"Ah, I hear you. I think we all have a way of glamorizing places that feel like they have more going on than the places we live in. I used to be that way about New York, and then one day I realized there were things about home that would always be really important to me. Of course, now that's a little strange to say out loud when I'm not even there anymore!"

Luz would obviously be very interested, as this was not anywhere near a decision that Luz was close to making. She was just finished her ninth-grade year before being whisked off to the Boiling Isles, and from there it was Deerington and Trench. A formal education seemed weirdly foreign to her now. But she would be listening with rapt attention if Lexi brought it up.

"I think everyone in the house will already know you somehow exist and are making things better for me. Luca and Ahiru are Bonded to me, and Reaper just has a way of finding these things out! The pets are going to be interested, but obviously Owlbert and Tempest are going to take special notice of you!"

Truthfully Luz was the one who worried about Lexi being alone. She was in that house by herself. Didn't she get lonely? Luz wanted to be sure she was doing everything to be sure Lexi was being taken care of.

Luz felt that connection too, and it was like they were already Bonded in a way: she didn't quite know how to describe it, but it was a warm, protecting feeling she had whenever Lexi was near.

But she did know one thing: seeing something she did made Lexi smile had Luz on cloud nine all day. She could get lost in that girl's eyes.

"Nonsense! We'll make idiots of ourselves together! How would it be fun if we didn't?"

Oh boy. Be prepared to be swept off your feet then.

Those things were what brought them together: how was it going to do anything but bring them closer?

"Aside from stuffing me full of garlic, I couldn't tell you," Luz said, making a silly face. "But I can be full of people repellant when I need to be!"