Lux hadn't gotten out of bed in three days. She couldn't bring herself to get up and go to school. Not when she felt like her world had just come crashing down around her.

For so long, Bug had been her world. He and Tasha were the only people who were there for her.

In a world where no one had ever wanted her, where she'd never been good enough, Bug had wanted her. He'd loved her.

Maybe Lux would never have a real family, but she and Bug had managed to form some semblance of a family. She'd imagined that they'd eventually get married and have kids. They'd love their kids so much because they both knew how much it hurt to not be loved. And she'd finally have a family.

Now Lux was picking up the pieces of Bug leaving. He must not have loved her as much as she thought. He didn't want her. She might never have the family she'd dreamed about.

She'd tried calling Bug a few more times, but he wasn't picking up. Was it so bad that she'd asked him to treat her better? What had she done wrong? He'd left because of her, she knew.

"Lux?" Lux heard Baze's voice and knocking on the door.

She sighed. She'd been wondering how long it would be until Baze and Cate started asking her questions. They'd both seen her crying and wanted answers.

Lux wasn't ready to give them answers. Thinking about Bug, talking about Bug always made her cry. She knew she couldn't tell them what had happened without losing it.

"Lux?" Baze called again.

Lux opened the door and forced herself to smile. "Hey."

Baze returned the smile, but Lux could see concern in his eyes as he took in her appearance. Lux glanced down and realized she was wearing pajamas again.

"Are you still not feeling well?" Baze asked.

Lux nodded.

"Maybe you should go to the doctor," Baze suggested.

"No," Lux said quickly.

Baze opened his mouth to protest.

"I, uh, just have cramps," Lux lied, knowing Baze would back off.

Baze shifted uncomfortably, blushing slightly. "Maybe I should call Cate."

"No!" Lux said quickly. Cate would know Lux was upset. She would know cramps weren't the cause of Lux's distress. She'd make Lux talk about it, Lux knew. "I'm, uh, feeling better."

Baze nodded. "OK. Do you feel up to going to the movies tonight?"

Lux didn't think she could put on a happy face for Baze for the rest of the night, but she knew if she refused Baze would call Cate. She nodded. "Let me get dressed."

Lux changed into jeans and a hooded sweatshirt in the bathroom. She ran a brush through her hair, pulling her blonde locks back into a ponytail. She hadn't taken a shower yet that day.

Baze kept casting sidelong glances at Lux as he drove to the movie theater. Lux had a smile pasted on her face, but she wasn't fooling him. She looked miserable.

"How's Bug?" Baze finally asked.

Lux swallowed. "Fine," she said shortly, hoping Baze would drop the subject.

"Are you guys still fighting?" Baze asked tentatively.

"No," Lux replied. It was the truth. They weren't fighting. How could they fight if Bug was gone? They were beyond fighting. The thought made Lux feel hollow and empty inside.

Baze paid for movie tickets and bought popcorn and sodas for both of them.

"Thanks," Lux said, forcing herself to smile.

"That was fun," Lux said when Baze dropped her off. She realized she meant it. The movie had gotten her mind off Bug.

Lux had spent the last several days obsessing over Bug. Hoping he would call. Waiting for him to call. Wondering why he wasn't calling. Trying to work up the courage to call him again.

Lux wanted more than anything for him to come back. She felt so alone without him. Getting her mind off of things was just what she needed.

Baze grinned. He'd felt Lux relax during the movie and her mood was considerably lighter. Her smile looked less forced.

"See you later," Lux called over her shoulder as she hopped out of the Jeep.

"See you," Baze said.

Lux heard raised voices as she approached the apartment.

"You went through my phone?" Gavin snarled.

"Who is Kaleigh?" Tasha demanded.

Gavin snatched his cell phone from Tasha's grip and glanced at the text message she'd seen.

Hey Sexy. R u coming over tonight? -Kaleigh

Gavin scowled.

"Who is Kaleigh?" Tasha asked again.

"No one," Gavin said, avoiding Tasha's gaze.

"Did you go over to no one's house tonight?" Tasha demanded.

Gavin crossed his arms in front of his chest defiantly.

"Where were you?" Tasha shrieked. "Answer me!"

"Yeah," Gavin admitted, knowing his cover was blown. "I was at Kaleigh's."

"How long?" Tasha asked, tears in her eyes.

"Tash," Gavin said soothingly.

"How long have you been cheating on me?" Tasha cried out.

"Not that long," Gavin lied, reaching for Tasha. She pushed him away.

"Really?" Tasha shook her head. "Then why do you have texts from over a month ago?"

Gavin stared at Tasha.

"Get out," Tasha said angrily.

Gavin didn't move.

"Get out!" Tasha shouted, shoving Gavin toward the door.

Lux opened the door, not wanting Gavin and Tasha to find her eavesdropping in the hallway.

Gavin was packing his stuff. He pushed past Lux without saying a word.

Lux approached Tasha and put her arm on Tasha's arm. "Are you OK?"

"Do I look OK?" Tasha said sarcastically, glaring at Lux as tears streamed down her face.

"What jerks our boyfriends turned out to be," Lux said sympathetically.

"Yeah, yours just left and mine cheated on me," Tasha remarked.

They sat down on the mattress together and commiserated, talking about how horrible guys were until late that night. They finally fell asleep, exhausted.

Lux woke up early. She contemplated going to school and decided she'd rather sit in class than sit around the apartment thinking about Bug all day.

Tasha woke up and frowned when she heard knocking on the door.

"Lux?" Tasha glanced around the apartment and realized she was alone. Lux must have gone to school. This was the first time Lux had gone to school since Bug left.

Tasha sighed and answered the door. Her frown deepened when she saw Cate.

"Is Lux here?" Cate asked.

"No," Tasha said shortly. She noticed Cate gazing over her shoulder, scanning the apartment for Lux, and rolled her eyes. "She's at school."

Cate nodded. "She's feeling better?"

Tasha rolled her eyes. "Her boyfriend left. What do you think?"

"Wait a minute, Bug left?" Cate said, confused.

Tasha smirked. She'd assumed Cate knew. "Yeah. Four days ago."

Cate nodded slowly. Bug had left. That's why Lux had been crying. That's what Lux hadn't wanted to talk about.

"When she gets home, tell her to call me," Cate said firmly.

Tasha shut the door behind Cate. She had no intention of telling Lux to call Cate. Now that Gavin was gone, Lux was all she had. She wasn't going to lose Lux to Cate and Baze.

Tasha had always been there for Lux. Always. Cate and Baze had been in Lux's life for, what, a month? It wasn't good enough. Not nearly. They couldn't give Lux away like she didn't matter and the come back and take Lux away from Tasha. Tasha wouldn't let them.

Cate left Lux's and headed for Open Bar. She found Baze letting the beer guy in. He nodded at her.

Cate gave Baze the Cliff's Notes version of her conversation with Tasha.

Baze grinned boyishly. "Bug's been exterminated."

Cate's expression was grim. She was glad her daughter was no longer living with Bug, but she couldn't bring herself to be happy about Bug leaving when it was making Lux so unhappy.

Baze frowned and scratched his head. "I thought you wanted this."

"I didn't want Lux to be miserable!" Cate shook her head.

"At least she's not living with Bug anymore," Baze said, unconcerned.

"She hasn't been getting out of bed. She's been crying," Cate reminded Baze, rolling her eyes. "Because Bug left."

Baze shrugged. "She went to school today. She'll get over Bug. She's sixteen."

Cate frowned. She hoped Baze was right. She hated seeing Lux so upset.