"Maya. I need to talk to you. Would you stop avoiding me."
"Ok Huckleberry. I know what this is about. Go after her. I know she's the one who makes you happy. I just bring you down. She builds you up…"
"Maya…"
"It's always been and will always be Riley and Lucas. I've always known that deep down. She loves you, and you love her. She's your New York Princess and you're her Texan knight in shiny flannel."
"What about you? I thought you liked me?"
"I did. I don't anymore. If you hurt my best friend, I'll find a lot worse nicknames than just Ranger Rick."
Maya pushes Lucas out the door. Lucas looks back baffled about what just happened in Maya Hart's apartment.
"Go save your Princess, Friar. She needs saving from this mess."
Maya closes the door and slides down it, sighing deeply.
"Hope is for suckers."
Lucas stared at the door out of confusion over what just unfolded in the rundown apartment before him before turning to walk home. As he left the apartment building, his phone went off. It was Zay.
Yo. How'd it go? What did she say?
Umm. She encouraged me to ask Riley out.
Wow. What are you gonna do man?
I don't know. For now, I'm going home. I need to clear my head a little.
Ok man. I'll be right over.
I meant alone Zay.
Oh. Yeah. Totally got that. Well. Text me when your heads cleared a bit.
Mhmm.
See ya.
With that, Lucas began walking home, distracted from the beauty of the sunset around him. A sunset Maya surely would have died at the chance to recreate in her paintings. His mind on one… well, two things. Riley and Maya.
The Next Day
"Hey man. How ya doin?" Zay asks Lucas immediately when he found him at his locker.
"I've been better. I just don't know what to do." Lucas notices Riley headed towards them over Zay's shoulder. "I'm just really stuck with this chemistry assignment. I'm sure I'll figure it out"
Zay looks at Lucas confused. Did he not know what he meant? Zay was not usually known for his subtlety.
"Hey guys. What's happening?" the perky brunette called out from behind Zay. Zay lets out a girlish squeal and jumps behind Lucas before realising it was just harmless Riley.
"Haha. I totally knew it was you. Just playin'," Zay turns to Lucas and whispers, "warn me next time man," before returning to his original position.
"Sure Zay, sure." Riley replies while laughing. Zay awkwardly laughs along. Lucas, however, was standing frozen, almost petrified. He heard faint talking in the distance.
"Hey. Earth to Lucas. Topanga's? After school? You in?" Riley asked sweetly.
"Oh uh yeah sounds great Riles."
Satisfied, Riley bounces away and Zay is smirking at Lucas.
"What?"
"Dude. You just agreed to go on a date with Riley. Guess that's what you decided on."
Lucas laughs nervously, "Yeah, I guess so."
Lucas's POV
Ok. Date with Riley. Not quite how I expected this to end up but the bottom line is, she doesn't like me…