A/N Hello again! Here is a little present for my Rucas readers. It's mostly an independent story but the event is mentioned in 'Evasion' so I suppose it's a companion story too? Hopefully everyone will enjoy it, regardless, lol

This is dedicated to my twitter girls, especially Katie who is my other half. Seriously we share a brain. It's weird.

Enjoy!

Objection: noun, a feeling or expression of opposition, disapproval, or dislike

Friday December 8, 2017

Riley Matthews, 'Sweet Sixteen' at last, stood as the center of attention at Topanga's on what was supposed to be one of the best nights of her life. The bakery, which had been covered in Holiday decorations and twinkling lights, was filled with everyone she loved the most in the world, save the one person she most wanted. Her eyes landed on her parents as they greeted their guests. She had always heard the story of her mother's 'Sweet Sixteen' party and her father's inability to be in two places at once. Her mother had been left alone and disappointed. Would history repeat itself?

Riley knew Lucas loved her, she absolutely did. He told her he did often enough and more importantly showed his feelings through his actions and time. She was the luckiest girl in the world. It just all felt so…foreign and undeserved. She was 'goof ball Riley Matthews' and somehow the Universe had given her him. There had to be some mistake. Lucas knew her tendency to be insecure and he was patient, almost too patient really. But he didn't realize…it was happening again.

It started around Lucas's birthday that September. They had just started school again and her boyfriend was turning 17. He had been held back a year so he was older than her friends, but one year hardly mattered. Maya and Josh had taught her that age is of little importance where the heart is concerned. The group of friends was eating birthday cake at their favorite table outside the bakery. As they got up to leave the friends walked ahead up the stairs, when she heard her phone beep and she glanced down at the screen.

Tell Lucas 'Happy Birthday' for me. He's so hot. He must feel so sorry for you to let you follow him around like a love sick puppy.

It didn't come from a phone number; it was a message from an anonymous tumblr account. Riley loved posting her photographs on tumblr and had discovered a community of artists like herself. Maya used the tumblr platform for her artwork. They connected with people all over the world who shared their interests. Other than the occasional creep or two it was a really positive thing…until today, apparently.

She deleted the message and put it out of her mind. She had heard of these things happening with her friends on social media, it was unfortunately too common. She had practically forgotten about it until a few weeks later when she received another notification.

How are you still dating him? He could do so much better smh…

Riley again deleted the message, but this time the sting was a little harder to forget. Before, when this happened in Middle School, her "Rileytown" personality had been the target of the jabs. But this was different. This was hitting a completely different nerve for her, her relationship with Lucas.

Through the rest of the fall the messages kept coming…

LOL you are so pathetic. I can't wait till he dumps you and upgrades.

As a couple you're so boring. You guys are like siblings. Where's the fire?

Man, Lucas and Maya look so much better than you do.

How did it feel to lose 'Best Couple' to your BFF and BF when they weren't even dating?

You should see the way he looks at the back of her head. It's hotter than any look he gives you.

You're such a little girl. Why would he want to date a little girl when he's all man?

She deleted them and didn't tell her friends, of course, because she didn't want to worry them. Just like last time, this is something she needed to do on her own. Also, she dreaded seeing how Lucas would react. He was willing to "handle" the situation for her years ago, possibly setting himself back the years of progress he had achieved, just because someone had hurt her. And at that point they were only friends. Now that he loved her as a boyfriend…she didn't even want to imagine his reaction.

Besides…what if part of him agreed with the messages? They had gotten over what happened in Texas, yes, but she still wondered if part of him regretted that he and Maya never dated. The two were fun and comfortable around each other again, and Lucas was even a supportive friend when she experienced drama with Josh, but what if he wanted more?

Riley and Lucas had been together since their reunion after that emotionally chaotic time, and they were happy, for the most part. True, they fought and yes, he did have to work on his temper at times, but mostly they were…content. But content is boring, she told herself. 'Anon' was right. Had they fallen into a rut? She still got butterflies every time she kissed him and everything he said was important and interesting to her, but what if it wasn't the same for him. She was just 'Riley.'

And yes, since he turned 17 part of her wondered if she was too immature for him. After all he was 17, and thanks to his athletic build he could even pass for a college student. But no one would ever think Riley Matthews was older than her 15 years. Her goofy personality and naiveté about so many things, if anything, made her seem younger than that.

They had even joked around Lucas's birthday. He had insisted that turning 17 wasn't a big deal because "the big birthday" is 18. Of course their genius friend Farkle took the opportunity to educate his friends.

Riley suddenly experienced a flashback to that awkward day.

September

"Seventeen is a milestone in that you can now buy tickets to R-rated movies and, in this state, consent to sexual intercourse" Frarkle had said in a matter of fact tone.

In response, Lucas spit out his soda, Maya started coughing as she chocked on her sandwich, and Riley sat frozen as stone.

"Surely you know that the age of consent in New York is 17. That also means that sexual relations with someone under that age would be illegal. Even if it's just a year or two, it would be a misdemeanor at best" Farkle continued, obviously not reading the room very well.

"Um, okay then. Thanks for the info, Farkle. Let's never have this discussion again, agreed?" Maya asked, attempting to lighten the tense mood.

Riley let out a nervous chuckle and stayed silent, but inside her thoughts raced. She and Lucas had been dating for a while but had never done that…not even close! They were too young, right? Well apparently the State of New York agreed that SHE was too young but her boyfriend was 'quite ready.' And to make matters worse, she was only 15 until December.

Lucas brought it up with her later "Riley, are you okay about what Farkle said earlier? You seem a bit…distracted?"

"Um, yeah, I'm, fine. Kind of never considered that before…you know?" she asked nervously. They had always been great at talking to each other, aside from that brief interlude in Middle School where they tried dating before they were ready. This exchange felt remarkably similar.

"You know that stuff doesn't matter to me, right?"

Riley let out a breath "Stuff? Lucas, sex isn't 'stuff'! You're a teenage boy! Of course it matters!"

"Riley, have I ever pressured to do anything you aren't ready for?" Lucas said with a twinge of impatience.

"No! Of course you haven't. But that doesn't mean I haven't wanted to…go farther sometimes. And since you're a guy apparently that is 'all' you think about" Riley answered.

"You're all I think about, Riley. You know me better than that" Lucas assured her.

"But what if we decide we want to…you know. We can't! If we did you'd be a criminal, Lucas!"

Lucas tried to hide his smirk at her outrage "I think before we get there we need to at least be able to say the words."

"Stop patronizing me, Lucas. I may be younger than you but-"

"Younger than me?" Lucas interrupted "Where is this age thing even coming from? You've been spending too much time with Maya and her Josh-issues. We aren't like that."

Riley mumbled under her breath "At least Maya turns 17 in January."

"Riley, what does that have to do with anything? Just because you wake up one day a different age doesn't mean you're suddenly ready for things you weren't the day before. Life isn't like that. I'm not ready and you're not ready, right?"

"I know. I just-I want to be…enough for you. I already don't feel like we make sense and-"

Riley's ramble was cut off with his lips on hers. It was often his most effective counter to her arguments and at that moment it provided her with all the reassurance she needed.

"EARTH TO RILEY!" Riley was brought back to the present by the insistent voice of her blonde best friend.

Riley put on her best smile "Hey, Peaches! Have you seen Lucas anywhere? I can't find him and he sounds weird on the phone."

"Hmm? Um, no I don't see Ranger Rick anywhere" Maya said as she made a half-hearted glance around the room.

"Well I know it's silly but I really wanted to have my special 'Sweet Sixteen' dance with him and he told me he would be here…"

"Then he will, Riley" Maya reassured her.

Riley nodded and chatted with a few of the party guests, but as the minutes ticked by and he still hadn't shown up, doubt creeped in. The seeds were planted when she had received another notification from 'Anon' earlier in the day.

Bet your boyfriend ditches your lame little girl party tonight.

He wouldn't do that to her, would he? The rational part of her mind insisted he would never ditch her on her birthday but those messages…those messages were like small cracks in the 'hoover dam' that was holding her insecurities and doubt at bay. And they finally broke her.

Of course people were going to have objections to her being with Lucas. Everyone had opinions and Riley knew that. She learned that lesson in 8th grade with the yearbook superlatives. These objections were different, though, because they were the very objections Riley had about herself. Someone out there vocalizing her innermost fears was more than she could take.

Panic set in and Riley rushed outside, needing air and space when she collided into a solid wall of person and stumbled back.

"Riley, whoa there" Lucas said with a chuckle as he held her steady before she fell. His smile quickly faded when he saw the anxious look in her eyes "What happened? What is it?"

Riley wrapped her arms around him in a hug and responded "I'm fine, really. I'm just glad you're here. I was worried you wouldn't come."

"Not come? Riley, why would I miss your party? I would have gotten here earlier but I was wor-"

"It doesn't matter. You're here now. Just hold me, okay?" Riley cut him off.

"Always, Princess" Lucas responded. He knew she didn't want to talk about it but something had obviously happened because she looked visibly shaken. He felt her breath calm and the tension leave her body as he embraced her. Lucas knew she wouldn't want to worry him, but he was determined to find out the truth and make things right…somehow.

To be continued…

Yes my best laid plans of writing a one-shot failed and this is a…two-shot. So far. Is that a thing? Apparently I can't seem to shut myself up when I write these stories! *Remembers thinking the idea for Loophole would be a 'cute little joshaya one-shot'*

Also- totally researched the age of consent in New York like a creeper. That's dedication, people :)

Special Note: Anonymous's messages to Riley are actual things I have seen said about Riley and 'Rucas' on tumblr, twitter, Instagram, and even fanfic reviews. Please try to respect each other and remember the message of 'Rileytown'

Up next: What made Lucas so late to the party? Also, does 'Texas Lucas' make another appearance ala 'Rileytown'?