Beware The Water

Nemisis

Lux was in her room studying when she had gotten a text from Shorter that simply read "Hey" She quickly responded back asking if she could call him now since he had been busy all day. Thankfully he said it was a good time.

"Shorter?"

"Sorry I haven't been able to get back to you. I've kinda had a lot on my plate." He apologized.

Lux felt bad thinking she was being annoying with her several phone call attempts that all went straight to voice mail. She knew she should have just tried once and waited for him to get back to her. "Oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you."

"You didn't. So what's up? You needed to tell me something?"

"Yeah." She swiveled around at her desk, taking her attention away from her study guide. "Last night after you and Ash dropped me off at home, a cop came by."

Shorter's eyes shot open. He looked at his crew who were being obnoxious in the background and glared to get them to shut up. "What did he say?"

"Asked if I was okay. And that he noticed me at the pizzeria with you and Ash." She explained.

"Anything else?"

"He just said that it doesn't look right for a girl to be out with two guys alone. Which sure I guess but I don't know, he was just being weird about it." Lux thought back to see if she remembered anymore details. "He was kind of tall." She described. "I think his badge read Wydell."

"Shit..." Shorter mumbled to himself. Even though Lux was as book smart as you could get , she was naive as hell. He thought quick on his feet to throw Lux off any scent if she had managed to track one. "Well you do live in an area where everyone knows everyone. Maybe the cop in charge doesn't want your lawyer parents looking bad for hanging out with a couple of attractive guys."

Lux rolled her eyes and laughed things off, "You're so full of yourself."

Shorter got up to leave to his room for more privacy. After shutting the door he looked out the window and down at the passerby's in the half lit streets. He closed the blinds and began to pace back and forth. "You're up pretty late." He pointed out. "Can't sleep?"

"Mmm no. Just studying. There's a huge academic decathlon and I'm trying to get on the team." Lux began to ramble about how her goal is to be captain and how there's another girl in her grade shooting for the same position. Unfortunately, those words passed right through Shorter's ears and he replied with uninterested, "Mhm's." And "That's cool's." Lux didn't notice due to over explaining her entire situation. "If you couldn't tell I'm on my fourth cup of coffee."

"Oh I can tell." Shorter chuckled, "I don't even think you took a breath while saying all that stuff."

"Anyways, sorry to bother you again. Hope I wasn't bugging too much last night."

Shorter thought back to the night before trying to remember why he didn't pick up this unexpected, fairly important call. Shit. He gave himself a face palm. "No no. I was um, I just fell asleep." He lied, "Didn't hear my phone vibrating."

"It's okay." Lux reached for her mug to take a sip and hadn't realized she had already finished her sugary drink. "Well hey, I'm going to make myself another coffee. I'll text you tomorrow alright?"

"Yeah, yeah. Sounds great. Night Lux." After hanging up Shorter quickly called Ash, "We have a problem."
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"Yo! Lux!" Sing shouted from the doorway of a classroom. "How come you cancelled our lunch session?" He loudly dragged a chair up to join her at the lab desk and received a rude "SHHH!" from several students who were also buried in books.