Dear Diary,

It looks like I might be back on the Grudgby field again! I don't know how long until I'll be able to do it though... At least I was able to do it for a day!

Grudgby season started yesterday, and Boscha and her crew walked into the school acting higher and mightier than usual. They expected their oh-so loyal fans to grovel and shower them with compliments and praise.

Except they didn't.

Everyone was too busy oohing and ahhing over some plants that Willow was conjuring up. Apparently, she was doing something to make them look like the students who were crowded around her. They were all in awe of her skills, as they should be. They were actually pretty accurate from what I saw, as much as a plant version of a witch or demon could be!

Okay, I take that back, not everyone was a fan of what she was doing. Being the jerk that she is, Boscha, walked past Willow while talking smack about her as if she wasn't standing right in front of them. The rest of her posse wasn't far behind her, laughing at the "joke" she made. It was honestly quite sad, the way Boscha could only seek validation through putting someone else down.

And yes, I know I was like her at one point, and sometimes I still catch myself wanting to fall into my old ways. But, I know that isn't the way I should be living my life, that my worth shouldn't be at the depletion of someone else's.

I've said it once, and I'll say it a billion times if I have to: I'm so proud of where Willow has come since switching to the plant track. She's grown exponentially as a witch, and even more as a person. She has a great team standing alongside her, and I honestly hope that I one day be part of that team.

Well, I decided to take the next step, to honor my word to her. I told her that I wouldn't let Boscha pick on her anymore, so I went and told her off. I told her that I used to be just like her, that I was obsessed with status and challenging my competition. But, I told her that I grew out of that mess, and asked her when she would do the same. This caused Willow and her audience to break out into a huge fit of laughter, this time at her expense. If I'm being honest, it felt kinda good to see that for a change, Boscha getting her karma thrown back at her.

Needless to say, that didn't fly with her.

I don't know what happened while we were in our morning classes, but I walked up on Luz, Willow, and Gus sitting outside during our mid-day break. The three of them were all covered in tons of trash and graffiti, assumedly hexed on them by Boscha in a fit of something that I didn't have the energy to try and decipher.

Luz called my name and ran up to me, bursting to tell me what had happened to them. At that point, my brain decided to launch into crush panic mode, and all I could do was ramble about her being here at Hexside with me, capping it off with me saying that I had been talking for too long.

I was supposed to keep that last part inside my head, wasn't I? Smoooooth Amity, real smooth.

Anyways, Luz asked me to help her with something, and I immediately said yes without knowing exactly what was going on. She ended up confirming my assumptions, telling me that Boscha was being a jerk to them and was getting away with it due to her status on the Grudgby team.

I remember what that was like, being able to skirt around some things when I was captain. The only difference between her and I was that I wouldn't use it to hurt others, just maybe get out of an assignment or two every once and a while.

Luz wanted me to help her try to get Boscha to lay off of them, especially Willow. She thought that since I am (was? Is that the right word?) friends with her, I would be able to do it. I told Luz that Boscha is extra unbearable when Grudgby season starts, and that you can only get through to her by speaking in Grudgby terms. She said something about picking something up that I "put down" (why is human language so confusing?)

All of a sudden, we heard a yell from the other side of the lawn. Luz and I ran to figure out what it was, and we saw a crowd surrounding Willow, who had just had some garbage dumped onto her from the second story window. Any guess as to who did it? Reaching her limit, Luz marched up to the window and challenged Boscha to a grudgby match.

Part of me couldn't believe her, but the other knew she would absolutely do something like that. Luz is always one to jump head first into things, especially when it comes to helping her friends. It's actually something I really admire about her.

Boscha came downstairs, wondering if she had heard Luz right. I'm sure Willow was thinking the same, as she ran over to try and call off the game. Boscha wouldn't let up, and set the terms of the match. If Luz and Willow lost, their team would have to be the water gofers and targets for Boscha's. If they won, Boscha wouldn't be allowed to pick on Willow anymore. The terms sounded simple, but I knew there was no way that either team could uphold their punishment. Boscha then left with her little posse, saying they'd play after school.

As well all went to sit on the steps leading up to the main building, I told Luz that this wasn't a good idea. No one on her team had ever played grudgby before, and the human realm probably didn't have the best substitute. She refuted, starting this speech about us being a "ragtag team of lovable misfits joined together to defeat a powerful enemy". I don't think Boscha is as powerful as someone like a coven scout or a head witch, but I still lost myself in the way she was talking. Luz is always so bubbly and optimistic, seemingly with at least five "bright sides" ready to go if something were to happen. I was hanging onto every word, snapping out of it when she invited me to play with them.

I was about to say yes, but I realized a few key factors that would probably render me incapable of functioning, let alone able to play.

Me? Being on a team with her? Running around in cute uniforms? Sweating?

I had to go.

I ran away, eventually finding myself in an empty corner of the school. As I sank down onto the floor, all I could think was " why am I such a mess? " Sometimes, I can barely form a cohesive sentence around Luz, why do feelings have to be so dumb? Soon after I calmed myself down, the bell screamed, signaling the end of the break.

The rest of the day was like any other, same boring classes, same boring faces. I just couldn't get Luz off my mind, though, something that seems to be happening more often than I would like. Aside from the feelings I have for her, I just couldn't stop thinking about what Boscha could do to her, as well as Willow, that afternoon. I decided that I needed to be there for there for them, so as the last bell rang, I went to the grudgby pitch to try to find them.

When I arrived, I found the field empty, with Luz sitting on the bleachers holding Willow's new hair clip. She told me she was having a rough time, and that she pushed Willow and Gus too hard. She didn't want to see Willow get picked on, especially since she was one of the best friends she had ever met.

In an attempt to make her feel better, I decided to tell her the story of my last grudgby match. The one where I ended up hurting my teammates, and where I officially gave up my role as captain. I told her how I tried to execute the Thorn Vault, and we took a moment to bond over the Azura reference (Titan, we're such nerds). But, I told her how badly it backfired, and how the guilt caused me to drop the game forever.

At some point during my retelling of that fateful day, Luz came up next to me. She was entranced by my story the way I had been for so many of hers. When I came out of story mode, I found us face to face, the shock causing me to fall backwards onto the floor. She helped me up, apologizing for her love of backstories, one that seemed to only lead to me being a flustered, blushing mess. Luz told me she knew what she had to do, and left me standing in the bleachers with Willow's hairclip.

She met Boscha on the field, and told her that her team was forfeiting the match. She further sacrificed herself to be everything that Boscha needed for the team. I saw her about to get obliterated by one of Boscha's special flame balls, so I ran to the greenhouse to look for Willow and Gus. Luckily for her, they were in there nursing Gus' flags (which were hooked up to an IV for some reason) back to "health".

I told them that Luz needed our help, and that I knew she pushed them, and that she always gets in over her head (something I love—I mean hate!). I told the duo that she really needed them (which is so sweet—I mean, I hate it, and it's dumb!)

I swear, Willow had the most suspicious look on her face after I said that. I was trying my best to play it cool, but this is Luz we're talking about, so that's next to impossible. I'm glad Gus was lost, though, one less person to see the wreck I've become.

To try to explain it a little better, I gave Willow her hair clip back, and Gus saw this as a sign that we needed to have Luz's back the way she's had ours. Gus said something about his flags, and we all ran back to the field, with Gus dragging the flags and their life support behind him. Willow was the first to get there, and I saw her block one of Boscha's balls. When I arrived, Boscha had the audacity to tell me that I "destroyed my social life" by playing on Willow's team. Deep down, I knew I'm starting to make my life infinitely better, and I told her as such.

The three of us ran to the locker room and changed into our uniforms, Willow taking a green top, Luz going gray, and myself grabbing a pink shirt and gloves. Luckily for me, I had Willow paint the eye makeup onto all of us, convincing her that she'd be the best witch for the job. I knew I couldn't get that close to Luz without short circuiting. I nearly combusted when I saw Luz come out of the locker room for the game, she looked beyond cute in her uniform.

Getting back to the matter at hand, it felt weird playing against my former teammates. Yeah, we ran drills with each other during practices, but competing against them and not with them was kinda strange, and a bit sad at the same time. I miss the game, so much, but it's hard going back knowing how and why I left it.

We got into our starting positions, the ball launching up from the ground shortly after. Willow had the best play, she summoned a vine from under the ground that snagged Boscha's ankles and dragged her down. This allowed Willow to rush past Cat and Amelia so that she would score our first goal of the game!

The next time we had possession of the ball, Luz and I were running upfield when a giant axe came up out of nowhere, one of the dirtiest tricks a grudgby player could try. I had to pull her back, as she narrowly missed being halved by the blade. I was able to hold it back while Luz made it to our goal post, scoring another point for our team.

You know, Cat and Amelia had just as much game in them as they did when I left them, and they were just as nice to Luz and Willow as they were to players from other schools (at least when they weren't anywhere close to their captain). It was nice knowing that Boscha's attitude didn't rub too poorly onto them.

At one point, Luz figured out how to set the ball on fire just as Boscha had. I think she learned one of her new glyph thingies! She sent that sucker from one end of the field to the other, and I was able to cast an abomafist from the ground to help us score, my first goal of the game! I remember feeling so happy, literally jumping around the field for joy! Being surrounded by friends (including a stadium full of Gus' illusions), it was the happiest I've been for the first time in a while, I think since Grom.

With thirty seconds left on the clock, we were tied. Willow called a quick timeout for the team, and we huddled up to talk strategy. Luz pulled some glyphs from her pocket, and we evaluated our options. Though none of us had the best experience with it, Willow decided that we should pull the thorn vault. She said she was ready, and I thought I was finally ready for it too. Diary, I think Willow has some great potential to lead a team, maybe she'll be the next grudgby team captain!

We ran back into our starting positions, and the ball was launched for our final play of the game. Luz ended up catching it, and Boscha charged right at her. Luckily, I was able to defend her, but that sent me straight to the ground. I felt something snap on the way down, and I assumed it was just a piece of equipment. Then, searing pain came shooting up my leg.

Ah thorns, I was down and out.

From my temporary seat, I watched Luz and Willow cast a giant vine from a plant glyph, with Willow running up it just in time to score the final goal.

WE WON! WE ACTUALLY DID IT!

Or so we thought...

We watched as the scoreboard maxed out under the home team, with Boscha holding up the Rusty Smidge.

Watching someone else grab that was always my least favorite part of the game.

Anyways, Luz started going on a rant about how dumb the smidge is, and I had to agree with her. Why not just save us the energy we waste running around the field and scoring goals and just fight for that cheap, jagged piece of metal?

After she finished, Skara, Cat, and Amelia went to congratulate the rest of our team. I think they even invited Willow to join them, I saw a look of fear flash on Boscha's face. Honestly, it serves her right for being such a jerk. I think her status needs to be challenged, at least a little bit.

At that point, someone finally noticed that I wasn't with the rest of the girls. Luz and Willow ran over to check if I was okay, getting down and looking me over to see if there was anywhere else that I may have hurt myself. I told them that I hurt my leg, and I started to try to get up again. Being the absolute sweetheart she is, Luz offered to pick me up and carry me to the healer's office.

To sum it up, let's just say my brain decided to do a hard reset of itself.

I started panicking, for some reason forgetting my own name. Luz then scooped me up into her arms, and the only thing I could muster in place of a "thank you" was an "oh wow, sports."

Great job, Amity. Like, A+, 10/10 exceptional English-ing.

Before heading to the healing homeroom, Gus said something about having another "montage". I still don't know what a montage is, it sounds like something fancy that Mom would have an abomibutler serve us for dinner. I'll have to ask Luz what it is. Or maybe Willow or Gus, since they've seemed to have one.

While walking to see the healer, the combined shock of my injury and my crush just grabbing me from the ground wore off, and I was able to give Luz a proper thank you. She said it was no problem, but her tone had a slight strain to it. I asked her what was wrong, and she told me that she didn't know how to get to their room from the field. I gave her directions, I was a frequent flyer over there when I was still playing Grudgby.

But, I would be lying if I said I gave her the quickest route to get there.

Don't judge me, diary. I just wanted to relish the lone victory of the day as long as possible!

She eventually left me with the healer, after I told her that she should head back to see Willow and Gus, and that I'd be fine being patched up alone. She looked a bit apprehensive to leave me, but she ran to meet up with the rest of our friends shortly after I reassured her that I'd be fine.

Upon her review, the healer said that I broke my ankle. Well, Boscha broke it when she tackled me. Or rather, I broke it when I tried to cover Luz? Whatever, that doesn't matter. The healer wrapped my ankle up in some bandages and slapped a few healing patches on it to help me deal with the pain. She then told me how to maintain it, and sent me on my way with some extra patches and a pair of crutches.

On the way home, I got a text from Willow. Well, from Luz under Willow's account, since she doesn't have her own Penstagram yet. She invited me over to the Owl House to have a post-game celebration with her, Willow, and Gus. I happily accepted, especially since it meant that I didn't have to go home and explain what happened right away. How was I supposed to explain this to Mom and Dad?

"Oh yeah so, I was playing Grudgby for the first time in a year. With the ex-best friend you made me break apart from when I was younger. Oh, and my new human crush, who lives with one of the most wanted criminals, if not the most wanted one, in all of the Boiling Isles. And here's the kicker, we pissed off the daughter of one of your most valuable business connections. Hoorayyy! "

I might as well have dug my own grave.

I shot Edric and Emira a quick "cover me" text, explaining everything that happened that afternoon. They were shocked that I was both playing Grudgby and talking with Willow again. All until they realized where I was heading. Then came the onslaught of playful messages from them.

"OOO say hi to your gf for me!" Em texted with a winking emoji.

"Don't say anything too dumb, mittens!" Ed sent with a laughing one.

I guess they saw how I was at Grom while Luz and I were hanging out.

Oh joy, new teasing from the twins! What they don't know, though, is that I have some incriminating pictures of them at Viney and Jerbo's afterparty. Let's just say they all got into someone's hard apple blood, and they had just a little too much to drink.

I sent them one of the tamer pics of Edric passed out on the floor with a "remember this?" as a warning. Needless to say, they both shut up pretty quickly after that.

When I arrived at Luz's house, Hooty saw that I was in need of some help and gave me a ride inside, plopping me onto the couch between Willow and Luz, who handed me a cup of tea (which was so good, by the way. I need to ask her where Eda gets it.) The four of us had a great time together, talking about the game and just about life in general. As the night drew to a close, Eda offered me a ride home on her staff, but I had Emira come grab me instead. I think we're okay now, but she was pretty mad back when Luz and I had to fix Willow's memories, and I didn't want to risk getting back into her bad graces somehow.

When I got home, Mom was at the door, yelling about where I had been. She shut up the moment she saw the cast on my ankle, but that only changed the reason as to why she was screaming. I made up some excuse that I was studying late at school and lost track of time when my scroll died, and then I tripped on the way out and needed to get it patched up. She seemed to buy it, because she walked off, ranting about how much school and Emperor's Coven training I was going to miss out on.

Knowing her, though, there's gonna be a way for me to continue it. Wanna bet, diary? I start at ten snails.

Speaking of the Emperor's Coven, it looks like I'll have to stay back from next week's school trip to the castle. I'm actually kinda bummed, I was really looking forward to going. Oh well, I'll have the chance to see it every day once I join the coven.

Missing one trip wouldn't matter, right?

Temporarily out of action,

Amity

A/N: Hey y'all, I'm back! Life's going pretty okay, I'm like two months away from finishing the semester! That means (hopefully) more steady updates as I go into the summer break!

For The Future killed me, and I am anything but ready for the finale. I'm gonna be bawling the whole episode, I can already feel it.

Also, something I forgot to mention in last chapter's A/N is that the whole thing with Odalia telling Bump to make Amity Grom queen is one of my headcanons. Anything involving her and Amity's education is just an ongoing headcanon of mine that she invests a lot in the school (both financially and as PCA President), and Bump owes her a lot of "favors" in return. We see her using her PCA power in Escaping Expulsion, so I feel like she'd use it in other places too.

As always, comments/faves are always appreciated. Thanks for reading!