Quick notes: Please enjoy and drop a review. Not only do get motivated by reading reviews, but I do sometimes find things which I need to address in the story. The movie "The Half of It" is referenced in this chapter. In the United States the movie is available on Netflix. Warlocktoungue I tried to fit in some King's point of view for you in this chapter. I will look into including more from his view if I can in the future. ChampionElCid let me know this wasn't as clear as I intended: Eda and Lilith are cursed, or rather half cursed. They are unable to wield their magic in the normal manner and so are only using a few spells Luz showed them when needed. Boscha fans: I apologize in advance, I'm not trying to vilify her. As of the end of season one though she is still primarily portrayed as a bully so that is what she will appear as in here.
In the Human World:
Endure
Amity opened her scroll, took a seat on her guest bed, and found she'd been added to a new group chat someone had titled Rookies of B.G.C. She repeated the name to Luz who almost immediately laughed. She reminded Amity that Eda called Luz and herself the "Bad Girls Coven". That drew a small laugh from Amity, as she checked who was included in the group chat: Emira, Edric, Willow, Gus, Amity, and a contact listed as Original. Luz came to sit near her, moving so that she could easily read over the green-haired teen's shoulder.
"Original must be Eda, and I guess Lilith since they are probably together wherever they are." Luz said, resting her chin on Amity's shoulder as the two began to read the back messages in the new group chat. Amity forced herself to focus on the scroll, instead of on the human and how she was basically cuddling her as she leaned into her back.
"That, uh, that would make sense." Amity agreed and navigated to the top of the chat.
{Gus and I are in! Luz, King, and Amity are our friends, of course we'll help in any way we can! Amity, please don't let Luz and King get into too much trouble. I'm worried about the three of you, but I'm kind of glad you're with them.} From Willow to group chat.
"Yeah, you really are the responsible one out of us, Miss Top Student." Luz said with a laugh as they read Willow's first message.
"Well here you need to keep me out of trouble." Amity reminded her and heard Luz fake a cough.
"Um, right, because I'm never in trouble." She had an awkward smile on her face when Amity moved her head enough to look at the other girl. She arched a brow and Luz seemed to be trying to look innocent for some reason.
"Luz Noceda, are you a troublemaker here?" Amity managed to hold back a laugh as Luz's eyes darted about. "You're telling me about this later."
"Um, I never intentionally caused problems."
"Maybe I do need to keep you out of trouble." They both turned their eyes back to the chat conversation.
{Until the old ladies return, we just need to minimize how many people notice their absence. Maybe you two can start mentioning that Luz is sick and had to stay home? Tell people you have checked on her?} From Em to group chat.
{That's a good idea, and I guess I can start collecting Luz's class work and homework so no one else tries to take it to her. We probably don't need Viney, Jerbo, or Barcus getting mixed up in this for now.} From Willow to group chat.
{Maybe we should ask Viney, you never know when a healer could help us.} From Ed to group chat.
{No, Ed.} From Em to group chat.
{I really hope we don't need a healer any time soon.} From Willow to group chat.
"Willow's right, Viney and the boys will come looking for me eventually." Luz commented and Amity chewed her lip slightly as she considered that information.
"Should we ask her to tell them?" The green-haired girl was against the idea, but at the same time the duel track students had been the ones to defeat the Greater Basilisk with Luz. They weren't exactly push overs when they worked together.
"Not yet, I'm with Emira about that."
{Can we talk about Mittens 2.0? I mean I can see how you could create an illusion that looks like your sister, but it doesn't just look like her! Mittens 2.0 sounds like her! And how did you make her so solid? My illusion clones dissipate when touched, but Mittens 2.0 gave me a high five! You have to teach me what you did! Please!} From Gus to group chat.
{Not the time Gus! You already asked half of that earlier and they promised to show you when things are settled.} From Willow to group chat.
{Does Amity know about Mittens 2.0?} From Gus to group chat.
{She will once she reads this.} From Ed to group chat.
{Luz, Amity, Mittens 2.0 is an illusion clone of Amity that's so real she's amazing! You need to get back and see her!} From Gus to group chat.
"No way! How do you think they did that?" Luz whispered in an awestruck voice near Amity's pointed ear. Amity shivered lightly, which for some reason caused Luz to hug her. "Are you cold? Hey, tell the twins they have to teach me that when we get back." Luz's words slowed as she completed her sentence, and Amity felt the excitement drain from Luz as if it had been a physical presence in the room with them. "I, uh, think I need some water. Do you want some water?"
"No, thank you." Amity replied, feeling Luz nod before the other girl stood up and departed the room without looking back. King, who'd been sitting atop Luz's dresser made a sound of discontent.
"Something just hit her." King said, and Amity's gold eyes shifted to meet the demon's gaze.
"She isn't coming back with us King." Amity stated and the little demon moved to stand, crossing his little arms and somehow looking very determined.
"Has she said that?" He asked and Amity slowly shook her head in answer. King made a weird sound and spoke again. "Then we don't know that." And with that King hopped to the floor and basically trotted out of the room.
{You realize, you called them the old ladies in a chat they'll read, don't you, Em? Willow, Gus, thank you. Luz and I think we shouldn't tell anyone else at the moment, there really isn't much that can be done while we wait. Gus, uh, thank you for that information about Mittens 2.0. Luz also wants to learn how the twins made it. Her? I guess her. We haven't gotten in any trouble yet; I'll try to keep it that way.} From Amity to group chat.
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[So journal, I have decided my epitaph should read: Here lies Amity Blight, protégé of traitor Lilith Clawthorne, whom died because she loved a human. Alright, I realize I'm being overdramatic; however, I really feel like this girl will be the death of me. How can she not notice how she affects me? I'm not trying to be obvious of course, but I am fully aware of the mess she turns me into. Willow has reminded me a few times about "Oh wow, sports." Thank the Titan Willow has such a kind heart, she never reminds me when Luz could hear. She has occasionally mimed things behind Luz that clearly tell me I am being a disaster again, but never so that Luz could see. Willow is a blessing, and I am so grateful for Luz's odd interference which has brought her back into my life. I miss the Isles. I understand the Isles.]
[I experienced a human movie theater for the first-time, and it was memorable. Luz and I saw a movie called "The Half of It". Luz suggested we share a big popcorn and a large drink with two straws, and I couldn't think of a viable reason to say no to that. The movie was projected onto a huge wall, in a large room, with seats in elevated rows and speakers on the walls. Luz insisted we sit in the top row, and we found a pair of seats off to one side. So, I had just managed to relax, and convince myself that since there were so many people in a big room there was nothing date like to it. Then the humans running the place shut the lights off causing it to feel like it was just Luz and I. Luz told me they do that so we can view the movie more clearly, but Titan I was so nervous. I wanted to run out, but I did not want to have to explain why. Who am I kidding? She would probably just think I was afraid of the dark.]
[The movie was very interesting, about a group of teens about to graduate school and a tangled confusion of emotions. The intelligent, quiet girl fell in love, but the other girl she fell in love with seemed pretty undecided at the end. In the midst of watching all of that Luz would almost randomly lean over to whisper in my ear about things in the movie. A few times we ended up catching each other's hand instead of the popcorn. Luz, being Luz, at one point solved this by feeding me popcorn. I was really grateful the lights were off at that moment, and thankful I didn't need to say anything. Honestly, I can't even tell what is normal for humans, what is Luz being herself, and what could be a sign of something else. Maybe nothing is any kind of sign. I mean playfully deciding to feed your friend popcorn could be totally normal right? Titan I can picture Ed and Em giving me a look for that thought alone.]
[When we returned to the Noceda house I found messages on my scroll. Willow and Gus have insisted on helping, though for now that is mostly contained to helping hide our absence. We have a new group chat for expediency, the seven of us (eight since Luz is here with me) in a chat. I now have confirmation the twins created an illusionary Amity that for some reason they keep calling Mittens 2.0. It took a while to get past the excited, overly detailed messages Gus bombarded us with regarding that. Luz wants Ed and Em to explain how they did it in person.]
[Luz. Something seemed to really catch her after we read those messages. She asked me to tell Ed and Em she wanted to know how they created Mittens 2.0 when she got back, and then she just fell silent for a while. I think she hadn't fully considered that she's home now until that moment. She was still kind of muted when she went to bed. This morning when she got up, she just stood there for a few minutes, apparently lost in her thoughts. It really seems she might not have realized until that there is not a reason for her to return. Well, there are reasons, but not the ones which would gain Camila's permission surely? And she shouldn't risk it, what if she couldn't come home if she returned to the Isles? She seems to love Eda, Willow, Gus, the twins. . . Me? But enough to make up for her mother's absence?]
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King had settled into his temporary routine and found it acceptable. Before sunrise Luz would wake up, and King would hop over to the foot of Amity's bed. King knew the green-haired teen always woke when Luz did, but since she usually pretended not to King didn't out her about that. He'd watch Luz leave the room, come back changed, and often sort of stare at Amity as she pulled on her shoes and tied them. The little demon often found himself wanting to confront the two, as anyone other than the teens themselves could see they each had feelings for the other. King knew one of them would confess or bumble at some point and finally break the invisible barrier they each were keeping, but it was aggravating to watch. It was like one of those soap operas, or Luz's Azura books. Maybe he should just start calling Amity Hecate and Luz would get the idea. He'd have to think about that idea.
The small but formidable King of Demons would wait for now, after all Camila was already giving the two some gentle nudges. Frankly, King thought maybe Camila should just sit them down and tell them, but that was his opinion. Something had shifted after the movie trip though; Luz was stumbling a bit more herself. Eda better hurry up and find a way to bring them home, King enjoyed the offerings Camila gave him but he needed a break from teenage pining and banter. Maybe he should tell Luz to invite her mother to come back with them, a King could never have too many loyal subjects after all. He did not for a moment believe what Amity had said, why would Luz stay here when she could live in the Boiling Isles?
Once Luz returned from her morning excursion, she'd wake Amity up for the second time and they'd all head down to breakfast. While Luz and Amity had to actually prepare food, King would receive his offering immediately. Yes, something about the cans filled with meat, gravy, and acceptable vegetables was very tasty and satisfying. The part he most enjoyed was that the girls were not allowed to eat these offerings, they were for King alone. Some mornings Camila would join them, and on those mornings, she would always give him a treat after. On the mornings where it was just the girls Luz would always give him a small plate of whatever they ate too.
He tolerated the walks around the block, though they actually became more entertaining once Amity was able to join them. They walked a bit slower, as Amity had to use a cane for a bit while her leg got used to bearing her weight again. King couldn't ask questions when they were out in case other humans heard him, but Amity had no such restriction. She would nod to objects, trying not to look entirely out of place, and quietly ask Luz to explain what objects were. Fire hydrants were a pretty short explanation, bus stops started a long conversation about human transportation networks. King would also note the two were always holding hands on these walks, it was almost like Luz thought someone would take Amity or something would happen to her if they didn't.
King also enjoyed the times when Camila was home. The woman was very busy, but any time she was home she always found time to give King belly scratches and attention. He had decided there must be something about Luz's family, because he'd come to enjoy attention for both Nocedas. He ignored the giggles he would hear from Luz or Amity when Camila would sometimes take to carrying him about the house as she did things. It was also helpful to know Camila knew about the teens and also wished they would just tell each other already. Camila was far gushier about it, something about being excited that her daughter would be dating for the first time. King caught himself a few times, nearly telling her something he's observed or wanting to crack a joke about it. It was rather annoying to pretend he couldn't talk, but since the reward was continued offerings, he could tolerate that as well. He did get to speak to Luz and Amity when no one else was around, after all.
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"Blight!" Boscha's voice rang in the hallway and heads turned from lockers all around. Mittens 2.0 glanced about, determined Edric and Emira weren't present, and turned to regard the magenta haired Grudgby Captain who was striding down the hall toward her. "We need to talk!"
"About what exactly?" Mittens 2.0 asked this in a bored tone, allowing one eyebrow to raise as she eyed the other witch. All three of Boscha's eyes narrowed at the response, but she stopped a few feet away and crossed her arms. The three-eyed girl looked almost cocky, but something didn't seem true in that impression.
"You've gone soft Blight." Boscha spoke in a taunting tone, Mittens 2.0 just continued to stare back at her as if she hadn't said a word. "First you stop hanging with us, then you help the human with Grom, and now you're fighting Half a Witch's battles."
"Half a Witch?" Mitten's 2.0 asked this in a curious manner and watched Boscha visibly tense. The three-eyed witch all but growled her next words.
"Willow Park! You know, the girl you claimed you were never friends with? The one you suddenly seem to be besties with again."
"Willow isn't half a witch." Mittens 2.0 corrected Boscha and watched the other girl throw her hands up in frustration.
"This is what I mean?! What is your problem lately?!" Boscha yelled. Neither she nor Mittens 2.0 paid any mind to the students who suddenly began to clear the hallway swiftly. While many found watching fights entertaining, no one wanted to be in the crossfire of Boscha or any of the Blight siblings in a fight. In fact, the only students not retreating were a handful of individuals actually jogging over to the two.
"Amity! There you are!" Willow exclaimed, immediately latching onto Mittens 2.0's arm as she and Gus arrived. Gus looked nervous as Boscha tossed glares at the two.
"Go play with your human, Half a Witch!" Boscha barked, but Willow only glared at her. Willow's green eyes glowed briefly, and a few vines sprouted from spaces nearby. The glow faded as Willow took a deep breath, and she leveled a sarcastic smile toward Boscha.
"We actually need Amity for something, so sorry, Boscha." Willow's tone was that false sweet that made clear she was not, in fact, sorry to be intervening.
"Boscha, hey we're going to be late." That was Skara, backed by the other Grudgby players. She caught Boscha's arm, as another girl caught the other one. "You know the professor said if we're late one more time he's docking our grade."
"Fine!" Boscha shrugged their hands off, turning and storming off. Skara shot a quick smile at Willow before following Boscha with her teammates.
"So, uh, if she wants to talk to you probably just keep walking next time." Willow whispered to Mittens 2.0 as she and Gus walked her to her next class.
"Why is she so angry?" Mittens 2.0 whispered back, and Willow winced.
"Boscha is always angry." Gus said but Willow sighed.
"Not always, but maybe a lot." The green-eyed witch shrugged. "She and Am. . . She's been your friend for years and I don't think she knows why anything changed. She's also always been pretty mean, so bullying people is kind of how she deals with things."
"Wait, are you saying Boscha's sad?" Gus gaped at Willow from Mittens 2.0's other side.
"Maybe, I really can't know because it isn't like she'd talk to me." The plant track student seemed to rethink that statement. "And the less she talks to me the better. Skara has been nicer lately, maybe she can help Boscha through whatever is going through her head."
"Good luck, Skara." Gus muttered looking very happy that wasn't his task.
"So, to be clear, I am not friends with Boscha?" Mittens 2.0 asked and both Willow and Gus kind of shrugged.
"The last time I saw you two speak Boscha broke your leg and didn't seem to care she did so."
"Next time I'll keep walking." Mittens 2.0 stated, and Gus laughed as some of the tension from the near fight drained away.
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"Hey pretty lady." The creature sitting across from her greeted Lilith as she took the seat his last opponent vacated. He wasn't capable of smiling, but he sounded as if he would be if he could. "Sure you're in the right place?"
"Quite." Lilith said, snapping her fingers and watching Eda's cloaked figure drop a heavy pouch of coins on the table. The creature's eyes took in the large pouch with clear surprise. "Shall we play?"
This was how the last few days had gone. Each evening Eda and Lilith would return to the illegal gambling den, the bouncer no longer required bribing. Lilith would play various witches at Hexas Hold'em until sunrise, she rarely lost which made Eda extremely happy. At sunrise they would return to the questionable inn to rest before the next night. Eda had finally disclosed that they were trying to draw enough attention to be invited to the back-room games. Apparently, Eda had won the portal from a wizard in one of those games and was hoping the fool was still hanging about the place. There was the problem that he likely didn't own another such portal, however, he was their only current lead to the origins of the portal.
To spite the fact that each of these tables was a high stakes game, Lilith found it quite easy to keep up. In fact, she suspected that many of these creatures had less skill and more money to burn. There were a few that put up a challenge, but most didn't compare to players she once faced for fun. Her current opponent was one of the better players it seemed, but the result was nearly the same. Of ten games he lost nine. Occasionally Lilith would hear a quiet chuckle from Eda, who basically pretended to be some sort of bodyguard under her ridiculous disguise. Tonight, was their fifth such night, and Lilith's arrival each night began to draw looks of dread from some of the less skilled players.
"Here we go." Eda whispered to her as the tenth game ended. The younger Clawthorne scooped Lilith's winnings into a coin pouch as a male witch in nice clothes approached the two. He gave a short bow to Lilith, ignored Eda, and glared at Lilith's opponent until the creature vacated the table.
"May I ask your name, ma'am?" He directed the question to Lilith who scoffed at him and crossed her arms.
"Why should I give you my name?" She answered his question with a question, and he gave a fake, polite laugh.
"You have been invited to an exclusive game; I merely need to know who it is I am escorting to the back room."
"Lilly." Lilith responded, deciding to use Eda's nickname for her, and the man nodded. He stepped back, gesturing in the direction of the back of the establishment.
"If you will come this way, Miss Lilly." Lilith stood and nodded to Eda. The two women followed the man through the dingy establishment, until they reached a guarded door on the back wall. Another man waited there and the first spoke to him. "Miss Lilly has been invited to table 3."
"This way." Their new guide proceeded them through the door, and if was as if they were in an entirely different building. The hall they passed through was clean, and nicely decorated. At the end of the hall they passed through another guarded door, into a well-lit room with three tables accommodating games of Hexas Hold'em. Wait staff moved through the room providing drinks to the various players and roughly a quarter of those players had bodyguards loitering near them. Their guide pulled out a chair for Lilith at the nearest table, before addressing four other beings at the table. "Miss Lilly has arrived." He said this as if she'd been expected, then turned to her again. "May I bring you a refreshment?"
"Water will be fine." Lilith responded, though she was silently dubious of whether she would actually drink anything provided in this room. The man nodded and departed. Lilith smiled at her new opponents with a cold glint in her eye. "What is the buy in?"
"50,000." A man with a gravelly voice responded as other players began placing coins in the pot. Lilith snapped her fingers and Eda swiftly placed 50,000 worth of their coins in the pot. The man who'd answered Lilith's query smiled at her with the look of a predator. "Welcome to the game, Miss Lilly."
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"Emira, hey!" The twins stopped, both turned and saw Viney jogging to catch up with them. Edric winked at his sister, and wordlessly turned to walk on toward class alone. Emira smiled as Viney closed the distance and slowed to a stop.
"Hi, beautiful." Emira said in a flirty voice. "Looking for me?"
"Yup." Viney's smile didn't reach her green eyes as she took Emira by the arm and guided her off to the side of the hall, out of the traffic of students coming and going between classes.
"Viney, what are you. . ?" Emira would normally be elated to be all but dragged off by the cute girl, but something seemed off. This was not in character for the interactions she'd had with Viney over their time at Hexside.
"You know Boscha, the Grudgby team captain?" Viney waited for Emira to give her a confused nod. "Well I thought you should know she almost started a fight with Amity last passing period."
"What? Did you see this? What happened?" Emira almost turned to go find Boscha but Viney hadn't released her arm. Emira was momentarily reminded just how strong the Beast Keeping Healer was, as she found she could not walk away from her.
"Relax, she isn't hurt or anything." Viney offered Emira a reassuring look and the elder Blight calmed slightly. "Willow, Gus, and the Grudgby team intervened."
"Just how close to fighting were they?" Emira asked in an urgent whisper, causing Viney to lean a bit closer. Some students glanced at the two curiously as they strode past, but thankfully no one was intrigued enough to actually stop.
"Amity looked pretty calm, Boscha though I really thought was about to start throwing fireballs." Viney looked slightly guilty for some reason. "I tried to get over there when I realized who it was Boscha was yelling at, but Willow and Gus were faster."
"I'll have to thank them later." Emira commented. "Thank you for telling me, you'd better get to class before you're late."
"Wait." Viney still didn't release her arm, her green eyes full of concern. "You aren't going to do anything stupid are you?"
"Well I will do something, but not until Ed and I come up with a plan for that delayed prank we owe her." Emira grinned confidently, leaned in and kissed Viney's cheek. The Duel Track student blushed, and Emira felt the grip on her arm release. She winked at Viney and slipped back into the thinning sea of students. It seemed she and Ed were going to need to handle Boscha more quickly than planned. If Boscha had tossed a fireball at Mittens 2.0 that would probably have been the end of the illusion clone.
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Camila Noceda looked in on the girls' room and saw both appeared to be fast asleep. King was probably the dark ball at the end of Luz's bed, though it was hard to see him in the darkness. She smiled before pulling the door quietly shut again. She obviously hadn't anticipated the additions to her small family, but she couldn't deny the two brought a bit more life and happiness to the house. She felt terrible that Amity was in the situation she was in, but at least she was safe here with Luz and Camila and not on the streets somewhere.
Camila stopped in the kitchen to make herself a lunch for work. It was quiet and calm in the little house, and she grinned as she noticed one of King's dog toys beside his food dish. It was placed a little strangely, sitting up in a nearly perfect manner as if one of the girls had positioned it to guard the bowl. Maybe one of them had done so. A light caught her eye, and she turned her head to see Luz's phone on the counter showing it had begun a system update. She noticed the phone screen was badly cracked, and when she picked it up for a closer look, she found the back camera looked like it was also missing some small pieces of glass.
"Carajita! ¿Por qué no me dijiste que rompiste tu teléfono? Esa chica. (Carajita! Why didn't you tell me you broke your phone? That girl.)" Camila muttered this with annoyance, though she could never stay annoyed at Luz for long. Exasperation might even have been a better term for what she felt. She slipped the phone in her bag, next to her lunch, so she could take it in for repairs on the way home from work in the morning. With that she flipped off the lights, and soon slipped out of the house to head to work.
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Luz was searching the living room very carefully when Amity came downstairs. The green-haired teen stopped, leaning on the handrail of the stairs, and let her gold eyes observe the human teen. Luz literally moved every cushion on the couch, looked behind it, searched under the furniture. Amity finally spoke when she watched the other teen get on her hands and knees to check under the couch a second time.
"What did you lose?" Amity asked. Luz didn't look up as she answered.
"I can't find my phone, have you seen it Amity?"
"No, maybe King has it." She suggested and heard a sigh in return.
"No, I asked him before I started searching." Luz finally got to her feet, and her brown eyes came over to look at Amity. Luz froze on the spot, and Amity arched a brow at her in confusion. When the other teen continued to stare Amity uncomfortably glanced about, looking for whatever caused that reaction.
"Is there a spider or something?"
"Oh, no." Luz shook herself and smiled a bit nervously. "You look good, more like yourself but also new . . . I mean, um, the new clothes look nice. Yup, that's all."
"You were with me yesterday when your Mom took us shopping." Amity said slowly, a little confused as to why Luz still seemed a bit dazed.
"Yeah, I mean yes, but it's a little different seeing you." Luz blushed, and Amity didn't miss it this time. The human teen used her hands to make some kind of nervous gesture. "Seeing you in them, I meant it's different seeing you in. . ." And now her eyes went wide. "You know what? You look nice, that's what I'm trying to say. The goth look suits you."
"Thank you." Amity grinned, it was kind of amusing seeing Luz trip over her words. It reminded Amity of some of the first times they spoke, like at The Knee when Luz fell in the snow and tried to pretend she had meant to fall on her side at Amity's feet.
"The King is hungry!" King's voice called out from the kitchen, sounding surprisingly deep and loud for such a tiny demon.
"Coming sire!" Luz yelled in a playful tone, drawing a giggle from Amity as she watched the exchange. Amity finished walking down the stairs, following Luz into the kitchen where they found King standing beside the dog dish with a grumpy look. Luz scooped the demon up, dropping a kiss on his skull like head and causing him to shift from grumpy to amused. Amity missed home but she had to admit these mornings with Luz and King were pretty fun and relaxing. It might be terrible of her to think it, but she enjoyed knowing for certain she would not see her parents at breakfast. No talk of grades, no worries if they would confront her about her renewed friendship with Willow.
"No worrying they will hear about Luz." Amity whispered quietly to herself.
"What did you say?" Luz turned to her with a smile and Amity smiled back at her.
"I said, can I help?" Amity lied, but Luz didn't catch it. Instead she waved the other teen over and began explaining how to make waffle batter.