Happy Birthday (A Catradora Short Story)

one

Adora never really got many messages on her phone, for she was more an extrovert kid than an introspect one. Less time on social media, more time making friends in real life: that was her invisible motto. But today, she was hoping to receive messages; not many, just one would please her. So she woke up and unplugged her phone out of the charger willing to keep the device as close to her as possible - she even deactivated the "do not disturb" function! - and off she went for another blazing day in Bright Moon Academy.

The academy welcomed her with open arms, tight hugs and cheerful high fives; it seemed that every single person knew about her special day and wanted her to feel loved since it was her first birthday in the new school. Her "new" friends - now she could slightly remember a day when she did not know them - came to her, screaming a happy salutation.

— Happy birthday Adoraaaaa! — Glimmer, small Glimmer (but so, so strong) hugged her and lifted her off the ground and Adora could barely breathe before feeling another loving hug. Now Bow and Glimmer were forming a "circle of affection" which was warm and fitting. The girl laughed (or at least tried to, since she couldn't breathe).

— Happy Birthday to yoouuuu, happy birthday to youuuu! — Bow sang. Adora put one of her hands on his mouth, roughly (but affectionately) ending the singing and the embrace.

— Shh! You're calling everyone's attention! — she says looking to the other students in the large corridor.

— As we should! It's your birthday, a special day! — Glimmer says with sparkles in her eyes.

— It's still a school day.

—We won't have classes all day long... — so the three start walking towards the classroom side by side, a true best friends squad.  — Let us spoil you for one day, Adora. We should celebrate.

— And how are we going to do that? — so Bow and Glimmer exchange a look of pure naughtiness as if the idea of celebration had occurred to them many weeks ago. They were onto something, Adora knew.

The bell rings. Bow and Glimmer let go of Adora's arms to join hands and look at her as they went to their classes; they had the first class together and Adora was left to face P.E all by herself - but it wasn't a burden, she enjoyed P.E. Her friends smile a grin full of innocent mischief as they wave goodbye.

— Leave that to us! — Glimmer answers and Adora smiles. Suddenly, she feels her phone vibrating a little.

Perhaps the message had come.

.........

Scorpia was finishing her practical exercise when the big wood door was slammed as if the gods decided to show their fury to the poor entrance. Now it was almost the end of the first two classes and the teacher wanted them to weld a steel material; it could seem difficult, but Scorpia was getting pretty good at it. Not as good as Entrapta and Hordark, of course, but definitely better than Kyle which was an improvement. Taking her eyes out of the steel for a moment, she sees that weren't angry deities that slammed the door, but her usually vexed and irritated wild cat.

Catra had a naturally bad temper and she wasn't by far a morning person, but today that seemed worse. After being scolded by the teacher and taking a mask she goes to the sit near Scorpia and puts herself to work without saying a word. As expected, gentle and nice Scorpia gave her a bright smile and was given in return a dry look and harsh:

— What?

— Good morning, wild cat. Do you need any help? — Catra does not even flinch.

— If I wanted any help I wouldn't ask you, but Entrapta or Hordark.

— Fell out of bed today, kitten?  — the melodic voice slaps their ears like a feather when the person comes to Scorpia's and Catra's table.