Lexi wasn't sure what to expect from Fezco's situation. She felt like she needed to be doing something about it, but at the same time questioned if it was even her place. She didn't know anyone who was close to Fez besides Rue, and she had firmly told Rue the night they had seen the cops at the house that she was not to contact any drug dealers she might know. She was so afraid for Fez that she was sick to her stomach, but she couldn't let Rue get wrapped up again when she had just gotten clean.
Rue had admitted to Lexi that night that she had gotten mixed up with some scary people and she had been terrified that they would come back for her at some point. Whoever those people were, Lexi hoped that Fez wasn't mixed up with them, too. Of course she knew that Fez's job could be dangerous, they'd talked about it in passing before. Lexi didn't see that part of Fez often, though. It was like he was two people: Fez the drug dealer, and Fez the guy who she watched movies with and talked about her family, and her future with. She really, really liked that Fez, and she didn't even want to consider that something bad had happened to him.
She had her eyes opened by Rue the day after they visited Fez's house. They decided to innocently ride by the convenience store to see if the cops had taken that, too. They had. The two girls rode by, careful to keep their heads down, and when they got back to Rue's they sat on the step for a long time talking.
"Where do you think he is?" Lexi asked Rue.
"I don't know," Rue responded. "I'm just kind of praying he's alive at this point."
Lexi sat up so fast. "What?"
"What?" Rue said, looking alarmed.
"You think he might be dead?"
"I mean, maybe?"
Lexi's eyes immediately welled with tears. That had not even been a thought that had crossed her mind.
"Maybe not, though," Rue said.
"I just thought he was, like, in jail or something? Or maybe he got away?"
"Both are definitely possibilities," Rue replied. "But you never really know with this stuff."
That conversation with Rue kept Lexi awake for nights, staring blankly at the ceiling in silence. Cassie lay there each night doing the same thing. They hadn't talked since the play, and even though Lexi was dying to talk to Cassie about what was going on, she followed her lead and stayed quiet. She wasn't sure Cassie would understand, anyway.
Lexi had never really had a secret before, if you could call it that. She spent most of her time outside of school hanging out with Rue, and even though they were miserable waiting for news, it was nice to be together again. They mostly just did homework at Rue's house, so that Leslie could keep an eye on her and Lexi could make sure she didn't fail junior year. Lexi would bike home every night, praying that she would hear something soon.
Four days after Lexi's play, Lexi was at Rue's house eating dinner with Rue and Gia. Leslie had to work, but she left food for the three girls and promised to be home by eight o' clock. It was the first night that Lexi felt actually distracted enough to enjoy herself. Rue had ordered pizza and the three of them sat in front of the TV, eating and watching reality television. They laughed at the antics of the people on the screen, and Lexi felt overwhelmed with relief and happiness. It had been a long, long time since being with Rue felt normal.
"Lex," Rue poked her, her mouth open and full of pizza.
"Ew, Rue, close your mouth!"
Rue giggled and swallowed. "Your phone is ringing."
"It's probably my mom, hold on."
Lexi picked up her phone and looked at the screen. She didn't recognize the number, but she walked into the hall and answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Hello, this is a collect call from San Fernando Jail. Do you accept the charges?"
"Um, yeah? Yes."
There was a beep as she was patched through another line. Her heart rate picked up. Could it be-
"Lex?"
"Fez, oh my god."
They both let out a sigh of relief. Lexi started to cry, she couldn't help it.
"Aw man, Lex, don't cry."
"I thought you were dead."
"Nah, you can't get rid of me that easy."
They sat on the line for a couple of breaths.
"Listen, Lex," Fez said, and there was something in his voice that she couldn't quite recognize. "I really need you to come here."
"I- okay."
"I been in the hospital for a couple days, three of four, I think. That's how come I didn't call sooner, but-"
"What? You were in the hospital? Are you okay?" She started to cry even harder.
"I'm okay, Lexi, I promise. I got shot, is all."
"Oh, is that all? Shot, Fez!"
"Look, please don't cry. I'll tell you about it when you come, okay? Just call the jail and they'll tell you when you can come."
"Okay."
"Hey Lex?"
"Yeah?"
"I, uh," he held the phone away from his mouth and cleared his throat. "I can't wait to see you."
"You too," she chuckled through her tears, and hit end call.
She slid down the wall, crying. Relief flooded through her, and then fear again. At least he was alive, but he was injured and in prison? She wasn't quite sure what to make of that. She heard Rue come down the hallway and rush to her side.
"What happened?"
"Fez just called."
"What! He's okay?"
"He called from San Fernando Jail."
"Shit," Rue said, sitting on the floor in front of her. "Motherfucker."
Lexi nodded in agreement.
"Did he say what happened?"
"No. He said he wants me to come and visit him. He said he would tell me then."
Rue chuckled. Lexi looked up at her, surprised.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Sorry. I just think it's kinda crazy, of all the people he could've called, he chose you."
"Shut up," Lexi said. "Help me call the freaking jail."
