Just a Physics Project

The scuffling of pen on paper, the constant flick of pages, sighs of worried students and the whoosh of a book slamming shut, after nine straight hours of it, Lux’s eyes were beginning to twitch. She hardly even noticed the time until her right hand started quivering, the word ‘Keynesian’ suddenly looked like the drawing of a child.

Raising her head for the first time in hours, Lux’s glossy eyes found the grand clock, spent several moments trying to decipher the roman numerals – that in her state, were just moving lines – before grasping that it was 1 am. Now, during exam season the library would be open 24/7, provided that during the night, students only took the one desired route back to their dormitories, so her shock was not upon foundation of fear of breaking rules, but the fact she had quite literally been couped up there all day.

To her right, Seraphine, who arrived five hours prior, was still heavily engrossed in a Physics textbook, but the eyebags told Lux enough. Across from her, Ren lay sleeping, a puddle of drool blotching some of her notes, whilst Evelynn had to keep shoving Ren’s slipping head off her own dribble-less books.

“It’s 1 am.” Lux hissed, glancing around the library to see a shocking amount of hard-workers.

“One?” Groaned Seraphine. “I think that’s a sign if there ever is on-” She started quietly laughing as her eyes caught something. “And so is that.” She chuckled, pointing at Ren’s flopped head. “Wake her Evelynn, would you, and we can get out of here.”

“Oh I’ve been trying…” She tucked back a lock of Ren’s hair to reveal many ink splotches. “Keep having to push her thick head away. Yet her slumber continues, and my pen’s sharp.” 

Seraphine reached over, shook at her shoulders, more and more aggressively the longer she was dormant, until eventually she stirred, groaning and twisting her body away from the shaking.

“Ren… it’s one. We’re leaving.” Seraphine whispered. That perked her up.

“One?!” She whinged, lolling onto her chin. “Let’s get to bed.” But she just laid her head back over. Evelynn scoffed but tidied her books away along with her own. Seraphine, also ready to leave, rose her eyebrows at Lux, whose books were still sprawled.

“You go, I have more to catch up on.”

Seraphine faintly smiled, gently rubbed Lux’s shoulder, and the three of them staggered out of the library.

Lux strummed her finger tips against the table, letting her mind take a little break before she returned to her economics. Despite the tiring day, she was anything but tired. She was anxious, and that sure kept sleep at bay. Only, she didn’t really know why she was anxious. It was Saturday, and as far as Lux knew Jinx was – allegedly – currently finding those materials, which most likely meant she had to travel to the towns with some member of faculty. Not that that was concerning her, more the weight of such task and considering Jinx’s, well… disposition. Lux would not put it past her to sabotage the little that remained of the work to do, as one big prank or something of that disruptive tendency of hers. The project was due in a week, then just before they went home, the week following, they’d find out their scores. The thought made her stomach bubble.

Lux just had to ‘have faith’. She wasn’t good at that. She wouldn’t describe herself as a control freak, but… she had some of the propensities. But as her mind dwelled, thinking about Jinx being a jarring sight on the rural, grey backdrop of a mere Scottish town, a figure tore itself into Lux’s vision.

“The midnight oil is very much burnt, Crownguard.” Grinned a boy with matt black hair and white teeth so stunning they brightened up the dim, lantern-lit room.

“Hey Cal.” Lux beamed back at him. “How’ve you been?” She smiled that warm smile.

“Oh quite amazing. I think I’m going to fail all my modules.” He said emotionlessly, quietly scraping the chair opposite her and gracefully placing himself in it.

“Oh you’ll be fine.” She smiled. “And sorry again for that Monday. I’ve felt bad about it ever since.”

“Stop worrying, Crownguard. I see it as a sign of my good teaching. You didn’t need me. Speaking of such, how do you feel, exams in a week and all, I haven’t seen you in ages, so I can only take that well.”

“Um… well I don’t think the problem is you. Let’s just leave it at that.” She grinned, knowing that her Physics had indeed been improving, she wasn’t entirely sure why though. “Still, I don’t have any Physics exam until summer. It’s just a project before Christmas.”

“Oh of course. We had it the other way around last year.”

Lux couldn’t decide which she’d prefer.

“And are you well prepared then, Cal? Fysik’s going to be pleased?”

“Clearly. Hence why I’m here at two in the morning.”

“Too much time playing golf…”

“Aye, but who was it that scored a minus 2 in the 15 holed-courses, last week? ‘Cause last I checked it wasn’t Otto.”

“Incredible.” Lux said dryly. “Your golf scores and academic grades can match!”

Cal chuckled a tad too loudly before being scolded by a grim-faced studier a few seats down.  

“Ideal Saturday night.” He whispered after apologising to the sour student. “Not only is it 2 am and I’m working, but I am also being censored.”

“Tough life.”

“Really is. You know, somehow I think I regret choosing to study Physics more than you, Crownguard.”

“A very steep line to cross. Your reasoning better be compelling.”

“Well I should’ve just never came to University, should’ve stayed with Dad’s firm. I’m not a lawyer… but I could pick it up.”

“Then I’m sure many, many people are glad in your choice. The amount of innocents that would’ve gone to jail…”

“Oh ha, ha. Even so, my 2 am’s could be spent with an actual girl, instead of Luxanna Crownguard.” He grinned. Lux threw one of her pens.

“And I wouldn’t be distracted by a babbling boy.”

Cal contorted his face into offense.

“Fine then, Crownguard. Now without the excuse of niceties… you actually have to work.” He said with a pout that half-turned into a smile as he craned back over his books. Lux just chuckled, shaking her head. 

Another two hours went by and Rhayn’s most prestigious second year worked on, heavily reliant on the hot water dispenser and free teabags. Her new study buddy didn’t even last the next two. Other than getting up and making tea every 25 minutes, Lux was locked in studious trance, one which broke upon the sound of a lump of a head slamming against his books. Lux cringed, she could imagine that hurt. Cal stirred for a bit, but then the gentle whistle of sleep finally signified his slumber. Pathetic. She laughed to herself.

“You have a real talent for that.” A familiar voice sounded. “Putting them to sleep.” The chair beside her screeched and there sat Finlay Price.

“Hey, it isn’t my fault these people are too weak-willed to stomach late night revision.”

“I almost feel like it’s a personal goal for you. Your own little competition.” He snickered. “Too wait them all out.”

Lux rolled her eyes.

“Well your on level three now… me. And, Lux, I’m afraid I got here two hours ago. Level’s tough.”

“You decided to come to the library at one in the morning?” Lux said with a hint of disgust.

“Sort of… my sleep schedule’s as steady as a cloth thrown into a blender. Only got to sleep at 9 am this morning. Been sleeping all day. Woke up at 11 pm. I am officially nocturnal.”

“Wow. Very healthy.”

“Simple sacrifices. When’s your first?”

“Monday.” Lux said, although the proximity to her first exam shuddered no part of her. That wasn’t what she feared. “And it’s History.”

“Hm. Good luck, then. I severely doubt you’ll need it.”

“And you?” Lux looked into his eyes and withdrew slightly. They had made up since the party, but Lux was still hesitant, the air wasn’t completely speckless clear.

“Nothing ‘til Wednesday, but then I have two a day until Friday… which is rotten.”

“Hmm, I’m not envious. Still, only a week until they’re over. Then another and finally home.”

“To Demacia, right?”

“Well done. Only took you a year and three months.”

“There’s too many names… Roontara, then-”

“Runeterra.”

“Exactly!”

Lux rolled her eyes.

“Oh you are so… okay, Miss Know-it-all, where am I from again?”

“London. Which is South England, and you live specifically in Kensington? I believe. Which is apparently the rich part, according to Relly who was giving me the run down on how English geography corelates to your social status… to some extent.”

Finlay grumbled for a moment.

“I can’t really deny that. But look who’s talking…”

“Finlay do you even know who Relly is, never mind where she’s from?”

“Uhh, no. No, I meant the Demacian noble child. Pretty sure you’re basically royalty. According to… well everyone here from Runetierara.”

Lux just scoffed, shaking her head.

“Right… I’m going to prove you wrong… I don’t care about waiting them out. There’s no more space left in my brain. I’m going to go and attempt some normality of a sleep schedule, unlike some.” She flashed her eyebrows at him. She then reached over and shook Cal’s shoulder, probably a little too gently for anything to occur, then she tugged on a piece of his hair. He groaned, then slowly lifted his head, resting on his chin, squinting at Finlay.

“Hey Price.” He yawned. “Still mourning the Golf?” Then fell back to sleep.

“I can take him back up, if you like?” Finlay whispered. Lux yawned and shook her head.

“He woke up. That’s my job done. I say just leave him. Anyways, goodnight Finlay.”

“Bye, Lux.” He said, his tone tainted with something all too familiar to her.

Glad to be leaving, she slipped out of the hall, following the enforced hallways despite it being slower than the direct one back to the dorms, her mind swarmed with exhaustion and the many notes of revision she had just been through. Until she reached her dorm. Then, her brain was perked with an shiver, letting her eyes linger on the 21^st room. Instead of school work, her mind swam with thoughts of her. Worries about getting their materials or not. Wondering where she was. Was she still in the town, making her way back, they were never allowed to stay over if they requested the visit? Or already behind the door and asleep? Maybe like Lux and studying away. Although she doubted that.

Lux shook her head of it, tearing her eyes away from the door, forcing her own open and falling into bed.

*

“Geeeeeez, Roony! Took you long enough. Got so bored I almost started studying.”

“Sorry, sorry. I got caught up. You know the Chess club is still running? The exams begin tomorrow and apparently that’s not a big enough excuse.” He puffed, sitting opposite her on one of the Cairn’s pristine tables. “Although we have the Bulgarian tournament after Christmas, so I suppose it’s not entirely shocking, you should see how they sweat when it gets brought up. If you think I get panicked... Anyways, have you been studying, Jinx?” Ronan said, a little more tentative towards the end.

“Uhhhhh, no. But everything’s easy. Don’t need to.”

Ronan sighed.

“Might want to get on that, Maths being Tuesday and everything…”

“Psht.” Was all she replied with, waving her hand.

“Right, well, you’re awfully lucky that I keep to my favours. Your physics project might be the one saving grace.”

Jinx rolled her eyes before they were positively captured by the massive box of materials that Ronan pulled from his feet.

He delicately set each one on the table, showing her each side of it as she just nodded through squinting eyes and with a haughty pout, pretending to be Cassandra when anyone brought her something in the Councillor’s Court. He then put them back in the box and gently slid it over to her.

“Looks good!” She beamed, breaking from the façade and, not nearly as gently, wrenched the box off the table. “Thanks, I- Oh actually! I don’t owe you jack shit. You still owe me.” She grinned broadly.

“I am well aware.” He said dryly, his eyebrows furrowed so much that they tucked under the rim of his glasses.

“Awk don’t worry. Don’t have anything in mind for the rest… yet.” She flashed her eyebrows before kicking her feet off one of the chairs and tidying up her sprawled notes, she had a slight glance before he arrived, merely out of boredom. “I’ll seeya later, Roany. Thanks, again.” She was getting better at saying it.

“Off to study?” He said with a knowing grin.

“Uh-huh, Peach can’t get back if I don’t ‘revise’ the right Runes.”

Ronan pulled a face.

“I thought you’d get that one… gamecard’s from here.”

“Jinx, rarely do I ever know what you’re talking about.”

“I was talking ‘bout my thing with this girl. She gave me this gamecard and said it was fun… didn’t work on my design ‘cause you Mainland people are still cells compared to Runeterra tech, but I got it fixed. Just needed to widen the port and all that.”

“Are you talking about your Gameboy?” Ronan was much less interested in this conversation topic than his converser.

“Yuh-huh. Y’know, you’re quite slow, Ronan.”

“Well I was never allowed video games…”

“That must be why.” She leapt to her feet, her blue braids swinging behind her. “Wanna try mine. Give you a taste of a fun childhood?”

“Some of us actually study, Jinx. Although the offer does tempt me slightly. But I best be to the library. Someone stole a whole day of study from me.”

Jinx just chuckled and sped out of the room. She had become a tad conscious about seeing Lux there in her wait for Ronan. She wasn’t really sure why, but also wasn’t really sure what she’d do if they ran into each other. Perhaps that was the problem. The desire to avoid her didn’t feel the same as it did a month prior. The very sight of her didn’t cause her stomach to swell with anger like it used to, but still the new emotion established on the wish to not see her was just as compelling, even if it was foreign, nameless and completely abnormal.

Her mind was entirely snatched though, as the moment she stumbled through her door, the aberrantly terrifying buzz of a notification sounded.

Initially Jinx was hesitant, perhaps it was Ekko telling her off for failing with Cait, that thought also wounded around her mind at least six times a day. Still, biting away her trepidation she picked up her phone, falling back on her bed.

Luxanna| I forgot we have no physics tm

Jinx did not hesitate to reply.

Jinx| yippee

Luxanna| Which means we can’t just meet after it

Jinx| even better

Luxanna| We need to get this done, Jinx. You have the things right?

Jinx| maybeeeeee…..

Jinx| maybe not

She giggled to herself.

Luxanna| You know I can kick down your door

Jinx| thats a bit harsh

Luxanna| This is no joke, the severity of this project can’t be treated fleetingly, we only have a week now

Jinx| geeeeeeeeez

Jinx| so dramatic blondie

Jinx| yea I have them

Jinx| happy?

Luxanna| Great! Thanks

Jinx rolled her eyes, she forgot how annoying Lux was.

Luxanna| So, we need to meet eventually. Do you have an exam tm?

Jinx| yea

Luxanna| ok, when from

Jinx| 9 to 9

Lux didn’t reply for a long time.

Luxanna| Meet me in the same place at 3 pm tomorrow.

Jinx| but I said I have an exammmmm

Jinx| so ur just gonna let me fail

Lux left her on read.

*

“I could’ve sworn the uprising was in 1205.” A girl with flax-white, frizzy hair said, her face flushed as the crowd of girls walking out of the exam hall smothered each other.

“Paulie, they wouldn’t have the weaponry that early. It was 1405.” Kai’Sa argued. Paulie’s face reddened.

“No I think she’s right, Olmon barely touched the topic because he says the earlier the less important it is. But I dunno, I didn’t do that question.” Another girl chimed in, she was tall and had eye-catching red hair.

“Well he was just talking out his ass, ‘cause there was a whole fucking essay on it, gripe.”

“Stop calling me that!” The red hair hissed back.

“I will when you change your name, Miss Gripe.”

“That’s not even my name.”

“It should be… for how often you gripe around.”

“1405 is still pretty early, though.” Kai’Sa continued, ignoring the arguing girls. “I think Casey’s point doesn’t really make sense.”

Paulie looked like she was going to cry.

“Getting one date wrong is going to do barely any damage.” Lux comforted, wrapping an arm around the saddened girl. “Besides, you’re going to take Kai’Sa’s answer as right?” Lux smirked.

Kai’Sa shot her a look.

“Well what did you say the year was?” Paulie asked.

“Em… 1405.” Lux said quietly. Paulie fell more into despair.

“Okay but it’s one giant essay, worth over 50 marks, one date of many won’t really harm you.” She smiled, again artificially, for she knew the 1400s were in all the dates and messing up one would mess up all the others. Lux thought Paulie knew that too, which became a little too obvious as she quickly fled the group of girls and out onto the courtyard away from the masses.

“People get too worked up about these exams.” Kai’Sa said as they all watched Paulie run off.

“Uh-huh… and when did you go to bed last night?” Lux asked.

“You know Lux, there’s a time and place to bring up things.”

“Nah, Kai’Sa’s right. All this fuss. It’s like their fuckin’ mothers have gotten cancer, jus’ ‘cause they spelt their name wrong.”

“Always delicate, Lena.”

“Just stating the truth. Exam was piss easy.”

Lux herself was surprised at how she found the exam so manageable, especially because her mind was uncontrollably fixated on the event that would follow. Thinking of such…

“I think I’m just going to go the library now.” Lux told Kai’Sa as the other two had fallen into another argument.

“Lux… you’ve just done an exam and your already-”

“It’s for my Physics thing. Can’t really avoid it.”

“That’s still going on? Seraphine’s finished ages ago.”

“I know, but we-”

“Oh I forgot about your nightmare partner… sorry. Ha! It’s still funny to me how out of everyone you got her.”

“No, no… it’s not that.” Lux defended. She wasn’t so sure why she disagreed, arguably that did affect the speed of their finality. “It’s just what we’re testing takes more time and whatnot. Anyways, I’ll see you at dinner?”

“Okay… sure. See, you.” Kai’Sa left a little timidly. 

Lux turned down the first the corridor to her left, leaving the outdoor courtyard from where the path down the Exam Hall led and into to the building. She was probably a little early, but her anxiety for what would ensue enveloped any sort of thought, so she reckoned it be best to just go. But, like always, she was interrupted.

“Hello, Miss Crownguard.” Smiled the infamous pot-bellied Professor Olman. “I’m afraid I am terribly late. I wished to find out how all of you had fared the test. Only to realise it had ended some 10 minutes ago. But I trust you found it most agreeable, Miss Crownguard?”

“Indeed, sir.” She beamed her usual smile, cupping her hands like a young schoolgirl. “The questions were a little different from the samples but no less challenging. Still, I think it went well. But watch me eat my words, sir, and turn a fool.” She laughed, gleaming.

“Oh please, Luxanna. I have more doubt in the stability of the mountains beside us than I do in your academic strength. Really, if it’s the whole year’s opinion on the test that I seek, the last person to ask is the Crownguard girl herself.”

“You’re too kind, Professor.”

“Not at all. Ah, in fact, I am pleased to run into you, Luxanna. Your elective is General Physics, is it not?”

“It is, sir.” Lux was a little aback.

“Excellent, Professor Fysik was explaining to me the Physics initiative, and I was positively enthralled by such endeavour. Such a brilliant idea. There are plenty of History ones and yet I always lift my nose to Mainland activities, but really I should not. So, do you think a History version would ‘sit nicely’ in the stomachs of your peers?”

Lux was even more aback, her artificial sweetness cracking slightly at her utter bewilderment.

“The Physics initiative sir?” She said slower than an eel on land.

“Oh.” Olman’s face fell instantly. “Ah, yes.” He started blubbering with sounds as a red crept along his cheeks. “I’m afraid I may have spoken a little out of confidences. I believe such fact is not yet to be known by my present company… Oh not to worry! Anywho, best be off to find some red-faced wasters, I look forward to reading you script, Luxanna. Bye now, and good luck this week!” And he puttered past her.

“Thanks Professor.” She called after him, a little too dazed to give a more enthusiastic farewell. She shook her head of the interaction, not wanting more things to crowd her head during exam week, and let her smile fall, although she did quite like the Professor.

She wasn’t in the library for long before the dreaded blue hair strutted in… carrying a box. Lux could not possibly hide her relief.

Despite the Academy being heavily engrossed in exam week, the room they were in was practically empty. Lux surmised, though, that it was because most wanted a silent place to work, and the need of talking during this stage in the year was incongruous.

“Exam went well?” Lux smirked as Jinx approached the table with a pout. She dumped the box then fell back on a chair before deigning to reply.

“What exam?” She said with as much disgust she could muster.

“Exactly.” Lux smugly smiled. Realisation crossed Jinx’s eyes and she sat up.

“Oh, it’s going terribly. ‘Cause m’supposed to be there right now!”

“Yeah, yeah…” Lux waved her hand before she took the liberty to reach and examine the rather nice-looking box Jinx had gifted their table with.

Jinx narrowed her eyes as Lux’s hand graced the cardboard.

“Always just taking what you want, huh?” She scoffed, despite a touch of a smile playing on her lips.

“Oh I’m sorry, is this raggedy box where you keep all of your things? Wouldn’t be surprised, really.”

“Maybe.” Jinx said with a tad more aggression. “Wanna find out? Could have all sorts in there… explosives, guns or hell, maybe even the test answers. Your Goodie-two-shoes brain would shatter.”

Lux leaned away, crossing her arms.

“Well that’s exactly what I’m expecting. Honestly it’s the only way you’d pass anything.”

“Says the girl stopping me from doing an exam…”

“Okay, so at 2:45, Jinx, you’re telling me you just stood right up from your… 12 hour exam? Skipped out. And then went on your merry way without a soul thinking otherwise?”

“Yep.”

“Nice. What was the exam, if you don’t mind my inquisition?”

“Oh I do mind your inquizzation. Some things ya need to know… y’know. Some things y’don’t.”

Lux shook her head of it, turning to one of her diagrams she had set up beforehand.

“I really don’t care anymore for your antics anymore, everything’ll be over soon.”

“Can’t wait.”

“Oh actually, now that I think about it, my History Professor said the weirdest thing to me…”

“That you didn’t fail?”

“He said that he was talking to Fysik, who had some initiative and it was apparently really exciting, well, to him, but I had no idea what he was talking about, and then he froze up when I said I didn’t know. Any idea what that could be?”

Jinx looked away, chewing on the inside of her cheek.

“Hm. Can’t think of anything he’s said. But I don’t listen much.”

“Shocker. Doesn’t matter. So, got the stuff?”

“Uh-huh. You can stop crying now.”

“And can I ask how? Looks pretty good. I’d say ‘well done’ but… well y’know.”

“D’ya need to know how, Blondie? Would probably confuse you.”

Lux tsched and shook her head of it, for all she could guess, Jinx found them in the walls.

“Is the library the best place to do this? It’ll get quite messy.” Jinx asked as she had taken their testing subjects from the box.

“Jinx?” Lux tilted her head to the side and Jinx’s stomach fell slightly. That was odd.

“Uh-huh?” Jinx rose her eyebrows at the girl, her gaze shifted a little to the left to avoid her cheeks reddening more.

“Since when have you cared about mess?”

“Well I don’t! Thought your OCD brain would implode or something. Plus, we have to leave it here for ages. Might get taken or something.” Her voice involuntarily quietened.

“Yeah I was thinking about that… want to go to our room?”

“Our room. Oh the people I’d like to thank to know that doesn’t exist.”

Lux rolled her eyes.

“Fine, one of our rooms.” She scoffed. “Gracious, you are a child.”

Jinx thought about it for a moment. There wasn’t much choice in the matter, they really couldn’t leave their massive apparatus and various gadgets just lying about. But she sure as hell didn’t want to go to Blondie’s room…

“Fine, Blondie.” Jinx pushed the box over her and gestured for her to take it, then stood. “But we’re going to my room, got it?”

Lux hummed in agreement, watching as Jinx sauntered toward the door, boots tapping against the library’s polished floor and braids swaying behind her.

“Not gonna complain,” Lux said as she followed. “Your room’s probably already a disaster. A little more mess won’t hurt.”

“Your mother’s already a disaster.”

Lux laughed. A really stupid, giggly sort of laugh. She didn’t know why. It wasn’t funny, it was an easy and stupid joke. But she laughed regardless, her tongue caught between her front teeth, again like a snickering child.

They weaved their way around the corridors that were strangely lonely, the exam season seemed to capture students and immobilise them. For which Jinx found annoying, no distraction, she’d have to talk to her walking partner. Well, she didn’t have to, and yet she felt an obligation? If that’s what she felt, to talk to her.

“Wanna hear somethin’ funny?” Jinx couldn’t keep her smile in. Lux looked over to her, also incited to grin slightly.

“Oh boy, do I?” She said flatly. “You haven’t killed someone have you?”

“If I’d have killed someone, it’d be you. No, this is far funnier.”

“I’m on the edge of my seat.”

“Demacia asked Piltover for help ‘siphoning’ debts.”

Lux took a moment. Letting that absolve. Not that such was new information, but what this girl was trying to provoke.

“Oh hilarious. I am currently slapping my knee.” Lux said, glaring at the shorter girl. “Why on earth did you think that was funny?”

“Oh pardons, m’lady.” Jinx scoffed. “Didn’t say you’d find it funny, dumbass. I sure as hell do.”

“The Kiramman’s tell you this?”

Jinx didn’t reply.

“Shouldn’t just accept everything you’re told.”

“Why would they lie to me about that.” Jinx scoffed. Lux shrugged.

“Demacia is not having problems, if that’s what you think. What Piltover interprets is one thing. Demacia’s status is a whole other.”

“Sure sounded like problems.”

“And what, a little teenage girl who has been part of Piltover for a year knows that, huh?”

Jinx gritted her teeth, fixing her eyes back on the carpeted floor.

“Can you even comprehend what it means for a country to go through difficulty. Can you even comprehend difficulty in things you aren’t a part of. Demacia isn’t in trouble but if it was, can you even imagine what it would be like? Don’t start chatting about things you don’t know.” Lux’s playfulness fell from her lips.

“Oh you’re one to talk!” Jinx snapped back. “You think you know everything about me and my life! As if what you read in a newspaper is all my-”

“I don’t. Just the important bits of it.” Lux said, eager to get under her skin.

Jinx could have hit her. It took every fibre in her body to not. She had to pause, grind her teeth and swallow away her fury.

“So my life only has meaning when I get rich, then?”

“Your life doesn’t have meaning.” Lux wasn’t entirely sure why she said it. She didn’t think, just spewed out the first thing that she knew would aggravate her. She probably shouldn’t have.

It was like she ingested rock, a burning sensation ran down her throat and mixed with a demobilising shock. Jinx wasn’t sure why she was shocked. It was far from news that this girl was an arrogant classist, but Jinx was… disappointed? If that’s what the feeling was? And suddenly any grain of respect she had for the girl walking annoyingly gracefully beside her, vanished at the spin of a word.

They walked in silence. When they came to the rooms they entered Jinx’s wordlessly. Lux knew she overstepped, and so came an emotion she very rarely felt, she was embarrassed. If there was anything snarky or playful that came to her mind when they went into Jinx’s room, she dismissed them, not daring to speak.

Jinx dug out her model as Lux politely and drawing as little attention as she tried, sat crossed-legged on the floor. The rooms had a default carpet for which Lux had exchanged out for her own on the second day, and clearly Jinx never bothered. She smoothed her hand over it, having forgotten about it and reminiscing on the long lost memory. It actually wasn’t that bad. It was nicely thick, a creamy blue colour, and was soft enough. It was also massive, spanning the whole of the floor, so much so that the wooden planks were hardly noticeable. But Lux’s mind soon neglected any thoughts of the carpet, as Jinx had just plunked down the model that was to be presented.

It looked different to how it was on their last meeting. It was more detailed, having a good few extra parts, and was tidier, with certain things brushing away exposed wires and screws that made the previous design look higgledy-piggledy. It appeared a whole lot better.

Wordlessly, Jinx flicked a few things around deftly, her hands moving with a certain grace Lux found foreign in her. It was mesmerising. She then found the box full of materials, without even checking what her hand had found, as her eyes held onto the model, she placed it into the manufactured hold and started the machine which promptly became very loud. If this blows up in my face, I’m smacking you. The words ran through her head and opened her mouth, yet she couldn’t recite them. She just watched, studying the other girls face, having full faith in what she was doing.

Jinx’s eyes were totally engrossed in the experiment, and Lux’s eyes totally engrossed in Jinx. And she had no idea why. At times Jinx would bite her lip, and Lux noticed the tiny gap between her two front teeth. Never seen that before. Her eyebrows also furrowed like they did when they played table tennis, her hands would fidget when she wasn’t holding something important, like twirling her pen around or even her screwdriver. She noticed the slight crook in her nose, and wondered where that had come from, then winced when she thought of the most likely conclusion and remembered what she said. I was cruel. I shouldn’t have said that. She then counted the few freckles around her nose that slightly bled onto her cheeks. Pretty.

Her mind was wholly absolved by her. So much so, that the thought of her being currently absolutely no help couldn’t even cross her mind. And it sure would have before.

Was Jinx pretty? No. It’s Jinx. Even if she was objectively attractive it’s stolen by her being bonkers and evil. Lux didn’t know why such a thought flashed her mind, and quickly she stopped, looking elsewhere, trying to distract herself with her room.

“It’s done.” Jinx said after an hour. It sure did not feel like an hour. “Should be easier next time. I’ll do it throughout the week, ‘cause your as helpful as my wardrobe. Now get out.”

Lux bit her lip. She wanted to apologise. Tried to think of ways to say that it wasn’t… well she didn’t know. She should’ve spent that hour trying to figure it out, but was a tad distracted.

“Jinx,” She didn’t know where she would go with the sentence, just hoped it would form itself somehow.

“Blondie, get the fuck out.” There was nothing playful or taunting in her tone, the way there always was when they argued. She was direct and serious. Very, very different. It gave Lux shivers, and pooled her stomach with regret. But she didn’t have the will to argue. Shame was so rarely felt for the Crownguard girl that it demobilised her then and there, it made her weak. So she complied, slinging her bag over her shoulder and slowly walking out.

Jinx made no comment, no gesture, she just let her go.