CHAPTER TEN

"Wasn't that fun?" Luci asked, sarcastically, as the group of 4 walked out of Luci's house into the beautiful star filled fall night. The atmosphere at dinner at been cold and forced, in a way like the rest of the house.

"At least he talked this time." Allie consoled, as Nick slid his hand in hers. They both watched AJ try to put his arm around Luci, but she stepped forward quickly, then nearly ran to her Tahoe.

"I guess your right. I think I'll take the Tahoe tonight, but would someone drive the BMW back to the apartment please?" Luci asked, reaching into the pocket of her jeans, and pulling out her keys, and in the process sneezing 3 times.

"Bless you." the other three stated in unison.

"Getting sick?" Allie asked, taking the BMW's key from her, and handing it to Nick.

Luci sneezed once more, before answering. "I guess so."

"You better be better for the Anger Management Tour, Luc." Allie teased as Luci opened the driver's door to the Tahoe. "Are you guys coming back to the apartment?"

Nick and A.J. looked at one another. "I guess so." A.J. responded.

"Okay. Then Nick you take Luc's BMW, I'll take my car, and A.J you go with Luci." Allie suggested as Luci looked at her slightly surprised. Normally it was Luci who made the plans, not Allie. Allie shrugged in Luci's direction and pulled Nick toward the 2 other cars.

Luci got in the car and turned it on waiting for AJ to get in. She was so confused. She wanted A.J, but every time he made a move she rejected it, and she didn't know why. Taking change and moving on with it wasn't something Luci had done easily, and maybe it was because of her Mother's death.

"Your dad seems...nice." A.J. commented, as Luci pulled out the driveway, and then Nick and finally Allie followed her.

Luci laughed. "Don't lie, A.J." she replied.

A.J. smiled. He was making some kind of progress. "Sorry." he responded, "So are you really getting sick?"

"I don't know. It's probably just allergies or something." Luci suggested, running the long manicured nails of her left hand over the leather steering wheel cover. "I'll live."

"I'm sure you will." A.J. told her, smiling even though she couldn't see him. Suddenly her car phone rang, scaring both of them slightly.

"Hello?" Luci answered, hitting speaker phone.

"Luc? I have Nick on conference call. Let's go to the beach." Allie greeted.

Luci looked at AJ who shrugged. "Whatever. We have to get off at the exit that is right up there to our right though." she directed. "We'll see you there, and Nick be careful with my car."

"I will. "Nick laughed, as Luci hung up the phone, and hung a sharp right, pulling off into the exit.

"Allie seems a lot better than she did the other night." A.J. commented, playing with his chin piercing. It was a habit he had acquired just recently.

"Allie is acting like me." Luci replied, smiling. "She talked to her parents before work today. I guess she's solved her problems." She made another right and pulled into the parking lot of the beach.

"And you are acting like her." A.J. replied, without really thinking, as Luci unlocked the car doors, and got out.

"Oh, really?" Luci questioned. "How might that be?"

"You know...kinda of inverted and all." A.J. answered feeling kind of stupid as he got out the car and walked over to her. Luci simply laughed and shook her head.

"Funny seeing you here." Nick teased as he and Allie walked up to them.

"Yeah, really funny Carter." A.J. retorted, rolling his eyes at Nick's corny cliché.

Luci shivered as the light breeze blew past them. It was a beatiful night to go to the beach. It was a clear night, with a bright half moon, and the stars glittered like diamonds. The sand looked almost white from the glow of the moon.

"So what are we doing here?" she pressed, stuffing her hands in the pocket of her capri jeans. "Wait. Stratch that. What are A.J. and I going to do? I know that Allie and Nick came out here to make out."

Nick, Allie, and A.J. laughed at her. "You can do the same." Allie teased, raising her eyebrows.

If looks could kill Allie would have died on the spot from the look Luci was giving her. "I think I'll go take a walk, Allison." she stated, briskly, before walking off.

"Thanks, Allie. I was making progress." A.J. pouted, watching her walk away.

Nick mouth dropped in mock surprise. "What is this? A.J. McLean can't get a girl? Hell must have frozen over. Pigs must be able to fly. Worms must have ears. Howie must have cut his hair. Kevin must have smiled. Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears must have finally announced their officially screwing each othe-"

"If you don't shut the hell up-" A.J. began to threaten.

"You guys!" Allie interrupted. "You sound like children. A.J. just talk to her."

"I have." A.J. complained. "I have tried everything. She does not want me."

Allie shook her head. "If I know Luci she likes you. She more than likes you. That's why she's ignoring you. She's afraid if she gets close to some that she'll lose them like her father lost her mother. Have you tried patience?" she explained.

"What do you think I've been doing?" A.J. replied, frustratedly running his fingers through his spiky hair.

Nick and Allie sighed in unison. "Just go talk to her. Listen. Okay?" Allie stated, pushing him toward the direction Luci went. "Now go away."

A.J. walked into the sand, kicking it up as he went. The tide was just coming in, but there was still wet sand that you could see. A couple yards away A.J. could see Luci sitting on a piece of driftwood, playing with the sand. He jogged up to her, and sat down on the sand next to her wordlessly. After a few minutes of silence he couldn't stand it anymore. "Do you like me or what Lucinda?" he asked bluntly.

She made a little sighing noise, and continued to watch the waves crash onto the sand. "I like you." she muttered, as she picked up a handful of sand and let it fall through her fingers.

"Then why do you reject every move I make?" A.J. prodded. He was tired of waiting and being patient. It was her turn.

"Good question." she replied, slipping off her Adidas sneakers, and dumping the sand out of them.

"Well then do you want to answer it?" A.J. responded, trying to make his voice stay level. He wasn't about to let Luci walk out of this conversation so easily.

"Not really." Luci mumbled, pushing a strand of hair out of her face that the wind had blown into her face. She never really like the beach much as a child. The ocean was fine but the sand had always disgusted her. It had been God knows where with people walking all over it and laying on it. Then the seagulls scouring the sand and making it even dirtier. Plus it got everywhere and was a pain in the butt to get off, but she never could resist playing with it.

"Too bad. I think I deserve an answer, because I like you, and I want to get to know you, but if you don't want to I need to know why so I can move on." he informed her.

"A.J. isn't not as easy as that." Luci told him.

"Damnit Luci! Answer me! Just answer this one damn question okay? Then I'll leave." A.J. exclaimed, slamming his palm down onto the sand.

Luci whipped her head around to face him. "You wanna know why? Fine. I'll tell you. Everyone I get close to dies. Everyone. My mom. My grandparents. Some of my friends. Everyone. Do you remember reading King Midas and the Golden Touch where everything he touched turns to gold? Well it's the exact opposite with me. Everyone I try to love dies. I don't want that to happen to you, okay? Are you happy now?" Luci said, letting the words stream out of her mouth.

"What about your Dad?" A.J. whispered, studying her face. There was some unreadable expression in her face. It wasn't really hurt, or sadness or anything. A.J. didn't know what it was.

"He might as well be dead." Luci retorted in the tone she had used before and turning to watch the ocean again.

"How about Allie? She's not dead?" A.J. replied, in a way understanding her feelings. Now if only he could get past them...

"No she's not." Luci responded, grabbing her shoes. "I'm cold. I'm going back to the car."

"Okay." A.J. agreed, before she left. He was satisfied what information he had attained. He just needed to get past it and help her understand that everyone dies.

That it wasn't her fault.