I stared at this picture for a little too long and wrote this:
"Mom says I have to go back to school soon," Luz lamented, like she was giving them some terrible news. She laid down on the grass, next to her girlfriend, feeling the warm sunlight on her tan skin.
"Yeah, that makes sense; I couldn't go in your place forever," reasoned Vee, who was on her basilisk form, laying on her stomach and playing with a leaf she'd found on the ground. "I'm gonna have to lend you my notes, you have a lot of homework to catch up on."
All 6 kids were hanging out on the front yard of the abandoned house taking a little break from all the research they had been doing trying to build a portal. Being on an isolated location rarely visited by unknown humans allowed them the freedom to uncover their ears, let out their Palismen and use magic as they pleased. It was a very comfortable place.
Amity noticed her girlfriend's bad mood and closed the book she was reading to look at her.
"Maybe we can come with you?" she suggested, on an attempt to cheer Luz up.
"Oh, oh!" Gus exclaimed, jumping up and down on the tree branch he had climbed. The others worried that he would fall, but they knew they could catch him if he did. "We can attend human classes and learn like you did at Hexside! I can take notes and show the kids from the H.A.S. when we get back!"
"Aww, that's really sweet, you guys," smiled Luz, endeared by the image. "but I don't think that's a good idea."
"Aaww, why not?" Gus pouted.
"Well, for starters, none of you have birth certificates or any legal documents to get enrolled."
"And you guys still don't know a lot about humans, you're probably going to blow your cover."
"And human school is actually really horrible and boring," Luz frowned, fighting back old memories of bullying and bad grades and rude teachers.
"I honestly really like human school," said Vee "it's fun!"
"You're insane," whispered Luz, though it was clear that she was joking.
"Guys, I'm actually with Luz on this one," Hunter said. He was sitting cross-legged under Gus's tree, idly petting Flapjack.
"Who are you and what have you done with our Hunter?" Gus leaned down to glare daggers at his older friend.
Hunter laughed. "But seriously, going to human school is quite risky and we need to stay focused on building the portal!"
"Come on, Hunter!" argued Amity "I thought you of all witches would've jumped at the chance to study and learn new things."
"Not saying I don't want to, I'm saying it's a bad idea," Hunter got defensive "you're with me; right, Willow?"
Willow, who had been laying at Amity's side and looking away from them this whole time, didn't respond.
"Willow?" Hunter asked again.
This time, Willow turned around and let out the biggest, loudest, ugliest snore ever. The girls, especially Amity, looked disgusted while Gus laughed. Hunter, meanwhile, stared at her open-mouthed like this was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
"That explains why she hasn't talked for like, 20 minutes," said Gus, still laughing.
"Shhhh!! Don't wake her!" Hunter shushed him "let her sleep, she needs it."
"You're kidding, right? She's the one always keeping us awake with her ungodly noises," Amity rolled her eyes as she said this.
" 'Sides, Willow can sleep through pretty much anything," added Luz.
Vee suddenly smiled maniacally. "Let's test that theory."
She took her leaf and started tickling Willow's face with it.
While Vee kept at it, the other 3 observed with quiet giggles. Hunter rolled his eyes, a little annoyance, a little fondness. Honestly, if it had been anyone else, he probably would've been onboard with the joke but his soft spot for Willow made it difficult to make fun of her.
He sighed, hopeless. She was just so adorable and delicate and beautiful. He watched her, still snoring and drooling and kicking Amity in her sleep a little bit. The sunlight reflected on her glasses in the most perfect way and he suddenly wanted to keep this moment with him and commit it to memory.
That's when he remembered that Willow's (originally Camila's) camera was still in her bag and, without really thinking, he took it and snapped a picture of this absolutely wonderful image.
Unfortunately, the flash from the camera attracted attention from the rest of the group. They all stared at him strangely, making his face and ears go a deep shade of red.
"What was that?" asked Luz, though her smile implied she already knew.
"I-I j-just..." he stuttered, scrambling for a good answer "I w-wanted to capture the moment cause... it seemed like it'd make a good picture because... uh..." he sighed, defeated "she just looked so cute."
"Cute?" Amity laughed "are you sure? that starfish creature next to me?"
That made Hunter's face even redder. "I think it's actually weirdly endearing!"
The other 4 laughed and Gus especially shaked his head in disbelief. Love really did make you blind and deaf. If what he'd seen from Luz, Amity, Hunter and Willow was any indication, he feared the day he would find the love of his life, for that would be the day he'd forever lose all his braincells.
Not long after that, Willow stirred awake. She stretched her arms, took off her glasses to rub her eyes and groaned.
"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty!" said Luz, cheerfully.
"Did you have a nice nap?" asked Vee, dropping the leaf.
"Yeah," Willow smiled, still a little sleepy.
"Oh! Willow, look!" Luz called her attention, quickly grabbing the photograph from Hunter's grasp and handing it to his crush.
Willow looked at the picture, pleasantly surprised.
"Aww, what a nice photo! It's a really cute and fun moment and the light is hitting my face just right!"
Hunter felt an odd mix of embarrassment from her seeing the picture and pride from her liking it. Willow was really passionate about photography, not to mention the most amazing witch he knew, so the compliment meant a lot.
"This is really good, who took it?" she looked at the 2 boys, because it was obvious none of the girls had done it.
Hunter avoided eye contact and fidgeted with Flapjack's feathers shyly while Gus got a shit-eating grin on his little face.
Hunter looked up at his younger friend, feeling betrayed.
"Wow, Hunter!" Willow smiled at him "I didn't know you were such a good photographer."
Hunter was blushing much more happily now. He allowed himself to return her smile, showing off his tooth gap.
"I learned from the best," he miraculously managed to say without fainting.
