After Happily Ever After

Luz Noceda

'I'm not even surprised.' Amity said, giving herself a little push on the swing. She didn't sway too high, just a little further into the air, her long faded lilac hair flowing with her. There was a noticeable patch of brown hair on the top of her head where her roots were growing out. I felt heat rise in my cheeks looking at her, as she drew at her heels to a holt. 'The nearly getting kicked out of school thing.'

I blinked . 'Why wouldn't you be surprised about that? You're like the top student of the entire school. You've always held yourself super high up with your reputation. Are you worried about getting kicked out?'

She sighed looking down at the dirt, giving it a gentle kick. 'Yeah, maybe a little. If it was past me I would have been down right appalled. Also very fearful of how Odaila would react. But honestly after almost dying on numerous occasions to Belos and the collector, it's kind of hard to have some anxiety over something like that.' She explained.

I frowned. 'I don't want you to give up on school just for me. I appreciate your protectiveness over me, but you do take it too far. You're like the smartest person I know and you're not throwing your life down the drain for my sake. I've already already done enough damage as it is.' I muttered the last part quietly. But Amity heard.

'Luz.' She said sternly. ' You haven't done anything damaging. That was Belos, not you. And I am protective over you because you mean so much to me. I......I care about you a lot, Luz, and I find it hard to picture a world without you in it.' She shook her head sadly.

'You don't.' I assured her. 'You don't ever have to picture a world without me because I'm here for you. Always and forever.' She looked like she was about to cry, so I leaned sideways to brush her hair out of her face. 'Hey, I'm okay. Belos isn't coming back. Nothing is going to hurt me ever again. I will be okay. Don't worry about me.'

'But I am worried about you!' She snapped. ' I'm thankful that the Titan brought you back to me, I really am. And if he was still alive I would personally thank him and do whatever he asked to show my gratitude for bringing you back. But if the Titan was already dead dead, and you did end up drowning in that empty void, I-I don't know what I'd do, Luz. You're literally the only thing that has kept me together all these months. I would be so lost without you. And sometimes I can't sleep because I'm paranoid that Belos will come back to get revenge on you and I won't be able to get to you in time and-'

I pulled her into a hug, letting her cry into my shoulder. I rubbed circles on her back on whispered sweet things into her ear and kissed her cheek. 'It's okay, Batata. I'm not going anywhere. Ever. Let's not get upset about what could have been, and focus on the present. We don't have to deal with that sicko anymore. Most of our problems is keeping you in school. A sentence I never thought I would have to say.' I commented.

She giggled, pulling away from me to grip the handles of the swing. 'I know right. Definitely not very "Little miss perfect" of me. I'm a changed woman. It's your fault really, being such a bad influence on me. Shame on you, Noceda. Shame on you.' She snarked.

'Yes, how dare I help you out of a  abusive relationship with a massive peppermint stick that you're unfortunately related to.' I said, placing a hand on my chest to play mock offence.

'Luz!' Amity wheezed. 'That's like the most actuate description of me and Odaila's relationship in a sentence ever.' 

'I know. I made it up from the top of my head as well. Are you proud?' I asked, grinning.

'Very.' She confirmed.

I smiled at her laughter. Titan, she had such a beautiful laugh. And seeing her smile after just suffering moments ago made a warm feeling rise in my chest. I would be lying if I said that I had completely recovered from all the damage Belos and I caused. And seeing Amity upset only made it worse, knowing she was crying over me, which I supposed was true on both accounts. Whether it was because of me helping Belos meet the collector, which alternately ended up with him getting into power in the first place, or the fact he killed me at some point or even the fact that I had told her about anything at all about me dying. Either way, I made Amity cry, and I'm a terrible person for it.