Chapter Text
It was something she only thought about when she was alone. Like when she’d take the subway home for the hell of it, even though she could fly, she’d stare out at the blackness of the tunnels and start smiling to herself. Or while doing loops up above the smog because she couldn’t contain the giddy joy, or when she’d start walking a little quicker through the hot, crowded streets because she had something to be happy about. She’d never tell anyone about it, but Amanda was really excited to go back to England.
No, it wasn’t as fun as her summer back home in New York was, but there was a lot waiting for her across the pond. For one, she’d get to see Andrew and Frank a lot more often, going to the same school as them (no one had expected her to apply to such a selective college, and no one thought she was applying to college at all, but she surprised even herself by applying and getting in. Guess the clout of saving the world was the gift (to the world) that kept on giving (to Amanda.)), and Akko had FaceTimed her a few days before to give her a virtual tour of her new apartment.
“Damn,” said Amanda, flopped on her back over her bed, “it looks kinda small?”
Akko groaned. “Tell me about it. I tried to use enlargement magic on it. And then poof! It was even smaller than it had been when I started!” She wailed. “Chariot said enlargement magic on things that don’t have room to enlarge is illogical magic, which has “uncontrollable negative side effects,”” Akko said using air quotes. “I mean, what’s the point of magic if it isn’t illogical??”
“I agree with you, girl,” Amanda said, staring past the phone at her ceiling. There were a couple of posters and glow in the dark stars she’d tacked up there a few years ago. She wondered how she was going to decorate her future dorm.
“I can’t wait for you to come back,” Akko said, flopping down onto her couch. “It’s good to be back, but town’s kind of boring with everyone gone. Andrew’s still off working with his mom, and Sucy said she’d come through town to sell her potions to the magic cafe, but I never know when she’s going to drop in. I’ve had tea with Chariot and Croix twice and I feel awkward asking them if I can go over to their place again. I know we’re gonna make lots of non-Luna Nova friends, but it’ll be nice having someone around. I’m so glad you decided to come back!”
“Yeah,” said Amanda. “I wasn’t done with England just yet.”
Akko didn’t know the full truth of it yet, just that Amanda was coming back to England and coincidentally going to the same college as the guys. Amanda knew Akko wouldn’t ruin the surprise, she’d probably just tell Andrew, and Andrew wouldn’t tell anyone, he’d just sit back and watch the events unfold, happy to have been briefed earlier.
What Amanda was so excited for, what had her smiling on the subway and in the sky, what had her parents asking her why she was grinning so much around the apartment these days, was surprising Louis.
He had no idea. That was what made it so exciting. She wasn’t one to plan for the future, but in the moments where she let herself smile about it, she came up with ideas for what she could do. Knock on the window like always? Sneak up on him and scare him? It didn’t matter. It was going to be so fun to see him. The thought that she was going back to England had her floating down every street in New York.