2. New School, New Friends

Luz slowly woke up, her hand fumbling by her bedside to try and turn off the alarm from her phone. She hadn't gotten enough sleep last night, on account of being nervous about her first day at a new school. Still she eventually got out of bed and headed over to her closet to get dressed. It was at that moment that she remembered one of the reasons she was not too thrilled about this first day. As she looked in her closet there were new clothes in it that she never would have worn by choice but had to wear now as they were a part of her new school uniform. Luz couldn't remember the last time she had willingly worn a skirt, even at a young age she had not found them comfortable and when given the choice would always prefer shorts over a skirt. Her mother had made her wear one occasionally for photos or formal events but had mostly respected Luz's decision and not forced her to wear traditional women's clothes. Now that decision was no longer hers and part of the new school's dress code required girls to wear skirts, not pants or shorts. The skirt wasn't even a color she liked, It was a faded mauve or pink and Luz preferred darker colors. The shirt wasn't too bad though it to was rather plain. It was grey with a collar and It also bore the crest of the new school she would be attending, St. James Middle School.

Sighing Luz managed to get herself dressed and looked at herself in the mirror, it was a strange sight that she was looking at. It felt wrong to be wearing this new uniform. This plain grey colored shirt and the faded looking skirt. There were two things about her appearance that she had been granted some leeway on. Instead of her usual leggings she now wore a pair of dark blue tights under her skirt, the dress code had not allowed for leggings, so Luz had gone instead with some tights that were similar in color to her old leggings. She had also been allowed to keep her white keds, in fact it was the only thing from her old look that was still there. As Luz closed her closet, she looked one more time at her old cat hoodie shirt and sighed wishing she was wearing it instead.

Luz came into the kitchen where her mom was already there cooking breakfast. Her mother turned to face her as she entered.

"That new uniform looks good on you Mija,” she said.

"Well glad you like it, me I'm not quite feeling it," said Luz.

"You'll get used it," said her mother, "now hurry up and eat, then brush your teeth, so I can drop you off on my way to work."

Before long Luz and her mother were in the car and driving to the new school. It didn't take long for them to arrive.

"Here we are Mija," said her mother, "Oh one more thing before you go." With that Camila handed Luz her Azura book.

"Wait really? I can have it back!" asked Luz.

"You've been doing good work around the house and I want you to have a good first day," replied her mother, "Luz this new school is a chance for you to make some friends, but you have to try. Can you do that?"

"Yes mom," replied Luz, "I will give it a try."

"That's all I can really ask," said Camila. With that Luz got out of the car and bid her mother goodbye. Camila drove away and Luz was left alone to take in her new surroundings.

Luz took in the sight of her new school, she had only seen pictures of it through both the flyer as well as a few pictures online. It was a red bricked building that had a flag outside with the school's crest on it. There were already several students gathering near the front. Luz took in her new surroundings and did her best to put on a brave face.

Well I guess this is the first day of a new start, she thought, time to put my best foot forward and see what this school has to offer. With that she put her shoulders back and her chest forward and got ready to walk towards the entrance.

 She began making her way to the entrance as she was walking, she suddenly heard a loud shout.

"Hey watch out!"

Luz turned just in time to see another girl on her bike riding straight towards her. She managed to stop, but not before colliding with Luz and knocking her down.

"Oh I'm so sorry! I didn't realize how fast I was going" exclaimed the other girl getting off her bike and offering her hand to Luz, "are you okay?"

"Oh sure I'm fine," replied Luz accepting the offered hand, "my butt absorbed most of the impact and nothing looks broken or scrapped." Luz looked into the face of the girl. She was about Luz's age and of Asian descent with a skin color similar to Luz's own. She had wild brown hair that poofed out around her head. She was wearing the same school uniform as Luz and a pair of yellow converse high tops.

"Cool shoes!" Luz said to the girl.

"Ah thanks! I got them for my birthday last year gotta try and stay in style you know. That's some cool keds you're rocking," she said pointing to Luz's own shoes.

"Really?!" said Luz who had never gotten a compliment on her fashion before, "Thanks right now I feel like it's the only thing of myself I'm allowed to wear.

"Hmmm hey are you new here?" asked the girl, "I've been going to St. James my whole life and I don’t think I've seen you around."

"Yeah this is my first day here actually," said Luz, "what a way to start almost getting run over by a bike."

"Again sorry about that, but hey I got to meet you. It's just like that anime where the girl runs a guy over on her moped but then they become friends," said the girl.

"Are you referring to Korra?" asked Luz, "I mean they also eventually became lovers if I remember correctly. But then they find out that her father--"

"Is actually supporting Amon," finished Anne, "you watch that series too?"

"Yeah of course I do!" exclaimed Luz who had never found someone she could talk about anime with. "What other anime's do you watch?"

Luz and the girl began talking about the other shows they enjoyed as well as other interests they shared. That talk however, was interrupted by the ringing of the school bell.

"Ahh man looks like we gotta get to class, but I'm sure I'll see you in there," said the girl as she waved goodbye to Luz.

"Okay yeah I hope so," said Luz.

"Hey why don't we continue this conversation at lunch?" suggested the girl, "as a new girl you won't know anyone at this school, you can sit with me and my friends. Just look for me in the cafeteria."

Internally Luz's heart was racing. To be invited to sit with a group at lunch. That had never happened to her before, for as long as she could remember she had sat alone at lunch, and while sometimes she tried to sit with other kids it was clear that they merely tolerated her being there. Luz was so struck by this girl's invitation that she hadn't responded and was only starring at the girl.

"Umm hello? You okay there?" asked the girl.

"Huh? Oh yeah I'm fine," replied Luz, "I'd love to join you for lunch! Will your friends be alright with it?"

"Yeah, they're cool, don't worry about it," said the girl as the two began walking towards the school, "oh by the way I didn't catch you name?"

"I'm Luz, Luz Noceda," said Luz

"Anne, Anne Boonchuy," said the girl finally identifying herself, "see you at lunch!"

Lunch could not have come quickly enough for Luz. As soon as she had her tray she scanned the cafeteria looking for Anne. It didn't take long for Luz to find her and went over to where she was sitting. Sure enough Anne wasn't alone two other girls were seated with her one was a Caucasian girl with blonde hair tied in a ponytail. The other was another girl of Asian descent who was absorbed in writing something that looked like a journal. Anne saw Luz approaching and waved her over

"Hey Luz, glad you could make it," said Anne, "Sasha, Marcy this is that girl I was telling you about, her name is Luz."

Luz sat down and sheepishly waved at the other two girls who took her in. Both seemed to be smiling though the blonde girl's smile was a little bit cunning.

"So is it true Anne almost ran you over?" she asked.

"Well almost being the key word," said Luz, "but I'm fine."

"I told you that bike you have can get some major speed," said the blonde girl to Anne, "we should totally go to that park and see how fast you can go down that hill. I bet you could go really fast."

"Yeah but there are people on that path all the time Sash," protested Anne.

"Exactly, how much fun will it be to watch as all those people scurry out of the way from Anne and her bike," said the blonde.

"That's an interesting idea of fun," said Luz.

“Hey that’s not all we do for fun,” said Sasha, “How about you Luz? What do you like to do for fun?”

“Well I like editing anime clips to music and reading fantasy books with complicated backstories,” replied Luz.

At this Marcy stopped writing in her book and turned to face Luz.

“Fantasy books with complicated backstories,” she began, “perhaps like the Azura book line." With that she pulled out a book from her backpack. It was Good Witch Azura 5.

Luz starred at the book also in stunned silence for a moment before pulling out her own copy of the book to show Marcy. They starred at each other for a few seconds before finally letting out a scream of excitement together.

"OMG! I can't believe I found someone else who likes Azura!!!" they said at the same time.

"Hey, do you have any theories on what's going to happen in book 6?" asked Luz excitedly.

"Do I" answered Marcy as she flipped the journal she was writing in to a new section, "My dear Luz, let me tell you what I think is the most likely outcome of Book 6."

“Oh no you two,” said Sasha, waving at Marcy and Luz, “If you start going into one of your Azura speculations god only knows when you’ll stop. I am not sitting through another one of those.

Marcy whispered to Luz, “We’ll continue this conversation some other time.”

“Well how about you Sasha?” asked Luz, “What do you do for fun?”

“Oh, you know the usual, go to the mall, post on social media, watch trashy TV shows, shoplift, and play games,” answered Sasha.

“Wait what was that last one?” asked Luz.

“Playing games,” answered Sasha coyly.

“Sasha is a bit of a jokester sometimes,” said Anne, “I think she was kidding,”

"Trust me, my idea of fun is better than Marcy's," said the blonde pointing to the other girl, "If it were up to her we'd just play Creatures and Caverns all day."

"Hey don’t pretend like you don't actually enjoy that game," replied Marcy in a snarky tone, "If I recall your character Slash the Warrior is now leader of her own barbarian tribe. And that wasn't even in my notes as a DM you just charmed your way up the ranks until they made you their leader."

"I'm sure it helps that my character has been training since childhood with all manner of melee weapons and has a high Charisma stat," replied Sasha, "what can I say? I know how to lead."

"You guys play Creatures and Caverns!" exclaimed Luz a little too loudly.

"Whenever we have time," answered Anne, "it usually takes Marcy awhile to come up with a quest for us to tackle, but she's come up with some good ones."

"I've always wanted to try and play a tabletop RPG, but I've never been able to find a group to play with," said Luz a little sadly.

"Oh well the more the merrier," said Marcy, "I can give you a character sheet and you can think of what you want to play as. We don't currently have a spellcaster in our team yet, maybe you can be one?"

"Oh that would be great!" said Luz, "I already have a name picked out, The Good Witch Luzura"

“I should have known,” laughed Marcy, “Okay Luzura, I’ll come up with a character stat sheet for you and you can join in on our next adventure.”  

“Wow really you mean it?” said Luz getting a bit emotional and tearing up a bit. Which didn’t go unnoticed by the other girls.

“Are you okay?” asked Anne concerned.

“What no I’m fine,” answered Luz wiping the tears from her eyes, “It’s just you know I’m the new kid here I guess I didn’t expect to be welcomed on my first day. I thought it would be a lot harder to adjust to a new school and everything.”

“Hey speaking of which,” began Sasha, “What exactly happened? Did you move here? Your parents have to move because of work or something like that?”

“Well not exactly, you see….” Luz trailed off as she looked around wondering if any of the other students were listening. She continued to hesitate about saying why she was new before Marcy spoke.

“Hey it’s okay if you don’t want to say what’s up, we understand—”

Sasha however cut her off, “Hold on a sec if you’re hesitating like that it must be something really juicy! I want to know.”

“Sash,” began Marcy, “If she doesn’t want to say we shouldn’t force her.”

“It’s fine hey you’re among friends Luz,” said Sasha, “whatever you say stays here with us.”

“Really?” began Luz, “I mean I just met you guys, do you really mean we’re the kind of friends who keep each other’s secrets?”

“Of course,” reassured Sasha as she spoke, she nodded to Anne and Marcy, “Are we all in agreement? Whatever Luz says here stays between the four of us?”

Anne and Marcy both nodded and leaned in closer to Luz eager to hear her story. Luz was getting a little flustered having this many people wanting to listen to her, it was a funny feeling but also one that gave her a rush of adrenaline. Finally, she smiled at the girls before whispering, so only the three other girls could hear.

“I was expelled from my old school!”

A collective gasp came from the girls as their faces lit up at this news. Luz launched into the tale of what had happened embellishing a few details to make herself sound more rebellious. When it was all over Sasha immediately offered her hand to Luz for a high five!

“That was awesome!” exclaimed Sasha, as Luz slapped her hand “I had you pegged as the mysterious new kid, with a dark side. I knew I was right!”

“Wow I’ve never known a person who was expelled before,” said Marcy, “you’re just like the mischievous thief Matthew from the Flame Emblem Series. Breaking the rules stealing things and never getting caught.”

“Well except I was caught,” said Luz trailing off.

“Yeah, but then you came to this school and met us,” said Anne.

“I think you’ll fit in just fine,” said Sasha with a devious smile.

With that the lunch bell rung and the girls made their way out of the cafeteria. Sasha manged to catch Anne on her way to her next class.

“So what do you think of Luz?” asked Sasha.

"I like her," answered Anne, "how about you?"

"Eh she's a little naïve, but I definitely like her spirit. I say we keep her." said Sasha.

"I'm sure she'll be happy to hear that," said Anne, "so anyway Sasha tell me more about, that cute guy you went on a date with."

"Oh I'm actually glad you brought that up Anne, you see as it turns out I'm going to need a favor from the Breakup Queen again…." said Sasha slyly.

As the school day ended the students either left of their own accord or were picked up by their parents. Sasha and Marcy had already left the school leaving Anne and Luz alone. The two walked to the bike rack where Anne got ready to get on her bike and leave.

"Hey thanks again for introducing me to your friends and letting me sit with you guys at lunch," said Luz, "I had a good time."

"Yeah no problem," said Anne, "I hope that means you had a good first day here."

"Honestly it was a lot better than I thought it would be," answered Luz.

"Cool…." began Anne, after pausing for a bit she continued, "hey Luz do you mind if I ask you a personal question?"

"I guess that depends on what it is but sure go ahead," she said.

"Did you have friends at your old school?" asked Anne.

Luz didn't answer right away as she was taken aback by the question. Her smile faded from her face, Anne noticed and continued talking to explain more.

"It's just I noticed how excited you were when I invited you. I saw how your eyes lit up when we talked about you joining our RPG group.  Later I saw you and Marcy talking about Good Witch Azura like you've been looking for someone to talk to your whole life," Anne observed.

Luz paused for awhile before answering, "no I didn't really have any friends at my old school, and seeing as how I was always alone I guess I just got used to the idea. I never really noticed on how much I missing out by not having friends." Luz turned away from Anne looking sad for a moment.

"Hey it's cool I understand," said Anne, "truth is I was bullied a lot growing up. If it wasn't for Sasha I probably wouldn't have any friends either. I've known her since kindergarten."

"Why were you bullied?" asked Luz seriously.

"I was an outsider just like you, but also I'm first generation of my family to be born here. I’m Thai American. You know how it is sometimes, kids think you talk funny or you eat weird food and they label you as foreign. I was wondering if that was the case with you?" asked Anne.

"Yeah it is," said Luz, "My mother came here when she was younger. I'm also first generation Dominican American. I wouldn’t say I was bullied because of that, but I would say that kids did use it as an excuse to not hang around me.”

"Huh, isn’t that something?" said Anne nonchalantly. For a moment the two girls stood there next to each other processing what they had just learned of each other. Anne and Luz looked at each other the simple connection of being first generation in their families helping to form an unspoken bond between the two. The type of bond that was not something either of them had ever talked about before. The type of bond on which a strong friendship could be forged on. This was broken up though as Luz's mother finally showed up and honked her horn to alert Luz to her presence.

"I gotta go!" said Luz to Anne, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Wait," called Anne to Luz, "before you go let me give you my number. Call me and I'll have yours okay?" Anne gave Luz her phone number. Luz quickly dialed it and Anne's phone began to ring.

"Got it" she said, "talk to you later Luz." with that Anne waved goodbye as Luz walked over to her mother's car. Anne couldn’t help but smile as she watched Luz leave, that last conversation about being first generation. It wasn’t a conversation she’d ever had with anyone else, and she felt a kindred spirit with Luz over learning about that special connection they shared.

Luz entered the backseat of the car in high spirits. Camila was quick to notice this.

"So Mija, how was your day?"

"It was actually very nice," said Luz smiling at how her first day had gone. Luz thought about the new friends she had made.  How Sasha had given her a high five because of her story about being expelled. The conversation she had with Marcy about Azura, they’d talked at length about their theories about the sixth book. Finally, she thought about Anne. Only a few minutes ago she had found common ground with Anne over something she had never really talked with anyone else about. As the car turned to leave the school Luz looked out the window for one last look at Anne already missing her. She couldn’t wait to see her again tomorrow!