(Part I-A)

1

It's one of the cooler nights in August when everyone meets up at one of Glimmer's estates to have a get together celebrating the last week of summer before their classes at Brightmoon University (BU) start up again. Because most of them are trying to milk the rest of their hours at their designated summer jobs in the final stretch of the season, Glimmer decides to have the get together this Saturday night. And so, without the burden of responsibility that usually looms over into the following morning, Adora graciously takes another jello-shot; they decorate the kitchen table in an array of color, yielding great reward—it reminds Adora of the goldfish game at the carnival that comes around every season. Usually she'd take some green-tea shots or a beer, something that'll give her a pleasant buzz, but tonight also marks the start of pre-season for basketball. And if she wants to win a national championship then she can't get plastered at every party she goes to.

"You made it! I thought you had work?"

"Can't get rid of me that easily."

Adora recognizes the drawl of Catra's voice as she gives Glimmer a hard time at the door. It's all in good fun, in fact, Glimmer is ready with a playful jab of her own; eyes glassy from whatever's in her solo cup.

"I would if I could," Glimmer quips.

Catra, always rebuttal on the tip of her tongue, shoots back with ease "you know you love me" and then playfully pinches the skin peeking out from under Glimmer's tight white tee.

"Babe stop," Glimmer plays along and swats at Catra's drifting fingers "not in public. Remember what happened last time?"

"In my defense, I did not see the camera."

Adora slips into their bubble asking, "should I be worried?"

If she hadn't stepped in when she did then they would've kept up with their banter all night and Adora selfishly wants Catra to herself before their semester gets hectic.

Catra looks surprised to see her. "Hey Adora, I didn't think you'd be here."

Glimmer huffs. "She would've stayed at the apartment all night if Bow and I hadn't dragged her out. Seriously Adora, having a few drinks won't mess up the start of your lacrosse season."

"Basketball." Catra and Adora say simultaneously.

Catra looks a little flushed when they look at her, curious. "Basketball…that's why she's not drinking. Lacrosse doesn't start until the spring."

"Adora, you play like seven different sports. How am I supposed to keep track? But you" Glimmer says, pointing to Catra "better be drinking tonight. I know track doesn't start until October."

Catra shakes her head. "Can't, it's still pre-season for me too. I've been training since July and I'm not messing that up with one drink. If I could have a cup of Hennessey right now I would, believe me."

"You two are the worst. Now I have to find new drinking buddies who—oh! Memerista, are those fireball shots?"

Mermista shouts from across the pool where she's lounging on a lawn chair next to Perfuma. "Yeah, Seahawk's special recipe!"

Glimmer scrambles to head over. "I've gotta try some, last time we ran out, I'll catch up with you guys later. Frosta! Don't even think about trying—" her voice trails off as she runs over to berate the very underaged minor.

They're left alone in the kitchen with the majority outside lounging by the pool ready for those legendary fireball shots.

"So," Adora starts.

"Very eloquent. I see your money is being well spent at BU."

Adora laughs. "What? It's hard to have good conversation when I'm sober."

"Explains a lot."

"Can you not say something sarcastic every minute?"

Catra opens her mouth and closes it just as quickly.

"That's what I thought."

"Whatever," Catra groans "come on, let's go be boringly sober by the pool. At least this way we can be entertained."

They head out to the pool with the rest of their friends to watch Seahawk make his signature drink. But what's more fun is watching everyone's reaction; Adora's told the drink goes down smooth but after a few minutes people start bumping into things and slurring their words. Bow has three, and he's usually good with drinking (the guy who makes sure no one does anything stupid) but he's climbing the shed trying to dive off the roof into the pool for a "awesome Tiktok". Perfuma stops him before anything major happens and brings him into the kitchen for a much needed glass of water.

"Hey Lonnie—wait," Catra has to ask "did you take a fireball shot?"

Lonnie shakes her head, splashing them with a couple droplets of Chlorine that's still in her hair from the pool. "Would I be standing if I did?"

"Good point."

"Kyle wasn't so lucky." Lonnie nods over to where her boyfriend is running around in his boxers with Rogelio close behind with his pants.

Adora shudders the same time Catra says "my eyes!"

"Not looking forward to that when we get back to the dorm." Lonnie sighs. "What about you guys? Anything good happened this summer?"

Adora shakes her head. "Just work and more work, some training here and there. The usual."

Lonnie boos her before turning to Catra expectant. "I know you got into something crazy this summer."

Adora frowns at the quick exchange. "Did something happen?"

Catra says "nothing happened."

Lonnie frowns. "Really? I set you up and you blow it. Twice."

"She set you up?"

Catra scratches her neck looking over Adora's shoulder instead of her eyes. "It didn't work out."

"It's not that you just...you never told me about her."

"She wasn't worth mentioning."

"Hey, Pearl is still my friend." Lonnie objects.

"She was weird. Barely got through one dinner before I blocked her number. She went off on a tangent about why no one should eat seafood when I said I was thinking about getting the shrimp and then when I order pot roast—"

Adora makes a face. "You hate pot roast."

"—she goes and orders the shrimp!"

Lonnie laughs. "Okay maybe I didn't know her that well."

"You think." Catra turns to Adora saying, "she thinks."

"I'm sorry okay? The next girl I set you up with won't be weird."

Catra groans. "I'm not interested in dating right now. I just want to keep my head down and try to survive this semester."

"Is your schedule that bad?"

"Not really, there's just this one class that I know is gonna suck; advanced biochem three days a week with Dr. Stark—I'm dreading it. His rate-my-professor score is abysmal, everyone says he doesn't teach and expects you to basically know everything before you get to class."

"Dr. Shark? I have a friend who took his class a couple semesters ago, she was his TA for one of his lab methods class too. I can give you her number and she can give you her notes or something." Lonnie offers.

" Yes ," Catra looks marginally less stressed "you are a lifesaver. You sure she won't mind?"

"Nah, Regina's cool."

"Wow, look at us, I can't believe I hated you as kids."

Lonnie snorts. "Yeah no, I hated your ass too."

"Hate, lust, there's a thin line between."

Lonnie laughs so hard her drink almost comes out of her nose. "As if Catra, but I'll tell her to text you. So don't be alarmed if you get a cryptic message from someone who talks a lot about Wednesday's and the color pink."

Catra and Adora must share the same confused look because Lonnie cuts them off saying, "don't ask."

A couple hours into the party Catra decides to call it a night (Scorpia was drunkenly talking to Perfuma—something she told Catra to pull the plug on if it got that far). Their apartment is close to campus, about an hour drive up north, and she has to think about how she's going to survive the night with a drunk Scorpia and research hungry Entrapta.

"Catra!" It's as if Glimmer can sense that Catra's leaving because she barrels into her back.

She almost falls over at the force of it all. "Hey buddy, you good?"

Glimmer slumps over on Catra's shoulder. "Catra— hiccup —you're, you , you're my best friend."

"Okay, I think it's time for you to get to bed." Catra asks Adora, "do you need me to stay back and help you with these two?"

Glimmer shouldn't be an issue, she usually tires herself out, Bow's the wild card.

"No, you'll have your hands full with Scorpia and Entrapta." Adora says, "I'll see you on campus? We usually meet up for lunch on Wednesday's, if not we're probably at the library in the loud section."

"Sounds good."

Glimmer pulls Catra in for a solid hug despite her drunken state. "Text me when you're in," she slurs.

"Your head will probably be in a toilet by then but sure."

Catra tries to slip away but Adora stops her with open arms. "Get back safe."

Catra gives her a quick half armed hug. "I'll see you."

Catra leaves with Scorpia and Entrapta in tow but something trails behind. Adora can't pinpoint what it is, but it lurks in the dark, hanging off the shadows like a parasite, just waiting there. A chill runs down Adora's back; she slams the door and tries to distract herself by helping Glimmer and Bow sober up a bit.

That night, Adora tosses and turns in her sleep, startled awake numerous times by the same dream.

2

The first month of school passes by like the leaves falling off the old oak tree outside Etheria Hall, getting lost in the chill wind of October. Adora, having been locked in the library for the duration, leaves her lecture room after a brutal first exam. Though her brain is essentially fried she feels lighter—far more welcome to outlining the next chapter opposed to cramming five in for an exam that only breaches the surface of select concepts.

Adora let's her feet guide her to the gym in the school basement just across the hall from the swimming pool. The gym in the sports center is far more equipped with treadmills, and bike machines, but she's in the mood for free weights. Feeling this light is undocumented; she needs to stay on her toes—needs something to weigh her down a little.

Adora turns the corner and startles, "guys?" She blinks a couple times but Bow and Catra are really here. Together .

Bow is sporting his fine midsection per usual as he spots Catra on the bench as she presses 90lbs ( not including the bar which weighs 45lbs on its own). He perks up, mindful to return the bar back to its holder before he runs up to greet her. Catra is far more sluggish, slinking off the bench lethargic in the way she pauses to stretch her arms a bit.

Adora nearly jumps out of her skin when Bow steps into her field of view, blocking Catra in the process.

"Adora!" Bow cheers, opening his arms before he stops and pulls back at the last minute. "Sorry, I'd hug you but I'm gross and sweaty."

Catra joins them, swatting at his butt saying "awe, but I like you when you're gross and sweaty."

"Does that mean you want a hug ?"

"What, no I didn't say—"

It's too late. Bow scoops her up with so much force her feet dangle helplessly above the floor.

"I've dreamed of this day," Bow confesses.

"You're so weird and— wow , you really are gross and sweaty. Put me down," Catra probably tries to sound serious but she's laughing throughout the entire fit. She starts putting up more of a fight when a couple people look their way, wiggling with so much force that it makes Bow lose his footing over a stray barbell someone left out.

"Bow!" Catra squeals as they go toppling over.

Catra lands beside Bow with her hands braced on his chest; a suggestive sight for someone who's never met the two. It's harmless, cute even, and Adora smiles—a weak and feeble thing.

"I'm so sorry," Bow says in between his laughter "are you okay?"

"When I imagined breaking my back with you this wasn't exactly what I had in mind."

Bow wheases. "Stop, I can't breathe."

Adora steps out of her body—transcending both space and time. When she looks down she doesn't see Bow and Catra; she sees a murky image of two kids clutching to each other to survive their darkest nights.

"I didn't know you guys were going to the gym." Adora says when they've cooled off a bit to get up from the ground; their faces are still flushed from laughter as they bask in the aftermath.

"It wasn't a planned thing. I ran into Catra after my Bio seminar and it just sort of happened."

Adora nods. "I just finished my exam for my Exercise Science class. I'm following my basketball lifting routine and it's arm day so I won't be long. You guys want to get lunch after?"

"Yes! Best Friend Squad lunch! I'll text Glimmer."

Catra winces. "Sorry, I've got a date with my lab report. It's due in twelve hours and I'm not trying to be up all night with it."

"Next time? We can set a gym date so I can beat your time on the treadmill." Adora suggests.

"Maybe, I have to check my schedule. It's a little hectic right now, I barely had time for this."

"I don't care how busy your schedule is, you better not miss movie night on Friday or else Scorpia will kill you...or, you know, do whatever it is Scorpia does when she's upset." Bow says.

"Well, I live there. Can't really get out of it." Catra mutters to herself, "believe me I've tried."

"Ooh I can't wait. I heard she's picking out a good scary movie to get us in the Halloween spirit."

"It's from my personal collection so be prepared to have nightmares for months to come."

Bow runs a hand down his arm whispering, "I already have goosebumps."

"Alright I seriously have to go before I procrastinate more than I already have." Adora moves in for a hug but Catra backs away saying, "I'm all gross from mine and Bow's sweat."

Bow sticks his tongue out at her.

Adora pulls her in anyway. "You know I don't care about any of that, I'm not like Catherine. I won't freak out if you get my bow wrinkled or step on my toes during a slow dance."

"She was so mad." Catra laughs.

"Catherine?"

"It's a long story that I do not have time to tell." Catra scoops up her duffel bag and shoulders it. "I'll see you guys on Friday—bring snacks or don't bother showing up."

Adora waves goodbye long after Catra walks into the changing room like she's a moment behind in time—knocked off her axis by Catra's orbit. It lingers just as strong as if she were still in the room. When she finally gets back to reality Bow is looking at her with unkempt excitement.

"Why're you looking at me like that?"

Bow raises a brow. "Gym date, huh?"

"We had silly competitions like that all the time when we were kids. Why? Was that weird? It was weird wasn't it?"

"...never mind," Bow deflates a bit. "How about you tell me more about Catherine? She sounds like a trip."

3

Adora's basking in her afternoon lunch on Wednesday when Glimmer brings something up that makes her heave. The muffin she picked up from Etheria Tops comes out her throat leaving a dry trail behind that water can't even assuage. Glimmer gets up to pat her on the back but Adora surprises them both when she slaps it away.

Something threatens to crawl out from her mouth—something Adora herself wasn't aware existed. But Glimmer isn't shocked at all; the edges of her mouth tilt up in mischief as she asks "what's wrong?"

"What did you say?"

"I asked you what's—"

"Before that," her voice is rough from the upchucked muffin "about Catra."

Glimmer actually laughs like Adora's whole world hasn't fallen off its axis. "Oh yeah, she's thinking of getting her nipples pierced. She doesn't think she can pull it off but I told her anything works for her, you know?"

"Yeah…" Adora's throat bobs.

"Exactly, she's gorgeous. It's kind of annoying sometimes." Glimmer says, distracted as she texts Catra back. "So I told her to show me."

Adora frowns. "Show you what?"

"To show me what she's working with so I can tell her if it'll look good or not." Glimmer gestures to her own chest. "Just waiting to see what she says."

"You, you're gonna see…"

"If I'm lucky," Glimmer jokes.

Adora knew the bond Catra and Glimmer formed over the summer was durable but she had no idea it extended to this level of intamacy. "Oh," is all she can say in a whisper.

There's suddenly a flash, out from beneath the shadows something creeps out with its chilling hand. It latches onto Adora's ankles, leaving its cold mark before slowly making its way to the top. She's unaware of the claws sinking in; it distracts her with hallucinations—with thoughts capable of morphing into dreams.

Adora imagines Catra coming to her with the proposition. They're on the bed in Catra's room with the door closed joking around when Catra brings up her thoughts of getting pierced. She makes off handed comments about it not looking good on her but Adora assuages her worries. " You're beautiful , " she tells her.

Catra snorts at her cheesy pickup line. "You don't even know if it would look good or not."

"Anything on you would look great."

"True...but still. I don't know." Catra looks off to the side, the way she does when she's shy about what she's about to ask. "...could you look and tell me if you think it would look okay? I have the plastic bar to press against my nipple to get an idea."

Adora, always the helpful friend, says "yeah, of course. Whatever you need."

Then Catra gets up from the bed to stand in front of her, so close Adora can feel her breath, clipped with mint from her gum, ghosting across her forehead. Adora bunches the blanket in her fists in anticipation as Catra slowly pulls up the edge of her shirt until—

"Adora!"

Startled by her own thoughts Adora snaps, "what?"

"You're bleeding!" Glimmer has a handful of napkins and is dabbing at Adora's hand.

Adora looks at her hand. "Oh…" the pencil she'd been using to take notes has pierced her palm. She unballs her fist and watches in awe as Glimmer pulls the sharpened end out.

"Did you not feel that?"

Adora shakes her head. She was too lost in thought to notice the prickle in her palm, distracted by—

Adora shoots up, face set aflame with panicked eyes to match. "I uhm, library, yeah. I'm going to the library to read some chapters for class."

Glimmer hesitates, "okay...but at least run some water over that and get a bandaid."

Adora does a half assed rinse and sloppily wraps her hand with some tape she got from the athletic trainers office before she's running out the door. She hears Glimmer's phone ping with a text and wonders briefly if it's Catra with a response.

But just briefly.

The same night, Adora has a recurring dream. Catra asks Adora for help, cheeks painted red, as she slowly pulls up her shirt (one of Adora's old basketball ones, something that pools around Catra's hips to make her legs look longer than they are). But before Catra can get her shirt off Adora wakes with a gasp; sweat pooling in the dip of her collar and moisture forming in a place she's not ready to think about.

And she's selfish in the night, wiping the sweat away, lulling herself to sleep knowing what awaits her. Each time she tries to get a little closer.

The furthest she gets is seeing the bottom of Catra's breast curving delicately out from under the shirt Adora gave her.

4

On Thursday Adora decides she's been distracted long enough. Having been teased throughout the night, Adora gets up early and heads to the library to get some reading done. She finds a seat by the window where the sun peeks out from behind the blinds, warming her up a little in the chilly room. She doesn't know how long she's been reading when she looks up and sees Scorpia and Entrapta strolling in.

"Hmm, I don't know...it needs to have a delicate touch and I don't think pinchers are able to offer that."

Scorpia whines. "But we could still test it out, right? Hypotheses have been wrong before."

Entrapta says "fine, I'll see what I can do. For science! Oh, hey, I know you." She stops to lower her lab goggles that she must've forgotten to take off during one of her laboratory classes.

Adora waves sheepishly, still not sure how to act around Catra's friends. She's not clear on what they know about their falling out. The opposite seems to apply for Catra. Once their friendship was rekindled Bow and Glimmer took an immediate liking to Catra, going out of their way to invite her to events and gatherings inside their circle. It took less than a week—one shared sarcastic remark—to get Glimmer and Catra to become close. For Bow, all it took was one of Catra's blueberry muffins she makes from scratch.

"Hey Adora!" Scorpia smiles all bright but she does that with everyone so Adora's still not sure how to feel. "Do you want some company? We won't make too much noise, or we can sit somewhere else…"

"You can sit here. It's fine. I was pretty much done anyway." She lies through her teeth just so she can get some brownie points.

Scopia and Entrapta sit across from her and start piling all these weird gadgets onto the table. There's stuff Adora doesn't have words for, she just knows they're all metal and shinny and—

"Is that a toothbrush?"

"For science!" Entrapa says as if it explains everything.

"Should I ask?"

Scopia smiles. "Oh, we're making a robot for a race we entered a couple weeks from now. It's pretty lame but we've been doing it since freshman year. And the prize is a surprise this year so it'll be super fun."

"That actually sounds amazing. Have you won any races?"

"We're 15-0."

"14-1." Entrapta corrects without looking up from the toothbrush.

Scorpia sulks. "They cheated, we should've won that round. But, it's still a pretty good record and it's great for grad school applications. You should come see us sometime! It's always a good show when the three of us put something together."

"Three of us?"

"Yep. Each race we have a new surprise, you know, to keep the competition on their toes. I come up with our ace. This year I'm hoping it'll be the pinchers, something we can use to pick at the competition mid race. Catra makes the strategy and Entrapta puts it all together. We're the perfect team!"

Adora double takes. "Catra races robots?"

"Yeah," Scorpia frowns "I thought you knew? I'm pretty sure I saw you at our last race. I'm sure of it, remember? It was in July on that really hot day, we beat Kenny's team with a turbo boost at the last second winning by a hair. Then we went out for ice cream. You were there."

"That wasn't her." Entrapta mutters.

"Huh? Are you sure?"

"The girl with Catra had sparkly hair." Entrapta looks at Adora's bland ponytail and confirms, "pretty sure."

"Glimmer?" Adora asks in disbelief.

"Yes!" Scorpia nods. "Gosh, that was driving me crazy. But yeah, Glimmer came to watch us race."

Adora frowns. "Catra never mentioned any of this."

"It's fine, you can just ask her about the next one." Scorpia looks over Adora's head and calls out, "hey wildcat", far too loudly for the space they're studying in.

Catra slinks up from behind Adora. "Hey."

"You're sweating," Entrapta says bluntly.

Catra laughs, "accurate as always. But yeah, I had to run all the way here so I wouldn't be late. I'm actually dying right now, I have a long sleeve under this hold on." She drops her bag on the floor so she can pull off the bulky hoodie. Her long sleeve gets snagged in the hoodie, revealing a real image that pales to the comparison of Adora's dream.

Adora looks away just as quickly, burned with the bitter taste of shame.

"Ooo, do we have all the parts ready?" Catra asks, eyes sparkling with excitement Adora hasn't seen since they were kids.

It almost blinds her.

"Yep! Entrapta just needs to make the blueprints and it's good to go. When she's done then you can get started on the strategy."

Catra grins, "great I already have some good ideas for—"

"I didn't know you raced." Adora wonders who brought it up but realizes she has spoken. She hadn't meant to, usually she favors letting things work themselves out, but something compels her. A familiar chill blows across her ankle and this time it rests higher.

Adora is unaware of the climb until she feels it grip her cold and tight just beneath the back of her knees. When did it get so high…

"I didn't think you'd be into it."

"You race robots. Sometimes you sabotage them by making them explode to win. Why wouldn't I be into it?"

Catra shrugs. "You were busy this summer with work, I didn't want to bug you."

"You brought Glimmer."

"You were so focused on getting that internship at the trainers office," Catra says surely but it sounds more like an excuse. "I thought you'd be busy."

"I would've made time. You know that."

Catra's eyebrows pinch in, she looks away unable to meet her eyes. "I know, and I'm sorry, but you can come to the next one. The ones during the summer are pretty lame anyway, the real competition shows up during the fall when the cold weather gives them a challenge."

"Yep, problem solved!" Scorpia interrupts before whispering something to herself that Catra and Adora can't hear. Entrapta understands the gist of if because Adora sees her nodding in agreement.

Adora says, "so are you sitting down or are you gonna keep standing there like an idiot?"

"Idiot? No, I think you've got our roles confused. And I'm not staying, I have to meet someone but I'll see you guys at the apartment." Catra looks to Adora, "see you at movie night."

But Catra doesn't leave the library, she goes across the room to join some blonde in one of the privacy booths.

Adora frowns, "who's she sitting with?"

Scorpia looks over. "Oh, that's Regina."

"She sounds familiar…"

"You probably heard Lonnie mention her at the party a couple months ago. Regina took Biochem and was the TA for the professor Catra has now so she's helping her out a bit. Regina's really cool! She throws the best Halloween parties...well, that's what I've heard. I've never been invited to one but gosh it would be so—"

Adora loses track of whatever Scorpia's rambling on about right around the time Regina giggles at something clever Catra probably said. It's something Adora's seen time and time before; some girl has a thing for Catra so they try to make themselves look cute by laughing at the smallest thing she says, going as far to brush hair behind their ears. But they always try too hard and Catra ends up dodging their advances because she can do better—Adora always thinks she can do better. She hasn't once met anyone worth Catra's time.

But Catra isn't following the script. She's actually smiling at Regina without a trace of malice.

"Gosh, are you alright?"

Adora looks down and again she sees the familiar blood spreading across her white wrapping. "Yeah, I must have opened it up again. It happened yesterday so it probably was never even closed."

"Do you need more bandages? I can run to the health center."

Adora stands up swiftly. "Nope, don't worry about me. I'm finished anyway so I'll stop by there on my own but thanks. I'll see you guys tomorrow night?"

"Affirmative."

"Of course! I can't wait, this is going to be so exciting I've never hosted before."

"Statistically 9 out of 10 times the guests leave dissatisfied with their experience."

Scorpia looks panicked. "What? That can't be right."

"Data never lies."

5

"Are you sure we have time for this?" Bow asks nervously.

"We don't have a choice." Glimmer says, skating down the snack aisle of the 711 on Mainstreet. "We can't show up to Scorpia's first movie night without snacks, it's rude...plus the last movie night we went too had the worst snacks and I had to suffer through a terrible movie."

Adora suggests, "the movie might be good tonight" as she scans the rack for chocolate.

Glimmer huffs. " The Lonely Bones just wasn't for me."

"I saw you crying!"

"Bow! I said never speak of it!" Glimmer shoves him away but he grabs at her hands and pulls her closer. "Don't try and smooth it over now, the betrayal is too fresh."

"Guys," Adora throws a pack of skittles at them "try not to make out in the middle of the aisle, there are children."

Glimmer mutters something under her breath that makes Bow nudge her in the stomach.

"What was that?"

"Nothing!" Bow exclaims, picking up a family pack of mini KitKats "let's just go with this. Come on, I hate being late to things."

They pay up at the register and then make their way to Scorpia's apartment on the other side of town. They get there later than they expected and hurry to the top floor of the apartment complex.

"Welcome! Oh, you brought KitKat's! Those are my favorite! Come in, come in, everyone's all set up in the living room." Scorpia guides them inside. "You can put the snacks on the table for everyone to share."

Glimmer says, "sorry we're late. The bridge was up so we were sitting around for a while. The GPS took us this random way, and I've only visited Catra once so I couldn't remember the way she taught me. I'm terrible with directions."

"Yeah, I hope we didn't keep everyone waiting." Bow says nervously.

"You guys are fine!"

They hand their coats off to Scorpia so she can put them on the bed in one of the rooms; Adora isn't sure whose it is, having never actually visited the apartment until now. She can only assume Catra's room is on the far right, tucked in the back of the hallway nearest to the bathroom and far from the ruckus in the living area.

"Catra's not here yet."

Adora almost punches Scorpia in the face (courtesy of growing up in the Horde) when she sneaks up on her. "What?" she stutters.

"I saw you looking at her room, Catra meets with her study group on Friday's for biochem but she promised to leave early. She should be on her way."

Glimmer huffs "tell Catra to hurry up before we start without her" as she sinks into the couch nudged in between Bow and the arm rest.

"Tell her yourself."

Glimmer squeaks. "When did you get here?"

"Just now," Catra says from the front door "voices echo like crazy in this place."

"Close the door!" Mermista complains, tucking further into her sea of blankets.

"Sorry." Catra holds the door open for Regina before closing it upon Mermista's request. "Guys this is Regina, Regina this is everyone. She was curious about what normal college students do on Friday nights."

Regina argues. "I am a normal college student."

"You fly to Paris when you want a croissant. That shit is not normal."

Glimmer stands up with a hand outstretched. "So this is the one you were telling me about."

"Yeah, you're both rich so you probably already know each other."

"Catra I told you, not all rich people know each other." Glimmer trails off, "it's only a coincidence Regina's mom and mine were in the same sorority."

Regina is a frail, skinny, thing but Adora doesn't underestimate the devious glint in her eye. Her lips, stained with some fancy red lipstick, twist up at the corners ready for a verbal fight; her calculating eyes, skimping over Adora—lips twisting higher—suggests the assessment has already begun. And Adora hates how Regina takes one look at her and seemingly knows it all, knows things that Adora herself has not come to admit.

No, the truth is, Adora doesn't think Regina is much of anything. Sure she's rich and money can go a long way, but she probably hasn't had to suffer the things her and Catra did. Regina could never compete with the bond they share. Regina is all clean pressed, not a hair out of place, and disgustingly pink; she and Catra used to laugh at people like her.

Adora bets she can take Regina out with one punch.

"Adora, can you get the lights?" Glimmer says.

"Oh, yeah sorry." Adora hits the lights and settles on the other side of the couch next to Bow.

Adora doesn't catch the name of the movie but based on the stupid teenagers and the shoddy budget on the first kill ten minutes in, it doesn't matter. She snorts at the unrealistic blood and goes to make a snide comment to Bow but he's actually jumping at the obvious jump scares. Even Glimmer tucks into Bow's side with a grip so tight it causes the sleeves of his top to bunch.

The glare from the screen let's her get an idea of the rest of her friends and they're in the same shape as Bow and Glimmer; practically hiding under their blankets. Mermista is the only one faring well—she actually looks a little bored as she leans her chin into her palm. She's probably already figured out who the killer is.

Adora's phone buzzes with a text. She checks it under her blanket, it's thick enough to not have the annoying light coming through to tip everyone in.

She almost drops her phone.

Catra: this movie sucks

Catra: I promise this isn't from my collection but the one I picked had a cover so frightening it gave Scorpia nightmares so we had to change it last minute

Catra hasn't texted her leisurely since high school. Usually she only reaches out when Glimmer misplaces her phone or when she left something at their apartment. It's been so long since Catra's just texted her to talk.

Adora stares at her screen like an idiot.

Catra: come on, don't tell me you're actually buying any of this. Has your time with Sparkles made you soft?

Adora scoffs in outrage.

Adora: this movie is awful...the blood is ketchup I'm sure of it, there was a bottle of it missing from the counter in one of the restaurant scenes and I swear they improvised

Across the room Catra snickers. It's a rough timbre, just below the television noise but Adora hears it anyway and it makes her stomach twist.

Adora: and I am not soft

Adora: that's Regina's scene

Adora has no idea where that comes from and it's obvious neither does Catra when her face twists under the light of her phone.

Catra: Regina's cool. Remember when I thought Glimmer was soft? Then she beats me at beer pong, we both barf in your bathroom and suddenly we're best friends. Life is crazy like that.

Adora: sounds like you're just crazy

Catra: lol think we established that after I egged your house after our fight

Adora remembers the night fondly.

Adora: maybe I like a little crazy

Too much. She spares a glance across the room; Catra looks at her phone for a long moment and eventually replies—

Catra: lol whatever

She's a little disappointed, Catra's far more capable of coming up with a better response than this. It feels like a way out, no hard feelings for Adora to move on with the way things are—the way they have been. Normally she'd take it blindly but Adora is still haunted by that dream—every night a new opportunity and yet she doesn't seem to ever get close. It makes her consider—just for a moment—but tradition holds her back.

She and Catra are friends just like they've always been.

6

It's the week leading into Halloween and Adora locks herself up in the gym to outline chapters for class just to keep her mind occupied. The gym is a nice change in scenery and she gets to shoot a couple baskets in between her study breaks. It has nothing to do with Catra parading Regina in the library at the exact time Adora goes there to study. Honestly, she couldn't care less about their lingering touches and hushed whispers— snap .

Adora curses. "Damn it, I'm running out of pencils." The wound on her palm still hasn't healed from her last fiasco. Just when the wound begins to heal salt gets thrown on it.

"I have an extra you can borrow."

Adora startles. "Oh...thank you."

"No problem." A guy who looks like he just started college two days ago practically shoves a clean shaven pencil in her face. His hands are ridiculously soft—even Kyle had a couple calluses before puberty hit him, like the winter—predicted but still outright surprising.

He keeps standing there staring at her for a few awkward moments. Adora gives, "uhm did you want it back?"

"No!" His voice squeaks so high she almost has to cover her ears. "I mean...would you like to see a magic trick?" A sudden crooked grin spreads across his peach fuzz face; if he weren't so quirky Adora would say he's cute.

"A magic trick?"

He nods all hopeful, it's obvious college hasn't taken the spark from his eyes so she decides he has to be at least an underclassmen.

"Sure." Adora shrugs.

"Great." He pulls out a worn down wallet with something wrapped in plastic peeking out from the lip. "Go ahead," he gestures for her to take it.

Adora assumes it's one of those lame handkerchief pranks where it never seems to end no matter how many you pull out and it turns out she's right.

Partially.

But instead of handkerchiefs, Adora's pulling out a line of packet condoms. She stops indulging in his sick joke when she gets over the initial shock. "Don't drop out of college," she says while hurrying to collect her things so she can get as far away from him as possible.

He shakes his head, frantic. "No please, wait!" She doesn't stop packing up but she watches as he hurries to pluck out the rest of the condoms until he gets to the final row. He holds it up to her like a line of polarized film. "So?"

Adora frowns. "So you have more than three dozen small sized condoms?"

He blushes and flips the line over so she can read what's written in bold red marker: will you go out with me?

"...wow."

"Pretty cool right?" He actually thinks he deserves to look smug right now. "I heard there's this Halloween mixer the track team is having Thursday night and wanted to see if you'd be my date? Don't let this fool you it was just a prop, I've actually got some really big clown shoes in the back of my trunk."

Adora is now carefully backing away. "Oh...no thank you…" she would usually put him down easier but she's a little freaked at the moment.

He groans. "Man, I knew I should've gone with the squirting flower. If you wait here I can go get it—"

But Adora's already out the double doors by the time he turns around.

Adora walks in a couple random loops before she heads to her dorm just in case that guy from the gym decides to follow her. She's desperate to tell Bow and Glimmer about what happened but they're not in the apartment when she gets in. She is a little relieved though, it's nice to have some time to herself after the strange day she's had.

Adora takes a long shower and decides to spoil herself with ice cream and Grey's Anatomy . She just changed into one of her lacrosse hoodies and loose sweatpants when there's a knock at the door. She runs the towel over her head to dry the wet hair on the back of her neck as she cautiously looks through the peephole. Catra's leaning against the frame with her hands tucked in the pockets of her ripped jeans with a bag hanging from her shoulder.

Adora hurries up to dry what she can of her messy hair, tossing the towel into her hamper, and checking herself in the mirror before she opens the door. She goes for a causal "hey" but it gets caught in her throat anyway.

Catra nods, eyes lingering on her hair. "Hey Adora—"

Her stomach chooses this moment to do backflips.

"Is Glimmer here? She said I could drop off her bag she left at my place."

"Oh, yeah sure...you can come in. Glimmer's not here though."

"Ah place to yourself then? How are you celebrating? Wait don't tell me." Catra says, " Grey's Anatomy. "

Adora smiles. "You want to watch a few episodes?"

"I'm good, I'll just leave this with you."

"Okay." Adora goes to close the door before she can embarrass herself but Catra blocks the door with her foot. "What is it?"

"Just out of curiosity, did anything weird happen to you today?"

Adora shivers at the memory. "Yeah, this creepy guy asked me to pull out a long pack of condoms from his wallet like some sick magic trick. It was like a prom-posal gone wrong."

Catra's mouth quirks at the corners. "No way."

"Yeah it was—" Adora stops and then gasps when she puts the pieces together. "It was you ?"

"What was me?"

Adora drops the bag and rounds up on her, "you did something. I know that look."

"I have a look?"

"Stop deflecting."

Catra finally lets her smile slip through. "Okay maybe the kid came and asked me what kind of stuff you were into before he asked you out."

"What did you tell him?"

"That you had a clown fetish but he told me he would use one of the flowers that squirt water."

Adora laughs, "wait stop he actually did mention it!"

Catra looks sheepish. "You're not mad though right?"

Adora shakes her head. "It's nice actually...we haven't pranked each other in a while you know?"

Catra smiles at the thought. "Yeah."

For a moment Adora feels like everything is the way it should be.

Adora says, "hey...do you wanna—"

"Catra!" Regina shouts, barreling into Catra until she's draped across her shoulder. "My car's out front are you ready to go?"

Catra tells her, "yeah one second. Adora, were you about to—"

"What? No. It's nothing, but uh, what're you two up to tonight? It's probably better than my lame night in."

Regina's smile is all dimples and sugar. "A, as Catra likes to call it, fancy restaurant opened up on 5th street. We're only going in for the appetizers so they're probably gonna hate us but we heard they have the best mozzarella sticks."

Catra snickers, "yeah they have a serious dress code but we're just gonna wear our school hoodies. We'll probably get tossed out before we make it past the front lobby."

"It's cool," Regina says "if that happens we'll just have something to eat at my place."

Catra pauses. "Adora, do you want to come with?"

Adora shudders at the thought of being a third wheel.

"No I'm fine thanks but you two have fun."

"Thanks girl," even when Regina tries to be polite it rubs Adora the wrong way.

"I'll see you at the track mixer?" Catra asks before Regina can drag her away.

"Yeah, see you then."

She closes the door so she doesn't have to watch Regina hang off Catra's arm the same way Adora remembers doing so herself.

7

Adora's scrolling through her instagram feed the next night in bed when she comes across a picture Catra posted with Regina outside the restaurant they mentioned going to. The streetlights cover them in an alluring glow and Adora hates to admit they actually look good together.

Against her better judgement Adora clicks on Regina's profile. It has the classic rich girl photos of fancy foods, places she's traveled, and friends she probably made through benefits alone.

Adora stops at an old Halloween picture Regina posted where she's dressed in a ridiculously revealing lingerie set with bunny ears to top it off. It's stupid, and offensive to women everywhere and—

Catra liked it.

8

Adora's first mistake was going over her drinking limit but this doesn't impact her until the night proceeds.

It's Halloween night when she goes to the track mixer with Bow, Glimmer, and their usual group of misfits. Adora's historic Halloween costumes have been simple (last year she was a baseball player with black war paint streaked across her face). Safe and conservative. It is a shock to everyone when she forgoes tradition just a bit by dressing up as a boxer. What makes it scandalous is the amount of skin she's showing tonight.

Adora's outfit consists of a matching black sports bra and fitted boxers with a championship white and gold robe draped over her shoulders. She knows the product of her strict training regime for the various sports she is a part of and is in the mood to flaunt it this year. It has nothing to do with Catra being on the track team and bound to show face.

"Greyskull," Double Trouble whistles at her in passing, "looks like you're finally with the program."

Adora ignores them in favor of helping herself to a drink. Usually she doesn't drink between seasons but midterms are over and she thinks she deserves a break.

"Bow, don't make any sudden movements...Adora is actually drinking tonight."

Adora rolls her eyes at Glimmer's antics. "It's not that surprising."

"No," Glimmer gestures to Adora's stomach. "Nothing can be as surprising as your costume this year. What's up with it? It looks amazing but you usually don't show...any skin."

"Or abs," Bow quips.

Adora shrugs. "Thought it was time for a change."

There's a sudden ruckus near the door that pulls Adora's attention away but it's Catra's grand entrance that keeps her captivated.

Catra's favorite holiday is Halloween. She has gushed to Adora about how she loves getting to dress up as someone new without having to worry about societal expectations.

"Catra's here." Bow says, waving in her direction.

"Yes!" Glimmer squeals. "She told me she's drinking tonight so I actually have someone who can keep up with me. No offense Adora."

But Adora's too busy admiring Catra's costume to notice any jabs.

This year Catra is dressed like a zombie, but it's a college Halloween party so Adora thinks it's fair to classify her costume as a sexy zombie. It's a simple concept; a battered white shirt covered in fake blood and fishnet black stockings, but it leaves Adora winded regardless.

Catra's shirt is cut just below her collar, revealing a scandalous amount of cleavage; it's far too exact to be an accident.

"I'm going over, you guys coming with?" Glimmer asks.

Adora wants to do a lot of things but seeing Regina slip seemingly out of nowhere, settling in at Catra's side, makes her hesitant.

"No, I'll catch up." Adora says, downing her drink before searching for another.

Glimmer pauses to ask Bow, "can you keep an eye on her?"

Bow nods dutifully. "You can count on me."

Adora loses Bow a couple hours in. He keeps good on his promise for a while, keeping Adora with the group, before the DJ plays everyone's favorite song and Adora loses her friends in the crowd.

She heads back into the kitchen to get away from the loud bass. Catra's been missing since her first appearance at the door and since Glimmer is on the dance floor, Catra must be smoking somewhere with Perfuma. Adora will find her after the party hopefully when—

"Hey, it's Anna right?"

"Adora."

Regina's leaning against the pantry and like always is in Adora's way.

"Can you move? I want some chips."

Regina opens the pantry but stays put. "Which ones?"

"Salt and vinegar."

Regina grabs them but stops halfway. "You can't actually, I just remembered I wanted those."

Adora doesn't know much about Regina but she has a feeling this girl is not the type to like salt and vinegar chips.

Adora frowns. "No you don't, you just want them because I do."

"You've had all night to get them." Regina says, and suddenly Adora doesn't think they're talking about chips. "It's too late. But don't worry Anna, you can have the crumbs when I'm done with her—"

The solo cup slips from Adora's hand, amber splashing to the tile, announcing the first round as Adora lunges close to deck Regina with a solid right hook. A shout to her left, Glimmer (she'll recall the next morning as her hangover fades), and arms try to warrant her attack but their efforts are too kind. In the uproar their kind touches are pushed away and soon replaced with an assertive hold; it's far more solidifying. Adora doesn't have to turn around to know that it's Catra, she can feel the burn in her shoulder as her arm is twisted around her back—the granite cuts into her diaphragm when she's pushed up against it.

"Adora," she knows the protocol, hell, Catra invented the protocol. Growing up in the Horde, a grotesque place, where the people are the same, showing emotion wasn't an option. They weren't built to respond well to kindness, Adora has slowly learned how with the help of Bow and Glimmer but when the rage engulfs her it's easy to forget the new things she's been taught.

"Tap out," Catra reassures her, voice so close to her ear it makes Adora shiver "it's okay."

Adora stops fighting and tries to focus on not passing out with how choppy her breathing is. And her efforts are rewarded; Catra silently ushers them away from the raging crowd that is now surrounding Regina who's sprawled out on the floor, out cold from the punch. It's not entirely her fault. Adora doubts anyone could last more than a minute after getting punched by a product of the Horde.

"Sit. Stay." Catra barks orders, pushing Adora to sit still on the toilet seat cover. She disappears for a couple minutes, and behind the door Adora can hear faint chatter—hushed—but her head is throbbing and she's too exhausted to give it any thought so she leans her head on the wall and waits.

The tap from the leaky faucet keeps her company. Tup...tup...tup... a quick flash of Regina's cocky smirk... tup …the dull bite of Adora's nails digging into her palms as a fist forms... tup ...the satisfaction of landing a hit... tup ...the adrenaline fading when Adora realizes Catra's probably not here because she's checking on Regina.

Something hot bubbles in her throat, she's afraid it'll come tumbling out if she opens her mouth so she keeps it cradled shut but only barely. Her jaw shakes, teeth clattering like an impossible chill has crept up but the windows are shut in fact there's fog on the mirror—it must be her. She's cold from the inside and it's leaking out; something nasty, something cruel, something green.

It's her revelation and it's tainted.

Adora feels like something might come up out of her stomach and she hasn't had much to drink despite what her actions may assume. She hunches forward, ignoring the strands that have escaped her sloppy ponytail.

"I bet you're feeling it now, huh?" Catra's back with a pack of crushed ice that she'd slipped inside a plastic lunch baggy. She drops down to kneel in front of Adora when she doesn't make a move to get up. "Gimme your hand."

Adora blindly holds out her hand.

Catra snorts. "The other one, idiot."

"S'orry." Adora slurs, from the alcohol or Catra's warm touch, something she hasn't felt in a while, she isn't sure which (she'd bet on the ladder).

"It's already starting to bruise," Catra mumbles "your Coach is going to freak out if they see this, you should wear those gloves you keep in the side pocket of your car...y'know, the ones with—"

"The hole on the palm."

Catra nods. "Yeah, those...how many times do I have to tell you to get some new ones?"

"It'll take too much time to break in a new pair."

"Yeah yeah. Regardless, it's cold enough so she won't question it at practice." Catra presses down on the ice pack and replaces her hand with Adora's. "Hold this, yeah just like that, I'll see if Emma has any tape to hold it in place."

Adora swallows something dry and tries to be subtle when she watches Catra rummage through the cabinet. Catra's changed a lot since they were kids; Adora can mark every milestone in Catra's maturity. At five Catra lost the cute lisp Lonnie and the others used to tease her for; at ten she stopped tripping over her tail—grace replacing clumsiness; at fifteen her freckles became more prominent around her nose; at seventeen she outgrew the tufts behind her ear...at eighteen they had their fight and they didn't speak for three years. And now, at twenty-one it all seems to come together perfectly and utterly inconvenient for Adora.

She looks away when Catra comes back over and kneels beside her again. "I found some tape we use to wrap ankles, it should keep everything together for a while. Ice for twenty minutes and then take it off for another twenty."

Adora feels her stomach flutter, something threatening to come up again, but this time it's different. It's different in the way her palms get sweaty, the way her face heats up, the way she's noticing for the first time how good Catra smells ( did she always smell this good? ). Lost in it all, Adora is stuck in a trance when those mismatched eyes, the ones that have always been watching her, the ones she desperately tried to look good in front of, peer into her own. And what a sight she must be, eyes frantic, brow furrowed, as she's bombarded with the bitter truth.

"You okay?" Catra asks, face pinching together from concern. "Is it too tight?"

"No, it's fine," she stumbles over her words "thank you."

Catra looks a bit more at ease but her eyes are still dark. "What's up with you? Basketball is just getting started, and I get that you want to unwind after midterms, but you can't lose it like that. This isn't like you."

"Now you care."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're supposed to be my best friend."

Catra argues "I am—"

"—you hang out with everyone but me . You avoid me! You only come to the apartment to see Glimmer or Bow, you jump at the tiniest touch, you spend all your time with Regina fucking Harris and latch onto her every word."

Catra blinks, stumped at Adora's language. "Did she, did Regina do something to you? Why are you acting like this? I know I've been a shitty friend and I'm sorry but I'm here now and I can't sit back and watch you spiral so just tell me what's—"

Adora leans down and kisses her so hard Catra almost falls back on her heels. There's a lapse in time; Adora with her eyes pinched, hands desperately tangled in a wild chestnut mane, Catra stiff as a board as her mind takes a moment to catch up. When the lapse is over, Catra gasps in realization or disgust Adora isn't sure. Adora runs her tongue across Catra's bottom lip and by some beautiful miracle it accidentally slips past parted lips and rubs against something wet and rough.

They moan, feeding off of whatever they've been tiptoeing around since high school. But they don't go to Etheria High anymore, gone are the fumbling kids who awkwardly chase after something just out of reach beneath the stars peeking out over the bleachers. Older, not experienced but wise enough to read between the lines, they run together, chasing after that night taken from them.

Adora's surprised at how eager Catra is, not letting their lips part for longer than a second when they break for a breath. She grips at Adora's thigh, nails biting into her skin and Adora hopes it leaves a mark; some kind of trace she can use to commemorate this night.

Something Regina can see, something that'll make her back off.

"Adora," her voice is hoarse, lips red and bruised around her name.

Adora whimpers, "Catra…" keeping up the pace by trailing wet kisses down Catra's jaw.

"Adora."

Her lips are cold and suddenly everything is wrong. Catra's backing away. Why is she backing away?

"What's wrong?"

Catra pulls the hands out from her neck and stands. "You're drunk, Adora."

"You kissed me back" it's childish but it's what comes to mind; it's an important aspect.

"I shouldn't have."

Adora breaks, "is the thought that terrible…"

"You're drunk, you're not thinking straight."

"Okay."

Catra hesitates at the door. "I'll get Glimmer to take you home."

"Okay."

Catra hovers at the door for a moment longer before she's gone. Adora listens to her light footsteps fade, and it's not until they're gone completely that she breaks down. She falls to her knees, skin biting into the tile, as her body shakes with something akin to rage and fear and rejection. Her chest feels tight, she's breathing but so can't get enough air. She doubles her efforts until she's heaving. And that's how Glimmer finds her, clawing at the ground and hyperventilating.

"Adora are you—oh my…" she falls to the floor and pulls her in close, brushing fallen strands from her tear stained face. "It's okay, count with me...one...two...three…"

It takes a minute of counting to get her breathing back to normal. Another five for her hands to stop shaking.

"...I can't…"

Glimmer frowns. "What's wrong?"

Adora whimpers, "she doesn't want me...I can't—"

"It's okay." Glimmer shushes her ragged mumbling.

Adora doesn't know how long they stay on the floor like that or when Bow comes in to help scoop her up and carry her to the car. Everything is fuzzy up until she's slipping beneath her covers while Bow and Glimmer talk in hushed voices just outside her door.