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The soft purr of the engine faded as Lux parked her car in the designated student lot at Valoran University. She leaned back in her seat for a second, phone in hand. 8:45 AM. She still had fifteen minutes before class started. Intro to Political Theory , Professor Karma’s lecture. One of her favorites. Or it used to be.
Her phone buzzed, the screen flashing with a text from Fiora: I’m so sorry, Lux. He’s a bastard.
Lux didn’t need to read the rest. Fiora had sent her the photo this morning. Her boyfriend, Ezreal, kissing another girl at a party. Lux wasn’t surprised. She hadn’t been invested in the relationship for months or perhaps ever, but it still felt like a punch to the gut, humiliating in the worst possible way. She didn’t even want to care about it, yet here she was, feeling her chest tighten.
The worst part wasn’t the betrayal. It was the timing.
Lux let out a breath, then gathered her things: laptop, textbook, a water bottle with peeling stickers. Her fingers hesitated on the door handle for a moment before she pushed it open and stepped out. The morning sun warmed her skin, a gentle breeze ruffled her pressed white shirt. Everything looked normal.
But nothing felt normal anymore.
“Morning, Lux!” someone called cheerfully as they walked by.
“Hey, Lux! Looking sharp, as always!”
She gave them the practiced, polite smile she’d perfected over the years, the one everyone expected from the golden girl of the Crownguard family. The one that said: Everything’s fine, I’ve got everything under control.
But nothing felt fine.
Nothing felt under control for at least two months now.
First, her father had been caught in a high-profile fraud scandal that made national news, freezing all of the Crownguard assets and dragging their name through the dirt. Her brother Garen had tried to reassure her, "It’s a misunderstanding, Lux. It'll blow over." But last week, her mother called. Calm, dignified, heartbreakingly cold. She was filing for divorce. Apparently her father had a mistress. And a secret second family. For years.
She had barely processed that, when Fiora sent the photo of Ezreal. And just like that, her life was a series of cracks waiting to break open.
Lux could feel the weight of it all pressing against her chest, but she still walked through the campus like she was untouchable. She was Luxanna Crownguard, strong, poised, and the picture of grace. At least, that’s what she wanted everyone to see.
She didn’t cry. She didn’t scream. She simply sent a message to Ezreal saying she’s done with the relationship and there’s no hard feelings.
Because what else could she do?
Lux kept walking, her steps slower than usual. She could hear laughter from the quad, the shuffle of books in backpacks, the low hum of campus life continuing without her. When she reached the campus building, she paused, looking up at the tall stone structure before her. For the past three years, it had been her battleground. Every late night studying, every fight with professors who underestimated her, every grueling fencing match, it had all been for this. To prove she was more than just her last name. She’d clawed her way out from under her last name's shadow, made herself someone. Made herself matter.
Dean’s List. Student Council. Tournament medals. A resume so polished it practically sparkled. And now? Now she wasn’t sure what the point of any of it was.
Lux stood there, frozen on the steps, arms limp at her sides. Students flowed past her like water around a stone, throwing confused glances her way. She knew she looked unwell, distant, maybe even lost. But she couldn’t move. Something inside her had finally buckled. Her body was here, but her mind had already left.
Then, without warning, someone stepped up beside her. Close.
Lux didn’t look. Didn’t care. But the voice that followed was impossible to ignore. “Damn. I thought the university finally made a statue of the golden girl,” the voice drawled, amused, teasing, low and raspy. “But then I realized, it is the golden girl.”
Lux didn’t respond. She didn’t need to. She knew exactly who it was.
Jinx.
The university’s most notorious chaos magnet. Blue haired, sharp smiled, loud laughed. A delinquent through and through. Campus legend said she once stole a vending machine “for art.” No one could prove it.
Lux didn’t respond. Her gaze stayed fixed ahead, even though her mind was still swirling with everything that had happened. But Jinx didn’t seem bothered by her silence. She sighed dramatically. “I think you need a break, Blondie.” then grabbed Lux’s arm before she could react.
“Hey, what are you—?”
"Don’t move," Jinx commanded, her tone playful but firm.
Before Lux could protest, Jinx pulled out a pen from her pocket and began scribbling something onto her arm. The cold tip of the pen against her skin sent an unexpected shiver down Lux’s spine, but she didn’t try to stop it.
"Just trust me," Jinx muttered under her breath as she continued writing, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Finally, Jinx dropped her arm and stepped back. "There," she said, as if pleased with herself. "Looks like you need it."
And with that, she turned and walked away, braid swinging behind her, hands in the pockets of her oversized hoodie like she hadn’t just tagged Lux like graffiti.
Lux blinked, then lifted her arm.
There it was: 10PM, 412 Lockwood Lane followed by a doodle of a monkey in a party hat. Lux frowned, staring at the mess of ink. What was this supposed to mean?
She glanced up, but Jinx had already disappeared from her view. Lux stood there for a moment, staring at the address and the time, 10 PM, a time she knew she’d likely be at home, studying for her midterm or trapped in another family crisis.
She looked back toward the building. Then at the ink on her skin. And before she could convince herself otherwise, Lux turned on her heel, walked back to her car, and drove off campus.
She didn’t know where she was going just yet. But she was seriously, seriously considering showing up at that address tonight. Because maybe Jinx was right. Maybe Lux did need a break. Or maybe she just needed to do something stupid for once.
It was 9:30 PM.
Lux was lying on the floor of her room, unmoving, unblinking, and vaguely aware that she probably looked like a ghost of herself. She hadn’t eaten. She hadn’t showered. She hadn’t changed out of the same jeans and university hoodie she’d worn all day.
The lights were off. The only illumination came from the window where the last of the day’s sunlight had slowly, methodically vanished, and now, only the orange glow of the streetlamps filtered in.
She had ignored all of it.
Calls from her mother. Texts from Fiora. Even emails from professors. She had been laying there since morning. Not asleep. Not resting. Just… suspended.
She blinked now for the first time in what felt like hours and finally moved just a small shift of her arm so she could read what Jinx had scrawled across her skin.
10PM, 412 Lockwood Lane.
And a ridiculous, grinning monkey doodle in a party hat.
Lux stared at it with a deadpan expression, feeling both numb and weirdly curious. Maybe it’s not a bad thing, she thought. Jinx did say I need a break. And… she’s not wrong.
But was this really what a “break” looked like?
She didn’t know Jinx well. Only that she was loud. Trouble. Tattooed and sarcastic and always somehow escaping consequences. The kind of girl Lux’s mother would’ve warned her about. They had a few classes together over the years. Philosophy, psychology, and bizarrely an art elective Lux took as an “easy A” that turned out to be a crash course in organized chaos, mostly thanks to Jinx. They’d barely interacted. A few eye rolls. One brief debate over moral relativism that ended with Jinx calling the professor’s theory “a steaming pile of elitist noodles.”
But still, Lux remembered her. She remembered that Jinx, despite all the noise, always somehow aced the class. And now, Jinx had invited her to an address. At 10PM. On a random Thursday.
What was this place? A café? A club? A warehouse? Would Jinx even be there?
Lux didn’t have the answer. But she was still debating when her door suddenly burst open with a dramatic bang. “What the fuck are you doing, Lux? I’ve been trying to reach you all day!” Fiora stood at the doorway, hands on hips, glaring at her like she’d just walked in on a crime scene.
Lux sighed deeply, not even looking over. “Well, you found me. What is it?”
Fiora’s expression faltered. She hesitated for a second before stepping into the room and lowering herself down beside Lux, mirroring her position on the floor. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” Lux replied automatically, but the words felt hollow the moment they left her lips. She didn’t look at Fiora, staring instead at the ceiling.
“You’re clearly not fine.”
Lux barked out a dry laugh, bitter and hollow. “Then why ask?”
Fiora turned her head to look at her, softening a little. “Because I care, dumbass. Look, I know everything’s… shit right now. But it’s not the end of the world, Lux. It feels like it. But it’s not.”
Lux rolled her eyes, a sharp frustration suddenly bubbling to the surface. “Of course it’s not the end of the world,” she snapped. “But I’m allowed to take a moment to wallow in my misery, okay? I’m only human after all.”
There was a beat of silence.
Fiora nodded slowly. “Okay. Fair. You’re allowed to fall apart a little.”
Lux exhaled and stared back at the ceiling.
“I’m just trying to help,” Fiora added gently. “That’s all.”
“I know,” Lux said, softer now. “But you don’t have to worry. I’m… I’m heading out anyway.”
Fiora sat up fast. “Where? Should I be worried?”
Lux hesitated, her eyes drifting back to the writing on her arm. “I’m just meeting a new friend.”
Fiora raised a sharp eyebrow. “New friend?”
Lux didn’t answer.
It took her twenty minutes to shower, get dressed, and convince Fiora not to call the campus therapist. The only way to shut her up was to invite her along, and even then Fiora demanded full context.
Lux gave her none .
“Do you even know what this place is?” Fiora asked as she drove. “Are you about to get us murdered?”
Lux just turned up the radio and looked out the window.
When they pulled up to the address, they found a house bursting with life. Colorful lights flickered in every direction, music blaring from multiple speakers, and people laughing, drinking, and dancing out front and spilling onto the sidewalk.
Lux blinked.
“Your new friend,” Fiora said slowly, whistling low, “knows how to throw a party, huh, Luxie?”
Lux just shrugged.
Fiora laughed and pulled into a parking spot. “Well, damn. I was expecting a poetry reading. Not Coachella.”
They walked into the house and were immediately swallowed by the party: a wave of sweat, bass, cheap beer, perfume, and heat. Drunk students packed the hallway, some playing drinking games, others grinding to the music.
Fiora handed Lux a bottle of water from a cooler in the kitchen. “Stay hydrated,” she smirked before disappearing deeper into the chaos in search of tequila.
Lux, meanwhile, stood awkwardly near the kitchen doorway, scanning the crowd for a familiar flash of blue hair, a manic grin... anything. But Jinx was nowhere to be seen.
As the party grew louder and wilder, Lux felt herself wilting. She didn’t belong here. And now, Fiora was gone too. She needed air. Or quiet. Or both.
She headed toward the back door, only to find a packed lawn with more drunk college kids spilling onto the grass. With a huff, she turned and headed upstairs, hoping there was a balcony or an empty room to escape the madness. She opened three doors, each worse than the last.
Couple making out.
Guy getting a blowjob.
Someone having very loud, very athletic sex.
She shut each door with a quick apology, her face growing redder with each one.
Finally, she found a door that opened to a quiet, dimly lit room. The lighting was soft, neon blue and pink LEDs wrapped around the ceiling. Every inch of the wall was covered in strange, vivid artwork: explosive colors, sharp lines, chaotic beauty. A window was cracked open, letting in the cool night breeze. Lux stepped toward it and froze when she spotted a figure sitting on the roof, legs dangling off the edge.
Jinx.
Blue hair half braided, half wild, swaying with the breeze. Tank top, ripped jeans, combat boots, and a cigarette tucked between her fingers.
She turned, spotted Lux, and grinned. Wide. Bright. A little dangerous. “Well well well,” Jinx said, voice smooth and teasing. “Looks like the golden girl made it after all.”
Lux gingerly climbed through the window, her movements tentative as she balanced herself on the edge. The sharp drop below made her stomach churn, but she was determined to keep going. She wasn’t sure what had compelled her to come up here, curiosity? Boredom? A need to prove something to herself? But now, standing at the edge of the roof, she was committed.
As she took a cautious step toward Jinx, the heel of her boot caught on the edge of the window, sending her stumbling forward. Instinctively, Jinx’s hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, steadying her. Twice in one day. Twice now, Jinx had grabbed her hand—when she’d barely interacted with her in the last three years.
"Easy there, princess," Jinx said, her voice light but with an undertone of genuine concern.
Lux murmured a soft, “Thank you,” as she found her balance, her heart pounding in her chest. She settled next to Jinx, sinking onto the roof beside her, only letting go of Jinx’s hand when she was sure she wouldn’t fall. Jinx let out a quiet laugh, but it was a comfortable sound, a different energy from the chaotic bravado she usually wore.
For a moment, they sat in silence, the buzzing sounds of the party below still clearly audible, but not quite as loud as the thumping in Lux’s chest. Jinx took a long drag from her cigarette, blowing the smoke up into the night air, and Lux let herself breathe it in, the familiar burn soothing her in ways she wasn’t prepared for. The atmosphere felt different here, calmer, quieter. No expectations. Just this.
Lux turned her eyes down to the lawn below them. It was a scene that was almost too chaotic to follow. A group of students were gathered around a beer pong table, their shouts and cheers rising over the music. A couple lounged by the swimming pool, the unmistakable sound of flirtation in the air. Some people were tagging each other in the pool, others were completely oblivious to everything around them. The house was massive, like a mansion, and Lux had to wonder how any university student could afford a place like this.
The mystery of it lingered in her mind, and she found herself asking the question that had been nagging at her since she arrived. “So, whose house is this?”
Jinx blew out a stream of smoke, the glowing tip of her cigarette flickering like a firefly. “Mine.”
Lux turned to look at her, clearly skeptical. “ Yours ?”
Jinx grinned. “Well. Technically… it’s my sister’s house. Her and her cop girlfriend. But I live here too, so by squatter’s rights or sibling emotional manipulation, I say it’s mine.” She glanced sideways, mischief in her eyes. “Makes sense, right?”
Lux shrugged. “Sure. Why not.”
They sat in silence for a while longer, both of them watching the crowd below. Lux could feel Jinx watching her sometimes, studying her like she was something strange and new. Lux chose not to acknowledge it, keeping her gaze on the movement below. She wondered what Jinx saw in her, and for some reason, it made her uncomfortable. The way Jinx was staring, like she knew more than Lux was ready to admit, or maybe even wanted to know.
Lux’s eyes wandered again, this time landing on the couple by the pool. Hands everywhere, like they were seconds away from removing clothes in public. They were so wrapped up in each other, Lux could barely tell who was who. But she recognized the man. Even though it was a fleeting moment, seeing him there, half-dressed, with his lips pressed against someone else’s, felt like a punch in her gut.
Ezreal.
He was with another girl. A pretty one, too.
But Lux felt no jealousy, no anger. She should’ve felt something, right? Maybe she should’ve cared. But all she felt was a strange sense of relief, mixed with a quiet sadness. She’d never been able to fully connect with him. And he’d never seemed to mind the distance. It was always easier to ignore him than it was to be honest about their hollow relationship.
Jinx broke the silence, her voice cutting through Lux’s haze of thoughts. “Isn’t that your boyfriend?”
Lux’s gaze snapped back to Jinx, momentarily startled by the question. She was about to reply when, before she even realized what she was doing, she grabbed the cigarette from Jinx’s hand.
Jinx’s eyebrows shot up. “Well, damn.”
Lux put the cigarette between her lips and inhaled. Hard. The smoke burned her throat and lungs instantly, and she coughed once, eyes watering. But when she exhaled the smoke right into Jinx’s amused, wide-eyed face—she felt a strange rush of relief.
“He’s not my boyfriend anymore,” Lux said, voice raspy, breath still catching.
Jinx gave her a slow, impressed smile. “Maybe the golden girl’s not so golden after all.”
Lux didn’t respond, but she handed the cigarette back to Jinx. She wasn’t ready to dive into the full explanation of why she was done with Ezreal. He wasn’t worth it. And besides, Jinx seemed to find it more interesting than Lux did. Without saying a word, Jinx took the cigarette back and took another drag. She blew the smoke up into the night air and handed it back to Lux. There was something about the moment that felt different, something charged, like the air had thickened with unspoken words.
Jinx reached into her pocket and pulled out a slightly crumpled joint. She lit it with the same practiced ease and took two long hits before turning to Lux with a mischievous glint.
She blew the smoke toward her, sweet and slow. Lux wrinkled her nose at the smell. It was richer than the cigarette, earthy and warm, tinged with something floral.
Jinx tilted her head, gaze daring. “Careful, angel. This might be too strong for you.”
Lux rolled her eyes. “It’s not my first time smoking weed, you know. I am a university student.”
Jinx cackled, delighted. “Oho! Did you sneak away from fencing practice to hang out behind the chemistry building and corrupt your innocent lungs?”
Lux scoffed. “If I wanted it, I could handle it.”
“Prove it.”
Lux reached for the joint, but Jinx pulled it back with a teasing smile. Lux narrowed her eyes, irritated by the teasing. She leaned forward, closing the gap between them, and before she knew it, her hand had grabbed the back of Jinx’s neck and pulled her forward. They were inches apart, their breath mingling in the cool air, eyes locked.
Jinx blinked in surprise, but her lips quirked into that smug grin again. And then, without breaking eye contact she blew the smoke directly into Lux’s mouth.
Lux took it in. All of it. The smoke. The heat. The closeness.
The feeling of smoke and breath combined was electric, warm, and unexpected. It made Lux’s whole body tingle in ways she wasn’t ready to feel. The intimacy of it, close, raw, unguarded. It left her breathless.
Jinx pulled back, just a little, and smirked. “You, Luxanna Crownguard, are no angel” she whispered, voice low and raspy.
Lux’s heart raced. She didn’t know if it was the weed or Jinx’s proximity, but it didn’t matter. She felt alive in a way she hadn’t in a long time.
And then—
“LUX?! ”
Both girls turned. Down below on the lawn, Fiora stood frozen like she’d just walked in on an orgy. Her voice rang out, half horror, half disbelief:
“WHAT ARE YOU— IS THAT— ARE YOU SMOKING… POT?”
Jinx burst into laughter, loud and unrestrained, her head tipping back as she rolled over on the roof, clutching her stomach. Lux froze, caught between mortification and the absurdity of the situation.
And then it happened.
Her stomach grumbled loudly. So loudly that it echoed across the roof, causing Jinx to laugh even harder. Jinx laughed until she was lying flat on her back, rolling in place like she couldn’t breathe, her giggles bouncing off the roof of the house.
Lux’s face flushed as the sound of her empty stomach filled the air. She couldn’t help it. It was too ridiculous, too perfect. The combination of her awkwardness and the whole strange moment sent her spiraling. She didn’t even know what was happening anymore, but suddenly, she found herself laughing too.
She laughed until her stomach hurt, her tears mixing with the laughter as it streamed down her cheeks. The weight of the day, the family drama, the breakup, the internal struggle faded away in the rush of pure, unrestrained joy. It was the most absurd thing she’d done in ages. Laughing until her eyes were blurry and her lungs ached. And for a moment, Lux wasn’t Luxanna Crownguard, the perfect, put-together student. She was just a human being who needed a laugh.
Jinx’s laughter finally began to settle, but she was still grinning. “Well, blondie, looks like you needed that.”
Lux wiped her eyes, still smiling through the tears. “Maybe I did.”
As the last traces of laughter faded, Jinx sat up, brushing her hair out of her face. Her gaze softened a little, but the mischievous glint never quite disappeared. She extended a hand to Lux, pulling her up with a tug. “Let’s get you something to eat, blondie. You got the munchies.”
Without hesitation, Lux grabbed Jinx’s hand. It was strange, how easily she trusted Jinx despite everything—despite the fact that they barely knew each other, despite how little she understood about Jinx’s life. But in that moment, it felt right.
Jinx led the way back through the window, making sure Lux went in first before she slid through the opening herself, her movements lithe and practiced like she’d done it a hundred times. Lux followed her into the room, glancing around with curiosity now that she had the chance to truly take it in.
The room was a kaleidoscope of color. The blue and pink LED lights cast soft, moody glows on every surface. The walls were covered in posters: Shrek, Star Wars, Devil Wears Prada, all the classics, and more. But it was the artwork that caught Lux’s attention most. Neon hues, aggressive brushstrokes, all vivid and expressive. It reminded her of the art class they’d shared, of the unrestrained creativity Jinx had always exuded.
“Nice place,” Lux said, her voice quiet as she admired the room. “It’s… definitely you.”
Jinx grinned, clearly pleased by the compliment. “Glad you think so. Now, sit tight. Let me get you something.”
With that, Jinx disappeared, and Lux sank onto the bed, glancing at the various snacks and bottles scattered around. Her stomach growled again, louder this time, but she didn’t mind. She stretched out on the bed, letting her mind wander. The last few hours felt like they’d happened in a blur, but here, in this room, she felt… at ease. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real. No expectations. No pretending.
Soon, Jinx returned with a box of cold pizza in one hand, snacks and water bottles stacked precariously on top of the pizza. She dropped everything onto the bed with a flourish. “I dunno what you like, blondie, so I got you everything.”
Lux chuckled, sitting up. “You’re a lifesaver.”
Jinx flopped onto the bed beside her, and they started eating. The pizza was cold, and there were pineapple slices on it, but Lux didn’t care. She was so hungry it didn’t matter.
With her mouth full, Jinx glanced over at Lux. “While I was in the kitchen, your bestie was looking for you. She had a lot of questions about why you were smoking pot with me.”
Lux groaned, shaking her head. “I’m so sorry about that. Fiora means well, but she can be… overbearing. Especially lately.”
Jinx shrugged, grinning. “I don’t mind. You can’t help who your friends are.”
They ate in silence for a while, Lux shoveling food into her mouth faster than she realized she’d been craving it. The hum of conversation from downstairs, the clinking of bottles, and the bass of music drifting through the walls faded into the background. Lux didn’t have to think about her family or her breakup or anything. For the first time today, she could just be .
When the pizza was gone, Jinx lit up another joint, sinking down onto the floor, her eyes flicking to the record player in the corner. She clicked a button, and the familiar, haunting notes of Kate Bush’s voice filled the room. Without a word, Lux followed suit, laying next to Jinx on the floor. They passed the joint back and forth, their eyes tracking the patterns on the ceiling as the smoke swirled above them. The colorful graffiti seemed to take on new life under the influence of the weed, the neon hues brighter, more vibrant. Lux felt like she was floating, the world outside slowing down, leaving just her and Jinx in this strange, comfortable moment.
She hadn’t realized how much she needed this. To not think. To not care. To be somewhere, with someone, who didn’t expect her to be anything but what she was in that moment.
Finally, Lux broke the silence. “You were right,” she murmured, her voice soft but steady.
Jinx’s lips twitched into a knowing smile. “I’m always right, blondie. But what was I right about?”
Lux chuckled quietly, her head resting on the floor. “About me needing a break. I haven’t thought about my family crisis once since I got here. And now, when I think about it… it doesn’t seem like a big issue. I mean, family breakups happen all the time, right? And yeah, my dad might be convicted soon, but he’s slimy enough to weasel his way out of anything. Why was I so upset about it? Seems childish now that I think about it.”
Jinx took another drag from the joint, letting the smoke escape in a slow cloud. She didn’t respond right away, and Lux thought she might not say anything at all, but then Jinx’s voice broke the silence, gentle but firm.
“It’s not childish at all, blondie,” Jinx said. “You’re right. Shit happens all the time, but you’re allowed to be upset. They’re your family. And trust me, I know it’s the hardest thing to get past. So… y’know, just take your time and just feel what you feel.”
Lux didn’t expect Jinx to say anything like that. No one else had. Everyone told her to “move on” or that “it’s not the end of the world.” But Jinx’s words felt different. It was the bare minimum of understanding, but it meant the world to Lux. For once, someone was just letting her feel what she felt.
“Thank you,” Lux whispered, her voice barely audible.
Jinx hummed in response, handing the joint back to her. “No problem, blondie.”
They smoked in silence after that, the music of Kate Bush filling the gaps between their breaths. The party raged on outside, but here, in this room, Lux felt like she and Jinx were the only two people left in the world. Lux didn’t know when it happened, but at some point, she fell asleep. Her body heavy with exhaustion, the warmth of Jinx beside her grounding her in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Lux wakes to the soft scratch of the record needle hitting the end of the vinyl, repeating the same quiet hiss over and over. The room is dark now, except for the soft blue glow of the LED lights still humming along the corners of the ceiling. Her head feels pleasantly heavy, limbs relaxed like she’s floating. Her body is still on the floor, one arm flung across her stomach, the other barely brushing Jinx’s side, who, to her surprise, hasn’t moved either.
Jinx is wide awake, lying with both hands tucked behind her head, eyes open and fixed on the graffiti above. Her expression is unreadable, like she’s halfway between a thought and a dream. Lux shifts slightly, and Jinx tilts her head just enough to glance at her.
“You snore a little,” Jinx says with a small smirk, her voice hoarse and low from the weed and the hour.
Lux rolls her eyes and smiles faintly. “I do not.”
“You definitely do. It’s cute though.”
Lux huffs a laugh, blinking slowly. “What time is it?”
“Almost four.” Jinx shrugs. “You conked out around two, I think.”
“And you didn’t move?”
Jinx grins, turning her eyes back to the ceiling. “Didn’t wanna wake you. You looked… peaceful. You needed it. Your friend came looking for you, but I told her she could just leave. Took some convincing but she gave up when she realised I’m stubborn as hell.”
The words hit Lux deeper than she expected. No one’s ever let her just rest before, not without asking her when she’s getting back up again. She sits up slowly, combing her fingers through her tangled blonde hair. “Thanks for tonight,” she says quietly. “For not asking questions. For not treating me like I’m broken.”
Jinx looks at her then. Really looks at her. “Nah. You’re not broken. You’re just tired of pretending not to be tired.”
Lux snorts at that. “You’re weirdly poetic for someone who blew weed smoke into my mouth three hours ago.”
“Hey,” Jinx sits up too, smirking. “I contain multitudes.”
They sit there in silence for a few beats. Outside the room, the party has died down, the house finally quiet. No more bass vibrating the walls, no more shouting. Just distant murmurs and the occasional creak of someone stepping over a beer can.
Lux finally asks, “So… why did you even invite me?”
Jinx pauses like she hadn’t expected the question, then shrugs with a lopsided grin. “Because you looked like you were about to fall apart this morning. And I figured… if anyone knows what that feels like, it’s me.”
Lux frowns a little, thoughtful. “But we don’t even talk. Why care?”
Jinx raises her brows, and in a rare moment of honesty, her voice softens. “Because I’ve seen you. All three years. Sitting in the front of every class. Perfect hair. Perfect grades. Perfect girl. And I kept wondering how long you were gonna keep it up before it cracked.”
Lux lets out a short breath, smiling despite herself. “And you wanted to be there for the crash?”
“No,” Jinx says, serious for once. “I wanted to prove that crashing doesn’t have to be the end of something. Sometimes it’s just the beginning.”
Lux goes quiet again. That familiar lump in her throat returns, but it doesn’t feel heavy or painful now, just… real. She stands slowly, stretching her limbs. “Can I borrow a hoodie?”
Jinx blinks, then grins and points to a hook on the back of her door. “Take your pick.”
Lux grabs a faded navy hoodie with a peeling graphic of a cartoon skull. It smells like weed and laundry detergent and something vaguely sweet. She pulls it on, and Jinx watches her like she’s studying the moment.
“I should be out of your hair, it's late” Lux says, tucking her hands into the oversized sleeves. “But… I might come by again. If that’s okay.”
Jinx smiles, lazy and warm. “Blondie, you can stay”
Lux hesitates. It’s a simple offer. But it feels like so much more. A choice. A shift. She looks down at Jinx, at the mess of blue hair and tired, honest eyes. And before she can overthink it, she nods. “Okay.”
Jinx grins. “Take the bed. I’ll crash here.”
But Lux shakes her head. “We can share.”
Jinx’s smirk falters into something softer, surprised. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Lux pulls off her jeans and climbs under the covers. Jinx joins a beat later, still grinning to herself, careful not to crowd her. They lie side by side, not touching, but the warmth between them is unmistakable.
“Goodnight, Jinx.”
“’Night, Lux.”
And for the first time in a long time, Lux falls asleep easily—with the low hum of the record player, the faint smell of weed in the air, and Jinx’s steady breathing beside her.
Lux woke to the sound of voices murmuring just outside the door and the blinding warmth of sunlight streaming through the window. For a brief, disoriented moment, she forgot where she was, this wasn’t her bed, and definitely not her room. Then the memories of last night rushed in: the cigarette, the weed, the cold pizza, the way Jinx looked at her like she saw her. The way Lux stayed, climbed into bed beside her, and didn’t regret a second of it.
She became aware of the weight on her, Jinx, half sprawled on top of her like a human blanket. One of Jinx's legs was tangled with hers, and an arm draped comfortably across Lux’s waist. Most alarmingly comfortingly, Jinx’s head was nestled in the crook of Lux’s neck, her steady, warm breath ghosting against Lux’s skin. Lux’s own arms were wrapped loosely around Jinx’s small frame, like her body had decided on its own to keep her close through the night. Somehow, they’d ended up like this, entwined, effortless and it didn’t feel strange at all. It felt natural.
The voices outside grew louder, and before Lux could untangle herself or even panic properly, the door burst open. Two women she didn’t recognize stood in the doorway, one stocky, with cropped pink hair and a stormy expression; the other taller and elegant with long dark hair and wide blue eyes.
“Powder Lane, did you throw another party while we were gone?!” the pink-haired one bellowed.
They both stopped short when they spotted the scene: Lux lying in bed with their tangled limbs on display. Lux froze, mortified. Her face burned. She must’ve looked like a mess, hair everywhere, half in Jinx’s lap, and definitely wearing someone else’s hoodie.
The pink-haired woman’s jaw dropped open, stammering, “What—who—um—”
The taller one looked equally flustered. “What’s going on?”
Before Lux could scramble for an explanation, Jinx spoke, her voice raspy and half-asleep, mouth still against Lux’s neck. “Get out, pervs. I’m tryna sleep.”
The vibrations of her voice on Lux’s skin sent a shiver down her spine, and the women scrambled out of the room, the door clicking shut behind them.
Jinx, completely unfazed, simply snuggled deeper into Lux and let out a sleepy sigh. Her breath was both hot and cold against Lux’s neck, making her feel dizzy in a way that had nothing to do with last night’s weed. Lux cleared her throat and gently tried to wake her. “Jinx…”
“Five more minutes, blondie,” Jinx groaned, tightening her grip around Lux.
Lux stiffened instinctively but then against all logic, relaxed into it. She stayed still, wide awake, while Jinx remained curled against her. Absent-mindedly, her free hand lifted and began to stroke Jinx’s hair, gently massaging her scalp. Jinx let out a small, content hum, like a cat being petted, and Lux practically melted.
She didn’t know how long they lay like that, but she wasn’t complaining. As far as hangover mornings go, this was easily the best one she’d ever had.
Eventually, Jinx stirred and lifted her head, her eyes sleepy and smile lopsided. “Morning, Blondie.”
“Good morning,” Lux whispered back.
Neither of them moved. Neither of them wanted to.
But finally, Jinx stretched and rolled away from Lux with a dramatic sigh. Lux missed the warmth instantly but didn’t say anything. She watched as Jinx stood, arms over her head, stretching like a smug cat. Her blue hair was a wild mess, her eyes bloodshot, and Lux had no idea how someone could look that beautiful while hungover.
Jinx turned to her with a grin. “As much as I’d love to stay up here and cuddle you all morning, I gotta deal with my sister and her girlfriend now. And, you know, clean the warzone we call a house.”
Lux sat up and brushed her hair back. “I’ll help.”
Jinx raised a brow but just shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
They headed downstairs together, side by side. The house was wrecked, cups and bottles everywhere, mysterious sticky patches on the floor, furniture crooked or out of place. A disaster. In the kitchen, the two women from earlier were seated on the counter, still talking in hushed tones. They both stopped when they saw Jinx and Lux walk in.
Jinx jerked her chin toward them. “Blondie, this is my sister Vi and her cupcake, Caitlyn.”
Lux gave them a sheepish smile. “Uh… hi.”
Vi blinked and then smirked. “So, little Powder’s got herself a girlfriend now?”
Lux’s face went red instantly. But Jinx didn’t even flinch. She just grinned wider and said, “So what if I do?” Her eyes slid to Lux, teasing but unreadable.
Caitlyn just smiled and shook her head. “We talked about this, Jinx. No more parties. You know the rule, you make the mess, you clean the mess.”
“Yeah, yeah. Boring,” Jinx said, rolling her eyes. She grabbed Lux by the wrist and tugged her out of the kitchen. “Come on, let’s get this over with.”
They spent the next hour picking up trash, putting furniture back, and airing out the house. Lux fell into an easy rhythm. She used to do this all the time back in Demacia, after parties with her brother, after gatherings that ended with a mess and aching feet. It was strangely meditative, and for the first time in months, her head felt clear. No dread. No weight on her chest. No voice in her head reminding her of the scandal, the family name, or the crumbling pieces of her perfect life. Just sunlight. Loud music from Jinx’s speaker. And the sound of Jinx humming as she wiped down the kitchen counter. She paused, realizing: I haven’t thought about my family all morning. And even more surprising, I feel okay. I feel free.
Then she heard a splash. Lux turned around just in time to see Jinx lying in the pool, fully clothed, groaning. “Are you okay?” Lux asked, laughing.
“Slipped on a stupid can,” Jinx grumbled.
Lux laughed harder, unrestrained, hands on her knees. Before she could finish catching her breath, Jinx reached up and yanked her in. They splashed around in the pool, chasing and dunking each other, laughing like kids at summer camp. It wasn’t long before Vi and Caitlyn appeared at the door.
“Are you seriously playing right now?” Caitlyn called.
“We asked you to clean, not mess around!” Vi added, though she was already shaking her head fondly.
“Shut up!” Jinx yelled back and splashed them both with a wave of water.
Without hesitation, Caitlyn grabbed a neon water gun from somewhere and fired straight at Jinx. Lux squealed and ducked. The four of them dissolved into a ridiculous water fight. And as Lux wiped the wet hair from her face, panting and laughing, she thought, This. This is what I needed.
She was soaked, out of breath, and glowing.
She was happy.
Lux sat in the passenger seat of Jinx’s motorbike, clutching the edges of her jacket, watching as the city whizzed by. She couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder as they sped off. The entire morning had been surprisingly easy, helping clean up the aftermath of Jinx’s party, joking around with Vi and Caitlyn, and learning that Jinx, for all her wild chaos, had a surprisingly easy going side to her. The kind of side that made Lux laugh despite herself.
Lunch was a new experience too. Vi and Caitlyn had turned out to be easy to talk to, and the awkwardness that usually came with meeting strangers had melted away quickly. The food was good, and Lux had found herself asking more about Jinx’s life, her family, and how she managed to keep up with everything in her chaotic world.
Now, here she was, about to face the ultimate test: riding home on Jinx’s motorbike. “You sure you’re good with this?” Jinx asked, giving her a teasing grin as she stood next to the bike.
Lux hesitated, looking at the bike, and then at Jinx. She didn't want to seem like a coward, but it was hard to ignore the nagging feeling that this might be more than she could handle. “I’m not sure I’m ready for a death trap…”
Jinx raised an eyebrow, a mischievous gleam lighting up her eyes. “Coward.” She made a show of swinging a leg over the bike and revving the engine. “Come on, blondie. Live a little.”
With a dramatic sigh, Lux finally agreed. “Fine. But I’m holding onto you.”
Jinx grinned wider, clearly enjoying the teasing. “Oh, I don’t mind. But you better hang on tight.”
The ride was exhilarating. Lux couldn’t believe how fast they were going, Jinx’s bike zipped through traffic like it was nothing, the wind rushing past, adrenaline pumping in her veins. Lux had always been a little nervous about speed, but this was something else entirely. She couldn’t stop the squeak of fear when Jinx swerved around a car, but Jinx just laughed and patted her arm reassuringly.
“Relax, Blondie. I’ve got you.” Jinx’s voice was calm, soothing, in contrast to the wild ride.
Lux squeezed her eyes shut, holding onto Jinx’s waist tighter, but Jinx, true to her unpredictable nature, managed to calm her down with a gentle circle of her hand on Lux’s. It was a small gesture, but it made Lux feel more grounded. It only took about fifteen minutes, but by the time they arrived at Lux’s apartment, Lux was a little dizzy and a lot thankful. The ride had been insane, but it had also been thrilling, and Lux couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face despite herself.
Jinx helped her take off the helmet, smoothing down Lux’s hair in a surprisingly tender way. The quiet moment lingered between them, and Lux felt a flutter of something, maybe it was the rush of the ride, maybe it was just Jinx .
“Thanks,” Lux said softly, looking up at Jinx. “For everything. For inviting me to the party, for listening to me, for making me forget all my crap for a while... for just being there.”
Jinx’s grin widened. “Don’t mention it, goldie. I had fun too, more than I expected. But promise me you won’t be hard on yourself alright? Just take it easy.”
Lux shifted uneasily, unsure of how to handle the growing feeling in her chest. She glanced up at the apartment building, then back at Jinx, her words coming out before she could stop them. “Can I see you again?”
Jinx smirked, leaning in just a little, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Falling in love with me, blondie?”
Lux’s face flushed so hard she felt like her skin might catch fire. “N-no! I just… well, I mean, I—”
Jinx burst out laughing, her voice loud and free. “Kidding, kidding! Of course, you can see me again.”
Lux’s heart settled a little, her face still hot, and she didn’t know whether to laugh or groan at herself. Jinx grabbed Lux’s hand and scribbled something quickly with a sharpie, blowing on it to dry the ink. Lux shivered as she watched, the feeling of Jinx’s breath on her skin sending an unexpected thrill through her. When Jinx let go, Lux stared at her arm. Her phone number was written there, along with another doodle of a monkey.
“Call me soon, okay?” Jinx grinned, her expression soft but playful.
Lux couldn’t help but grin back. “I will. Thanks again, Jinx.” She looked at the phone number again, her smile widening.
Before she could even think about it, Lux leaned forward, pressing a quick kiss to the corner of Jinx’s mouth, right on the spot where their lips almost met. She pulled away quickly, heat blooming in her chest as she blurted out, “Goodbye!” and rushed toward the entrance of her apartment complex, all too aware of how clumsy she was being.
The door closed behind her with a quiet thud, and Lux leaned against it, letting out a quiet groan as she buried her face in her hands. What was that? Why did I kiss her? She shook her head, trying to clear her mind of the chaos in her chest.
Suddenly, a voice broke through her dilemma.
“I watched you guys from the window,” Fiora’s voice came from the living room, and Lux froze. “You have a lot of explaining to do, Luxanna Crownguard!”
Lux let out a loud, frustrated sigh. She was definitely not ready for this conversation.