Chapter Text
3:30pm at Gravesfield High School on a Friday was a beloved hour by many a student. It signified the end of the horrendous school week, and the beginning of the weekends and two days of fun – with the downside of potential homework, of course. But in those two days, who knew what could happen.
Today was one of those days.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class for the students of Gravesfield High School, and the beginning of the weekend, where anything was possible.
Mr. Sandoval smiled at his students, who were already rushing to put everything away. “Okay everyone, that's the end of class. Don't forget your homework, and enjoy your weekend.” He gathered up his papers, and cleared his throat. “Miss Noceda, can I speak with you for a second.
Luz – or rather, Vee disguised as Luz, eeped, nearly flinging her books out of her grasp. She quickly composed herself, put everything away and walked up to the desk. “Y-yes, Mr. Sandoval?”
Mr. Sandoval smiled kindly. “No need for the nervousness, Luz. You are not in any sort of trouble.” He said, immediately making Vee feel better.. “I just wanted to say it is good to see you picked yourself up these last couple of days. You seemed rather ...tense the last few weeks.”
Vee rubbed the back of her head. “Yeah, I was ...going through some ...growing girl stuff.” She lied, trying to keep her voice even. “You know, regular teenager things...”
Well, she wasn't really lying. Luz really had been going through something, and not only trying to make the portal work, so she could send her friends back to the boiling isle. No, she was also dealing with the guilt about that secret that was burning her up deep inside. She had helped Philip Wittebane with finding the collector, with had set things into motion. Vee couldn't imagine how that must've made her feel. She could only hope she was doing much better now, and that she, Camilla and the others were safe.
Mr. Sandoval chuckled. “That's the one thing I don't miss about being a growing teenager.” He began. “One moment you're feeling completely fine, ready to take on the world; the next: something as small as a flat tire on your bike can feel like you're entire week is going to heck.”
Vee chuckled nervously. “Ain't that just he way?” She threw her backpack over her shoulder and smiled at the teacher. “See you Monday.”
“Enjoy your weekend, miss Noceda.” He said, as Vee made her way out of the classroom. She let out a sigh. Man, she thought her half-baked explanation wouldn't fly, but she got away with it somehow. She had gotten away with a few close calls these last couple of days. Mostly nearly missaying things, and not paying attention when people were calling out 'Luz', things like that. Vee hadn't been 'Luz' in such a long time, she had gotten a bit rusty playing the part. But despite these little mishaps, things seemed to be going smoothly. No-one was none the wiser that Luz and her mom were, in fact, gone.
She smiled as she walked through the hallway of the school, listening to the buzzing excitement of the students around her. She honestly didn't get why some kids complained about school. She had enjoyed these last few days. Of course, she had to pick up where Luz had left, which meant the dreaded homework. ...okay, she kinda get why some didn't like school. But nonetheless, Vee felt good about having a bit of daily routine in her life again, especially with Luz, Camilla and the others out saving the Demon Realm.
Vee took the books she needed for her homework out her – Luz's - locker, humming a song she had heard on the radio that morning, listening to the . She could overhear talks about going to an arcade, seeing movies, or making plans to hang out at someone else's place. Seemed the Gravesfield teenager knew what to do the next few days, which was more than she could say.
“Hey there, stranger.”
Vee yelped and spun around, being greeting by the chuckling face of an old friend of hers, not that they realized that, of course. “Oh, hey Masha.” She greeted nervously. “Been a while.”
“Yeah it is.” Masha folded their arms, giving Vee a smirk. “Felt like we haven't spoken since forever.”
Oh, you couldn't be further from the truth, Masha. “Yeah, I know.” Vee said, rubbing the back of her head. Since Luz returned, Vee hadn't had the chance to talk to Masha or any of her other camp friends. Luz had made an effort to keep up appearances with them, but their work on the portal, and her own degrading confidence had really stood in the way of that. “Listen, if this is about us not talking as much anymore, I can explain...”
Masha held up a hand. “Nah, no need.” They declined with a grin. “Between me having a part -time job at the Museum, and Robins and Ashley having their own after-school things, none of us had much time to catch up. Doesn't really help those two go to the other school at the other side of town. Besides ...” Their grin grew mischievous leaning forward a bit. “I might have an idea why you were so busy lately.”
Vee gulped. “Oh?”
Masha giggled. “Oh, don't act like I didn't notice. I saw you with that girl on my hayride on Halloween. The two of you were acting awfully close with each other.”
Vee had to bring up every single drop of effort not to let out a sigh. She smiled, blushing a bit. “Oh yeah, that's Amity ...my ...girlfriend.”
Masha smiled. “I knew it! With the whole matching outfits you two had going on.” They patted Vee on the back. “Good for you, Luz. Out, proud and hooked. So, she around? I haven't seen her at school, and it's not difficult to spot a lavender haired girl in this crowd.”
“N-no, she and the others are from out of town.” Vee said, hoping she wasn't sounding too nervous. “They were visiting me for a couple of days.”
“Oh, from out of town?” Masha asked. “How do you know them anyway?”
“I've met them at a convention I went too some time ago.” Vee lied, remembering Luz's many excited retellings from visits there. “We stayed in touch, with Amity a bit more than the others and one thing led to the other.” That sounds believable, right?
“You know, I met her and her friends at the Museum a couple of days ago. Brought this really old rebus with them. They kinda vanished on me when I was helping my boss with something.” Masha let out a huff. “And since I was busy with my hayride attraction during the Halloween festival, I couldn't ask if they ever solved it.”
“Oh, well, maybe you can ask them next time.” Vee said, as she closed her locker. If there is gonna be a next time ...
“That reminds me, I noticed a certain someone missing when you guys came to the hayride.” Masha noted, as they walked next to Luz toward the exit. “The girl with the pretty eyes?”
They think I have pretty eyes? Ugh, focus, Vee. Vee had to really try not to blush. “Oh, you mean Vee?”
“So that's her name? I like it. Has a bit of a mysterious vibe to it. ” Masha said with a grin.“She never told me when we met, and then she was gone before I could ask. Haven't seen her at school before, which isn't really weird, because she told me she was new in town but I really thought I'd have seen her by now.”
You have, even if you don't know it. “Vee has homeschooling.” Vee lied.
“Oh, you know where she lives then?” Masha asked.
Vee froze at the school exit. Oh dang … What now? She couldn't just give a random address, that would certainly make Masha suspicious. She guessed there was not really a point in lying about this. She could figure out something believable later.“About that ...she lives with me and mom.”
“She lives with you?” Masha asked, raising an eyebrow, a hint of suspicion in their eyes. “You never told us anything about her before.”
“It's ...a complicated situation.” Vee said quickly, feeling more anxious by the second, even if she managed to keep it from showing ...somehow.
“Complicated, how?” Masha asked.
“Um...” Vee was starting to get panicked. She needed to stall for time, so she could make up a story. She wished she and Luz had started making a background story for her, like she had suggested a while ago, but they never had gotten to it. She took a deep breath. She leaned closer to Masha, softening her voice. “Listen, it's not really my place to tell. Vee's situation is ...delicate. I don't think she'd appreciate me blabbing about it. You understand?”
Masha looked at Vee for a few moments, but then sighed and nodded. “Okay, fine, I guess I can respect that.”
The amount of relief that fell over Vee was palpable.
“But you think she'd be willing to tell me?” Masha asked. “I know, we hardly know each other, but something about her ...makes me feel that I really wanna get to know her, you know?”
Again, Vee had to keep herself from blushing. “Sure, I think she could be convinced.”
Masha beamed. “Great! In that case ...” They reached into their pockets and took out a folded piece of paper. “Give her my number, will you, Luz? Let her call me, and I'll give her that tour around town I offered her.”
Vee took the paper. “You know, I could just give her the number I have in my phone, right?”
A car honked it's horn, making Masha turn around. “Coming, mom!” They turned to Luz again. “Oh Luz, what's the fun in that?” She spun around and started to walk toward their mother's car, looking over their shoulder, giving Vee a mischievous grin. “If she feel like visiting the museum again, tell her not to kick in the doors this time. We've just had them painted.” They waved. “Later, Luz!”
Vee took a deep breath, relieved that she managed to bluff her way through that. She looked at the piece of paper and folded it open. This time, she didn't keep herself from blushing. Writing in a neatly cursive handwriting, was Masha phone number. But it was the little note under it that made Vee blush.
Hope those pretty eyes will read this soon. Hit me up. ;-)
Vee quickly folded up the paper again, and ran to the school bus, before it would leave without her ...again.
She felt that this weekend would be interesting for sure.