AN: This has been sitting on my computer for months now. I didn't want to start posting a new story until I finished my other one, but it didn't seem right to keep it to myself. I know the idea of soulmates is a bit overdone, but I'm hoping that my take on it will be somewhat original. This is my very first AU story, so hopefully, the characters are still believable. Enjoy! (I'm hoping to have another chapter of Tipping the Scales up today or tomorrow.)

September 21st

Riley sighed as she slid the straps of her dress into place, tugging on the fabric until it felt comfortable.

"This dress is too short, Peaches," she grumbled to her best friend who stood in her room waiting to see the finished product.

"You look great! Why are you being such a grumpy Gus?" Maya asked, sitting down at the bay window.

Riley came and took the seat next to her. "I know it's Farkle's big night, but I just wish my own would hurry up already."

Maya nodded. "I know what you mean, but we'll both be 16 soon enough. Besides, it might not even happen on our birthdays. It might not happen at all."

Riley bit her lip, horrified at the thought. She idly rubbed the place on her arm, willing her marking to appear. On your 16th birthday at the exact time you were born, a scar with the name of your soulmate would appear on your arm, if your soulmate was of age, too. There were a few exceptions to the rule, and she knew of two couples personally whose scars had come early. They were her family, so she had a reason to believe hers might show up early, too.

Her parents' scars appeared when they were three. They were playing next to each other at the park with her dad's best friend, Shawn. Cory's sand castle fell apart, and he started to cry. Topanga reached over and grabbed his hand, and they both felt a burning sensation on their arms. Her mom always says she didn't even need to look to see because she knew Cory was her soulmate the minute she touched him, she didn't need the scar to tell her.

Her brother's scar appeared the day the Morgensterns moved into the apartment building. He was watching the moving truck from their bay window in the living room and when a little girl with blonde pigtails hopped out of the front seat of the Uhaul, she looked up at his window and then immediately looked down at her arm. The burning sensation scared her, and she started to cry. Auggie ran all the way down to the ground level and scooped her up in his arms.

The two 6-year-olds stared at their arms in amazement, not believing what was happening.

"August?" the little girl asked, and as soon as she spoke, Auggie knew it was true. His heart belonged to her.

So needless to say, Riley had a lot to live up to. She just hoped her marking would show up on her birthday because it felt like she had already waited a lifetime in comparison.

Her grandma Amy's scar showed up on her birthday, but she didn't know her grandpa Allen then. He came for her a week later, tracking her down after his scar appeared. They had been together ever since. Her aunt Morgan's scar showed up on her birthday, too, but her soulmate didn't come for her until six months later on his 18th birthday with a ring in hand.

The Matthews women were pretty lucky, but the men not so much. Her Uncle Eric's mark didn't come until he was 23, and he waited two years before seeking his mate out, wanting to give her the time to grow up. He told Riley it was hard waiting for his mark, but even harder, knowing who he belonged to and not being able to act on it for years.

Her Uncle Josh still didn't have a mark, but it had only been a few years. Maya was convinced it was because she was his soulmate. She kept telling him to wait until her birthday, and despite his many protests, Riley felt like he was waiting on her friend.

Her Uncle Shawn, who was an honorary Matthews, never got his mark. He waited for a few years, but he told Riley that eventually, he accepted that he didn't have a soulmate. She had heard of a few people who never got their marks, and she thought their soulmates must have died before they turned 16 because surely everyone had someone they belonged with.

Maya's mom didn't have a soulmate. She got married at 20 and had Maya. Both she and her husband, Kermit, believed they were going to be the unlucky ones who never got a scar. They agreed it didn't matter and loved each other anyway until Kermit got his scar when Maya was five. He left that night, and no one had seen or heard from him since.

Riley shook herself out of her musings. It wouldn't do to think such unpleasant thoughts on Farkle's night. She crossed her fingers and said a quick prayer that Farkle's scar showed. He was born at 9:43 p.m., so his parents were having a huge party in their building. When the Matthews' arrived, it seemed as though they had invited everyone in New York.

Riley glanced around at all the girls from her school, hoping one of them would get a scar tonight. Farkle deserved happiness. As her eyes circled the large ballroom, she came across one person she was never happy to see. Lucas Friar.

17-year-old Lucas Friar did not have a soulmate, and as far as Riley could tell, he didn't want one. They knew each other, and he was friends with Farkle, but they were definitely not friends. He seemed to enjoy getting under her skin and making her feel foolish.

He looked around the room disinterestedly as he leaned casually against a wall. The minute he made eye contact with her, his look of disinterest turned into a smirk and he strolled over to her.

"Hey, Princess! You're looking mighty purdy this evening! I can't imagine why you'd get all dolled up, it's not like your mark is going to make an appearance tonight" he mocked, looking her up and down. "I don't think your soulmate would appreciate you showing off all your goods like that."

"Shut up, Lucas!" Riley shouted, self-consciously tugging on her dress before crossing her arms in an attempt to cover up. If anything her actions caused more cleavage to show, a move Lucas was sure to notice.

He took a step closer and gazed down at her. "Aw, Riles! You wound me! Want to dance?"

"Yes! With you? No," Riley pushed past him, causing his smirk to disappear.

"Princess, that's not very nice, and here I thought we could have a good time," he said as he followed her, making his stride match hers.

Riley stopped, turning to face him. "What do you want, Friar?"

"I told you. I want to dance."

"Why would you want to dance with me?" Riley asked.

Lucas took a step closer to her, running a finger down her forearm. "Because you are the sexiest woman in the room."

Riley shivered, allowing Lucas to enter her personal space, his body pressed against hers. He smirked down at her, his hands running up and down her arms before he bent down to whisper, "As a matter of fact, I would like to do a whole lot more than dance with you."

And just like that, the spell was broken. Riley shoved him hard. "Pig! You know I'm saving myself for my soulmate."

Lucas scoffed. "What I'm talking about has nothing to do with love. You can save your slow, tender, lovemaking for whatever loser you wind up with. I'm talking about passion, fire."

Riley rolled her eyes. "You have no clue, Lucas. I feel sorry for you. Just because your parents didn't wait for their beloveds, doesn't mean it was the right way to do things. You might think the marks are a joke but look around. Everyone in this room that has found the person they're meant to be with is filled with love and happiness. Can you say the same thing about what goes on in your house?"

Lucas felt like she punched him in the gut, and she had the decency to realize she overstepped. She placed a hand on his bicep. "Lucas, I'm-"

"Save it, Princess," he spat at her, shrugging her hand off him. "You think finding your soulmate is going to be the end all be all? I feel sorry for you. This whole thing is a sham. No one belongs with anyone. You just find someone who makes this shitty place suck a little less and soak up whatever goodness you can. What happens when your scar appears, Riley? No matter who this guy is, you're still going to be the same weird, insecure, nobody you are right now."

With that, he took off toward the open bar, slyly grabbing the first bottle he could reach and heading out to the balcony. Riley stared after him with tears in her eyes, feeling a twinge of something she couldn't describe deep down in the pit of her stomach.

She shook it off, turning to greet her dear friend. "Farkle! Happy birthday!"

Farkle gave his old friend a hug. "I don't know why I'm so nervous. It might not even show up tonight."

"But it might! And even if it doesn't...It could happen any day now!"

Farkle looked down at his arm, which was covered by his suit jacket. "Right. If it doesn't happen tonight, that means there's still hope for you and me or me and Maya."

Riley giggled softly, remembering a time when Farkle had more than friendly feelings for her and the blonde. He was a bit intense back then, but once he backed off, he grew into one of her very best friends. Shaking away her thoughts of the past, she spared a glance towards the balcony where she could see Lucas sulking in the dark.

"Or has your soul already been spoken for?" Farkle asked.

Riley shook her head.

"Definitely not. Lucas is...a pretty distraction, but he's like the tinman. No heart," she said, tapping her chest sadly.

She gave him a watery smile. "And you know me, Farkle. I got to have the heart. Besides," she teased, changing the subject. "Maya seems pretty certain she knows exactly what name will appear on her arm in 2 months."

Farkle nodded, allowing the matter to drop as he glanced at the smartwatch on his arm. "Speaking of, if mine's going to show up, it will be here soon. I better go find my parents."

He pulled her into a warm hug. "For what it's worth, any guy would be lucky to have Riley Matthews marred into their skin."

Riley nodded. "Farkle, we both know it won't be me. We have spent enough time together. They would have come early, just like my parents and Auggie."

Farkle shrugged. "Yogi and Darby were best friends, and their scars didn't show up until Darby's birthday last month. No one understands the magic behind these things, not even you, Riles."

With one last squeeze of her hand, Farkle took off towards the stage. Riley looked around, willing herself to stay away from the balcony, even though she had felt Lucas' eyes burning a hole into her when Farkle hugged her. She didn't know why, but she always seemed to be able to feel his presence.

Spotting Maya, who was standing off to the side, her gaze trained on Josh, Riley gave one final glance to the balcony before going over to her friend.

She wrapped an arm around the blonde's shoulders, directing her away from her uncle and toward the stage.

"Farkle might need us. We better get a little closer, Peaches."

Maya nodded, trying to ignore the tingling she felt in her gut when Josh's eyes finally met hers. She gave him her most beguiling smile, the one she perfected in the mirror when she was 13 years old- the night before she was going to have Christmas dinner with the Matthews. She flashed it on Josh for the first time back then, and when he responded with a charming grin of his own, she knew she had it right.

This time was no different. Although now, every time he grins at her, it's followed by a deprecating shake of his head. She remembered two months later, crying in the bathroom stall of a similar birthday party until Riley found her with a small shake of her head. Maya was elated, jumping in her arms with a whoop of laughter. Every day after that Maya lived in constant fear that Josh would walk through the Matthews door, declaring that he got it, he found her.

Now that her birthday was a short nine weeks and five days away, she was overwhelmed with emotions. She hoped that the dream she had been holding onto for the past four years was coming true, but she was also terrified. She had built Joshua Matthews up so big in her head, there wasn't room for anyone else. What if he wasn't her soulmate? Even worse, what if he was, and he was a disappointment? What if she was a disappointment to him?

She was shaken out of her musings by the sound of silverware tapping against glass. Riley had led her as close to the stage as they could get, and she was feeling a bit claustrophobic. She looked over at her best friend and was hit with an incredible fear. What if her two best friends were destined to be together? Would she wind up out in the cold?

She linked arms with Riley, giving her a tense smile. "No matter what happens, we're forever, Honey."

Riley grabbed her chin, pulling her face toward her. "We are forever and for always, Peaches."

Maya smiled, giving her a squeeze before they focused their attention on Mr. Minkus, who was standing on the stage with a microphone in his hand.

"We only have a couple minutes before my son's birth time, and I just want to say, I'm so proud of Farkle and everything he has accomplished in his young life. When his mother's name appeared on my arm all those years ago, I could never imagine what amazing adventures we would have together. From starting up our company together to raising our son, we have been so blessed."

He lifted his glass. "Farkle, I hope your scar shows up tonight, and I hope you have many, many adventures of your own. I love you, son. To Farkle!"

"Farkle!" everyone shouted, clinking glasses. They all took a sip simultaneously, so the room was deadly quiet when two glasses dropped to the ground and shattered.

Farkle whipped off his suit jacket and unbuttoned the sleeve of his dress shirt, quickly rolling it up as fast as he could. In the distance, he faintly heard a feminine gasp.

The smell of seared flesh assaulted his senses and he looked down to see a big bright scar written carefully across his arm. Isadora Francine Smackle. It was black, which meant she was close. Somewhere in the city.

He searched around the room, not recognizing the name, but hoping against hope that she was present.

"Farkle?" his mom asked, coming to place a hand on his shoulder. She glanced down at his arm, before turning to face her husband. "Smackle? Does that man in your research department have a daughter?"

Stuart nodded. "She turned 16 a few months ago. I think her name is Isabelle? Izzy?"

"Isadora," Farkle said with certainty, showing his dad his arm briefly before hopping off the stage.

Maya and Riley rushed over to him.

"Did you get it? Can we see?" they asked with eager smiles on their faces.

Farkle nodded absentmindedly at them, brushing them off. He vaguely heard his dad call for the Smackles over the microphone, and two adults headed in that direction, but the girl was nowhere to be found. She had to be here. He couldn't explain it, but he felt it.

"Please! I need to go!" he heard a girl say desperately as she tried to push through the crowd.

He saw a young girl in a dress that was solid black on top and flared with a funky print on the bottom. Her long dark hair was down and wavy, and she was clutching her arm in front of her as if it hurt.

"Isadora?" he called out to her in question, but by the way his heart clenched just looking at her back, he knew it was her.

She froze, slowly turning to face him. She looked like a deer in headlights, and he found himself wanting to do whatever it took to ease her fears. He approached her slowly and spoke softly.

"Hi! I'm Farkle Minkus."

"Hi!" she squeaked, a deep blush appearing on her cheeks. The crowd was too much for her, she couldn't do this. "I'm sorry!"

She ducked between two people and took off through the crowd.

"Isadora!" he shouted, taking off after her.

Riley and Maya had watched the whole exchange and without saying anything to one another, they both chased after their friend. Isadora was standing at the elevators when they all caught up to her, anxiously tapping her foot as she waited for the doors to open.

"I know I'm not the most handsome or charismatic man," Farkle began as he stepped closer to her. "But I'm a good man."

"I, I, that's not," Smackle stuttered, looking anywhere but him, her cheeks flushing even deeper as she panted heavily. "I'm-"

She met Riley's eyes, and the fear and apprehension the brunette saw reflecting back at her caused her to step in.

"Farkle, let's not do this here," Riley said, placing a gentle arm on her friend's shoulder as she passed him.

The elevator dinged open, and Riley guided the frightened girl inside. "Come on, Isadora, we'll all go up to the penthouse away from the crowd, and we'll figure out what happens next."

The girl beside her nodded, calmed by the brunette's gentle presence. "It's Smackle."

"What?" Riley asked, shocked to hear the girl speak.

"I go by Smackle."

Maya giggled as she and Farkle followed the two girls into the elevator. "Smackle and Farkle. It's perfect. You two are made for each other!"

"Well, Smackle, I'm Riley and that's Maya. We're Farkle's best friends, so I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of each other. We could be your friends, too, if you'd like," Riley said, her cheery, sugar-sweet voice putting the girl at ease.

"I'd like that very much," Smackle confirmed. "I... I don't have many friends. Actually, I don't think I have any."

Farkle's heart went out to her as she shyly met his eyes before quickly darting to look back at the floor.

"Well, you do now, Smacks," Maya said, coming up on the other side of her and linking their arms as the elevator dinged.

Farkle remained silent as he followed the three girls out into the foyer and through the penthouse. He had never felt so nervous before in his entire life. He wanted to hold her and never let go, but he found he was frozen in fear. He had heard of mates who rejected each other. Before today, the thought never bothered him, but looking at the quiet, beautiful girl in front of him, he knew he wouldn't survive it if she rejected him.

Riley brought them to Farkle's set of rooms, settling on the couch in the sitting room with Smackle in the middle and Maya on the other side of her. He stood awkwardly in front of her, unsure how to proceed. He was a man of science, not emotion. He had never felt this way before. He could only hope he was having the same effect on her.

"Farkle, why don't Maya and I go make some tea and you two can-" Riley stopped, looking down at the hand that was clenching her arm. "What's wrong, Smackle?"

"Please," she squeaked. "Don't leave me."

She quickly flashed an apologetic look in Farkle's direction before focusing her attention back on Riley. "I'm... It's..."

Riley nodded as if she had experienced this same situation a million times before. "I understand. It's overwhelming, isn't it? I won't leave until you ask me to, okay?"

Smackle nodded eagerly. "Thank you."

"Maya, can you handle the tea? I'm sure someone is down in the kitchen that can help."

The blonde nodded, placing a comforting hand on Farkle's shoulder as she walked out the door. He cautiously took Maya's seat, trying not to feel dejected when Smackle scooted away from him.

"Isadora," he began carefully, " I mean, Smackle If you don't want... It's okay. No one is going to force you to do anything."

She stared down at her hands. "I don't know how to do this."

Farkle reached out and grabbed her hand. "I don't either."

She stared at their joined hands, her heartbeat returning to normal for the first time since the scar had appeared on her arm.

"No one does at first," Riley reassured. "You guys just have to... Find your own way. Take your time, get to know each other, and trust that the universe knows what it's doing."

Smackle nodded, gently extracting her hand from Farkle's. "That sounds reasonable."

Farkle tried to hide his disappointment at the loss of contact, giving her a small smile. "The Smarkle way. That sounds nice."

"So, Smackle, where do you go to school?" Riley asked. "I don't think I've seen you at Abigail Adams."

She shook her head. "I don't go there. I go to Einstein Academy."

"Another genius?" Maya asked, coming into the room with a tray of drinks and some snacks. "Farkle almost went to that school, but he didn't want to leave us."

She set the tray on the coffee table before coming to sit on the armchair next to Riley.

"What's your favorite subject?" Farkle asked, eager to learn more about this girl that the world had decided was his soulmate.

"Oh, well, I excel at all subjects, but I prefer math and science."

"What sort of courses are you taking this semester?" Farkle asked, leaning in as she began to speak.

Riley and Maya backed away slowly as the two geniuses began to discuss scientific theories that neither of the girls understood.

"That, Maya, that's the dream," Riley murmured when they were seated safely across the room in the bay window Farkle had built for them. Riley eyed the couple that was now too far away to hear, but close enough if one of them decided she was needed. "They're a perfect match."

"But what happens if the universe screws up? What if my soulmate rejects me? What if everything's absolutely perfect and I screw it up? What if I'm not ready? We're only sixteen, Riles! Forever is a long time!"

"Maya! You've wanted Josh to be your soulmate since we were 8 years old! You were ready for forever back then."

"That was different."

"I don't have all the answers, Peaches," Riley said, not taking her eyes off the couple that was now laughing. Farkle hesitantly reached out to brush a strand of hair behind Smackle's ear. "But I want that. I've seen that my entire life, and I won't settle for anything less."

"Well, then that's what you'll get, Honey."

They quietly watched the couple for a few more minutes before Farkle stood up, taking Smackle's hand and leading her over to them.

"Thank you so much for your help, Riley," Smackle said sincerely. "I am not very adept at social situations, so this whole thing is a bit overwhelming."

"That's okay, Smackle. I figure we'll wind up being good friends now that you and Farkle are mated. I mean, if you guys are going to honor the scars."

Farkle and Smackle exchanged glances before he spoke. "We're going to try. No pressure."

Smackle smiled at Farkle. "We're going to go slow, starting with going to the same school."

"The same school? You're leaving us, Farkle?" Riley asked as she and Maya stood.

He shook his head. "Isadora is going to come to our school. We figured it would be better to have friends around."

The girls smiled brightly. "Stick with us, Smackle, and we'll make sure you survive high school."

"Thank you, Maya. We need to go find our parents to let them know what we've decided."

Riley placed her hand on Farkle's shoulder to stop him from turning away. "Why don't you guys stay up here and we'll tell them where you are? That way you can avoid the crowds."

Farkle smiled gratefully at her, sighing in relief, glad to be friends with someone so thoughtful. "That sounds like a good idea. Thanks, Riles."

When they reached the floor that the party was being held, it seemed as though nothing earth-shattering had happened. Everyone was still there, dancing and having a good time. The Minkus and the Smackles were off sitting alone together, drinking and laughing.

"Mr. Minkus," Riley said as she cautiously approached their table.

"Riley! This is Mr. and Mrs. Smackle. This is Riley Matthews. She's one of Farkle's dearest friends," he said, holding a hand out to her. "Mr. Smackle works for me. We're just getting to know each other better."

"That's good. Your children are doing the same. Upstairs. Isadora wasn't comfortable down here. They would like for you all to come up there to discuss things moving forward."

Stuart nodded at the young girl, and Jennifer led the Smackles to the private elevator. "Thank you so much for your help, Riley. It's harder for parents. I knew Jennifer when we were kids, but she never looked at me twice. When her birthday came and she was stuck with me, we had a rough go of it for a few months. We were both so young and unsure of each other. We've been so happy for so long, I had completely forgotten about those first awkward encounters until today."

"I never thought about what happens after you get your scar. My parents, Auggie, they all fell in love instantaneously. What if I already know my soulmate and I just didn't realize we belonged together? How could you look at your love and not know?"

Stuart gave her a comforting pat. "I didn't know. I'm sure Farkle still doesn't know for sure. I knew your parents my whole life, and I was often envious of them because they always knew where they would wind up. At the same time, they always knew where they would wind up. Part of growing up is learning who you are. They were under a tremendous amount of pressure, experiencing these overwhelming feelings of love when they were too young to understand it. Their whole lives they always had to consider each other. They never got to be just Cory and just Topanga. They were always Cory and Topanga."

Riley bit her lip. She hadn't thought of it that way before. "I suppose that wouldn't be easy, but what Farkle's going through isn't easy either. They're complete strangers."

Stuart nodded. "As long as they listen to each other and take the time to get to know one another, they'll be fine. They're meant to be, Riley."

With one last pat on her shoulder, Stuart headed off to the elevators. Riley sighed, looking around for Maya. She finally saw her, dancing with Josh. Giggling at her friend, she decided to head out, getting her jacket from the coat check.

Her jacket firmly in place, she wrapped her arms around herself when out of nowhere, a hand reached out and pulled her out onto the balcony.

"Let me see it."

"Lucas? What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Matthews. I saw you with Farkle and then with his dad. Let me see it," he growled, backing her up against the wall, his lower half pressed against hers.

She shook her head, trying to understand what he was getting at. She was trapped, his hands on either side of her body, her bare legs feeling the warmth of his skin through his dress pants.

"Show me your arm, Riley."

She couldn't help it. She laughed. She laughed loud and hard, and the more agitated Lucas got, the harder she laughed until she was breathless, her stomach clenching and unclenching painfully.

Not being able to talk, she wordlessly yanked her arm out of her sleeve, displaying the bare, unmarred skin to his desperate eyes. He looked over her arm frantically.

"You disappeared after... I thought..." Lucas mumbled, not making eye contact. He was still so close to her she could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"I'm not. Why would you care anyway?" Riley asked, shoving her arm back in her sleeve.

Lucas' hands had made their way to her waist, idly rubbing her hip bone with his thumbs. "I don't know. I just didn't want you to belong to someone."

"Do you... Do you want me to belong to you?" she asked hesitantly.

Lucas scoffed, taking a step back from her and running a hand through his hair. "Of course not. I just wanted to-"

"What? What do you want, Lucas?"

Riley took a step forward, closing the distance between them once more. That was all the invitation he needed. He grabbed her hips firmly and pulled her against him roughly. She let out a surprised gasp, her mouth dropping open, and before she could react, he attached his own mouth to hers.

Her mouth still open, he slipped his tongue inside, the taste of whiskey hitting her system. Once the shock wore off, she sighed into him, allowing her body to mold to his. Sensing her acceptance, he spun her around, pressing her up against the glass door, the curtains keeping them lost in the shadows.

She ran her hands up around his back, pulling him in closer. Her mind was going a mile a minute, having never done this before, she let instinct take over. She felt like a cat, rubbing against him, her whole body humming. His hand reached up to grip the curls he'd itched to touch for longer than he cared to admit. He yanked her head back, nuzzling and biting her neck and ear.

"Lucas," she moaned breathlessly, pulling his dress shirt out of his pants so she could claw at his lower back.

"Oh, fuck, Riley," he groaned, trying to bring her body closer to his. She lifted up one leg to hook his body, and he immediately responded, grabbing her thigh to help her keep her balance. He ran his hand up under her dress, reaching for her panties. Before he could get there, she was gone. She pushed him away, walking over to the other side of the balcony as she panted heavily, running a shaky hand through her now tousled hair.

He started to walk towards her, but with every step he took, she took one back. "What's wrong?"

Riley shook her head furiously. "I can't do this."

Lucas stared at her swollen lips and messy hair. Her jacket was hanging off her shoulders and her dress had shifted, she looked every bit a freshly ravaged woman. He glanced at her neck and wondered if she would wake up in the morning with a hickey. "Why not?"

"Because you're not..." she trailed off. She was saving herself for her soulmate.

"I'm not what? Good enough for you?" He bellowed, his confusion and arousal giving away to frustration and anger.

"That's not what I'm saying. I've never... I'm waiting for my scar," she explained weakly, rubbing the spot on her arm where the mark would eventually appear. She awkwardly tried to right her clothes, wrapping her arms around herself and looking anywhere but him.

Lucas scoffed. "Whatever, princess. I just wanted to see how far you'd let me go anyways. Now I know."

She jerked her head up to meet his eyes, hers ablaze. "You don't have to act like a jerk about it."

"I'm not acting like anything. This is who I am, Riley." He held his arms out as if he was offering himself up for examination. "You're right, I'm not good enough for you."

"I didn't-"

"But I have news for you, princess," he spat, ignoring her interruption. "Even if you get your precious scar, and there's no guarantee that you will, but if you do, he's not going to get you as hot as I had you just now."

He stepped towards her again, backing her up to the stone railing overlooking the city. "Your soul might be made for someone else, but your body was made for me."

Despite herself, she shivered at the certainty of his words, his eyes burning into her. His smirk revealed that he knew how much he was affecting her. With a sound of disgust, she shoved him back as hard as she could. She had taken him off guard, so Lucas ended up on the ground.

"No part of me belongs to you, Lucas. This was a mistake."

She stomped past him to go back inside as he called after her. "It may be a mistake, but it's one that will haunt you for the rest of your life while you're having boring vanilla sex with some sweaty neanderthal that doesn't know how to please you."

Tears stung Riley's eyes, but she didn't turn around. How could someone who was so cruel have such a profound effect on her? She took a deep breath to calm herself and stepped inside, leaving him alone in the dark, the taste of whiskey still on her tongue.

Lucas sat frozen on the ground, unsure whether to laugh or cry. He made a decision then and there to cut back on his drinking. Riley made him insane enough when he was sober, but with his inhibitions lowered, he lost all control of himself. How could he be so attracted to someone who was so wrong for him? Why did the thought of her with Farkle make him feel so out of control?

He did not have any use for a soulmate. He didn't want to get married or have babies or belong to anyone but himself. As soon as he turned 18, he was getting the hell out of this city and back to the country where he could work on his Pappy's ranch and be left alone.

He only had 18 more months and then Riley would be nothing more than a distant memory, a wet dream. He just had to survive her for a little while longer, then she would get her scar and be someone else's problem. Once she knew who her mate was, she wouldn't give him a second glance.

He gave a disgusted sigh, standing up and wiping his hands on his pants. He didn't know why he even came to this stupid party. He and Farkle were partners in French class, and they were fairly friendly with one another. If he was being honest with himself, he accepted the invitation because he knew she would be there.

Lucas Friar was used to the attention of pretty girls, especially since he moved to New York in the seventh grade. The older they got, the more girls seemed to want a tryst with him before they were taken off the market for good. At first, he was willing to oblige, but no girl could ever distract him from Riley Matthews and her stunning smile.

The first day they met, she fell into his lap on the subway. She giggled at him prettily, and his heart jumped up into his throat. A few short hours later, he wound up sitting behind her in her father's history class.

He thought his luck was finally turning around until a few days later when she lamented about soulmates and scars and destiny. Her father assigned them as partners for a project without technology, but listening to her gush to Maya about getting her scar twisted his stomach and he stood her up.

For weeks after that, she struggled to get his attention, but when Missy Bradford asked him to the movies and he accepted despite Riley's protests, she didn't look his way again for a long time. To be fair, he was doing his best not to look her way. He wrapped himself around Missy for a few months, but he found he was all too aware of the quirky brunette.

Missy grew fed up with his disinterest, so he moved on to Darby. He kept moving on until he realized that no girl could distract him from the sun, and Riley Matthews most certainly was the sun. He hated her.

Of course, he still wound up under the bleachers every once and a while. A guy had needs after all. He idly licked his lips as he made his way out of the building and towards his home, the taste of Riley still clinging to them.

Now that he had a piece of her, he didn't think he would be satisfied with anyone else. What was he going to do? How could someone so incredibly naive bring out so much passion in him?

He rushed past his parents, trying to avoid their derision, before slamming his bedroom door and turning up his music as loud as he could get away with, hoping to drown out the inevitable argument. Only 18 more months and he could be out of this hellhole.

So, what do you think? Lucas is going to be a bit on the Texas!Lucas side for a bit, seeing as how he didn't have the influence of the group. The good guy is still there, he's just buried underneath a lot of hurt.

I'm planning on this story being under 10 chapters, so we are going to jump ahead in time for a bit until we get to Riley's birthday.