Through Thick And Thin

ONLY YOU part 2

As Cordelia reached the grounds of the academy, she instantly knew where the swamp witch was. Stevie Nicks was being blasted on full volume from the cd-player in the greenhouse, and Cordelia was smart enough to understand that Misty would be in the greenhouse, so that's where she was headed. Upon entering, she discovered an angry Misty moving around like a whirlwind. Her usual tenderness towards the plants was completely gone, replaced by an indifference and a brutality Cordelia had never seen before. It was evident something was wrong with her.

Cordelia was about to approach her and try to calm her down, when Misty started singing. Cordelia recognised the song to be "Stand Back" by none other than Stevie Nicks.

"No one looked as I walked by. Just an invitation would have been just fine. Said no to her again and again, first she took my heart then she ran. No one knows how I feel, what I say unless you read between my lines. One girl walked away from me, first she took my hand. Take me home." Cordelia had heard this song under many circumstances, and she knew that it was one of Misty's favourite songs, which is why she couldn't comprehend why Misty suddenly changed the lyrics. The headmistress knew the song well enough to know Stevie sang "him", "he" and "man" as though a man had broken her heart, not a woman...

"Stand back, stand back. In the middle of my room, I did not hear from you. It's all right, it's all right. To be standing in a line. Standing in a line. I would cry." At this point, Misty had actually started to cry. She had taken a break from the plants and now stood with her back facing Cordelia, hands resting on the workbench and shoulders shaking slightly. Worry clouded her head, and Cordelia made her presence known by nearing Misty carefully. She placed a hand on Misty's shaking shoulder, at which point, Misty gave a little shriek of surprise and stepped back. When she realised it was only Cordelia, she quickly wiped her tears and started moving about again, ignoring the other witch's presence. Cordelia was again dumbfounded by her actions.

"Misty, what's wrong?" No answer. The swamp witch kept on ignoring her, even singing along with the cd while watering some plants. Her tempo increased as she walked around the greenhouse, occasionally bumping into Cordelia with a carelessness that was completely out of nature for the swamp witch. Cordelia tried several times to grab hold of her arm, but Misty tore her hand away immediately. Now the headmistress started to lose her temper, and so, with a flick of her wrist, she turned the music off. Misty stopped in her tracks for a second, before regaining her urgency, seemingly unaffected. Cordelia had had enough. She slammed her fist into the workbench, unintentionally making all the different vials shatter. "Now you tell me what's going on this instant", the headmistress said in a low, threatening voice.

Misty had of course stopped at this display of dominance from Cordelia's side, and now finally met her gaze. "Why don't you go ask your girlfriend?" Misty's voice was laced with bitterness and spite. "What are you talking about?" They were now facing each other, each witch on their separate side of the island. Misty's eyes were stone cold, and Cordelia's showed anger and confusion at the same time. "You know what I'm talking about, stop playing the victim." That response hit Cordelia square in the chest. "Oh, so I'm playing the victim here? What about yourself? You do realise that you're being a bitch right now, do you? Because you are. I have never seen you like this. You're even worse than Madison, Jesus Christ." Neither of them realised that their conversation had taken a turn to the worse. They were both so occupied with insulting each other over a misunderstanding that the romantic spark they both had felt earlier was now completely forgotten. "Of course you have to mention Madison! Madison this, Madison that. Why don't you just go and screw Madison right now?!" At this, Misty threw her watering can harshly to the floor, and stormed out of the greenhouse.

Cordelia was left alone, Misty's shrills still echoing in her ears. She took a deep breath, and first then realized how much damage she had caused between them. Regret coursed through her veins like a wild ocean. How could she expect a romantic relationship with Misty if she went around calling her a 'bitch'? Cordelia's legs failed her and she sank to the floor, tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks. Her body started shaking violently as she put her head in her hands and let it all go.