The moon light, millions of miles away, is shining through the large hallway windows and playing as the only light source. The mood is set here for Lux who is sitting at the foot of a pillar trying to take the whole night in, figuring out where everything went so wrong. All Lux knows is that it was after Bug left, but sometime before Baze waved his condom in Jones' face, letting the nice guy who held Lux's hand and made her smile know that the pretty blonde girl was back with her boyfriend.

And now, it was all a mess.

"High school dances suck, no matter how old you are," the sound of her mothers voice makes Lux snap her head around. They say you never forget it. Even if you're separated from birth. Cate comes and sits next to Lux. For a moment, Cate looks at Lux, really looks at her and, for the first time that night, realizes that this is tough for her daughter as well. "You seem more upset than I do," Cate says, as soothing as possible. Lux doesn't say anything back.

In the past few months, Lux has had all of her wishes come true, meeting her mom and her dad, even getting to live with them and have them care for her. But, somewhere along the way she has also learned what it's like when reality doesn't live up to the dream and even the parents who are most determined can still let you down. And, after such a ride, Lux doesn't have many words to offer. But Cate will be damned if she stops trying this time. "I'm guessing that this isn't the time for a mother daughter, heart-to-heart?"

Lux looks back to Cate, trying to hide the fact that being included in a "mother, daughter" anything makes her heart skip a beat. "You mean where you give me some profound piece of advice that is somehow relevant to both of our lives? Probably not."

Obviously hurt and let down, Cate nods, but then quickly changes her mind. "Can I just say one thing? And I promise it won't be that insightful or profound?" Cate doesn't wait for Lux to reply. "We all have things that we hold on to, things that we can't let go of. I mean, you were right about Baze. I keep punishing him, keeping him from feeling better about the past because I can't feel better about it. And until I do, I don't want to let him off the hook."

Lux knows where this is going, and while she doesn't want it to go there, she can't help but feel warm hearing her mother giving her advice. Something she never thought she'd have. "Maybe you can relate a little?" Cate says, "Maybe you don't want to let me feel better either?"

She knows Cate is right. With all her heart, Lux knows that everything Cate is saying to her is spot on. But her heart is still hurting and she can't make it stop, her mind is still falling apart and all she can do is let it. Maybe she wants Cate to feel everything too so that she can understand it a little bit, know where Lux is coming from. But Lux doesn't want to be mad at her, she just wants to be okay. "I know you don't feel better yet," Cate tells Lux, "And I can't fix it for you. The same way that Baze can't fix it for me. Maybe we just have to do it for ourselves."

Poison. The word pops in Lux's head. All this time she's been drinking poison but expecting Cate to die. Don't ruin your make up, Lux. Don't you dare cry.

"But," Cate continues, pulling Lux back to her attention, "If you could, hurry. So I don't have to show up at a school dance to be part of your life." Trying to process everything, Lux can't help but chuckle to herself. She knows she's been unfair, and she's known it all along. But, this is the first time she's caught herself caring.

"I miss you," Cate tells her. From mother to daughter. A few loose tears find their way down Lux's cheek as she wonders if Cate knows that no other adult has ever said that to her before. No one else has noticed when she's not around. She can't help it, she can't be mad, the words sound so good when their said back. "I miss you, too," Lux admits to Cate. And she has. Her whole life she has.

For a moment of unmistakable silence, Lux and Cate just look at each other, smiling their most natural smiles. It doesn't fix anything, but they both know that it's a start.

"I'm sorry," a man says from behind them. The girls turn to see Math, Baze's roommate and Cate's long time friend and, original, chaperone date standing behind them. They both smile and greet him.

"I don't mean to bug you guys but, Lux, someone's looking for you." Math motions to the dance hall and, at the same time Cate and Lux get up. As Lux moves to the party, a feeling falls between her and Cate. A feeling she doesn't know, but she knows is good.

Finally, Lux smiles again.