I'm back after Nanowrimo and reaching my goal of 70k words!
Sadly I didn't write them for this project so the next update is not scheduled yet, we'll see when the problematic chapter with all the alcohol and bad decisions will go up sorry xD
But for now, enjoy a little fluff and wholesomeness!
Til later x)
Amity didn't know what outfit to wear. She had no idea. When looking around in her walk-in dresser, she couldn't find a single thing to wear, despite all drawers and everything being filled with a lot of clothes.
Grumbling, she walked around the isle counter in the middle and looked around, her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes jumping around.
There was nothing that screamed casual. There was nothing that seemed like she could wear it to a completely normal evening, with no dress code and no wealth competition.
She sighed, walking around again.
Designer clothes, as far as she could see. As her mother pleased, of course. Everything was sparkling, everything had the brand scribbled on it, everything was orderly placed.
How she wished she could just let a horde of kids in here and make everything a mess.
Turning around herself, she sighed, hiding her face in her hands.
Luz would laugh at her so hard for wearing jogging pants that looked like someone had thrown up on them, with the brand name written in glitter across her butt. She couldn't wear stuff like that. None of the handbags around her were in any way acceptable to even stash a phone and wallet in.
She found it amazing how in a room full of clothes, there was nothing to wear.
Finally shaking her head and grumbling, she pulled out the bottom drawers and began digging through clothes, trying to find something, anything, just some simple jeans, and a shirt. When she had still been in the private school she had had her pajamas and her school uniforms, that had been enough. She hadn't needed to worry about clothing. When there was an event for the evening, her mother usually sent a package of presorted outfits and as much as Amity disliked being dressed up like a doll, she at least hadn't needed to worry about clothing.
When she stayed home she had usually just worn some hotpants, or jogging pants, and hadn't cared about any brand names written on them.
And now, with work – oh no, when had she started getting so comfortable getting up at six in the morning to show up to the construction site? – she had only thrown on the work clothes Luz had bought with her and been done with it.
But hanging out with friends?
Usually, Emira had helped her with this, to find clothes for which she wouldn't be picked on by the other girls, but could still be comfortable in. Somewhat, at least.
Humming, she finally found some simple ripped jeans, a little more exposed than she wished but it was summer and a simple crop top from her school's old cheerleading team. It was better than nothing, and hey, she heard it was super fashionable to run around in old school uniforms.
Shrugging, she put the clothes on, decided for a simple choker, and repainted her nails, before styling her hair at least somewhat and putting on the usual eyeliner and make-up, not too much but just enough to impress Luz. Maybe. A little.
Humming, she finally decided on a small inconspicuous purse, enough to hold her phone, wallet, and some tissues, before heading out. She remembered to go down to the kitchen and quietly tell the employees not to prepare breakfast for the following morning because she'd be out with friends. With a wink, she also told them to take the weekend off, her mother wouldn't know. Just to be back Monday morning, bright and early, in case her parents came back on Monday. The kitchen staff promised to inform the others and to keep this hushed, not to risk Mrs. Blight's wrath.
But if they wouldn't tell that Amity went out today, she wouldn't tell they took the day off.
Well, if it came out that she went out, she probably still wouldn't tell her mom and vice versa. She had managed to become friends with the staff, and they had relatively quickly bonded over their common dislike of Odalia's demands.
Finally, she headed out and was about to grab the car keys from the board in the entrance area where all car keys were stashed, before considering otherwise.
Heading back inside the house, she approached one of the maids of the staff, rubbing her neck and asking if she could get a ride into town. She was surprised, to say the least, and asked how Amity planned on getting back to the mansion tomorrow, to which she merely replied she'd take a cab.
Laughing, the employee agreed and took her into town, just far enough for Amity to take a bus to her friend's house.
She had never before taken a bus.
But luckily, thanks to the help of a very clear ticket machine and some passerby's, she managed to get a ticket and, with the help of a short text from Willow, even found the right bus to take. All these numbers were confusing and she vowed not to take a bus ever again without some friends at least, but when she was finally situated, she was content. Even with herself, feeling smart for figuring this out.
It was childish, but she enjoyed this small pride growing inside her, for being able to navigate through the confusion of public transport.
Finally, finally, after almost getting off at the wrong stop, she managed to get to where she wanted to be. Which was the house in front of which she probably shouldn't park a Porsche, as Luz had put it. Adjusting her clothes and rearranging her purse, she looked up and patted down her thighs, before entering the multiple-party house, breathing in. It smelled like old air, a little moss, and dust and she loved it.
Making her way up the stairs, she counted the stories, because this building didn't have an elevator. Finally, in the fourth story, she breathed through and ran a hand through her hair before knocking. Luz had told her there was no bell to ring, so she had to knock, but Amity didn't mind. Looking around, she smiled to herself. The house seemed hostile, but Luz had assured her that a sweet elderly couple was living above them, and a lovely family across the hallway. She didn't doubt that this house had been made a gem by the inhabitants, most at least and that it was actually nice living here.
Finally, a completely changed Luz opened the door.
Amity couldn't help but stare.
"Wow... I-..."
"Never seen me in jeans?", Luz chuckled and turned to the side not to block the entrance, gesturing for her to come inside, "Come in, come in! I hope you found the way okay?"
Amity smiled and nodded, walking past Luz and taking in her perfume, not having considered Luz to be a person to do that. Chuckling, she looked back to her and shrugged.
"I had some help, and I found the right bus line, thank god. But look at you! I don't even recognize you without the dust!", she teased, before Willow's voice behind her made her turn and face the other girl, grinning.
"That's cuz I forced her to take a shower.", Willow mocked Luz and the Latina gave an exasperated sigh, rolling her eyes.
"Wow, how overly friendly we are today.", she grumbled and Willow asked Amity to come into the kitchen, before patting Luz's cheek.
"You're such a poor thing. Now, c'mon, I need help peeling the potatoes and you're just the one for the job.", her friend instructed and Amity laughed, shaking her head.
"Where's Gus?", she asked as Willow arrested Luz and situated her on the counter to peel potatoes while turning back to the carrots she'd been cutting.
"Oh, he's actually running some last-minute errands. He should be back any minute.", she promised, before stepping to the side and handing Amity the knife, gesturing to the carrots.
"Could you finish that for me? I need to look after the dough."
Turning to Luz, Amity shot her a questioning glance after she was just left alone with a knife and an abundance of instructions, to which Luz just gently chuckled.
"Just cut them as she did.", she whispered and Amity nodded, giggling.
"I take it Willow is the chef around this kitchen?", she asked and Luz shrugged, nodding at that assumption.
"Most times. But Gus and I help, and we make sure to take some meals off of her shoulders, too.", she whispered back and Willow laughed loudly.
"You could cook for me more often, you know? Instead of ordering in.", she remarked and Luz put on a hurt expression.
"Gus orders in because he's lazy! I'm a good cook and I do that sometimes!", she defended herself, to which she just got a pat on her head and a teasing glance, but Amity could tell Willow wasn't mad with her. The way she naturally moved in the kitchen indicated that she had some practice, but she could also see that it was fun for her.
"Is cooking a hobby of yours?", she asked and Willow laughed again, but it didn't sound mocking.
"Oh, no, has never been. I was literally the worst cook of all three when we moved in here. But I couldn't stick with all the fast food and the occasional homemade meal Luz made so I stepped up.", she explained and Luz shrugged, agreeing with her.
"It was all still pretty new and we were beat most of the time after work so we didn't really cook as a hobby. Most times it was just to get something down before falling asleep immediately.", Luz now said and smirked to herself. Amity looked back down to the carrots that she tried cutting just the way Willow had done, not denying the small feeling of shame that snuck into her mind.
These were people her age, and they seemed so much more mature and casual about living alone, cooking for themselves, having adjusted to the work-life.
Against that, Amity was basically a child, even unsure how to cut carrots. She turned back to her work and Willow danced around them, putting the bread she was baking into the preheated oven and then letting Luz have the wheel at the stove, to begin some dish Amity didn't know.
Even if they didn't speak a word for a few minutes, there was never truly silence in this house. Somewhere below them, greek music played and she could hear some children running around the staircases, squeaking and yelling in their game. She could even hear some faint music from around here somewhere, but she couldn't quite place where it was from. Maybe the living room.
Luz was humming along and Willow even sang a few lines, making Amity chuckle.
"Okay, I'm done with the carrots. What should I do now?", she announced and Luz leaned back as well, having finished dicing her potatoes into the pot to finally start boiling them.
"Well, you haven't had a tour of the flat yet! We better do this now.", she grinned and Willow slapped her forehead.
"Right, sorry. I just arrested you.", she apologized and Amity laughed, waving her concerns off.
"Hey, don't worry! I'm glad I could help!"
Luz already took her hand and led her out of the kitchen, giving Willow a sign she couldn't see, but judging by Willow's smirk she hadn't flipped her off. Or maybe she had, she could never know what was an inside joke here or not.
Amity followed Luz out of the kitchen into the dining and living area, in which she could see a table just big enough for four, and a couch with a TV set up in the corner. Amazed, she turned around herself.
"Cool! And this is all your stuff?", she asked and Luz nodded, smiling.
"Our parents couldn't give much so we bought all of that from our own money. Well, most of it, the table and the chairs for example. For a few months, we didn't have a couch, but then this one just appeared at one of Gus' uncles' house. He said we could have it, as a hand-me-down. And the TV is new, along with all the decorations. Gus' idea.", she chuckled at the interior design, for example, a framed picture of a meme that was just painted.
"But yeah, home sweet home!", she spread her arms and Amity giggled, looking around.
"I've never been around a room so small that's got everything it needs. Usually, I see a lot more unnecessary stuff.", she remarked and Luz shrugged nonchalantly.
"We don't have a chaise lounge, true.", Luz admitted, making Amity roll her eyes and chuckle, "But we do have our own rooms at least."
She followed Luz down the hallway, past Willow who was still humming and looked into all their rooms, of course teasing Luz about the mess she had made, before returning to their friend who had by now finished her work and gestured for Luz to take the wheel again.
"If you wanna make your dish, you should start on it now. To be ready when the potatoes are.", she grinned and made way for Luz to get back into the small kitchen, grabbing Amity and pushing her in after the taller girl, winking.
"I'll have to take a shower now, you two be good!", she called and Luz turned with a big blush, before grinning at Amity.
"Uh, alright!", she called after her friend, before looking back to Amity, "You wanna help me with the sauce?", that was a no-brainer.
Excitedly, Amity offered her help.
The kitchen smelled wonderfully of cinnamon and other, subtler scents that Amity could only name because Luz had named them for her. She stood on the stove and stirred the food Luz had made from scratch, while Luz was standing next to her and was preparing some finger food for them to dip after the actual meal, claiming that Willow would make sure they had their vegetables every single day and would make them regret it if Luz didn't do this.
Amity believed her, but only just a little since she assumed that Luz secretly liked these vegetable platters.
In the other room, she could hear Willow and Gus setting the table, and she loved hearing their banter. Humming, she felt her shoulders slumping in relief. There was no place she'd rather be.
Without really thinking about it much, she leaned to the side and softly rested her head on Luz's shoulder, making the other girl freeze up, but she didn't think much of it.
This was too comfortable, too nice to pass up. She wouldn't ever want to trade in the casual behavior she felt herself falling into when being with her new friends, a stark contrast to the facade she had had to put up at home and in school.
"... Thanks for inviting me over...", she smiled and Luz relaxed again, patting her hair. She saw a green strand falling into her vision and blew it away.
"Of course.", she replied and made sure not to gesture too much with the knife, since she sometimes forgot she was holding one.
"I'm really enjoying this.", Amity sighed, making Luz chuckle.
"Cooking?", she asked and the smaller girl shook her head, making sure not to stir too fast so she wouldn't spread the sauce everywhere.
"No, just, this. No masks, no pretending. No mom to tell me how to behave, no other girls to tell me I'm weird.", she mumbled and Luz finally put an arm around her, pulling her close. Amity tried to deny the blush on her cheeks, but she could definitely feel it.
"Sounds an awful lot like a masquerade ball for a princess.", she softly noted and Amity groaned quietly.
"You see me as a princess?", she said, exasperated, and fully ready to explain exactly why her life wasn't everything most people dreamed of, yet Luz shrugged.
"Yeah. Who said being a princess was a good thing? I'm pretty content being a knight, though.", she said and Amity had to laugh at that.
"You're a knight?", she teased, making Luz giggle.
"Better than being a stable boy, no?"
They both giggled at that and Amity sighed, leaning more against Luz. Now that she had gotten a taste of what cuddling felt like, she didn't wanna stop anymore. Was this even considered cuddling?
She hoped so. Because this felt amazing and she didn't want it to stop. Smiling, she adjusted to a more comfortable stance and got comfortable leaning against Luz who let her, happily having stopped her vegetable slicing to keep her close.
They only parted when Gus came looking for them, asking if dinner was ready. He hadn't noticed, but both girls were blazing with almost being caught. They weren't sure what they were getting caught at and what would be the problem there, but somehow, keeping their cuddling a secret was more thrilling.
Let me know if you liked it!