It had been a long time since I last saw Lux in Nummit. Being abroad, it felt like I was relearning how to be myself. And it’s true what they say: absence makes the heart grow fonder. My heart, my entire body ached; everyday in class, I sighed audibly. My professor excused me from class, saying that I was being a distraction to the other students.

I packed up my bag, lingering while giving my professor a plaintive look. She ignored me—everyone does. But not Lux, never Lux.

I was forlorn, wandering Chambers aimlessly. Most classrooms were occupied, and Fibs was much too loud. I rolled my aqua orbs in annoyance. Momentarily not looking where I was going, I crashed into a wall, my multiple notebooks and textbooks and printed assignments spilling from my arms and scattering about the hallway.

“Hey, are you alright,” a deep voice stirred me from my reverie. 

I looked up. It wasn’t a wall (or Wall); it was a wall of muscle and power. 

“Lux,” I breathed. It was him, but he was…different. Taller (if that was possible), more built (as if that was possible), and even more imposing and glorious than before. He chuckled almost nervously as I raked my eyes over him. But that wasn’t like him; Lux was never nervous. Unless…

“It’s been a while, huh?” he spoke, meeting my gaze. And just like that, it felt like no time had passed. We slipped into conversation easily, casual remarks and smiles coming naturally. That same warmth I had felt in Nummit had returned.

“Want to find a quieter place to talk,” I asked, feeling bold. His eyes widened before darkening with mischief.

“Follow me,” he all but growled as he took my hand, leading us through the twisting hallways. He found a vacant classroom easily. It was as if he controlled reality when we were together; the world and I bent to his will.

It was a whirlwind of want. We moved around the room, ending up at the podium at the front of the classroom. It was fitting—he commanded my heart just as a professor commanded their classroom. But that’s when I spotted something out of place. Laying on the podium was a sheet of what appeared to be test answers. And for one of my classes, too.

Lux followed my line of sight before sweeping the page onto the ground. He covered my eyes, leaning so close that I could focus on nothing else. “If you want to be good, you’ll obey the Honor Code. Just like you obey me,” he purred in my ear.

“Right, of course,” I replied in a whisper, his hand still on my eyes.

He chuckled, the sound filling the room. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you learn your lesson.”

   To be continued…