Chapter Text
I have a Question:
By: Dayfiction83 (also on twitter)
Eda wasn't usually the type for deep personal reflection. She lived by her own rules, learned what she wanted, said what she wanted. Sure, sometimes that earned her a lecture or four, but it kept life fun. Normally the only opinion she really cared about was Lily’s, though she'd never admit that. Lately however there was a different green-eyed witch whose opinion also mattered.
“What are you smiling about, Eda?” Lilith’s voice cut into Eda’s spaced-out thoughts, bringing her back to the present time and place. The two were part of a team huddle during a time out in a Grudgby game, it was certainly not the time for Eda to be thinking about her best friend and crush.
“Uhhhhh. . . ” Eda glanced at the faces of her teammates within the huddle, she offered them all a very fake smile. “A good play?”
“And which play is that?” Lilith’s question caused the younger Clawthorne to grow a devious smile across her lips. “Eda, no.”
“Eda, yes.” At least two of their teammates said in unison. Lilith glanced about the huddle, everyone knew the smile Eda wore but currently the others seemed ready to let the young star player off her leash, so to speak. The Grudgby Captain looked again at her sister’s dirty trick smile and sighed.
“If you get us disqualified, I will hex your bed.” Lilith warned.
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Raine Whispers had carefully selected a seat toward the back of the bleachers from which they still had an excellent view of the Grudgby Field. Their seating choice also allowed them to draw far less attention than the rowdy Hexside students crammed into the front row. Raine reached up and adjusted their glasses as the team huddle ended, their green eyes tracking Eda as she got in position for the next play. Over the last two months they had found themself attending every game and many of the practices, often doing some of their homework in the bleachers as Eda, Lilith, and the Hexside team drilled plays or scrimmaged. The first time Eda had led them over to watch the practice, Lilith had questioned it, but after that Raine was basically dubbed a good luck charm, their presence now almost required.
‘Eda’s lucky charm.’ the young Bard recalled as they felt a blush burn across their face. Green eyes tracked the redhead through a confusing trick play, smirking as they realized it broke at least three rules. ‘Definitely an Eda play.’ Raine thought. Somehow the referee either didn't notice the violations or didn't care, which allowed Hexside to pull off an impressive come from behind victory. Raine’s voice joined the rest of the crowd as they came to their feet, cheering and screaming for the team’s victory.
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“I'll see you at home, Lily!” Eda shouldered her bag, hair still wet from a quick postgame shower, and ignored the muffled response shouted from another shower stall. She jogged to the locker doors, bursting out of them with a smile and striking a goofy victory pose. “The victor has arrived!”
A few people nearby chuckled or called out congratulations to the young Grudgby star. Eda plastered on a grin, waving absent mindedly as her golden eyes scanned the gathered people for a head of mint green hair. Her shoulders sagged slowly as she failed to spot the witch she was looking for, until a pair of hands gently covered her eyes from behind. The smell of rosin and oils used on musical instruments filled her senses, and she involuntarily shivered as a familiar voice spoke directly next to her ear.
“Guess who?” They playfully whispered; their voice filled with warmth.
“Hmm, that’s a hard one, can I have a hint?” She joked, feeling her insides warm as she was rewarded with the sound of Raine giggling behind her.
“I have green eyes and glasses.” Raine offered, knowing full well that could describe two of the most important people in Eda’s young life. Eda almost choked in her effort to keep from laughing.
“Lily?!” She mocked. “Hey sis, have ya seen my favorite bard anywhere?” She didn’t need to see Raine’s face to know that would bring a blush out of her friend.
“Eda…” They whined, finally dropping their hands and allowing Eda to turn and face them. They tried to hide their blush behind their hands.
“Awww, I love seeing how red you get!” Eda practically cooed to her friend. The redhead knew she was blushing as well, but she didn’t care as they uncovered their face, and both smiled. “Hi!”
“Hi.” Raine’s voice was a bit calmer, but just as happy as Eda’s. The bard leveled a dopey eyed smile at her, one that Eda swore melted her heart, bile sack and all. Every time she noticed it these days it made her stomach flutter and warm, as if it were filled with firebees.
“Uh, can I walk you home?” Eda asked nervously, scuffing her shoe against the ground. They walked home together after nearly every game but somehow it had become increasingly difficult to suppress the nervous energy.
“On one condition.” Raine said, suddenly losing the dopey smile and gaining a sly expression. Eda merely tilted her head and made an inquisitive sound, waiting for what would follow. “Well my parents gave me some snails so I could treat you to victory ice scream so. . ?” They let the question trail off as Eda absolutely lit up like a sun.
“Rainstorm you’re amazing!” She grabbed their hand as they both laughed and started off toward the market area. “I’m starving.”
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Eda may as well have been deaf and blind to anything which wasn’t Raine Whispers as they enjoyed their ice scream. The two shared a small table near the stand, sharing jokes and tales of their days in class. Raine laughed so hard at something Eda did in history of potions that they doubled over in their chair. The redhead rested her head on one hand and watched the other witch laugh, elated that she could bring such joy to them. It was cheesy, but everything seemed almost hazy around them, and she really couldn’t be bothered with anything but the bard student. Not for the first time Eda found herself wishing she’d met Raine years earlier. Lily was great, but it would have been awesome to have such a close friend in her early school days.
‘Titan I am becoming one of those saps from the corny romance books mom reads.’ Eda thought as she watched. ‘And I can’t even tell them.’
“We. . .” Raine had to pause to catch their breath, wiping away a tear of joy from how hard they’d laughed. “We should probably head out.”
“Huh?” Eda shook her head to clear the mental cobwebs, and then glanced about until she spotted a clock. She deflated slightly at the time and agreed. “Yeah, we should get you home.”
“Oh, what sweet sorrow that we must part ‘til the morrow.” Raine said dramatically as they stood, laying a hand across their own chest and the other on their forehead.
“That’s terrible, please stop!” Eda said, though she laughed as they finally started walking away. It wouldn’t take long to reach the Whisper’s home from here. “Why do they make every bard take acting classes with the Illusions kids, isn’t it kind of a waste for somebody like you?”
“Is my acting that bad?” Raine asked, giving her a curious look.
“Naw, at least not when it’s just us.” She smiled at the memory of a recent school play. “But you already hate having an audience and you’re great with bard magic, so just why?”
“Any good bard has to have some flair to their performance, I guess.” They shared a laugh at the thought. “But yeah, I hate the performances. Reading lines with my classmates isn’t so bad, but once you add dozens of people watching.” Raine shuddered at the thought. “No, thank you.”
“Aren’t like half of them romances?” Eda gave Raine a side eyed look as she asked this.
“Romances, Tales of the Emperor, Tales of the Covens, Death of the Titan, a few tragedies. . .” They counted the genres on their fingers before shrugging. “The good thing about the romances is everyone focuses on the main characters, those of us in supporting roles can just fade into the background.”
“And what are you going to do when they tap you for a romantic lead?”
“Fake a lost voice?” Their suggestion was met with another hearty laugh, and they smiled. “Seriously Eda, so many people want those roles no one is ever going to force me to do it.” They slowed in front of their house, finally stopping on the front step to face her.
“So, guess I’ll see you on the morrow.” Eda joked, trying to mimic Raine’s tone from earlier.
“Yeah, I guess.” They nervously rubbed the back of their neck with one hand, avoiding eye contact by looking at their own shoes. “Hey, Eda, I actually wanted to. . . to ask something. I mean ask YOU something.”
“Ask me what? Is everything okay?”
Eda was treated to the small spectacle of Raine seeming to lose their voice. After two failed attempts to speak they basically spun about to face away from Eda, muttering inaudibly and gesturing with their hands. Eda waited, concerned but knowing it was best to let Raine get it out at their own pace. When Raine finally turned back to face Eda they didn’t answer her questions. Instead, they took a slow calming breath, before they stepped closer with their face deeply flushed. In one swift motion Raine popped onto their toes slightly, pecked Eda’s lips with their own, then sort of slipped back to watch for a reaction. Eda froze, all thoughts leaving her mind and just sort of stared into empty space as Raine nervously shuffled near her. After a long, silent, moment the short bard gestured toward the door and muttered about heading inside. The redhead didn’t shake her stupor until the door clicked shut behind the other teen. Eda violently shook her head as if she could rattle her brain back to working order.
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“How was the game, dear?” Raine’s mother called out as they entered, both their parents smiling at them from the living room. They didn’t get a chance to answer before a victorious shout from just outside the door was heard. Raine’s blush was so intense it felt like their face was on fire as the Whispers’ family heard Eda’s muffled shouts.
“Yes, yes, yes!”, “kissed me!”, and “best day ever!” could be understood amid other muffled shouts. Raine was certain some of their neighbors were probably looking at Eda from windows right now. They eyed their parents, both clearly fighting not to laugh but Raine appreciated that they tried. Raine was overwhelmed with a mix of embarrassment, warmth, and amusement. One part of them really wanted to open the door and try to watch Eda’s apparent victory dance, but they were far too aware it must have drawn prying eyes.
“It was good.” They slowly answered their parents with a shy smile. “They won, Eda made the winning goal, and it was all very, very good.” Raine took small steps toward the stairs without looking away from their parents who were starting to lose to the laughter. They coughed to cover it. “Yup, really good game but I need to get to bed.” They turned at the foot of the stairs calling back as they nearly jogged up them. “Love you, good night!” They didn’t miss the sound of laughter once they were out of sight.
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Eda wasn’t normally into self-reflection, but she couldn’t help it sometimes. Eda lay on her bed that night, unable to sleep, and thought over how her heart had felt as if it would beat out of her chest. She smiled as she remembered how it felt whenever Raine smiled at her, and how she loved the bard student’s eyes. . .
“Holy Titan!” She sat bolt upright in her bed. “Are we a thing now?!” The redhead replayed the events of the night in her mind, a dopey smile slowly coming back to her face. “Oh, we better be a thing now.” She flopped back and smiled until she finally fell asleep.
Raeda week 2022:
July 18
Prompt: First Date/First Kiss