The Day Before Lux Starts High School

"What's wrong?" Jones asked.

"Nothing," Lux lied.

"You're lying," Jones accused.

"No, I'm not," Lux insisted, avoiding his gaze.

"Yes, you are. I know you. I know when something's wrong," Jones said firmly.

Lux blushed slightly.

"Besides I'm kicking your ass. You never lose at Mariokart," Jones said lightly. "You're obviously distracted."

"Maybe I'm just having an off day," Lux said defensively. She could tell from Jones' expression he didn't believe her. Lux sighed. "I'm sorry. Maybe I'm a little distracted."

"What's wrong?" Jones asked again.

"It's just, no one who knew I was adopted went to my junior high. Now that we're starting high school, we'll all be at the same school again," Lux said.

"I know. I'm looking forward to it." Jones grinned.

"You don't get it. In junior high, I was normal. I wasn't the adopted girl. Now everyone's going to know," Lux said quietly.

Jones frowned. "Lux, there's nothing wrong with being adopted."

"Yes, there is. Everyone knows that my birth parents didn't want me," Lux said.

Jones shook his head. "That's not what anyone thinks."

"It's what I think," Lux said softly.

Jones studied his best friend. He didn't understand why she felt the way she did. A lot of kids were adopted. And Lux's adoptive parents were great. Better than a lot of kids' biological parents.

Even though he didn't understand, he knew Lux was upset and he would do anything to make her feel better. He didn't know what to say. He did know what he could do, though. Jones would tell everyone not to say anything about Lux being adopted.

"Your birth parents were crazy not to want you. You're smart and fun and beautiful," Jones said.

Lux smiled slightly. "Thanks."

The First Day of School

"Are you excited?" Liz asked, as she made Lux breakfast.

Lux forced herself to smile. "Yeah," she lied. She was actually really nervous.

Lux didn't know what would happen when her new friends met her old friends. When they found out she was adopted. That she'd been lying for the last few years.

Well, not lying exactly. Just not telling the whole truth.

Liz frowned as she studied her daughter. Lux didn't look happy.

Liz set a plate of French toast in front of Lux and sat down across from the teenager. "Are you nervous?"

"A little," Lux admitted.

"Everyone's a little nervous on their first day," Liz said sympathetically.

Yeah, but no one else had as much to be nervous about, Lux thought. She took a bite of the French toast. If her mouth was full, Liz wouldn't expect her to talk.

Lux hated lying to her mother and she wasn't very good at it. Lux always felt bad when she had to lie to Liz and it showed on her face. Lux did not want to tell Liz what she was really thinking. She knew it would only make her mom feel bad. She couldn't stand to do that to Liz.

Lux was halfway through her breakfast when a wave of nausea hit her. She dashed to the bathroom and threw up what little she'd eaten.

Liz followed. She frowned in concern as she held Lux's hair back from her face.

"Sorry," Lux mumbled.

"It's not your fault you're sick," Liz said gently, feeling Lux's forehead. "You don't have a temperature."

"I'm fine," Lux said.

Liz looked doubtful. "I don't know. I don't think you should go to school."

Lux opened her mouth to protest before she realized she didn't want to go to school. She nodded slowly. "OK. I'm gonna go back to bed."

"Do you want anything? Crackers? Soda?" Liz offered, stroking Lux's hair.

Lux shook her head. "No, I just want to lie down."

Lux frowned when she heard a knock on her bedroom door. Her mom didn't usually knock. "Come in."

Jones opened the door. He sat down on the end of Lux's bed.

"Hey. What are you doing here?" Lux asked. She was pleasantly surprised. She hadn't expected to see Jones, but she'd been bored out of her mind all day and was happy for the visitor.

Lux wasn't sick. She knew she'd only thrown up earlier because of nerves, but Liz would have known something was off if Lux hadn't stayed in her room. It was kind of difficult to fake sick when your mom was a nurse. As a result, Lux had been stuck in her room with no TV and nothing to do all day.

"You weren't in school. Your mom said you're sick," Jones said.

Lux nodded.

Jones studied his best friend. Once again, he knew she was lying. He raised his eyebrows. "I thought maybe you just didn't want to go to school."

Lux blushed slightly. "Well, I never actually want to go to school. Who wants to go to algebra?" she said lightly.

"And today you really didn't want to go to school," Jones said knowingly.

"True story," Lux said shortly, hoping Jones would drop the subject.

"Guess what? They didn't make an announcement that Lux Turner was adopted," Jones said lightly.

Lux tried not to smile, but failed. When Jones put it that way, it sounded ridiculous to worry that everyone would find out.

Jones grinned. "No one's gonna talk about you. Not unless you give them something to talk about."

Lux raised her eyebrows. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well, you could always have an affair with a teacher. That would be hot gossip," Jones teased.

Lux punched Jones' shoulder lightly. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not into old guys."

Jones laughed. "Good to know."

October 18

Lux groaned when her alarm clock went off. She hit the snooze button and rolled over in her bed.

"Lux!" Liz called from the foot of the stairs. "Breakfast is ready!"

No response.

Liz sighed. She climbed the stairs and opened the door to Lux's bedroom. She frowned when she saw that her daughter was still sleeping.

"Lux, you're going to be late," Liz warned, flipping the lights on.

"Mom!" Lux whined, squinting as the light flooded her room.

"It's already 7:12. We need to leave in twenty minutes," Liz said.

Lux let out an exaggerated sigh as she dragged herself out of bed. She grabbed a pair of jeans off the floor and put them on. She rummaged through her dresser drawers, looking for her favorite hooded sweatshirt. When she didn't find the one she wanted she yelled, "Mom, where's my Billabong hoodie?"

"Probably in the wash! Wear something else!" Liz called.

Lux settled for a turquoise track jacket. She pulled her blonde curls back into a ponytail. She dabbed concealer on a zit and applied bronzer before bounding down the stairs.

"You look nice," Liz said. Liz loved Lux in turquoise. It really brought out the blue in her eyes.

"Thanks," Lux said. She sat down at the table and devoured the French toast Liz had made.

Liz finished getting herself ready while Lux ate.

"Are you ready for your test?" Liz asked as she drove Lux to school.

"Yeah," Lux replied, unconcerned.

Liz frowned slightly, unconvinced. She knew Lux had been on the phone for hours the night before instead of studying.

"Good luck," Liz said as she pulled to a stop in front of Westmonte High School.

"Thanks," Lux said, hopping out of the car and grabbing her backpack. She started for the school building, but stopped and waved frantically for Liz to come back.

Liz stopped and rolled down her window.

Lux hurried over. "I forgot to tell you I have a student council meeting after school. I don't need a ride."

Lux was freshman class president. Her parents had wanted her to participate in extracurricular activities. They thought it would look good on college applications.

Lux had reminded them that she wouldn't be applying for college for several years, but she'd run for class president anyway. She would do anything to make them happy.

She'd been surprised when she'd actually won. She knew it was partially because she was such good friends with Jones.

He was naturally popular. Good-looking and a good athlete. He'd made the varsity football team even though he was just a freshman.

Lux knew most of the girls in her class had a crush on Jones, but he didn't seem interested in anyone.

"Hey." Lux heard Jones' voice behind her. "Hi Mrs. Turner." He grinned.

"Hi Jones," Liz said pleasantly.

Jones and Lux headed toward the school building together. Other kids stopped them to say hi.

Liz smiled as she watched her daughter. Lux had really come into her own since she started high school. She'd become instantly popular.

Lux was beautiful and sweet, but she'd always been somewhat quiet and shy with other kids her age. Liz was glad Lux had finally come out of her shell.

Jones was good for her daughter, Liz knew. Mark was slightly less than thrilled that the two were becoming closer than ever. He'd become the stereotypical dad who didn't want his little girl dating. Not even if it was with Jones, who they'd known forever. He was a good kid and he'd always been a good friend to Lux. Liz wouldn't mind if they took their friendship to the next level.