A/N: Hello everyone! I hope you're doing well! Here's the next update! I may have to scale my updates back to once a week from here on out. Fall TV is starting and write television reviews for two shows so that will divert some of my focus each week in addition to fic. I'm going to try my best to do an update on Thursday for you, but after that I cannot promise updates every other day like I've been doing. I hope that's okay.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you continue to enjoy it!
Happy reading!
angellwings
CHAPTER EIGHT: Good Morning to the Night
"I thank the lord there's people out there like you.
While Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters,
Sons of bankers, sons of lawyers,
Turn around and say good morning to the night.
For unless they see the sky,
But they can't and that is why,
They know not if it's dark outside or light."
"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" by Elton John
Wyatt Logan was riding shotgun in her tiny Honda. If anyone had told her this would happen when the school year started she would have laughed in their face. He was chatting with her sister and they were actually getting along. Wyatt Logan hit it off with her ten year old sister. Wyatt Logan heard her sing and actually liked it. How had this happened?
Oh yeah, her douchebag ex set Wyatt up because he dared to help her with her car and because she dared to make him brownies. Brownies.
Okay, maybe it was a bit more than brownies. Maybe she liked his dimpled smile and his much too expressive blue eyes. Maybe she liked the way he encouraged her and didn't just do it for her. Like today with Jonas. He wanted her to stand up to Jonas. It was her choice. It was easier to do with him there, she had to admit. Something about his presence offered her strength. It was different from anything she ever had with Jonas.
He had faith that she could face Jonas and so she decided she could. She ignored Jonas every time he tried to intimidate her. It was terrifying but she did it.
And it actually worked.
Well, started to work. If she could maintain it then she could finally put Jonas behind her.
She pulled in her driveway and, for the first time, realized it meant Wyatt Logan would see her house. The house in her fancy neighborhood that he seemed so offended by in a previous conversation. Suddenly she felt self conscious.
"Um," she said as she cleared her throat nervously. "I just need to get Amy settled and locked in and then I can drive you home." He nodded but didn't say anything. He looked just as awkward as she felt. "You can come in, if you like. It'll only take a minute."
He scratched at the back of his neck as he thought about her offer. However, it seemed her little sister couldn't wait for his decision.
Amy groaned and dramatically threw herself across the backseat. "Oh my god, just get over yourself and come inside with us."
Lucy closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands to block out the embarrassment. "Amy, seriously?"
"What? God, how is this a big deal? You're both being so dumb. It's just a house. It's not like you bought it yourself or anything. Mom did," Amy told her as she shoved the back door open and then reached into the front seat. "Keys?"
Lucy sighed and handed her little sister the house keys. "Get out of my site, ya little heathen."
"Why? So you and him can make out like on all those teen soaps you say you don't watch?" Amy asked her with a mischievous grin.
"You are never meeting any of my friends ever again."
Amy shrugged and laughed. "Fine by me!"
She bolted from the car and had the front door unlocked in record time, leaving Lucy alone in her wake.
"I am so sorry about Amy," Lucy told him with a wince. "She's ten. Her filter isn't fully grown yet."
Wyatt chuckled and then reached into the floorboard to pick up her school tote. "Don't worry about it. I like her. She's spunky."
"That's one word for it," Lucy muttered.
"Come on, Valedictorian. I'll carry your books," Wyatt told her with a crooked grin.
Whatever her issues were with Amy's outburst, she had to admit it worked. It eased the tension considerably. He wasn't totally comfortable in the house but he no longer looked like he would rather be anywhere else.
She led him inside the house and yelled for Amy as soon as the door closed. Amy replied to ask her what she wanted, her voice drifting down to Lucy from the stairs. Lucy sighed tiredly when Amy seemed to refuse to come back downstairs.
"You better be doing your homework up there, munchkin!" Lucy yelled as she made her way to the kitchen.
"Duh! Like we ever do anything else in this house!"
She rolled her eyes at her kid sister and then turned and pointed Wyatt toward the couch. "Oh sorry! You can put my bag down there. I just need to make sure Amy has a snack before we go."
Wyatt put her bag down and then sat down on one of the stools at the kitchen island and watched her set aside vegetables and hummus.
"You do this every day?" He asked curiously.
"No. I don't normally do this. I pick her up from Karate twice a week after I finish with my own after school activities. She has class on the same days as Decathlon practice drills and yearbook meetings. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, mom picks her up because she doesn't have an afternoon lecture."
"That explains why you two are so close," Wyatt said with a small smile and a nod. He looked a little jealous. She wondered how often he had wished for a sibling. "I haven't seen many siblings that far apart in age be close."
"You know," Lucy said with a shrug and a weak smile. She was trying very hard not to think too long about what she was about to say. If she did she was likely to get upset. She wasn't sure Wyatt was ready for ugly crying Lucy. "I guess that's what happens when you've been through what Amy and I have."
"You mean your dad?" He asked with a concerned pinch of his brow.
Of course he knew about that. Everyone in town did. But it didn't sound like he was fishing for gossip. His voice sounded genuinely interested. She made the mistake of looking up and meeting his eyes. With his earnest gaze focused on her, suddenly unfiltered words were tumbling from her mouth.
"Losing him was difficult for us, and I think it was sometimes worse for Amy because she was so young, you know?" Why was she telling him this? She never talked to anyone about her dad. Well, to be fair, no one ever really asked. "She used to sneak into my room at night and ask me to tell her stories about dad because...because she was afraid she would forget. And...as awful as it was I think it bonded us. I miss my dad and even though I wish he were here, if he were I don't think Amy and I would have the relationship we do."
Oh god, what did she just say and why did she say it? That was a thought she had and kept to herself because what kind of person thought things like that about their deceased father? Why did she say it to him? She was too horrified at herself to remember to look away from him. She was frozen in fear. God, what must he think of her?
It was those damn blue eyes, wasn't it? They pierced straight through her and made her do things she wouldn't normally do. Like yell at her principal, taunt Jonas, and voice her most secret shameful thoughts.
"I get it," he admitted. She didn't realize she was holding her breath until he replied and an exhale came spilling out of her.
He picked the small tray of vegetables up off the counter once she was done and cleared his throat. "My mom died when I was little and I went to live with my Grandpa Sherwin. My mom was the best mom, but living with Grandpa Sherwin is what made me who I am. Without him, I'd be exactly like my old man and that is the last thing I would ever want."
His eyes were watering slightly as he pulled them away from hers, but he didn't pull away fast enough because she read the emotions in them. Sadness, longing, gratitude.
"Oh, Wyatt, I'm so sorry. I didn't know-"
He waved off her apology and gave her a wan smile. "How could you? I never talk about it. It was a long time ago and I do still miss her, but I still have Grandpa Sherwin," He told her. "Even if he's in Texas and I'm here."
"Was he who you lived with before you moved here?" Lucy asked. Wyatt Logan had appeared suddenly a week into Freshman year and everyone wondered where he came from. No one asked. It might be a little late, but she was asking. Now that they were talking, she couldn't resist finding out more.
Wyatt nodded and ran a hand over his face, probably to wipe away the emotions he wore in his expression. "He fell, hurt his hip, and had to be moved to an assisted living facility after that. It was decided that he couldn't take care of me anymore so...here I am. Your friendly neighborhood bad boy, at your service."
He spoke about his grandfather with such love and affection. She had never seen Wyatt look as tender as he did right then. He clearly adored the man. How could anyone think Wyatt was 'bad news'? Honestly, every time they talked she found more to admire about him than admonish. She knew he was reckless and she had heard about his quick temper, but none of it seemed to come from a malicious place. Other than remembering him turning up to school looking as though he'd been a part of a brawl a few times and the way he and Jessica were so openly volatile, she couldn't think of a single reason for his brooding hoodlum reputation. He was a stand up guy who just seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time...a lot.
Lucy smiled softly at him and shook her head. "I don't know. I'm not seeing much 'bad' to you right now. Especially not while you're holding a tray of healthy snacks."
"It's hurting my rep just to look at these vitamin filled vegetables. We should probably get them to your sister before she starves to death," he told her with a chuckle.
She directed him toward the stairs as he continued to flash that beautiful dimpled smile at her. She couldn't help but smile right back. It was impossible to do anything but smile when faced with those dimples. Was it odd to want to kiss them? Because she did. She had no reason for it, except that she doubted anyone else had much of a chance to appreciate them. She had only seen him genuinely smile twice now. They deserved proper attention and somehow she felt as though kissing them would do the trick.
Oh god, stop. She was speeding very quickly down a dead end road. She couldn't have a crush on Wyatt Logan. No way would he be interested in a klutzy, non-athletic, nerd like her. No, she refused to have a crush on Wyatt freaking Logan. No way. Not happening.
"Right, yes, let's do that," Lucy said as she shook herself back to reality. She forced herself to look away from his smile as she continued. "Here, let me." She took the vegetable tray and walked away from him. "I'll be right back," she called over her shoulder.
Those eyes and that smile were going to continue to chip away at her resolve. She just knew it. Falling for Wyatt Logan was not a part of any plan, but it seemed to be happening anyway.
Her mother was going to hate this.
They were back in Lucy's Honda. He was telling her how to get to his house and the shop and yet still thinking about the conversation they had while she prepared Amy's afterschool snack. He admitted more to her than he really wanted to but she seemed to pull it out of him. He responded to her without even thinking.
Her low humming reached his ears and he was reminded of her singing voice. The one that surprised him completely with how amazing it was. Now, he felt even worse about her giving up theater for him. She made the cast list for the fall show, but had to turn it down because of the mentorship. She shouldn't have had to do that. Not for him. Not when she was actually good.
But even so, why was she settling for being in the background? She was too talented for that.
"Why don't you sing more often?" Wyatt asked before he could stop himself.
"I sing," she said defensively. "Just not in public, really."
Wyatt rolled his eyes and chuckled at her. "Fine, let me clarify. Why don't you sing in public more often?"
She bit her bottom lip and tilted her head thoughtfully, without looking away from the road. After the silence stretched around them for several minutes, she finally answered him. "Performing is...something I do to blow off steam. I do it for me. I don't do it to be the center of attention or because I think I might end up famous. I do it because I find it soothing. But if I did it more than I already do my mother would notice. She would call it 'distraction' and that would be the end of it. I would never find the time to do it again. She would make sure of it."
"What would be so bad about performing?" Wyatt asked in confusion. Wouldn't a normal parent be proud of a talent like that? "Why would she want to stop you?"
Lucy let out a lengthy tired sigh. She look exhausted. He could see wear and tear on her face and wondered if, maybe, her mother was more of a problem for Lucy than she was a help.
"We have a plan," Lucy answered simply. Her expression went blank as she continued, as if she were deliberately hiding her emotions from him. He felt as though she were trying to stop him from seeing how this "plan" made her feel. Like it was a fact of life and she had no say at all. "My mother doesn't like anything that deviates from that plan. Performing or singing would definitely deviate. I'm already deviating as it is by not going to Rittenhouse and she's determined to change that next year. Any further changes will not go over well."
Rittenhouse? Lucy couldn't go to Rittenhouse Academy. She would hate it there. He watched her for a moment as she deliberately tried not to sing along to the radio. He understood trying to be a good student and daughter but did she never stand up and tell people what she wanted for herself? She was ready to take the emotional abuse and manipulation from Jonas. Was that because she already suffered from that at home? If Carol Preston was the supportive mother he originally assumed she was, why would she be upset about Lucy sharing a talent with the world? No, something about this was not all it seemed.
"That's a shame. I mean I'm no music critic or vocal coach or anything, but I wasn't kidding when I called you amazing earlier," he told her with a small smile. "It seems a waste not to do anything with it."
"Well, thank you. But I think I'll leave the performing to the real theater nerds," she said with a forced laugh. "I barely have any time for myself as it is. Adding another layer to my life is probably a bad idea right now."
Wow. How old was she again? She was his age, wasn't she? Because she didn't sound like it.
"You realize you're in high school, right? Sometimes, it's okay to do something just because it's fun," Wyatt said teasingly as Lucy pulled into the shop parking lot.
"Yeah, tell that to my mother," Lucy answered with a chuckle. "High School is nothing but college prep to her."
"Do you do everything your mother tells you to?" Wyatt asked. Her mother seemed like a piece of work.
"Generally, yes," she replied as she parked outside the garage. She pointed to the little blue house next to the garage and then looked at him. "Do you live next to the shop?"
"Yeah, though I think I spend more time in the shop than the actual house," he told her with a grin and a shrug. He got out of her car and walked over to the driver's side. He tapped the window and waited for her to roll it down. He leaned through and pointedly caught her eyes. "We probably both could use a little more fun," he told her. "You should give singing a real shot if you want to. Screw the plan. Do what you want. Sometimes the risk is worth it."
"What about the other 'sometimes' when it isn't worth it?" She asked nervously.
"Well, then at least you would know. You wouldn't wonder what would happen. You would have an answer," he told her with an encouraging grin. He leaned through her window and reached for the volume control. He turned it up so they could hear the music and then eased out of her personal space. He winked at her as he leaned on her car door. "At the very least, keep singing along with the radio. No more humming or holding back. Not with me. Okay, Preston?"
She blushed and nodded slowly with a wide bashful smile. "Okay, Logan. See you at school?"
He nodded. "See you at school."
As he walked away from her, Lucy's pink cheeks and shy smile replayed in his head several times over. He figured out she was pretty when she blushed during their second conversation ever. But, even now that he knew her better, he never tired of watching her cheeks color or the way she couldn't look him in the eyes when he complimented her. Like she refused to believe it.
There was no one quite like her and the more time he spent with her, the more he liked her. This mentorship was certainly going to be interesting.
But enough of that for now. It was back to real life. Back to work in the shop. Back to the world where he was nothing more to his father than an extra set of hands.
