Rectification

Just as Amity was about to lean in and kiss Luz for a third time, a voice from the doorway interrupted her.

"Amity, you have to go back to your room. You haven't been permitted to leave yet."

Amity spun around and stared at the ground in front of the nurse who had entered. Had they seen anything? Now wouldn't that be a fate worse than being burned alive? "Yeah- well-" she sputtered.

The nurse raised an eyebrow.

"Fine, I'll go." Amity touched Luz's shoulder briefly. "Let's... let's talk later," she suggested.

Luz smiled. "Okay."

Amity followed the nurse back to her own room, sparing one last forlorn glance over her shoulder at Luz, whose eyes had widened in astonishment and was raising one hand to touch her lips.

When she was back in her own bed in her own empty room, Amity's mind began to race.

Luz likes me back.

She pictured the desperate expression on Luz's soft features as she'd pulled away from their first kiss.

She never would have guessed on her own. All of Luz's friendliness had seemingly portrayed nothing but platonic feelings. She supposed it had helped that she and Luz had started off as friends here- in the other timeline, Luz never would have felt anything romantic towards her, not after they'd been poised as rivals for so long. But now it was true. The shadows in the corners of her mind could protest all they wanted, tell her that it was only trauma and confusion that had pushed Luz to kiss her, but she knew that the look in Luz's eyes told a different story.

I don't need to be scared anymore.

Amity said the words to herself silently, and then repeated them out loud.

"I don't need to be scared anymore."

Grom has lost. The Isles are safe.

"Who are you talking to?"

Amity jumped, then scowled when she saw Boscha leaning against the wall just next to the door. "What are you doing here?"

"Same as you, I guess." Boscha looked down to distractedly admire her nails. "Sneaking into closed hospital rooms to make out with their occupants."

Amity's face went beet red. "We didn't- how did you know- we only kissed twice-" she sputtered.

"Wait, really?" Boscha's three eyes stretched wide in surprise. "I was actually only guessing. That's hilarious, though. I mean, it explains why you've been sitting here for the past few minutes staring at the wall and blushing like a tomato."

"You've been spying on me?"

"I guess you can say that. But you're just so funny."

"Get out of my room." Amity pointed stiffly to the door. "Now."

Boscha groaned. "Alright, fiiine. But you might want to know that Willow's asking for you. I wasn't going to tell you to go see her, but if you're strong enough to make it to Luz's room I'm sure you can make it to the only room that's closer. Even if Willow isn't your girlfriend."

Amity narrowed her eyes. "How do you know Willow wants me?"

"Duh. I was visiting her and telling her that just because I saved her life doesn't mean I owe her any more kindnesses in the future," Boscha replied matter of factly. "You know, I think she might have concussed herself when you guys were trapped in the school."

"Isn't that what everyone thinks."

"It was crazy," Boscha went on as if Amity hadn't spoken. "She had no idea who I was. And I've made sure she could never forget me."