Total Eclipse

Chapter 8

Luz stared at her, her jaw-dropping as she walked down the stairs, one hand on the railing, the other outstretched with a single butterfly left, perched on her fingers. Her head was held high as she glowed with the grace of a queen.

And Luz was just... Luz.

She stopped at the bottom of the stairwell, blowing a kiss to the butterfly and letting it fly away. She smiled kindly with her softly reddened lips and let the event commence. Luz noticed her beautiful heels.

They were a pale skin tone like hers, with purple trimming. Tiny details of butterflies and flowers of lavender and green decorated them. She was impressed by how well she walked in them—the height of those heels did not seem forgiving.

Her nails were short and painted purple. She kept fidgeting with the rings on her fingers, seeming slightly nervous.

Luz wasn't sure if she should approach her and turned to find Willow and Gus looking at each other after looking at her and Amity.

They made an unspoken agreement and smiled.

"Why don't you go say hi to Amity?"

"Oh, I don't know—" Luz began beige Willow nudged her into Amity, colliding with Amity's back. Her glass tipped and spilled down her dress. She turned, a mix of angry and embarrassment.

"Oh. It's you," she said, blush creeping from underneath her makeup. She fidgeted with her phasing moon necklace before Luz took her hand away.

"It's okay. You don't have to say a word. I'm just glad you're okay." Luz said with a smile.

Amity didn't know exactly what to say and simply drew a circle and cleaned the stain from her dress.

"What are you doing here? I don't think you were invited," she said dryly.

"Amity. Hi." She said breathlessly.

"You shouldn't have come. I was just starting to be fine without you," She said before nervously walking away, almost stumbling on the train of her gown.

Luz laughed a bit to herself. She walked away, trying to chat with the other guests. Even Boscha was here, but she chose to steer clear of her. She occasionally danced to the light music, spinning Willow around and trying not to trip on the long, dramatic dresses. She drank a bit and devoured the appetizers and hor devours. She was at the edge of the ballroom as the music shifted into a more dramatic waltz. The orchestra erupted as people dashed to find their partners. Luz looked around for an empty hand before bumping into Amity.

She looked sprint for someone else as Luz offered her hand.

"Mind if I cut in?" Luz said, desperately trying to prove that chivalry was not dead.

She scoffed and reluctantly took it. Her hand was warm and soft, the callouses felt like home.

And they danced.

"You don't have to be the villain in your own story, Amity,"

She smiled, almost a smirk, but kinder.

"Is that what you think I am?"

Luz and Amity spun until they were dizzy.

"You can't always play the hero, either," She added, "You can't just show up and be the protagonist now, not after I've spent my whole life trying to repair my broken pieces on my own,"

"Well, I wouldn't make a good sidekick. Or love interest."

She paused and thought for a moment, the blush lining her cheeks lightly like she had just been in the sun.