Author's Notes:

Damn… I've written, like, 5 whole chapters in one day… maybe even more…

And also, I must say, I can't believe how many people are reading this story right now, and how supportive all of you are! Like, thanks man! It really, really makes me glad to know that people are enjoying my story! I want all of you to know that, yes, I do read every review (that's right: Every. Single. Review) and I appreciate each and every one of them.

I also feel obligated to say that...

I'm sorry.

For writing this chapter.

And for showing it to you.

...

Okay, I lied, I'm not sorry.

NOW SUFFER!

Err, I mean, enjoy~

Histories and Chemistries

X

A week had finally passed.

And judgment day would arrive soon.

Okay, yeah, that might be pushing it a little, but Catra knew that once the last bell rung, safety was not something she'd have the pleasure of enjoying anymore.

She'd get roughed up.

And, no, that wasn't an exaggeration.

All the members of the horde had been watching her ever since the day started, giving her glances and stalking her, not really caring whether or not she knew what they were doing.

They were waiting until the time was right. Until she was alone.

Catra knew their games. She used to be a part of it, after all. She used to be the one doing the stalking, giving the victim those glances that spoke of a good beating.

Didn't think she'd be on the receiving end of it.

But hey, that's life for you, she supposed. Full of shitstorms and ironies and karmas and all of those other poetic shits.

And… the last bell rang.

Fuck.

"So, what do you want to talk about?"

Currently, she was leaning against the locker on an empty hallway, and Adora stood in front of her, bag slung over her shoulder, looking at her with worry.

Catra smiled at her, hoping it would aleviate her worry.

She'd ask Adora to come after school ended.

With how pissed off Shadow Weaver looked after her last stunt…

Yeah, Catra knew she wouldn't make it out unscathed… or maybe even alive…

So…

Why not have a small chat with the love of her life, just one last time?

Adora looked as pretty as ever, even with her hair looking a little messy after a tiring day of studying and trying to be her very best - being the good person that she was.

For a long while, Catra simply stared, taking in every little detail of Adora. She didn't care that she was perhaps being a little creepy. She… She wanted to take one last look at Adora. Just one more time.

You're talking like you're going to a war or something, a part of her said, making her chuckle at the irony of it all, running a hand through her black mane. High school wasn't supposed to be like this, was it?

"Catra?"

The blonde had erased most of their distance, looking at her with so much worry that it made her heart ache. Hey, you're not the one in trouble here. Quit worrying.

But, then again… She wouldn't be Adora if she didn't worry, would she?

"Nothing," she lied. "I just… This week…" She looked down for a moment, forming her thoughts. She then braced herself and looked up, asking with a light blush, "Is this the best week of your life?"

The blonde blinked at the unexpected question before smirking. "Getting cocky, are we?" she teased lightheartedly.

Catra smiled, one eyebrow rising higher than the other. "Well, is it?"

Adora might not realize it now - maybe she never would realize it - but that question was important to her. The answer, even more so.

The blonde thought of her answer, doing her thing where she clicked her tongue - something Catra had always found illegally cute - before blinking back to reality and answering with an honest look on her face and an even more honest smile. "Don't know if I should call it 'the best', but… it's certainly nice…"

"Do you forgive me?" she blurted out, cursing softly for her 'smoothness'.

But Adora didn't seem to mind. If anything, she looked like she found it endearing, chuckling lightly, putting a hand over her mouth. "Silly… do you even need to ask?"

Catra's heart fluttered at that.

Slowly, she broke into a smile as a weight lifted itself from her shoulder.

"Is everything okay, Catra?"

"No, no, yeah. Just a bit tired." Again, she lied.

"Is that all?"

Adora looked hopeful. Like she wanted her to say something. And Catra did want to say something. She wanted to say a lot of things, really.

"Yeah," she lied. "Sorry for wasting your time."

Adora shook her head.

A beat passed.

Adora began to lean toward her.

Another beat passed.

Those blue eyes vanished behind lids.

Another beat passed.

Adora's lips brushed against her own.

Another beat passed.

Adora was looking shyly at her, a cute blush dusting her cheeks as she muttered a soft, "Bye, Catra."

Another beat passed.

Adora was gone.

Another beat passed.

Catra touched her lips. That was… nice. That was really nice.

Another beat passed.

Catra wondered what she should do now. Adora had kissed her. Adora had been the one to initiate it… Wow. She did not expect that at all.

Another beat passed.

Realization dawned upon her. What was left of her happiness was snatched away. She leaned her head against the metal surface, closing her eyes, waiting for her demise.

She didn't know how many beats passed.

When she opened her eyes again… she wasn't alone.

"Long time no see," she croaked, balling her hands into fists, gazing at each and every one of her 'friends' menacingly despite her seemingly easy-going smile.

There were three of them.

There was only one of her.

One of them, the girl with the bronze skin and curly hair, cracked her knuckles in a very cliche way. "Are you gonna make this easy for us?"

A threat was unsaid.

A threat was heard.

"... Do you even need to ask?"

And she fought. As best as she could.

She wasn't the strongest. She wasn't the fastest.

But she was the most vicious.

Even so…

She was going up against three of the best horde members, the most loyal of them all, Shadow Weaver's pets.

Blood spilled out of her lips. Her face was bruised. It was hard to breathe. Hard to see. Her head stung when one of them landed a hard blow on it.

Yet, despite it all, she kept fighting.

She knew it was only going to get her even more beat up, but dammit, she wasn't going to back down! She wasn't afraid of any of them!

She kept fighting.

Her knees were wobbling.

She kept struggling.

The world was darkening.

She didn't give up.

Even as her body gave up on her.

Eventually, Catra found herself being abandoned and betrayed by The Horde, by her own so-called family.

She was going to pass out. She knew it. And she wasn't even sure when or if she'd wake up.

Suddenly, a figure ran up to her, looking terrified, muttering things along the lines of "I'm so sorry" and "I should've known" and "I should've done something"

Catra hoped it was Adora… but instead, it was…

"G-Glimmer?"

To be Continued

Author's Notes:

Surprise-surprise, the person who eavesdropped on Catra and Shadow's conversation is Glimmer…

Is that a spoiler? I feel like that's a spoiler and that I shouldn't tell you this…

Wait, no, I'm sure that isn't a spoiler.

… No, yeah, right. It's not a spoiler, it's already kind of obvious with how I've written Glimmer's character and how she suddenly doesn't hate Catra after hearing their conversation in the hallway. I mean, c'mon, you don't just hate a girl on one moment and not hate her the next. That's a bit shady, if you ask me.

Also, yay… It's late at night, and with me finishing this chapter, I can finally do what teenagers do late at night… not sleep and spend my time on the internet :3

See ya!