A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update! I broke my arm and it's so painful to type so it's taking me a little longer than usual. But I'm working as hard as I can to get new updates up coz you guys are amazing and deserve them! Please review :)
Chapter 16- Lovers Without Love
The family had moved to the couch after Lux's had finally calmed down a little. Cate was sitting on one end, with Lux's head on her chest. Lux was still a little shaken, but Cate's soothing motion of running her fingers through the blonde hair was keeping her grounded. Baze sat fast asleep on the other end of the couch, though he had only just drifted off. Lux had begged Ryan to stay, and despite his reluctance, Ryan currently sat in a car nearby, staring at the TV screen.
Baze had chosen the movie, not sure what Lux wanted to watch, but sure that she liked horror movies. Lux had smirked when The Hills Have Eyes 2, amused that even Cate was willing to watch a movie she absolutely hated if it meant Lux was more comfortable.
Both Lux and Cate tensed as the next scene came on. It was quick, too quick for Cate or Ryan to stop it, and Lux lay physically shaking, unable to tear her eyes away as the character Missy lay crying while the mutant raped her.
Ryan stood up quickly and turned off the TV, the noise waking Baze, as Cate shifted so she could see Lux's face. Lux paled and sat starring for a few seconds before composing herself and pasting on a smile.
"Thanks." She smiled at Ryan, sitting up before smiling reassuringly at Cate and Baze. "Uh, so, what do we think of pizza?"
Cate smiled at her concerned but nodded and stood up. "Sure. I'll order in."
"Actually," Ryan stood up too, looking at Cate. "Maybe Lux and Baze could go and get it?" He asked, looking between Lux and Baze questionably. "We should talk."
Lux smiled and grabbed Baze by the arm, pulling him towards the front door. "We'll be back later."
"So..." Cate started nervously, looking at Ryan.
Ryan nodded. "We should talk."
Baze and Lux pulled up outside of the pizza bar, and Lux shrunk a little into the seat when she noticed a group of teenagers looking at her judgingly.
"Just ignore them." Baze clearly noticed too.
Lux rolled her eyes, lifting her hood over her head to cover her eyes. "It's hard to ignore people when they think you're a freak."
"Hey," Baze smiled gently, lifting Lux's hood up so he could properly see her face. "It's going to be okay. Okay?" Lux nodded and smiled slightly. "You want to come in?" He nodded towards the pizza parlor.
Lux hesitantly nodded as Baze walked around to open her door. He wrapped an arm around her, leading her inside.
They ordered quickly and stood around waiting, Baze trying to keep Lux distracted by random and meaningless conversation while Lux looked around subconsciously.
A girl sitting at a table with her parents stood up when Lux and Baze entered the restaurant. Her parents watched her confused as she made her way over to Lux and Baze.
"Lux Cassidy, right?" She asked quietly, biting her lip nervously.
Lux nodded slowly, turning between Baze and the girl. "Yeah?"
"Uh, I'm sorry to interrupt." She smiled nervously, holding out her hand. "I'm Sara. Sara Jamison. I used to go to Westmonte."
"Okay..." Lux looked confused but shook Sara's hand.
Sara blushed slightly, looking down. "Um... You were to one who pressed charges against Peter Jones, right?" Her voice wavered as she said Jones' name. "You're the reason he's dead?"
Lux nodded slowly, paling slightly but she didn't answer, instead signaling for Sara to continue.
"Thank you." Sara whispered, her eyes filling with tears.
Lux knew immediately. The way Sara held herself, the broken look in the back of her eyes, it was all clear. She hadn't been Jones' only victim. Lux didn't hesitate before wrapping her arms around the other teenager, Sara gripping her back tightly as Baze, and Sara's parents who had made their way over, looked on confused.
After a few minutes, they pulled back and looked at their parents. Sara smiled at Lux once more before leading her parents away, and Lux turned to Baze who raised an eyebrow questionably.
Lux smiled, her heart finally behind the happy emotion. The pizzas came on cue and Baze grabbed them, wrapping an arm around Lux's shoulders and leading her out to the car.
"Ryan..." Cate started as they both took a seat. "I am so sorry-"
Ryan shock his head, laughing dryly. "Stop apologizing, Cate. All you ever do is apologize."
"Well what else am I meant to do to try and fix this. Sleeping with Baze... it was stupid and it meant nothing-"
Ryan sighed, rubbing his forehead stressed. "God, I don't understand you Cate! I was going to forgive you for the first time, then you just go and do it again. It clearly meant something, Cate."
"Ryan..." Cate's eyes filled with tears and she looked at Ryan pleadingly, gripping his arms. "No, Ryan, I love you! I'm committed to you! I want to be a family with you! Baze is just- he doesn't matter, okay? He said it himself. The only thing that matters between him and I is Lux." She shook her head, not thinking as she continued. "Even if I did feel something for him, it wouldn't matter-"
Ryan's heart broke as Cate realized what she had said. She covered her mouth, silent tears running down both of their faces. Finally, Ryan reached forward and kissed her forehead which only made the both of them cry harder.
"I love you, Cate." Ryan voice was calm, and yet full of pain. "But I can't do this anymore."
With those final words, Ryan was gone. Cate stood numbly, not even processing when the door opened and Baze and Lux came back in.
"Cate?" Lux called out when Cate kept her back to them. Finally she turned around to face them, Lux and Baze frowning confused. "What happened? Where's Ryan?"
Cate's lip shook and she starred ahead. "He left."
Lux slowly crossed the room, hesitating before wrapping her arms around Cate. Cate began to sob into her shoulder as Lux rubbed her back, not knowing what else to do. After a few minutes, Baze came over as well, wrapping his arms around the both of them as Cate gripped tightly to two of the most important people in her life, knowing the third was gone, and wasn't coming back.