Daughter of a Witch

The Quiet One

Y/n adjusted the lens of her camera, sitting cross-legged on the school's front steps. The late afternoon sun bathed the courtyard in a warm glow, perfect for capturing the cheerful faces of her classmates. Madison and Dani, her two closest friends, posed in front of the school banner, their laughter ringing through the air.

"Make sure you get my good side!" Madison teased, tossing her golden hair over her shoulder.

"Every side's your good side," Dani quipped, nudging Madison playfully. Her red curls bounced as she struck a dramatic pose, earning another round of giggles.

Y/n smiled softly and snapped the shot, capturing the carefree energy of the moment. Photography came naturally to her-being behind the camera was her comfort zone, where she could observe without being seen.

"Got it," Y/n said, lowering the camera.

"Let me see!" Madison bounded over to peek at the screen, Dani following close behind.

"These are amazing!" Madison exclaimed, scrolling through the images. "You've got to use these for the pep rally article!"

Y/n nodded, slinging the camera strap over her shoulder as she stood. "That's the plan."

"Are you coming to the rally tomorrow?" Dani asked, walking backward with a grin. "You can't just take pictures-you have to cheer with us!"

Y/n hesitated. "I'll be there, but... I'll probably stay on the sidelines."

Madison and Dani exchanged knowing looks. "Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find us!" Madison called as they walked away, already chattering about face paint and posters.

Y/n lingered for a moment, watching them go. She often felt like the observer in their trio-the one who captured the memories but rarely made them. It wasn't that she minded; she just wasn't sure where she fit into the bigger picture.

When Y/n got home, the scent of Agatha's cooking greeted her as she stepped through the door. The comforting aroma of herbs and spices filled the air, blending with the faint sound of classical music playing in the background.

"Sweetheart, is that you?" Agatha called from the kitchen.

"Yeah, it's me," Y/n replied, dropping her bag by the door and heading toward the noise source.

Agatha stood at the stove, a wooden spoon in one hand and a stack of papers in the other. She wore her usual workday outfit-trousers and a tailored blouse-but her sleeves were rolled up, and her hair was slightly out of place from a long day of lecturing at Westview University.

"Hey, Mija!" Rio greeted warmly from the dining table, where she was jotting notes on her clipboard. Unlike Agatha, Rio seemed to thrive in the chaos of multitasking. Her short, dark hair was tied back, and her sharp brown eyes flicked between her notes and Y/n as she set down the clipboard to open her arms.

Y/n walked over, enveloping herself in one of Rio's hugs. "How was school?"

"Fine," Y/n mumbled. "I took pictures for the pep rally article."

"Ah, our budding journalist," Agatha teased, glancing over her shoulder with a smirk. "And how are Madison and Dani?"

"They're good. Excited about the rally," Y/n replied, pulling away from Rio to sit at the table.

Rio leaned her hip against the counter, watching Y/n discerningly. "You seem quiet today, mija. Everything okay?"

Y/n shrugged, her fingers playing with the strap of her camera bag. "It's just... sometimes I feel like I'm always on the sidelines. Everyone else is so confident and loud, and I'm just there, taking pictures."