It was still raining when Lux got out of the shower and found Shorter spinning around in her pink gamer chair. Its surprising that he stayed exactly where she left him. "You have a nice set up." He complimented, "Didn't take you for a gamer."

"I'm not." Lux put her dirty clothes in the laundry basket and snatched the hello kitty figurine that Shorter was playing with. "I like a nice place to study so I got myself a comfortable chair and invested in a good computer."

"You just like the led lights."

"Yeah, so!?"

He chuckled at her embarrassed reaction, "You have a nice place. It's quiet. Is it always like this?"

"Pretty much. We all just do our own thing and leave each other alone for the most part."

"That's the opposite of my place. Can't get a wink of sleep." He yawned, locking his fingers behind his neck. "This is nice though."

Lux rolled her eyes and bent over to grab a box that was hidden underneath her bed. Shorter opened up an eye and couldn't help but check out how she looked from the back. That school skirt definitely didn't do this girl any justice. And that fitted sleep shirt emphasized her breast size too. He was so thankful Lux couldn't see through his sunglasses and where his eyes wandered to.

"You want one?" Lux turned and offered him a snack, "I got chips, soda, cookies, pocky, coffee but I'll have to grab some ice from the kitchen if you want it cold."

Shorter couldn't help but fall to the floor laughing, "Why the hell do you have a stash of junk food for?"

"My parents have a strict no sugar in the house rule. They think it'll rot your brain along with your teeth."

"That's clearly not the case." Shorter looked around at the academic awards that were framed on the wall and displayed on the dresser. Not a spec of dust on any of the trophy's and plaques. He could tell these were all things Lux was super proud of.

"Yeah well sugar keeps me awake. Being awake means I can study." Lux answered while her teeth were gripped on the plastic of a Cinnabon. She held it out for Shorter to open, which he did with ease and took half.

"You do anything else besides study all day?" he asked with a mouthful, "Obviously you do, right? Everybody needs a break."

"Not me." Lux motioned for Shorter to hand over her backpack so she could go over her notes for some tests coming up. He couldn't help but admire how determined and self driven she was.

"One of these days I'm going to show you how to have a good time." He promised.

"Is that so?"

"Yup, and studying is going to be the last thing on your mind." He drawled as he reached over and pulled down her notebook and leaned in. His eyes fluttered shut and her body froze. Without even thinking Lux held a hand up and his lips met with her now sweaty palm.

"Back up, Jack!"

"Ew salty." He wiped his lips on his sleeve, "But it was worth it after seein that look on your face." Shorter was referring to the -I've never had my first kiss- look that was highlighted on her face.

"Shorter Wong, you are-"

"I know I know I'm the worst." He mocked, "And yet here I am eating Cinnabon's in your room while your parents are gone. Speaking of which," Shorter cupped a hand around his ear, "I think I just heard a car door shut."

"What!?" Lux quickly got up, almost spilling the bottle of room temperature coffee and opened up the doors to the balcony. Down bellow was a black SUV pulling into the driveway, "Oh no... I was supposed to have you out before they got here!" She began to panic until Shorter calmed her down by saying he had a plan.

"I'll hide under your bed in case they decide to come in your room. And once the coast is clear, I can climb out your window."

"That's dangerous. You could slip."

"I laugh in the face of danger. Ha Ha Ha!"

"Lion King reference?"

He snapped into the finger guns, "You know it."

"Alright fine. Hurry up and hide. I heard the front door just close."

Shorter dropped down onto the floor and Lux kicked the box of snacks down there with him. She hurried to grab her notebook and sit at the desk so everything would look natural in case her parents barged in.

"Lux, I'm coming in." Her dad called out before opening the door. He always did this so Lux wouldn't have the chance to hide whatever it was she was doing that she didn't want them finding out about. Lucky for her, Shorter was a quick thinker. "Studying?"

"Always."

"Hm." He looked around the room, scanning the area for anything abnormal. "Oz drop you off?"

"No, I walked. He had band after school today."

"Oh right." Lux stood up when her father got closer to the bed and she rushed in front of him, "Something wrong?"

"Nope." She shook your head.

Buzz Buzz! Buzz Buzz!

Lux's phone began ringing and she couldn't remember where she left it. Shorter covered his mouth when he realized it was laying right in front of him. It was Sing calling.

"That Chinese kid calling you again?" Lux's dad asked as he moved around looking for the ringing phone. "I should tell him not to call so late."

"His names Sing." She stepped in the way every time he got closer to the bed. "And I don't mind. I'm not even tired yet."

"You know my rule, Lux."

"I know, lights out by 9:30." Shorter discreetly pushed the still ringing phone towards Lux's foot and she quickly bent down and ended the call. "See? Problem solved." She forced an innocent grin and did a small shrug of the shoulders.

Her father was pleased with her response and ceased his suspensions of anything odd going on. He patted her head as if she were still a small child. And headed to the door. "Good girl. Next time, let us know you're walking home." Lux nodded as a response. "Or get that Sing boy to walk you home, I'm sure he knows karate or something."

Lux winced hearing that ignorant remark, "Yeah, good one dad." Those words embarrassed her even more so knowing that Shorter heard them too. After that her dad closed the door and let her be. "You're good." She raised the draped blanket up for Shorter to crawl out of. "Sorry you had to hear that." She apologized, "I swear to you I'm not like them though. My parents are just-"

"Racist?"

"I- uhhh." She twiddled her thumbs, "I was going to say prejudiced."

"Same thing." He responded and opened up the doors to the balcony. Shorter reached his arm out to grab ahold of the vines that were growing on the side of the house. "I'll see yuh around, Lux."

"Shorter wait!" Her hand caught ahold of his sleeve, "Please believe me. I'm not like them. Why do you think I said we're not close? I just-" Lux covered her ashamed face and exhaled not knowing how else to defend her case.

"Hey," he put a hand on her shoulder, "It's fine. We can't choose who we're related to after all. Guess it just bugged me cuz that kids like a little brother."

"I understand. If it makes you feel any better, I'm adopted. If you couldn't tell I'm Filipino, not Caucasian." Lux tried laughing things off to lighten the mood. "I also feel really bad for hanging up on him. He must be having trouble with his homework." Lux looked at her phone ready to call him back.

Shorter chuckled, "You're a sweet one."

"Huh?"

"Nothing." He shook his head, "We should hang out again. This was fun."

Lux lifted an eyebrow, "Seriously? We just ate junk food and did nothing."

Shorter gave a cheeky smile, "I gotta chill with you so it didn't matter what we were doing."

Before a blush could appear Lax slapped her face with both hands to camouflage it, "You're dismissed." She pointed down the balcony.

With a playful smack of the lips and a roll of the eyes, Shorter agreed to get out of her hair. "Oh alright. But before I go, I need your number."

"I Uh... I would but uh- I can't." Shorter pouted, "My parents check my phone and knowing you, you're bound to text something gross."

"It's called deleting." Lux couldn't understand how this boy was so convincing. Not like she had a soft spot or anything for him. Right?

"Fine." She snatched the phone and quickly typed in her number, "No late calls or texts. Got it?"

Shorter couldn't help the pleased expression on his face. He was so happy that he'd be able to talk to her more. "I promise." He leaned in again but instead of attempting to plant a kiss on her lips, a soft peck was placed on her rosy cheek. To much of his surprise, she let it happen. "Wow," he rubbed his chin, "Thought you would have backed away again."

Lux couldn't help herself, part of her still wanted to know what his lips felt like after his first attempt at kissing ended with a palm to the face. But... they were soft like freshly sprouted rose petals. Although she couldn't let Shorter know about these curiosities so she rubbed her cheek viciously, wiping away his scent. "Ugh! I just had a late reaction sicko! Don't do that again. I didn't say it was okay."

"You like playing hard to get don't you?"

"I didn't think that was the same as me wanting to be left alone." Lux huffed and folded her arms over each other. Pretending to be upset was so difficult especially with the way Shorter would smoothly make his advances towards her.

"Guess that's my cue to leave." Lux nodded and once again pointed down the balcony. "If I fall and knock out you'd revive me with mouth to mouth right?"

"Not in your dreams."

Shorter threw his hands in the air as an -oh well I tried- gesture. "I'll talk to you tomorrow." He winked, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Shorter."