So it's been a while since the last update. I want to apologize for the long wait. This story is something I've been thinking about since the middle of season 1 and I don't plan to let it go idle again, so long as I love the Owl House. My plate is a little full though, just with my story ideas alone. So should any of you who follow me as an author see me posting other things, just know that this is still being worked on even if only a little bit at a time. And of course a big thanks to those who have reviewed and favorited/followed the story. Hope you enjoy...
Chapter 4)
Luz approached the Owl House at a steady pace. Hooty offered a cheerful hello as she reached the front door, pushing past him without a word in response. As she shut the door behind her, Luz quickly looked around, not seeing Eda in the living room. After taking a moment to think, Luz continued with her search. It was too soon for dinner, so odds were that Eda wasn't in the kitchen. Her best bet would be to check upstairs in Eda's room.
"Eda!" Luz called, rushing up the stairs. "Eda, are you up here?"
She entered her mentor's bedroom and saw Eda in her nest. Luz stepped closer and noticed that Eda was lying on her side, eyes closed and snoring softly. Normally Luz wouldn't disturb her, but this time she really didn't want to wait. She reached out to gently shake Eda's shoulder, hoping she wouldn't be too cranky when she woke up.
"Eda… Eda…" Luz whispered. "Are you awake?"
"If I said no, would you leave me be?"
"Probably not." Luz said with a smirk. "So… anyway, I could use some help."
The Owl Lady sighed and sat up, facing her student. "How much trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?"
"Huh? Oh, um… none. I think. I just wanted to know if you could give me some advice. Dating advice."
Eda's ears perked up a bit at that. She stood up and placed a hand onto Luz's shoulder, giving her an almost motherly smile. Then she stepped out of her nest and went to leave the room, signaling for Luz to follow her. They went down to the kitchen where Eda prepared them both some tea. The two sat at the table, Luz sipping from her cup while waiting for Eda to speak.
"I'm really not that surprised you brought this up. I had a feeling you'd probably take an interest in someone eventually. And you're asking the right witch for help. I have three words that will make this whole dating thing nice and easy."
"Just be myself?" Luz guessed.
"No. Forget about it." Eda replied. "You're still a kid and I seriously doubt that you understand romance as well as you believe you do. Right now you've got a lot of hormones kicking in, affecting not only your body but also how you think. So whoever has your eye right now may seem really attractive, but that's all there is to it. You just like the way they look."
"Well, yeah. I think she's cute." Luz said, starting to blush. "Really cute. But isn't that how a relationship starts?"
"No, that's completely foolish. Thinking someone is cute is too superficial to be the start of a relationship. A real one starts when both people involved like each other for more than just their looks. And that takes time and effort. Do you even know anything about this girl?"
"Of course I do! Go ahead, ask me anything!"
"Alright, here's an easy one. What is her favorite color?"
Luz hesitated. "Um… pink? No, it's black. Or… green maybe?"
"Uh-huh. That's one strike. Next question. Do you know if she has allergies?"
"What?" Luz asked, very confused. "Why? So I don't give her something that she can't eat?"
"Exactly. How would it look if you gave her something that made her break out in hives or swell up? Trust me when I say it'll kill your chances pretty quick. My sister learned that one the hard way. It may not seem like the sort of thing you'd normally ask, but it's considerate and might just score you some brownie points. Now, the last question is an important one. What's her birthday?"
Luz's eyes lit up and a big smile came to her face. She opened her mouth to answer but then froze as she began to realize that she had absolutely no idea. Eda shook her head, the look on her face saying 'I knew it'.
"Does she even know any of these things about you yet?"
"No." Luz replied, looking down briefly. "I haven't told her any stuff like that. But it's not like that means I don't have a chance."
"Of course you have a chance. But that doesn't mean that it's a good chance. And you say that you're interested in another girl? That's more complicated than you'd expect."
"Why? Are same gender relationships not tolerated in the demon realm?"
"It's not that. There are plenty of people who accept that sort of thing." Eda replied. "It's fairly common for someone to be at least a little curious about dating someone of the same gender at one point in their life. That's how it's been since around the time I was your age."
"Did you ever date another girl before?" Luz inquired curiously.
"Once, after I left Hexside. She was another bad girl, like me. We caused all sorts of chaos together. Until one day when we got caught by the guards and she sold me out to save her own neck."
"Eda… I'm so sor…"
"Save it." Eda cut in, raising her hand to signal Luz to stop. "All of that has been said and done for long enough that it doesn't bother me anymore. My point is that boys are usually simple, but girls can be deceiving. So I'd watch my back around her if I were you. She could plunge a knife into it any time she wants."
Luz scowled. It was becoming one of the rare occasions where she was annoyed by Eda's attitude. It was unfair for her to say that sort of thing when she didn't even know who she was talking about. Eda picked up on Luz's mood and gave her a mildly condescending look in return.
"What? Got something to say? Go ahead and tell me that I'm wrong."
"Well you are! Amity isn't like that!"
"Amity? Wait, you mean that Blight girl? Okay, now I know this is doomed to fail. There is no way an upper class witch like her will ever accept your feelings. I'm still finding it hard to believe she actually sees you as a friend. Even if you luck out and get a date or two, she's just going to eventually get bored and dump you."
"You don't know that will happen! And I'd rather try and fail than not try at all!"
Eda sighed. "Alright kid, if this has to be something that you learn the hard way then so be it. But when your crush ends up crushing your heart, just remember that I'll be here for you. After I've said 'I told you so' of course. Now, since you're clearly dead set on this, I'll give you three pieces of advice.
"One, take time getting to know her. Romance isn't a race. If you try to rush things, all you could end up accomplishing is messing up. When the time comes to take the next step, you'll know. Two, no grand gestures. They're too expensive and can be time consuming. Plus they pretty much just scream that you're desperate. Besides, she's the one from the rich family. Let her shower you with pricey things and uh, feel free to send some of them my way."
"Yeah, sure… maybe. So what's the third thing?"
"The most important thing. Being a couple doesn't mean you need to like all the same things or that you have to spend every minute of every day together. Let her have her personal space, to enjoy the things she likes to do. And obviously don't hesitate to ask the same of her."
"Got it! Thanks Eda."
"Yeah, yeah. Don't mention it. Really, don't bring it up. I'd like to pretend that this conversation didn't happen. Now if you don't mind, I have a nap I'd like to finish."
"Actually… could you help me with one more teensy favor?"
"No." Eda said, heading to leave the kitchen.
"Please?" Luz asked sweetly.
"No."
"Pretty please?"
"No."
"Super pretty please?" Luz begged. "It'll be quick and easy, I promise!"
"If it'll be so easy, then why not just do it yourself?"
"I would if I could. But I can't That's why I need the help of the powerful and talented witch who I respect and admire."
Eda let out a defeated sigh and grumbled under her breath about how she was becoming a sucker for the praise she got from her student. Luz beamed with joy, starting to explain what she had in mind. Eda already disliked what she was hearing and frowned through every minute Luz was talking.
-The following morning-
Amity finished brushing her hair, tying it back into her usual ponytail. She fluffed the sides a bit and checked her reflection, satisfied with how she looked. Then Amity retrieved her schoolbag so she could check her homework assignments while waiting for breakfast to be served. As was to be expected, she was unable to find anything that she believed needed to be changed and she put all of her things away again.
Meanwhile, downstairs in the foyer, Edric and Emira were standing by the front doors. Edric had come up with a fun prank he wanted to play and was eager to share it with his twin. He took a quick look around to make sure no one else was coming and then opened one of the doors.
"Okay Em, check this out." He said, drawing a magic circle. "We're really going to get Mittens with this one."
Just outside the doorway, another circle appeared on the ground. It rose up, creating the image of Luz as it went. When it was finished, the circle faded and Edric gestured to what he had created with a big smile.
"I call this, the Il-Luz-sion." He said proudly.
"That's a little lame, brother dear." Emira replied. "But I do love the idea. Shall we get our baby sister and begin our fun?"
Edric nodded and stepped closer to the stairs. "Oh Amity!" He called. "Someone is here to see you!"
"it's your not-girlfriend!" Emira added.
The twins began to snicker as they waited for Amity to come down the stairs. Once she came into sight they restrained themselves so as not to ruin their little prank. Amity rushed up to meet with the Il-Luz-sion, a mildly excited look on her face. However, when she got to the door her excitement faded and gave way to annoyance. She turned to face her siblings and gave them an insulted look.
"Do you honestly think I'd actually fall for this?" She asked.
"What are you talking about?" Edric replied innocently.
"The illusion that you're trying to trick me with!" Amity said, pointing to the Il-Luz-sion. "I can tell that's not really Luz, so whatever you're planning isn't going to work!"
"But Amity, I am Luz." The Il-Luz-sion said.
"No you're not! You're a counterfeit!" Amity snapped.
"Mittens, calm down." Emira said. "Now what makes you believe that this girl right here isn't really Luz?"
"Two things. First of all, Luz is a human. Her ears are round. Do those look round to you?"
Amity pointed to the Il-Luz-sion's ears. Edric and Emira then noticed that they were indeed not round, but very witch-like. Emira slapped her forehead, both for not noticing the mistake herself and for Edric having made it at all. Edric scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly.
"Okay, so you got us. We were trying to mess around with you." He admitted.
"Out of curiosity, what was the other difference?" Emira asked.
"The eyes are all wrong." Amity pointed out.
"No, I got those right." Edric argued. "Her eyes are brown."
"I'm not referring to the color." Amity replied. "The eyes on this thing are blank! The real Luz is very expressive. Her eyes are always filled with emotion. Whether it's because she's nervous after messing up or the way they sparkle when she sees something that amazes her, her eyes always show her feelings. You may as well have given this thing the same eyes as a dead fish. I wouldn't have known the difference!"
Amity struck the Il-Luz-sion, dispersing it. She then went off to the dining room to start eating breakfast, leaving her siblings behind. Edric shut the door and went to follow Amity. Emira fell into step with him, looking positively ecstatic for some reason.
"Did you hear that?" She asked him. "That was so sweet! Not to mention a bit romantic!"
"Say what now?"
"Amity! The way she was just going on about Luz!" Emira explained. "She's clearly become very close to Luz. It's so obvious she likes her back. I'm so happy for her, I almost want to stop poking fun at her for it."
"But you won't, right?"
"Don't be ridiculous. It's far too much fun to mess with Amity for me to just stop." Emira replied. "But, I sorta want to try and encourage her now too. It isn't like I can't do both, right?"
"I guess. Just don't go and take her side if she starts getting defensive on us."
Emira giggled. "Aw, what's the matter? Are you scared of the girls ganging up on you?" She teased. "Don't worry, that won't happen. Probably."
The twins went into the dining room as well, seating themselves across from Amity. Their food was brought in on a serving cart by Zederick, who set their plates out for them and poured them freshly squeezed juice. Amity ate her meal in silence while Edric and Emira whispered to one another. Occasionally they would check to see if Amity was trying to listen in, but she was doing her best to ignore them.
After she finished her meal, Amity began gathering up her plate, bowl, glass and utensils. At that moment Zederick reentered the room and approached her. He used his magic to levitate all of the items she had been carrying back onto the cart.
"I'll bring those to the kitchen, Miss Amity." He said. "You have a guest. She's waiting for you in the foyer."
"Thank you, Zederick."
Amity stepped into the foyer, catching sight of Luz instantly. Luz was dressed in a white, long-sleeved shirt with a navy blue vest and matching knee-length skirt. She also had white stockings with long, black boots that went halfway up her shins. The accessories for her outfit included a light blue sash around her waist, a similarly colored necktie and atop her head was a hairband with fake cat ears.
"Good morning, Amity." Luz greeted sweetly.
"Good morning, Luz." Amity replied. "You look different today. In a nice way, that is."
Luz smiled and turned around in a full circle so Amity could see all of her outfit. "Thanks. I had a feeling you'd like it. Does it look familiar, by the way?"
"Oddly enough, yes it does. But I know I've never seen you wear that before."
"Here's a hint. Good Witch Azura, book three."
Amity gasped. "Azura's magic school uniform! Where did you get it?"
"With a little help from Eda." Luz answered. "And since you clearly like it, you could have one too. We'd just need to let Eda give you a quick fitting."
"I would love that!"
"So, how about today after school?" Luz asked.
"That would be…" Amity began, but stopped as she remembered something. "Actually, I'm afraid today won't be convenient. I have my private lessons after school and I would need to be home for dinner right after I finish them."
Luz shrugged. "It's okay. We can figure out something while we walk. Oh, and here's your lunch."
She held out a brown paper bag that she had been carrying. Amity accepted it and noticed that one side of the bag had her name written on it in cursive. Around it were many little hearts, stars and flowers all drawn in different colors. Amity opened it and peeked inside, finding a bag of Hex Mix, a can of iced tea and a sandwich neatly wrapped in parchment.
"The sandwich isn't anything fancy, like what you're probably used to." Luz continued. "It's just tomato with basil and some kinda cheese. Also, I sorta didn't think about food allergies until yesterday. Do you have any?"
"Well, I'm happy to say that I don't." Amity replied. "If I did, I would have made sure to tell you."
"That's good to know." Luz said, letting out a small sigh of relief. "I was a little worried for a minute that you wouldn't be able to eat something. I mean, if that were the case I'd buy you something to eat instead. But I'm happy you can eat what I made."
"I'm sure I'll enjoy it, thank you." Amity said, folding the bag shut again. "Although now I do have to wonder if perhaps something I put into your lunch may be a problem. Do you have any allergies?"
Luz shook her head. "No allergies. But I should have told you that I'm lactose intolerant."
"Oh… um, please excuse me. I'll be right back."
Amity walked down to the kitchen and stepped inside. After a little more than a minute of waiting, Luz began to hum to herself to pass the time. She took a look around, appreciating the lavish interior decorating of the foyer. A part of her wanted to explore a little, to see more of Amity's home. The urge to go up the stairs was particularly strong. She had always been curious as to what Amity's bedroom looked like.
Unable to resist, Luz took a step closer to the stairs. She wasn't going to go up to the next floor, she just wanted to see if maybe she could spot anything interesting. The manor was so big, she found it hard to believe that no one aside of Amity, her siblings and their parents lived there. Sure, there was the old housekeeper she had met. But he couldn't be the only one working in the manor, could he? There was so much Luz still needed to learn about Amity. So much that she wanted to learn. Just thinking about it was starting to excite her a little.
The sound of footsteps caught her attention and she tore her eyes away from the top of the stairway. However, it wasn't Amity coming back like she had thought. Instead Luz found Edric and Emira approaching her. She was about to wave and greet them, but Emira closed in more quickly than she expected. The next thing Luz knew, Emira had brought out her iScroll and she pulled her in for a quick selfie.
"Um… okay, I guess you can take a picture with me." Luz said, almost seeming annoyed. "You could have just asked, you know."
"Sorry. I just couldn't help myself." Emira said in her own defense. "I wasn't expecting you to show up looking extra cute. So what's with the new look? Trying to impress someone?"
"And while we're on the subject, was she impressed?" Edric followed up.
Luz felt her cheeks heat up a tiny bit. "I don't know what you're talking about." She said, looking away from the twins.
"Really?" Edric asked, quirking an eyebrow. "Because I think that you do."
"Nope." Luz replied. "I don't have a clue. I just wanted to wear something different today, that's all."
"And this has nothing to do with how you plan to walk our little sister to school today?" Emira inquired. "Or how you two are swapping lunches?"
"Uh-uh." Luz answered. "Not at all."
"Are you sure?" Edric pressed. "Because I think you got dressed up for Amity."
"I think you're onto something, Edric." Emira added.
"Well I think that the two of you are bothering her. Again!"
Luz and the twins turned to find Amity returning from the kitchen. She made her way over to Luz's side and took her by the hand. Luz blushed again and allowed Amity to lead her along as she went to the door. When she opened it and they stepped out, Amity noticed that her siblings were following them. She had anticipated this and turned to give them a stern look.
"And just what are you two doing? I don't recall inviting you to join us."
"What's wrong with us walking with you, Mittens?" Edric asked. "Are we going to be interrupting something?"
"As a matter of fact, yes!" Amity replied. "I promised Luz that I'd help her learn basic runes. She's going to need to know them in order to pass her placement exam and we cannot afford any distractions. So unless you'd like to help, please leave us be!"
"Ooh, I like that idea!" Luz chirped. "If they come along, they can help me study too! Then I'll learn three times as fast! We could even start a study group!"
Edric and Emira both looked as if they had just heard her say something vulgar. Their reaction caught Amity's attention, particularly how neither of them had anything to throw out in response. An idea quickly formed in her mind and she gave her siblings a sweet and innocent smile.
"Actually, that does sound like a nice idea." She told them. "The two of you are always saying we should spend more time together. Forming a study group would be a great way to do that. And now that I know that Edric is good at math, he can help me tutor Luz. It will be fun."
Edric shuddered a bit. "No. Hard pass. I don't care if I am good at math. I am not teaching anyone. Not even how to do the easier stuff."
"Not even Emira?" Luz asked.
Emira giggled. "I wouldn't ask even if someone paid me to! It's easier to just have him do my math homework for me."
"So you aren't up for the study group idea?" Luz asked a bit sadly.
"Sorry cutie, but I know dozens of other ways I'd rather spend my time." Emira replied. "But you're welcome to come and hang out with us today if you want some real fun. Or would you rather nerd out with Amity?"
"Nerd out." Luz said without a moment's thought. "I really want to learn this as soon as I can. Plus I already made these plans with Amity and I'd hate to back out at the last second."
"Suit yourself." Emira said with a shrug. "We still need to finish getting ready anyway. Come on Edric."
The twins went up the stairs to gather their school things, to at least make it look like they were planning to go to class. As they went, they waved to Amity and Luz. Amity gave them a quick warning glare before starting for the front gates. Luz waved to them and followed Amity, shutting the door behind her.
Amity and Luz made their way into town, passing the time silently. Luz glanced over at Amity, taking a moment to admire her while they walked. The talk she had with Eda the preceding day was still fresh in her mind. She had thought about all of the things she wanted to know about the young witch and had narrowed the list down to just a few things to start.
"So… since we have some time, I was hoping to ask you some stuff." Luz began.
"Sure. What would you like to know?"
"Well, there's still a lot that we don't know about each other. Let's start with something simple. What's your favorite color?"
"Pink." Amity replied almost immediately. "I love how vibrant it looks. And I think it looks good on me."
"It does. Maybe you could wear more of it instead of black." Luz suggested.
"I like how pink looks with black. They contrast well, so I would prefer to wear a bit of both if I can." Amity explained. "What about you? What is your favorite color?"
"That's easy. It's purple." Luz answered. "No real reason aside of I think it's a nice color. But it's also my mom's favorite too. Okay, now you can ask me something."
"Alright. What about…." Amity began. "Types of books that you enjoy. That is, aside of Azura."
Luz took a moment to think. "I really like romance. But adventure is good too. So if there's a story that has both, then it sounds like a good read to me. I've actually been working on my own story using my OC Luzura."
"What is the story going to be about?" Amity asked, genuinely intrigued. "Have you planned out the plot all the way through?"
"Not really." Luz admitted. "I'm sorta just making it up as I go along. But I do know that I want Luzura to find Azura's staff while she's out delivering potions. That'll be how her journey begins. I just need to figure out everything that happens after that."
"I could help you with that if you like." Amity offered. "Unless you'd rather work on it by yourself."
An excited gasp came from Luz. Her eyes lit up and she gently bit her lip in an effort to contain herself. The attempt didn't work however, a soft 'squee' escaped her and she began to hop up and down a little from the excitement.
"That. Would. Be. The. Best!" Luz exclaimed giddily, hopping with each word. "It's the perfect activity for our club! I can't wait for us to start on that! Ooh! I know! You should make your own OC to put into the story too! And we can make illustrations together to go with the story!"
Luz began bouncing a bit more energetically, moving ahead of Amity. She kept going on about her new idea, turning to face Amity while she explained. As they neared a corner, another person suddenly stepped into Luz's path. Luz was oblivious to their presence until she ended up colliding with them.
Boscha was already in a bad mood that morning as it was. But when someone bumped into her while she was trying to mind her own business, she felt her blood pressure go up instantly. When she saw who it was, she just didn't care enough to try and control her temper anymore. She gave Luz a shove and then glared daggers at her.
"Watch where you're going human! You better not have given me any of your gross human germs!" She spat before turning her attention to Amity. "If you're going to take your pet for a walk, you really should keep it on a leash, Amity."
Amity let out a gasp of shock and disgust. She felt the urge to retaliate with a nasty remark of her own, but held back. She knew that if she wasn't very careful with what she said, it could very easily come back to haunt her. Boscha had a way with twisting words and embellishing the truth. Fortunately, Amity had plenty of practice choosing her words carefully while dealing with her siblings' constant teasing.
"Firstly, stop speaking about Luz as if she's some sort of animal. Secondly, what happened wasn't done on purpose, so there's no need to get so mad."
"Yeah, it was an accident." Luz added. "I wasn't trying to hurt you or anything. And you're right, I should've paid more attention to where I was going. I'm very sorry for bumping into you like that."
"I don't want your apology! I want you to stay away from me!"
"Okay, you don't need to yell at me. Didn't realize that I bothered you that much." Luz said, taking a small step back. "Are you feeling okay? You seem extra grouchy today."
"Well whatever is bothering her is not any business of ours." Amity said, starting to walk around Boscha and continue on the way to school. "Come along, Luz. Let's leave Boscha to deal with her issues by herself. We wouldn't want her to think we were trying to cause her more trouble."
Luz went to catch up with Amity, giving Boscha plenty of space as she passed by. They walked away from Boscha, who was silently fuming. After a moment, she abruptly turned and went after them, grabbing Amity's shoulder. The instant she felt Boscha's hand, Amity swatted it away and gave the other witch a dirty look.
"What is your problem?" Amity demanded to know.
"You are! You don't want to cause me trouble?" Boscha scoffed irritably. "Well you've already caused me plenty! Because of you, I had to sit through a long, stupid lecture this morning!"
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."
"I'll tell you what I'm talking about!" Boscha snarled through clenched teeth. "Because you don't want to be friends with me anymore, my parents are on my case! I told Skara about what happened the other day when I ran into you after I skipped out on that stupid potions lecture. She blabbed about it to her parents and they told my parents. So this morning, when I was eating breakfast, they start giving me this load of garbage about how I upset you. They told me I have to apologize to you!"
"Oh, well I'd appreciate that very much." Amity said, her gaze softening a little. "Please go ahead."
"What?"
"You're here to apologize, right? I'm willing to listen, so please go ahead. But I'd also appreciate it if you'd offer Luz an apology as well."
"Apologize to the human? Are you kidding me?" Boscha asked, seeming insulted. "I wouldn't do that for all the snails on the Boiling Isles! And I'm not apologizing to you either, Blight!"
Amity let out a soft sigh. "If that's how you feel, then there's no point in continuing this conversation. Please excuse us, Boscha. We're running a little late."
"Bye, Boscha." Luz said, offering a small wave as she walked away. "Have a nice day. I really hope that you do. You seem like you could use one."
Boscha growled furiously as the other two girls walked off. The only thing that kept her from lashing out at them was the fact that she knew better. She didn't need to give Amity a reason to go and get her in more trouble just because she wanted to nail a certain human in the face with a grudgby ball. Instead she stormed off in a different direction, wanting to let out all of her steam before having to put up with another long day of school.
Luz and Amity spent the rest of their walk in silence, the mood spoiled due to their confrontation with Boscha. As they arrived on school grounds, Amity slowed to a stop and turned to face Luz. She had an almost apologetic look on her face, which confused Luz a bit.
"Is something the matter?" She asked.
"I'm sorry." Amity said softly. "It seems like lately whenever we try to spend time together, we get interrupted by someone."
"That's not your fault." Luz replied. "And it's not like it's gonna keep me from wanting to hang out with you more. So, how about I meet you here after school is over and I can walk you home or to wherever your private lessons are?"
"I'd like that. Thanks." Amity said, smiling. "I'll see you later."
"Hang on. Aren't you forgetting something?" Luz asked.
"Am I?" Amity asked in return. "What?"
Luz giggled and pointed to the two lunch bags that Amity was carrying. "Isn't one of those for me?"
"Oh Titan, you're right. I'm so sorry! It slipped my mind entirely!" Amity blurted out, handing over her lunch bag to Luz.
"No biggie." Luz said, accepting the bag and looking inside. "So, what did you make for me?"
"For you I prepared a multigrain wrap with pulled pork, which was slow cooked overnight." Amity answered, a hint of pride in her voice. "There are also some quick-braised vegetables for the side and your beverage is a bottle of sparkling apple blood."
"Ooh! And a cookie for dessert!" Luz exclaimed, extracting the item.
Amity smiled a bit sheepishly. "Actually it's more like a cracker. I originally had a few cream puffs that my mother got from the Crown District of Skullbury. But since the filling is made with dairy, I had to switch them out for that. It was baked with honey, so it should be very tasty."
"So it's more like a graham cracker." Luz noted.
"If you say so. I honestly wouldn't know. There are so many different foods in the human realm that I've never heard of before."
"Well I know a place right her in Bonesborough where I can get some for you to try if you'd like." Luz offered.
"I would. I'd like that a lot." Amity replied just before the first bell screamed, startling her. "Oh no! I'm going to be late! We can continue this conversation later. I'll see you then!"
"Have a good day!" Luz called, waving to Amity as she left. "Try not to have too much fun without me!"
Luz turned to leave, going to put the cracker away as she began walking. After a second thought however, she unwrapped it from the parchment and took a bite. She let out a soft 'mmm' in approval and started her return trip, enjoying the rest of her snack on the way. When she got back, Eda had a long list of deliveries for her to make which kept her occupied until she went to meet up with Amity again.
The rest of the week was very much the same for the two girls. Each day Luz would meet with Amity in the morning and then again at Hexside once classes let out. They'd go to the library together, where Amity let Luz assist her in reading to the little kids. She'd select stories with at least a few different characters so they could take turns reading. Afterwards they would work together putting books back onto the shelves or arranging a new display for some educational purpose. Then Luz would escort Amity home and they would always find something to talk about, allowing them to learn more about each other little by little.
On Friday morning Amity woke up brimming with positive energy. She hummed happily while she went about freshening up for the day ahead. When she sat down to breakfast, she was slowly swinging her legs back and forth under the table, a serene smile on her face while she ate. Her siblings joined her shortly after she had sat down, the both taking notice of their sister's cheerful behavior.
"So…" Edric began, an impish grin on his face. "You seem to be in a pretty good today, Mittens. What's up? Did something nice happen?"
"Nothing really." Amity answered. "I've just had a very enjoyable week, that's all."
"We've noticed." Emira said, wearing a grin to match Edric's. "You've been spending a lot of time with Luz lately. The two of you seem to be getting awfully close."
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think that you were jealous, Emira." Amity countered. "Perhaps if you and Edric didn't have such a bad reputation, both of you could have what you think I have with Luz. All of your immature pranks have made a lot of our peers want to keep away from you both. If not for our family's status, some of them might have even dared to tell you off for some of the stunts you've pulled. To be quite honest, it's a little sad. But at least the two of you will always have each other."
Edric and Emira went silent with shock, their mouths hanging open. Amity took advantage of the peace and quiet to finish her breakfast. She then excused herself and went to retrieve her schoolbag. After she left the room the twins looked at each other, the surprised expressions still on their faces.
"Okay, I know she's talked back to us before." Edric started. "But she's never been that harsh before, right?"
"Not until recently." Emira replied with a shake of her head. "She's starting to get even more defensive when it comes to Luz."
"Yeah, and she's still being a pain in the neck. I thought the whole idea was to get her to lighten up a bit."
"We just need to give them more time. Luz hasn't really made a move on Amity yet. If she doesn't try sometime soon, we can give her a little push."
"How soon?" Edric asked a bit impatiently. "Because I don't think Amity is picking up on any of Luz's signals. For someone who almost always has her nose in a book, our baby sister is being a little dense."
"She'll figure it out eventually. Although we should plan on what to do if we decide to help Luz. And speaking of plans, I'm thinking of getting back at Amity for her little remark just now. A slime in her sock drawer should do the trick."
"Classic. How about we go find one really quick so it can have all day to squirm around her drawer before she finds it?"
"I love the way you think sometimes."
The twins finished their food, leaving their dirty plates and silverware on the table. Then they went to their bedroom to get ready to go, grabbing everything they'd need for the day. But when they went to leave, they encountered an issue the moment they opened the door. A hulking mass of purple goop was blocking the way into the hall. What's more, the abomination reached in and grabbed the door's handle, shutting it firmly. As the door was forcibly closed, Emira and Edric caught a glimpse of Amity waving to them as she walked by.
If either of her siblings had reacted to her little stunt, Amity didn't see it happen. She was far too eager to get going and meet up with Luz for another pleasant walk to school. Each day Amity had taken it upon herself to try and keep the twins from bothering them. The first time she had simply gotten up and left for school earlier. Then she had tried pretending she had already left and found a place to hide until her siblings had gone. That day she had gotten bolder by choosing to use her abomination to delay them. So far, that method was proving to be best yet.
Amity left the manor and quickly went to the front gates where Luz was waiting. As she stepped out and closed the gates behind her, Amity noticed something was off with Luz. She wasn't quite acting like herself. Amity could see that her eyes were a little glassy and unfocused. Luz was sweaty, a little slumped over and was swaying a little, as if she would lose her balance. She also seemed short of breath, possibly tired. When she saw Amity looking at her, she offered a weak smile and a half-hearted wave.
"Are you alright, Luz?" Amity asked, stepping a bit closer. "You don't look very well. You're not getting sick, are you?"
"No. I'm fine." Luz replied. "I just didn't get a lot of sleep last night. Then I started dozing off while I was eating breakfast and lost track of time. So I sorta ended up running here to not make you wait."
Luz let out a feeble giggle, her breathing sounding a bit heavy. Amity stepped in front of her and suddenly placed her hand onto Luz's forehead. The unexpected touch made Luz tense up and she stared silently at Amity, who had closed her eyes. There was a pensive look on her face and Luz was left spellbound by how beautiful she looked right then. After a few moments, Amity opened her eyes again and pulled her hand away.
"I'm no healer, but from what I can tell, you don't seem to have a fever. But all the same it may be best for you to head back and take it easy for today."
"But…"
"No buts." Amity cut in sternly. "I don't want you pushing yourself. You said that you didn't get much sleep, right?"
"Well, no… I didn't."
"Then you should try to get some more rest." Amity instructed. "Even if you don't feel ill, it's still in your best interest. By tomorrow you could feel just fine, but you could also develop some symptoms by then. You wouldn't want to miss out on our club meeting, would you?"
Luz shook her head. "No. I don't want that at all."
"Then please take my advice and just rest up for today. Drink plenty of fluids too, for good measure. I'll send you a message when I get out of school. Maybe we can spend a bit of time together then if you haven't started feeling unwell. How does that sound to you?"
"Okay, I guess."
"Good. Now, will you be able to make it back alright by yourself?"
"Uh-huh. I should be okay. I mean… I wouldn't mind some company, but I don't want to make you late for school. But I really, really want to talk with you about more stuff!"
Amity giggled. "If that's really what you want, then you need to get all rested up for later today. I'll tell you what, I'll find us some tasty snacks to enjoy when I'm on my way home. Even if you aren't feeling well by then, I can stop by and check on you. We can enjoy a little chat, but I could only stay so long if you feel sick. Alright?"
Luz pouted, but didn't argue. She hesitantly began her return trip to the Owl House. For a short while, Amity walked with her and kept an eye on her as they went. The way she kept checking on her gave Luz a warm, fuzzy feeling in her stomach. It led to her starting to feel a little nervous and she couldn't think of anything to say, leaving an awkward silence between them. When the time came for them to part ways, Amity checked once more to make sure Luz would be alright. After Luz insisted she'd be fine, Amity gave a quick wave and then left. Luz waved back and stood in place, watching Amity until she was no longer in sight.
Letting out a small sigh, Luz continued the rest of the walk back alone. When she got to the Owl House, she saw Eda on her way out. Eda quickly took notice of how Luz seemed to be a bit down and already had a good idea as to why.
"I'm going to take a wild guess and say you poured your heart out to little miss high and mighty. And then, she rejected you. Am I right?" Eda asked, crossing her arms. "Well, at least you tried. But I told you…"
"I didn't tell Amity about my feelings for her." Luz interrupted. "I want to though. I've been thinking about it all day, since before sun up! I could have done it just now when I was with her; I wanted to do it too. But it just didn't seem like the right time."
"Is this going somewhere?" Eda asked, sounding a little impatient.
"Eda, I want to make my confession be a special moment between Amity and me. How can I do that?"
"You don't." Eda told her firmly, putting her hands on her hips. "What did I say about making grand gestures?"
"It doesn't have to be a grand gesture. It could just be a regular gesture! Like… a poem! I could write Amity a poem! I know she'd like that!"
"Fine, do what you want." Eda replied. "I really don't care. I need to go into town to pick up my new batch of elixirs. I'll be back whenever."
Before Luz had a chance to reply, Eda hopped onto her staff and few away. Luz went inside and got her notebook and pen so she could work on her poem for Amity. She spent the better part of the following hour writing out pretty much anything that came to mind. Once she felt like she had enough to work with, she started to sort through it all, eliminating a lot of it as she worked on the final draft. After a little thinking and a few more changes, her work was finished.
Luz read and reread the sheet of notebook paper in her hands, checking for anything else she may want to change. As far as she could tell though, it looked just fine. But she was so anxious about reciting it out loud that she kept second guessing herself. She would only have one chance to do this and she wanted it to go as smoothly as possible. If she choked…
She shook her head, clearing her mind and then got to her feet. That sort of thinking would only bog her down and she didn't need that. Now that she had a plan, she was going to follow through with it no matter what. Taking a quick look at the time, she found it was still a little before noon. She used the time she had until Amity would be out of school to prepare herself for the big moment.
Later that day, after a good amount of practice, as well as a power nap and a quick shower, Luz was as ready as she felt she'd ever be. She went over her poem one more time, to ensure that she had committed it to memory, and then hurried out the door. If she could get the timing right, she'd bump into Amity more or less at the halfway point to Hexside. Then she'd bring Amity to a nice, secluded area away from other people and express herself at last.
While on her walk, Luz ended up running into the twins. Amity wasn't with them fortunately, but Luz still felt a little uneasy when they both spotted her. For a moment, Luz considered just making a sudden turn and going off in a completely different direction. If not for the fact that doing it could easily draw the twins' attention to her, Luz would have done it for sure. Instead, she just kept going on her chosen path, looking as natural as possible.
"Hey Luz." The twins simultaneously greeted, slowing to a stop.
"Hi Emira, Edric." Luz replied, giving them a wave.
"Running a little late today, aren't you?" Edric asked.
"Mittens doesn't like to be kept waiting." Emira pointed out. "You wouldn't want to make her upset with you. She won't give you special treatment just because you're dating."
"We aren't dating yet." Luz told them, immediately regretting her slip up.
"Yet? What exactly do you mean by that, Luz?" Edric inquired.
"Nothing!" Luz squeaked out nervously, freezing in place. "I'm not planning to tell her that I have feelings for her or anything like that!"
Again Luz had to kick herself for her choice of words. Edric and Emira exchanged a knowing look, smirking at each other. Then they started walking again, their smirks growing once their backs were facing Luz. As they continued on the pathway they both raised a hand in farewell.
"If you say so." Edric said. "Anyway, we have somewhere to be. See you around."
"And if you're looking for Amity, she stopped in a store to buy something." Emira added. "Just keep going in that direction and you'll definitely run into her."
Luz watched as the twins walked away, feeling confused. She had been certain they were going to say something about that last slip up, but instead they had surprised her. Choosing not to look a gift horse in the mouth, she resumed heading towards town to find Amity.
Unknown to Luz, the twins had pulled a fast one on her. The moment she began walking away from them, they each subtly cast a spell. Edric used his to conceal them from sight while Emira created illusions of themselves continuing to walk away, just in case Luz decided to peek over her shoulder. Now in their perfect stealth mode, the two began tailing Luz from a short distance away.
It didn't take very long for Luz to spot Amity. She felt her stomach start tying itself in knots at the thought of what she was about to do. There was a tiny part of her that told her that she didn't need to go through with it; Amity would be none the wiser. Luz ignored that little part of her and did her best to steel her nerves. She was committed to this and if all went well, she could soon commit to Amity too.
As soon as she caught sight of Luz, Amity started to walk faster. At first glance, she could see that Luz looked a bit better than she had that morning. However, she wasn't going to just make an assumption in this matter. Luz seemed to have a bit more energy, but Amity wanted to be sure. She had been concerned about Luz all day.
"Amity, hi!" Luz greeted, smiling brightly. "How was school?"
"It was fine, thank you." Amity replied. "What about you? How are you feeling?"
"To be honest, I feel a little funny." Luz admitted. "You were kinda right earlier today when you said I seemed sick. But it's a different kind of sick than what you meant. I can explain what I mean, but I want to do it somewhere else. So please come with me."
Luz suddenly took Amity's hand and pulled her along. Amity barely avoided stumbling over her own feet as she started to follow. The way Luz was acting rekindled her concern and she gave Luz's hand a gentle squeeze. Luz felt her heart fluttering from the action and was grateful that Amity couldn't see the goofy smile she knew she had on her face.
"You're making me worry, Luz." Amity told her. "Is everything alright?"
"That all depends on how you respond." Luz answered with a nervous laugh.
She led Amity into the trees, taking her far enough away that no one would be likely to see them from the path. There was a little clearing where she had often sat and watched the clouds on nice days. It would be as good a place as any, given how beautiful and peaceful it was there. Once they were in the middle of the clearing, Luz let go of Amity's hand and turned to face her, having some trouble looking directly at her.
"Why did we need to come out here, Luz?" Amity inquired, still worried. "What's going on with you today?"
"Oh, a lot actually. I've had something really important on my mind for a while now. I finally found a way to put it into words this morning. Are you ready to hear what I have to tell you?"
"I suppose I am." Amity said, folding her hands in front of herself. "Please go ahead."
Luz swallowed the lump in her throat, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She felt her nerves calm down a little, but her heartbeat sped up. After taking another breath, she looked at Amity again, their eyes meeting. A soft smile came to Luz's face as she let herself become lost in Amity's eyes and she began speaking, her anxiety completely forgotten.
"Your eyes like gems, your skin so fair
The gorgeous springtime green that is your hair.
A smile with radiance that never fades.
The confidence you have in spades.
A witch like you, brilliant and unique.
It's enough to make my knees go weak.
To explore these new feelings in my heart,
I wish to know you better, for a start.
So please tell me now, miss Amity Blight.
May I take you out tomorrow night?"
With her recitation finished, Luz waited for Amity to reply. The young witch had been stunned into silence, her mouth hanging open. As her mind processed what Luz had just said, Amity's face slowly went pink. She wanted to say something, but the way Luz was looking at her kept her from finding her voice.
Her siblings on the other hand, could not contain themselves. Edric burst out laughing, giving away their location. No longer able to maintain focus, his spell faded and revealed their presence at the edge of the clearing. Amity's stunned face turned to the two, her confusion beginning to ebb and anger taking its place. A vein in her forehead started to throb slightly as she clenched both her teeth and her fists.
"Oh wow, that was so corny!" Edric said, his laughter dying down. "I can't believe that you actually said all of that to her, Luz!"
"And did you see the look on Amity's face? She was so flustered!" Emira added teasingly. "Poor Mittens, she doesn't know what to do!"
"How dare you!" Amity spat, her face now beet red with rage.
"Uh oh, watch out." Edric said, feigning fear. "Mittens is blowing her top!"
"I bet you five snails that she passes out." Emira whispered to her twin.
"You're on." Edric whispered back.
"The both of you are horrible!" Amity continued, stomping one foot firmly into the soil. "The pranks you pull on me are bad enough already! But now you're trying to toy with my emotions too?! Just go away! And stay away! I don't want either of you anywhere near me right now!"
Emira and Edric stepped back, still smiling as they turned to leave. The fact that they seemed unfazed by her outburst only fueled Amity's ire all the more. She glared at their backs until they had gone and then turned to face Luz again. Her eyes still displayed plenty of anger, but now there were tears as well. Amity looked as hurt as she was angry and her voice broke a little as she spoke.
"It wasn't funny. Nothing about what you just did was funny. How could you do something like that to another person?"
"What? No, Amity, I wasn't joking with you! I was serious!"
Once more Amity looked stunned. "Really?"
"Really, really." Luz assured, stepping closer and taking one of Amity's hands in both of her own. "I didn't even know they were there, honest! And I don't know why they thought it was so funny, but I was speaking from the heart. I meant all of it, every word!"
Amity didn't know what to think at first. A small part of her still couldn't believe what was happening. But Luz seemed so sincere about it that any doubt Amity had was soon gone. She pulled her hand free and turned away, blushing again as she found herself unable to maintain eye contact with Luz.
"I… I need some time to think about this. It just seems so sudden." She said timidly. "Tomorrow, let's meet at our club room as we planned. We can talk about it more then and I'll give you my answer. Would that be alright with you?"
Luz nodded eagerly. "It's a date!"
"No, I… I wouldn't call it that. But still, I'll see you then. G-good afternoon."
"Yeah, good afternoon Amity." Luz replied, smiling softly.
The two went to leave, falling into step beside each other. There was a moment where they paused and looked at each other. Amity blushed again and quickly averted her gaze, making Luz smile a little. She cleared her throat and gestured for Amity to go ahead, figuring she'd want a little space until she was ready to give her answer. Amity continued to walk away, taking one last look at Luz before hurrying along home.
After allowing Amity to have a good couple of minutes as a head start, Luz started back as well. She was in a fairly good mood at the moment, all things considered. It may not have gone as well as she had hoped it would have, but she was still happy with the results. The entire way back she had a spring in her step and a giddy expression on her face.
When Luz got back, she noticed Eda was outside again. She was relaxing in a folding lounge chair with a glass of apple blood in one hand and a book in the other. Luz hurried up to her, Eda looking up at her for all of a second before returning her attention to her current page.
"Hey kid. About time you got back." Eda said, turning to the next page. "Where did you go anyway?"
"Oh, I was just out. Out telling Amity that I like her, like her! It went pretty well too! I think she really liked my poem!"
"Really?" Eda asked, looking surprised. "You're pulling my leg. She didn't laugh at you or say something to mock you? She actually returns your feelings?"
"Well, not exactly." Luz answered. "She wants time to think about it. But the important thing is that she didn't say 'no'. I really feel like I have a chance!"
"Yup. You've got a chance alright. A chance to still be rejected. I'm telling you that girl is not as great as you think."
"She is too!" Luz replied defensively. "I've learned lots about her this week! Go ahead and try quizzing me again! I'm ready this time!"
"I will not." Eda calmly replied, getting up from her chair. "I have absolutely no interest whatsoever on your knowledge about Princess Unattaina-Belle. If you must talk someone's ears off, then I suggest Hooty. He's got nothing better to do anyway."
"Fine, I will!" Luz said, watching her mentor head inside. When the door was shut again, Luz stepped up to it and looked up at Hooty. "Hiya Hooty. Do you want to hear about how things went with me and Amity?"
"Sure! I'd love to talk!" Hooty replied. "So… who's Amity?"
"She's a cutie pie! And really, really smart! And she's a total sweetie, but she kinda hides it behind this ice queen exterior, which is admittedly kinda attractive."
"Wow, she sounds nice." Hooty noted. "Where did you meet her?"
"At Hexside. Sorta. It's a little complicated. I first saw her talking with Willow while she was showing off her abomination. She was being pretty mean about it, but still it was cool to see. She's really good at using abominations!"
"Abominations, huh? That's interesting. Please continue."
Luz didn't need to be told twice. She didn't really need to be told the first time either. Hooty found himself listening to Luz as she went on and on about Amity. And on… and on… and on…
End of Chapter 4.