"Now is that the way to greet your boyfriend?" the boy asked as he
stepped closer to Lux.
"You're not my boyfriend, I ended it with you remember?" Lux spat. "What are you doing here Brad?!"
"Where is all this hostility coming from? I track to another fucking country to see my girlfriend. All the way from California, and this is the greeting I get."
"I'm NOT your girlfriend. And if you came here to see me, you wasted your time." Lux said turning to walk away, obviously shaken. Brad reached out and grabbed her arm.
"I refuse to allow you to treat me with such disregard. We have some unfinished business to clear up," he said through gritted teeth, his grip on her arm tightened.
"Let go of me," Lux said jerking her arm away from him, but unsuccessfully getting it out of his grasp. "You're hurting me!" Lux exclaimed as his grip tightened. Brad glared at her before letting go. Lux pulled away and took several steps back.
"I didn't mean to hurt you," he said, lowering his voice.
"What are you doing here?!" Lux asked again.
"I had to see you," he said, using a voice that he was sure would get sympathy.
"Well you're wasting your time."
"How so?" Brad asked taking a step forward.
"I'm with someone else now," Lux said, taking a step back. Brad's eyes flashed dangerously.
"With someone else? What do you mean?" he asked.
"What the FUCK do you think I mean. I have a boyfriend," Lux spat, the words stinging.
"I see, you know we're meant to be together. I wouldn't have come all the way from California to see you if it wasn't true."
"Obviously we're not."
"Well maybe I can change your mind while I'm here," Brad said. "I'm staying at the local hotel, and I think I'll be seeing much more of you." With that he turned on his heel and made his way out of the school. Lux watched his retreating back, only allowing her hands to shake when he exited. She leaned against a row of lockers as her knees felt shaky. She felt her back slide down the lockers as she sat on the floor and buried her head in her arms.
"Lux?" Lux heard Sean's voice. "Lux, what's wrong?" he asked obviously worried. He came to sit on the ground next to her. "What's wrong?" he asked as he placed his hand gently on top of his. "Come on, tell me what's going on," he tried to convince her to look up, but she refused.
"It's not anything you need to get involved in Sean, I'm fine really." Her voice was muffled as she spoke into her arms.
"Obviously you're not fine, what's wrong?" Sean asked.
"Please Sean, I don't want to get into it. I just need to think right now," Lux said as she stood up and walked away, leaving Sean confused.
* * * *
Lux hurried home at the end of the day, ready to barricade herself in her house until she figured some things out. Unfortunately, she was met with an unwelcome sight.
"Good afternoon," Brad said as he stood on the end of her driveway.
"God Brad, leave me the fuck alone," she snapped as she headed up the driveway.
"I would, but I have something that might be of interest to you." Lux turned around, prepared for whatever lie he had planned.
"And what would you have that I'm interested in?" she asked rolling her eyes.
"Well, for one, a letter from, what was it? Your dream school." Lux looked up at him, where he was twirling a letter with the Columbia emblem on it.
"Give it to me," she said through gritted teeth, trying to remain calm.
"I will, if you let me in," he said nodded towards her door.
"GIVE ME THE FUCKING LETTER BRAD!" Lux said as she tried to grab it from him. He was too tall however, and lazily held it above her head.
"I will, for one kiss."
"You're out of your mind. Give me the goddamn letter before I call the cops. Stealing mail is illegal," Lux threatened.
"You wouldn't dare, and I don't like your language."
"Oh I'm sorry MOTHER, but I don't really give a SHIT, so GIVE ME THE GODDAMN LETTER AND GET THE HELL AWAY!"
"Lux?" Lux whirled around to see Craig making his way down the sidewalk. "Are you ok?" he asked looking suspiciously at the boy standing across from Lux.
"Craig," Lux said, unsure of how to handle the situation. She didn't want her past interfering with her future. "He has my letter from Columbia," she explained throwing Brad a nasty look.
"Is this the new boyfriend?" Brad asked eyeing Craig.
"No, give me my letter," she said through gritted teeth.
"Yeah, lets see if you got in," Craig said, thinking Brad was holding it from her as a joke. Brad scowled as he handed Lux the envelope. Lux threw down her bag and ripped open the seal. Her eyes scanned the letter, and after a moment she let out a shriek.
"I GOT IN!!!" she screamed. She threw herself into Craig's open arms and he twirled her around.
"I knew you would!" Craig said almost as excitedly. "We're going to New York City together!" he continued enthusiastically.
"You're going there too?" Brad asked, interrupting. Craig put Lux down and turned to Brad.
"Yes, I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced," Craig said looking at Lux. Lux rolled her eyes and turned to Brad.
"Brad, that's Craig, Craig, Brad. Now I think you should leave."
"What?" Craig asked, but noticed that Lux was looking at Brad, not him.
"Can't I offer you my congratulations?" Brad asked with a smug look on his face. He was meant by stony silence. Lux turned on her heel and headed towards the door. Brad rolled his eyes and headed down the sidewalk in the opposite direction. "I'll see you later," he called as he left. Lux turned around and gave his back the finger. All this left Craig thoroughly confused.
"Lux, wait up," Craig said as he rushed up the driveway. Lux wordlessly held the door open for him to follow her. He watched as she threw her bag on the floor and carefully placed her letter from Columbia back into the envelope.
"Who is that guy?" Craig asked.
"No one important," Lux said, her back was facing him and her voice sounded oddly strained.
"No on important? I haven't seen him before. Is he from here?" Craig asked, he watched as Lux shrugged her shoulders. "Come on Lux, talk to me. This is supposed to be a good day for you, instead this guy shows up and you get all upset. What's going on?" Craig asked as he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her around. Craig was shocked when he saw Lux's eyes glazed over with a film of tears.
"He's just an asshole ex boyfriend. That's all," Lux said, avoiding his gaze.
"An asshole ex boyfriend who's from....CALIFORNIA?!" Craig asked in disbelief. Lux nodded her head. "He followed you from California? Why?" Craig asked. Lux shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know, ok. We didn't have a good relationship, and obviously he got attached to it. All I know is that I never want to see him again."
"What was so bad about it?" Craig asked, suddenly concerned. Lux was definitely avoiding his gaze now.
"Just regular stuff, you know how it goes."
"It must be more than regular stuff, because regular stuff does not make a boy follow a girl across the country, into a different country at that."
"Look Craig, I really don't want to talk about it ok. Just let it go. He'll leave soon, and I can forget all about him."
"Lux, he doesn't look like he's about to leave anytime soon," Craig said reaching for Lux's arm. He happened to grasp it at the same spot that Brad grabbed it earlier that day. Lux flinched and pulled away. "What's wrong?" Craig asked noticing her flinch.
"N-nothing," Lux stuttered, wanting to rub her arm, but not risking it. Before, she knew what was happening, Craig took her hand in his, and gently began to lift the sleeve of her shit up. "What are you doing?!" she asked trying to pull away, but Craig held her still and continued to soundlessly pull the sleeve up. He stopped when he noticed bruising on her arm.
"What happened?" he asked again looking at her arm. "I know I did not grasp your arm that hard to cause that," he said. Lux was staring at the floor, not answering. "Lux, did he hit you?" Craig asked so gently it almost startled a response from Lux. "Lux," he prodded gently. "Did he hit you?" he repeated himself. Lux finally looked up into his eyes and nodded her head slightly. "And now he's back to get back together with you?" Craig asked. Lux nodded her head again.
"I cut off the relationship with him before I left. He went crazy, he couldn't handle it. And then I left. I didn't even tell him where I was moving too, but he found out, and now he's back, and I don't know what he's going to do." Lux said, swallowing back tears. Craig pulled her into his chest.
"Shh, don't worry. I know what this is like." Lux pulled away from Craig quickly.
"No, you don't know what it's like. You have no idea what it's like to be in a relationship with someone who hurts you. And I was too weak to get out of it. I let him do that to me because I was too scared to be without him, and now look where it got me." Lux blurted out angrily.
"Lux, I do understand," Craig said gently.
"How can you possibly understand?" Lux asked incredulously.
"Because my dad used to beat me." Lux's eyes widened.
"What?" she asked, not believing what she heard.
"When my mom left him for Joey, it was just us. He would be really stressed out, and take every little thing out on me. At first I thought it was my fault. That I didn't behave. But then it got really bad. Eventually Joey found out, and I went to live with him. So trust me, I understand," Craig said. Lux stood there watching him, shocked.
"I had no idea," she said.
"It's ok," Craig said.
"So...how bad did it get?" Lux asked curiously. Craig paused for a moment before lifting the side of his shirt up, revealing a huge scar on the side of his stomach. Lux's mouth fell open as she reached out and gently ran her fingers over it.
"You're lucky that you had Joey to go to," Lux said after a moment. Craig nodded his head.
"I know. How bad did it get with you and Brad?" Craig asked.
"Pretty bad," Lux said. After a moment she turned around and pulled up the bottom of her shirt, to reveal a scar stretching along her back. She felt Craig exhale slowly behind her. She felt his hands reach over and pull down her shirt.
"It must have been hard to get away from him."
"It was really hard. I somehow managed to get so attached to him. But eventually I did get away. And now he's back," Lux broke into a bitter smile. "Oh well, hopefully he'll just leave me alone. What is with me and guys?! I always go for guys who are awful for me! First Brad, and then Sean. At least Sean treats me well. But god, he's a drug dealer." Lux paused and gazed up at Craig. Then she continued, "But I think my taste is changing," she said gently.
"What do you mean?"
"Well I like this new guy now. And he's not a wife beater, or a drug dealer, or even an alcoholic." Lux said, smiling slightly at Craig. Craig smiled back.
"Oh really, so what is he like?" he asked in a teasing tone.
"Well, he's in a band. And he's really good at the guitar, and he's smart. So smart that he's going to Columbia next year," Lux stated. Craig smiled at her last statement.
"That's good. Because I think that a guy who is going to Columbia next year would be really into a girl who is going to Columbia next year," Craig said. Lux smiled brightly at him.
"Oh really, well then maybe I have a chance with him."
"Maybe," Craig said. Lux watched as he bent his head down and kissed Lux gently. Lux pulled away after a moment.
"Craig, I'm breaking up with Sean," she said. Craig backed away slightly.
"You are?" he asked, thinking he had not heard her correctly.
"Yes, as soon as possible" she answered. She bit her bottom lip waiting for his reaction. "I can't do this. It's unfair to him, me, and you. I can't keep making out with you and wanting to be with you when technically I'm with Sean. So I want to end things with him. And I know that it probably won't end as well I would like, but I have to anyways," Lux said. Craig simply smiled and Lux melted into his kiss.
"You're not my boyfriend, I ended it with you remember?" Lux spat. "What are you doing here Brad?!"
"Where is all this hostility coming from? I track to another fucking country to see my girlfriend. All the way from California, and this is the greeting I get."
"I'm NOT your girlfriend. And if you came here to see me, you wasted your time." Lux said turning to walk away, obviously shaken. Brad reached out and grabbed her arm.
"I refuse to allow you to treat me with such disregard. We have some unfinished business to clear up," he said through gritted teeth, his grip on her arm tightened.
"Let go of me," Lux said jerking her arm away from him, but unsuccessfully getting it out of his grasp. "You're hurting me!" Lux exclaimed as his grip tightened. Brad glared at her before letting go. Lux pulled away and took several steps back.
"I didn't mean to hurt you," he said, lowering his voice.
"What are you doing here?!" Lux asked again.
"I had to see you," he said, using a voice that he was sure would get sympathy.
"Well you're wasting your time."
"How so?" Brad asked taking a step forward.
"I'm with someone else now," Lux said, taking a step back. Brad's eyes flashed dangerously.
"With someone else? What do you mean?" he asked.
"What the FUCK do you think I mean. I have a boyfriend," Lux spat, the words stinging.
"I see, you know we're meant to be together. I wouldn't have come all the way from California to see you if it wasn't true."
"Obviously we're not."
"Well maybe I can change your mind while I'm here," Brad said. "I'm staying at the local hotel, and I think I'll be seeing much more of you." With that he turned on his heel and made his way out of the school. Lux watched his retreating back, only allowing her hands to shake when he exited. She leaned against a row of lockers as her knees felt shaky. She felt her back slide down the lockers as she sat on the floor and buried her head in her arms.
"Lux?" Lux heard Sean's voice. "Lux, what's wrong?" he asked obviously worried. He came to sit on the ground next to her. "What's wrong?" he asked as he placed his hand gently on top of his. "Come on, tell me what's going on," he tried to convince her to look up, but she refused.
"It's not anything you need to get involved in Sean, I'm fine really." Her voice was muffled as she spoke into her arms.
"Obviously you're not fine, what's wrong?" Sean asked.
"Please Sean, I don't want to get into it. I just need to think right now," Lux said as she stood up and walked away, leaving Sean confused.
* * * *
Lux hurried home at the end of the day, ready to barricade herself in her house until she figured some things out. Unfortunately, she was met with an unwelcome sight.
"Good afternoon," Brad said as he stood on the end of her driveway.
"God Brad, leave me the fuck alone," she snapped as she headed up the driveway.
"I would, but I have something that might be of interest to you." Lux turned around, prepared for whatever lie he had planned.
"And what would you have that I'm interested in?" she asked rolling her eyes.
"Well, for one, a letter from, what was it? Your dream school." Lux looked up at him, where he was twirling a letter with the Columbia emblem on it.
"Give it to me," she said through gritted teeth, trying to remain calm.
"I will, if you let me in," he said nodded towards her door.
"GIVE ME THE FUCKING LETTER BRAD!" Lux said as she tried to grab it from him. He was too tall however, and lazily held it above her head.
"I will, for one kiss."
"You're out of your mind. Give me the goddamn letter before I call the cops. Stealing mail is illegal," Lux threatened.
"You wouldn't dare, and I don't like your language."
"Oh I'm sorry MOTHER, but I don't really give a SHIT, so GIVE ME THE GODDAMN LETTER AND GET THE HELL AWAY!"
"Lux?" Lux whirled around to see Craig making his way down the sidewalk. "Are you ok?" he asked looking suspiciously at the boy standing across from Lux.
"Craig," Lux said, unsure of how to handle the situation. She didn't want her past interfering with her future. "He has my letter from Columbia," she explained throwing Brad a nasty look.
"Is this the new boyfriend?" Brad asked eyeing Craig.
"No, give me my letter," she said through gritted teeth.
"Yeah, lets see if you got in," Craig said, thinking Brad was holding it from her as a joke. Brad scowled as he handed Lux the envelope. Lux threw down her bag and ripped open the seal. Her eyes scanned the letter, and after a moment she let out a shriek.
"I GOT IN!!!" she screamed. She threw herself into Craig's open arms and he twirled her around.
"I knew you would!" Craig said almost as excitedly. "We're going to New York City together!" he continued enthusiastically.
"You're going there too?" Brad asked, interrupting. Craig put Lux down and turned to Brad.
"Yes, I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced," Craig said looking at Lux. Lux rolled her eyes and turned to Brad.
"Brad, that's Craig, Craig, Brad. Now I think you should leave."
"What?" Craig asked, but noticed that Lux was looking at Brad, not him.
"Can't I offer you my congratulations?" Brad asked with a smug look on his face. He was meant by stony silence. Lux turned on her heel and headed towards the door. Brad rolled his eyes and headed down the sidewalk in the opposite direction. "I'll see you later," he called as he left. Lux turned around and gave his back the finger. All this left Craig thoroughly confused.
"Lux, wait up," Craig said as he rushed up the driveway. Lux wordlessly held the door open for him to follow her. He watched as she threw her bag on the floor and carefully placed her letter from Columbia back into the envelope.
"Who is that guy?" Craig asked.
"No one important," Lux said, her back was facing him and her voice sounded oddly strained.
"No on important? I haven't seen him before. Is he from here?" Craig asked, he watched as Lux shrugged her shoulders. "Come on Lux, talk to me. This is supposed to be a good day for you, instead this guy shows up and you get all upset. What's going on?" Craig asked as he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her around. Craig was shocked when he saw Lux's eyes glazed over with a film of tears.
"He's just an asshole ex boyfriend. That's all," Lux said, avoiding his gaze.
"An asshole ex boyfriend who's from....CALIFORNIA?!" Craig asked in disbelief. Lux nodded her head. "He followed you from California? Why?" Craig asked. Lux shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know, ok. We didn't have a good relationship, and obviously he got attached to it. All I know is that I never want to see him again."
"What was so bad about it?" Craig asked, suddenly concerned. Lux was definitely avoiding his gaze now.
"Just regular stuff, you know how it goes."
"It must be more than regular stuff, because regular stuff does not make a boy follow a girl across the country, into a different country at that."
"Look Craig, I really don't want to talk about it ok. Just let it go. He'll leave soon, and I can forget all about him."
"Lux, he doesn't look like he's about to leave anytime soon," Craig said reaching for Lux's arm. He happened to grasp it at the same spot that Brad grabbed it earlier that day. Lux flinched and pulled away. "What's wrong?" Craig asked noticing her flinch.
"N-nothing," Lux stuttered, wanting to rub her arm, but not risking it. Before, she knew what was happening, Craig took her hand in his, and gently began to lift the sleeve of her shit up. "What are you doing?!" she asked trying to pull away, but Craig held her still and continued to soundlessly pull the sleeve up. He stopped when he noticed bruising on her arm.
"What happened?" he asked again looking at her arm. "I know I did not grasp your arm that hard to cause that," he said. Lux was staring at the floor, not answering. "Lux, did he hit you?" Craig asked so gently it almost startled a response from Lux. "Lux," he prodded gently. "Did he hit you?" he repeated himself. Lux finally looked up into his eyes and nodded her head slightly. "And now he's back to get back together with you?" Craig asked. Lux nodded her head again.
"I cut off the relationship with him before I left. He went crazy, he couldn't handle it. And then I left. I didn't even tell him where I was moving too, but he found out, and now he's back, and I don't know what he's going to do." Lux said, swallowing back tears. Craig pulled her into his chest.
"Shh, don't worry. I know what this is like." Lux pulled away from Craig quickly.
"No, you don't know what it's like. You have no idea what it's like to be in a relationship with someone who hurts you. And I was too weak to get out of it. I let him do that to me because I was too scared to be without him, and now look where it got me." Lux blurted out angrily.
"Lux, I do understand," Craig said gently.
"How can you possibly understand?" Lux asked incredulously.
"Because my dad used to beat me." Lux's eyes widened.
"What?" she asked, not believing what she heard.
"When my mom left him for Joey, it was just us. He would be really stressed out, and take every little thing out on me. At first I thought it was my fault. That I didn't behave. But then it got really bad. Eventually Joey found out, and I went to live with him. So trust me, I understand," Craig said. Lux stood there watching him, shocked.
"I had no idea," she said.
"It's ok," Craig said.
"So...how bad did it get?" Lux asked curiously. Craig paused for a moment before lifting the side of his shirt up, revealing a huge scar on the side of his stomach. Lux's mouth fell open as she reached out and gently ran her fingers over it.
"You're lucky that you had Joey to go to," Lux said after a moment. Craig nodded his head.
"I know. How bad did it get with you and Brad?" Craig asked.
"Pretty bad," Lux said. After a moment she turned around and pulled up the bottom of her shirt, to reveal a scar stretching along her back. She felt Craig exhale slowly behind her. She felt his hands reach over and pull down her shirt.
"It must have been hard to get away from him."
"It was really hard. I somehow managed to get so attached to him. But eventually I did get away. And now he's back," Lux broke into a bitter smile. "Oh well, hopefully he'll just leave me alone. What is with me and guys?! I always go for guys who are awful for me! First Brad, and then Sean. At least Sean treats me well. But god, he's a drug dealer." Lux paused and gazed up at Craig. Then she continued, "But I think my taste is changing," she said gently.
"What do you mean?"
"Well I like this new guy now. And he's not a wife beater, or a drug dealer, or even an alcoholic." Lux said, smiling slightly at Craig. Craig smiled back.
"Oh really, so what is he like?" he asked in a teasing tone.
"Well, he's in a band. And he's really good at the guitar, and he's smart. So smart that he's going to Columbia next year," Lux stated. Craig smiled at her last statement.
"That's good. Because I think that a guy who is going to Columbia next year would be really into a girl who is going to Columbia next year," Craig said. Lux smiled brightly at him.
"Oh really, well then maybe I have a chance with him."
"Maybe," Craig said. Lux watched as he bent his head down and kissed Lux gently. Lux pulled away after a moment.
"Craig, I'm breaking up with Sean," she said. Craig backed away slightly.
"You are?" he asked, thinking he had not heard her correctly.
"Yes, as soon as possible" she answered. She bit her bottom lip waiting for his reaction. "I can't do this. It's unfair to him, me, and you. I can't keep making out with you and wanting to be with you when technically I'm with Sean. So I want to end things with him. And I know that it probably won't end as well I would like, but I have to anyways," Lux said. Craig simply smiled and Lux melted into his kiss.