AN: Heads up, haters: there is a difference between constructive criticism/having an opinion and being blatantly disrespectful towards me. Therefore, all immature comments will be deleted. It's OK if you don't agree with something I've done in the story but don't be rude about it.

P.S the trigger warning was just for the mention of Maya's almost rape. I don't plan on making it part of the plot, or any other possible triggers for that matter.

P.P.S Because I could not help myself, I created a playlist for this chapter. I know. However, the one of the last songs on this playlist is "Reflecting Light" by Sam Philips and it's only one referenced. So if you care, you could listen to it on Spotify as apart of my playlist called 'Pendulum - Prom' or just queue by itself for your reading experience.


It was now two months until graduation and there was one month until prom. Maya didn't care about either but Riley - of course - was ecstatic, absolutely beaming with energy and pride and tradition. She wanted the most epic end to any senior year ever, after the Chernobyl like disaster they all just survived. Her best friend, however, just wanted to throw her cap in the air and go home to nap.

"What do you mean you're not going?!" Riley and Maya were eating ice cream cones after school, walking from Topanga's. Maya had to say this at least 100 times to the brunette, but very often Riley only hears what she wants.

"I mean, I - Maya Hart - am not - as in... not - going to Prom." She took a lick from her butter pecan scoop. Riley looked at her rainbow surprise was dripping on her knuckles. "You know that's gonna melt -"

"But you have to go!" Riley snapped.

Maya scoffed, "do not."

"Do so!"

"Do not." Maya sang.

"Do so!" Riley repeated.

"Oh yeah? Why 'do so' I?"

"Because it's the last prom we'll be together at before graduation!"

"You know that I'm going to see you at least a billion times before then and after then. As for everyone else... eh, I'm sick of them anyway." Maya replied, waving the rest of the group off with her hand. In reality, she thought about her friends going their separate ways more than she cared to.

"You'll see all of our classmates be drunk and dumb!" Riley beamed before licking her ice cream.

"I doubt anti-depressants will make me tolerate these assholes anymore than I do already, which is barely."

"Pretty dress?" Riley's last shot.

"Prom dresses are always ugly as hell."

"Ours won't be."

Maya pursed her lips before saying, "nah." She shook her head.

"Well, why not?"

The blonde took some of the coldness of her dessert in her mouth purposely while answering, "No reason."

"There can't be no reason for you not wanting to go when you're fighting me this - " Riley made an audible and comical gasp in her best friend's direction. Maya raised her eyebrows. Riley pointed a finger at her, "you don't have a date. That's the reason, isn't it?"

Still swallowing her ice cream, Maya paused and dragged with her mouth full, knowing she's been caught, "No..."

"Ugh! That's it!" Riley victoriously jumped but caught herself when her rainbow-scoop almost splat on the sidewalk. "Maya, you know that I'll be your date to prom. Why are you worried?" Riley said, innocently.

"Except that you won't be my date, Riles. You're Minkus' main squeeze, now. You're gonna dance together, take pictures together and all that other corny prom stuff."

"You could be included in that! It'll be cute; in the photo we'll all hold each other's waists and we'll all dance holding hands." Riley got behind Maya, holding her torso and putting her chin on her shoulder.

Maya grimaced, playfully smiling "ew. No thanks. I don't want to be a third wheel."

"Well," before stepping back to the side, Riley quickly licked some of Maya's cone eliciting a 'hey!' "I guess we're just going to have to get you a date, then."

"Hah, godspeed." Maya saluted.

"Let's see, Josh is in Europe right now, so he's out - "

"And the only other guys I can mildly stand are dating my best friends!" Maya finished, wishing Riley would just drop it. Zay, Farkle and Lucas were the only guys in the school who weren't complete nincompoops and they were spoken for. Well... Lucas wasn't but there was no Maya would hurt Riley by going with her ex-boyfriend, no matter how she felt about him. "Forget it, Riles. It's not my scene, anyway."

The taller girl made an about-face to Maya's blue eyes. "Anywhere I am, Maya, you belong. I know this year has been the pits and it's my fault but I just want one night of normalcy. One more night to be fancy-free with all of the dearest people in the world to me, possibly getting back to where we all were together but I can't do it without you. I can't go to Prom without my soulmate. Please, Maya." Riley pulled out the big guns: puppy eyes, protruded lower lip, gently holding both her hands. Maya was too weak. She couldn't help but cave in.

"Ugh... fine. Fine!" Maya groaned.

"Yaaaaaayyyyy!" Riley cheered, completely dropping her ice cream now. She frowned while throwing it into a park garbage can and Maya conversely said, "justice."

Back at Riley's house, the girls went through the yearbook putting red X's on anyone Maya deemed unfit. They were in the E section.

"Nope, nope, nope..." As Maya gave the verdict, Riley marked the page. "Ooh, hey Mr. Errington. How you doin' boo?" She put her finger on the attractive teacher's black and white photo.

"Maya, he's a teacher. A married teacher. With children."

"Whatever, I'm 18! And he's a total DILF, which is great because I could use a zaddy." She clicked her tongue, winking.

"Next!" Riley abruptly flipped the page. "Marty Farris, Leo Farnsworth, Jack Ferguson..."

"No, nope, not-after-he-tried-to-touch-my-boobs-in-the-lunchline..." Maya answered, then her phone buzzed in her back pocket.

wyd?

hanging w riley.

Maya felt a little guilty for dismissing Lucas but just because Farkle and Riley were no longer Voldemort, didn't mean he was ready to start hanging like normal again. "Who was that?" Riley asked.

"Lucas."

Riley slouched a little. "Is he OK?"

"Yeah, just wanted to hang out."

Lucas texted her back:

oh ok. call me.

Maya tossed her phone to the side on the bed. Coincidentally, Lucas' face was the next box in the column of seniors. The edge of the red sharpie gave his picture chicken pox as Riley tapped it aimlessly, thinking. Maya noticed this and asked her, "Oh God, what are you thinking, Weirdo?"

"... You said all the guys you like - "

"Can mildly -"

"Can mildly stand," Riley corrected herself, "are taken but... not Lucas." She held up the book, pointing the marker at Lucas Friar's vandalized face. Maya's mouth was agape, working up an excuse but she couldn't find any. Not one that she was willing to share with her right now, anyway. "What is it now, Peaches?"

"He-he's probably going with someone else!" She reasoned very quickly and frazzled. She was shocked that Riley would even suggest it, truly. Maya loves Riley and that love is unconditional, so she understands that sometimes Riley can be a bit... competitive. Maya knew that it was coming from an insecure place within her best friend, so she could overlook it but she didn't think that Riley would be this cool with her going out with Lucas, especially after the intense drama in middle school. Then again, Riley also didn't know about the lingering feelings that still Maya had for him.

"Huckleberry's been on the rebound ever since you jilted him and has been cleaning up!" Maya continued. She wasn't actually sure about that but the thought made her stomach turn. Though Lucas Friar definitely had prospects, for sure.

"Is that why I haven't seen him with any girl but you at school?" Riley questioned with a keen smile. "Face it: it's perfect."

Maya left Riley's bed, heading to the bay window with a very red face. "No, no it's not."

"Oh my God, how?!" Riley clamored, on Maya's heels. "How could you possibly have a problem with this?!"

Maya whispered without looking back at her, "because it's weird!"

"For why? For why is it weird?"

Maya whipped around so quickly, her blonde tresses might as well have bitch-slapped Riley. "Because! Everyone's going to be talking about how he went from you to me. Everyone knows about the triangle, remember? So now, I'm reduced to sloppy seconds... or he is... anyway!" She plopped in the bay window, hugging the cat pillow Zay got Riley for her 18th birthday. "Everyone's going to talk. I don't like people talking about me. It's going to be a fight."

Riley slowly sat next to her best friend, putting an arm around her. "Or... it'll be the most amazing night of our lives. Everyone will be having too good of a time to worry about us and our drama. We're not that important."

"We will be if I walk in with Lucas and you and Farkle. And who says Ranger's going to be down to square dance with me anyway? Or even go to prom at all?"

"I think he would if you asked him."

Maya bit her lip, staring Riley in her optimistic face. "... And you would be OK with that? I mean, I know you're with Farkle and it's star-crossed and shit but... he was still your boyfriend for three years. You're my sister, I don't want to hurt you."

Riley sighed, "Part of me will always love and care about Lucas but as a friend only. I want nothing but happiness for my friends and even more for my family. I think you two going to prom together would do the trick. You're my sister, too, so I don't want you to miss out on the good things. You deserve all the good things, Maya."

The blonde exhaled, twiddling her fingers. This shouldn't be a big deal to her but this was giving her something to look forward to and that she couldn't trust. A night as Lucas' date, a night designed for grand fantasy and romance, a night where anything could happen between them. She wasn't ready for this. This was dangerous. But looking in Riley's eyes, she knew she could trust her Honey with her life. If she says it's going to be amazing, then that's what it'll be. Feelings be damned and repressed. Maya could do this, especially for Riley.

Defeated, Maya said, "... alright."

"YAYYYYYYYY!" Riley attacked her with a hug.


"Just say it. Say that you hate me."

"No, Zay."

"I mean, it's obvious, from how you're treating me."

"If it's so obvious, then why do I have to say it?" Lucas teased.

Zay gasped, "so, you do hate me!"

Lucas threw his head back, groaning to the Heavens and pushing Abigail Adams High School's double doors, "It's too early for this..."

Now that prom was three weeks away, it was all anyone could think, talk and breathe about. Flyers were posted, reminding seniors to get tickets but Lucas still didn't comply and Zay was completely baffled. When he asked, Lucas simply said he wasn't into it this year and his best friend went from baffled to hysterical.

"I'm sorry but I cannot - absolutely can not - think of any other reasons you'd pass up on Prom with your BFF?! You're not still hung up on the Riley/Farkle thing are you?!"

Hastily, Lucas yanked Zay to the nearest corner, a window with a bench for two. "Could you keep your voice down?!" He growled through caged teeth.

Zay folded his arms, "well?"

Lucas took a deep breath, "it's complicated."

"Explain."

"I mean," he carded his hand through his hair that's grown out a tiny bit more than usual. "Am I still angry at them? No but, do I want to go to Prom and act like we're all the best of friends when were not? Fuck no." It felt so good to curse now that he wasn't with Riley anymore. She always made an uncomfortable face when he did.

"I thought you said you were going to try." Zay reminded him.

"I am! But prom? I don't know, man it's like the one night where everyone wants everything to be perfect. One last big hurrah to say goodbye and...I want more time. Time to fix our relationships so when I do say goodbye, it won't feel fake. Or forced. Because like it or not, me and Farkle and Riley? We're not all good. I don't know if we can ever be again but... I don't want to leave with bad blood. I want to be close to them again but it's too soon, too awkward. Besides, I have no one to go with." As if by magic, two dimpled cheerleaders passed them by, only saying hello to Lucas. His reply was lackluster, but they still giggled.

"I hate you." Zay seethed, leaving the window.

"What? Why?" Lucas treaded quickly behind him.

"Because you don't have anyone to go with - you have everyone to go with." Zay elongated his skinny arms to symbolize the campus. "Girls are so thirsty for you, especially when they hear your situation of being cuckolded and especially because you're for Prom King. They are out here in the desert and you can't even give them a damn drink!"

The older boy shook his head with a grin, "Zay, you don't understand."

"You're right; I don't." Zay flippantly agreed.

"Look, if I ask a girl to prom, she's gonna think that I'm looking for something serious because prom is serious. Prom is a big deal. " Lucas stated, walking down the steps with Zay.

"Luke, just because I found Mrs. Right and I'm taking her to prom, doesn't mean you have to, OK? You just need Mrs. Right-Now-Ready-and-Willing, and frankly," once again, a pretty girl smiled at Lucas to greet him and he obliged. "There are plenty of girls who have that last name."

"Prom is too romantic to just take anyone to, no matter how hot." Lucas said, final. "There's a lot of pressure, OK? Pictures, meeting the parents, hooking up... it's not a first date scenario, Zay. It has to be someone I really know and like."

Suddenly, a wicked grin formed on Zay's brown face. "I know someone you like."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah. She's about -" he brought his hand to the level of his shoulder. "Yay high in heels, that she wears all the time. Long, blonde mane. Eyes bluer than the sky and has the ability to make Floyd Mayweather cry?"

Lucas squinted his green eyes at his friend before realizing who he meant. Maya. A whirlwind of emotions came to him yet Lucas calmly said, "no."

"Dude, it's ridonkulous how perfect it is!" Zay challenged, as Lucas was walking away from him. "I mean, you obviously like her and find her attractive. What, you think you're too good for Maya?" He purposely raised his voice to get a reaction and it worked.

Lucas spun around on his heels, getting in Zay's face, "Raise your voice one more time - "

"Well?"

Lucas sharply exhaled and started walking again,"of course I don't think I'm too good for her. I love Maya. If not for you, she'd be my best friend."

Zay sensed how much Lucas cared and wanted to gush about it but didn't want to embarrass him. "And that's a bad thing because..."

"It's just... weird. It's weird! Maya and I have been through a lot. We went through that whole triangle thing and we've only ever been on one real date before! And you can't forget that Riley is her best friend and my ex. You know how that's gonna make me look, taking her to prom?"

"Like a dick." Zay chuckled but seeing Lucas' stern face, he stopped. "Dude. It's just prom. I know that it has expectations but when you strip all that away, it's just a dance."

Lucas bit lightly on his tongue, thinking about what it would be like to have Maya as his date. They've only had one other date and milkshakes ended up dripping down his back but even then, he had a great time. There was no romantic pretext in their relationship right now, so that took the stress off but still he worried. " Maya - she's too important to me. I just don't want to fuck anything up between us."

"Hey buddy," Zay put two hands on Lucas' broad shoulders, getting close to whisper to his face, "so don't."


Senior Prom countdown: T-minus two weeks. Neither Lucas nor Maya has made a move in the time they had promised their pesky best friends. Lucas told Zay he was busy with all the senior wrap-up duties he had in the numerous clubs and sports he belonged to. Maya also used his excuse, explaining that she could never get a hold of him but she didn't really want to. She's been asked out, hit on and groped once (no worries, the jerk left the scene with his balls practically bleeding) but she never did the asking. That only happened with two guys: Josh, but she knew he'd never say yes and Lucas, but that was to make a point and also, she knew he wouldn't say yes at the time. Now, Riley was the one pushing her to ask him out, inverse to all those years ago. Life has one hell of a sense of humor.

She was having a bit a deja vu, watching the boy at his locker. Maya made a promise to Riley and she always imagined herself as someone true to their word.

Just do it, Maya. Get it over with and fucking do it. She amped herself up. Maya took a strong breath and exhaled through her nostrils, nodding. She charged towards Lucas, her four inch heels hitting the floor with purpose.

"Yo, Friar Huck!" Maya shouted without thinking. Now, she had his full attention. No turning back. He looked down at her with wide, doe like eyes first but then made that stupid, disarming smile. Before she lost her nerve, she told him, "so, you're taking me to senior prom." If she commanded him, Maya thought she wouldn't feel too pathetic.

Lucas' eyes went even larger at Maya's revelation. He planned to be the one to do the asking but he didn't know how. Maya deserved a grand gesture, in his opinion but he didn't know what to do. He thought about drawing her a picture but he had 0 artistic talent and she'd make fun of it,which honestly made it the perfect proposal but he wanted to go bigger. The idea Lucas settled on was getting a rope and randomly but gently lassoing her to him. Next, he'd give her sunflowers and ask her to be his date. It was a really good and cute plan. But no, Maya had to go and be her assertive self, demanding him to take her to prom. Well, if she was going to unknowingly ruin his scheme, Lucas thought he could at least have a little fun with her.

"Oh, I am, am I?" He leaned against his locker with a shrewd grin, folding his arms.

"Did I stutter?"

"And what makes you think I don't have a date?"

For a second, something in Maya faltered but she quickly recovered, "pssh, what girl did you Roofie now?"

"I think we both know I don't have to go to extreme measures get a date around here."

"And just what are you insinuating, Dingleberry? That I do?"

"Yup. You're pretty but guys are afraid of you. And why else would you ask me? You don't have a crush on me again, do you?"

Maya blushed a tad, not knowing if him calling her pretty or bringing up crushes was throwing her off. "Please, I like you as much as I like shot needles stuffed up my vagina."

"Ooh, talk dirty to me."

"Just take me to the goddamn prom, Ranger Rick."

"You know, you're putting me through a lot of abuse considering you're the one who needs a date - "

"I'll put my fist through your face!" Her little fist rose to the tip of Lucas's eyes and he covered it with his large hand, bringing it back down between them.

He gazed down on her with a crooked smile, thinking that it was silly for anyone to be afraid of someone so adorable. "Prom, huh?"

Maya glanced at the both of their hands still clasped together, then strongly met his stare. "Just taking pictures and eating food. That's it."

"And dancing."

"No dancing."

"Oh, yes there will be dancing." Lucas affirmed. Honestly, it was a turn-on to watch Maya move. "Or no date."

Maya huffed, "fine!" She snatched her hand back.

Lucas, more agreeable, "fine." He held out his hand for her to shake and she did. "Pleasure doing business with ya, ma'am." He tipped his invisible hat and Maya deeply rolled her eyes.

"Oh, shut up." She shook her head whilst strutting away.

To anyone else, their conversation would have sounded extremely hostile and mean but the two people involved left the exchange smiling blissfully.


A week before prom, Zay called a meeting. The only period they all shared was lunch. Riley, Farkle, Maya and Zay would all sit together and sometimes Lucas would show up too but often, he'd go weight train in the school gym. He was still feeling kinda weary towards Riley and Farkle. Lucas appreciated their efforts but try as he might, he just couldn't let go yet. Still, progress was being made.

"OK, to bring this meeting to order." Zay stood at the head of the table, using his water bottle as a gavel. Suddenly, he dipped to his phone to make sure that Smackle's connection was clear. "Baby, you there?" Sometime around Valentine's Day, Zay and Smackle became official and started to only speak to each other in pet names.

She face-timed with Zay from Einstein, "I'm here, Smoopie but before you start, I would like to say hello to Maya, Harlot and Whore - " Farkle and Riley couldn't figure out who was which, "and oh, Lucas? I didn't expect to see you here."

"In the flesh. Hey, Smackle." Lucas said, making a wave to Zay's phone screen.

"Smoopie, do you think you can go without calling Riley and Farkle names?" Zay asked.

"My love, I have forgiven but I haven't forgotten. Until that happens, I'm making sure they don't either." Smackle's voice was sweet but dripping with callousness.

Riley pointed a finger in the air, "that's fair but I'm 'Harlot', right?" Smackle nodded and Riley was pleased.

"Wait, why do I have to be the Whore?!"

"Anyway - " Zay cut off all insignificant discussion. "I wanted to lay out our plans, post-prom craziness. Farkle, I am giving you the floor but I will take it back when I see fit."

"Thank you, Zay." Farkle cleared his throat, "I -"

"Farkle's father," Zay was ready to take back the spotlight. He strode around the lunch table, holding his girlfriend in his other hand. "Has gifted all of us hotel rooms for after prom."

The group murmured their surprise and excitement. "Yeah," Farkle thought it was safe to speak. "After telling him how far away the venue was, he thought it would easier to have a closer place to crash. It's like a graduation gift to all of us."

"Also, it probably doesn't hurt that he owns part of the hotel?" Maya said, chewing a straw.

"No, it doesn't." Farkle added matter-of-factly.

"How many rooms?" Smackle asked.

"Three."

"Only three?"

"Yeah. He said it's because: One, it's prom season and there's a business convention in town, so there were limited rooms available and to bump everyone would look bad. And two, he knows that most of us are in relationships with one another so even he gave us the entire floor to ourselves, we'd probably end up in each other's rooms anyway."

"Smart man," Zay replied.

"Do our parents know?" Riley said.

"Yes. That's why your dad has been looking at me like that all week. "Farkle subtly nodded south of the cafeteria. Mr. Matthews has been staring Farkle down every time they were near each other. That was normal as Cory was distrusting of anyone dating his daughter but the added 'I've Got My Eyes On You' gesture was new and he'd pop up at the strangest of times. Like now, where Mr. Matthews definitely had a class to teach but there he was, two tables away with he eyebrows slanting in the middle and eating his pudding cup.

"And that's why I wanted to clear up our assignments for the evening." Zay stated.

"Well, I'm not comfortable with this." Lucas spoke up. "I make my own money in the garage, I don't want your dad paying for things he doesn't have to. I'll pay whatever my spot's worth."

"That's really OK. I mean, we can certainly afford it." Farkle said. "It's his gift to you, Lucas."

"Thank you but I really don't need a gift from your dad, Farkle." He tried to be polite but it was coming across as annoyed.

"Lucas, it's really not a problem - " Farkle tried to assure him.

"I'm going to pay him back. Every. Cent." Lucas pointed his finger at him, making sure he understood that if he thought that Lucas could be bought, the genius was wrong. But he knew that Farkle wasn't trying to use the hotel room as a bribe. Deep down, Lucas knows that not who Farkle is. This was about him and his southern pride. He couldn't let the guy who stole his girlfriend also pay for an expensive hotel room for him. It felt emasculating.

Everyone could tell Farkle was a little hurt but he nodded, "Sure, Lucas. I'll ask my dad to get the costs together."

Zay cleared his throat to break the tension, "Let's talk about room arrangements, shall we?" Gradually, all eyes went to Maya and Lucas. Realizing that there were four pairs of lookers on them, Maya realized with a carrot stick hanging from her lips that they wanted to know if she and Lucas could share a room together for a night. Alone.

Internally, Maya was freaking out about sharing a hotel room with Lucas. They have spent the night together before but it was very different circumstances. Sometimes, it'd be the whole gang having a sleep over and everyone would be sprawled on the floor. More recently, post Riley and Farkle's affair, if she was hanging at his house and they got caught up in a conversation or too many Black Mirror episodes, she'd nod off on his bed. When she woke up, Lucas would either be on the floor or on his couch. Maya would sometimes fantasize that one morning, Lucas would be just lying next to her. His chest would lightly rise and fall. She'd probably try and balance a pen on his nose. She'd definitely draw him, until he wakes up. But there was no way on God's green earth that this would happen.

She couldn't stop her cheeks from being flushed but Maya was at least able to control the indifferent tone of her voice. "What is everyone staring at? Me and Howdy Doody slept in the same room before. It isn't a big deal."

The table made a collective sigh of relief. Lucas snacked on the same carrots from her lunch tray, smiling at her and pinching Maya's cheek. When he let go, she acted if she would bite his fingers. Maybe, she didn't have anything to worry about. Everything is fine. Nothing has to change.


hey what color is your dress?

why? scared we'll match?

haha no. i just have plans.

oh? what plans?

nothin you gotta worry about *pancake emoji*

if you don't tell me what you're doing then i won't tell you the color of my dress *lamb emoji*

have you no trust?

do you know who you're talking to?

surprise it is then.

i hate surprises.

i know and too bad.

i hate you.

great.


Even in the face of her serious pessimism, Maya had to admit she looked really, really good. When she first tried on the dress in front of her mom and friends, she said that she felt too much like she was getting married in the whiteness of it all. Katy used to help Gammy make dresses back in Oklahoma and she told her after removal of all the tulle and frou-frou, she could make Maya the dress of her dreams. Clutterbucket delivered. When she removed the puffy material, she reshaped the embroidered gown into a flattering, hugging with long Victorian sleeves. She didn't like a lot skin but did want plunging neckline, as her baby-girl was now becoming a woman. Her makeup was classic with a red lip and her strands of her hair was out of her face in a low bun but most of her blond lock cascaded down her back.

Maya was admiring herself in Riley's mirror, memorizing the transformation. Her best friend crept up behind her, playing with her hair. Riley was in nothing less than a violet princess gown, wearing hair extensions to have a fishtail braid. She looked like a fairy-tale.

She held her from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder smiling, "are you ready?"

Holding hands, Maya and Riley went to the rooftop to meet the rest of the pre-prom party. The sunset was painting everyone's faces that lovely gold that Maya adored, bathing their smiles beautifully.

When Riley arrived, she announced in a grand voice, gesturing her arms out "friends! Family! Welcome." She floated to Farkle and he rightly bowed, kissing her hand. Cory shouted, "no!" and Topanga hushed him, pulling him back. Zay and Smackle were in the corner of the roof, taking pictures. Smackle was in an elegant turquoise dress and Zay had a matching bow tie. Lastly, Lucas was speaking to his parents, Josie and Dean, when suddenly their eyes locked. Maya made an uncertain smile, meanwhile Lucas looked dumbstruck. She was on her way over to him when Katy and Shawn got to her first.

"Baby-girl!"Her mother wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug, squealing.

"Oh, mom." Maya sighed before laughing.

Lucas' father was speaking to him about something. He doubted it was really important because the year was over. He was graduating in the top 30 of his class, going to Baylor University in the fall on a baseball scholarship; life was good. Lucas could relax now. So, then why was his heart beating so fast, staring at Maya? He always knew how beautiful Maya was but in that dress, she was breathtaking.

"Lucas? Son, do you hear me?" Dean asked him, with a deeper accent than Maya could have ever imagined.

"Sorry, sir. I didn't."

"Oh, he was just talking about how proud he is again." Josie leaned on her husband, her blue eyes sparkling. "I think you're embarrassing him, now."

"Me? C'mon, Josie. You know better than that." The Friars laughed together as the Clutterbucket-Hart-Hunters approached them. Their parents exchanged pleasantries and discreetly, Lucas took one giant step to be next to Maya.

She was watching the real adults talk when she felt Lucas staring at her. Her face got hot.

"What?" Maya said to him.

"Nothing." He answered smiling. Lucas didn't stop staring.

"Seriously, Hop-a-long, what?" She chuckled a little uncomfortably.

"Nothing! You just look... incredible."

Maya was definitely uncomfortable now. This whole thing was a mistake but it was too late. She laughed it off, "fon't go fallin' in love with me now, Huckleberry."

"OK, it's time to get Lucas and Maya's pictures!" Topanga called them over. The two of them walked to the roof's edge. As they were about to pose, Lucas raised up his hand.

"Oh, wait. Hold on. I'm not ready yet."

"What are you talking about? What are you doing?" Maya asked. Suddenly, Lucas took out a bolo-tie from his back pocket. Then, he went to the refreshment table and brought out two cowboy hats. One was black, the other was ivory. He put the black one on to match with his ensemble and he handed the other to Maya. "Milady," he smirked. The party made surprised sounds and snapped candid pictures.

"You're a psycho." Maya aimed that at Lucas, but was looking at the Stetson.

"Hah-hurr." He lightly answered back.

Maya glanced back and forth between the hat and his eyes. "I'm not wearing that. You had to know I wouldn't wear that."

"You don't have to wear it all night. Just for pictures. C'mon. I'm the western hero you've always wanted and you know it."

Maya rolled her eyes and put the hat on, thankful that she didn't let her mother and Riley talk her into an up-do. She turned and pressed her body against his. His hands lightly held her waist, doing the signature prom pose. Their family and friends giggled and cooed at how silly they were, yet how adorable they looked.

Through her staged smile, Maya whispered, "how did you figure out what color my dress was?"

"Riley." It was extremely late notice. Lucas got over himself about two hours before the pre-prom party because he wanted to execute his plan. She didn't ask him why or give him a hard time about either; just a plain, one-word answer. He appreciated it.

Maya was pleasantly appalled, "well, well, well. Look at you, texting people that aren't me or Zay..."

"I had to start talking to normal people again. Ya'll were givin' me a headache."

"Lone Star, these heels are six inches, so I suggest you watch your mouth."

After pictures and parents giving their warnings of what not to do, the gang was escorted in a stretch limousine, courtesy of Mr. Minkus. When Smackle looked in the cooler for beverages, she found a champagne bottle and a case of Blue Moon beer, which Farkle said had to left there by mistake. His dad could be liberal but not this liberal. They took a vote on whether to drink the alcohol or not. Four to six were in favor of drinking: Riley didn't want a repeat of Junior Prom, where she threw food at people and Lucas just didn't like champagne or Blue Moon. Still, they all had one flute of Cristal except for Lucas, who opted for the beer. When he popped open the crown with his thumb, Maya jeered, "you're from Texas! We get it! We know!"

When they entered the venue, the theme was Storybook Fairytale. Vines twirled up to the ceiling and twinkling lights dressed up the trees. Blooming white roses were at each table. It was homely, yet romantic and elegant.

"Wow, Riley." Maya nudged her. "This is incredible."

The prom committee member flipped her braid back, "stop it."

"C'mon Smoopie," Smackle said to Zay, "I want to burn up the dance floor." She dragged her date by his tie and they began to dance to the pop from the DJ. Soon, Riley and Farkle joined in, with the boy spinning the girl into the crowd. Then, it was just Lucas and Maya. Lucas rocked back and forth, waiting to see what move Maya would make.

Maya saw this and instead of indulging him said, "I'm gonna go get some shrimp cocktail."

On impulse, Lucas took her hand and pulled her back to his chest. "Dance first. That's our deal."

Maya blushed and whined, "make it quick. I'm not built for square dancing."

"I'll be gentle."

Maya had to wonder if Lucas was just trying to make her face an unusual shade of red. She knew he was definitely was when he picked her up and spun her.

Back to earth, she scowled at him, "do you want a death wish, you jerk!"

"No ma'am!" Lucas shouted over the music. "I'm just having fun!" He whooped, holding Maya's hands and making her move. She was laughing at him.

"You're such an idiot, you know that?" She smiled.

"Yeah, I know." Lucas took Maya in his arms and continued to dance with her, spinning her occasionally - even dipping her - to catch her off guard and to make her smile again. She cussed him out a couple times, but it was worth it to see her have a good time.


Maya's feet were in a great deal of pain. Blisters galore, but not just from her cowboy date. She danced with her other friends (Riley more than once) and she ran into some acquaintances from over the years. Some of them hugged her, saying they were glad she came. Watching everyone be so sublimely happy from a dining table, Maya could only admit to herself that she was too. Even if she didn't always love it, there was going to be a lot to miss about high school. The art room, the gooey cookies that Bertha would make on Tuesdays but most of all, seeing her favorite people everyday. She was getting a bit misty-eyed, almost crying into the shrimp sauce.

"Maya." The voice of someone she used to love. Her first ex-boyfriend came towards her with that same strut that he had in middle school.

"Brandon. Didn't expect to see you here." Her voice was monotone, as she kicked off her shoes underneath the table.

"You either, but I see that you came with Golden Boy." Brandon invited himself to a seat near her. In the candlelight, the shadows framed him as a young, old Hollywood movie star with swarthy features and dark eyes. He even spoke the part."That didn't take long, did it? Just... five years or so."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Maya plopped another shrimp in her mouth.

"You and Lucas? You two always had a thing for each other." Brandon recounted and Maya grit her teeth, hating how their chemistry was so palpable that the whole school could see it.

"OK," she wiped her hands and turned to look at Brandon for the first time since he sat at her empty table. "Number 1: I am only here because Riley made me come - "

"Nobody makes you do anything, Maya - "

"Two: who I'm dating, talking, or even breathing next to stopped being your business the minute you started to accept body shots of other girls on your phone." She seethed.

Brandon and Maya dated for one year. He stayed in the background mostly, only appearing to color some witty or mysterious commentary. But then one day, out the blue, he strolls up to her in the library and asks her on a date. It was so cool and casual, Riley didn't know what to make of it but Maya took it as confidence which she liked. During their first date of skee-ball and pizza, she asked what took him so long and he said she wasn't the easiest to get next to, which he liked. She had sex with him. Less because she thought she loved him, more because she just wanted to get it over with. Still, he fit in with the group pretty well and she knew that not many things could go wrong dating Brandon because she thought they were so similar, until last summer. At Yindra's 4th of July party, Sarah purposely spilled her drink on Maya, sparking an argument that led to her revealing she was fucking her boyfriend. Brandon was a rebel but not a liar. He told her the truth and she stopped speaking to him after that.

He sucked in his lips and nodded, "I know."

"Do better to act like it, then."

"I still miss you, though." He was gradually reaching out to touch her arm when like a knight in shining armor, Lucas appeared.

"Hey, Brandon." Lucas looked down on him with a nakedly menacing stare. From across the hall, he saw him sliver to Maya. When they first broke up, Lucas was on his guard and got in his face the numerous times he tried to reconcile with her. This time, he was too far away to intercept. "Do we have a problem?" He stepped closer to him, puffing his chest out. From the first moment he saw Maya cry the first tear over him, Lucas had been dying to get one good hit.

"No, man. Just reminiscing with the one that got away." Hearing that, Maya softened her edges.

"Well, visiting hours are over now." He rudely motioned with his hand for Brandon to get out of dodge. Promptly, he got up from his sit raising his hands like a white flag. When he vamoosed, Lucas sat next to Maya. "What was that about?"

"I don't know." Maya sighed.

"Yes, you do."

"... I guess he wants to give it another shot or something."

Lucas squinted, trying to read her porcelain features. "... and what about you?" Maya shrugged haplessly. Lucas shook his head with contempt, "man, I hate it when you play dumb." He said to himself.

Maya did a double take. "Excuse me?"

The speakers released feedback and the music cut off. Missy Bradford graced the stage, holding the microphone in her hand like it was her life-line. "Hello, senior class!" The crowd cheered. Lucas left his seat to go into the crowd but not without Maya. He yanked her up to join him. Soon after, Riley and Farkle did the same.

"Hey, have you guys seen Zay and Smackle?" Farkle asked them. All of a sudden, they also noticed the newest couple was nowhere to be found.

"Do you guys want to look for them and then, get out of here?" Maya suggested. She was all prom'd out and full of shrimp and just wanted to go to sleep.

"Sounds good to me." Lucas agreed.

"Hmm... I guess we don't need to know who wins prom king and queen. It's not like I will, anyway." Riley had a tiny frown.

"And I really don't care if I do, so, shall we?" Lucas was about to create an exit when Missy shouted, "our prom king is Lucas Friar!"

Shit. When the beam shone his face he tried to make his expression more jovial. His sports comrades crowded around him, chanting his name and pushing to the stage like a sacrifice. Maya wanted to be a little bit pissed because she kept thinking about how those 500-count threaded sheets were calling her name but it was amusing, seeing how clearly uncomfortable he was and how many people loved him.

He took off his cowboy hat and let Missy crown him with the gilded plastic. He won last year, with Riley as his queen. The moment would have been sweet, if his girlfriend hadn't been so wasted. He was holding her hair back when she put her vomit in a plant. He pretended that it was alright for her to puke on his suit. He pretended that she was still attractive to him with vomit in her hair. She asked him if he still loved her and he said yes. He didn't lie about that or, at the time he didn't think he was lying. But Riley was right. They never loved each other the way a couple should. While he didn't know who his queen would be this year, at least Lucas knew that he wouldn't have to pretend. Couples shouldn't have to pretend.

After what felt like centuries, Missy cleared her throat and prepared to open the other envelope. He knew it wouldn't be her, but Lucas hoped that Maya's name would be called. Would've been nice to have a familiar face with him in this madness. Little did he know, he'd get his wish, just not exactly the way he wanted.

"And your prom queen is..." A smirk played on her face, like she had a secret that would destroy her favorite enemies' life. "Interesting. Riley Matthews!"

Maya and Farkle looked onto Riley and they all had the same crazy, wide eyes. Everyone knew about what happened with the new triangle: Lucas, Riley and Farkle. Every single person. Still, she won prom queen. How? Why? Were they going to Carrie her or something?

"Maya..." Riley said weak and scared, during all the noise of people applauding.

"You won, Honey. Let's go get your crown." Maya softly encouraged her and walked by her side to the stage. Truthfully, Maya was kind of apprehensive too. In light of the affair, people did see Riley differently but they still liked her because they knew he was good person who did a bad thing. But to vote for Lucas too? Making them king and queen together? Knowing the type of history they had? Either their class were really a bunch of assholes who just wanted to be entertained or... they really thought Riley and Lucas belonged together. Even if she and Lucas did have a "thing" for each other, that couldn't beat fate. Things couldn't beat the universe.

Riley bowed in her gown as Missy placed the tiara on her head. Maya watched, thinking how if a 13-year-old version of her best friend was watching this, she'd be shitting herself. Her shocked brown eyes looked to Maya and nervously waved. Maya laughed with her arms folded, off-stage watching her two favorite people look awkward as all hell. She knew that maybe she should be feeling kind of sad but, she couldn't help it. Life had one hell of a sense of humor.

"Please clear the floor as the prom king and queen take their dance."

Suddenly, she remembered Farkle. He stared off into the crowd, not knowing what to make of the situation. Poor Farkle. Maya rushed down from the stage to be with him. She wrapped around his arm and surprised, he looked down at her.

"Should we be worried?" He asked, more charmed by it then anything else. Turns out Farkle realized life could be a sarcastic dick, too. Maya didn't need to take care of him.

"I say, let's make a run for it. You and me against the world." She joked.

"Well, shit. The world is fuuucked." Farkle made the same goofy smile he had in middle school.

"Very articulately put." Maya returned and began to slow-dance with one her oldest friends. The melody was easy and dreamy. Couples swayed together, while Riley and Lucas danced in the spotlight.


Lucas knew that he could have refused to dance with Riley. That's probably what people wanted to see anyway. Too bad he wasn't a cruel person. Besides, Riley was positively miserable and incredibly stiff. His right hand was in her hand and his left hand was on her waist. They couldn't be farther apart from each other.

"I'm sorry about this, Lucas." She whispered to him. Of course she had to talk.

"It's not your fault, Riley." He said, in a flat voice that was barely comforting.

"This must be horrible for you." Lucas didn't respond, he just looked elsewhere. "I'm sorry about everything."

"You've said that."

"But I mean it, Lucas!" Riley cried to him, pleading with her eyes. "Truly. You're... one of the best people I will ever know. I don't deserve your friendship or your forgiveness. I accept that. Still, I just... I need you to know how disgraceful I feel. How sorry I am. How much I miss you."

Swallowing a reluctant lump in his throat, Lucas nodded and said after a moment, "I know. I miss you too, Riley."

"I don't regret us, Lucas. I shared so many firsts with you and I'm happy about that. I know that you probably feel differently though-"

"No." Lucas cut her off in a low voice. This might've been the most honest discussion they've had since they first started dating. "I said that I was happy that you were my first girlfriend before and I still mean that."

Unable to stop her tears, Riley rested her head on Lucas' shoulder. "Lucas, do you ever want 7th grade back?"

"All the time."

"This may sound really dumb, but - I'll be happy for the time that we can be friends again, like we were when we first met."

"We can't have that again, Riley." She sniffled. "But, now, after everything we've been through, I think our friendship will be better than 7th grade. Better than ever."

Her glistening eyes met his, "do you mean it?"

Lucas gave her a crooked, truthful smile. "I do." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Maya and Farkle nearby. He danced with Riley toward them and tapped Farkle's shoulder. "Hey. I think she belongs to you."

Farkle made a warm grin, before playfully turning to Maya. "Should we restore order?"

"Mmm... yeah. The world doesn't deserve us together." She winked to him. The men traded their woman to one another.

Farkle nodded to Lucas, "thanks, Lucas." Lucas returned the gesture.

The strong Texan's hands held Maya's petite frame like she was made of glass, she felt so precious. Her arms sat on top of his as she tried not to press her against him in the packed crowd, as he might feel her heart beating out of her chest.

Now that I've worn out, I've worn out the world
I'm on my knees in fascination
Looking through the night
And the moon's never seen me before
But I'm reflecting light

"Now, was that so bad?" Maya asked the Prom King about the dance with his Queen.

"No. No, it wasn't terrible," he revealed, after thinking to himself.

Maya's eyes noticed Lucas searching aimlessly above her head. "What are you looking for?"

"Zay and Smackle. It's been an hour since we last saw them." His view scanned the room for his friends. Maya twisted around in his grip, looking for them as well.

"Well, I don't see them. They're probably fine, anyways." Maya reasoned.

"Of course you don't see them, Shortstack. You can't see anything from all the way down there..." Which gave Lucas the idea to randomly lift the small girl above his head, above the sea of students.

Panicking, Maya squirmed in his hands. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"Can you see them?"

"No! Now, put me down! I'm not Simba, for Christ's sake!" Maya commanded.

"As you wish." Gradually, Lucas' gravity set Maya back down but they way she was staring into his eyes made him feel like he was in the starriest of skies.

Give up the ground
Under your feet
Hold on to nothing for good
Turn and run at the mean dogs
Chasing you
Stand-alone and misunderstood

Maya was in Lucas' hands, still inches from the wood floor. He was staring at her again, the same way he did on the rooftop. She barely felt her heels kiss the ground, gazing into him. If possible, she Maya felt like they were in another bubble together; a snow globe of the innocence that comes from two people that trust each other and are genuine. No agendas, no secrets... or none that can't wait a little while longer, long enough for Maya to remember that nothing can happen between them. Nothing should happen. Nothing will.

Now that I've worn out, I've worn out the world
I'm on my knees in fascination
Looking through the night
And the moon's never seen me before
But I'm reflecting light

The violins bled with Maya's heart and she hated Lucas so much in this moment because he'd never know. How cruel, that she had to carry all of her complex feelings by herself? Oh well. She was used to it and in that, her and the western hero were more alike than she could ever realize. All the time, Lucas thought about if things were different, especially now that he and Maya have become thick as thieves. He thought about how if he had chosen Maya, they've probably would've fought all the time, like everyone said they would but now, he understood that those fights would've been full of love, instead of animosity. Challenging each other was how they showed their care. He wished he realized it then, but another 'oh well'. Too late now. Maya was his friend and for that, Lucas was eternally grateful.

Maya saw the dumb and soft grin playing at Lucas' narrow lips and she asked, "what're you smiling at?" Her voice was little, under the same spell.

"Nothing." He replied, smile never wavering.

"OK." She accepted it much easier than expected. Maybe because they were thinking the same thing.

Too soon, the music stopped but Lucas and Maya were still in a waltz position. But then, Riley and Farkle charged up to them, declaring that they needed to go back to the hotel immediately as Zay and Smackle weren't answering their phones.


"Are you sure this is the floor?" The gang fled down the hall of the 7th floor of the grand hotel with their overnight bags.

"Farkle, I thought you had the room keys?" Lucas asked.

"I do."

"Then, how could they have gotten in?" The older boy reasoned. "Guys, they're probably at one of their houses or something because they didn't want to wait for us."

"They still should've at least texted one of us." Riley said as the mother of the group.

"And with Isadora's genius and Zay's charisma, I put nothing past them." Farkle countered, arriving at their room. He used his thin knuckles to tap on the door but when that wasn't loud enough, Lucas hovered over him and did a police knock.

"Zay! Smackle!" No response. He knocked again, calling his best friend's name. "Zay, op-"

The heavy gold door flung open, to reveal a shirtless Zay. They did a collective sigh of relief when he greeted them with a lazy smile, "Hey guys."

"What happened to you for the last few hours?" Lucas interrogated, next came Farkle, "and how did you get into the hotel room?"

"Well, it's like this-" Suddenly, Isadora in presumably Zay's dress shirt appeared in front of her boyfriend and yelled at them, "GET LOST!" She slammed the door in all of their faces.

As they all glanced at each other with a mix of entertainment and perplexity, Lucas made a toothy smirk, "See? Told you they were fine."

After Farkle slid their room key under the door with a huff, he graced Maya with another key for room 710, two doors down. Riley and Farkle would be across the hall.

Riley gave Maya a bear hug to say goodbye for the night. She couldn't help the tears from falling. Maya wiped them away, "Honey, what's wrong?"

"It's almost over, isn't it?" She quietly sobbed. Maya made a crooked smile, palmed her face and took her best friend back into her arms to let her cry some more. The boys made somber looks to each other, as the blonde kissed both of Riley's cheeks and whispered, "Riles, it's just beginning." Maya walked her over to Farkle and her eyes rimmed with pink but her voice hid her emotions pretty well."Take care of her."

"Yes, boss." Farkle complied with a nod and he led Riley by the small of her back. "Goodnight, guys."

"Goodnight."

Lucas noticed his friend evading his eye-line, trying particularly hard to stuff the key card in the door. He squatted a little lower, trying to peer underneath Maya's hair to see her face. "You OK, buddy?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." She muttered, pushing open the door with her whole tiny body. Revealed was a hotel room so lavish, one could only think that the penthouse must've looked like Versailles. The television almost took up the entire wall. Little crystals hung from the night lamps in a way that wasn't gaudy, somehow. Expensive art hung from the walls and Maya brushed the dried paint strokes with her fingers. The mini-fridges had all types of packaged delicacies. And lastly, the bed. The bed was fit for village, with Egyptian cotton quilts dyed a wealthy sage green. Maya ran and jumped on the bed, bouncing up and down on a cloud.

She groaned with pleasure, "Oh my God... I think I'm pregnant." She closed her eyes with a blissful smile.

Carefully, Lucas laid down next to her and with each bit of mattress hitting his body, the more he felt like he was entering Heaven. "Oh. Oh, Jesus."

"Right?"

He folded his hands, like he was laying in a coffin. "I'm never leaving this bed."

"I will graduate from Abigail Adams in this bed." Maya kicked off her shoes.

"I will go to four years of college in Texas, graduate and treat sick animals from this bed."

"I will give birth to pillow babies, conceived from this bed, in this bed."

"... Ew." Lucas' mouth pulled a line and immediately, Maya started chuckling. It became contagious and Lucas began to laugh too, even as Maya hit him with a pillow full of feathers. He sighed and rolled over, "Even getting beaten with pillows feels like being touched by an angel." His lids slowly opened and closed, staring into Maya's eyes. She watched him the whole time, forgetting herself again. He hummed, "what?"

Maya cleared her throat and sprouted up, "nothing, uh, I'm gonna get changed in the bathroom." She almost ran into the apartment that pretended to be a restroom, it was so goddamn big. Her hands tried to reach the zipper on her back and after many tries, she couldn't succeed. Maya looked in the mirror, examining the dress from top to bottom. She couldn't get it off and there was no other way out without ruining the dress. She had no other options. Maya huffed at her own reflection, judging her whole existence.

Maya broke open the door and called him, "Huckleberry." Of course, he was already undressed in a tank top and pajama pants, the handsome southern devil. Maya showed him her back, "unzip me."

"Oh... sure." The top of the clasp started half-way down her spine. His fingers lightly tugged the zipper down, exposing her lily white skin and groove down her back. Lucas had to keep himself from tracing the line with his fingertip. When she felt like too much time has passed, Maya grumbled her thanks and went back into the bathroom. He licked his lips and continued to hang up his tuxedo. By the time he put his formal wear and crown in his Nike bag, did some of his night workout routine and called his mother to tell her they were safe, Maya finally came out. She was wearing an over-sized Backstreet Boys t-shirt her mother owned and some satin baggy shorts. Her makeup was gone but her eyebrows were still very thick and dark. She walked over to the bed and climbed inside. Lucas grabbed a pillow and threw it on the floor. He found blankets in the closet, making himself a tiny area in front of the plasma.

"What are you doing?" Maya asked him as he was trying to get comfortable.

"Going to sleep."

"On the floor?"

"Where else am I supposed to sleep? You always sleep on the bed."

"Yeah, but... I can't make you sleep on the floor on your prom night. I'm not that much of a bitch."

"You're not a bitch at all and you're not making me do anything." He tried to shut his eyes and nod off.

"God, Huckleberry, just get up here." She said quickly, without thinking.

One green eye popped open, "You sure?"

"Before I change my mind." Maya warned him. Lucas sat back up and hovered over the bed.

"Do you want to sleep feet to face?"

"So I can have your corns right near my nose? I'm good, thanks." Maya sighed in annoyance. "We can lay the same way, just sleep on top of the covers."

"As you wish." Lucas crawled to the top of the bed to rest next to Maya. With every dip in the mattress, Maya became rigid with panic. She shouldn't have been so nice to invite him into bed with her. There was a reason he slept on the floor at their houses: because it was inappropriate, although it shouldn't be. Riley sleeps in bed with her all the time and they're just friends. Maya thought of Lucas the same way, she forced herself to think of him the same way. Her back was to him and her thoughts were so loud and violating. Lucas was silent but there was no way even he could fall asleep that fast.

"Huckleberry?" She muttered. He was silent. "Huckleberry?" Suddenly, Lucas made a deep and so fake snore that caused Maya to lean over slap him on the arm. "I know you're not sleeping, you ass!"

He chuckled, coming back to life. "What is it, Maya?"

"... earlier, you said that you hate it when I play dumb. What did you mean?"

Slowly, Lucas's chest deflated the air he was holding in. "Maya, you are one of the most honest people I have ever met. I think a lot of the time, you know what you want and why but... it's like you're waiting for permission or approval from someone else to act. Or you don't trust yourself, which breaks my heart because, you're wonderful. Too amazing and smart not to trust yourself and it's like, you don't trust us either. Like, we'll abandon you or something if you say the wrong thing but you know that'd never happen. You should, anyway. You don't have to wait for the coast to be clear, Maya. I always want you to know you are safe and I want you to be happy. I know the others want that too. Even if I don't always agree with you or the decisions you make... I love you."

Thank God, their backs were to each other. Maya was on the verge of crying, again. Why did he always have to be such a... Huckleberry?

"So, with that being said," Lucas nuzzled into his pillow. "Brandon."

"... I could get back together with him."

"Why?"

"Because... I know him now. I know not to get all caught up in this fantasy and believe that I am finally with someone who'll never hurt me because, he's done it before. So, he'll probably do it again and when he does, it won't hurt so badly."

"Maya." His voice sounded really firm. "Maya, look at me." Almost afraid, the little body shifted around to see emerald eyes shining and gazing into her. "You don't deserve pain. You deserve to be hurt, OK? I don't care what you think and I don't know what I gotta do to make you see that."

"I don't think I deserve it! I really don't I just... I'm used to it. It's what I know."

"Good things have been a part of your life, Maya. Like your mom getting married and Riley..."

"Yeah but I've had more of the bad and then, stupid graduation is coming up."

"... is that why you were crying when you opened our door? Because Riley was talking about the year was almost over?"

"You're all going off to your fancy colleges, meanwhile I - "

"There's nothing wrong with community college, Maya."

"But I'm still getting left behind!"

"No, you're not! OK, some of us are going away. Zay'll be in Philly and Smackle's going to Boston but, your two best friends in the whole world? Farkle and Riley? They'll be here in the city with you. You're not gonna be alone."

"Yeah, but what about-" Maya caught herself and spun back around before she could say anymore.

"What about what, Maya?" He demanded.

"Nothing, Huckleberry. Just forget it."

"What, Maya?" He continued to push, nearly angry.

"I said nothing! God, Lucas, are you dumb? Just drop it and go to sleep!" She heaved distressingly, covering her tears once more. After bits of quiet elapsed, she felt the heat of Lucas' body get closer to her. He swiftly rolled up to the side of her bed, to put his lips a centimeter away from her ear. The curl on the nape of her neck stood straight up.

"By the way," he sighed, "if you think for one second that I'm not going to call, text, email, skype, send a letter, message in a bottle - find some, any way to talk you everyday when I'm in Texas, you're the one who's dumb."

Lucas swung back to his side and said nothing more. Maya wanted to reach back over and apologize but she didn't.


OK, so, Lucas Friar's scruff could cure any terminal illness, Maya concluded the next morning. His chin was in her neck, scratching all the itches she didn't know she had. She had no idea how long his arms were around her but she wouldn't stop it for the world. It was so warm and disgustingly cute, the only type of thing she'd see in the movies Riley loved. Still, Maya didn't hate it. Not one bit. In fact, her bladder had been bugging her for at least 5 minutes now but then, Lucas moaned and burrowed himself deeper into her neck, holding her tighter and she was willingly paralyzed. Of course, eventually, Lucas did have to wake up.

It was slow. His lids were heavy with sleep and Lucas groaned, liberally moving his hands along this small frame against him. He didn't know who he thought he was holding. Not Riley, though but someone familiar. They smelled like strawberries, probably shampoo but it was so sweet. When his eyes opened by degrees, he remembered that the only person that could be next to him was Maya. This, this was the epitome of him fucking things up between them. Making things weird. Losing her. So, Lucas blasted himself away, so hard that he fell off the bed with a thud.

Maya was quite the actress and feigned like she was just rising. She yawned and tried to keep herself from laughing at him, "what happened? Did you you just fall?"

He jumped up and uneasily carded his hand through his bed-hair, "No, no, uh..." He reached for his phone as a prop. "Riley has been texting us. We're were supposed to meet everyone for breakfast in Farkle's room a half-hour ago." That wasn't a lie. Maya knew that but she ignored the message in favored of being spooned.

"OK."

First, Maya sped into the bathroom to whiz. Then, she let Lucas in so they could both brush their teeth. They stood before a long mirror, spitting out their foam. He caught Maya staring at him in the reflection.

"What?" He said with a mouth full of foam.

"When's the last time you shaved?" She asked, lazily brushing so she could still talk clearly.

Lucas covered the side of his mouth to spit in his own sink. "I don't know. Dad wants me to for graduation but... I don't know." He then massaged the fuzz, trying to remember what a clean face felt like. He's been trimming but never completely removing the hair. "Do you think I should?"

"Hmm..." Maya hummed, before spitting. "Well... don't take this the wrong way or anything but... like you're beard reminds me of like, an thick bush vag from the 70's."

Uncontrollably, Lucas spewed the white froth onto the mirror in guffaws of laughter. Maya's alert and lively eyes saw how hard she made him laugh, but was still a bit grossed out. She teased him with a grin, "EWWWWWW! Are you four?! You're gross!"

"I'm sorry!" He wiped his mouth with a monogrammed towel, then cleaned off the mirror too. Next, Lucas fixed the bed and put the blankets he used back into the closet.

"You know there are people paid to do that, right?" Maya inquired, lounging in a huge easy-chair.

Lucas shrugged, "I make the mess, I clean it up. It's common courtesy."

"Ugh, such a Huckleberry."

"With a face full of pubes."

Maya sputtered on her chuckles. "OK, I didn't say it like that."

Lucas opened the hotel door for her, "you didn't not say it like that."

"It's not bad, though." Maya said, reaching up to touch the sides of it.

"Really?"

"Yeah... for a pube-face."

Lucas made a small grin, "new nickname?"

"New nickname." Maya answered, with the same grin.

Nothing has to change.


AN: 12,000 words. Ridiculous. Thank you so much if you made it this far, I appreciate it. If you liked what you read, please review. Thanks.