Chapter 3: Back to Normal, Right?
It was the quiet period at the end of every school year, well it's quiet if you've already submitted your schoolwork.
You can only feel sorry for the poor souls who haven't submitted anything since the first quarter.
Boscha's scroll pops up.
"Hey Bosch can you hang out? I'm bored in the library." Skara said.
"Why are you in the library?" Boscha replied.
"I'm finishing up my problem sets…"
"Wasn't the deadline for last month?"
"... maybe."
"Were you procrastinating again?"
"Only on math!"
"Hmm fine I'll help."
"I didn't need help I just wanted to talk, but sure!"
"No no that's not how you do it! You're supposed to multiply it first!" Boscha said, scribbling on a piece of spare paper.
"No you're not! You're supposed to divide it first!" Skara said, pointing at her work.
"No the rule is PEMDAS! Multiplication first!"
"SHH!"
"..."
"Boscha..." Skara said, lowering her tone.
"What?"
"Multiplication and Division are on the same level."
"Yeah so? Multiply is still first."
"You're ignoring the left to right rule!"
"Grrr. If you're so much better than me at math then why did you even ask me for help?"
"I didn't ask for help, I just wanted someone to talk to."
"Hnghh. Why do you even do math so late when you're already good at it?"
"Because." Skara said. "Math. Is. Boring"
Skara continues to work on her problem sets. Boscha watches. She listens to the sounds of the pen scratching the paper's surface.
She wonders if she should read a book.
She looks behind her, the romance section taunts her love life. She knows Skara can't possibly relate. Boscha considered her emotions complicated enough as is. She'd rather not add to the confusion.
"Hey," Skara speaks up.
"Hm?"
"Why did we tease Willow so much?"
"..."
"She's really nice once you get to know her."
"She hates me."
"Hate is a strong word."
"I bullied her."
"But I did that too…?"
"You're different."
Skara doubts that.
"She stole everything from me."
"What? What did she steal?"
Boscha looks outside the tall window, ignoring Skara. Her eyes settle onto the sun painting orange stripes across the lavender water.
"I don't understand your logic, Boscha."
"...It's getting late." Boscha gets up from her seat. "See ya."
"I can tell you're hiding something."
"Mhm. Which means I don't want to talk. Goodbye." Boscha said.
She knew Skara just wouldn't understand.
"Can I at least get a hug?"
"What for?"
"Because the school year's over?"
"Uhm… Sorry. No."
Skara pouts her lips and gives her a disappointed face.
"Ugh. Fine."
Skara wraps her arms around Boscha's waist. Boscha tenses up, before slowly reciprocating; she doesn't want to admit it, but she felt a little better.
But that is a sign of weakness.
And weakness is not a good sign.
Writer's Note:
A bit of a shorter chapter, but don't worry! I have a lot more chapters planned. See y'all in a few days :3