The Daily Lives of The Owl Familia: P2:
Heather's Decision
Summary: A few days after her last hangout with Boscha, Heather learns a few things about the demon realm.
Timeline: Three and half months before the next Ghoul Break.
(SC)
Three days…it had been three days since Heather last saw Boscha, and she hadn't gotten much sleep during that time.
The teenage human turned in her bed and stared at her wall, mind racing a mile a minute. Ever since her last hangout with her secret crush, she couldn't get what she saw out of her mind.
Heather noticed, not for the first time, the pain hidden behind Boscha's touch-girl act. The human girl could relate, having lost her aunt in the way she did. However, knowing and being able to help ease one's pain was something she was learning was quite different.
Heather sighed and turned around her bed. She closed her eyes and tried to quiet her mind. But her mind refused to keep quiet, and she let out a small, frustrated groan.
She threw off the covers of her bed and swung her legs over the edge, feet slipping into a pair of slippers.
"...Maybe a snack will help?" Heather said to herself, getting up.
She left her room and made her way downstairs. Heather frowned when she saw the light in her dad's den on. She quickly remembered that her dad was having Drake Blightlight over for a drink.
Heather turned in the direction of the kitchen when her father's semi-drunken voice reached her.
"Ghoul Break? Is that like Spring Break?"
Heather looked at her father's den and became curious. She crept up to the door and began to listen in.
"Sorta," Drake replied. "The way…my healer explained it to me, the reason why most schools had a week off has something to do with spirits getting small power boosts, and the school grounds are used to keep them from attacking the Islanders."
Heather listened in as the florist went into more detail about the week-long event, and besides the spirits angle, things weren't that different from Spring Break. She did find it weird that the two realms' weeks happened at the same time.
Heather was about to leave when Drake said something caught her interest.
"But, thanks to the spread of rejuvenation potions, this year's Ghoul Break's going to be a wild one!"
Heather frowned at this new piece of information. Something about this rejuvenation potion caught her attention.
"And how would you know?" Carol asked curiously and then hiccupped.
"Because," Drake exclaimed drunkenly. "I'm taking Masha there that week. Let's just hope her old mischievous streak doesn't come back when she's "knocked-down"!"
Drake laughed drunkenly, and soon Carol joined him. Heather took her leave when the conversation shifted to her dad and Drake's misadventures during spring break.
Heather leaned against the kitchen counter, waiting for some leftovers to finish heating and thinking about what she overheard.
"Rejunevantion…" she muttered, face reddening.
Heather smiled faintly as she imagined her crush as a cute kid or even a toddler. She giggled as she saw her crush, a cute toddler, scowling and rolling her eyes.
She sighed as her happy little vision was replaced with the heavy-looking eyes Heather had seen on Boscha a few nights ago. She heard the microwave ding and took out her snack. She took a seat at the table but just stared at her food.
Heather must have stared at her food for nearly five minutes before she sighed and pushed her plate aside. She rested her head on the table and thought about her crush.
She wanted to help Boscha; she hated seeing her crush looking so sad. The problem, the one causing her to lose sleep, was she didn't know how to help her.
Heather frowned as she thought about rejuvenation potions and how Masha was going to the demon realm when that week happened. She made her mind up right then and there; she was going to talk to Masha about this Ghoul Break.
With that goal in mind, Heather picked herself up and began eating her snack.
(SC)
"I'm wuss," Heather muttered.
Despite her decision, Heather chickened out whenever she ran into Masha. Then, she was recruited to help her family with a massive remodel/extension of their family store. So, by the time she finally worked up the courage to talk to her, it was nearly Spring/Ghouls Break.
So, now Heather waited outside of the high school, fighting to keep her panic under control. She had to constantly remind herself this was her last chance. If she didn't talk to Masha now, she would lose her chance.
The cheerleader nearly jumped when the last bell of the day rang, and the higher schooler began rushing out of the building. She scanned the crowd and easily picked out her target.
She swallowed a lump that suddenly formed in her throat and called out as confidently as possible, "Hey, Masha!"
The high schooler looked at Heather and frowned. The cheerleader walked up to her, trying to act calmer than she felt.
"Hey, Heather," Masha replied dully.
Heather noticed Masha's friends were staring at her and looked at Masha. "Um, can we talk for a moment?"
(G corner)
And with that, we are given more insight into Heather's concern for Boscha. Up next, we take a few cheap shots at everyone's favorite punching bag. So, look forward to the next chapter.