#dec2020

“Clawthorne, you’re up first.”

Eda gave you a cocky smirk, before grabbing the ball. Whoever was able to cross the field and launch more shots through the hoops would win captain. The opponent was allowed to do anything they could to block them.

“Ready?” The coach called, Eda gave him a nod, “Get on it, then!”

She took off down the field. Using your plants and anything you could get a hold of, you attempted to block her. None of them came close. Until you wrapped a thin vine around her ankle, lifting her from the ground.

You felt triumphant for a moment before Eda summoned all of her strength, throwing the ball from her upside down position, and sending it cleanly through the hoop. A growl left your mouth.

“Your turn, Y/L/N.”

This went on for ages, with neither of you missing, until Coach called a final face-off between the two of you. Whoever scored first was Captain. It was clean and simple. Unfortunately, you and Eda wanted the position equally as bad. Nothing was going to stop you.

Eda managed to grab the grudgby ball first and took off past you. She nearly made it to the hoop, until you used a strong vine to pluck it from her arms. It was easy. Too easy. As it was plopped into your grasp, you ran as quickly as possible towards the other hoops.

When your nose started to itch.

You let out an unexpected sneeze, immediately moving to cover your face. Then you sneezed again. And again. And again. In horror, you realized that Eda had covered the ball in a sneezing potion. Try as you might, you couldn’t stop long enough to get the ball into the hoop.

It left it open for Eda to manipulate your own vines and launch the ball through her hoop. Making her captain for another year. While you sneezed so hard in the middle of the field that you worried you’d never stop.

“Nice job, Clawthorne,” The coach congratulated her, “A good start to your third year as captain. Now go help Y/L/N out.”

Eda smiled, coming over and handing you the anti-sneezing draft. You gave her a heavy glare when you stopped.

“Hey, no hard feelings, right?” She said with a smile.

“Sure. Good luck, captain.” You rolled your eyes before turning and leaving. Eda said something after you, but you didn’t stop to hear any of it.

It wasn’t the losing that made you bitter. It wasn’t even the sneezing potion. No. What made you bitter was that becoming Captain was the only thing keeping you at Hexside. Now, you’d have to leave.

You weren’t going to make it any harder by saying goodbye.

---

“Here, Y/N.”

You looked up from the bar, taking in the large drink that the bartender was placing down in front of you. It was huge. Larger than should probably be allowed, not to mention it was bright yellow.

“I didn’t order that.” You said.

“I know. She did.”

He motioned behind you, making you turn boredly. Though your eyes widened. Sitting in the booth across from the bar was a face you never thought you’d see again. The smug face of one Eda Clawthorne.

She tilted her drink in your direction, giving you a grin. And as if in a trance, you grabbed your own, and moved over to where she was sitting. Like you were in some sort of trance.

“Of all places I expected to see you, this was not one of them.” You said in greeting, sliding in across from her.

“Even I enjoy a good drink.”

“I never said you didn’t. But you’re not just Eda now, you’re the Owl Lady. Isn’t it a bit risky?”

“Not unless you’re going to report me.” Eda said flatly.

“Not likely. I have no interest in doing anything to help the Emperor.” You admitted.

That caught her attention. During your shared time at Hexside, you’d been an almost devout rule follower. The idea of getting in trouble had left you shaking. It interested her that you had changed so much.

“Well, it seems I picked some good company then.” Eda said.

Silence surrounded the two of you. The only sounds were the two of you sipping your drinks. It was nice, almost. There was an underlying tension there. Unspoken questions.

“I never thought I’d see you back in Bonesborough.” She said after some time.

You looked up from your drink, meeting her eyes. She’d attempted to make the statement casually. Though you could tell there was more there, some emotion she was doing her best not to show you.

It’d been hard to leave Bonesborough. Especially without saying goodbye. Eda may have been your rival, but she’d also been your friend. Sometimes. Leaving it all, leaving her, had been the toughest thing you’d ever done. But you couldn’t handle saying goodbye.

“I missed certain things here. Thought maybe it’d be a good idea to come back, see how it had changed.” You said slowly.

Eda scoffed.

“You were in such a hurry to leave, now you miss it?”

You flinched at her harsh tone. It was well deserved, sure, but it still hurt.

“I was never in a hurry to leave.” You said softly.

“You could have fooled me. Was not being captain so terrible? I… I would have given you the position if it meant you’d stay.” Eda said.

She looked at you intensely. You’d forgotten what she was like. All you had for years were the memories, moments to replay in your mind. Now she was in front of you, looking nothing like the witch you’d left. Her hair was bright white and she had a gold fang where she’d never had a tooth.

It was a good look on her, you admitted to yourself.

“I never had a choice. My family made the decision to leave. The only thing that would have changed it was getting Captain, but I never wanted it out of pity. I wanted to earn it or not have it at all.”

Eda raised an eyebrow. It was a different story from the one your absence had left. But you’d spoken with such conviction that she couldn’t help but believe you.

“And you couldn’t say goodbye?”

“We didn’t even like one another half the time, Clawthorne. I never expected you’d care.”

It was a lie.

You knew it and she could tell. Sure, maybe you hadn’t always gotten along, but neither of you wanted the other to leave. No matter how tenuous the relationship, it was still a relationship. Sometimes losing a rival also feels like losing your greatest ally.

“Well, I did. Sue me.” Eda said.

“Hmm. I could sue you, but where is the fun in that, when we could take it to the grudgby court instead?” You suggested.

Her eyes lit up with that familiar spark. The same one you had seen before every game and every practice. That was the Eda you’d missed; the one who reveled in the challenge.

“You’re on,” She grinned, sliding out of the booth, “You’re also paying.”

She let out a wild laugh before leaving the bar. With a sigh, you handed more than enough money to the bartender. You couldn’t help but shake your head. Eda’s looks may have changed, but she was definitely the same.

----

Finding yourself back on the grudgby court felt surreal. Like something you could have dreamed up, but never expected you’d live. It felt comfortable to be back on the old court.

You and Eda had spent more time than normal warming up, though it was probably a good thing. The last thing you wanted was to lose because of a leg cramp.

“You ready to lose, Y/L/N?” Eda asked, cocky as ever.

“Not happening, Clawthorne.”

She gave you a smile, before the two of you raced towards the ball.

Eda snatched it up first and evaded an attack expertly. She moved down the field, sending the ball flying through the hoop. You let out a low growl.

Not a great start.

The next play was all yours. While Eda had believed she was getting away, you used magic to grab the ball away. She was shocked for long enough, giving you time to score.

It went on like this for hours. Back and forth, score after score. Eda was starting to slow down. And though you hated to show it, you were too. It reminded you that you’d been away from the court for far too long.

“Next point wins.” Eda panted out, “So get ready to admit defeat.”

“Not this time.” You said back, hands on your knees.

The both of you managed to collect yourselves for one last play. Your palms felt sweaty, but there was a surge of confidence through you. This was going to be your game. You could feel it.

You launched yourself from your spot, speeding towards the ball. Only to narrowly miss it as Eda grabbed onto it. Without thinking, you grabbed at her, knocking the ball into your own arms. You froze. It was only a second, not nearly long enough to mean anything, but it felt like an eternity. Then you ran. Ran as quickly as your legs could manage after all of this time.

Eda could be heard chasing after you, even as you managed to dodge her attacks. So you put all of your focus into getting within range of the hoop. In your haste though, you missed one of your own vines, still sticking out of the ground. You tripped and the ball flew out of your hands.

You prepared yourself to hit the ground. Hard. But it never came. Instead, a sturdy pair of arms caught you before you hit the ground. As she lifted you up, you found yourselves very close.

She looked shocked at her own speed, before her eyes scanned your face. Darting to your lips. Eda unconsciously licked her lips, drawing your attention. She was so close. It would take barely a breath to close the gap.

“You win.” Eda whispered, before you could kiss her.

“What?”

“You win.”

Motioning to the scoreboard, you saw it. You had won by a single point. The ball that had flown out of your arms had just cleared the hoop, finally making you the winner.

“I won…” You muttered, before it hit you, “I won!”

You laughed, pride surging through you, as Eda watched on with a grin. So overcome with joy and pride, you pulled her into a deep kiss. She froze. You worried that you had misread the situation, before she finally started to kiss you back. It felt like winning a grudgby match ten times over.

Eventually the two of you pulled away for air. You had a smile on your face, a subtle blush spreading across your cheeks. Eda looked similar, but rolled her eyes, and spoke with a smile.