Synthesis

“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.” Sun Tzu

Luz leaps out of her mom’s car.

“Have a great day, mija! I hope you make friends, remember not to throw paint balls at any teachers or release spiders into school, and you will do great!

“Mom, this isn’t even my first day of classes, it’s just club fair, how much trouble can I get into?” Luz laughs.

“I know, I know, just be good!” She speeds off to work. 

The rising junior looks up at the brick highschool.

Hexside. Eda’s stories about this place were great.

Her teacher told her how she had been expelled after endless shenanigans and pranks. Luz especially liked hearing about how young Eda had filled the hallway with full water cups so no one could walk. 

“Also, Luz, they have an MMA club that competes in various martial arts tournaments. Back in my day, I was star fighter. You should join and continue my legacy,” she told her.

 “Oooo! I can make more friends, train with more people, this is going to be awesome!” Luz replied, whirling from pure excitement. 

In the present moment, Luz notices stands on the field. Little rows of white capped tents, with tables underneath. About fifty different club booths all try their hand at enticing new members. Some give out candies, some offer up buttons, some pass out stickers, some merely drone on while pointing to poster boards. 

Woah, so many choices, I’m going to go find the anime club.

The new student pushes through clumps of her peers, spotting a large Totoro cut-out beckoning her in the distance. She signs up swiftly, engaging in a brief conversation about her love of AMVs before moving on to the next booth. She stealthily sneaks a cupcake away from the baking club, puts her name down for Book Club, and then...comes face to face with the most magnificent flower ever.

“I love how pink it is!” Luz exclaims without thinking.

“Beautiful aren’t they? Those are orchids! Very hard to grow, very hard to keep alive, but very worth it.” The voice comes from a girl behind gigantic circular spectacles. The gardening club officer is short and stout, giving Luz an appreciative smile.

“Do you guys have poppies here? I had a whole field near me back home...and I kind of miss them?” 

“Hmm, unfortunately it gets too cold here for poppies. Where’s home? I haven’t seen you around here, stranger.”  

“California, not cold at all, I have a feeling I’m going to DIE in Winter time.” Luz flails her hands around dramatically.

The gardener girl chuckles. “I’m Willow, an 11th grader, by the way, what’s your name?”

“Luz, Luz Noceda, I am starting my junior year too! Little nervous at the level of homework, I’ve heard this is the worst year of highschool. Oh, do you know if bio will be hard this year, I have Professor...”

Their two personalities click instantly, and they avidly converse. Willow gets relieved of her booth shift by another gardening officer, and shows Luz around the fair.  

“Let’s just grab my friend Gus, and then I’ll show you the greatest club at Hexside.”

“Ooo more friend! Ooo more club!” Luz grabs candy from a booth they walk past.

They come to a large table, cloaked in a blue cloth. Playing cards are spread out, a wands lay arranged in a line, a toppled top hat lies at the foot of the table. A small boy, who looks like a middle schooler, shuffles a deck of cards. 

“Hi Gus,” Willow waves.

“Hiya, who’s our new friend?” He looks puzzled.

“This is Luz, she’s new, and really funny!” 

“Hi Luz, do you wanna see a card trick!” 

“Uhh…”

“Pick a card, any card.” 

“Gus, we don’t have time for this now...We have to go to the next club,” Willow winks.

“Oh, the next club, that it’s the first rule not to mention….” Gus gives an awkward wink back.

“Fight Club?!” Luz exclaims.

“Well, technically it’s the Martial Arts club, and we can talk freely about it, we are just being silly. Meetings are super fun but some of the people… well, you’ll see.”

They lead her over the field, toward the back of the school. They arrive at an inconspicuous door spray painted to blend into the red brick. 

Woah, it’s like a secret hideout, how cool is that!  

Willow throws the door open, and the trio walks inside.

Blue mats cover the entire floor of the training room, with fluorescent lights making them shine. Scattered students practice kicks and punches, while an old man sits asleep on the chair.

They remove their shoes before going any further.

“Ah, the smell of sweat and blood!” Luz dramatically sighs.

“But there isn’t any blo--” Gus attempts to correct her.

“Wait, who’s the geezer in the corner?”

“Principle Bump, he supposedly advises our club, but all he ever does is sit there and doze off…” Willow explains.

“Oh look who it is, wimpy Willow,” a new girl, with cruel blue eyes and a high pony tail, approaches them.

“Oh hi Bosc--ah!” Boscha sweeps Willow’s legs before she even has time to react, and she laughs.  

Luz is enraged, “Hey, why did you do that! It wasn’t even a fair fight, hasn’t anyone told you it’s cowardly to attack an unsuspecting opponent?”

“New girl... go back to Mexico.”

Luz seethes. “You are racist and wrong, my mom is from the Domician Rep--”

“Cool it, Boscha, xenophobia isn’t classy at all,” a new girl strides up. She has dyed green hair with brown roots peeking from the top of her head, eyes such a brown that they look amber to Luz, and skin so pale it looks as if she hasn’t ever stepped into sunlight.

Wow, she looks so confident, under other circumstances…..I would want to be her friend.

“Unprovoked violence isn’t classy either,” Luz helping Willow up.  

“I mean, this is, well, a club focusing on fighting…” the green haired girl says.

“It’s cowardly to attack an unprepared opponent,” Luz fires back.

“It’s not called being ‘cowardly,’ it’s called being a winner. Looking at who you’ve chosen to associate with, it seems you wouldn’t know much about that.” Snark creeps into her voice.

Luz clenches her fists. 

This is my chance, to stand up for what’s right, for what’s good.

“I’ll show you just how much I know about winning…. I challenge you… to a duel!” Luz looks into surprised eyes. The room quiets as people cease training. 

The shock at being challenged morphs into mirth, and Luz’s opponent laughs.

“Uh… Luz,” Willow suddenly pulls her aside. “That’s Amity Blight, she’s trained by the top fighter in this town…”

“Amity shamity, my teacher is the best in town. I know this girl’s type, she’s obsessed with status and self-centered… I can use that against her…”

“Do you even know how to fight?” Gus asks.

“Yes, I train quite hard. Now, where was I.” She whirls back to Amity, who still has an intense air of confidence. “What are the rules for this duel? I’ll let you choose the conditions.” 

“3 rounds. Both shoulders on the ground means you lose the round. Willow can referee. Standard MMA rules, no eye shots, pulling hair….”

“I know I know, all I have to do is make you fall…” 

“I don’t fall, new girl.”

“Name is Luz.”

“I don’t care. Let’s just get this started so I can move on with my day.” A crowd has gathered around them, watching the spectacle unfold.

“Okay… ready guys….” Willow sweats behind her spectacles, worried for her new friend, “let’s start in 1….2….3….”

As soon as the three leaves the ref’s mouth, Amity strikes with an open hand. Luz ducks, side stepping, the attack missing the top of her head by mere inches. Immediately, she dodges a knee that would have gone straight into her face. 

Amity strikes and pursues, while Luz dodges and evades. The move to a beat of a deadly rhythm, their pride pushing them to go faster and faster.

Bob and weave, bob and weave. Her style seems like a mix of Krav Maga and Muay Thai. Dios mio, she’s fast, but I’m fast too...maybe I can wear her out.

Across the mat they dance, each attempting to get the upper hand, each trying to be three moves ahead of the other. Amity’s smirk has been washed away with sweat.

“See! I’m putting up more of a challe--” Luz’s back thumps the mat, thrown by her opponent.

“Amity wins round one,” Willow announces, voice still laced with anxiety. 

The two fighters return to starting position, circling each other. Amity is now more cautious, calculating. 

Luz goes in for her first attack of the game, a quick jab that lands right in her opponents face. Unfortunately, Amity counters with a strong right hook, knocking her adversary off balance.

Ouch! That hur--uh-oh…

The Blight takes her opportunity, she trips the dazed teen, pushing her to the ground and securing the win.

“Amity wins two out of three rounds meanin-”

“Wait, let’s do one more, as a... learning experience for new students.” The victor’s confident smile has returned fully.

Luz rises, rubbing the cheek that was injured. 

And the dance resumes. Both are reserved, slower, more tired, merely moving in a circle.

Luz wants redemption, she wants to win this at least. She wants to properly defend her friends, show Amity she was in wrong, and emerge triumphant.

Now, I’m the underdog here, I need to do something risky, something spectacular, something no one will believe would work...and I need to do it now.

Luz cartwheels, extending her leg into Amity’s jaw before she lands. Her opponent falls backwards, thonking against the mat. 

The entire room stands still. Luz Noceda has made Amity Blight fall. 

Luz offers her hand, but Little Miss Perfect swats it away, standing with a face red from rage.

Wow...she’s like a tomato.

“What was that?!”

“Just a fancy thing I’ve been working o--”

“That would have never worked on the street, in a real fight!”

“We aren’t on the street…” Luz looks puzzled at this burst of anger.

“That move was ridiculous, and doesn’t belong i--”

“Hold up, it wasn’t ridiculous, it’s called being a winner.” 

I sure showed her.

“Woo! That was awesome! Go Luz!” Gus shouts from the side of the mat, next to a gleaming Willow. 

Amity storms off the mat in anger and embarrassment. 

“New girl, this isn’t over.” 

“Good! That was fun, let’s do it again sometime,” she waves at the bully.

I know she was mean to Willow, mean to me. But that was the most fun I’ve had in a long time, I wonder if she can be changed. A hero saves everyone after all or at least tries. In the meantime, I’ll just kill her with kindness.

The room resumes its training, a quiet Boscha in the corner seething at the violation of her familiar hierarchy.