Mind if we join you?"
"Oh! Sure, of course," Skara replied, hastily moving into the chair beside her.
Amity slid into a seat, her posture still rigid with anger. "What was that all about?"
Skara sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping.
"I don't know." She ran a hand through her ponytail, tugging slightly in frustration. "I thought... I really thought she was going to try this time."
"Try what exactly?" Amity asked, one eyebrow arched skeptically.
"To be... not awful?" Skara winced at her own words.
Amity's expression softened slightly.
"Oh, Skara… please tell me you're not still hanging out with her."
Skara’s cheeks flushed as she bent her menu.
"I am," she admitted quietly. "I know how she comes across, but I think... I think she can be better. She just needs someone to help her see that."
Luz smiled at Skara’s sentiment.
"That's really kind of you, Skara. Not many people would stick around like that."
But despite her encouraging words, Skara couldn't miss the way Luz's fake smile got a bit too wide with doubt, or how Amity's lips pressed into a thin line.
"It's been hard," Skara admitted, her fingers tracing nervous patterns on the tabletop. "And it got a whole lot harder after today, after what happened with Celine and Amelia."
Amity leaned forward.
"What happened with them? Did they finally wisen up about Boscha?"
Skara winced at the directness of the question.
"Celine did," she said quietly. "After the Grudgby practice today. That's why Boscha was in such a mood when she came in. Celine ranted at her, and walked out."
Luz tilted her head.
"What about Amelia? You mentioned something happened with her too?"
Skara groaned and pressed her palms against her eyes.
She took a deep breath, clearly trying to find a diplomatic way to phrase things.
"See, this is why Celine cut things off. Boscha was… um… demonstrating a new play during practice and she…”
Skara's voice trailed off. She bit her lip.
"She may have thrown the ball a bit too hard at Amelia during drills and—"
"A bit too hard?" Amity interrupted, eyebrows shooting up. "Skara, you don't need to sugarcoat it for us."
"Fine," Skara sighed, shoulders slumping. "She dislocated Amelia's shoulder. It was bad. Amelia was freaking out, and Boscha just... she just stood there telling her to walk it off. Celine had to get help, and now Amelia's with the healing students and Celine quit the team and..." She gestured helplessly. "Everything's falling apart."
Luz's eyes widened, genuine concern crossing her face. "Is Amelia okay now?"
"I think so. I haven't checked on her yet. I was planning to after Boscha and I got food, but…"
Skara gestured vaguely toward the door Boscha had stormed through.
Luz’s mind was still focused on the knowledge that Celine was apparently on the Grudgby team.
She figured it must not have been a long tenure.
"That's awful," Amity said, shaking her head. "But honestly, I'm not surprised. Among many other things, this is exactly why I couldn't be around her anymore."
Skara felt a flicker of defensiveness rise in her chest.
"She's not always like that. She wouldn't have done that, uh... nine... months ago."
Amity's expression softened slightly.
"Skara, I know you want to see the best in her, but at some point, you have to accept who she really is."
"That's not fair," Skara protested, though her voice lacked conviction. "She's going through stuff. She just doesn't know how to handle it."
"What stuff?" Amity pressed, leaning forward. "Being held accountable for her actions? Having to treat people with basic respect?"
Skara opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again.
What could she say?
That Boscha was still hung up on Amity?
That she was jealous of Luz?
That would only make things worse.
"Look," Skara said softly, glancing between Luz and Amity, "could you maybe try to step into her shoes for a second? Try to understand what it'd be like to be her?"
Before Skara could continue, Luz straightened her posture, and mocked a hair-flip.
"I'm Boscha!" she declared in a haughty voice, placing her hands on her hips. "I'm the most important witch at Hexside! Everyone else is garbage! Grovel before me or I'll use you as a target!"
Amity snorted, covering her mouth as she dissolved into laughter. Her golden eyes crinkled at the corners as she doubled over, shoulders shaking.
Skara stared at them for a moment, caught off-guard by the sudden performance.
Despite herself, a small chuckle escaped her lips as she watched Luz prance around, mimicking Boscha.
It felt good to see that after Boscha had basically done the same thing about Luz.
"That's… actually pretty accurate," she admitted, her lips quirking upward. "Especially the hair thing."
As their laughter subsided, Skara's expression grew more serious.
She leaned forward, her gray eyes earnest.
"But what I was trying to say is… during the Collector's reign, when everyone was turned into puppets, Boscha thought they were all dead. Cat, Amelia... There was no way to know they weren’t."
Skara's voice softened.
"And when they all came back, she was terrified of losing them again… like she 'lost' you, Amity."
Amity's face twisted into a sneer, her earlier mirth vanishing instantly.
"She didn't 'lose' me. I chose to walk away from her… toxicity."
"I know, I know," Skara said quickly, holding up her hands. "And you were right to. But in her mind… she just needed someone during that time. Someone to help her process everything. She needed genuine support, and I don't think she got it from anyone."
Skara sighed, fiddling with a loose strand of her hair.
"I'm not making excuses for her behavior. What she did to Amelia today was terrible, and how she just acted toward you both was…"
She winced.
"Well, awful. But I can't just abandon her. I think she needs someone who actually cares about her growth as a person, not just what she can do for them. And I hope… I hope I can be that for her."
Luz's playful demeanor softened as she reached across the table to touch Skara's hand gently. "Again, that's really sweet of you, Skara. But you know you can't force someone to change if they don't want to, right?"
"I know," Skara nodded, her expression a mixture of determination and resignation. "But I have to try. For both our sakes."
Amity's brow furrowed as she studied Skara's face.
"Look, I get wanting to help someone you care about. But Boscha's issues run deep, and they're not your responsibility to fix."
"I know they're not my responsibility," Skara said, lowering her hands. "But I choose to be there for her anyway. Someone has to believe she can be better."
A silence fell over the table as her words sank in.
Outside, the sky had darkened to deep purple, stars beginning to peek through the clouds.
"I should probably go find her," Skara said finally, gathering her things.
As she stood, Luz caught her sleeve.
"Hey, if you ever need someone to talk to about all this… we're here, okay?"
Skara smiled, genuine gratitude warming her chest.
"Thanks. That means a lot."
She paused at the door, looking back at them.
"And I'm sorry about what she said. About your…" She gestured vaguely toward Luz's scars.
Luz shrugged, though Skara didn't miss the tinge of hurt that crossed her face.
"It's not the first time, and it won't be the last. I'm okay."
Skara nodded, and began walking to the door.
Luz stood up, waving at Skara.
As Skara exited the establishment, she figured finding Boscha wouldn't be difficult. There were only so many places she would go when upset.
And despite everything, despite the mess of the day and Boscha's awful behavior, Skara felt a strange sense of resolve settling in her chest.
Because underneath all that prickly exterior and awful behavior, she knew there was someone worth fighting for.
Someone who could be better, if only she'd let herself try.
And Skara, for better or worse, wasn't ready to give up on her.
Yet.
She let out a long, grating groan as she recapped the events of the past few hours in her head, taking in the scope of how embarrassing it all was.
"Ugh..."
With her expectations now properly tempered, she set off to find her... friend?