Chapter 8: Honey Trap
[TW for Violence/Injuries
If any of that stuff disturbs you I recommend just skipping to the next chapter.]
"Ah excellent Miss Park! I see you read your books. Keep it up for the rest of the school year and you'll be joining the Emperor's Coven in no time!"
Willow questions if that would even be feasible, or if she would even want to be in it. Belos lied to the citizens about the Titan speaking to him, their sense of justice could be boiled down to 'kill anyone unjust', it really does make Willow wonder. What else has the Emperor lied about?
She waves that train of thought away; better not to think too much into things.
After the 2nd period, Willow's thoughts cloud her perception so much that she forgot where she was going. Retracing her steps, she bumps her head against someone's chin.
"Watch it."
"Sorry about that!" She turns around to see Boscha behind her.
"Oh, Park!" Boscha smiles at her.
Her tone sounds genuine, peaking Willow's curiosity. "Did you... Need anything?"
"Yeah I wanted to talk things out between us."
Boscha seems… off. Her tone is much friendlier than what Willow normally expects from her. "What did you want to talk about?"
"It's kind of… Awkward, if we do this in the middle of a hallway." Boscha turns her head to gesture at the other kids observing them. "Can we just talk later? Please."
"Oh okay I understand. I'll see you later then?" Willow said. She didn't actually understand what Boscha wanted from her, but Boscha's voice crack was enough to give her secondhand embarrassment. It would be best to leave it at that.
As Willow is walking away, she hears Boscha whisper-yell a small 'Yes!' to herself.
Maybe Boscha was maturing... Though Willow wonders what Boscha could possibly want to talk about. If she wanted to talk things out, a simple 'sorry' would've been more than enough for her… Okay, maybe that's too forgiving. But a talk with Boscha? A serious one? She really doubts that could actually happen.
After their last class, Willow heads to Boscha's classroom. She sees Boscha chugging down an entire potion. Boscha greets her before hurriedly dragging her outside the school.
"So Willow… What I wanted to talk about is—"
"Is it really that big of a deal we have to be all the way out here?"
"Yes." She said bluntly. Her grin is putting Willow off.
She hesitates. Maybe this wasn't a great idea. "Okay." Her finger instinctively forms a spell circle.
Boscha notices the sudden caution. "Are you okay? You look a little—"
"Cut the act."
Boscha laughs. "Oh so you can tell? Here I thought I had you fooled—" Splinters of wood nearly hit Willow's face as she blocks Boscha's fist with a tree. Willow notices the magic emitting from her hand.
She runs past her. "Why are you doing this?!"
"What are you so scared of?!" Boscha's hands catch fire. "I thought you were supposed to be better than me!"
Willow dodges the flurry of fire Boscha throws at her. Rushing towards her, Boscha leaps out of the way as Willow's plants try to hold her back. "Come on plant, girl! Don't you want to beat me?!"
"No, I don't!"
Boscha catches up to her, she yells, "Stop lying!" Kicking Willow in the head, she sends her flying back into a tree. Willow's head cracks as it hits the hard wood.
Her eyes glow green. Plants burst through and rush towards Boscha. She crashes through the stained glass of the school. Her head collides with the hard tiled floor along with shards of shattered glass. Students gather around the commotion, with other students running out to call for a teacher.
Willow walks through the broken window. Fire sears her face. She tumbles back and loses balance. Boscha sits up, but a vine grabs Boscha by the neck and her head hits the floor once again.
Forcing her way out of the headlock, Boscha grabs Willow by the cowl. Growling at her, she grabs a fistful of Willow's hair. Thrusting her wrist forward, a flash hits Willow's face as Boscha throws her face against the wall.
Two Abominations grab them from behind. They hear Principal Bump's voice behind them. "What's going on here?!"
Willow points at Boscha. "She started it!"
Boscha coughs out, she yells profanities at Willow. They bicker and argue, their voices overlapping with an overwhelming amount of excuses that makes Bump's head spin. He yells at them, "Enough! Both of you are getting sent to the detention track!"
Willow cries. "Wait but—"
"No buts! Abominations, take them to the healer's office!"
The Abominations walk off to do as they're told. Willow sighs in defeat. She knew that if she were to cause anymore trouble she might get expelled. Meanwhile Boscha was already passed out in the Abomination's arms.
Bump sighs. "I wasn't expecting a fight to start the first day." He looks at the broken window. "At least they didn't break the whole wall like the last students did."