Happy Birthday (A Catradora Short Story)

three

Adora's face, when she turned was so utterly astonished, her eyes so wild that Catra almost laughed. But not because her expression was funny, no. Not at all. She almost laughed due to panic, emotion and nervousness. She wasn't thinking straight when she decided to skip class, run away from school and make a three-hour train trip just to see Adora. Besides, she didn't really think about what she was going to say now they were facing each other. She didn't know what Adora would say. That scared her. When she entered the Academy's territory and saw Adora leaned on the bike holder, an air of thoughtfulness in her face, she almost gave up. She had a moment of "What are you doing here? She's not going to talk to you after what you've done! Just turn back, go away!". And she almost did, she turned back. Then, she turned again. Don't be a pussy, Catra.

— Catra? — her voice was so low she almost didn't listen to her. The utterance was carried by the wind, striking Catra's ears. It had been a year since she listened to that voice saying her name. No one could say her name as Adora did. — How did you get here? — that wasn't exactly what Adora wanted to say, but she decided to go with the most common sentence.

— By train? — Catra says with a confused expression. Stupid.

— No, I mean, how did you enter the Academy? — nobody entered without permission. Catra's expression lights up and she smiles. Adora almost faints.

— Oh, I sneaked in. — Adora then remembers how furtive Catra could be when she wanted to. Easing up her ghosted aspect, she goes to the next question:

— What are you doing here?

— I... - Catra hesitates. Really, what was she doing there? There had come the time she didn't plan. — Just wanted to say happy birthday. — now her voice was carried by the wind; Adora's lips tremble a bit.

— And couldn't you text? — she smiles lightly, but it was too soon for a joke since Catra's face got darker.

—Do you want me to leave? — her voice was dangerously bitter. Adora rushes up to say:

— No! It's just... You never texted me. — she didn't realise how firmly she was holding the metal bar until she had to rush up to prevent Catra from leaving; she takes a step forward. — It's sudden, that's all.

Catra bites her lower lip and sighs as if creating courage. She walks towards Adora. The vision of Catra walking to her seemed so unreal that Adora had to blink; Catra, her Catra walking in her ripped tight black jeans, the baggy flannel grey shirt buttoned irregularly, a cleavage showing the black top under the shirt. She hadn't changed a thing, from the tip of her beaten brown boots to the top of her wavy, bulky long brown hair. Being two feet apart, Catra picks up something from her backpack.

— How else could I give you your birthday gift? — she lifts her hand with a small box on it. Adora gasps.

— Did you? Did you really... - Catra rolls her eyes.

— Just open the gift, Adora.

Adora picks up the small box and takes a good look at it. It seemed an uninteresting wooden box; but again, every single gift Catra had given her looked unflattering at first. She passes her pale fingers on the box and takes a look at the other girl before opening it. Catra was watching her with expecting eyes. So, Adora opens the box. And jumps letting go a surprised yell when something jumps on her face. Next thing she sees is a fake snake with springs on the floor and Catra laughing her lungs out. She's too dumbfounded to even get angry; of course, it was a prank! She should've seen it coming. Holding the box in one hand, she watches Catra laughs. The afternoon sun created a nice contrast in her tanned skin. When the girl stops laughing, the other creates courage to say: