"Sir," Jake called out. "My partner isn't here and he has the visual component to our project."

"And who is your partner, Mr. Foushee?" The teacher folded her arms.

"Nathan Maloley," he answered.

Lucy scoffed and resumed doodling in her notebook. "Figures," she said to herself.

She had tried not to think much about him since New Years. He would give her glances in the hallways once they all returned to school but she did her best to ignore it.

Later during lunch, she's sitting alone at her table in deep thought. The once-bitten celery stick is still between her two fingers like a cigarette.

"Hey you," Kian startles her, hugging her from behind.

She tries not to act too frightened and gives him a kiss.

"I can't stay too long," Kian says as he takes one of Lucy's celery sticks. "Gotta work on the set design for the play."

"I...I didn't know you signed up for that," she forced a grin.

"Yeah well I surprised myself too," he chuckled. "I figured I'd do something better with my time instead of looking for trouble."

Kian cups her face and kisses her.

"It's all because of you," he whispered. "Damn."

"What?"

"Nothing," he shrugged. "I'm just so in love with you."

"And so cheesy," Lucy giggled. "But I can be cheesy too. My heart is yours."

Kian nearly blushes and kisses her before he leaves. Not long after, Cameron sits across from her with his lunch.

"I hate burrito day," Cameron complains, glaring at his tray. "Forces me to have a salad instead."

"You did say you wanted to keep in shape. One of your resolutions." Lucy finally finishes the celery stick.

"I know," Cameron sighed. "But what's up? You okay? You look like you've been emotional."

"Just thinking too much, that's all. My head's gonna explode soon, I'm sure."

"Well I need something to distract me from this salad, so...shoot." Cameron moves his fork around the lettuce and finally starts to eat.

"I kissed Nate."

Cameron nearly chokes on his food and quickly takes a gulp of his Diet Coke.

"I'm sorry, what?!"

"I know," Lucy groaned. "It all happened so fast. It was at that NYE party at Vanessa's. He told me he was still in love with me. Then he kissed me. Then I was all sorts of confused and...and I drove to his house later on that night for closure and we kissed again."

"You have got to be kidding."

"But I told him nothing more could happen! I told him I'm in love with Kian."

"Are you?" Cameron's eyes widened a bit and part of him hoped Lucy would drop both of them...and come to her senses.

"Yes. I am."

Cameron exhaled. "Then you have to push Nate out of your mind," he gulped. "Just push that entire situation out. You're with Kian, you love Kian. Did you...tell Kian?"

"No," she quickly replied. "I don't think I can. Cam...what should I do? I don't know what to do, tell me."

"I can't." Cameron pursed his lips and got back to his salad.

"You're one of my best friends, help me out," she pleaded.

"Not this time Lucy," he shook his head.

"Cameron--"

"Lucy," he shouted, banging his fist on the table. Lucy jumped in her seat. "I'm not...that kind of friend, okay? I'm not your go-to for guy advice. You know why? Because I don't give a damn about your love life! You want advice on guys? Then grow up!"

Cameron stood up, grabbed his tray, and headed to the other side of the courtyard. Some of the other students stared and whispered at Lucy as she sat there in silence. She forgot how much Cameron liked her.

. . . . .

Since befriending each other at the party, Stass convinced Vanessa to skip school and hang with her. They decided to grab some ice cream.

"Ah, high school," Stass smiled, deciding on which toppings to get. "Full of love triangles and being a daily fashion show. I don't miss it."

"You just graduated last year, right?"

"Graduating from home school wasn't all that glamorous but yeah sure. I think I'll have the white chocolate shavings and hot fudge."

The girls get their treats and sit down inside the pink parlor.

"I think the main question is," Stass began. "Do you like Kalin enough to stay with him?"

"I just can't hurt him like that," Vanessa replied. "He's done nothing wrong."

Stass grinned as she looked down at her ice cream. "I'll ask again...do you like Kalin enough to stay with him? Answer the question."

Vanessa took a deep breath. "I don't know."

"Dump him."

"Wh- I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because..."

"You're hurting him more by staying with him," Stass explained. "You have to look into those beautiful eyes of his and tell him that it's just not working out. Your heart isn't in it. You are in that relationship for all the wrong reasons."

"I mean I like him--"

"You're lowkey using him to either teach Jack a lesson or to see if Kalin is capable of distracting you from your sick Jack feelings. Sorry to be brutal, mama. But it's true and you know it." Stass went back to her ice cream.

Vanessa takes out her phone and Stass reaches across the table, taking it away from her.

"You are not gonna break up with him over the phone. Shit, grow some ovaries."

. . . . .

Lucy is driving home from school with classical music playing. She reaches a stoplight and looks ahead. She spots Ty exiting pawn shop and getting into the backseat of a car, possibly an Uber. So she parks nearby after the light turns green and goes into the pawn shop.

"Can I help you Miss?" The bearded man asked. He was very tall, very buff, and had that lumberjack fashion style to him. But still, he looked intimidating.

"Um," she gulped. "The guy who was just in here, Ty, I think he might have accidentally pawned something of mine. See, he's my brother and we're in the middle of a move so I think some things got put into the wrong box."

"Lady I'm not disclosing that information until we price it and put it in the case," the man said sternly.

Lucy dug into her purse and pulled out a 20 dollar bill.

"It's all I have," she said.

The man rolled his eyes and took the cash. He reached down and pulled out a box, opening it, revealing two diamond earrings. And then Lucy remembered that her mother had recently lost some jewelry, she owned a pair exactly like these.

Lucy hurries home and calls out for her parents as soon as she swings the front door open. But she is met by Ty who is holding a teddy bear.

"It's for you," he holds it out to her. "To say I'm sorry and let's start over."

She takes the bear but anger boils up inside. She throws the bear back at him with force.

"Start over?" She yells. "You need to leave. Get out of our home! You're a thief and a fraud!"

"What are you talkin' about?! I'm trying to apologize to your ass but you're acting crazy!"

"What is going on down here," her mother asks as she descends the stairs. Mr. Durant soon joins them from the kitchen.

"Ty is what's going on," Lucy responded. "I saw him leaving the pawn shop earlier. When I asked the man what he pawned, he showed me a pair of diamond earrings. And Mom, I remember you saying yours was missing."

Ty looks at her with a confused look. "Yo, I know you hate me but you're just making stuff up right now."

"Stop lying!"

"Lucy!" Her mother shouted. "We all need to calm down and be civilized. I did not lose my earrings, I told you I lost my ring."

"Which I took to get cleaned and resized," her father added. "But Ty, where did you get diamond earrings from?"

Ty takes a deep breath and looks at everyone.

"They were mine," Ty spoke. "I bought them a while ago when I was just another troublemaker lookin' for quick cash. The money I got for them, I'm sending it to my mother."

"But why," Mr. Durant asked. "I told you I'd help pay for her prescriptions-"

"There are no prescriptions," Ty gulped.

"I knew it," Lucy scowled.

"That's enough Lucy," Mrs. Durant said.

"My mother's not even sick. She lost her job at the hospital last year and had to go on welfare, taking odd jobs here and there. It wasn't fair to her, she was one of the best nurses. I moved out here because she wanted me to stay out of trouble. So I started working two jobs to help support not only myself but also have money to send her so she doesn't get evicted. I always knew you were my birth father, Mr. Durant but I never searched for you for my own closure. I knew you were rich...so I reached out once I learned you lived nearby."

"Why did you lie?" Lucy asked.

"Because everyone loses their jobs and no one cares. But once someone is sick, their hearts give in and they wanna help," Ty explained. "Mr. Durant, I understand if you want me to leave now. But at least everything is out on the table."

Lucy felt a little bad and decided to keep her mouth shut.

"I'm not angry," Mr. Durant spoke. "But just because I'm rich doesn't mean I'm a monster. I know a few reliable dealerships in New Jersey...I'll make a few calls and see if we can get her a job. I know she has office skills. Until then, you're gonna keep your two jobs and sending her money just because that's your mother. But I'll still help out until she gets back on her feet."

Ty gets emotional and goes to hug Mr. Durant.

"Thank you," he tearfully said as the doorbell rang.

"I'll uh..." Lucy cleared her throat. "I'll get it."

When Lucy answers the door, she sees it's Tiffany. Her eyes are red and she's dressed down more than usual.

"You need to come with me," Tiffany told her.

. . . . .

Lucy stood idle in front of the closed hospital door. She sees the foot of Nate's hospital bed through the slim window. He's not moving at all.

"Derek got shot twice in the arm," Tiffany began. "But the shots were all along the driver's side. Nate was driving. He got hit 4 times, the doctor said. One of the bullets hit close to his spine and his legs are paralyzed."

Tiffany gets choked up and Lucy closes her eyes, trying not to let a tear fall. But they come out anyway.

"They said it could only be temporary," Tiffany continued. "If all continues to go well, he'll walk again with time and intense physical therapy."

"This can't be happening," Lucy whispered through the streaming tears.

"It could be worse. The fact that he survived is a miracle." Tiffany rubbed her shoulder. "That's not all."

"I don't know if I can hear anymore details."

"He woke up for a bit, still heavily medicated and groggy. But he called out for you."

Lucy shook her head and more tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry Tiffany," she looked at her.

"It's okay," Tiffany grinned. "I still care for him but I have a lot on my plate with work, school...matters of the heart. We...broke up. But I never stopped doubting that he loves you. Even when we were together."

"That must've sucked huh?" Lucy rubs her face.

"It did...but I'm a big girl. You should go in there. Even if you don't love him like he loves you, you should hold his hand. Let him know that you're there."

"Thank you," Lucy whispered.

As soon as Lucy got in the silent room and saw Nate like that, she weeped again. There were so many wires, tubes, and bandages. He had an oxygen mask over his face. She holds his hand, rubbing her thumb over his.

Lucy leans down and whispers, "I'm here, Nate."

She stands back upright, never letting go of his hand. His eyes slowly flutter open and a tear escapes his right eye and onto the pillow.

"Hey," Lucy says. She gently touches his hair and caresses his forehead. "You're gonna be okay."

Nate squeezes her hand for a slight second but that's all his energy would permit.

"Let's watch some TV huh?" Lucy says as she pulls up a chair next to his bed. She turns on the TV and goes back to holding his hand, resting her head next to his arm.

. . . . .

Sammy turns off the car and sits in the driveway. He takes one more hit of his joint and gets out the car. After a deep breath, he approaches the front door of the house and knocks three times.

Stass answers it and smiles.

"Come on in," she smirked.

__________

Author's Note:

Well this was a wild ride from start to finish!

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