Maya Hart, 17, the broken girl. The girl who is lonely at home, the girl who only has her best friend, the girl who never had a dad, the girl who doesn't have anyone that cares about her, the girl who feels like she's all alone even when she's with her best friend.
Lucas Friar, 18, the popular guy. The guy who's family is rich, the guy who is the star baseball player, the guy who treats everyone equally, the smart guy, the hot guy, the guy who has so many friends, the guy who everyone thinks has a perfect life, the guy who really doesn't have an amazing life at home, the guy who is far from perfect.
Chapter One
Lucas was sitting at his desk in Mr. Matthew's American History II class when the finale bell rang to be in class. He looked up from his phone and noticed the empty desk in front of him, once again Maya Hart was running late for school. No one ever knew why she was always running late except for Riley, her best friend, and Mr. Matthews, her "dad". He looked over at Riley who had a worried look on her face. He knew that Maya had a rough life at home, but him and her never really talked so he doesn't know much about it. Maya always tried to hide her rough life style, but everyone knew.
Just then Maya walked in and handed Mr. Matthews a tardy slip. She took her seat in front of Lucas's and put her arm on his desk like she always did. It never bothered him because she never bothered him. Mr. Matthews was teaching his usuaul life lessons and just then he announced a class project.
"This project is going to be about life. I'm going to give you an assigned partner. Your job is to learn as much as you can about your partners life and make it into a autobiograpy." Mr. Matthews said to his students. Just then Maya's heart stopped, she never wanted anyone to know about how her life was. She was really hoping Mr. Matthews would assign her to be Riley's partner.
"Lucas Friar, you will be working with Maya Hart." Oh no. Maya's heart had sunk when she heard those words coming out of her favorite teachers mouth. She much rather tell a stranger her life story then jock boy Lucas Friair.
"Mr. Matthews, can I please switch partners?" Maya asked with her hand raised.
"I'm sorry Maya, but everyone else is already assigned." Mr. Matthews answered.
Maya took her arm off of Lucas's desk and crossed her arms on her chest. Lucas was happy with his partner, he always wanted to find out how her life was and now it was his chance. I'm sure she pictures him as a jock, popular guy who doesn't give a crap about anything that goes on in her life, but really he just wants to be able to help her if she needs it.
After Mr. Matthews assigned us to our partners he began with his History lesson. We spent an hour and thirty minutes in each class everyday, but everyone always wanted more time with Mr. Matthews. Of course he was a great teacher but he connected with the students, he's been through what the students have gone through, he's not much different from them. Once the bell rang Maya walked up to Mr. Matthews's desk and Lucas knew exactly why, so he decided to follow. Once everybody was gone Maya let it out.
"I'm sorry Mr. Matthews but I don't feel comfortable telling my life story to some random jock that I barley even know." Maya let out.
"Well Maya that's the whole point of this project to get you to know things about your classmates. It will help all of us become more connected. I'm not asking you to tell him every little tihing that goes on in your life, just the big things that have gone on in your life, rather they're happy things, sad things, etc. Just tell him enough so he can write a short autobiography about you." Mr. Matthews responded.
"And how do you know he want go back and tell his jock friends everything that I tell him. Then they can all pick on me." Maya asked now crossing her arms to her chest.
"Because I have full trust in Mr. Friar, just like I have full trust in you Ms. Hart." Mr. Mattews responded.
"Whatever." Maya shot back and then walked out. Lucas nodded to Mr. Matthews and then chased after Maya. Once he got to her he turned her around to face him.
"What is your problem?" He asked.
"I don't like people like you." Maya answered.
"But I've never given you a reason to not like me." He shot back. "Look if we're going to be partners we're going to have to learn have to get along. So don't go assuming things about people that you don't even know anything about."
"Whatever." Maya said once again and walking away. Lucas didn't know why she was so angry but he was definitly going to find out. He slung his bookbag over his shoulder and headed to his last class of the day.
Maya went to Riley's place as always after school and they went to her room and tallked about their day. They've been doing this usual routine for as long as she could remember and it still never gets old. Sometimes Maya has steam she needs to let off and Riley just listens because she knows that's what helps her the most. But today Maya wasn't letting off the steam that Riley knew she needed too.
"Is there anything you need to talk about?" Riley asked sitting up in her fluffy pink moon chair.
"No, I'm fine." But she wasn't and Riley knew it.
"I know that you're not but if you don't want to talk about it you don't have too." Riley said. "Well my day was pretty good. I got assigned partners with the smartest kid in the whole school. I had a Freshman come ask me for help today, which really meant a lot because since we're Seniors they picture us as the rulers of the school. Then I got an A on the Algerbra test that I thought I failed last week. I had a chicken sandwitch for lunch along with.." "Why did your dad have to assigne me to be partners with him." Maya had finally broke she needed to let it off her chest and now she finally can. Riley's parents went out to eat and Auggie was at a play date so no one could hear her talk about how she was feeling.
"Lucas Friar, the popular, smart, jock boy. The boy that every girl loves, the rich boy, the boy whos life is perfect, the boy I'm going to spend the next two months with. I was hoping Mr. Matthews would assign you and I to be partners because he knows how I am. But of course not, your dad thinks it's going to make us more connected. I'm tired of getting treated unfairly. Do you want to know why I was late this morning? Because my mom had another one night stand with some random and forgot to wake me up. She knows that my alarm clock doesn't work. I woke up on my own and found the random standing in our kitchen in his boxers watching TV. My mom then came out and started to make out with him and then they went back and had sex. I have had zero food all day. We're out of cereal and my mom forgot to give me money for lunch today. I didn't even get a goodbye this morning, anything could've happened to me today and I didn't even get a bye from my mom." Maya let it all out and Riley stayed quiet like always.
"You should talk to your mom about how you feel, maybe my dad does have a good point, and I'm about to go make you some lunch because I could hear your stomach growling all the way across the school." Riley replied and then stood up and walked out to the kitchen.
Maya knew Riley was right but she doesn't want to talk to her mom because her mom is always working or having sex with randoms. She also doesn't feel like sharing her broken life to a guy with a perfect life. And whatever Riley was cooking was smelling really good.
"Maya, it's ready." She heard Riley yell from the kitchen. Maya stood up and walked into the kitchen. Riley had made her a turkey and cheese sandwitch and some Doritos on the side. Then she had a Dr. Pepper on the side as well.
"Thank you so much, Riles." Maya said hugging her and then she started digging in to her food like she hadn't eaten in days.
"So are you going to give him a chance?" Riley asked sitting cross from Maya.
"Who?" Maya asked forgetting about everything that went on today because she finally got the chance to eat.
"Lucas, are you going to give him and this project a chance?" Riley asked.
"I guess I can try." Maya answered.
"Good, that's what he deserves." Riley responded.
"What he deserves?! Riley what good has he ever done to us?!" Maya protested.
"He's also done nothing bad to us." Riley replied. "Just trust him, it'll be easy."
"Easy for you to say you got Farkle, our friend. " Maya said. "I'm not friends with Lucas nor do I ever want to be."
"But he's really nice. Why are you judging him before you even know him?" Asked Riley.
"Because I've seen him around his friends, he's an asshole and I don't like assholes." Maya said standing up and walking towards the door.
"Maya, where are you going?" Riley asked chasing after her.
"Home, I'd much rather be ignored there than be pushed to do something that I don't want to do here." Maya answered with a slam of the door. Riley was left stunned by what Maya said in her living room. Why would Maya want to go home when this was basically her home? She hated where she lived and the enviroment that it gave off. Was working with him really that bad?
The next day was the beginning of working on our projects and Maya definitly didn't want to be there so she decided to skip that period and go straight to the next. Lucas was sitting in Mr. Matthews's class waiting for his partner to finally arrive but of course she never did. After the bell rang to go to our next class Lucas walked towards Maya's class to see if she were there. He looked in and of course he saw her leaned back in her desk.
"What the hell?" Lucas said walking up to her.
"What're you doing in here? This isn't your class." Maya said sitting up now.
"Why weren't you in Mr. Matthews's class?" Lucas asked leaning over her desk now.
"Because I don't want to do this project." Maya said standing up and walking out to the hallway.
"I need this grade, Maya. This is apart of my grade too." Lucas said grabbing her arm and pulling her around.
"I don't feel comfortable talking about my life." Maya replied.
"Why? I'm not going to judge you. If anything I can help you." Lucas said.
"I don't want your help. I don't want anything to do with you." Maya said walking away.
"Then I guess I'm going to just stop by your house after school and force it out of you." Lucas yelled and then Maya stopped and turned around.
"You're not coming to my house, Lucas." Maya said walking back towards him.
"Then you're coming to mine." Lucas said.
"Lucas, I can't." Maya said.
"You can, please just trust me. I will not judge you." Lucas said.
"Fine, I'll meet you at your truck." Maya said and walked away. As she walked Lucas stared and smiled. He was ready to help her, that's all he ever wanted.