The Brightmoon Institution (Catradora Boarding School AU)

Adora Meets Social Media

They arrived home in the late evening, bellies full
from their fast food dinner and bags stacked with clothes. Adora was the primary shopper, but they did happen to run into a few items Glimmer and Bow loved for themselves. But despite the laughs and photos taken, the tension never quite dissolved. Adora chewed on her lip as she hung her clothes, mind wandering as she marveled at the soft fabric, the quality of work that now belonged in her closet. She didn't know whether to approach the topic or not. With the sound of a soft click, indicating Bow was in his own room, Adora decided it was now or never.

"Glimmer, what happened? At the mall today?"

Glimmer's face fell slightly, and Adora felt a bit bad. It didn't seem like something good.

"I asked Bow why he lied to his dads, and well...It was messy. I don't really know or remember how, but I ended up telling him about...that night."

Adora thought back to the hickey on Bow's neck.

"Oh."

"He got mad at me for lying, said that it didn't actually mean anything, so why did it matter....He said that we were just drunk and stupid, and that it wasn't either of our faults."

Adora dropped her clothes, rushing to Glimmer's side as a tear slipped out from the sad pale eyes.

"He said that- that it wasn't the kiss that jeopardized our friendship, but the fact that I lied about it."

Adora hugged the girl close to her, feeling warm tears seep through the fabric of her shirt. She'd never been in love to actually face rejection, if Bow's words could even be considered that. After all, Glimmer didn't confess to feelings, right? Maybe he was just protecting her... or himself? From what, she wasn't entirely sure.

"You and Bow have been best friends forever, I don't think one lie will ruin that."

"I don't know Adora," Glimmer sobbed softly, burying her face into Adora's shoulder.

"He doesn't want me like that, he just wants to stay friends, and I can't! I can't Adora, it hurts."

Adora momentarily leaned back to grab a napkin for Glimmer, wiping the girl's tears.

"He never said that Glimmer."

"He might've well had."

"I don't know how you feel, Glim, but I know it hurts." She braced herself for her next suggestion.

" I think you should tell him."

Glimmer patted dry her red cheeks, shaking her head quickly at Adora's suggestion.

"Now? That'll just make it worse, no way!"

"You said it yourself, you can't live like this."

Glimmer sighed, turning slightly away from her to the wall.

"It is. Everyday, I feel like my chest is bursting open when he smiles at me, or laughs...It's amazing, and I think of being with him...But then I think of losing him, and it's as bad as living in friendship."

Adora's own chest ached at Glimmer's dilemma, and a pang of jealously blew through her at the thought of having someone so...special.

"If you're not ready to clear the air, let's at least fix the friendship. I can't live with the tension and be the middleman like I was today."

Glimmer nodded and Adora smiled slightly, glad her friend seemed a bit hopeful.

"The best thing to do is apologize to him, so maybe start with that? Just say you freaked out when you saw his neck that morning, and didn't want to make things awkward."