take me home: the ballad of lucas and riley.
summary: a series of one-shots that depict how lucas and riley discovered themselves while learning each other / a prequel of sorts, how they fell in love.
a/n: it's official. i'm in love with this series. i literally created a monster in my soul and wow oh wow. i decided to put all these one-shots together in a single story. i fuckin' love rucas.
in a couple days, I'm gonna add "'round and 'round each time" and "soda kills you and Jesus saves".
also, i discovered that my stories are listed in the gmw wiki page under the Riley and Lucas page. oh wow. that's pretty damn awesome.
rated M for smut.
disclaimer: i do not own girl meets world nor cash cash's take me home.
I'm falling to pieces
But I need this
Yeah, I need this
You're my fault
My weakness
When did you turn so cold?
1. Her — age 19
Riley sighs stressed out. She leans back against her desk chair. She always knew that changing her major from Elementary Studies to Pre-Law would be difficult, but she is so overwhelmed by the workload. She has essays upon essays and test and exams and quizzes. What is this madness? She knew college is hard, but fuck, she didn't sign up for all this bullshit.
Her phone buzzes for the fifth time that night. She checks it and realized that Blake, the new boy she's dating, had been calling her all night. She already has six missed calls. She sighs and clicks the call back button. It rings twice before the other boy picked up.
"Jesus fucking Christ, Riley, where the hell have you been?" He asks angrily. She flinches hating his tone when he was pissed.
"I'm sorry, I was finishing up an essay," she mutters. She hears him puffed on the other line.
"You could've texted me earlier. We were suppose to get dinner tonight," he reminds her. She cringes. She had completely forgotten.
"Blake, I'm so sorr—" before she could finish apologizing, he cuts her off.
"Don't fuckin' apologize. I can't even with you right now. I'll call you later." He hangs up before she could get another word in. She throws her head back to avoid crying. All this is too much. She put her phone down and grabs a jacket. She tucks her dorm key into her pocket and wandered down her resident hall.
She walks around campus for half an hour with no direction or destination in mind. She attempts to clear her mind, but everything was piling up: her school work, her relationship, being homesick and her family (despite living in the same city), missing Maya, mising everyone. She feels her world crashing down on her. She paces around her residence hall for a good hour.
"Riles?" A masculine voice cuts through the cool air. Riley instantly stops pacing. It's been so long since she heard that voice, she nearly forgot that he went here as well. "Riley, what are you doing?" In front of her, stands Lucas Friar: her best friend, ex-boyfriend, first time lover. She feels her face brighten up.
How long has it been? They started NYU in the fall, but now it was February. They had fought in the beginning of school over something dumb that Riley honestly couldn't remember, but she hadn't seen him since. Being in different majors eliminated the chance of them being enrolled in the same courses. She decided to live on campus while he commuted. It was easy to not see each other. When it came to winter break, they avoided each other. Their friends knew better than to question the change.
"Riley," he breaks her from her thoughts. "Are you okay?" She stares blankly at him. On his side is a pretty, petite blonde girl. She reminds her of someone else, and it make her sick to her stomach.
"I'm okay," she says in a high-pitched voice. She inwardly curses herself. Lucas presses his lips together. He turns to the pretty girl next to him. He whispers something in her ear, and the girl (who looked slightly peeved) nods and walks away.
"Let's get you back to your dorm," Lucas takes her gently by her elbow. He tenderly leads her back to her dorm. She is quiet the whole way, and he makes no effort to force her into a conversation. She unlocks her door and he leans against door frame.
"Thank you," she said lightly. He gazed into her eyes and nodded. He turned to walk away, but Riley (before she knew it) grabbed him by the wrist. "Do you want to come in?" She lives in a single, so there's no one to judge her if she lets him in. Plus, they've been friends forever and had countless sleepovers. Is it so wrong to have come in late at night?
(She knows the answer is yes.)
He says nothing as he follows her into the room. He sets his stuff by the door and shuts it quietly. She rearranges the pile of textbooks and notebooks on her bed and sets them on the ground. He lies down on the bed. She instantly curls up next to him. First, they're talking. She's telling him how overwhelmed she's feeling, and he tells her about applying for internships over the summer. They have the same fears, and she starts to feel okay.
At one point, they start kissing (who made the first move? She invited him in but he wrapped her in his arms). It's wrong, wrong, wrong because she has Blake, and who was that girl she was with?
For now, Riley doesn't care.
Later, when he's lying asleep soundly next to her naked, Riley does care. Oh god what has she done? It was their fourth time together, and it's wonderful and terrible at the same time. Oh god? Why was being with Lucas so good? Was it because it's familiar? Or is he that good of a lover? Riley doesn't know. All she knows is she can't sleep. She tosses and she turns.
"Stop squirming," Lucas chides with his eyes closed. He pulls her into him (chest to chest) and drapes a heavy arm over her. She sighs and studies his face. When did start having bags underneath his eyes? He reaches over and massages her lower back. "Go to bed," he whispers. Her eyes flutter shut.
When they open again, he's gone.
Was it just a dream?
You cut me down to the bone
Now you're dancing
All over my soul
I'm falling to pieces
To pieces, to pieces
2. Him — age 20
Lucas is at Topanga's alone. It's summer break, and no one is there yet. The whole gang is back from school, and this was the only thing he's been looking forward to for a while. He's a bit nervous on seeing Riley because the last time he saw her, they had sex again. Not only that, but he left her in the morning after while she was sleeping.
He had class.
(Not an excuse.)
He was going to leave a letter.
(But he didn't.)
He was going to text her after class.
(But he didn't.)
He was going to call her later in the week.
(But he didn't.)
He was an ass and he knew it. He heard the door chime, and he absentmindedly checked who it is. Maya Hart breezes through and spots him easily.
"Ranger Rick!" she calls out affectionately. He stands up and she gives him a big hug.
"Maya, it's good to see you." He beams as he pulls away. She grins up at him with a slight evil grin (he should question it, but he lets it slide).
"I missed you too," she sticks her tongue out at him. The next thing he knows is a stinging sensation on his cheek.
"What the—" he cups his cheek. He looks at Maya, who has a shit-eating grin plaster across her face.
"Sorry Huckleberry, but that was for Riley," she takes a seat down next to his. "No hard feelings?" He nods and sits down.
"Yeah, no hard feelings." He wants to talk about Riley, but instead asked her about her second semester in Georgia. They talked about school while waiting for the rest of the group. Farkle was the next to arrive, and then Zay. Riley was unusually late. Lucas is getting concerned. While the rest of the group rehashed their first year, Lucas kept checking for the door.
"You okay Huckleberry?" Maya snaps in Lucas' face. He scans over his three friend's concerned faces.
"Yeah, just wondering where Riley is," he says keeping the door again. Farkle and Maya smirk at each other. Zay pats him on the back.
"You got it bad, bruh," he teases. Lucas just shakes his head and makes eye contact with Maya. She sighs and runs her fingers through her hair. The door chimes open and in comes a flustered Riley in a floral sundress.
"Hey guys," she beams brightly. She goes to hug everyone. His hug with her was too short. "Sorry I'm late; I got caught up on something." The five friends spend the rest of the afternoon catching up, but Lucas can't stop wondering what kept her.
But I still stay cause you're the only thing I know
So won't you take, oh, won't you take me home
Take me home, home, home
Take me home, home, home
Take me
3. Her — age 20
His apartment is thrashed. Everything is broken and destroyed. Riley is standing in the middle of the chaos as Lucas proceeds to demolish his place. She had rushed over after getting a phone call from Zay. Long story short, his grandpa, Pappy Joe, had been gunned down in a mass shooting in Texas. Lucas hadn't been taking it well.
"Lucas," she stands at his side. She reaches out for his hand, but he pulls away from her. He rushes into the kitchen. She follows him and takes the plates away from him before he can smash them into the ground. "Come on," she pleads taking his hands in hers. He avoids making eye contact with her.
She pulls him away from the kitchen and takes him to his bedroom. He doesn't say a thing as she takes their clothes off. She lays him down on the bed and climbs on top of him. He lazily places his hands on top of his thighs. She leans over to the nightstand and plucks a condom from the box he keeps in there. She rips open the packet and rolls the condom on Lucas.
She hovers over him. Taking his shaft into her dainty little hands, she strokes him carefully. He looks up at her finally, and she feels her heart skip a beat. Placing him against her entrance, she sinks down slowly on him. Rocking her hips forward, she places her hands on his chest.
"Mmm," she moans. He reaches up to cup her cheek in one hand. Their eyes met, and she feels a spark ignite her. She begins to rock and grind on him faster. He breaks eye contact by closing his eyes and bites his lip. Her breathing hitches, and she starts bouncing on him.
"Fuck, keep going," he grunts opening one eye. That's all she needed to hear. She continues to rock against him before finally he grabs her waist in one hand and the back of the neck in the other roughly. He pounds into her ruthlessly.
"Luuucaas," she whimpers.
"Fuck," he called out as he came. She continued to ride him as he finished his orgasm. She fell down on top of him. He rubs circles on her back.
"Please don't leave," he whispers. She closes her eyes and kisses him lightly on the lips. She pulls back and cups his cheek. She notices the tears running down his face. She quickly wipes them away and kisses him gently again.
"Of course not," she whispers back.
Take me
Take me
Take me
Take me home (home, home, home)
4. Him — age 21
He has her writhing underneath him in his old pick-up truck and he swears it the greatest sound he's every heard.
"Lucas," she pants. He bites down on her milky white neck knowing he's gonna leave a mark. Her moan pierces the atmosphere. He's drunk off those cute little noises coming out of her mouth. His mind is clouded by his want and need of her. He needs to feel him clenching around her. He wants her screaming.
He needs and he wants, so he pounds her in a relentless manner. Her breathing is erratic and he's going crazy.
"Fuck Riley," he grunts. She arches up against him.
"I'm coming," she whispers into his ears. He loses it as her wall clenches around him. He comes inside of her holding on to her as if he life depended on it. They stay there for a while breathing each other in. He pulls his head from her neck and rests it against her forehead.
"Happy birthday," she breathes pecking his lips. He closes his eyes, fully content.
Round in circles
Here we go
With the highest highs
And the lowest lows
5. Her — age 21
To: Riley "Princess" Matthews
From: Lucas
8:37am
Message: Happy 21st bday princess :) wish i could b there tonite.
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
10:21am
Message: Thank you so much! Aw, you sure you can't make it?
To: Riley "Princess" Matthews
From: Lucas
10:21am
Message: Yeah Riley :( it fuckin sucks interning at a 24 hr pet clinic
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
10:22am
Message: Aw, but Farkle and Maya are here too!
To: Riley "Princess" Matthews
From: Lucas
10:23am
Message: i promise to make it up to u ;)
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
10:32am
Message: Imma hold you to that ;)
To: Huckleberry
From: Maya
7:21pm
Message: You totally missing out Ranger Rick.
To: Maya "Pancake" Hart
From: Lucas
7:30pm
Message: Sorry pancake, i really wanna be there.
To: Huckleberry
From: Maya
8:31pm
Message: Missing out
Attached: A photo of Riley and Maya in front of a bathroom mirror. Riley was in a tight, strapless dress. She wore dark make-up with red lipstick puckering up at the camera.
(Lucas doesn't care how Maya looks)
To: Riley "Princess" Matthews
From: Lucas
8:42pm
Message: u look great!
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
9:00pm
Message: thx :)
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
10:32pm
Message: SHOTS SHOTS SHOTTTTTS
Attached: Riley's at the bar with two shots in her hands and Maya behind her pointing at her.
(Pointing at his girl.)
To: Riley "Princess" Matthews
From: Lucas
10:45pm
Message: lol u look like you're having fun
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
11:32pm
Message: I wannaaaa bang you so hard
To: Riley "Princess" Matthews
From: Lucas
11:34pm
Message: r u drunk already?
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
12:01am
Message: naaaaaaaaaaah
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
12:32am
Message: babyyyyyyyyy fuck meeee
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
1:24am
Message: I waannnna ride youuuuuu so hard
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
1:32am
Message: u missed the fun su u havea bang meeeeee
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
2:56am
Message: Lucaasssss I wanna fuk uuuuu
To: Riley "Princess" Matthews
From: Lucas
3:23am
Message: I just got off, u still partying?
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
3:24am
Message: mayaaa took me home.
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
3:24am
Message: comeeeee over.
To: Riley "Princess" Matthews
From: Lucas
3:25am
Message: your studio or your parents?
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
3:32am
Message: parents.
To: Riley "Princess" Matthews
From: Lucas
3:33am
Message: be there in twenty
To: Lucas "Mad Dog" Friar
From: Riley
3:34am
Message: can't wait bby ;)
But no one shakes me like you do
My best mistake was you
You're my sweet affliction
Cause you hurt me right
6. Him — age 22
"What are we going to do?" Lucas whispers from the bathroom floor. Riley is on top of the toilet holding a white death stick—aka an at-home pregnancy test.
"I don't know," she says annoyed. She's avoiding eye contact, and he doesn't know why it hurts so badly. "God, we need to start using condoms! How can we be so fuckin' stupid? I can't believe we keep getting into this mess. I mean, this is our first pregnancy scare, but we really need to stop. God, I can't fuckin' believe this shit. FUCK!"
She's cursing like a sailor, and he may never see this side of her, he likes it. He's silent as she rants on. The appropriate amount of time passes, and they check the test, and no, they aren't pregnant. Riley breathes a breath of relief. However, Lucas doesn't feel as if a burden is lifted.
All he can focus on is, 'I can't believe we keep getting into this mess.'
They celebrate by getting some burgers at Mike's the dive restaurant by his apartment. They get it in bags and buy wine from the liquor store next door. They climb the six flights of stairs to his dingy one-bedroom apartment and eat. Stand by Me is playing in the background as Riley watches intensely eating a handful of fries. Lucas can't help but stare at her.
'I can't believe we keep getting into this mess.'
He can't focus on anything else. Sure, their arrangement isn't ideal, but he didn't regret it. Riley is the best thing that's ever happened to him, and he doesn't want it any other way. Did she really regret being with him that badly?
"Earth to Lucas, are you okay?" She breaks him out of his trance by knocking (literally) on his head. The movie is over and he can't believe he actually missed the whole thing. He stares at her, and he feels a stab at his heart.
"I'm sorry. I was just thinking about what would have happened if the test came out positive," he says honestly. Her face hardens.
"It would've fucked up our lives, Lucas."
"Yeah. It would definitely been really hard, but I wouldn't have mind."
"Are you serious?"
"Being with you is not a mistake. This thing between us, I've never thought it was. And if it is—a mistake that is—then you are the best mistake I've ever made."
But you do it nice
Round in circles
Here we go
Oh Yeah
7. Her — age 22
"We need to talk," Riley says as soon as she sits down. Marc Anderson, her boyfriend, has a surprised look on his face. They had been dating since the beginning of fall semester. She had met her during her internship. He was the assistant of one of the firm's clients. He was always in the office as a stand in for his boss. He was five years older than her and had pursued her relentlessly.
She finally agreed to go out with him and by Christmas time, they were an item. However, she had made a mistake during New Year (she had slept with Lucas), and now felt obligated to break up with him.
"Is something wrong?" He asks and he sets the menu down. She takes a deep breath.
"I don't think we're right for each other," she says to the point. Marc tilts his head to the side and stares at her for a moment. She feels him analyzing her.
"I don't understand. I thought we were doing well," Marc says softly. Riley feels the guilt building in her.
"It's not you, it's—"
"Don't bullshit me please. What did I do? Can I fix it?" She fought the urge to roll her eyes. Honestly their age difference wasn't that much of a big deal, but he was always lecturing her. She hated that.
"You didn't do anything. You don't have to fix anything. It's me."
"Riley—"
"I cheated on you."
"What?"
"I'm so sorry. I just... It wasn't anything you did. I just..."
"When?"
"New Years."
"And you waited nearly a month to tell me?"
"I'm sorry. We were just so busy, and I—"
"We can get through this."
"What?"
"It doesn't have to be over. I think we have to find the root of the reason why you cheated. Obviously it on you, but I must have done something for you to think that it was okay." It was a nice thought, but she didn't want that.
"It wasn't okay, Marc. I cheated on you because..." she paused.
"Because," he urged on. She opens her mouth to say something, but words don't come out. He senses her hesitation and sighs. "The guy?"
"What?"
"The one you cheated on me with? Is it him?" He waits for her to respond, but she's silent. "Do you have feelings for him?"
"Of course I do," she said out loud. He raised an eyebrow at him.
"It was one of your friends. Not a stranger?" It wasn't really a question. "Riley?"
"Like I said, Marc, it has nothing to do with you. You were good to me. I'm just... Lucas... I don't know what we are or even how I feel about him. All I know is that I'm not suppose to be with you." She pauses and closes her eyes.
"I should be with him."
But I still stay cause you're the only thing I know
So won't you take, oh, won't you take me home
Take me home, home, home
Take me home, home, home
Take me
8. Him — age 23
It's 2:26pm on a Friday afternoon in March when he realizes she's the one. They're walking through Central Park during a much-needed break. She's ahead of him skipping through the park in the carefree manner that embodies her personality. She's humming something non-sensual when she spots a musician with a guitar.
He's playing Oasis' Wonderwall, and she starts dancing and singing along. He's watching her from the side. The musician, an older black gentleman, is swaying his head in rhythm with her. He can't stop smiling at her. The old musician nods at him, but Lucas is lost on Riley.
"Your wife is very spirited," an elderly man says to him. Lucas breaks from his trance to acknowledge the voice speaking to him. Standing next to him is an elderly gentleman, in his late 80s, leaning on on a cane. Next to him is a young blonde girl watching them intently. "She reminds me of my wife at your age," he grins up at Lucas. He doesn't bother to correct him about Riley being his wife. In fact, he quite likes that idea.
"Don't mind my grandpa," the young girl next to him. "He just likes talking to couples."
"I don't mind," Lucas says honestly. Riley is spinning and giggling like a child. Her smile was contagious.
"How long have you guys been together?" The old man asks.
"Since middle school," Lucas finds himself saying. It's not really a lie. "Almost ten years now."
"You obviously love her a lot," the granddaughter observes.
"Can you tell?" Both the grandfather and granddaughter nod. "I do care about her a lot,"
"If I can bestow any wisdom on you child, it's this: hold on to your love as long as you can. Life is unpredictable, and you never know when your love will be taken away," he says wistfully. Lucas could sense that there was some obvious backstory, but the man was hopeful. He remind Lucas of Riley and Pluto. To this day, she still believes.
"Sir," Lucas says. The man smiles up at him. At that moment, Riley approaches them as the musician plays another song.
"Hey," she says breathlessly. Her cheeks were flushed, but she was still smiling.
"Hey," he says back. She turns to the family next to him.
"Hi, I'm Riley," she holds out her hand for the older man.
"I'm Jeremy and this is my granddaughter, Allison." He shakes her hand. "I was just spreading wisdom to your husband here."
"Oh?" She says surprised. She turns to Lucas who simply shrugs. "Well, knowing him, he probably appreciates it very. Would you like to dance with me?" She holds out her hand towards grandpa Jeremy.
"No, Riles, I'm good," Lucas answers.
She giggles, "Actually..."
"I think she was talking to me," grandpa Jeremy took Riley's hand. He hands his cane to Allison. Riley cheerfully takes him out to dance.
"Sorry," Allison apologizes.
"Why?" He muses.
"For my grandpa stealing your girl," she watches as Riley and grandpa Jeremy dancing.
"Nah, he's okay. My girl needs this," he says. Riley is stressed to the max in her last semester. This is a good distraction.
"He really misses my grandma. She passed away last month. He likes walking through the park because that's where met. He makes himself feel better by stealing other people's wives."
"Really, it's okay. Look at how happy she is. I don't care if I'm not the one who's making her happy, all I care is that she is happy." It's true. All these years of knowing Riley, it didn't matter who made her happy. Sure he made her smile constantly throughout the years, but he was also the reason she cried. When other people made her happy, he knew she was being taking cared for. Lucas only wanted that she stayed the smiling girl that fell into his lap all those years ago.
"You really love her, huh?"
"Yeah, I do," he admits.
Take me
Take me
Take me
Take me home, home, home
Take me home, home, home
Take me
Take me, I still stay, oh, won't you take me home
9. Them — sometime later
They're naked again, but fully awake in the back of his pick-up truck. Wrapped in each other a single blanket and each other, they stayed still as the night. There were in the middle of nowhere staring up at a dark night sky. The moon and stars illuminated each other's faces.
"I think I can see Pluto from here," Riley says. Lucas laughs.
"I love you, you something fierce, you know," he proclaims. She giggles.
"I love you too."