Lux has never been the type to be distracted by a phone in the middle of class, but ever since the night of the concert all she did was constantly tap the black screen in hopes to see a message from Shorter. She looked through the pointless notifications so much that her teachers began threatening to take her phone.

These out of character actions didn't go unnoticed by Oz, who Lux ended up telling about how Sing had to take her home because Shorter ditched her. Oz couldn't figure his best friend out. She was angry at Shorter yet hoping he'd call or show up outside her window again. The fact that he gave no explanation on why he left, and why he's been on ghost mode for the past week raised suspicions.

"So you said he graduated early?"

"Yeah. Apparently he and Sing's older brother were kind of troubled so the board wanted them to go to an early finishing school." Lux explained. "Why?"

"Hm, no reason. I was just curious. What's his older brothers name again?"

"Lao I think. But it's whatever, I don't want to talk to that jerk ever again." She lied, Oz just responded with a sarcastic brow lift and a half smile.

"I'll talk to you later, Lux. If you need anything you can call me too." He assured.

The day seemed to drag and all that was on Lux's mind was Shorter. She began to wonder if he was even okay. All that thinking and wishing must have summoned him because as soon as she walked out of school there he was in the parking lot, leaned up against his motorcycle with a guilty look on his face. Lux had to catch herself before he noticed how her eyes lit up when she saw him. She took a deep breath and tried her best to appear angry, "What are you doing here?"

Shorter sighed and took off his sunglasses. His deep brown eyes seemed so sad and they looked down at Lux with worry. "I know you probably hate me now." He began speaking softly to where only she could hear him, "And that you think I'm the worst." She nodded in agreement. "But Lux please know that I'm so so sorry about what happened. I shouldn't have ditched you like that."

Her lip quivered at the flashback of being abandoned. "Why did you?"

"I-" Shorter knew he couldn't say the truth but lying wasn't any better. "I can't tell you."

Lux rolled her eyes. The day was long and she wasn't in the mood to play this game. "Whatever. I gotta get home."

"Lux." Shorter turned and took hold of her wrist. "I can't tell you because..." she turned back, "It's embarrassing." She raised an eyebrow in confusion, "Okay you win. Uhh- my little cousin came down with a really bad stomach flu y'see- and uhhh I was taking care of him the night we went out and he passed it on to me. And I- I shit myself so I had to go."

Lux's eyes were fixated on Shorter not knowing how to react, then suddenly a burst of laughter erupted out of her. "You what!? Shorter oh my god, I'm sorry for laughing I really am! But that's-" she coughed while trying to catch her breath and regain composure, "that really is embarrassing. Wow. Are you feeling better now?"

Shorter's face burned out of pure embarrassment. "Mhm yeah." He trailed off and mentally cursed himself for coming up with such a ridiculous cover story. "I know I shouldn't have left you. I just didn't know what to do."

After finally getting rid of the giggles, Lux put her hand on the tall boys shoulder and let him know all was forgiven. "You do have to make it up to me though."

Shorter sighed in relief that she was so understanding, more so believing his lie. There were so many skeletons in his closet that he couldn't bare for her to see. "Can I start by driving you home?"

"Mmm." Lux tapped her lip, "How about we go out for a bite first? My parents aren't home so they won't know I'm late."  Shorter smiled and handed over a helmet. Being on the back of his motorcycle felt so right and she looked forward to doing it more often.
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"I had a lot of fun." Lux threw herself on the bed and replayed the day in her head. "Thanks for everything."

Shorter swiveled around in her gamer chair, thankful that he was able to spend more time with Lux since her parents were going to be home late. "It's the least I could do." He watched as she began to empty out her backpack and start to open up notebooks and take out multi colored pens. "You really take your studying seriously."

"I have to if I want to get into a good college."

"Ever get tired of it? Just doing the same thing everyday?"

She shook your head, "Not really. I like it for the most part. I'm a routine type of person so doing the same thing everyday is pretty comforting to me."

"I'm the opposite." Shorter stood up and studied the shelf full of books and old photo albums that Lux had collected through out the years. "It's like everyday something new is happening to me, doesn't matter if it's good or bad, I'm kind of thankful for everything. Don't know what I'd do if everyday was the exact same."

"My anxiety would be through the roof if I lived like that." Lux admitted while jotting down notes for her next history exam. The words played back in her head and her eyes shot up when she realized how that may have sounded judgmental. "Oh my gosh! I didn't mean that in a bad way!"

Shorter laughed at the cute reaction. "Trust me it's okay." He reached up for a pastel pink photo album that had collected some dust from never being opened. Inside were blurry pictures that were taken with a Polaroid and cutesy stickers around the borders of each page. "Did you take these?" He asked, holding open the album.

"Yeah. I used to like taking pictures when I was a kid. Flip over a few pages and there's a whole section dedicated to cartoon characters as melting popsicles." All of the old photos were so random and carefree. Shorter's favorite was the one she took of herself playing in her mothers make up, wearing crazy blue eyeshadow and smudged red lipstick. "How come you stopped? Looked like you had a lot of fun doing this."

Lux shrugged and chewed on the end of a pen, focusing more on the words in the textbook rather than paying much attention to Shorter's question, "I don't know. Guess I just realized that stuff wasn't that important."

"What do you mean?"

"None of that is going to impact my life in any way so I stopped to focus on things that will."

Shorter couldn't wrap his head around this girls thought process. Anything that wasn't considered school oriented or dedicating something to your future, had little interest to her. To him it seemed like such a sad life to live and she didn't even notice. "Not sayin what you're doing now isn't important but there's more to life than burying your head in a textbook."

Lux understood what Shorter was saying but there was also such a thing as being too care free and that wasn't a road she wanted to take. "Everybody chooses to live how they want and I'm perfectly fine with what I'm doing."

"If you say so." This was a conversation for another day. Shorter just wanted to enjoy the little bit of time he had left with her. "How's your friend Oz by the way? Sure he hates me even more now."

"He's fine. We've always been pretty protective over each other which is why his guard is up around you. Just give it time."

Obviously Shorter wasn't threatened by this best friend, but he was worried about him. Last thing he needed was for this guy to out Lux to her parents and never being able to see her again. "I'm sure my friend would like you a lot."

"Yeah? Which one?" Lux's eyes never left the book as she answered.

"His names Ash. I've mentioned you a few times."

"Mm. He have anything to say?"

"Yeah. Wondering why a girl as smart as you is hanging out with a dumbass like me." Shorter chuckled thinking back on the conversation. "He's super smart too. Has an IQ of 200."

The pen dropped from Lux's fingers. That was impossible. Obviously Shorter had to be exaggerating, right? "I believe you about Ash being smart but I doubt his IQ is 200."

"I'm serious. He can do math in his head!" Shorter added as if that was the breakthrough of the century.

"That means he'd be smarter than Einstein who's IQ was 160."

Shorter crossed his arms, "Einstein married his cousin. Ash is way cooler and smarter by default!"

"First of all, I'm surprised you know that weird fact." She chuckled, "Second, how did you meet this genius?"

"Oh I met him when we were in ju-" Shorter quickly stopped himself. He couldn't admit that they met in juvie. Then Lux would know he had a criminal record. Another reason for her to be afraid of him. "Uhhh, summer camp! Yeah his parents thought he was a brainy freak, so they sent him to get socialized."

"Was he homeschooled?"

"Mhm." At least that part wasn't a complete lie. "Turned out him and I both lived in NYC and we've been friends ever since."

"That's so sweet." She smiled, "I always wanted to go to camp but my parents never let me. I hope to meet him some day."

"Me too." Shorter checked his phone and saw how it was already getting late. "Hey I should start heading out. Your parents are gonna be home soon."

Lux looked at the clock and was saddened that she was going to be left alone. "I wish you could stay longer." She admitted while walking Shorter down the stairs.

"Try not to miss me too much." He teased, ruffling his hand through her black hair.

"Ugh!" She slapped his hands away. "Quit it!" Shorter loved the shade of pink that flourished over those plump cheeks whenever she got embarrassed. It was cute. "Can you call me later?"

"Awww wanna hear my voice before you go to bed?"

Lux pouted as she turned away, "No not that."

Shorter gently shifted her face back towards his, "Then what?" He smirked.

Her heart began to flutter faster with each passing second that Shorter looked into her eyes. He was so close. Close enough to hug. Close enough to kiss. She wanted to do that so badly but her shyness was stopping it from happening. She playfully pushed his hand away and gave him a soft smile, "Just wanted to tell you goodnight."

She was so pure and Shorter felt guilty about all of this lying. It made him wish he was born into a different life where he knew Lux would accept him, and all of his current flaws would be non existent. "You know.... They say a kiss lasts forever." He leaned in and puckered his lips. That was enough toying around. The only thing on Shorter's mouth was Lux's palm before pointing out the door for him to leave. "C'mon I was just joking!"

"Shorter Wong, you are the worst!"