What Really Matters (Lumity AU)

7. Luz

Amity didn't show up to school the next day.

I didn't know why, but for some reason it felt wrong. She didn't seem like the type of person to miss the third day of school, even if it was a Friday. I couldn't focus on anything.

I asked Emira and Edric about it during lunch. "She, uh, wasn't feeling well today and thought it would be best to stay home," Emira answered. Edric opened his mouth but didn't say anything after a glare from his twin.

"Oh," I said, not arguing even though I could tell it wasn't the whole truth. "Well, I hope she feels better."

"We'll tell her," Emira assured me, continuing on with the conversation. I frowned, thinking. Edric and Emira often made fun of her at lunch about her perfect attendance records and perfect grades. What had happened to her that she would miss school?

Maybe she didn't want to come to school because of what we had done in class. We were learning about nocturnal animals and Eda had brought Owlbert for us to see.

Okay, she probably didn't miss school just because she didn't want to meet an owl.

I sighed as the bus pulled out of the school parking lot. "I can't get my mind off off Amity," I told Willow. "Why didn't she come to school today?"

Willow frowned. "I don't know. And I don't care. Amity and Boscha are a team. Did you notice that Boscha didn't try to tease me today? She would never try as long as Amity isn't there to back her up. Amity would never try without Boscha to back her up. They act all tough, but they need each other. Amity can sweet talk a teacher out of almost any punishment. Boscha can convince almost any student not to tell anyone. As long as one stays home, the other won't do anything."

I stared at her. "Have you been thinking about this for very long?"

"Well, yeah," she told me. "They've bullied me since elementary. I know how they work. And I can't imagine why you care so much about one of my bullies."

"Willow," I tried, "that's not-"

"It's fine," she said sharply. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't get mad at you for caring about someone, even if I don't like her."

"I'm sorry too," I said quietly. "She does seem pretty mean. I just like to hope for the best in everyone. It makes me happy to think that no one is really a bad person."

"That's..." Willow trailed off. "I mean, I guess it's not a bad thought exactly."

We sat in silence the rest of the way home.

Author's note:
442 words. Sorry I've been gone for so long! We got my cat to the vet and she's fine now, if anyone was curious. I'm a little late, but Happy Thanksgiving! School is going to start again soon, so I won't update this super often, but I'll try. Probably at least once a week. Thank you again for reading, commenting, and/or voting!