I've been working on a sort of AU of the WoT3 AU which I was largely unimpressed with and this is basically a prequel to that. How Lucas and Riley met without the influence of Maya. I'm hoping to continue working on this one, I have a lot of ideas of how their relationship would develop in this world.

"and thus began the great American Revolution which brought a new era of change to the country."

Riley closed her textbook with a sigh. The problem with growing up with a history teacher for a father was that you often learned all of the things in the textbooks on family vacations or trivia nights. This was especially true this year now that she was in his class.

She loved to learn new things and lose herself in her studies, she just hoped that they would eventually learn something new to her or it was going to be a very boring year.

The first bell finally rang. As usual she was the first one there, having come in early with her father, and was sitting front and center. A few of her classmates started to tiredly make their way into the classroom. Some stopped long enough to say good morning but most just shuffled over to their seats.

Farkle came in just before the second warning bell and immediately sat in the desk to her right, launching into a discussion on their science homework from the night before and barely giving her a chance to respond. She sat facing him and listened as he offered a more complex alternative to the experiment they would be performing in class. He was sure the teacher would see his superior approach and allow him to demonstrate it for the class.

Riley just smiled at her genius friend. They had known each other for years through their parents who had gone to school together back in Philly. Farkle was awkward and at times overbearing but he had a good heart and Riley was glad to call him her best friend. Even though they didn't hang out often, and mostly only studied when they did, she trusted that he would have her back if she ever needed him.

Her father entered as the late bell rang as if he'd time it and told the class to take out their textbooks. Everything was exactly the way it always was, until suddenly it wasn't.

One of the benefits of sitting in the front row was the unobstructed view of the door and therefore she was the first one to see him. The tall, blonde-haired boy stood in the open doorway for a moment before walking towards her father's desk.

Taking the note from the boy's hand her father introduced him as Lucas Friar, a new student from Austin, Texas. He motions for him to take the open seat behind her and she can't keep her eyes off the new boy as he walks past her.

He smiles briefly at the other students staring at him in interest before taking his seat. He seems a little nervous and out of place and Riley instantly feels a burst of empathy for him. It must be hard to be starting over in a brand new place and not know anyone.

Riley has always been a naturally friendly person. Her mom says her need to make the people around her feel happy and comfortable is her greatest strength, but for the first time she's not sure how to proceed. There are a swarm of butterflies in her stomach working their way up into her throat and their constant fluttering is causing her to choke on her words.

Clearing her throat she turns around before she can stop herself. Her eyes meet his green ones and the butterflies morph into something bigger. Like an ostrich.

"Hi," she says eventually.

"Hey."

"Hi." He smiles at her repetition. He has a nice smile.

"Welcome to John Quincy Adams." Five whole words. In their proper order. It's a miracle.

"Thanks." His smile widens and another miracle occurs as the ostrich learns to fly.

"Miss Matthews!" She turns abruptly at her father's panicked voice. He glances quickly between her and the boy sitting behind her. "Can you summarize the reading from last night, please."

As she answers her father's question she can't shake the feeling that something new has just begun.