“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?”

Olivia clicked the off switch on her straightener, glanced at her perfect appearance, and then nodded. Ten minutes later they were pulling into a rather fortunate parking spot down the street from Chamber. Lexi twirled her own stick straight hair around her finger as she approached the door.

“Stop fiddling with it,” Olivia said swiping at her hand.

“My hair doesn’t look good straight like yours,” Lexi whined. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

“Whatever, shut up. Everyone is going to love it.”

Lexi strutted to the door and smiled playfully at the bouncer. “Hey, Max,” she said kissing him lightly on the cheek as she breezed through the door without him even bothering to ask for her identification.

To say that Chamber was dead this Saturday night would have been an understatement. They had gone out a little earlier than usual, but it still seemed that everyone in the city had gone home for Thanksgiving break. Lexi passed the empty dance floor marveling at how hollow the room appeared without bodies swarming the inside. Music filtered through the speakers at a surprisingly reasonable volume for a Saturday night. The only constant in the place was the voluptuous woman behind the bar.

“What do you want, girl?” Chasity asked sidling around the corner to give Lexi a hug.

“Whatever you want to make me,” she responded easily.

“Dragonberry, Red Bull, Sprite, cranberry…the works,” she mumbled to herself. “Liv, you want one too?”

“I’m driving,” Olivia pouted.

“You volunteered,” Lexi said pushing her lightly.

Chasity shrugged her shoulders. “I guess that means you’ll stick to beer tonight then?” she questioned thrusting an open Bud Light at her.

“You know me so well,” Olivia said cheerfully.

“Oh dear, look at who just walked into my bar,” Chasity said fanning herself.

Lexi’s head swiveled to find out who she was making a fuss about, but she really shouldn’t have bothered. Jack was a damn good sight for anyone’s eyes, but with Seth and Luke flanking him they were a sexy set. Jack was gorgeously built with his shaggy black brown hair and steely blue eyes. Seth towered over the other two and had a very boy-next-door look about him that made him appear to be safe. Well, at least until he opened his mouth. Luke had tousled blonde hair and light brown eyes, and was extremely clean cut. Though Lexi knew that Chasity was whistling at the trio, her eyes were solely focused on one boy. His easy smile upon seeing her sitting at the bar sent unexpected butterflies in her stomach. She couldn’t tear her eyes away. She didn’t even have the excuse of not seeing him often. She just wanted to drink in his every feature. The way he looked right then and there in his worn jeans, tight fit t-shirt, and navy jacket.