xxv. MORNING DEW

The room was glistening under the rays of dawn. It was peaceful, quiet, the bedsheets spread all over the bed as Fezco woke up with a small yawn. He turned around and opened his eyes when he realized Lulu wasn't next to him. He could still smell her light perfume on the pillow and looked around, noticing her clothes scattered all over the floor.

Fezco was sitting up with his head against the headboard when Lulu walked inside the room, rubbing her hands against her eyes, barely awake. A smile appeared on her face when she made eye contact with Fezco. He had his eyes glued on her figure, covered by a large tee shirt she had randomly picked in his closet to go use the bathroom a few minutes earlier.

"Damn, you gotta stop wearing my clothes, ma'", Fezco said, looking at her up and down.

Lulu jumped on the bed, "Why?"

"'Cause you look too good in 'em, I want you wearing my shit all the time now."

She chuckled and pressed her body against his, draping her arms over his shoulders, "Deal."

Fezco smiled, putting a hand on her cheek gently, rubbing his thumb on her warm skin. He stayed quiet for a few seconds, watching every single part of her face with adoration in his eyes, "You are so gorgeous."

Lulu looked down in embarrassment, definitely not used to compliments like these, and even less when they were coming out of Fezco's mouth. She chuckled and put her head in the crook of his neck, leaving a small trail of kisses on his skin.

She looked up with a smile, "Trying to convince me to become my boyfriend or what?"

Fezco kissed her softly before sighing, looking out the window, he seemed a little more tense when he turned around once more, "'Cause you wanna date a drug dealer?"

"Why not?" Lulu asked with the ghost of a smile.

Fezco shook his head, "I don't want ya in danger, y'know I got some motherfuckers who ain't playing around."

"I know," Lulu said seriously, "But you think it's safer at my job? Cause it isn't, I can promise you that."

Lulu stretched out her body to grab her phone, she scrolled through dozens of conversations to show him what this industry was all about, "The spotlight, the fame and all that shit... it's just a cover. The most influentials are just as dangerous."

Lulu showed him texts from producers and directors trying to hook up with her, pictures and videos of people getting high during filming or parties.

"If you can't defend yourself, they destroy you," Lulu continued, "Girls are being assaulted during auditions, drugs are everywhere, I've heard some people mysteriously disappeared because they fucked with the wrong guys."

Fezco had a panic expression on his face. He knew this universe wasn't just made of sparkles and glitters but he never once thought it could go that far, "Yo, you got me worried there."

"I'm all good... Seriously," she said, "I'm working with great people, nothing really happened to me. Except for that creep who sends me dick pics thinking I'm gonna hook up with him."

"He better not do that shit again," Fezco warned, holding her tighter.

"I think he got the message last night," Lulu said, "But, yeah... my point is that I'm aware that your job is dangerous. But mine is too."

They stared at one another for longing minutes, processing the informations. They knew their relationship had totally switched. They didn't want to simply hook up here and there. They cared about each other and they had made it clear. They didn't know where this whole thing would lead them but it was too late to back away now.

"So, Fez... you my boyfriend or what?"

Fezco remained silent for a few seconds, losing himself in Lulu's dark eyes. He was brought back to reality when Lulu rubbed the tip of her nose against his'.

He smiled, tucking a strand of her hand behind her ear, "Yeah... I'm your boyfriend."

She pulled him even closer, breaking the small gap separating their faces, and kissed him softly to which he responded by putting his hands under her thighs and lifting her so she was straddling him. Lulu let out a small shriek of surprise but never once broke the kiss.

When she did, the sun was illuminating Fezco's face, especially his eyes that had the brightest blue color she had ever seen. She felt like she was staring at the most beautiful sky ever. She started gliding a finger across his facial features, from the brows, the nose and the lips, causing goosebumps to run all over Fezco's body.

She was now the one staring at him adoringly, "You are so beautiful..."

Fezco pushed her on the shoulder, as they both chuckled, "Don't make me blush, girl."

Lulu and Fezco spent the rest of the day together, alongside Ashtray who joked around for hours, talking about how he thought the two of them would never have the guts to make a move.

When Lulu got home, she found her sister and her mother watching tv and eating pizza. For a second, she felt like she was dreaming, definitely not expecting her mother to be home and even less to see Zahia's head on her lap as Kris played with the youngest's hair soothingly.

Her mother turned around and gave Lulu a bright smile, "We kept some pizza for you."

The girl blinked rapidly, thinking she would eventually wake up. But she heard Zahia and Kris laughing at her weird behavior and she walked all the way into the living room, sitting next to her mother before eating her first slice of pizza.

Kris pushed some hair away from Lulu's face before kissing her lovingly on the cheek, "You're doing good?"

Lulu gave her a small smile, nodding vividly. They all returned their attention to the screen but Lulu quickly frowned, thinking this sudden change from her mother was yet another red flag. She didn't know what would happen nor when it would but she was convinced that this calmness and happiness coming from her mother would only bring more disaster in the near future.

Lulu's phone buzzed a first time and she rolled her eyes when she noticed it was a text from Rue. She decided to ignore it but she received so many messages in just a few minutes that she had no other choice than to read them.

rurue
hey lulu
i know you hate me
i hate myself too
im so fucking sorry
that i didnt come
to the movies yesterday
i have no excuse
i just rlly wanted to
spend time w jules
but i went today
it was so incredible
u rlly are so talented
i cried like a mf bby
i love u so so much
really i do lulu
i miss you
please can we hang out
like... idk whenever
please please please

Lulu didn't feel the tears streaming down her face. She gulped and quickly excused herself, leaving the room to lock herself in the bathroom. She kept her eyes glued on the screen, reading the texts over and over again. And she cried for a very long time because she knew —at this exact moment, she couldn't count on Rue anymore. Their friendship had been destroyed by the distance and lack of communication. And Lulu couldn't help but think that Rue never loved her as much as she did.

But Lulu was wrong about that.

lulu
hey rue
im glad u liked it
and i dont hate u
im just sad
i thought you cared
a lil more about me
and our friendship
sorry i dont wanna hang out

I tried calling her twenty times after she sent me those texts. This time, she was the one who never picked up.

Lulu threw her phone in her room and locked herself in the bathroom, to take a long shower this time. She cried even more.

Me... If my mom and Gia hadn't been there to hold me as I cried... I think I would've fucking killed myself.

( ... )

a/n aldjaksjajja im so sorry for this ending... honestly i dont know what to think... i really hope you liked that chapter
but hey fezco and lulu!!!! whats the ship name??