Work Text:
Amity had been watching the girl that worked at the café across from her home for a while now. It wasn’t creepy- the girl was just very cute. She had short dark brown hair and always brought a colourful backpack to work, littered with pins and buttons. She always stayed late, helping the owner clean up while apparently chatting endlessly, waving her goodbyes until last second. The owner, a woman with masses of grey hair in her forties, would wave back, smiling, sometimes accompanied by a small, slightly strange looking boy.
Amity didn’t even know the girl’s name, and she was too shy to even go into the coffee shop to order something, like a normal person would. No, Amity was apparently doomed to forever stare out of her window, stalking a girl she didn’t know like a creep.
It was another one of those days, where Amity would sit in her room at her table, staring out of the window. Her laptop with the empty Word-document in front of her, cursor blinking incessantly. Holding her chin in one hand, and playing with a pencil with the other, Amity sighed as she looked out at where coffee-shop-girl was wiping a table, just about in Amity’s field of view. The door of the café was open, letting the warm autumn air stream in, and if Amity would open her window slightly, she was sure she would be able to hear the people talking and laughing, or the quiet clanging of dishes.
Amity left her window closed though, decidedly staring back down onto her laptop.
She would not get distracted by beautiful women or brightly coloured posters in a café she had never been in or by coffee-shop-girl’s friends that apparently were visiting her while she worked. Amity glanced up from her work again, frowning. Were those two people really her friends or was she just being friendly? The three, the two new ones sitting at the table closest to the big window on the right side, were laughing as coffee-shop-girl was considerably slow while taking their order. The boy appeared to be telling a story or something, gesturing around, while the other girl- hold on a second.
“Is that Willow?” Amity hissed, pushing herself up more and half standing up to get a better look out of her window. Subtlety be damned, Amity thought annoyed, there’s no way they’ll see me from down there anyways. Leaning over her laptop, Amity narrowed her eyes as she tried to assess the situation. Did it look like either of the people and coffee-shop-girl were dating? Or were they simply friends? By now Amity was fairly certain that they were friends, given that the boy had taken out his phone to show the two girls something. Willow (because yes, it actually was Willow) and café-girl made big eyes, before giggling.
Amity sighed and went to sit back down, when something suddenly brushed her feet. She yelped and fell backwards into her chair, holding her feet up. When she brushed her green hair out of her eyes (she had been thinking about dyeing it, but hadn’t yet mustered up the courage to actually do so), she saw innocent blue eyes look up to her. Amity sighed of relief and smiled at her cat, bending down to pick Ghost up.
“You gave me quite the scare there, buddy.”
Ghost only purred at her and sorted their paws around Amity’s arms. Content with the cat in her arms, Amity smiled again, letting Ghost settle in her lap before finally raising her hands to start typing on her assignment. She tried not to give café-girl and her friends another glance, but she definitely noticed them leaving.
The next time Amity saw café-girl’s friends was- sooner than she had hoped. Her friends had apparently decided to visit her more often now, and came by almost every other afternoon. They would order something, then waste café-girl’s time with talking and laughter (not that Amity wouldn’t do the same), stay around for some more time, and then leave just as cheerful, if not more, as when they came. They appeared to be a big part of café-girl’s social circle, as Amity learned. Café-girl seemed to be close with the owner of The Owl House (the café), and her adopted son, the strange boy Amity sometimes saw. Then there was a guy about Ed and Em’s age who sometimes came. Every time he did they seemed to get into a fight of some sorts, but neither of them ever seemed truly angry. Amity wasn’t sure about their relationship to one another.
The more she found out, the more she felt like a stalker, and the more she wanted to know. She wanted to be a part of the girl’s inner circle, wanted to be able to look at her without a window and a street between them. She wanted to be on the receiving ends of the girl’s overly bright smiles and laughs, wanted to soak up everything she said, wanted to help her clean up at the café so they could have some time together afterwards.
It was ridiculous, given she had never even talked to the girl, or even knew her name, but Amity couldn’t stop her daydreaming. She would get waylaid in her work, or find herself sitting at her table more than necessary. Ghost started sitting on the table, staring down at The Owl House just like she was. They would, well, ghost around her ankles, before jumping into her lap or straight on the table, either waiting to be patted or probably wondering why Amity was staring out of her window like a maniac. Amity herself didn’t have an answer to that.
She was once again lost in her daydreaming, so she didn’t notice her siblings sneak up to her. When Edric made a sudden loud noise right next to her ear and Emira grabbed her shoulders, Amity screeched and half jumped, half slid off her chair. Ghost hissed and darted away as well, hesitantly peeking out under her closet, while her siblings laughed.
“Aw, Mittens,” Emira giggled, leaning onto her table, “Were you lost in thought?”
Amity tightened her hair tie and sat back on her chair, levelling an unimpressed look at her older siblings. “Ha ha, very funny guys. What are you doing here?”
Edric shrugged and reached for one of her notebooks. Amity slapped his hand away. Folding his arms, the boy answered, “Oh nothing. Just checking on our baby sister.”
“We bought ice cream. We thought you might want some, but-,”
“Apparently your mind is taking up by something else sweet.”
The twins grinned and not very subtly looked out of Amity’s window to where café-girl was once again arguing with the blond boy, this time apparently over a muffin. Amity flushed and folded her hands in her lap. “I don’t- I don’t know who- I mean what you’re talking about.”
Emira grinned again and ruffled her hair. Edric leaned over her table to get a better look at The Owl House below, clicking his tongue. “Damn. He’s pretty.”
Amity gasped and hit Edric’s arm lightly, “Ed! Gross!”
Her brother rubbed his arm pointedly and glowered at her. “Geez, Mittens. And it’s not like you weren’t mooning over that girl or anything.” He huffed and mimicked his twin by also leaning back into the table. His smile quickly came back when Amity started to stutter, face heating up even more.
“I wasn’t- I wasn’t mooning over her- I- I don’t even know her- who even is she? There’s a girl?”
Emira laughed and shook her head, “Relax, Mittens! We’ve all been there before. Who hasn’t pined over a random girl they have never talked to in their entire life, am I right?”
Edric nodded in agreement, holding up one finger as if bringing some long-lost wisdom, “The key is to approach slowly, flirt your way into their heart, and boom! You have a date.” He finished smugly.
Amity was not impressed, “Have either of you ever been in a long-term stable relationship?”
She hadn’t really meant for it to sound that mean, but it was too late to take back, and it did shut the twins up a bit. Amity felt her guilt immediately vanish though when Emira responded, “Well, no, not really… but have you?” Her smirk was back.
“Yeah,” Edric jumped on board, “You’re only two years younger, Mittens!”
Amity sighed and let her head hang backwards over her chair’s backrest. Edric was right, which was something Amity regretted on a daily basis. If either of her crazy twins were ever right, it truly was a wonder and momentous occasion that needed to be appreciated. Not that her siblings were dumb- no, they actually were pretty smart, it was just that they had a tendency to do more bullshit than actual work. Amity couldn’t blame them though- everyone to their own coping mechanism.
Emira interrupter her little sister’s train of thoughts. “You know, you really should go and introduce yourself though. You’ve been staring at her for weeks now!”
Amity felt herself blush again, and she shifted a little uncomfortably in her chair, gaze shooing away from her window. “You don’t know that.”
Ghost apparently felt finally comfortable and came out from under the closet, brushing along Ed and Em’s ankles before jumping into Amity’s lap again, purring when the girl scratched them behind their ears and along their neck. Amity smiled down at the white fur, glad at least her cat was on her side.
Edric chuckled and tugged at her hair, “Call it an older sibling instinct or whatever, but we definitely do know. You should definitely listen to Em.”
Sighing when her siblings left her with a cheerful goodbye, Amity finally dared to look outside again. The blonde was now gone, and she couldn’t see café-girl, but it was almost six pm anyways, so the café would close soon. There was no point in going down there now and trying to strike up a conversation if she was going to leave in a bit anyways.
Amity sighed again and stood up to get some ice cream from her siblings.
It was a nice day for November, Amity thought. The sun was shining and people went by in rather bright scarves and hats. She wouldn’t mind going out and returning her books to the library today.
She grabbed her coat and scarf, putting her books into her bag, along with her wallet, keys, and phone. Smiling down at Ghost, Amity went down the stairs, the cat following her all the way to the front door. “I’m going to the library!” Amity called back into the house, receiving no response, and then pushed the door open.
An immediate cool breeze struck her face, dislodging her hair, refreshing her mind. It was welcome and nice, and Amity grabbed the string of her bag before being on her way, letting the heavy door click shut behind her. She crossed the street, looking around herself to see the people and houses, everything tinged in a slight gold because of the afternoon sun.
Amity smiled to herself as she went along the street, mind drifting from one place to another. Then, suddenly, a voice ripped her out of her thoughts.
“Hey! Hey! No! Get back here!”
Amity looked up to see café-girl running toward her. Her hair was a mess, her stained apron askew and her dark clothes beneath it slightly dusty for some reason. Her white sneakers pounding over the asphalt made a similar sound like Amity’s heart in her chest as she watched the girl approach.
“Quick, catch that cat, it stole my wallet!” the girl shouted. The words took a moment to make sense in Amity’s head. She blinked, then felt herself flush in embarrassment before finally starting to look around to where café-girl was pointing- not at Amity, but at her feet.
Amity shook herself internally and took a step back, forcing her eyes down to look for the thieving cat. She was met with innocent, familiar blue eyes, looking up at her.
“Ghost?”
“No, cat!” Café-girl huffed when she finally reached Amity, bending over to lean on her knees as she tried to get her breath back. Amity was in a similar position- café-girl was talking to her. About her cat. “That cat there stole my wallet! I don’t even know how it got it!”
Amity stared for a moment longer at café-girl. She was even prettier up close, even in dirty coffee shop clothes. Her long sweater underneath her apron was striped in dark purple and orange-red and black, a crime against fashion on any other person, but she really made it work. She wore dark skinny jeans as well, and her ears were decorated with simple black and small, but pretty shapes- just two round ones, a moon and a sun, two hanging stars.
And she had a name tag clipped to her apron. Luz, it read. Luz. Like light in Spanish. It fit, Amity thought absentmindedly. The way she seemed to light up any conversation, or the way her smiles blinded and her eyes lit up.
Café-girl- Luz- was now looking at her, and Amity was suddenly keenly aware of Ghost still calmly sitting at her feet, Luz’ wallet between their teeth.
“That’s my cat.” Amity said dumbly.
Luz titled her head, “Really? I didn’t know that! You’re that girl from across the road, right?”
Amity flushed and averted her eyes, “Oh, uh, yeah! Yeah, I am, I didn’t- I didn’t know you saw me… Ghost!” she plucked the wallet from her cat’s mouth. “Here. Sorry, I really don’t know what got into them. They’re usually really sweet.”
Luz pocketed her wallet and waved it away with a smile, “Eh, it’s not matter! I think it’s neat! And they did lead me to you so I guess that’s a plus.”
“Oh!” Amity laughed slightly awkwardly and brushed a stray of hair behind her ear. “Yes, I suppose it is… did you- did you want to talk to me?” she asked nervously, fidgeting slightly with one of the strings of her coat.
Luz smile brightened and she nodded, “I did, actually! I keep seeing you walk into the house across from work, and sometimes I see you sit in that window over there.” She pointed up to Amity’s room window, and then continued like she hadn’t just completely fried Amity’s brains. “I’ve been meaning to introduce myself, since you seemed cool! I hope that’s not weird-,”
“No!” Amity burst out, stopping Luz’ rambling, but immediately regretting saying anything when she watched the other girl’s face fall slightly.
“No? Oh, okay, I mean, I guess I shouldn’t have just ambushed you like this…”
“No, it’s, uh- it’s not weird. You’re not weird.” Why was talking so hard? “I’ve- I’ve actually been wanting to talk to you, too,” Amity laughed again a little awkwardly, eyes darting around, “You- you also look- cool.” She finished lamely.
Luz didn’t seem to pick up on Amity’s internal breakdown as she brightened again, “Really? Ha! What a coincidence! I told Eda…” she added in a quieter voice. Amity paused. Was Eda the owner of The Owl House? She was fairly certain she was. “Well, in any case, you seem a little busy right now, so maybe we can exchange numbers or something and we’ll talk later?”
“Oh, sure!” Amity answered, smiling broadly now as well. She was a little surprised by how easily Luz had asked for her number, but she was not about to complain. She watched Luz fish out her phone from her pocket, unlocking it, and handing it over with the “create new contact” screen open. “Here, and I’ll just text you later so you can have mine!”
Amity smiled briefly, typed out quickly ‘Amity Blight’ and added her number. She handed the phone over again, and Luz peered down at it for a moment before grinning.
“Amity, huh?” she asked, and Amity thought she found a new favourite word spoken by another person. No one had ever said her name so- preciously. Like Luz was tasting it out on her tongue. “I like your name. It’s really pretty. Suits you.”
Amity blushed furiously, and waved it away with a laugh, before muttering something out similar to “yours too”.
Luz put her phone back and saluted, causing Amity to giggle, and said, “Well, it’s been great finally meeting you, but I gotta head back to work or else Eda might behead me. See you later!”
And then she was running back, waving until she vanished in The Owl House. Amity clung to her bag string, smiling stupidly to herself, feeling slightly overwhelmed. “Yeah… later.”
And, slightly giddily, she started toward the library. When she later received a text going “heyy this is luz from before :))” Amity felt like her whole week was made.