Chapter Text
POV: Luz ⭐️
Luz attempted her usual ‘before-you-go-out-the-door’ checklist. Phone (charged), check. Enough snails for snacks, check. Small fidget things, check. But, there was the added two weeks worth of overnight stuff packed into her battered old suitcase. It’s been on every trip she’d been on. Her main priority was to just have enough clothes for a couple days, a swimsuit, and her toothbrush.
Summer camps always brought mixed emotions to Luz. It was bittersweet. There was one, excitement. Who wouldn’t feel excited about spending a week outside, being away from the chaos of home, enjoying nature? Then the other, disappointment. Whether it was arriving at camp that brought it, or coming back home, she always felt it.
She hauled the suitcase behind her as she began the short trek to school. Leaves crunched under her weight as she passed. The trees were a deep auburn color, and an autumn breeze swayed the leaves around. In what felt like a couple minutes, the tall brick building of Hexside peaked behind trees. Principal Bump’s authoritative voice mentioned something about a “bus buddy” and to stick with them.
Quickly skimming the crowd to find Gus and Willow, she found them within seconds. Willow enthusiastically waved, and Gus made a small illusion arrow above their heads.
“Hey, Luz! You’re just in time; their about to start calling homerooms.” Her friend greeted.
Gus seemed confused. “Wait, they’re going by homerooms? Guess I won’t sit with you guys, then.” he studied Luz for a moment. “Anyways, hi!”
Luz set her backpack on top of the suitcase. “Sorry Gus. At least we’ll be able to see eachother during meals and activities.”
Field trip days didn’t require a uniform. Willow was wearing a yellow floral skirt that was just above her knee. She wore an old band tee (probably one of her dad’s), a daisy cardigan that was half-buttoned, and she adorned the outfit with small daisy earrings and a canvas tote bag. Gus, on the contrary, had a light blue dinosaur hoodie and khaki pants. He also had ton of random pins, mostly from gift shops and Chill Discussions (the Demon Realm’s version of Hot Topic). Luz thought for a moment on what her girlfriend was wearing. Maybe a purple knit sweater with black overalls, or a zip-up jacket with a graphic purple shirt and jeans… she pondered.
“…and that’s when I said to him ‘You can’t just put ketchup on everything!’, and after, he got so mad!” Gus explained to Willow, telling some weird story. “I swear, I had to take his ketchup packets away, and-” He was cut off by loud shush from another witch.
Bump read from his scroll as he listed names. “Dr. Ferned’s homeroom is first. You’ll be on bus 63.”
Willow bumped Luz’s elbow, motioning for the two of the to start walking. They said their goodbyes to Gus and linked arms. Luz called window seat, mostly so she didn’t have to nap on Willow’s arm.
“Snack? I brought these chips for you, they’re…cloud flavored? Whatever that means.” Willow offered, the familiar rustle of a chip bag competed against her voice. She took the bag and carefully opened it, sniffing curiously inside. It smelled like nothing, really, but when she bit into one, it tasted crunchy and soft, savory and sweet, all at the same time (in the best sensory experience kind of way).
“Willow, you have to try one! It’s fantastic.” She said with a mouthful of chips. Skeptical, she reached in and ate one. She had a similar ‘This is the best thing I’ve ever eaten before.’ facial expression Luz imagined she had.
This camp will be different, and hopefully fun. You have actual friends, and even a girlfriend! She reminded herself as she settled into the stiff bus seat.
POV: Willow 🌿
Teachers attempted to call role over the noisy excitement from students (and failed). Luz was called and she tried to project her voice as if she was in theater. However when Willow was shortly after, she just yelled. Willow offered her friend the other earpiece to her earbud. She took to, whispering her thanks.
“What do you want to listen to? I can play anything on this…iPod, you said it was?” She asked, scrolling through it mindlessly.
“Mhm. Ever heard of this small musical called, Hamilton?” Luz suggested, making jazz hands. Willow shook her head, as it didn’t quite ring a bell.
She typed in the words slowly, squinting to see the small screen. A couple results popped up, but Luz selected a specific icon. It had a dark golden background, a black star, but instead of the top point, it was a figure. The title was in the middle of the star. Clicking play, she jumped at the sudden start of the melody, but relaxed as the singing begun.
Luz broke out into song, rather randomly (typical theater kid behavior). “HOW DOES A BASTARD, ORPHAN, SON OF A WHORE, AND A SCOTTSMEN,” she began, loud, but not obnoxious. Willow giggled, realizing she was perfectly in-sync with the song. “DROPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A FORGOTTEN SPOT IN THE CARIBBEAN,”
“So I’m assuming you’ve heard this some times before…” she said, snatching a cloud chip.
“…GROW UP TO BE A HERO AND A SCHOLAR?” she finished. “Yea, just once or twice” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She unzipped her backpack, but realized something was missing. “Ugh, I think I put my jacket in my suitcase.”
She immediately pulled a sweater out of her bag, almost as if she had planned it. “Here, take mine.”
Luz accepted it gratefully, slipping it on. On her body, it looked large. The friends sat in silence with each other, listening to the Hamilton soundtrack and eating cloud-flavored chips. Luz seemed to calm during the song ‘That Would Be Enough’, and sleepily slouched down. And when ‘Dear Theodosia’ came on, she leaned on Willow’s arm, limp with sleep (typical Luz).
Willow’s mind raced. Oh, this is…fine. She decided. ‘Non-Stop’ finished, meaning act 1 was finished. Luz stirred when ‘What’d I Miss’ began, louder than the previous song. Blinking awake, her cheeks reddened when she realized that she’d slept on her friend.
“Sorry! Sorry, That Would Be Enough always makes me sleepy.” she said, yawning. “So what’d you think?”
“It was…fun. I liked it. We’ll have to finish act 2 later.” Willow replied. “I’ll make a prediction, Alexander is going to ruin his life because of some careless mistake, but will be forgiven in the end.”
Luz was at full energy now. “Pretty on the nose, I won’t spoil it.” she shifted in the large sweater. “My friend, this is just one of many amazing musical theater songs you have yet to listen to.”
Willow smiled, excited she had a new shared interest with Luz. She let her eyes search the bus as Luz typed something into the iPod. She noticed a small box near the bus driver’s seat. Squinting, she saw it was full of small cookie packets. Waiting for the perfect moment to slink and take one. Opening the package, the sweet scent wafted out and attracted Luz. She casually took one.
“So, what are your feelings about Hunter~?” She said in a silly lovey dovey voice. “I bet you love~ him. I bet you dream about his eyes at night.”
“Okay, Cupid. Hunter is a friend, Luz. He just has pretty eyes, that I occasionally think of through out the day, and he has an concerning pain tolerance that helps during flyer derby, and he just looks so dapper his Golden Guard uniform…” She realized she was running on about him, proving Luz’s point. “But, just a friend— and teammate!”
She was skeptical, but it got her off Willow’s back.
Just then, the bus made a turn into a thick, forested area with a green sign that read ‘Camp South Knee - Enrichment Camp’. The road lead to a large building, which said ‘Camper Center and Eating Hall’. Behind the large building, similarly designed cabins lined the hills.
As the chaperones filed out, Dr. Ferned instructed everyone to stay in their seat and wait as they unloaded the suitcases from the back of the bus. He said it was okay to stretch, since they had been sitting for almost 2 hours, but not to leave. Willow gathered her things, and stretched her arms out and stood up to reach her toes.
Finally, they were allowed to exit the bus and line up with their suitcases, so they could file to the amphitheater for the ‘camp introduction’.
Try to have fun, Willow. she told herself.
POV: Luz 🌟
Luz skimmed the crowd for her girlfriend’s signature lavender hair. She couldn’t see her, yet. Amity said her parents always insisted they were driven everywhere. Willow reached to link arms, and she accepted. The two friends followed their peers to…somewhere.
The campus dipped up and down, pavement clinging to it. Mountains dotted with trees stood behind it all. Luz lost her balance while descending downhill. Their link was broken, and Willow was almost taken down with her. She expended her arms and knees, protecting her face, but ended up skidding her knees (even through her overalls) and palms.
“Oh my! Are you okay?” Willow asked, offering her hand to help her up.
She wiped tiny pebbles off and checked the damage. “I’m fine. I don’t even need a bandaid!”
They continued walking and eventually reached the amphitheater. Stressed counselors, overwhelmed chaperones, and unhelpful teen volunteers tried to organize the crowd of students into seats. After some trial and error (a lot of searching and exaggerated waving) they met us with gus and managed to sit together. Amphitheaters are architecturally designed to project noise, and it got especially loud when there was a million voices chatting at the same time. Gus covered ears, and closed his eyes, disliking the loud noises.
Willow, being the only neurotypical person in the friend group, (Luz has ADHD, both Hunter and Gus have autism, and Amity has OCD), she tried her best to help whenever possible. For this reason, she always carried earplugs. He happily accepted them when offered.
A new flood of witches came in, and Luz realized this was all the car riders. Amity must be here! she thought hopefully. Amity’s lavender hair was tied into two low buns, and Luz immediately realized it was her’s. Her awesome girlfriend’s golden eyes lit up when they spotted her. They hurried over, careful not to push anyone over.
“Hi!” She greeted, being met with a kiss. They wrapped her arms around Luz, her hands cold on Luz’s back.
“Get a room” Gus sarcastically said.
Luz made a space for them to sit. They chatted about the ride over, random facts, and the same Azura chapter they both read that day. A booming voice interrupted their conversation and they turned to face the stage. The group was sitting near the back, but it wasn’t hard to hear, because of the microphones.
“Welcome, stud-I mean campers! Campers is what you’ll be known as, for these next two weeks. I’m Francine Oakwille, the main counselor. We have volunteers from the local high schools, and your teachers will also look after you. We’re going to assign you all into cabins, based on gender.” The shortest witch standing at the stage of the amphitheater said into the microphone. “Yes, we acknowledged the roommate request forum we sent out a couple weeks back” Francine added.
Luz slipped her hand to Amity’s, clutching on. The cotton candy-haired goddess sitting next to her smiled, acknowledging the affection.
Chatter echoed throughout the stage continued again, but wasn’t quite distinguishable.
The familiar mix of excitement and dread of being at a new camp twinged in Luz’s stomach. This is just any normal, non-magical camp Luz, totally. It’s fine