AUTHOR'S NOTE: It has been a long while since I have written a fanfic and honestly, I am very rusty. However, a close friend has urged me to post and keep on writing this rather than giving up. I completely accept all constructive criticism, but please be kind. I know ahead of time how this story ends. I don't own anything Girl Meets World related. Inspiration for this story goes out to The Civil Wars, because their music is just amazing and has helped me finally keep going with this. Read and Review if you would like!

Poison & Wine

Chapter 1 - You Own Me With Whispers Like Poetry

Fingers lazily stirred the small black straw in the clear liquid, the melting ice barely audible as the half-cubes clinked against the glass. Her chin rested in the palm of her hand as blue hues kept checking the red numbers of the digital clock behind the bar. Bar time couldn't get there fast enough for the freshly-turned twenty-two-year-old. This hadn't even been her idea. If it had been up to her, Maya would have settled in early with a large pizza for herself and a stack of horror films. Maybe even allow Josh to sit in as long as he brought the craft beers he was so fond of lately.

Her birthday wasn't anything special, and the fact that it was in January meant she was going to be cranky and cold while doing whatever festivities Riley and Farkle had come together to plan for her. This year it was a nice dinner and a night at the bar. It was a compromise on the group's part – Maya agreed to not be a recluse on her special day if the rest of them kept the festivities to a minimum. And gifts – she didn't need nor did she want any. She had everything she needed in life… for the most part.

Maya's eyes fell back to her drink as she stirred the melting ice again. When she lifted her eyes to the group she came in with, they were all coupled off doing their own things. Farkle and Smackle were discussing something in their overly-scientific speech that she couldn't decipher if she tried. Zay and Josh were glued to one of the televisions. Meanwhile, Riley was at the bar ordering another drink and she could tell Lucas was trying to persuade her to think otherwise. She had to admit it – her best friend was a total lightweight.

But her best friend's inability to get through three beers without stumbling wasn't what caught her attention. It was how Lucas responded to the brunette. It was different than how Farkle and Smackle interacted, mainly because the girl-genius was emotionally-handicapped at times. She was learning though and she had Maya to thank for that.

With Lucas and Riley, it was more physical. Maybe it was partly because he had to keep her from stumbling and falling – being buzzed and a natural klutz wasn't the best combination. But Riley and Lucas still had this unspoken, unlabeled relationship – thing – whatever it was. So, when Lucas had the chance to kiss her forehead or slip an arm around her, he took it.

The feeling that stirred in Maya's stomach was one that she couldn't exactly figure out. She wasn't given much time to worry about it either when the loud screeching of the legs of the bar stool scraped against the linoleum floor. The sudden sound jolted her away from getting lost in her thoughts and what-if's.

"Does the birthday girl need a refill?"

The blonde looked up and saw the tall, dark, and handsome figure of her best friend's uncle taking a seat on the stool across from her. Her eyes fell back to her drink; the ice cubes were completely melted now which only meant that her gin and tonic was even more disgusting than it had been when it was freshly made.

Pushing the glass away from her, she shook her head, a loose section of her blonde hair falling into her face. Tucking it back quickly, she straightened out her form and finally caught the warm hues of her newest, closest friend.

She had gone from calling him Uncle Boing to just Boing and lately it had just been "Josh." Since she had gotten into New York University and he was working on graduating from the same college, he had showed her the ropes and very important life hacks of a successful NYU student. He had become a confidante and someone who could relate to her problems. But now she was one semester away from graduating and he was offered a job within the city, so the two remained close.

Well, close was an understatement. They talked all the time, usually when Josh was ready to die of boredom at work and Maya decided to take pictures of people in her class that annoyed her. She would add her own doodles and send them to Josh to keep him occupied.

However, the idea of 'someday' had become just a vacant memory in Maya Hart's mind. They hadn't talked about it and she hadn't bothered him with it either. It was what it was and that was it. They innocently joked about her previous crush from time to time, but nothing had really come of it.

Maya looked over towards the bar and saw Riley giggling and throwing her arms around Lucas's neck in a hug. Chuckling softly, she turned her attention back to Josh and shook her head. "No, I think I'm done for the night. Besides, someone has to get the super klutz home safe."

Josh turned his head to look in the direction in which Maya had previously been staring. "I think Friar has that taken care of." When he turned back to look at her, he caught her right eyebrow perched in a high, perfect arch. "What?"

Maya looked up and immediately dropped her eyebrow to a neutral position, shrugging quickly and taking a sip of her watered-down drink. Wincing, she pushed it away again. "Nothing. I just bet he would have a handle on it." Taking another glance at the unofficial couple, she drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Maybe I'm just being a brooding birthday girl. I'm twenty-two and still have never had a serious relationship. Meanwhile, my best friend – the super klutz with her head always in the clouds – has had plenty since we started high school and is still keeping Huckleberry close-by years later."

Looking over the table at Josh, she softened her expression and grabbed his bottle of beer, taking a long swig before putting it back down in front of him. She welcomed the change of alcohol; beer had definitely become more of her thing since she started hanging around Josh.

"Why won't you just date me?" Maya asked, resting her chin in the palm of her hand again.

Picking up his beer bottle, he slid off the stool and rounded the high-top bar table. Leaning in to whisper in her ear, he placed the bottle back down in front of her for her to keep. "Because I'm too old for you." Maya chuckled at the words. They used to upset her and now they were nothing more than a mere joke. She felt him place a kiss against the top of her head. "Happy birthday, Maya."

Before she could respond, he was walking back to the bar to get another drink for himself. Watching after him, she noticed how isolated she was from the rest of her friends. It was her birthday and she was sitting here brooding.

Grabbing her clutch, she slid the chain strap over her petite form and grabbed the birthday drink Josh had so kindly given to her. Even if it was a quarter of the way gone when she acquired it, she still appreciated the gesture.

Her intention was to follow Josh to the bar and engage in the conversation he and Zay had struck up, but a high-pitched scream followed by a lanky brunette attacking her averted her from her previous destination. "Peaches! Have I told you how much I love you? Happy birthday!"

Maya hugged her back – more like held her up – and looked over her shoulder at the Texan who was leaning against the bar with Riley's jacket and purse in hand. "You have, only about twenty times," she returned, her eyes still on the tan-skinned man. Did he really need to wear that red plaid button down? It reminded her too much of their night by the fire in Texas, the night that started all intense yet awkward moments between them. Years later and they still wouldn't disappear, at least not on her part. Who knew what he was thinking?

Hands grabbed her face and shoved her cheeks together, redirecting her attention. "Well, I'll tell you again. I love you, Peaches! Happy birthday."

Blinking rapidly at Riley, Maya snapped towards Lucas. "Huckleberry," she said in a stern voice.

It took him a moment to register what the blonde was trying to say and when he finally understood, he pushed himself off of the bar. "On it!" Grabbing the brunette, he pulled her away from the situation. "How about we get you to your parents', okay?"

"But… Maya's birthday."

He nodded. "I know, but she still has the rest of the gang. She can do without us." The brunette pouted, but took her jacket and slipped it on with his help. He decided it was best to carry her purse so she didn't lose it or anything important within it.

Before he escorted Riley out, watching her as she found Farkle and the rest of the gang to say her goodbyes to, Lucas turned to Maya. She was standing away from everyone else, watching everything unfold before her, and suddenly she looked sixteen again. Hands were clasped in front of her and only a faint twinge of a smile curled at the corners of her lips.

Moving toward her, he opened his arms for her to walk into, which she did without hesitation. Small arms wrapped around his waistline as one of his was around her shoulders, the other had his fingers in her blonde locks. "Happy birthday."

It was different from Josh's; when Josh said it, it felt like a loving friend or brother saying it, as one should. But Lucas… his voice held something, and it was more than the twang that she made fun of to this day. It was as if more should have come after it, a sentence of more than two words that had gotten bleeped out. But she took it and squeezed him a little tighter. "Thank you. Make sure Riley gets home okay?" She pulled away from him, fixing her dress and hair as to appear untouched.

"Always." He fingers pulled at one of her curls, watching as it sprung back up to its original placement. Then he turned and walked away, an arm wrapping around Riley and escorting her out of the bar.

When they left her sight, Maya returned to her seat at the table. The genius-duo were still at the bar talking while Zay and Josh were in a discussion about a sports game on television.

And Maya? Well she was alone again.