“I’ll try. No promises.”
“Lex, I’ll make it worth it.”
“I haven’t seen my parents in a long time though. You know that.”
“I know, but Thanksgiving isn’t even until Thursday. Do you have to leave so early?” she asked. They had originally planned on going to their parents separately on Wednesday and staying through until the next weekend.
“You could come with me,” he offered.
Lexi crinkled her nose. Lexi loved Clark’s parents. They were caring and loving and always wanted to take them out, but she had thought they were going to spend some much needed alone time together. Guess he had a different agenda. “You know I have that big paper due.”
“Oh I know you will make it worth it.”
“Then what’s stopping you?” Jack asked.
“It’d only be for the weekend. You’d still have the rest of the break to work on your paper.”
“Yeah, maybe. I just feel really behind. With applications, LSAT, and everything, I’ve just had no time to work on this paper, and it’s due as soon as we get back.”
“Maybe I’ll just go tonight and be back to be with you tomorrow. Would that give you more time to work on it?”
“Clark.”
“…”
“I shouldn’t. I can’t.”
“You won’t. It’s different.”
Lexi stuck out her bottom lip. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“What if he’s in town? I can’t get away.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
“So, what’s Jack doing tonight?” Clark asked eyeing her suspiciously. “I didn’t think ya’ll were still talking that much.”
“We’re not really. I guess he’s just bored. He’s talking about going out downtown.”
“What about Kate?”
“What about her?”
“Is he trying to get a group together?” Clark asked curiously.
“I guess so.”
Clark pulled his phone out of his pocket and lit up the screen. “Hmm…I’m surprised he didn’t message me too.”
“We come as a match set. There’d be no reason to send messages to both of us,” she informed him.
“How are you going to get away from her?”
“I don’t know. I’ll just tell her I don’t want to hang out tonight.”
“That simple?”
“Yes.”
“I suppose you’re right. Maybe after you’re finished with your studying you could go out tonight. Hang out with the crew and all. You’ve been too stressed lately.”
“Maybe,” she stated uncertainly.
“Clark thinks we’re all going out tonight.”
“Why did you tell him that?”
“He was asking a lot of questions...”
“You should text Seth and see if he’s going. That way you’re guaranteed a good time, and plenty of girls to diffuse his advances,” he said chuckling to himself. “Want me to text him?”
“Oh, no,” she said quickly. She was pretty sure Jack hadn’t messaged anyone else about it. “I have his number.”
“You’ll leave early with me if we go out?”
“Of course. Don’t invite Clark.”
“Like I’d want to.”
*****
Hours later, after kissing Clark good-bye and getting all dolled up, Lexi waited rather impatiently in her apartment. She had refused Jack’s offer to pick her up for proprieties sake. If they were going to be out in public, she would rather not make it look like a date. She had planned on driving herself. However, Olivia had decided she wanted a night out and had insisted on driving. That was fine with Lexi, but Olivia was pretty much the slowest person on the planet. It took her at least thirty minutes longer than anyone else she knew when it came down to getting ready to go out.
“Geez, Olivia could you take any longer?” Lexi asked pacing in front of Olivia’s bathroom.
“It could,” she muttered.
“You don’t even have that much hair,” Lexi pointed out.
“Which is why I have to make sure every tiny strand is perfect,” Olivia said pulling her flat iron through her bleached blonde pixie cut again.
“No one is even going to be in town,” she whined.
“Lexi, darling, that is the reason I should take so long. I’ll spend more time with each person individually. This inevitably means I should spend more time on my hair,” Olivia said taking pleasure in Lexi’s growing discomfort.
Lexi groaned loudly. “I don’t see why you have to take so long.”
“I don’t see why you have to be so impatient. Your boy isn’t even going to be out,” Olivia said letting her brown eyes flutter to Lexi’s face.
A small blush crept onto Lexi’s face. “So…”
“So chill out,” she cried.
“Let’s just get out of here.”
“You can’t rush perfection,” Olivia explained placing the straightener on the off-white counter top. Her hand reflexively reached out for the tall hairspray bottle.
Lexi groaned again. “Honestly, how much of that stuff do you put in your hair?”
After spraying on another layer, Olivia snuck a glance at Lexi. “Alright, fine. Are you going to tell me why you are being so impatient?” she asked raising one eyebrow inquisitively.
“I’m always impatient.”
“Not like this.”
“I just...uh…miss Clark. I want to get out of here so I can get my mind off of him being gone,” Lexi said anxiously pushing her hair behind her ear. She really was a terrible liar and did not want to have to deal with Olivia being any nosier than normal.
Olivia raised an eyebrow further. “You sure that’s all it is? You look like you’re anxious to see someone?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh come on. I know that you’ve liked Jack since the beginning of time. It’s not like you have to hide that fact from me,” she said coolly leaning against the sink.
“Jack and I are just friends.”
“Yeah, and pigs can fly.”
“Livy, cut it out. You’ve been on me about Jack since you managed to get him to that concert. I just don’t want to hear it anymore. You know what happened between us after that catastrophe. Leave it be for once,” Lexi cried vehemently.
“I’m just looking out for your own good.”
“Sure,” Lexi said rolling her eyes.
“You know you can tell me anything, Lexi,” Olivia said, her tone turning serious. “I wouldn’t tell Clark if something happened with you and Jack. You’re my best friend. I hope you’d trust me with anything. Or at least all the raunchy details,” she said giggling.
Talk about a guilt trip. Lexi wanted to trust Olivia with the details of what had happened with Jack all those months ago, and what was continuing to happen to this day. Something deep inside told her that the only person she could trust with what she was doing was herself…and Jack, of course. Sure the gravity of the situation was eating away at her, but even that wouldn’t open her mouth. How could she tell anyone how she felt when she was having issues discerning that on her own? She just could not imagine her life without Jack in it anymore, yet she was still with Clark. He was still with Kate. Neither of them had talked about breaking up. Yet, they still spent time together whenever possible. She didn’t know what to think about that.
“I know I can trust you with anything, but there’s nothing to tell,” Lexi lied smoothly. “Can we get going?”