Oh, Lucy

Chapter Four: Impending Death

It's the middle of lunch period when Vince appears with his posse, somehow managing to make St. Ita's standard uniform of a white polo shirt and khaki pants with a red-and-yellow striped tie look good.

I'm busy not really listening to my best friend Daniela Amador and her boyfriend, David Santos, tell me about their weekend in the Bahamas while Henry sits beside me with one arm lazily thrown over my shoulder and his head buried in his phone, always a stickler for appearances.

I loved Daniela with all of my heart and usually I would've given her my full attention even if she was telling me all about the benefits of gluten-free eating, which she's done before, but today marked the halfway mark of the HD drug study, meaning today was the day I'd find out if I go on to the study's second phase and the only thing in my mind was the possibility of walking out of Harbor Clinic knowing I'd never have to walk into that wretched place ever again.

"Mason. " My ears perk up at the sound of my adopted last name and my eyes pause on Vince as he strides ever so casually over to my lunch table with his buddies.

"Hey, Ms. Class President." Isaiah Felix, Vince's much more personable best friend and the bassist of Lackluster Heart, greets once the band members reach my lunch table.

"If this is about me cutting down your band's performance time for the Back to School Talent Show then I'm sorry Isa but there's nothing I can do, there's just too many acts from the junior class." I state before he can continue and am met with a look of confusion.

"What? No." He shakes his head in dismissal. "I wanted to invite you and your friends to Lackluster Heart's concert we're having in Bayside on Friday." He replies. "It'd mean a lot to have the class president and her buddies there. It'd also be nice if you could also get the word out for us?" He asks hopefully. I consider it for a moment and then nod my head in agreement.

"Sure I don't see why not. We're free that night, right hon?" I turn to ask Henry Braddock, my boyfriend for all intents and purposes. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat, looking up from his phone to answer.

"Hmm? Well, I think my dad wanted you to come over for dinner but I can cancel it, babe." He answers, the last word sounding forced as it leaves his lips. Thankfully, I'm the only one to notice.

"Alright cool. So we'll see you there." Isaiah says, a kind smile on his face.

"See you." I reply, returning the smile with a forced one of my own.

Isaiah turns and he and his posse make their move to leave, but not before Vincent speaks up.

"You cut down our performance time?" He asks simply, eyeing me expectantly for an answer as the rest of his band mates begin to walk away.

"You'll be receiving an email with a notice from the class secretary soon." I reply matter-of-factly, and wave him away. "Bye bye, Dumont."

He hits me with one of his smirks, shaking his head slightly at me before turning to go join the rest of his friends at their lunch table in the center of the cafeteria.

As soon as he's gone, I turn to Henry. "Baby, do you think you could come with me really quick to get some chips from the vending machine?" I question, eyeing him with a quiet intensity I'd mastered over the years of "dating" Henry. "Gluten-free, of course." I add before Daniela can begin to protest, earning a smile and praiseworthy nod from her.

"Y-yeah, sure." Henry mumbles awkwardly, following me out of the cafeteria.

I find a secluded corner where we can talk without others eavesdropping and then turn to face him.

"Which one?" I accuse, searching his eyes for answers.

He immediately looks away, unable to meet my harsh gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, please Henry. Come on, it's me we're talking about." I answer exasperatedly. "Now, tell me or I'll tell your parents what you were really doing during our supposed 1 week road trip to Cancun. Or should I say who you were doing."

He immediately grabs my shoulders and pulls me closer to the wall. "God do you have to say that so loud?" He whispers worriedly. "Someone might hear." He reminds me and I shrug carelessly in response, knowing I have the upper hand.

"Well? Which one was it?" I try again and then cross my arms, waiting expectantly for his answer.

"Is." He corrects and I widen my eyes in surprise.

"Is?" I repeat, barely containing a squeal. "You mean you're still with him?" I ask and he nods slowly, biting his lip to hold back a smile.

"Oh my god, no way! That's awesome!" I congratulate, patting him on the shoulder and he finally smiles at my childish joy. "Wait so do you like him then? And does this mean you're dating or are you friends with benefits? Is he nice and considerate to your needs? Are you using the proper amount of lube because you know what they say-"

He quickly shuts me up with a finger to my mouth. "God Lucy! You can't go around using the word lube in a Catholic prep school." He chastises but I can tell he doesn't mean it, letting out a chuckle a moment later.

"Come on, I just want to make sure he's treating you right." I defend and he shakes his head at me. "Wait which one is it? You never said."

He sighs, biting his lip in contemplation for a moment before replying. "It's Julian."

"Julian Castillo?" I gasp. "I didn't know you had a thing for guitarists." I tease, earning another chuckle from him.

"Well I have a thing for that guitarist." He answers, not even trying to suppress a smile anymore. And if you must know, yes he is very... considerate, as you put it. And before you ask again, no nothing is official, but I'm thinking of asking him out soon if things keep going well."

I pull him into a hug. "I'm so happy for you. Damn, you and Julian. You've got to be the hottest gay couple ever. You two are like Neil Patrick Harris/David Burtka hot." I comment once we've pulled away.

"You say that about every guy I get with, Lucy." He teases, letting out another laugh.

"Doesn't make it any less true." I reply with a smile.

"God you've got to be the most supportive beard ever." He mutters and then it's my turn to laugh out loud as he pulls me into a hug. "Thank you Lucy, really. You have no clue how much your support means to me." He says once we separate.

"I'm just doing what any good friend would do for another good friend." I reply modestly. "Now let's go, Daniela's probably come up with about 100 remarks by now about us keeping it in our pants while we're in school." I say and he nods in agreement.

"Oh, Daniela." He mutters, shaking his head at the thought of my overprotective best friend.

"She's definitely in a class all of her own." I joke and let out a giggle, yet it's immediately cut off when a searing pain erupts in my head. I definitely would not miss this side effect in the slightest.

Henry notices and his face morphs into an expression of concern. "You're still getting those headaches? You know my uncle is a doctor, maybe he can check you out next time you come over?" He offers but I'm quick to reject the proposition.

"It's gotten better, besides it's nothing some extra strength Tylenol can't handle." I reassure, forcing a smile despite the pain. "We still have to buy some chips." I remind him, changing the subject.

"Oh yeah, gluten-free chips how could we forget?" He states, and I'm thankful for the diversion.

"Hey, gluten-free food isn't that bad." I counter and soon we're in a debate about gluten, my impending death long forgotten, at least for the moment.