Chapter Text
It had been a couple of weeks since Darius allowed Luz and the others to have their dance on his property. Many of the Hexside student body and others who signed the petitions to lift the ban on dancing were told of the plan and volunteered to help fix up the old barn. From the tear down, to the rebuild, to the decorating, everyone did their part to help make this the best dance anyone had ever seen.
Luz was still kind of in disbelief as the day of the dance had finally arrived.
All of her friends had agreed to meet up at Eda’s to get ready and were all downstairs. She wore a black tuxedo jacket with distinctive blue lapels and cuffs, a white button-up shirt paired with a white bow tie underneath, and high-waisted black pants tailored to match the jacket. Her short hair was slicked back, and she had clip-on earrings to elevate the look.
She breathed deeply, shaking out all of the nervous jitters before leaving her room and heading to the stairs. Once she reached the bottom and saw Amity sitting at the kitchen table, she couldn’t help but smile. Amity was scrolling through her phone when Luz had come down. She looked up from it after Luz reached the final step.
“Well, what do you think?”, Luz asked with her arms out wide.
Amity set her phone down on the table and stood up from it.
She wore a light purple undershirt with puffed sleeves and a darker purple vest over it. A knee-length skirt paired with matching socks and short boots rounded out the fit.
She walked over to Luz with her hand on her chin, observing the outfit from top to bottom.
“You look nice.”, Amity said. “Strange, but nice. It seems very you.”
Luz smiled at the compliment.
“Ah, thank you, hermosa.”, she said, blushing a little bit.
“No. Thank YOU, Luz.”, said Amity. “Ever since you came to Bonesborough, you’ve made an impact unlike anything I’ve ever seen. You’ve changed so many of our lives. Especially mine. You inspired me to stand up for what I want and what I deserve. Your fearlessness in the face of adversity is something I truly admire. You’ve done things I don’t think I’d have the courage to do.”
Luz laughed at that last bit.
“Yeah right. Says the girl who played chicken with a fucking train.” She crossed her arms and smirked. “You going soft on me, Blight?”
Amity laughed and then pulled Luz in by her tuxedo jacket.
“In your dreams.”, she said before kissing her on the lips.
“Hey, lovebirds!”, Eda said as she poked her head in. “Get your asses in the living room! Raine wants pictures.”
Amity grabbed her phone off the table and walked into the living room with Luz. All their friends were gathered around in the center of the room in their respective outfits they decided on as couples. Viney and Skara were going as friends, but Luz was certain she could sense a connection there. But that was a story for another time.
“Alright. Everyone, get in here. I want pictures with all the couples too.”, said Raine.
“Oh, come on, Raine.”, Luz said in a happy but annoyed tone.
“Just humor me, would you?”
They proceeded to snap a bunch of pictures of the group. Then Raine had each couple stand in the middle of the room and get their picture taken as well. Luz and Amity went last out of everyone. King even wanted his own picture with Luz, so Raine got a quick shot of them too.
“Ok. Are we good now?”, Luz asked.
“Hold on, mija! I’d like some pictures too.”
Luz could recognize the voice immediately. She turned her head to the entrance to the hallway; her face froze in surprise. Standing there with smiles on their faces were her mother, Camilla Noceda, and her sister, Vee.
With tears developing in her eyes she ran over to them and pulled them into the biggest hug she could give.
“I-I can’t believe it!”, she exclaimed. “What-what are you guys doing her?!”
“Well, we were told that today was the day of some big dance that you managed to put together.”, said Vee.
“So, we thought we’d come up to Bonesborough and surprise you.”, said Camilla.
Luz pulled away from them and turned to look at Eda. She had a bit of smug smile across her face.
“Did you know anything about this?”, Luz asked.
Eda simply shrugged her shoulders as an answer and Luz laughed a little at.
“Well, Mija, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?”, Camilla asked.
“Oh right! Of course!” Luz excitedly pointed at everyone in the room as she called their name out. “So that’s Hunter and Willow, that’s Gus, that’s Matt, Viney, Skara,” She grabbed Amity by the arm and pulled her beside her. “And this is Amity. She’s my girlfriend!”
Camilla looked at Amity with an endearing smile.
“Um, hello Mrs. Noceda.”, Amity said nervously.
“It’s nice to meet you, Amity.”, said Camilla. “Luz has told me a lot about you through our texts.”
Luz turned back toward her friends.
“Everyone, this is my mom, Camilla Noceda, and this is my sister, Vee.”
Vee gave a slight wave to everyone. Then Luz thought of something and immediately got excited.
“Oh my God, Vee! You should total come with us to the dance!”
Vee was very surprised.
“Um, Luz,” Vee began. “I appreciate it but incase you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly dressed for the occasion.”
“That’s okay. The dance doesn’t start for another couple hours. You have plenty of time to get ready.”
“But I don’t have anything to wear!”, Vee said, finding a little humor in this now.
Raine then hopped into the conversation.
“You know, I seem to recall seeing a few old dresses in our closet. Belonging to a certain someone that a special kid once called the Owl Lady? I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you borrowed one.”
They gave Eda a look that pretty much said “You better say yes”.
“Ah, what the hell. It’s not like I was gonna wear them again anyway. Knock yourself out.”
“Yes!”, Luz exclaimed. “Girls, you think you can help Vee get ready?”
“Of course.”, Willow said. “Come on, Vee. Let’s go.”
She grabbed Vee by the arm and went out into the hallway. Amity, Viney, and Skara followed close behind.
“Hey boys, do you think you can give Luz and her mother the room for a bit?”, Raine asked.
“Sure, we’ll be in the kitchen.”, said Gus.
Hunter and Matt went to follow him into the kitchen and Eda told King to go with them as well. Now it was just Luz and her mother in the living room along with Eda and Raine.
“It really seems like you’re doing well here, Mija.”, Camilla said.
Luz smiled and nodded her head.
“Yeah, I really am, Mom.”, said Luz. “I think coming to Bonesborough was the best thing that ever happened to me. I’ve made friends who like me for my weirdness, I’ve fought for change in this town, I’ve found myself becoming part of a team with football. People have gotten to truly know me as more than just the weirdo in the principal’s office.”
A tear started to form in eye again.
“For the first time in my life, I’ve found a place where I feel understood.”, she said a little choked up. “I’m not saying it’s perfect. This town has it’s flaws but hey, what place doesn’t?”
In this moment, Camilla couldn’t help but feel proud of her daughter. There was not a day that went by where she wondered if she made the right choice by sending her to Bonesborough. But now, getting a chance to see everything, she knew it was.
“If only your father could see you now.”, she said.
Luz hugged her mother once more.
“Te quiero, mama.”, she said.
“Yo tambien te quiero, Mija.”
There was a moment of silence before Eda spoke up.
“Alright, enough of this emotional shit.”, she said. “You want some pictures or what?”
Camilla handed Raine her phone and she and Luz stood in the middle of the room just like everyone else did. Raine held it horizontally and snapped a couple of photos. Then after about half an hour went by, the girls came back into the living room. Vee was now wearing a dark red dress, and her hair had curls styled in it. Her makeup was done up, giving her a refined look. Luz was surprised how fast they were able to do all of it. She excitedly hugged her sister.
“Oh my god, Vee! You look so pretty!”
Vee laughed.
“Thanks, sis.”
“Boys! We’re ready! Let’s go!”, Viney shouted.
Hunter, Gus, and Matt came out of the kitchen back into the living room. King followed behind them.
“We’re going to eat first before, right?”, Hunter asked.
“Uh, yeah, duh.”, Willow responded.
“Vee, you wanna ride with me and Viney?”, Skara asked.
“Yeah, sure.”, said Vee.
Everyone filed out the front door of the house, leaving Luz and Amity the only ones left.
“Well, I guess we’ll see you guys later.”, said Luz.
“Have fun, kid.”, said Eda. “And be safe.”
“We will.”
Luz and Amity walked out the front door and towards Luz’s beat up VW Beetle. Everyone had got in their respective cars and began to drive to where they were going to get food. Eda, Raine, and King all watched from the window.
“Camilla, come over here. You've got to see them. They look wonderful!”, said Raine.
“Guys, come one. They're gonna think that we're spying.”, Camilla said.
“We are spying. Now come here!”, said Eda.
Camilla walked over to where they were and looked out the window with them. They watched as Luz got the passenger door open for Amity and helped her inside. They didn’t stop until Luz got in the driver’s seat and managed to get the car started up. She pulled out of the driveway, following her friends in their vehicles.
“Not bad, kid.”, Eda said to herself. “Not bad at all.”