Oh my god. I am so so so so sorry for how long this took to update. It didn't have anything to do with writer's block or anything like that. It was just more to do with time. You know, exams and all that boring stuff. But I hope to have a few more chapters churned out before I start my next assignment. I also have to apologise for the length of this chapter, but the next one will be longer.

And as always, reviews are appreciated :-)

Chapter 4

It hadn't taken Lux very long to find Nathaniel Bazile. It was a simple search through the White pages to B, and from there all his details lay before her. Apparently, not only did he own a bar, but he lived above it too.

She found the place pretty easily. It was along one of the main roads in town. Obviously the bar was closed as it was morning, but she knocked anyway.

Lux felt bad going behind Cate's back about this, but she saw how uncomfortable her mum got when she mentioned that she wanted to meet Baze. So she figured this was the best way. And she kind of felt like this was something she wanted to do on her own.

Lux waited and waited. After a while she knocked again and pressed her ear against the door listening for any signs of life on the other side. Finally she heard some voices and footsteps. She gave another knock, just in case.

It only took another moment before the door swung open.

"Hey." It was him. Her dad. She could tell that he recognised her, but wasn't quite sure why. "Wait, have we met before?"

"Uh no, well kind of…" Lux paused before continuing. "You came to my school for a careers talk."

"Oh right. You're the one who helped me with directions." Baze said, a broad smile appearing across his face.

"Right, yeah that's me…" Lux trailed off. Suddenly her whole plan didn't seem like such a good idea anymore. How was she supposed to tell him?

"Is that the beer guy?" She heard a male voice yell from within the bar.

"Nah man." Baze turned back in towards the bar and shouted back.

Lux took a quick breath in and out. She could totally make a run for it right now.

No, she shook herself mentally, taking a deep breath. She wanted to tell him.

He turned towards her again and smiled. "So what can I do for you…-"

"Lux." She offered quickly.

"Lux, okay I'm Baze. Wait, is it even me you're looking for?"

She nodded.

"Not very talkative are you."

She took a breath. It was now or never. "Look Baze. I think… well I'm pretty sure you're my father." Just like a band aid.

Baze gave her an incredulous look and started laughing, nervously. Lux could see two guys standing at the bar, looking at her.

Baze turned around. "Nice one guys."

"What?" The guy with glasses said, genuinely confused.

"Oh shut up Math, you're a terrible liar." Baze said, not yet turning back toward the girl.

Math started to walk towards Baze, leaving the other guy standing at the bar. "What's wrong?"

"Jamie.." Baze said, peering over Math to his other friend.

Jamie put his hands up. "No idea what your crazy ass is going on about." He turned and headed back up to the loft.

Lux was fed up. If he wasn't even going to take this seriously, take her seriously, well obviously he hadn't changed at all.

"Look. I don't care if you believe me or not. I'm your daughter… that's what I came here to say." Her voice sounded angrier than she intended. Baze turned back to her, and his face had taken on this look of pure confusion and shock. Lux imagined this was how he had looked when Cate had told him she was pregnant.

She waited but he didn't say anything. His friend with the glasses was standing behind him, also looking about as shocked as Baze.

"Right then." Lux said exasperated. "This was clearly a waste of my time."

She gave him one last look, her eyes willing him to say something, before turning away. As she walked down the street, a small part of her hoped that she would hear her name being called, and footsteps running towards her. Maybe a hand on her shoulder.

But there was nothing.

No footsteps, no hand, no nothing.

She swallowed hard, and tried to push away the embarrassment she felt at her own father's rejection.

Never again would she allow him to have that power over her again.

She felt a sting in the corner of her eyes, as hot tears started to fall. She rubbed them away angrily and picked up her pace.