College. Since 2010, college has been the thing that has driven ninety billion people to tears every year. That's a science fact. Probably. But it was fine! It was a bright, sunny day, people were out on the campus grounds enjoying the weather and slacking off. And Amity Blight was making her way from the central fountain to her next class, waving one of her classmates goodbye.
Amity was a good student. A very good student. She didn't have many friends, bar Willow and Gus. Friends since high school, never to split apart (but never to really talk too much to each other anyways). And there was always Boscha. But Amity had to admit that hanging out with Boscha wasn't always in the best interest of her grades.
Because Amity cared about those grades. They were the thing that brought her confidence, they were a constant reminder that she was doing well, a constant reminder of her intelligence (not that she needed one), and a constant reminder that she was a Blight, and that the Blight family was not one that you messed with.
That message hadn't gotten to someone though.
Just as Amity had gotten focused on what she was going to be doing for her humanities project, she found herself nearly tripping over her books which were now on the floor. Laughter rose from a familiar voice, and Amity caught a glimpse of the dirty Converse shoe passing her by.
Luz. Fucking. Noceda.
She has been a thorn in Amity's side ever since she got here. She didn't even know if she was older than her, all she knew is that she was a classic bully. Every chance she got, she was doing something to Amity. Knocking her books out of her hand, tripping her over, covering the door knob to her apartment with super glue. Filling her shoes with Vaseline (she doesn't even want to know how they managed that), tying her shoelaces to her chair, flicking her on the back of the head and then tripping her. All the time. She was a bully, and Amity felt like her only target.
Amity growled as she collected her things, apparently still within Luz's earshot
"Damn, what are you, a dog or some shit?" Luz asked, turning to walk backwards.
Amity didn't say anything, and instead decided to turn and take the long way to class.
"She didn't even have a fucking book with her," Amity grumbled to herself as she made her way down one of the quieter wings of the school, "Can she not at least pretend to care? Or like that she even goes here?"
Amity would be the first to admit that she did have a problem of judging people by their diligence. She never understood why people couldn't like learning, or couldn't enjoy trying to be their best academically. And intelligence quickly became one of the factors she was quick to judge people about. Being smart was sexy, and she didn't care how cheesy that sounded, because it rang true. Though that would lead to her being quick to judge people - like Luz Fucking Noceda - especially when they openly talked about disliking learning.
But she could finally get her mind off of that incidient, off of Luz Fucking Noceda and how stupid she is, and onto her class. She made her way to her usual spot, high enough to get some distance and see the board better, but close enough to still be close to the professor. Perfectly balanced!
So now, she could finally focus on the lecture.
She couldn't focus on the lecture.
Amity couldn't think clearly. Every time she tried to focus on the professor's words, her mind drifted off. Back to Luz. her laughter, her voice, those dirty Converse shoes - Amity could swear they had to be 7 years old, much like Luz herself sometimes.
That taunt kept ringing in her head.
She isn't a fucking dog. She was Amity Blight. She was a Blight, god damnit, and Blight's don't let themselves be walked over. They don't let themselves be put down by an admittedly attractive Dominican girl just because it made her laugh and smile - Woah. Ok, that got a little heavy.
And Blight's definitely didn't draw doodles of their bully while they were supposed to be paying attention in class.
"God you're obsessed with me, huh?"
Amity jumped and froze, snapping her head to the left.
How did Amity not realize she was sitting there? Was she sitting there when Amity sat down? Did she sit by Amity? Oh, no, they're sitting next to each other.
"Leave me alone," She said in a hushed tone, doing her best to really try to glue herself to the professor and their lecture.
"I'm just askin, dude. First you come in and sit down next to me, next thing you're drawing cute little pictures of me like its fucking middle school."
Amity Blight really wished she didn't exist right now.
The anger and embarrassment raced through her, both reaching the finish line at her face and causing her cheeks to turn rosy, then more strawberry. The butterflies in her stomach started doing a tango.
"Please, leave me alone."
Luz shrugged and sat back, kicking her feet up and pulling out her phone.
"Suit yourself."
That bothered Amity. Luz couldn't even feign being interested in class, or at least try to look like she was taking notes. No, no, here she was, being a nuisance and distraction to Amity, and she wasn't even fucking bothering.
"You know," Amity huffed, giving Luz a side-long glare, "you could at least try to take notes."
Luz looked up from her phone, and smirked, pointing down to her feet. A camera on a tiny tripod was pointed at the professor, it's tiny red recording light blinking every few seconds.
"Now be quiet, Blight, I don't want to have to edit my notes."
Amity sat, jaw on the floor, and blush really starting to grow on her. She fought for words, for a couple moments, and eventually came to nothing. And for the first time ever, Amity stood up, and walked out of the lecture hall.
Amity groaned, balling her fists into her hair. Edric and Emira peeked their heads into the girls room.
The thing about sharing a college dorm with your siblings is that you already know your roommates. No awkward conversations, no bullshit "get to know you" crap, no fussing. You already know they have your back, and you've got theirs.
The downside is that they're still your siblings.
Edric stepped inside first, resting a hand on Amity's back, "Heyyy, Mittens. What's got you sounding like Emira in the all girls dorm?"
Emira slapped Edric along the back of the head, and Amity made an exaggerated gag.
"Ew," Amity said, finally bringing her head up from her desk. She didn't need that image, not of her sister.
Emira rustled the girl's green hair, receiving a hand batting her away in return.
"We're just worried about you, sis," Emira said, "You're not usually one to fret over school."
Edric squeezed Amity's face, putting them cheek to cheek, letting out an over the top gasp, "Is it a giiiiiiiiirl?"
"No! No, it's not!"
Edric and Emira stood up and exclaimed in unison, "It's a giiiiirl!"
Amity wished she didn't exist again. Her hands slid down her face, and she rolled her eyes back, another groan filling the room.
"Oh, damn, exactly like Emira in the- OW!"
Emira growled at her brother, and Amity spun around retching in her chair, finally facing her siblings.
"I hate you both so much."
"We love you too sis. Now tell us," Emira starts.
"Is she pretty?" Edric asks.
"Where did you meet?"
"Does she go here?"
"Oh! Is she one of those pretty exchange students?"
"It's not a girl!" Amity shouted, breaking the barrage of questions being fired at her, "I just...I got frustrated during one of my classes and I...I walked out, so I don't have the notes and I don't know what we were doing."
Emira and Edrics faces fell, and Emira immediately ran off to grab a thermometer while Edric tried to pull Amity onto her bed.
"Ok, either you are an alien who has replaced our little sister, or you're seriously ill."
Amity pushed her brother's hands away, sliding her chair back a bit, and crossed her arms.
"I'm not sick! Relax, Jesus…"
Emira finally came back, thermometer in hand. She pressed it to Amity's forehead. "Not sick?"
"The only reason I can imagine you, Amity, leaving a class from frustration is that you were dying and weren't telling us."
"She doesn't have a fever. Amity, tell us, do you have cancer?"
Amity stared in a mix of disgust, shock, bewilderment, and confusion at her siblings. While she usually appreciated their concern, this was seriously, seriously weird.
The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Emira said, popping up to answer the door. Edric looked over at his sibling, a look of pure concern starting to take over what was normally a jovial face.
"Are you sure you're doing ok, Mittens?"
Amity sighed, giving Edric her most confident smile.
"I'm fine. I promise. I'll just ask someone in the class for the notes tomor-"
"Amity! There's a girl here saying she has today's notes for you!"
Amity shot up from her chair, jogging past her brother to get to the front door of their tiny ass apartment.
"Oh, god, thank you so much! You have no idea how much I was strugglin- L-Luz..?"
Luz stood in the doorway, and where normally a smug, shit eating, pearly white filled grin would be planted, was one of the sweetest smiles Amity had ever seen. It was probably the only time Amity had seen Luz actually smile, not just be smirking or laughing at her after having pulled some childish prank. It was a smile, directed at her, and it was truly enchanting to see.
The trance was broken when she raised her hand, producing a small USB drive.
"Got the notes for you, Blight."
"Thank you, Luz," Amity spat, doing her best to keep cool in front of her siblings. She took the USB with a snatch, stuffing it into her pocket, "I appreciate it."
Ugh, that smile just got more sickening the longer Amity stared at it. Not that she was staring at Luz's smile. That would be weird. She just knew it was a sick ploy to act all goody two shoes to her siblings. 'Probably to get into my dorm so she can torture me at home, too,' Amity told herself. It was definitely not because it was hands down the most beautiful smile she's ever seen.
"Woah, those are some quick grabbers you got there," Luz chuckled, raising her hands up. "No problem, just give me the USB back tomorrow, 'ight?"
Quick, Amity, look somewhere else. No! Not her eyes, you idiot, look at her- Stop looking at her eyes!...No, not her lips!
With that, Amity slammed the door in Luz Noceda's face, and spun around with a heavy sigh. And was met with her siblings gawking at her.
"Don't you fucking dare."
"It's a girl!"
"I hate you both so much!"
Amity was not going to be able to sleep tonight. There was just no way.
Not when she kept thinking about Luz. Fucking. Noceda.
Why? Why am I thinking about that...That asshole?
She grabbed the nearest pillow, slamming it over her face and making a silent scream into it. Maybe it was because she was constantly bullying her and it was just finally, finally starting to shake her. Maybe it was the fact that Luz was actually a cohesive fucking student. Luz Noceda, the girl who has never been seen even so much reading a book, not only taking video notes, but having the nerve to come give them to Amity, in person, after making her storm out of class.
She didn't even bother editing out their little back and forth.
"God you're obsessed with me, huh?"
The words bounced around her head, leaving poor Amity staring at the ceiling in disbelief, as the glow of her phone told her that 3 am had already come and gone.
Her fists slammed down, curling into the bed sheets.
Think of something else, Blight.
That smile. That look on Luz's face, that sickeningly sweet, caring, gentle smile. It made Amity want to throw up. Who would be so low as to bully someone, only to get buddy-buddy with their siblings. To make them think their sister is the one being crazy. To make them think their sister is the one being obsessed.
Yeah, yeah that's it. Luz was obsessed with Amity. That's why she came over. And gave her the notes...And noticed the doodles.
Or maybe, just maybe, the girl thinking about Luz Noceda late at night, nearly throwing up from the butterflies in her stomach as she replayed that smile, the cute one liner a thousand times, Amity Blight…
Maybe Luz was right.