A/N: Hey guys :) I've decided to transfer my fics that I posted on Tumblr to somewhere that makes them easier to find. Hope you enjoy!

She found him in the gym, pounding his bruised knuckles into the worn punching bag. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he continuously slammed his fists into the red vinyl covering, grunting with each swing.

She watched him for a moment, back against the now closed door and arms crossed. Biting back one of the many nicknames she referred to him as, she pushed herself forward with her foot and edged towards him.

"Lucas?" she began, assessing the way he flinched when he heard his name.

"Maya?" he frowned, absent-mindedly wiping his brow as he flung one final punch before turning around to face the small blonde. "Why are you still here?"

She motioned towards her bag, wooden paintbrushes worn with age and dedication poking out of the side pouch. "I was finishing a piece for the gallery next week," she tilted her head to look past the boy and at the beaten punching bag, grinning, "What's wrong? Missed your rodeo and needed to vent?"

Despite his mood he let out a small chuckle, pulling off his padded gloves. "Just needed to let off some steam is all."

Maya bit her lip, considering her options.

When she decided to decline Riley's invitation of dinner at the Matthew's to finish her acrillic piece, all the girl expected was to paint, pack, and return home to snack on that Tuna Melt her mom left her. Running into a violent-cowboy-sort-of-friend-maybe-best-friend of hers wasn't something she had planned on. She only ever was around Lucas when he was Riley 2.0, all good-humour and hospitality. And on the off-chance that he was angry she was never the only one to see him like that.

"Who was it?" she asked bluntly, choosing to see it through and see if she could be the one to fix something instead of break it for once.

He looked at her quizzically for a second, but ultimately chose to leave it. "...Billy."

"Ah," Maya scowled, chucking her backpack on the gym floor and stalking towards Lucas to help push the punching bag back into the storing cupboard. Not that he really needed any help, he obviously didn't struggle pulling it out in the first place. "Did he say something about Farkle? I swear if he even tries-"

"It wasn't about Farkle, Maya." he answered, pushing the bag with more force.

"Oh... then Riley? What, is she too happy for him? Too caring-"

"He was talking about you."

Maya ceased her pushing and snapped her head towards the taller boy. "Me? What did the punk say?".

"During lunch, soccer practice. I heard him laughing with his friends about you and..." he trailed off, jaw clenching and eyes darkening. Maya took a small step backwards, breath hitching as she saw his fists clench around the vinyl.

"...and?"

With a final forceful push, Lucas shoved the punching bag back into the cupboard and slammed the door. "And your family. How your father probably bailed on you as a kid because you were too much to handle even then, and how your mother only barely sticks around because she doesn't want the Matthew's to be stuck with you, and how as soon as you are old enough to live by yourself your mom will bail too because you-"

"-Lucas,-"

"-are disposable to everyone in your life, and how Riley only hangs out with you because she-"

"-Lucas!-"

"-only sees you as a challenge, something to fix for extra-credit, and Farkle only pretends to care about you-"

"RANGER RICK."

Lucas jumped, eyes focusing on the girl in front of him with fire in her eyes and fists on her hips. He sighed deeply, looking down at the ground and screwing his eyes shut to help calm himself down. "Maya, I-I'm sorry, I-"

"Would you just shut up for a second? Geez, let me get a word in!" she yelled, poking her index finger into his chest. "First of all, Huckleberry- it's adorable that you're this riled up about some loser's unimportant opinions on my life, but punching a bag of sand isn't helping anything."

"I also may have shoved him over," he added quickly, flinching at Maya's widening eyes, "and told him if he ever talked about you again he would answer to me."

"Lucas!"

"I couldn't help it, Maya! He was laughing about your life and making up stuff and you shouldn't have to deal with that! You know your mom loves you, and the Matthew's love you like you're part of the family," he shouted, gripping her by the shoulders. "Farkle is the most loyal and kind guy out there, he hangs out with you because he cares about you and considers you a best friend. I don't even need to explain how much Riley idolizes you, and as for me-"

Maya stared up at him as his voice faltered, avoiding her gaze and awkwardly letting go of her shoulders. She smirked, "And as for you, Sundance?"

"You know what, it's getting late and we really should get going-"

"Oh no, no, no, Friar, please do continue. What do you think about me?"

"Maya," he pleaded, backing away from the girl and heading towards the gym doors.

"Getting hot under the collar there, Ranger Roy?"

"I thought you were done with Ranger Roy."

"It's for special occasions." she grinned, gripping his arm and forcing him to look at her. "Is there something you'd like to tell me?"

"I..." he began, staring at her small hand gripped around his bicep.

"Yes?"

"I think that y-"

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Riley's name flashed urgently on Maya's phone as she pulled it from her jeans pocket.

Glancing up at the Texan boy, Maya swiped her cell to answer the call and brought it up to her ear. "Hey, Riles."

"We're finishing this tomorrow." she mouthed to him, before releasing his arm and strutting past to open the doors.

"Hey, Peaches!" Riley's chipper voice crackled through the speaker, "Did you finish your art yet?"

Lucas let out a sigh. Thank you, Riley.