Chapter Text
Lucia had dropped out of school. Much to the dismay of Camila. She had gotten a rather lazy job, being a pizza delivery driver- which was helpful enough and it got her mother off of her back when she needed it.
Mami was worried about her. Lucia knew that. But, she also knew that sometimes, she definitely needed to keep her distance in regards to Lucia's needs. Lucia was a grown adult now, so she knew how to care for herself.
…Relatively, anyway.
While she couldn't consider herself responsible, she was trying. It was an attempt! She was earning minimum wage and she was trying her best.
The car she used was a rental and it was annoying and broke down. But, it was charming in it's own right. At least, that's what Lucia thought.
Vee was eating breakfast with Luz. Camila had already left for a shift and Lucia walked downstairs and rubbed her eye. 'Morning, Lucia!' Luz chirped as she scooped a spoonful of cereal in her mouth.
'Morning. Going to school?' Lucia asked.
'Mmm-hm.' Was Luz's response, before she gently nudged Vee.
Vee blinked from what she was doing. She was a year younger than Luz, and she rubbed her eye as she glanced up at Luz. '..Mhm.' She replied as-well, albeit it was a bit more delayed.
Lucia moved over, gently patting Vee's head. 'Don't stress,' she remarked quietly. 'Just finish eating.' She then pulled back, allowing the smaller to eat.
She then stretched again, heading toward the coffee pot that was resting on the bench and pouring herself a cup. 'Are you working?' Luz asked in a very chipper tone.
'Hmm.. Yeah, I am.' Lucia replied, raising an eyebrow. Her shift was usual, a nine-to-four. She'd be leaving the same time Luz was. 'Want me to drop you n' Vee off?' She asked.
'Oh, absolutely!' Luz replied happily, giving a chuckle. Sure, Lucia's car broke down a lot- but, it always beat the bus. People tended to throw things at Luz and she was glad Lucia had offered.
'Alright, get your bag.' Lucia ordered, finishing her cup in a quick swig. 'Let's go.'
✦✦✦
The car was parked in the lot and Luz and Vee had quickly left the car, which seemed very unhappy and had already struggled to start and stopped on the way there. Thankfully, they were still a bit early due to Lucia rushing them out the door.
Luz turned back to Lucia, pointing finger guns at her with a grin. 'Thank you, Lucia!' She chirped.
'Luz, look out—' Vee had begun, only to break off as Luz backed up from the car and walked into someone.
'Hey!' The victim of Luz's clumsiness stumbled, glancing up at Luz with very frustrated brown eyes.
'Oh— oops, I'm sorry-' she broke off, taking a step back.
It was Hunter. Hunter Wittebane was the nephew of the mayor. Gravesfield had Phillip Wittebane, the mayor, for a long time now. He just randomly showed up one day and was elected after his brother had disappeared.
He had been the mayor for around fifty years— or was it sixty?
'Sorry?' The scrawny thing demanded. He was taller than Luz but he was also rather thin, his eyes narrowed in fury. He was incredibly upset. 'Well, you really should watch where you're going—'
'Hey!' Lucia barked from the front seat. 'Seriously kid, chill it out. She apologized. Just get your scrawny ass to your class.'
'And who are you?' Hunter snipped in reply. 'Aren't you a little old to be here?' His eyes looked her over, before they landed on the uniform she was wearing. He narrowed his eyes, but seemed to hold his tongue before he said anything silly.
'Well, I'm dropping my sisters off— something your Uncle doesn't seem to do.' Lucia snapped.
Silence was drawn out between the two, Hunter's face betrayed no offense, only a twitch of his lip before he turned and stalked away.
Luz frowned, tipping her head. That shut him up, sure, but she had most definitely noticed that he hadn't taken Lucia's comment kindly. She approached the car, gently grasping Lucia's arm that was resting against the open window. 'Lucia?' She prompted. '..Maybe don't cause fights with the mayor's nephew?'
'Don't care who he is,' Lucia replied, gently patting Luz's shoulder. 'I've got work though- I'll see you after school.' She then started the car- which stalled and didn't move for a few moments before it finally roared and Lucia was off.
'..I think we should apologize,' Luz told Vee as she walked over to her adoptive sister.
'Mm…' Vee trailed off with a frown. Confrontation was definitely not Vee's thing. Luz then smiled, clapping a hand over Vee's arm. 'You didn't do anything wrong,' she soothed. 'I don't think he even noticed you. So- I'll talk to him, okay? You don't have to do anything.'
Vee shyly nodded at her, her eyes darting away to the entrance.
The bell had begun to go off, signaling that classes were starting. 'Oh, crap,' Luz grumbled. 'Okay, off we go. I'll see you soon.' She gave her a gentle, almost comforting bump on the shoulder with her own, before heading off toward the entrance.
The walk was quick. She moved in quick strides and quickly moved into the classroom, arriving just as the bell finished and she plopped down in her seat.
The class came and went. Luz was far, far too focused in drawing cartoonish figures in her book rather than actually paying attention. This was… History? She thought. She didn't really care.
As the bell went, Luz rubbed her head, before noticing a certain scrawny figure in her peripheral whom was walking by. Instantly, Luz was up, darting toward him. 'Hey, Hunter!' She called, almost running into him again.
His eyes flew wide and he froze, throwing his arms out to halt Luz before she practically slammed him. 'What is your problem—'
'I'm so so sorry about this morning, and my sister, and running into you, and… Well, that's it, but..'
'This morning?' Hunter grunted, dusting himself off and pulling away from Luz. 'Listen, weirdo, I don't care about this morning, it was nothing.' He looked frustrated, glaring aside and not daring to look the opposite in the eyes.
'Nothing?' Luz prompted, raising an eyebrow. 'It.. Didn't look like nothing. You were like.. Wordless!'
'Not wordless. I didn't want to waste my time with someone like that.'
'Someone like that?- You mean Lucia? What do you mean by that?' Luz demanded, furrowing her eyebrows and crossing her arms.
'Someone who clearly was just trying to get a reaction out of me. I really, really don't care, so just.. Go bother someone else.'
'Mm..' Luz trailed off, albeit she still looked rather upset herself. 'Uhm.. Alright.'
✦✦✦
'And he was just so frustrating to talk to!' Luz complained, holding her head in her hands with her elbows propped up against the table. 'He also insulted you, ¡y él realmente no estaba interesado en absoluto! Era molesto!' She then snarled in Spanish.
They were at the dinner table. Lucia was sitting in-front of Luz at the table, and Vee was sitting beside the girl. 'Don't sweat it.' Lucia replied. 'Seriously. He's just a posh kid with a powerful Uncle. He isn't worth your time, but I'm proud of you for apologizing, anyway.'
'Oh..' She trailed off. 'Alright. Thanks, Lucia.'
Okay. She could do that. She could leave him alone.
Sure.