The rest of the week passed by in a blur. Sean and Lux did not see much of
each other. Sean seemed rather busy with Jay and Lux seemed rather busy
getting excited over Columbia. Brad thankfully made no more appearances at
school or in Lux's driveway.
"Alright, so I know I've been a little overenthusiastic with the party thing. But honestly, we have reason to celebrate now. So now that you and Craig both got accepted to Columbia, I'm throwing a huge party this weekend ok?" Paige informed her friend.
"Now by huge do you mean the kind of party where I don't know half the people attending?" Lux asked. Paige sipped on her milkshake and mulled the question over.
"Probably, but you know the important people, like myself, Spinner, Craig, and Sean." Lux smiled slightly while playing with her napkin. She still hadn't broken up with Sean, yet she continued to spend more and more of her time with Craig. "So what's the deal between you and Craig anyways?" Paige asked as if reading her best friend's mind.
"What do you mean?" Lux asked. She didn't want the entire world to know about her and Craig until after she had broken up with Sean.
"Oh come on Lux, I'm not stupid. You two seem awfully friendly these days. I see you with him more than I see you with Sean. Plus you two have at least the next 4 years together at Columbia. There has to be something more than friendship," Paige pressed.
"Paige, I'm still with Sean," Lux carefully answered, managing to not deny her attraction to Craig.
"But that doesn't mean you can't like Craig. It's not like you two are married. Besides, Sean definitely has other issues," Paige said. She had gotten more and more skeptical about the worthiness of Sean once Lux told her about his under the table habits. Lux rolled her eyes. Paige's eyes lit up. "Ooh, there is definitely something going on with you and Craig, if not with you and Sean! You didn't even stick up for him!" Paige proclaimed.
"Maybe that's because I've realized it's a waste of time trying to stick up for Sean to you, you're too stubborn to agree with me," Lux said.
"Or maybe you realized I'm right. I mean come on Lux, you deserve better than a DRUG DEALER," she emphasized. Lux nodded her head, not truly responding.
* * * * *
The next night Lux made her way up to Paige's house carefully. She had learned through all her prior party experiences that she probably wasn't going to have a great time. She was still looking forward to it though, since Craig promised he would show up. Although, in the back of her head she couldn't forget that she still hadn't broken up with Sean.
"Hey you, long time no see," as if on cue Sean appeared out of nowhere and threw one arm around Lux's shoulder.
"Hi," Lux said tensing a little. She watched as Emma walked by them, glaring at Sean. "What's her problem?" Lux asked as she watched Emma walk into the house.
"No idea," Sean said a little too quickly to be convincing. Lux looked at him suspiciously but decided she had no right to grill him for information when she was being rather sneaky herself.
"Hi," Sean turned around to see Craig walking up next to Lux.
"Hey Craig," Sean answered. Lux smiled at Craig. "Ready to party the night away?" Sean asked as they headed inside the house. Once again, the house was filled with unrecognizable people. Lux skimmed the crowd for Paige.
"So Lux," Lux turned to look at Sean who was beginning to say something to her, "I was thinking that maybe tomorrow night you and me could—
"Cameron, we got business to handle!" Jay yelled in Sean's direction as he charged through the door. Sean's eyes narrowed.
"Not now," he said through gritted teeth.
"Now," Jay practically growled as he pulled Sean by his collar away from Lux.
"I'm busy," Sean said resisting.
"And I got fucked because of YOU, so as of now, you're not busy!" Jay thrusted Sean towards the door and Lux watched hopelessly as they walked away.
"Great," Lux sighed to herself. "He said he was done with that." She rolled her eyes, not believing she could be so vulnerable.
"Hey Craig!" A voice behind her caught her ear. She turned to see Manny wrap her arms around Craig's neck, pulling him close. He didn't seem to mind. Lux forced herself to look away.
"Where's Sean?" Paige asked turning up next to her friend.
"He ran out with Jay to settle some business," Lux responded, not being able to cover up the resentment in her voice.
"Aww, what a sweet boyfriend. Like I said Lux, you need to dump his ass and get with Craig. Craig is a good catch, and he might get snatched up before you know it," Paige said nodding her head towards Craig. Lux looked over and saw Manny sitting on top of the kitchen counter laughing at something Craig had said. Lux bit her bottom lip and forced herself to look away.
"Craig's a big boy, he can do what he wants," Lux said in a tone a little sharper than she had meant.
* * * *
The night seemed to drag on for Lux. She spent most of it in front of the TV with Ashley and Marco. At around 12 am, Paige came running into the room.
"Guys!! We're going into the hot tub!!" Paige said a little too enthusiastically as Spinner came running in behind her. No one in front of the TV moved. "Oh come on you guys. Come on!" Paige said as she grabbed Ashley and Lux's arms, pulling them off the couch.
"Sorry, I didn't bring a swim suit," Lux said.
"It's ok, you left one here from the last time we went in. It's in my room, the top drawer," Paige said grinning at her friend. Ashley sighed and grabbed a bag she brought, heading to the bathroom. "Go on!" Paige said pushing Lux gently towards the stairs. Lux was almost at Paige's room when a familiar voice came from the room across the hall. Lux turned towards it, gently turning the doorknob and letting herself in. She was faced with a lot of smoke. Sean, Emma, and some other unknown people were lying on the bed, smoking pot.
"Sean?!" Lux asked surprised.
"Oh, hey Lux," Sean said struggling to sit up. "What's up?" he was obviously high. Lux was pissed.
"I didn't think you had come back," she snapped.
"Ohh yeah, I settled that stuff with Jay and here I am," he said. "Come here," he tried to pull Lux towards him.
"You said you would stop smoking pot," Lux said coughing through the smoke.
"Sorry mother," he retorted in a taunting tone. "But a little pot hasn't hurt anyone." The rest of the group laughed. Lux shook her head and with one last glare in Sean's direction, slammed the door behind her as she stomped off. Still shaking her head with anger, and let herself into Paige's room. Angrily, she pulled open the drawer and saw her bathing suit lying there. She quickly grabbed it and turned to leave when she bumped into someone she hadn't noticed walk in after her. Looking up, she saw it was Jay.
"If you're looking for Sean he's in the next room getting high," Lux snapped at Jay trying to move around him.
"Ohh I'm not looking for Sean," Jay said moving in the same direction as Lux did, blocking her from moving forward.
"Then who are you looking for?" Lux asked with a touch of impatience in her voice.
"Ooh, feisty are we? That's how I like them," Jay sneered. Lux rolled her eyes.
"Look Jay, I really don't have time for your bullshit right now. I have no money or pot for you to steal from me, so I don't know why you're even wasting your time right now," Lux said placing her hands on her hips and glaring at Jay.
"You might not have money or pot, but you do have something else I might be interested in." There was something about the tone of his voice that made Lux look towards the door. It was shut.
"Look, let me go," Lux said angrily again trying to move around him.
"I told Sean not to fuck with me," Jay started moving closer to Lux. "In fact I specifically told him if he didn't get straight with me I would be coming after things more valuable to him, like you for instance." Lux swallowed hard.
"Sorry Jay, but I'm pretty sure at this point I'm not as valuable to Sean as marijuana is," Lux kept the icy tone in her voice even though her palms were starting to sweat.
"Oh you only think that because he's currently high off his ass. But when he comes around he'll realize what's more valuable to him. But it's a good thing he doesn't know what the fuck is going on right now, gives me more free reign." Jay said softly.
"More free reign to do what?" Lux snapped, glancing towards the door once again.
"I could never understand what it was about you that got Sean so enthralled that he forgot where his loyalties were. He started to lose track of important thing, you know what I mean. So I think I'm ready to experience what it is about you that's so great," Jay said placing his arms firmly on Lux's waist. He pulled her towards him and she felt him bury his head in her hair.
"Get off me!" Lux said trying to push him away. Jay, however, ignored her and pressed his lips against hers. Lux screamed against his mouth and pushed him away, slapping him hard across the face. Jay rubbed his jaw gently and laughed menacingly at Lux.
"You really shouldn't have done that bitch," Jay said. With that, he reached for Lux's shirt, ribbing some of the front buttons as he tried to pry it off her.
"Stop it!" Lux screamed again, as loud as she could as she fought to get to the door. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew Sean wouldn't hear her from the room across the hall. She struggled as she Jay pushed her down on Paige's bed and forced himself on top of her. Lux pushed hard against his chest, but it was like pushing against a wall of cement. She felt his fingers wrap themselves around her throat in a threatening way.
"If you fight me anymore, I'll strangle you," he hissed in her ear, Lux could feel his breath against the side of her face. With that he started to kiss down her neck. Lux drew her knee up felt it make contact with his groin. Jay collapsed on her with pain and violently pushed both her hands down on the side of her face with his.
"You stupid bitch. I was going to be nice," he leered at her as his free hand fumbled with the clasp on her jeans.
"Get off me!" Lux screamed as she tried with all her might to free her hands. Miraculously, Jay did get off her, but Lux could tell it wasn't by his free will. She pushed herself up and saw Craig throwing Jay against a wall.
"What the fuck are you doing?!" Craig yelled at Jay. Jay was caught by surprise for a moment but then reeled at Craig, punching him hard in the face. Craig staggered for a moment as Lux watched, but then quickly regained himself and threw himself at Jay, punching him hard in the eye. Jay fell to the ground as Craig kicked him hard in the stomach until Jay had keeled over, clutching his side. Craig turned around wiping his bloody nose on the sleeve of his shirt.
"Are you ok?" he asked Lux, looking concerned. Lux looked up at Craig clearly shaken. She was quickly buttoning her shirt, fingering the bottom where it was ripped. "Lux," Craig started as his hand gently cupped her face. She moved her face away, refusing to meet his glance. "Ok, it's ok. He's not going to touch you anymore," Craig said trying to comfort Lux. He noticed that she had started shaking, and was tugging on the rip in her shirt to conceal her stomach. Craig immediately took off his sweatshirt and gave it to her. Lux looked grateful and pulled it on. "Let's get out of here," Craig said placing his arm over Lux's shoulder and guiding her out of the room. He threw one more glare at Jay and headed out the door. Lux followed Craig downstairs with her head bent down.
"Lux, aren't you going in the hot tub?" Paige called to her friend when she saw her emerge wearing Craig's sweatshirt.
"We're leaving actually," Craig answered quickly for Lux.
"Leaving? Why?" Paige looked surprised.
"Look Paige, Jay is upstairs and I suggest you kick him out of your house," Craig said as he grabbed Lux and his coats and headed out the door. Lux was walking in a zombie-like stupor. Craig caught up with her and placed her coat over her shoulders like a cape. He was trying to decide whether or not to try to get her to talk, but decided against it when Lux seemed content walking in silence.
When they finally reached her house, Lux paused before going up the driveway. Craig gazed up at her house, no lights were on.
"Lux, are your parents home?" he asked. Lux shook her head.
"They're away for the weekend," she said in a very tired worn out voice.
"Do you want to stay at my house tonight? We have a guest room," he added. Lux looked over at him, and then nodded her head. However, she headed up the driveways. Craig followed her, confused, but then realized she was just going to pick up some things she needed over night.
When they arrived at Craig's house, Joey asked no questions as to why Lux was spending the night when he saw the state she was in. She wasn't looking at anyone and saying next to nothing. Craig's eyes pleaded with Joey to understand, so he did. Craig showed Lux the guest room with bathroom attached. Lux nodded and headed off to the bathroom. Craig went towards his bathroom and got ready for bed. He decided to say goodnight to Lux and see whether she was up to talking or not. When he made his way into the bedroom, he noticed that she was still in the bathroom. He settled himself on the corner of the bed, prepared to wait for her when he heard a gagging sound followed by coughing coming from the bathroom.
"Lux?" he called through the closed door. There was no answer. Craig cautiously opened the door to see Lux crouched over the toilet throwing up. He rushed to her side and brushed her hair out of her face. Her hair was wet and Craig realized she just got out of the shower. He waited until she finished and watched as she automatically brushed her teeth. Craig followed Lux out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. She sat on the bed, looking at Craig. He sat across from her, meeting her gaze.
"Thank you," she said simply. Craig was startled by the simplicity of the statement.
"You're welcome," he replied. "Look Lux, my room is right down the hall, if you need anything," he said. Lux nodded. "Ok, well goodnight," he said as he stood up.
"Goodnight," Lux said watching him. Craig walked towards her and kissed her gently on her forehead. Lux watched his retreating back and pulled the blankets tightly around her falling into a fitful sleep.
* * * * * *
Hope you guys enjoyed!! The next chapter will be up soon, promise.
"Alright, so I know I've been a little overenthusiastic with the party thing. But honestly, we have reason to celebrate now. So now that you and Craig both got accepted to Columbia, I'm throwing a huge party this weekend ok?" Paige informed her friend.
"Now by huge do you mean the kind of party where I don't know half the people attending?" Lux asked. Paige sipped on her milkshake and mulled the question over.
"Probably, but you know the important people, like myself, Spinner, Craig, and Sean." Lux smiled slightly while playing with her napkin. She still hadn't broken up with Sean, yet she continued to spend more and more of her time with Craig. "So what's the deal between you and Craig anyways?" Paige asked as if reading her best friend's mind.
"What do you mean?" Lux asked. She didn't want the entire world to know about her and Craig until after she had broken up with Sean.
"Oh come on Lux, I'm not stupid. You two seem awfully friendly these days. I see you with him more than I see you with Sean. Plus you two have at least the next 4 years together at Columbia. There has to be something more than friendship," Paige pressed.
"Paige, I'm still with Sean," Lux carefully answered, managing to not deny her attraction to Craig.
"But that doesn't mean you can't like Craig. It's not like you two are married. Besides, Sean definitely has other issues," Paige said. She had gotten more and more skeptical about the worthiness of Sean once Lux told her about his under the table habits. Lux rolled her eyes. Paige's eyes lit up. "Ooh, there is definitely something going on with you and Craig, if not with you and Sean! You didn't even stick up for him!" Paige proclaimed.
"Maybe that's because I've realized it's a waste of time trying to stick up for Sean to you, you're too stubborn to agree with me," Lux said.
"Or maybe you realized I'm right. I mean come on Lux, you deserve better than a DRUG DEALER," she emphasized. Lux nodded her head, not truly responding.
* * * * *
The next night Lux made her way up to Paige's house carefully. She had learned through all her prior party experiences that she probably wasn't going to have a great time. She was still looking forward to it though, since Craig promised he would show up. Although, in the back of her head she couldn't forget that she still hadn't broken up with Sean.
"Hey you, long time no see," as if on cue Sean appeared out of nowhere and threw one arm around Lux's shoulder.
"Hi," Lux said tensing a little. She watched as Emma walked by them, glaring at Sean. "What's her problem?" Lux asked as she watched Emma walk into the house.
"No idea," Sean said a little too quickly to be convincing. Lux looked at him suspiciously but decided she had no right to grill him for information when she was being rather sneaky herself.
"Hi," Sean turned around to see Craig walking up next to Lux.
"Hey Craig," Sean answered. Lux smiled at Craig. "Ready to party the night away?" Sean asked as they headed inside the house. Once again, the house was filled with unrecognizable people. Lux skimmed the crowd for Paige.
"So Lux," Lux turned to look at Sean who was beginning to say something to her, "I was thinking that maybe tomorrow night you and me could—
"Cameron, we got business to handle!" Jay yelled in Sean's direction as he charged through the door. Sean's eyes narrowed.
"Not now," he said through gritted teeth.
"Now," Jay practically growled as he pulled Sean by his collar away from Lux.
"I'm busy," Sean said resisting.
"And I got fucked because of YOU, so as of now, you're not busy!" Jay thrusted Sean towards the door and Lux watched hopelessly as they walked away.
"Great," Lux sighed to herself. "He said he was done with that." She rolled her eyes, not believing she could be so vulnerable.
"Hey Craig!" A voice behind her caught her ear. She turned to see Manny wrap her arms around Craig's neck, pulling him close. He didn't seem to mind. Lux forced herself to look away.
"Where's Sean?" Paige asked turning up next to her friend.
"He ran out with Jay to settle some business," Lux responded, not being able to cover up the resentment in her voice.
"Aww, what a sweet boyfriend. Like I said Lux, you need to dump his ass and get with Craig. Craig is a good catch, and he might get snatched up before you know it," Paige said nodding her head towards Craig. Lux looked over and saw Manny sitting on top of the kitchen counter laughing at something Craig had said. Lux bit her bottom lip and forced herself to look away.
"Craig's a big boy, he can do what he wants," Lux said in a tone a little sharper than she had meant.
* * * *
The night seemed to drag on for Lux. She spent most of it in front of the TV with Ashley and Marco. At around 12 am, Paige came running into the room.
"Guys!! We're going into the hot tub!!" Paige said a little too enthusiastically as Spinner came running in behind her. No one in front of the TV moved. "Oh come on you guys. Come on!" Paige said as she grabbed Ashley and Lux's arms, pulling them off the couch.
"Sorry, I didn't bring a swim suit," Lux said.
"It's ok, you left one here from the last time we went in. It's in my room, the top drawer," Paige said grinning at her friend. Ashley sighed and grabbed a bag she brought, heading to the bathroom. "Go on!" Paige said pushing Lux gently towards the stairs. Lux was almost at Paige's room when a familiar voice came from the room across the hall. Lux turned towards it, gently turning the doorknob and letting herself in. She was faced with a lot of smoke. Sean, Emma, and some other unknown people were lying on the bed, smoking pot.
"Sean?!" Lux asked surprised.
"Oh, hey Lux," Sean said struggling to sit up. "What's up?" he was obviously high. Lux was pissed.
"I didn't think you had come back," she snapped.
"Ohh yeah, I settled that stuff with Jay and here I am," he said. "Come here," he tried to pull Lux towards him.
"You said you would stop smoking pot," Lux said coughing through the smoke.
"Sorry mother," he retorted in a taunting tone. "But a little pot hasn't hurt anyone." The rest of the group laughed. Lux shook her head and with one last glare in Sean's direction, slammed the door behind her as she stomped off. Still shaking her head with anger, and let herself into Paige's room. Angrily, she pulled open the drawer and saw her bathing suit lying there. She quickly grabbed it and turned to leave when she bumped into someone she hadn't noticed walk in after her. Looking up, she saw it was Jay.
"If you're looking for Sean he's in the next room getting high," Lux snapped at Jay trying to move around him.
"Ohh I'm not looking for Sean," Jay said moving in the same direction as Lux did, blocking her from moving forward.
"Then who are you looking for?" Lux asked with a touch of impatience in her voice.
"Ooh, feisty are we? That's how I like them," Jay sneered. Lux rolled her eyes.
"Look Jay, I really don't have time for your bullshit right now. I have no money or pot for you to steal from me, so I don't know why you're even wasting your time right now," Lux said placing her hands on her hips and glaring at Jay.
"You might not have money or pot, but you do have something else I might be interested in." There was something about the tone of his voice that made Lux look towards the door. It was shut.
"Look, let me go," Lux said angrily again trying to move around him.
"I told Sean not to fuck with me," Jay started moving closer to Lux. "In fact I specifically told him if he didn't get straight with me I would be coming after things more valuable to him, like you for instance." Lux swallowed hard.
"Sorry Jay, but I'm pretty sure at this point I'm not as valuable to Sean as marijuana is," Lux kept the icy tone in her voice even though her palms were starting to sweat.
"Oh you only think that because he's currently high off his ass. But when he comes around he'll realize what's more valuable to him. But it's a good thing he doesn't know what the fuck is going on right now, gives me more free reign." Jay said softly.
"More free reign to do what?" Lux snapped, glancing towards the door once again.
"I could never understand what it was about you that got Sean so enthralled that he forgot where his loyalties were. He started to lose track of important thing, you know what I mean. So I think I'm ready to experience what it is about you that's so great," Jay said placing his arms firmly on Lux's waist. He pulled her towards him and she felt him bury his head in her hair.
"Get off me!" Lux said trying to push him away. Jay, however, ignored her and pressed his lips against hers. Lux screamed against his mouth and pushed him away, slapping him hard across the face. Jay rubbed his jaw gently and laughed menacingly at Lux.
"You really shouldn't have done that bitch," Jay said. With that, he reached for Lux's shirt, ribbing some of the front buttons as he tried to pry it off her.
"Stop it!" Lux screamed again, as loud as she could as she fought to get to the door. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew Sean wouldn't hear her from the room across the hall. She struggled as she Jay pushed her down on Paige's bed and forced himself on top of her. Lux pushed hard against his chest, but it was like pushing against a wall of cement. She felt his fingers wrap themselves around her throat in a threatening way.
"If you fight me anymore, I'll strangle you," he hissed in her ear, Lux could feel his breath against the side of her face. With that he started to kiss down her neck. Lux drew her knee up felt it make contact with his groin. Jay collapsed on her with pain and violently pushed both her hands down on the side of her face with his.
"You stupid bitch. I was going to be nice," he leered at her as his free hand fumbled with the clasp on her jeans.
"Get off me!" Lux screamed as she tried with all her might to free her hands. Miraculously, Jay did get off her, but Lux could tell it wasn't by his free will. She pushed herself up and saw Craig throwing Jay against a wall.
"What the fuck are you doing?!" Craig yelled at Jay. Jay was caught by surprise for a moment but then reeled at Craig, punching him hard in the face. Craig staggered for a moment as Lux watched, but then quickly regained himself and threw himself at Jay, punching him hard in the eye. Jay fell to the ground as Craig kicked him hard in the stomach until Jay had keeled over, clutching his side. Craig turned around wiping his bloody nose on the sleeve of his shirt.
"Are you ok?" he asked Lux, looking concerned. Lux looked up at Craig clearly shaken. She was quickly buttoning her shirt, fingering the bottom where it was ripped. "Lux," Craig started as his hand gently cupped her face. She moved her face away, refusing to meet his glance. "Ok, it's ok. He's not going to touch you anymore," Craig said trying to comfort Lux. He noticed that she had started shaking, and was tugging on the rip in her shirt to conceal her stomach. Craig immediately took off his sweatshirt and gave it to her. Lux looked grateful and pulled it on. "Let's get out of here," Craig said placing his arm over Lux's shoulder and guiding her out of the room. He threw one more glare at Jay and headed out the door. Lux followed Craig downstairs with her head bent down.
"Lux, aren't you going in the hot tub?" Paige called to her friend when she saw her emerge wearing Craig's sweatshirt.
"We're leaving actually," Craig answered quickly for Lux.
"Leaving? Why?" Paige looked surprised.
"Look Paige, Jay is upstairs and I suggest you kick him out of your house," Craig said as he grabbed Lux and his coats and headed out the door. Lux was walking in a zombie-like stupor. Craig caught up with her and placed her coat over her shoulders like a cape. He was trying to decide whether or not to try to get her to talk, but decided against it when Lux seemed content walking in silence.
When they finally reached her house, Lux paused before going up the driveway. Craig gazed up at her house, no lights were on.
"Lux, are your parents home?" he asked. Lux shook her head.
"They're away for the weekend," she said in a very tired worn out voice.
"Do you want to stay at my house tonight? We have a guest room," he added. Lux looked over at him, and then nodded her head. However, she headed up the driveways. Craig followed her, confused, but then realized she was just going to pick up some things she needed over night.
When they arrived at Craig's house, Joey asked no questions as to why Lux was spending the night when he saw the state she was in. She wasn't looking at anyone and saying next to nothing. Craig's eyes pleaded with Joey to understand, so he did. Craig showed Lux the guest room with bathroom attached. Lux nodded and headed off to the bathroom. Craig went towards his bathroom and got ready for bed. He decided to say goodnight to Lux and see whether she was up to talking or not. When he made his way into the bedroom, he noticed that she was still in the bathroom. He settled himself on the corner of the bed, prepared to wait for her when he heard a gagging sound followed by coughing coming from the bathroom.
"Lux?" he called through the closed door. There was no answer. Craig cautiously opened the door to see Lux crouched over the toilet throwing up. He rushed to her side and brushed her hair out of her face. Her hair was wet and Craig realized she just got out of the shower. He waited until she finished and watched as she automatically brushed her teeth. Craig followed Lux out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. She sat on the bed, looking at Craig. He sat across from her, meeting her gaze.
"Thank you," she said simply. Craig was startled by the simplicity of the statement.
"You're welcome," he replied. "Look Lux, my room is right down the hall, if you need anything," he said. Lux nodded. "Ok, well goodnight," he said as he stood up.
"Goodnight," Lux said watching him. Craig walked towards her and kissed her gently on her forehead. Lux watched his retreating back and pulled the blankets tightly around her falling into a fitful sleep.
* * * * * *
Hope you guys enjoyed!! The next chapter will be up soon, promise.