To All 200 Viewers in the first 4 Hours of me posting this, the 500 8 hours since, as well as to the guest reviewer who said you like my story, I thank you all. I hope you all enjoy this next chapter I've been working on. This is the last one I had started since I posted. Before I begin, I would like to also add I view them as 14, which is around the middle of their 8th grade year. Also, this chapter is predominantly Riley, with a LOT of Maya and Lucas. Now, with that, onto the longest chapter, Chapter 4!
Riley's POV: (Same Events)
"Now before we go any further..." Huh? I took my time writing down the dates. Could this be it? He wasn't nervous... Wow. He's good.
"Alright, yeah...?" I said, being nervous for him.
"It's time for my surprise." Oh... That's why he's not nervous. I have been waiting for this though. "I was thinking I could come over, to your house, and do the project with you today and tomorrow. At your house." Wow. Dad was right. I LOVE IT! Stay cool. Stay calm. Can't. Show. Excitement. AHHHHH! "Is that... Okay?" ARE YOU KIDDING! Of COURSE it is!
"Um... Yeah... Of course. But, did you ask my... Dad?" My way of keeping excitement contained- asking stupid questions I already know the answer to. It's a habit.
"Yeah. I did this morning. Well, yesterday too, but mostly this morning." WOO HOO!
"Then yeah, it sounds great! Does your mom know?" Uh great. There's dad.
"Yes, she does. I told her in the email. You're all set for both days." AW YEAH!
"Thank you sir!" Lucas said still being the respectful kid he was.
"Your welcome. Also, don't forget dates. Not just years." He said referring to the dates I wrote.
"Oops. January 20th and November 22nd right?" He asked my dad, who had left.
"Yup. Also, his VP was Lyndon Johnson and Eisenhower was before him." I tried to show off my knowledge to him.
"Wow. This won't be that hard." He told me, and we both smiled. Then I saw Maya and Farkle... They were enjoying school. Farkle was really rubbing off on Maya. It was good to see. She- they- seem happy. You know... This project might be good for everybody.
Riley and Maya back at the Matthews Residence:
"Hey, where's Lucas?" Maya asked me.
"Oh... He's getting something from home."
"What's up with you guys anyways?" Maya... Don't dig from me. You will regret it.
"Well..." (She talks for a half hour while they wait for the sub about how she likes Lucas)
"Maya? Are you still alive?" I hope my rambling didn't destroy her. Another habit of mine.
"Yes. Are you finished?" She asked.
"You asked, so I told you." Told you she would regret it.
"Fine. So, I did listen. Yet, I still don't understand something." Hmph. I doubt it.
"Which is?"
"You always say you don't like him around everybody else EXCEPT for me. Around me, and if your mom is alone, her too, you act like he's going to be your husband." OH! More fantasies to imagine! More things to Dream!
"Okay...?" I still didn't hear a question.
"Why? Even around him you're the exact opposite as you are around me." Hmm... Okay...
"Well, to be honest, I don't know HOW to act around him. I need help with that." It's embarrassing, yes, but it's Maya.
"You've been doing fine. Keep doing the same thing. You know when to ramble, or be funny, or be absolutely silent, but even if all four of us, or the three of us are together, you're not you. Your dad probably even noticed by now. Here. Let's try something. Let's play a game." OH I like games! Especially ones where I learn.
"What game am I playing?"
"It's called role play. I'm Lucas you are yourself. Go."
"Hi Lucas." I say to the fake Lucas-Maya.
"Hi Riley. Are you ready for our project?"
"Sure. So, I was thinking..." (Riley Rambles) "Does that work?"
"Yeah. Sounds great. I thought we were doing JFK?"
"Permission to break character temporarily?" I asked
"Sure."
"Let's pretend we are doing Jefferson for this, because I'm not telling you any of our real plans, and vice Versa, so." I told her.
"Sounds good. Resume." This is hard...
"Riley?" She asked. Lucas... Ah...
"Yes Lucas?" Once again, still weird calling Maya Lucas...
"What are you thinking about?" The REAL Lucas, Maya...
"The fact that it's hard to call you Lucas, because you're not." The truth.
"I'll ramble for you... It's hard to call your best friend the guy you... Woah. Hey Lucas."
"Hey Maya. Hey Riley. What's up?" I'm... Stuck... This is harder than calling Maya Lucas!
"Well, Riley and I were just waiting for you to get here. Right Riley?" WHAT DO I SAY?!
"Yeah. Right." I smiled overly large.
"Okay... So... You have the rubric for the project?" I was still smiling really nervously.
"Yeah. I do." I actually spoke words out of my mouth to him. I'm still scared.
"Riley, what are you so scared of?" Maya asked me. URGH... IM NOT TALKING!
"Lucas... I'll be back in a minute. The supplies should be on the table. You can get started if you want, or wait for me." I told him having to have a talk with Maya, so I dragged her out of the room.
Lucas's POV: Same Events
I'm eavesdropping. I know that's not good to do, but still. I'm stuck waiting, why not listen in?
"What's up with you guys Anyways?" Maya's voice. Hmm...
"Well..." (Riley Rambles) I don't even have to pay any attention to what she's saying, all I know is that she sounds so cute when she goes on like that. Her voice. It's great if you can get her to use it. "Maya? Are you still alive?"
"Yes. Are you finished?" Aw... How mean!
"You asked, so, I told you." Haha! She told Maya... Ah... I'm just going to relax. Eavesdropping isn't my thing. I'll just play around with my phone games for a few minutes.
"Hi Lucas." I hear from Riley's voice. It sounds different then normal. I look up, and see nothing.
"Hi Riley, Are you ready for our project?" Ugh... Maya can NOT do my accent. It's Over Exaggerated! I just want to... I have to stay here. I have to listen in on this. Ah... A Riley Ramble. About Jefferson though? Huh.
"Yeah, sounds great, but I thought we were doing JFK?" That's... Something I would say. Oh, but she's not giving up any of our ideas... Smart girl. I like smart girls.
"Riley?" Maya asked her
"Yes, Lucas?"
"What are you thinking about?" This will be interesting.
"The fact that it's hard to call you Lucas, because you're not." Hmm... Good answer.
"Here, I'll ramble for you." Oh no. I'm not listening to this. "It's hard to call your best friend the guy you..." Then she saw me. ARGH. "Woah, Hey Lucas."
"Hey Maya, Hey Riley. What's up?" I scared Riley enough to get her bones shaking. Odd.
"Well, Riley and I were just waiting for you to get here. Right Riley?" She looked like she was being attacked by somebody violently she was so scared.
"Yeah. Right." I'm surprised she even said that. I don't want to frighten her...
"Okay... So... You have the rubric for the project?" I like her smile, even though it's not her real one. I've seen her smile much more real than this before.
"Yeah. I do." Wow. She actually answered. I'm surprised. She's still afraid to talk much though.
"Riley? What are you so scared of?" I would've asked that, but I didn't want to scare her any more. I'm glad Maya asked, because I was getting worried.
"Lucas... I'll be back in a minute. The supplies should be on the table. You can get started if you want, or wait for me." She explained. Um.. Okay? She dragged Maya out away from the door, probably to her room because I couldn't hear anything. It gives me some time to think about her. Thats nice.
A Couple Minutes Later:
"Riley, are you ready for this?" I heard Maya say.
"Yeah... I guess..." She said nervously. I then opened my eyes. WOAH.
"Wow. You... You..." I, Lucas Friar, was now the nervous one. I'm surprised I didn't faint. She... Well, let's just say at school, she was NOTHING compared to this.
"This isn't... An actual... Date... Right?" The way she was dressed, made it seem like it.
"Nope." Was all she said, with a popping P. Then she smiled her regular smile, and... I was done. I was hopelessly, in Love.
Maya's POV:
Riley just dragged me to her room. Ugh... Not going to help.
"I'm scared of HIM Maya! Lucas!" Of course.
"You have no reason to be. It should be the opposite."
"It should? But, I can't make it be!" Sigh...
"Fine. One last chance before I take drastic measures here." HA.
"Good Luck. What are your drastic measures?" HAHA! Oh... Nothing.
"Only telling Lucas you like him. Nothing serious." Bingo.
"OH NO. NOT. HAP-PEN-NING" she yelled.
"Fine. Then Ive got one more strategy to make you less girly. If you don't like it, I'm telling." I've got the Power! Woo HOO!
"Ugh. What is it." This will be fun.
"Clothing." She was just wearing normal clothes like she would to school. "That's not exactly brimming with confidence. I'm sure you have stuff that is. Where are your clothes you DONT wear to school?"
"Right here..." She admitted, kind of depressed her style wasn't... Perfect. This is it.
"Here. Try this on. With... These socks, and This... Headband?" It was a beautiful silk scarlet red dress, with some nice crimson socks, and a lava colored headband. I left the room and shortly after, she opened the door, and even I was surprised. She looked Brilliant.
"Woah..." Was all I said. Then I heard her say something I NEVER thought she would say.
"I like this a lot, yes, but not for Lucas. Red makes me more angry..." Hmm...
"Then try a light blue combination. Sky Blue? Baby Blue? Powder Blue?" Then she smiled. A natural, genuine happy smile. It was a wonderful feeling, even for me.
"Like this? I like this." She said. When I saw the red, I was surprised. Now that I see her in the light blue? I felt dumbfounded. It was this perfect sky blue dress, with some baby blue socks and a powder blue headband, just like I suggested. I'm glad she's my friend, because I would not want to hurt her, or even be a threat to her, when she wore that.
"Perfect. Now, I can just use a little bit of makeup on you..." I just put on some foundation, blush and eyeliner "and even I feel like fainting. You are crazy beautiful." I told her.
"Thanks. I feel better too. So... You don't have to tell him. I like this idea. Thank you."
As we got to the door- "Are you ready for this Riley?"
"Yeah... I guess..." Don't quit on me now! Please! He's just a boy! (Riley opens the door) what's Lucas doing with his eyes closed?
Riley's POV:
Wow. This feels... Great. I feel... Better. I don't know what exactly I feel better with, but, I Do. It sounds weird until you do it yourself. Not only do I have to unless Maya will release my secret, but, I feel like I can now.
"Are you ready Riley?" I don't think I ever would be, but if I was, it was going to be now.
"I guess so..." I said, opening the door to see his eyes closed. Daydreamer? He quickly opened them.
"WOW. You... You..." Perfect! Maya's idea worked. His mouth was wide open, I saw him shake a little, he was basically... Shocked. "This isn't... A... Date... Right?" HA! I think he likes me! Woo Hoo! Now, time for the big finish.
"NoPe!" I added the popping P, with a genuine smile, and... I hope he's okay. It looks like he fainted or something.
"Um... Riley? He fainted." I KNOW Maya. It was kinda nice having him be the victim this time though. I felt like I ruled the world. I just made my crush, Lucas, faint.
"Yep. Just leave him be. He will wake up eventually." I responded.
"Doesn't he need water or something?" If I wanted to wake him up!
"Nah, he should be fine in a couple minutes. No water please." It's nice to see him as the hopeless romantic. What he looks like now, is how I normally feel. Until today.
"Alright... So what should we do while we wait?" She asked. Hmm...
"Well, we could... Get a snack? I'm a little hungry..." I couldn't think of anything.
"You're ALWAYS hungry. Fine, so am I too. What is there?"
"I have... Lots of apples. Some... Awesome. As a reward to ourselves, there's this." I found some all natural organic fruit snacks. Perfect. Not too messy either.
"I'm hungry, so just give me something, I don't care what." Maya said, so I gave her a pack, and she surprisingly liked them. They are, really good.
"What... Happened...?" Lucas asked as we finished our snack. "Why was I asleep?" Haha! So clueless. He's oblivious. It's cute.
"Well, you were asleep because you fainted. You fainted because of Riley, and you've been out for about 10 minutes. Not bad since it's a girl that caused it." He woke up, rubbed his eyes and seemed amazed, still, at how beautiful I was... Good.
"Umm... It... Wasn't you..." HAHA! This is funny. He's going to say something about water. "Well, maybe it was." Then he blushed. AH! He gets to feel my pain!
"So... Are you going to tell her something?" Maya asked. I tried to look expectant, but I couldn't, so I chose bored as my emotion.
"Oh, right. I like your outfit. It looks good on you. You look beautiful today." AH! B-B-Beautiful! From LUCAS! YAHOO!
"Thanks. It's good to hear somebody other than Maya and I care." He smiled. "So, shall we start?" I asked, looking forward to doing something with him other than talking.
"Yeah... Sure." He said, nervous he would mess up. As we did some of our project, he was clearly paying a lot of attention to me. I even asked him how JFK died, and he was just staring at me and he said Yeah. Haha! This was fun. I felt wanted. I felt appreciated, and most importantly, I felt like myself, even with him around. Maya was just watching, helping with a couple of things because she promised not to steal any ideas. I was having FUN. Doing schoolwork. Maya, is a miracle worker.
Maya's POV:
I was really happy with how the whole thing turned out. I didn't even have to say one word to Riley about her crush on him, it was like it wasn't even there. She was treating him like a good friend would, even though he was clearly oogling over her. It was a true role reversal. It even got to the point where she asked him an obvious question every once in a while, and he would just say Yeah, or Uh Huh, or Sure. JUST LIKE SHE DID BEFORE! Most importantly, she felt like herself, and I could see it. She knew when to ramble, when to be serious or silent, and when to be funny. It was great. It's the best I've seen her ever. I did have to promise not to steal any of their ideas, but I also made her promise that her relationship wouldn't destroy our friendship. To see her genuinely happy, and smile was one of the best things I've ever done in my life.
Lucas's POV:
I was so out of it the whole rest of the time. I couldn't even think straight, I was just... Amazed. I knew my crush, yes, crush, was cute, that was a given, but model-like? That's... Crazy. I remember when I used to be the one who would be somewhat in control while she was just nervously following, now... I'm the nervous one, trying to follow somebody I can't even keep up with. It's like an animal chasing a car. The animal has no chance of catching the car, but still tries. I hope she doesn't know what hard to get is. If she starts with that... I'll be... The loser, and the last time I lost something, was a game of horseshoes to my mom when I was 9... 5 years ago. Wow. You know what? I need to ask her to the dance. Tomorrow after I ask her dad if it's okay. I'm going to the dance, and I hope it's with her. I just hope I impressed her enough today with my presidential knowledge that she might like me. Speaking of presidential knowledge, I hope I didn't make her do everything! Oh no, I did a few things. Just not much. To get HER to like me, I'm going to have to do a little more than "not much". I didn't have to do much before, but today... Today changed everything.
