The first weeks of school were a success! I'm glad that I was able to see my friends again, aside from open house, but assignments have been screaming when it comes to school. I even got my class ring, and it looks gorgeous! :D I'm sorry that it took two weeks to get this updated. :( But I'm back again, once again! ^_^ While I was gone, I fell in love... with Daft Punk. Seriously, they're geniuses. Not like I know them now, I found out about them ever since I played Tap Tap Revenge on my old iPod Touch... which is missing, but I have my awesome iPhone 5. Their new album is perfection, and with my upcoming paycheck, I'll buy DJ Hero 1 and 2, and maybe Interstella 5555.

For this story, I will officially say that one: it has over a thousand views (thank you so much!) and two: this story will probably have around thirty chapters, and an epilogue might be added, so basically thirty-one. That might change when it comes to planning on what will happen, and I will say right now that I don't plan to do a sequel, but a prequel will be in the works once I get to it. I don't think it'll get as much as reviews as this, but regardless, I'd love to write a story of Luce and her past before her mother's death. Enough of this note, so here's a new chapter!

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~Chapter Fifteen: Help From A Friend~

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Luce went downstairs to see Angel, after hearing from Claire that he wants to talk to her. What could happen since he's here? The only problem with him being at her house is that in about three hours, he has to be at his poker place. Luce has been there before, and when that happened, she nearly gambled at least half of her money when it was needed for lunch money at school. Luce chuckled at that memory and continued on heading down the stairs. She's just glad that he's good at that other than dancing.

Nonetheless, she found him beside Claire. The blonde left them be, heading to the kitchen to fix some drinks. Angel's brown eyes looked at Luce with sympathy. With that, he opened his arms. Luce raised an eyebrow, wondering why he was doing that.

"Come here," he said sweetly, his smile trying to be warm and welcoming. Without a second to think, Luce went to his arms and embraced him, figuring out why he was doing this. "Chica, you've been acting different before I took you back home. You know that lying to me won't do any good." He planted a friendly kiss on top of her head and placed his hand at her hair, and the other at the back of her neck. "Let's talk about it."

You're always sweet, even if I lie to you, Luce thought, watching her best friend leave the embrace in order to sit down on her living room couch. He patted a seat next to him, so Luce went there and sat down beside him. Once she got there, Angel placed an arm around her and helped her put her head on his shoulder. Luce can tell that she's probably going to cry about this, but she wanted to be strong since it's something she's never felt before in her life.

"What happened when you went outside during the party earlier?" Angel asked. Luce took a deep breath, and right before saying something, Claire put down three drinks on the coffee table in front of the couch, one with her usual glass of wine, and glasses of tea for them. Luce should let Claire know of this as well, since after all, she's her bodyguard, and her dad isn't around until two more months.

"Well, it actually started after we had ice cream to cool off after we got done with our routines. It seems that by the way he was acting, he was shocked because of where the party was located. And then I lost track of time, which I felt bad for because Oblio told me he was going to find a parking spot, but... I think he was lying. When I confronted him, he was already about to go, and he didn't want me to worry. I told him that if he wanted to be alone, then I wanted to be alone with him together because we both have mothers who can never hold us or tell us that they love us ever again..."

Angel frowned. Despite having both his parents alive and happy, he empathized with Luce because he lost his grandfather a couple of years ago. That's why he always visited his grandmother's house to support her and take her to the local Catholic church she cared for so much.

"Darling," Claire said pitifully, placing a hand on Luce's shoulder and starting to rub it to give her comfort. "Is that all that's bothering you?" Luce shook her head, sitting up to take a sip of the refreshing tea. She was glad that Claire added a little bit of mint in it because it helps her when she's feeling down. She parted her lips to sigh, thinking for a second to say the rest of her last moments with Oblio.

"No, Claire, there's still more. Right before I thought I was going to cry because of the pain he went through, he placed his hands on my shoulders and told me to close my eyes. I did so, but I honestly didn't know what was going to happen... until I believe I felt a bit of his lips touching mine. It was barely a kiss, but because my phone rang due to a text I got from Emilia, I felt bad for that to happen. He seemed okay with it and told me his goodbyes and headed off. I... was even hoping for him to kiss me, because I've been having these feelings I've never experienced in my life."

Claire gasped softly, frowning with a nod. Since she's an adult, she didn't want to embarrass Luce about what she's feeling. "I understand Luce. You've told me if that moment were to ever happen, I would help you in any way I can." Luce nodded, using that gesture as saying thanks. Angel didn't get the girl code they were using, but since he's her childhood friend, he wanted to ask her.

"Is it possible... that you're in love with him?" Angel asked, picking up his glass to drink his tea. Luce sighed and decided it was the right time to confess her true feelings. She took off her glasses and closed her eyes to think deeply and thoroughly about what to say to that response. She opened her eyes a few seconds afterward, ready to speak.

"I think so, but before I even met him, I chose to abstain from pursuing a romance with any guy, especially ever since puberty hit me. I even believed I was aromantic and asexual. That's why I refrained from going out with guys asides from Angel so that I can focus on dancing and my future. However, when Oblio and I grew closer, a warm feeling began to grow inside me." Luce can feel her face heat up when she's about to say the next sentence. "Even when he was wearing that tank top with mesh and those tight pants, I kinda lost it on the inside because he looked godly in them." Luce shook her head after saying that, giving herself a facepalm. "Stupid hormones and thoughts..."

Claire patted her back for comfort. "It's natural to feel attraction towards someone, Luce. Don't blame yourself."

"Thanks," Luce said softly. "But the thing is... I don't know when I'll see him again." She frowned, resting her crossed arms on her thighs. "What would happen if I didn't stop him from kissing me? What would happen if Emilia hadn't sent me a text message?"

Now all was silent. Those two questions she asked were something that would've changed the situation. If Oblio did kiss Luce when he had the chance, what would happen between them? Despite her feelings, would she enjoy it, or be confused?

The brunette stood up, leaving her drink behind. The blonde and the other brunette looked at each other in confusion, due to the questions she spoke of. Luce headed to her room, but the conversation was far from over.

"Where are you going?" Angel asked, catching up to her. He gently grabbed her wrist, stopping her from moving. When Angel touched her wrist, it reminded her of Oblio stopping her before he left. Once she saw his brown eyes, he still had that expression of feeling pity for her.

"I can't lie to you, so I was going to get my phone, but then again, I think that can wait," Luce answered, smiling softly and letting Angel's hand let go of her wrist. "But for now, how about some pizza? I'm starving, and you can't head over to Poker Plaza with an empty stomach." The Latino nodded, agreeing with her statement.

Before they were going to ask Claire, she was already on the phone, meaning that she heard them. Surprisingly, she ordered two boxes of pizza, one each for them. It was her treat, and since she already had her dinner, she got Luce's order and had to ask Angel what he would like on his pizza. It only took the deliveryman ten minutes to get to their address, and Claire went to the front door to pay for the good stuff. Once that was over, Angel and Luce can enjoy their dinner.

Luce had chicken, red pepper, and bacon on her pizza, while Angel's have mushrooms, hamburger meat, and jalapenos. Besides the appetizers, Luce loved the pizza from Mellow Mushroom, because they use fresh ingredients and have the best employees in a restaurant. Whenever people are at her place for a hangout or whatnot, she would order pizza on the phone. But right about now, people have lately been doing it on the Xbox, which is great technology-wise, but calling was way easier because some people don't have a console or internet. Seriously, can't the console just be for gaming and all that good stuff?

Right when they can't eat any more slices in the boxes, Luce and Angel rubbed their bellies as if they were pregnant... even though it's physically impossible for the Latino. The two noticed how much time has passed, and that meant Angel had to leave for his poker night. And before he could head out the front door, Luce caught up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. Angel chuckled and smiled, placing his hands on hers where it lay on his full stomach.

"Thanks for talking with me. I wouldn't know what to think without your help." Just when Luce unwrapped her arms around him, Angel turned around and ruffled Luce's black hair for a second.

"You're welcome. Just call me when needed," he replied. Taking his pizza box, the Latino headed to his car, and drove off with a quick wave, meaning goodbye. Luce waved back and closed the door. With the hours flying by, it's time for bed. She found Claire watching Titanic, which is near the end, and right at the saddest part. Luce hurried to avoid seeing it because it makes her cry every time she sees that scene.

Heading up the stairs, she heard her phone ring. Luce found her phone on her bed and checked to see what it was that made her phone ring. On rare occasions, Aubrey sent her a text, but it was just a question of whether she should get the black knee-high boots to go with her Street Style outfit. Luce shrugged since it was cute, so she wrote that it was okay and sent the message to her. The brunette checked the time, and it was almost ten.

She sighed, checking for anything new that happened while she was downstairs. There were a couple of emails, two texts from Glitch and Emilia, and a missed call and voicemail. She checked the missed call, and it made Luce gasp and felt her heart skip a beat.

Oblio called her an hour ago, and even though it was good that he tried to call back, she felt so bad that she didn't get to accept the call. Nonetheless, Luce felt relieved. She deleted the missed call since it would annoy her for having a record of missed calls tracked on her phone.

"So you did get my call? I'm glad you're okay, at least," Luce said quietly. She flashed a small smile, feeling thankful that he was safe. She went to the voicemail from him, so she touched it and placed the phone to her ear, her heart beating a bit faster after doing so.

"Luce... I hope you can forgive me for leaving, but... I need you and D-Coy to meet me at High Tide Beach tomorrow at ten. I'll tell all of you everything you need to know." Luce can feel her heart beat faster, ending the voicemail. She sat down on her bed, sighing in relief. He's okay, but will she be okay when he'll tell her what's going on with him?

Luce pounded a number on her phone and she placed it to her ear. "Hey, Luce," Dare's voice picked up. "This call is later than last time. What's up?" The brunette went to her window and looked at the view of the city at night, looking at a faraway, but not too distant building, which is Dare's apartment.

"I need you and MacCoy to pick me up before ten in the morning, and we have to head to High Tide Beach by then. A friend..." Luce paused, not knowing if he would still be considered a friend after what just happened. "A friend told me that we have to be there, so no pressure."

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~Chapter Sixteen coming soon...~

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Now that we know Luce has feelings for Oblio (obviously! XD We just got her to confess in front of Angel and Claire), what will happen when the two of them will meet? Even though Dare and MacCoy is going to be there, just imagine what will happen. :D Since this was uploaded during the Labor Day weekend, I wish you all a happy Labor Day and enjoy having a long weekend. ^_^

Don't forget to review please. :) It helps a lot and it supports my writing motivation. I'll see you soon~