It's a dreary Tuesday in math class when Luz Noceda finds herself with her second detention of the semester.

She's staring out the classroom window, watching the rain pelt against the glass panes as steadily as it has been all morning. It's pouring so torrentially that she can barely see through, but it's certainly more interesting than paying attention to her calculus teacher, Mr. Vernworth, drone on about equations.

Math is Luz's least favorite subject in the entire twelfth grade curriculum at Hexside High School. If she has to sit at a desk for eight hours a day, why can't it be eight hours of her writing class or her art class that are actually interesting?

"Luz!"

The sharpness of the voice startles the brunette out of her thoughts, and she turns her attention back to the front of the classroom. Her very displeased looking teacher seems to not be in a forgiving mood as he points to the equation on the board.

"This is the second time I've had to ask if you would come up and solve this problem. And I won't say it again."

Great.

Luz has never been comfortable being called on. It isn't that she's picked on, or that she's shy—because she isn't. It's just that she doesn't really like being asked to answer questions in front of the whole class.

And who would, she finds herself wondering as she reluctantly stands from her seat in the back of the room.

"Work through the steps," her teacher says, once Luz makes it to the front, "And circle the answer when you're done."

Sighing, Luz picks up a green marker from the rainbow of selections and turns to the board. But she knows even without trying that she won't be able to solve it right. She truly hasn't intended to fall behind in the subjects she doesn't enjoy, but she just can't focus on them when all her mind wants to do is explore what is actually interesting to her. Letters have no place in equations when she can use them to write an entire story, and she wants to draw a whole fictional world with this marker instead of a series of boring mathematical steps.

What to do, what to do

Luz taps the bright green marker against her left hand as she contemplates her options.

She could give this math problem her best efforts and end up with the wrong answer as she has many times before, just to have someone else come up and redo all of her work. But if that's what is going to happen anyway, then been there, done that, and what fun will that be? If her teacher just wants the answer circled, she can simply this very easily.

Without giving it another thought, Luz writes it just as she's heard it.

'The Answer'. Right under the equation, with a large, green circle around it.

"Done," the brunette proclaims, turning from the board.

Half of the class bursts out laughing before the teacher can even see what Luz has written. Once he has, though, he looks even more dissatisfied with Luz than before.

"Alright, that's it. You've earned yourself another detention."

"But-" Luz starts, truly not expecting him to have taken it that seriously.

"I won't have any of your excuses, Luz" Mr. Vernworth says, the sudden change in his tone making the rest of the class go eerily quiet, "We're only four weeks into the start of the year, and this has already been the last straw for you in my class. You haven't been paying attention, you've been late twice in just this week alone, and now you're fooling around instead of taking this exercise seriously. I heard about your behavior in your gym class that landed you in detention last week, and I will not tolerate the same thing here, is that understood?"

Damn, way to just say it in front of the whole class like that.

Mr. Vernworth is looking at her quite expectantly, waiting for a response. And considering her actions are already beginning to catch up with her, Luz figures she better play it safe now, "Yeah. Got it."

"Good. Now return to your seat," Mr. Vernworth replies firmly. He then addresses the rest of the class as he asks, "And who would like to come up and solve this problem the correct way?"

A hand raises from the front of the classroom before the brunette can even move. And Luz can't even help the first thought that comes to her mind.

Of course it's her.

Amity Blight.

With long hair so vibrantly green it could have been colored by the ink on the board, if there is ever anyone Luz knows who does like being the center of attention among her peers, it's Amity. She's a straight A student, the captain of the girls' varsity tennis team, vice president of the student council, and her accomplishments are well known throughout the school.

But the accolades don't stop there.

Amity is also on the honor roll, is expected to graduate in the highest rankings of their class, and on top of it all, everything just seems to come so naturally to her. She's the exemplary high school senior.

Luz might be feeling a little bit biased based on her current situation, but how one person can be so talented at everything she tries is suddenly both infuriating and baffling to her at the same time.

Amity is called on very quickly, having no competition for her want to actually participate in class. She's always the first one to volunteer. It takes her exactly five steps to reach the board from her seat, and she offers Luz a smile as she holds out her hand for the marker.

And Luz doesn't know what it is about Amity right now—flawless, always-perfect Amity—but she suddenly finds herself snapping.

"Here, have it," Luz says curtly, dropping the marker in the girl's open palm, "We all know you can solve this problem with your eyes closed."

Amity raises one eyebrow, clearly a bit taken aback by the brunette's blunt comment.

"I don't think that was very necessary, Luz," their teacher's voice rings through the classroom once more, "And didn't I ask you to sit back down?"

Knowing she's on thin ice as it is, Luz simply nods.

And the entire walk back to her seat, Luz slowly finds herself regretting the words she's said. She hadn't really thought before speaking, which has always been a habit of hers. She speaks her mind—and she isn't necessarily always proud of that.

She really hadn't meant for her comment to come out the way it had. None of this is Amity's fault, and none of the accomplishments on her extremely long list of successes are reasons for Luz to be annoyed with her.

It's just that this is always the hardest part. When she can't get it right, only to be inevitably followed by someone who can.

And for that someone to be the top student in the class, who can solve for the right answer before Luz can even make it back to her seat?

It's why Luz doesn't even want to try in this class from the start.


At the end of what Amity can only consider to be the most unusual math class ever, she is certainly relieved that it's over. Mr. Vernworth had been so displeased after Luz had made such a point of not solving the equation that he had assigned extra homework on top of it all to ensure that everyone would be taking his class more seriously from now on.

What Amity can't figure out, though, is why Luz had been acting so strange.

She may not know the brunette personally because they are each in different friend groups, but that doesn't mean Amity doesn't pay attention. Luz has always struck her as a fun, easygoing kind of person. She's the one Amity can hear laughing with her friends after school, with her skateboard under her arm and her red beanie on her head.

Luz's little joke in math class had been pretty on point for her. And even though it's no secret that the brunette can fool around and has found herself in detention quite a bit these past couple of years at Hexside, the remark Luz had made when she'd given Amity the marker just really seemed off to her.

"Ames, she's jealous of you. Clearly."

That's Boscha's response when Amity brings it up once the two of them are sitting at their usual table with some of the other members of the tennis team in the cafeteria.

Being Amity's best friend since elementary school, Boscha has never been afraid to tell her anything the way she thinks it is. They've done everything together for the past eight years, from sleepovers, to summer camp, to school projects, to trying out for their first ever tennis team in middle school. Boscha had even dyed her hair pink when Amity had dyed hers green.

"I really don't think that's it," Amity replies, "She just seemed annoyed with me, and that doesn't seem like Luz at all."

"Okay, but even so, why are you so worked up about it anyway?" Skara chimes in from across the table, "We're playing Riverport next Tuesday, so Luz's opinion of you should be the least of your worries. Especially when we don't even hang out with her."

"That's definitely not what I was getting at," Amity is quick to explain, realizing that her friends are taking this the wrong way. She isn't worried about this because she needs everyone to like her, "I didn't say it because I care what she thinks about me. I was just wondering why she seemed so off."

"You barely know her, and we barely talk to her. Maybe she's always like that? But really, Skara's got a point," Boscha says. She is usually the first one to listen when Amity has a concern, but when they're with the team, Boscha tends to get absorbed in talking about tennis more than anything else, "Coach gave us all some good feedback last practice and I think we should talk about that instead."

Amity bites back a sigh. She can't deny that it bothers her a bit that her group of friends is writing off what she has to say without even really hearing her out.

But at the same time, she does have to admit that there is truth to Boscha's reasoning. The matches they're playing against Riverport High School next week will be crucial, which Amity knows more than ever. They've always been one of Hexide's strongest competitors, so this could make or break the beginning of their season.

And besides, this is also part of Amity's responsibility as team captain. She's the one who is supposed to facilitate communication among her team members about matches, the team dynamic, and anything else related to the team outside of practice.

So maybe they're right…

"Okay," Amity finds herself agreeing, "If we're talking about yesterday's practice, then I think-"

But she doesn't even have a second to get her thoughts out before she is interrupted by none other than one of the obnoxious football players, shouting across the large room from their table by the back corner of the cafeteria.

The words are taunting, certainly not meant to be friendly in any way, "Hey, Blight! Think fast!"

Amity turns her head just in the nick of time to see a football careening her way.

How the boys have snuck it into the cafeteria is a mystery, but they're always trying to mess with the rest of the sports teams, and the girls' tennis team especially for some reason. The football team is hailed by the entire school every Friday night during their games, and so off of the field, they think they can get away with anything they want.

"Damn jerks," Amity mutters, knowing she really does have a split second decision to make now.

The right one, of course, would be to just catch the football and let all of this go—pretend it hasn't even happened, just like she always does.

But there's something suddenly bothering Amity about letting things go so easily. Maybe it's how often the boys are antagonizing them, or her frustration with how quickly her friends had dismissed what she'd brought up about Luz. Or maybe it's something else, but for once, Amity is a bit tired of playing by everyone else's rules. The football team's annoying display is simply proving to be the final spark of annoyance that has struck a chord.

Narrowing her eyes, Amity catches the ball with ease. The football team is still laughing at her, and it's infuriating. They don't think she has the guts to throw it back. Or the ability.

Time to change that.

Amity had learned how to throw years ago, taught by her older twin siblings, Emira and Edric. And she's so fed up with everything going on right now that she pulls her arm back and deliberately sends that football flying, channeling all of her frustration into it. She throws it back at just the right angle for it to sail dangerously close to the boys' table, before ultimately soaring past them and into the open trash can by the wall next to them.

They stare at her in disbelief.

Content with the fact that she's gotten her point across, Amity turns back to her table, where everyone bursts into excited cheers once they've realized what's happened. The other students in the cafeteria have watched everything unfold as well, but with the commotion around her, Amity barely notices them. She's caught up in the moment and can't help the grin that appears on her face. She's entirely focused on her team, momentarily feeling like they've just won against a rival school.

But momentarily is truly as long as it lasts.

One moment, before the actual realization of what she's done and the repercussions that are sure to follow come crashing down on her.

"Amity Blight."

She looks up quickly to find the cafeteria monitor staring at her disapprovingly from the center of the large room. And much like it had in her math class only an hour prior, the whole room goes silent.

Shit.

Amity takes a breath as the dread sets in.

It really is mostly the boys' fault for starting it, but Amity's moment of confidence is gone now, and she doesn't really feel like it's her place to say anything. The school has implemented a much less forgiving policy this year in regard to behavior in the lunch room due to the multiple food fights that had broken out the year before, and throwing a football around could have done a lot more serious damage than a few handfuls of soggy fries.

The cafeteria monitor walks over to their table, "Of all students, I didn't expect this from you, Amity."

Amity keeps a straight face, but says nothing. Because in addition to the fact that she knows the school rules by heart, she also knows from countless disagreements with her parents that trying to speak up never works.

"The football team threw it at us first!" Boscha exclaims when Amity remains silent. She, unlike Amity, has no problem arguing for what she believes.

But unfortunately, Amity doesn't think that's going to be enough to get her off the hook.

"If you don't also want to be sent to the principal's office, I suggest you don't get involved," the cafeteria monitor says to Boscha, who lets out a sigh.

"Sorry, Ames," she whispers, knowing that both of them getting in trouble won't help.

But Amity understands, and it's nowhere near her friend's fault. It is Amity alone who will ultimately have to deal with the consequences of her own actions. She has always done everything right, and always followed the rules. And in one quick decision fueled by frustration and not reason, Amity has traded all of that for one moment of satisfaction.

"I want you to take your lunch to the principal's office," the cafeteria monitor says to Amity, and then she turns to the opposite side of the lunch room, "And the boys who started all of this will be going as well."

While a series of complaints can be heard almost immediately after from the football team's table, a small smile returns to Amity's face, even if she is getting in trouble too. Not only has she proven to them that she can't always be pushed around, but they're being held responsible for all of this as well. It's a refreshing change when so many of their instigating actions typically end up being ignored. Maybe now they'll start learning that they can't always get away with bothering Amity's team, or any of the other student athletes in the school.

Because truthfully, that's all Amity had been thinking about when she had thrown that football back.

She hadn't been thinking about the potential outcomes for herself, or what the principal would have to say, or that her parents would be nothing short of appalled. Her only goal had been to show the football team that today, they weren't winning, which she thinks she can now consider a success.

So why not be proud of that?

Amity continues to have very mixed feelings on what to think as she stands from the table with her lunch tray in hand. Being the center of attention for a reason like this is completely new to her. All eyes are on her as she navigates the rows of tables to get to the doors—and it isn't because she has just won the winning point at the end of a long game.

She's Hexside High School's stellar student. Star athlete. Student council executive and senior protégé.

And she's on her way to the principal's office.

Amity can see it in their expressions as she passes by. The mix of admiration swirling with confusion. The careful calculations that the rest of her classmates are doing to figure out why someone as perfect as Amity Blight would dare to break the rules.

None of them, however, regard her as curiously as a certain brunette student sitting right by the door. Amity notices her almost immediately, and for some reason, she feels like she couldn't have missed her if she'd tried.

Luz Noceda has to be more than used to being in the place Amity is right now.

Amity's gaze locks with the with the girl's light brown eyes as she finds herself stopping briefly in her tracks, their interaction in math class front and center in Amity's mind as she tries to read Luz's expression. She doesn't know what the brunette is thinking, and for some reason, that really bothers her.

And then she hears Skara's words in her head.

Why are you so worked up about it anyway?

Amity is still looking over at Luz, and she wonders if she's actually knows the answer now. Maybe she does care what Luz thinks about her. Even though that's practically absurd, right? They aren't friends, they only have a few classes together, and they rarely ever speak.

I'll think on that later.

Amity pushes the thoughts down as she finally turns to leave the cafeteria. So many of them are new and conflicting, and they're all just spinning together in her mind.

School. The rules. The way her peers see her.

Luz.

But right now…

Amity has to stop focusing on all of that and get to the principal's office, which is slowly making the initial sense of dread from the beginning of this whole ordeal return. She's about to find out just what consequences are waiting for her when she isn't that perfect girl everyone expects her to be.

And Amity isn't sure she's ready for that.


A/n: Hi all! So this is a bit of a different kind of story than I usually write, since I tend to write more one shots than multi chapter stories. But I figured I'd start this and see where it goes, although updates might be on the slower side. They're the Beta versions of the characters in this story, and it'll be dual POV with both Amity and Luz's perspectives.

Hope you all enjoyed the first chapter, and thanks for reading!