Chapter Text
There’s an empty desk in the classroom again. It should be unobtrusive - it's towards the back, students are absent occasionally, it should require nothing more than a moment’s notice. And yet, it lingers on the edge of Lux’s mind, distracting her from the lecture being given and the notes she’s taking.
Marked in her purple pen, she can see where her mind drifted into thinking about Jinx’s absence (again). She crosses out the definition where she’d written down ‘jinx’ instead of ‘trade sequencing’ and clenches her hand. She can’t afford distractions. She’s got a tightly written out agenda, and if anything, she should be thinking about that.
Lux writes down the proper definition this time, and when the teacher gives them a free moment to review the slides, Lux pulls out her planner.
Star Guardian planning - TBA - needs to be scheduled
Gala Committee Meeting - 4-5pm
[Transit + Dinner]
Homework - 6-8pm.
Additional Studying - 8-9pm.
Ahris talking to me omg!!!!
Q&A on Duties with Ahri - 9-10pm.
She wonders if screaming, just a little bit, would help. Yelling seems to help Jinx relieve stress, right? Right? Lux knows better though, she knows she has to uphold an image. As leader of her Star Guardian team, and as a straight A student. And as a community leader (hence of course, signing up for the Gala planning committee. Why does she listen to Ahri? How does that girl even do it all?) The strike of envy through Lux is something she pretends doesn’t exist. This is fine. She’s not overwhelmed. No need to worry her friends or anything.
She reviews the agenda for the next few days, as well as her weekend agenda (calling a few places about reserving a DJ for the gala, visiting some stores for the decorations, piano practice, agreeing to babysit for her neighbors). She can… switch around things. Her friends can deal with evening training for a couple of days.
When the teacher calls to bring them all back to attention, Lux settles a little bit, falling into the routine. At least she knows where she needs to be for the next few hours.
—
“So, Lux, you’re good with the nomination? We need someone super organized to be the Gala Princess, since you’ll have to handle all the guests and the greetings. I know you’re like, super good with that kind of stuff, since you’re already doing great with the decorations! Plus, since you’re a junior, I think princess totally fits!”
Lux blinks - distracted - and she laughs almost quietly to herself. She hopes it sounds delighted. Why wouldn’t she be? It’s a big honor to be princess for the Winter Gala, and this isn’t even a small occasion - it’s the 500th anniversary of the school’s opening as well, so the event is even bigger than it is normally. It’s no longer just a dance for the students, it’s an event for alumni to visit and give the kids a chance to have some useful connections. Lux is certain even some students from
other
schools try and get a ticket to this thing, it’s that important. And she gets to be princess. What girl wouldn’t want that?
A little voice wonders where she’ll fit that into her schedule.
Lux wants to decline- but she sees the expectant look of her other committee members. They’ve nominated her because they trust her. She’s important to them and she’s helping the team. Saving the world isn’t just the big fights- there’s so much just in between them. She’s got to help the school too.
“Yeah, thanks so much you guys! I’m so honored that you’ve thought of me.”
“Okay, perfect. We’re still choosing a Prince and Court for you, but we wanted to get the princess out of the way! Since like, that’s the original role and everything. I heard the principal even wants to get the old crown out of the display to crown the role and everything! Oh, and you’ll need a partner, by the way. All members of Royalty need a date, so we’ll have a set of three pairs for the opening dance. I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding someone, you’re so cute Lux!”
Lux laughs agreeable. “Of course!” Oh god, she’s so nervous. She has to ask someone out? Just a dance. It’s fine. And yet, she had always thought of a dance partner as something… romantic. Special. She wants to be swept off her feet, a dance in two parts, her against a partner - and then maybe even a kiss at the end of the night. Lux rubs the end of her hair. “It’ll be no problem. Leave it all to me!”
After the meeting ends, she is picked up by Garen. Their car ride is silent but companionable - faint strings of classical music filter through, low enough to be almost unnoticeable over the hum of the road. She catches Garen looking at her in the mirror. Lux smiles convincingly.
“I am making dinner,” Garen states, “I have already picked up all the ingredients. It will be ready in thirty minutes after we have returned.”
“Okay,” she says, feeling a little relieved. She can spend the time showering then, thinking about who she can actually invite (oh god what if she doesn’t mean it as a date but they think it’s a date???) and maybe make some headway on her homework. “Thanks.”
“Of course.”
It’s nice, at least. Lux closes her eyes and lets her head fall against the cloth headrest. The faint violin picks up, marking a pleasant uptick to the music. It reminds her of rolling hills. Up, and down, and up, and down.
She’s not even five minutes into her homework when her phone rings. And then rings again. Lux flips the switch to silent.
Three vibrations later, she flips it open to check her messages.
Jinx : Hey.
Jinx: Heyyyy Sunshine
Jinx: Luxy Poo
Jinx: Hrd u were free 2nite
Jinx: Lets watch Metal Munchers 3
Jinx: its got like 3 times the explosions as MM2
Jinx: cmonnnn ur so boringgg
Lux is quite certain she has not told Jinx she was free. More than that, she was pretty sure Jinx was just trying to get an excuse to come over because Thursdays were Garen’s baking nights, and his Snickerdoodles were to die for.
When her phone rings, she picks it up immediately. “Jinx, no, I cannot watch Metal Munchers 3.”
“Lux. Luxxy Lux Crownguard. My bestie from another breastie. You can totally watch Metal Munchers 3. One, because EVERYONE’s watching it right now, and Im just trying to keep you with the times. How are you going to be class rep if you can’t connect with all your students? Two, its like good. You’ll like the main girl, she’s just like you!”
Lux finds herself covering up a smile as Jinx rambles away. She is ahead of her schedule, thanks to Garen handling dinner tonight- and well, chatting with Jinx always makes her feel a little lighter. She can’t help it. “I don’t think it sounds like my kind of movie. I’m pretty sure you said that about Metal Munchers Two.”
“Everyone KNOWS sequels are kind of flop. Like, yeah, we always knew X was going to go evil, it was sooo obvious. But like, the original director of One is coming back for three! And you like One, right? Right.”
“I have homework, Jinx, it’s a school night. Besides, you’re talking to the freshly elected Princess of the Winter Gala.”
“Boooooo. Or yay? Is that a ‘cheer’ thing or ‘jinx I need you to help me plan the coolest prank so they strip me of the title’ thing.”
Lux drops her face into her pillow, letting her phone flip to speaker mode. Jinx had in fact, hit the crux of it. She’s not sure she has the time for all the additional responsibilities of being Princess. “It’s a…. Thing. I am excited for it. It’s honoring a five-hundred year tradition, and I’ll be representing the school, which as you know is a _huge_ hon-”
“Stop, stop you’re killing me. I am literally dying Lux if you keep giving me your teacher's talk.”
“Speaking of teachers- why weren’t you in class today.” She changes the topic quickly, because Lux doesn’t actually want to worry about the things she’s going to have do right now. Which she’ll succeed, because Ahri already did these things, and she’s supposed to be a great captain just like her. She doesn’t feel so great though. She’s just Lux.
“Congrats, uh, I guess Lux. Even if it is TOTALLY lame. You’re kind of the best Princess I could think of.”
“Hey, you’re avoiding the question!” Lux still feels warm though. She loves her friends so much. Even if they’re also going to drive her to death with all their antics.
“You avoided it first! Who let you make the rules?”
“Well, I did just get nominated Princess~”
“Uh huhhh. Your highness, may I
please
have just a tiny crumb of your oh so amazing generosity. And let me avoid the question?”
Lux lets Jinx wait for a moment. “No~pe”
“Well you asked so you can’t get mad at me. I kind of maybe accidentally got suspended.”
“Jinx.”
“Lux.”
“How did you get suspended? What on Runeterra did you do-”
“Nothing!!! Apparently someone accused me of ‘stealing’ their ‘lunch money’ but like. I didn’t. Not their money at least. Anyways, they opened up my locker and found Gerbils, Chimney, and Lil’ Bit.”
Lux does not know what those three things are. What she does know is Jinx names all of her weapons, and all of her explosives, and all of her literally-dangerous and shouldnt-be-in-a-school-setting inventions. “Why did you have those in your locker!”
“Do you know how many emergencies we have that we get called away from school for?? The answer is a lot, Lux. I need those traps! How was I supposed to know that they were going to look in there? They’ve been fine for months! I JUST made the latest modifications on Chimney too! He was perfect…”
“How did you only get suspended?”
“Oh, like, my Old Man called the principal and they had a talk. They’re being stored in a ‘safe place’ and I don’t get them back till the end of the year. Which, no. I’m breaking in. “
“No-”
“Yes! And my beloved, dear, angel Lux.”
“No.”
“You haven’t even heard what I’m going to ask!”
“I already know it’s a no.”
“Will you go to the dance with me?”
Lux is glad she wasn’t holding the phone because she freezes immediately with shock, and she would hate to drop it and crack the screen. Her? And Jinx? Dancing together? Jinx’s hand on her waist? Her mouth is so dry. Does Jinx even know how to dance? She thinks Jinx would step on her toes a lot. But she’d laugh it off, and Jinx would tease her, and maybe at the end of the night-
“I neeeeeed a good way to break into the principal’s office, and the school’s always super locked down at night. Except, of course-”
“-when the dance is happening. Yeah, of course.” Lux swallows. “Makes perfect sense.” Recover, Lux, don’t be silly. She’s your best friend. You’re okay. “Fine.”
“YESSSS”
“On two conditions.”
“Noooo. Okay go on.”
“I also happen to need a date. As Princess of course, which means that if you’re my date… You need to do the opening dance with me. And actually learn the waltz. Then you can sneak off for your weapons, or whatever.”
“Ugh, fine, one dance. Yeah I can totally handle that. “
She’s totally recovered now. Lux is so fine with this. It solves her problems! No more finding a date for her, no more worrying about someone misunderstanding something- Jinx will be great. Plus… She imagines Jinx when she realizes she’ll have to attend their mandatory dance practices. It’ll be really funny. She hardly ever gets to prank Jinx. “And second, you also have to wear a suitable outfit and take some Gala photos with me. I am, of course, a Crownguard. No one is free from our hall of photos. Think you can handle it?”
“You’re so silly. Of course I am. One little dance and one dress? Easy, I could do it in my sleep. You won’t regret it Lux! I won’t let you down. Now, back to the important things. Metal Munchers 3.”
Lux hangs up, laughing. A few moments later, her phone lights up with a message.
“So meannn 2 me :((( but itz ok cuz u cnt b mean 2 ur GALA DATE l8r. Going 2 ACE that dance.”
“dont study 2 hard”
“Btw ill b back in class 2morrow. Save me one of the cookies.”
This time, when she returns to her homework again, Lux is smiling the whole way through.