The Wicked Walk On Every Side

Chapter 8

Weak sunlight fell in soft pools on the floor of Solana and Belladonna's dorm room, filled with tiny dust motes. It was Saturday, meaning that the girls got to sleep in longer than normal. They always took advantage of this fact, sleeping all the way through breakfast (which was still served a little too early, in Solana's opinion).

Despite her complaints, Solana was still the early riser of the two, preferring to get a nice start to her day. Wrapping a shawl around her shoulders, she started her journey up to the kitchen.

Once there, she greeted the house elves, and politely asked for a couple of muffins (one banana, and one chocolate chip), and some fruit. Solana thought to herself as she piled these things in a small wicker basket, This is a perfect morning for a little stay-in breakfast picnic.

By the time Solana made it back down to the Slytherin dorms, Belladonna was starting to stir in her sleep. Solana set the basket down on the bedside table, and leaned over to shake Belladonna's shoulder.

Someone was shaking her shoulder. Instead of getting up, though, Belladonna just groaned and turned over. Her dark hair (which had fallen out of it's braid during the night) was a mess of frizz and knots.

"I know, I know, it's early, but I brought you some breakfast!" the person (who Belladonna had realized must obviously be Solana) said, rubbing Belladonna's shoulder this time instead of shaking it.

"Breakfast?" Belladonna said, rubbing her eye as she propped herself up on her elbow. Not many things could convince her to get out of bed this early on a Saturday, but food was certainly a good contender.

Behind her Solana rolled her eyes fondly and said, "Yes, sleepyhead, breakfast. I got you a banana muffin and some fruit."

Solana stood up from the bed and opened the bedside drawer, where there was an extra set of bed sheets. She grabbed the top one and flicked it open with a sharp movement from her wrist. Belladonna slipped some socks onto her feet and stood, walking around the other side of her bed to get to the bed sheet covered section of the floor. Unlike Solana, who had on a very pretty nightie, Belladonna had on a pair of shorts and an old t-shirt that belonged to her dad. The chill in the room made goosebumps rise on Belladonna's exposed arms and legs.

Solana grabbed the wicker basket and sat it on the floor beside her. Belladonna very ungracefully sat across from Solana, her legs crossed over each other.

As Belladonna tried to finger-comb her hair into some semblance of order, she not so subtly peeked into the basket. "I believe you said something about a banana muffin?"

"Oh I see, you only like me for the food," Solana said through laughter that sounded like bells. She lifted said muffin from the basket, which prompted Belladonna into what she would later deny was 'grabby hands'.

"Patience is a virtue, my dear!"

"Patience also makes me hungry," which was said through a mouthful of banana muffin.

Belladonna enjoyed these Saturday mornings with Solana. She wasn't sure how to describe it, but she felt a profound connection to Solana. She could see her future with Solana: maybe owning a nice country-side house, adopting a dog maybe? Of course Solana's family bird would live with them, as well. Belladonna and Solana would have their own backyard garden and everything.

Before she could get too lost in her own day dream, Belladonna blinked and took another bite of muffin. Across from her, Solana was digging into her chocolate-chip muffin.

Solana reached into the wicker basket and pulled out some strawberries. Belladonna paid no mind to this until Solana held up a strawberry as if she were going to throw it at Belladonna.

Belladonna must have made a confused noise, because Solana said, "I want to see if you can catch this in your mouth," as if still-half-asleep Belladonna had any spacial awareness.

"Bet," Belladonna said, setting down her half eaten muffin.

Solana took aim, and launched the strawberry into a perfect arch.

It hit Belladonna in the forehead.

The girls broke into laughter. Solana tried a couple more times to get a strawberry directly into Belladonna's mouth, with no luck.

"One more time, and then I would like to get back to my banana muffin, please," Belladonna said with an exaggerated accent and a wonky smile.

"Of course, my dear lady,"

This time, when Solana launched the strawberry, it arched way far away from its intended target, but Belladonna leaned over and caught it between her teeth. She then proceeded to fall onto her back and thrust her arms toward the ceiling in triumph.

"Yes!" Solana crowed, watching as Belladonna proudly bit into the strawberry.

Unbeknownst to Belladonna, Solana had a plan that she was sticking to.

"Belladonna-" she started, but cut herself off. Maybe she should just stay in the moment, and take in the pretty view. No, if she didn't do this now, she never would.

With renewed nerves, Solana scooched closer to Belladonna, and began again.

"Belladonna, we've been friends for a long time, and I-" she took a breath, "I like you. Like, like like you, and I don't know if you feel-"

Belladonna closed the space between them and wrapped her arms around Solana's shoulders in a hug.

"Does this mean we're girlfriends now?" Belladonna asked, nervous, but still smiling like the cat who caught the canary.

Solana's smile could have rivaled the sun.

"Yes."

Belladonna sat back down across from Solana, and popped the last bite of banana muffin into her mouth.