New York had another snow storm.
School was out for another snow day due to the unshoveled piles of snow in the street from the recent snowstorm and that left four friends: Riley, Maya, Lucas and Farkle to find something to do other than Skype each other. The actual snowstorm had slowed down and it didn't look too hectic outside. People were around and about, tugging their coats tighter around their bodies and hiding their faces beneath their knit scarves to shield themselves from the cold December air.
Maya had luckily showed up at Riley's house in the morning before the storm got too serious and was seated on their gray plush couch, sipping on hot chocolate that Cory had made for her, Riley and Auggie.
Her best friend wasn't savoring the warm sweet drink though, instead she was video chatting with Lucas and Farkle.
"This is so unfair that we're stuck inside. What kind of kids are we if we're not enjoying the snow?" Riley said to her laptop on her lap. The two fools that Maya considered friends nodded their head in agreement.
"Besides, how will I be able to beat Riley again at our annual snowman competition?" said Farkle innocently. Maya rolled her eyes, already anticipating what was about to come thanks to his little remark. The tall brunette placed her mug down angrily before popping her face in the camera to scowl.
"Excuse me, Farkle?" She hissed, "You didn't win anything. You cheated."
"Wait, what are you guys talking about?" asked Lucas, who looked incredibly confused. Maya was shaking her head at him, signaling that he shouldn't ask unless he wanted an earful. But of course, he didn't listen.
Then Riley and Farkle were talking at the same time and it was a jumble of words and sentences that made no sense. Finally, they seemed to agree on something, "Rematch!" The two said in unison. "Same place as always." Farkle added.
"Oh great." The small blonde said before her friend shouted, "We're settling this."
"But I-" She tried to argue but Riley wasn't having it. She shut the laptop without saying goodbye and pulled Maya towards the door. Maya knew she was no match for her friend's competitiveness.
The two girls waited outside in the cold, Maya shaking from the cold and Riley shaking with anger while on the phone with Cory.
"I know dad. I'll be home soon. I just needed to do something really quick."
There was lecturing and a lot of eye rolls on Riley's part but they hung up the phone on somewhat good terms.
Maya turned to face her lanky companion, "Is he mad?"
Riley nodded, "Yeah, about me leaving my mug full of hot chocolate. He said that's the last time he makes me some."
A chuckle escaped Maya's lips at how ridiculous Cory was. Only he would be the father to get mad at his daughter for not drinking his hot chocolate, nevermind that she left the house without telling him.
But her smile didn't last long because her eyes landed on her skinny friend. And Lucas?
"Lucas, what are you doing here?" asked Maya though she didn't look upset about it, she looked kind of relieved.
Farkle, who had been walking beside him, quickly stepped behind him, "I brought him as a means of protection. In case she," He pointed at Maya, "loses it again."
"And I brought supplies." He held up a brown paper bag that looked heavy and full.
Narrowing her eyes at the two of them, Riley said, "Let's to do this then." And then they were off, rolling snow and trying to pile it on top of the other in an organised fashion.
Riley's snowman looked almost perfect, her small hands were able to shape the snow fairly easily. Nothing could disturb the two of them as they hurried to outdo each other.
Maya and Lucas stood far off toward the benches, looking on, amused.
"Twenty bucks on Farkle." said Lucas with a smirk and Maya tilted her head up to look at him, "Please. I want more than twenty bucks after Riley wins."
He nodded, the smirk still on his lips before the two of them took a seat on the bench. She could put on a facade for as long as he could. The previous night, had been crazy and made absolutely no sense.
Last night, Lucas' father was stuck in Texas because of the snowstorm in New York. And for some reason, he had come to Maya. The one who teased him and argued with him and yet understood how it felt to be without a parent. Then the two had almost...
She shook herself, thinking how ridiculous she was being. Lucas obviously was upset and she had unusual sympathy for him. That was it. He seemed perfectly southern and chipper today.
Suddenly, she felt a numbing cold go down her spine and it didn't register in Maya's brain what it might be until she saw the grin on Lucas' face. He'd put snow in her coat.
"You asshole!" She took snow from beside her and tried throwing it at him but he already moved and he was running to hide. Maya cursed her little legs and the small distance they could carry her because he made it to a crowd of trees where it was difficult to find him.
Her super sonic hearing did not kick in at that moment because she didn't even hear Lucas coming from behind her until they were both on the ground, the result of him tackling her.
Crap, it was cold. But there was warmth, not just from his body that practically consumed her but his eyes. They were light and so unbelievably beautiful and he was so close.
Their breaths mingled and then, "Maya! Lucas! Where are you guys! Riley is being a sore loser!"
"Am not!" Her voice echoed.
The spell was gone but Maya wasn't finished, "What were we doing?"
She was testing him. To see if he really felt the way that he acted the previous night, "I don't know."