Hey guys! Here is chapter one. It's nothing too big, just a starter off, but you won't want to miss it! :)

Please review! I live off of reviews! That's what gives me the energy to write MORE. Reviews. (I LOVE guest reviews too!)

read, enjoy, & review!

1.

"Bri, I'm back!" Maya called aloud. She set her keys on the counter and looked around the small living room. The TV was on but Bri, her roommate, wasn't there. "Oh well," Maya spoke to herself. "Probably talking to her boyfriend on the phone in her room or something."

Which reminded her, Maya needed to FaceTime Riley Matthews soon. She put her bags of groceries on the counter,

labeled her own products with her name in sharpie, and then put her groceries away. Maya saw that there were some dishes in the sink. She sighed. Bri is such a mess. Maya quickly put the dishes in the dishwasher and then ran it.

She was just about to sit down on her living room couch when the doorbell rang. Maya nearly yelled out in irritation, but held her tongue. She walked to the door and answered it.

She saw the smiling face of a cowboy.

"Huckleberry," Maya greeted. She wrapped him in her arms into a hug. He was tall, so she had to stand on her tippy toes. "How are you?"

Lucas rubbed Maya's back in rotating circle movements. "I'm great, Maya."

"Good!" Maya said, stepping away from Lucas. "Come in."

Lucas walked in and looked at Maya as she gestured for him to sit down. He sat on a high stool near the counter and smiled at Maya. She was beautiful and Lucas had grown to really care for her...but in a brotherly way. He kept Riley's wish and had looked after Maya for all of these years, still checking up on her once or twice a month. Even though they both went to New York University, they hardly saw each other and were both super busy. It was their sophomore year in college and things were getting hectic.

"So what's new?" Maya asked as she handed Lucas a full glass of Coke.

"The usual." Lucas shrugged. "I didn't know that studying to become a veterinarian could be so hard."

Maya half-smirked. "Is there something that Ranger Rick can't handle?"

"No, of course not," Lucas snorted. "I can handle anything."

"Well then, would you care to explain what happened while riding Judy the Sheep?" Maya smirked.

"You guys can never let that go, can you?" He wondered, half annoyed and half amused.

"Nope!" Maya said in Lucas's face with her 'p' popping loudly. Lucas looked into Maya's amused eyes. She looked into his smiling ones. Maya instinctively got closer to Lucas. Their faces were just inches apart now. Maya opened her mouth and suddenly let out a loud, "HUR-HAR!"

Lucas jumped back and left Maya laughing her head off. She had to grab the counter to keep herself standing. Lucas smirked at her, irritated.

"I should have expected that," he chuckled. "Typical Maya. You've never changed, and that's what I like about you."

"Oh?" Maya said. "And what else do you like about me?"

"Don't you dare try to make me awkward, Maya Hunter. I know you. It just won't work," Lucas said.

"I don't have to try. You just make things awkward yourself, Huckleberry," Maya teased. Lucas jumped to his feet.

"You!"

"Uh-oh."

Maya let out a playful scream and ran to the living room while Lucas chased her. She sat on the couch and was about to spin around and run again, but Lucas grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him. Maya let out another scream.

"Lucas, no! No!" She cried. But it was too late. Lucas had already begun to tickle her. Maya screamed and laughed at the same time.

"Who wouldn't thought that Maya Hunter was ticklish!" he exclaimed, tickling her neck. Maya let out a gurgled laugh-cry

and the rolled down onto the floor. Lucas rolled down with her, but he wasn't quick enough. Maya got to her knees and began to crawl away.

"Oh no you don't!" Lucas shot out his hand and grabbed her ankle. He used his horse strength and pulled Maya back to him.

"Please stop, Lucas!" Maya cried again. Lucas got on top of Maya, kneeling over her. He was practically sitting on her, pinning her down. Maya screamed loudly as the tickling became more aggressive.

"Can you please keep it down?" Bri asked, walking into the living room. "I'm trying to-oh my!"

Bri froze and looked and Lucas and Maya. Lucas looked at their position and realized what it looked like. He quickly got off of Maya and sat a few feet back from her.

"I swear it's not what it looks like," Lucas said. Maya sat up and looked at the shocked Bri.

"We got into a tickle fight,"

Maya explained.

"I won," Lucas said smugly.

"Oh, okay," Bri sighed. "I was so confused."

Truth was, Bri had a small crush on Lucas. She had been only dating her boyfriend for 2 weeks and was planning on breaking up with him. She didn't really like him and it wasn't fair for him to date her while she had feelings for someone else.

"How are you, Lucas?" Bri asked.

"I'm great. How about you?"

"I'm okay. I just broke off another relationship," she replied.

"That's the third one this year," Lucas commented.

"I'm just waiting for the right guy to come around."

Bri was pretty. She was pale with lightly freckled cheeks and a freckled nose. She had rich, dark brown hair and really pretty bright blue-gray eyes. The shape of her eyes were also really pretty and she wore light makeup to make them stand out more. Her cheeks were a natural light rosy color and her lips with pretty and pink.

Bri sat on the couch and sighed. "I don't know if I'll ever find anybody."

"I'm sure you will. The right guy is out there, waiting for you.

Maybe he's someone you know or that you used to know and he's to blind to see that you are his girl."

"Yeah, well, I don't know. The guy I like...I guess he kind of knows me. He knows that I exist."

"Well then, get his attention!"

"It's not as easy as you think." Bri looked at the carpeted floor. "I've tried. He just doesn't see what I feel. He doesn't see how much I care for him."

"Make him see it," Lucas urged. "I'm sure he'd see it through the little things you do. Offer to do more things for him. Maybe buy him lunch or something. The little things makes someone notice you."

"Thanks Lucas. You're a good guy," Bri smiled sweetly.

"And you've got a sweet spirit. Don't let any guy bring that down."

"Yeah, seriously. Don't," Maya barged in the conversation. "I know to many guys who bring me down to the ground...by tickling me."

Maya punched Lucas in the arm. "Ow!" Lucas groaned, having the urge to playfully punch her back.

Bri chuckled at this. "You two seem to have so much fun together."

Lucas threw his arm around Maya. "Well, she's my best friend." Maya gave him a look. "Well, one of them."

"Speaking of best friends, it's about time to FaceTime Riley. Do you want to join us, Bri?"

"No thanks," she said. "I have to call my ex back and explain to him why we need to breakup."

"Okay. Good luck."

"Thanks." Bri gave an anxious chuckle before walking off to her room.

"I feel bad for Bri," Lucas said.

"Why?"

"Because. She can't find the perfect guy or the perfect guy can't find her."

"She'll find her soulmate soon. But now is the time to call Riley."

"Right."

Maya grabbed her phone and face timed Riley. The phone rang for a few moments until Riley picked up.

Maya screamed happily when she saw Riley's face. Lucas jumped a little at the scream, but he was happy to see the two girls happy.

"Hi, Peaches!" Riley squealed.

"Riles!" Maya shouted, the biggest grin on her face. The day before, Riley was too busy to pick up Maya's call, so it had been a day since seeing each other's faces. They could hardly go a day without seeing each other.

"How are you? And is that...LUCAS?!"

Lucas laughed and waved at Riley. "Hi Riley!"

"Oh my gosh, I haven't seen you in forever! The last time you face timed me with Maya was like, 4 months ago! How are you?"

"I'm doing great Riley, especially now that I've seen your face."

Riley blushed. "Aw, still such a sweet cowboy."

"Well..." Maya disagreed. "I beg to differ. You should've seen what he did to me before we called you!"

"Lucas! What did you do?" Riley shouted, putting on an angry face.

"No, it's not bad," Maya laughed. "He just pinned me down and...tickled me."

"Lucas! You should know better than to tickle Maya Hunter!"

Lucas busted out laughing. "You should have heard her hollering for help!"

"If I could hear her from here in London, I'd break down her door and tackle you and tickle you back!"

"That's my best friend," Maya said to Lucas.

"Yep. You better watch out, Lucas," Riley said. "I've always got Maya's back."

"Okay, okay!" Lucas threw his hands up, defenseless. "You got me!"

The girls laughed.

The three friends talked for a while about school and stuff. Riley said that she planned to visit in the summer, only a few months away.

Eventually, Riley had to go. She said goodbye to her friends and then hung up.

Lucas stayed for dinner-which Bri made-and had a fun time with Maya and Bri. But he too had to go.

"Goodbye, Bri." Lucas pulled Bri into a hug. "I'll see you around."

"Yeah. See you."

Bri walked off into her room again to catch up on some work.

"You should visit more often. I miss you," Maya said.

"I'll try. Life just gets...busy."

"I know."

Maya hugged Lucas tightly. "Goodbye, Huckleberry. Have a good night."

"Thanks. You too, Maya."

As Maya opened the door for Lucas, he bent down and kissed her cheek.

"Thanks for having me over," he smiled.

"A-any time," Maya replied, completely caught off guard. She waved as Lucas walked out of her apartment with only one thought on her mind. Does Lucas like me?

Why DID Lucas kiss her? Wanna find out? Well then, stick around!

Like I said earlier, before you close out this page, leave a friendly review! It can be advice, criticism (nice helpful kind please. Not rude kind.) or just telling me how you like the story so far! Encouragement helps me and knowing that you love the story makes me want to write more for y'all!

have a nice day!