A/N: This is a bisexual Riley Matthews, so if you don't like that you don't have to read. This will deal with topics and instances of emotional abuse(TW) so if you are senstive to that proceed with causation. But I am very excited to write this story!

Lucas and Zay were excited to be back on campus for their junior year. The two had spent the summer in Texas where they grew up and well they had fun with their friends from high school they were dying to see the tight group they had created last year once again. They had already seen Farkle briefly when they moved in but where anxious to see the rest. They had all agreed to meet at the local café on campus to catch up before classes the next day.

Lucas had met Farkle in a science class of his and had enjoyed the genius' wit. Zay had met Maya in an art class and the two had it off as art friends. It wasn't long before they were all hanging out in a group that also included Farkle's girlfriend Isadora Smackle. The one person that was missing from their group almost always was Riley. Zay had met her once, but then she had to leave to go see her girlfriend and he didn't get to talk to her much. Zay and Lucas knew that no one liked Riley's girlfriend, they often talked about how she didn't treat Riley right. But Riley saw the good in her and stayed. Despite this the others assured the boys they would love Riley. Lucas especially, Maya just felt they had a lot in common personality wise.

The boys found their four friends at a booth. Giving hugs all around. Lucas was the first to ask about Riley, he had really been looking forward to meeting her.

"Hey guys isn't Riley supposed to be here? I was looking forward to meeting her, she isn't hanging out with her girlfriend right?" That was the usual reason Riley gave for not being able to meet up with them, but he immediately regretted asking that way when he was the fire in Maya's eyes.

"She better not be anywhere near that awful bitch. God." Maya shook her head and softened her look at Lucas, "They broke up over the summer for not the best reasons. It's Riley's story to tell, but lets just say her girlfriend did a real number on her. So if she's not the bright sunshine we told you about, that's why. She's here I promise she just had…a moment and went to the bathroom. Look there she is now!" Maya waved over at one of the prettiest girls Lucas had ever seen. She had long legs and a shy expression on her soft face. Her brown hair was just above her shoulders with the ends of it dyed purple. She sat in between Maya and Lucas offering him her hand with a small smile.

"Hi, I'm assuming you're Lucas. I'm Riley. I'm sorry I wasn't here when you got here, its really my fault I-" She was cut off by Maya who gave her a firm "Honey." With a hard look and Riley quickly quit her ramble.

"It's really nice to meet you Riley. I really like your hair." He commented, he couldn't help but want to reach out and touch it but he thought that might be weird.

"Really? You like it?" Riley asked surprise evident in her tone, "Maya helped me dye it. I've wanted to dye it and cut it for a while but Paula said I wasn't allowed to." Riley replied with a shrug

"Who's Paula?" Lucas asked with a frown, he didn't think anyone should be telling Riley what to do with her appearance.

"Oh….my ex-girlfriend." Riley answered softly

"You mean the devil?" Maya asked earning a look from Riley, who gave it to her right back. "Paula was a royal bitch Honey. I'm going to keep saying it until you understand that."

"She wasn't that bad. I mean like I could do any better than her anyway. She was right about that." Riley replied

"JAR!" Maya, Smackle and Farkle shouted at Riley. Riley sighed as she pulled her backpack onto the table. Lucas noticed a variety of buttons on it but before he could get a good look she opened it to pull out a little mason jar with scraps of paper.

As she did this Farkle spoke up, "Since Riley will be spending more time with us all, you guys should know about the jar. Whenever she says something self-depreciating about herself she has to counter it with the jar. We all wrote good things about her, we take turns reading it to her."

"Its to build her back up when she tears herself down. Much like when building a house you must go brick by brick. We go phrase by phrase." Smackle tacked on.

Riley sighed, "Who's turn is it this time?"

"I can read it Sugar if you want." Zay offered, Riley nodded and handed him the paper

" From Maya, you're the best person I know. Let the Rileytown flag wave." Zay read. Lucas noticed an obvious cringe at the term "Rileytown" from Riley.

He changed the subject, "So what did y'all do this summer?"

"Really Huckleberry? Y'all?" Maya asked with a teasing tone.

The conversation continued on like normal. The group all shared classes they had and it turned out Riley and Lucas had English together. They made plans to walk to class together the next day. Lucas couldn't help but get caught up in the brunette's eyes when they talked. At one point Riley excused herself to go back to her dorm, she was rooming with Maya and Smackle this year. Farkle and Smackle were leaving too, so they told Riley they'd walk her. Smackle was going back to Farkle's place. He, Lucas and Zay lived together as well.

"Peaches you stay, I'm just going to take a nap anyway." She gave Maya a hug and waved goodbye to everyone. Lucas watched her go with a saddened expression; he wanted to keep talking to her. She seemed sad, he couldn't help but want to make her smile or lift the weight that seemed to be on her shoulders.

Maya noticed this and gave Zay a look, he had noticed to. "Wow Huckleberry you met her once and you're already in love with her?" Maya teased him with a smirk

"Whhhaat I'm not in love with her I just met her. She just looks so sad I just want to help. Anyway isn't she just into girls?"

Zay and Maya laughed at him, "Sundance did you not see her backpack? She had like four bi-pride pins. Are you that dense? Do I need to re-come out to you and explain what bi means again?" Maya asked as she nudged him

"What…No. I was just didn't catch them. Do…do you think she'd be interested in me? I mean.. not that I'm going to ask her out…I mean maybe…but didn't she just break up with her girlfriend? Doesn't she need time?" Lucas asked directing his question at Maya. He knew their story, the two had been best friends forever. He was sure Maya knew her better than anyone. Maya sighed deeply.

"They broke up at the very end of the school year and she's had all summer. Like I said it did a number on her. But she told me she's open to the idea of dating again, but she's not going to seek it out. Just…try to be her friend first. She could use someone as good as you in her life right now. She's going to have a hard semester. She's an English major ya know? And besides that personal narrative class you're taking together, she's taking poetry and then gen-eds. Its going to be a lot of writing about her feelings and she's still working on all that. Just like…don't push her. And both of you remember the jar. And if you have any little notes like that, you can give some to me and I'll shove them in there for her."

Lucas nodded his head. Zay piped up, "Of course. I'm just curious where did the jar idea come from? That's a really cool way to help." Zay asked

Maya gave a soft smile, "It was her idea, and she's always said it always mattered more to her what people say about her than what she says about herself. That's why Paula was so bad for her. She believed everything that ho-bag said. So now we're trying to build her back up."

Lucas decided right then and there that he was going to do just that; he was going to help build Riley back up.

Riley had already had her gen-ed classes in the morning and now she was packing her backpack for the English class she was going to with Lucas. Lucas, his name made her heart flutter. There was just something about him that drew her to him, sure he was handsome he was around 6 ft tall with dirty blonde hair and don't even get her started on his eyes. But there was something more than just his appearance that drew her in, she couldn't explain it. She was glad when a knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts.

She grabbed her bag and opened it so see Lucas who gave her a wide smile.

"Wow Riley you look great! You ready to go" Riley nodded her head unable to respond verbally after such a nice compliment. She was worried about dressing for the first day so she had opted for her Jesus sandals a jean shirt and a white shirt with colored designs on the sleeves. They chatted about their days so far and it felt so easy to talk to Lucas. He smiled and nodded as she talked and looked genuinely interested. Today was going to be a good day Maya was right! Riley entered the English building with a newfound sense of hope for the year.

There was still a class in the room their class was meeting in so they stood off to the side continuing to chat. It was going great until Riley spotted her and felt her body run cold. Paula. Of course she still looked gorgeous, she hadn't seen Riley yet but Riley couldn't help but feel her fight or flight kick in. She didn't want Paula to see her; she wasn't ready to talk to her. But she couldn't miss class, her panic was slowly rising. That was until she felt Lucas grab her hand.

Lucas wasn't sure what had caused it but one second Riley was smiling and chatting with him the next she was looking over at someone and then she went limp. He could sense the panic in her eyes and she looked she was going to bolt any second. So he did the only thing he could think of, he intertwined his fingers with hers. It seemed to calm her down, and he had to admit her tiny palm against his sent tingles up his arm. He saw Riley take a few deep breathes before she turned her attention back to him.

"Thank you." Riley gave his hand a squeeze; she was terrified he would remove it from her grasp. When he held her hand a wave of calm swept through her, she needed the calm he provided. Lucas just nodded and gripped her hand tighter.

The class before them got out and they waited for the students to trickle out before they went in. Riley thought she heard her name being called so she turned her head around and was wished she hadn't. Paula saw her and Lucas holding hands, and although she didn't see who Lucas was she saw Riley holding someone else's hand. Paula gave a disgusted look before Lucas pulled Riley into the classroom.

Riley held onto to Lucas' hand as they found their seats and even once they sat down. It worked because she had Lucas' right hand and her had her left. Lucas was a lefty and Riley was right handed. She gave him a small smile as they adjusted as they waited for their teacher.

Their teacher went through their syllabus with them. Telling them important dates and when they wouldn't have class, giving them general guidelines for class. She then told them to look at the person next to them. Riley and Lucas quickly looked at each other.

"This person will be your partner for the semester. You two will share your writing giving feedback to one another as much as you wish outside of class. But for the purpose of this class they're you're partners." After explaining what they would do next class she dismissed the class.

Lucas gave Riley a smile as they got their stuff and walked out, still holding hands.

"Looks like you'll be seeing a lot of me this semester." Lucas told Riley as they got to her door. She giggled at him releasing his hand

"That I will I'm excited. I think we're all meeting up for diner later? So I'll see you then?" She asked Lucas shyly biting her lip.

"Of course, I'll see you there Riley"

With that the two parted ways, Riley walked in smiling but already missing the warmth of his palm against hers. Maybe things were looking up.