Friday...
[Lucas' POV;]
"Please talk to me." She hasn't spoken to me since we arrived at school, not even one snarky comment. I quickly picked up my pace, trying to keep up with her as we walked across the parking lot. When I went over to her house this morning, Shawn informed me that she didn't go home last night and threatened me into fixing this. "Where were you last night?"
Still no answer, this really is my fault. "I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it."
Maya stopped walking and laughed while shaking her head. "Wow, that's bullshit." She turned on her heal and looked up at me with her bright blue eyes. "Of course you meant it. Otherwise you wouldn't have said it at all."
"I was just getting frustrated. You know I don't think you're a slut." I tried to reassure her, but the hurt in her eyes told me that she wasn't buying it. "I'm sorry."
Her smirk faded away and she looked down at her feet. "Don't be sorry. I mean you're not completely wrong. After that night I started acting different," We started walking towards the old courtyard, "Everyone already thought I was easy so I figured I might as well give them something real to talk about."
"But that's not who you are, Maya. You're not that person." Easily opening the gate, (that we broke about a year ago), we sat on the bench in the chipped-paint gazebo.
She cracked a small smile before sitting her bag next to her. "It's not who you are either, Lucas." Then slight breeze blew her hair out of her face. "You changed after that night too."
"This isn't about me."
"It's about both of us," she snapped. "We both changed."
I sighed and played with her hand. "Is my reputation as bad as Shawn says?"
"You want the truth?" I nodded slowly, "You're not exactly boyfriend material, how about mine?"
"Truth? Your phone number is on the stall doors in every bathroom."
We stared at each other for a few moments before bursting into a fit of laughter.
"Why are you attracted to Riley?"
"She's a good friend. She's innocent and not like other girls."
Maya looked at me, trying to read my face. My eyes never left her. "Your friends dared you to sleep with her didn't they? Because if they did, and you try something, I'll kill you. That little flower isn't ready."
"I'm not going to try anything."
"Good boy, because she's afraid to take a chance on you already given your sexual past and our current situation."
I raised my brow and watched a smirk spread across Maya's face. "Is she or is she not giving me a chance?"
"If you can convince Riley that you are done with your womanizer days, then yes. You have a chance."
As soon as she spoke those four words, I pulled her in for a hug. "This is great news." I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
[Josh's POV;]
"Hart, Friar. Am I interrupting?" I smirked and sat across from them.
Maya rolled her eyes and scooted away from Lucas. "Not at all, what are you doing here in the middle of the day?"
"Sometimes I like to drop by and see what you two are up to. The better question is why you're out here and not in class." My eyes shifted between the two. I've known Maya and Lucas for a long time, and even before they slept together, they were always touchy.
"Dude," Lucas laughed. "Do you actually care?"
Rubbing my chin, I pretended to think. "Not really." I chuckled and pulled a black shirt out of my pocket. "I also wanted to return this. You left it at my place this morning." As I tossed the shirt to Maya, I smirked when I noticed Lucas' nostrils flare.
"Oh so that's where you went last night? Shawn and your mom were worried." There goes Lucas, sticking his nose in everything. "Is that really how you responded to what I said?"
She put the shirt in her bag and turned back towards Lucas. "It's really not your business."
"She's a big girl now, perfectly capable of making decisions without consulting you first."
Maya and I fool around from time to time. It doesn't mean anything, just some stress relieving fun. The age difference isn't a big deal for me. I care about her; we have consensual fun. Lucas has always been jealous.
"So, did you figure out how to deal with this mess or what?
Lucas rolled his eyes, "It's not really your business."
"Cute. Don't date Riley," I warned him. "It'd be a shame if I had to hurt you."
"Josh!" Maya scorned me and gave me the look. "He really likes her."
I gestured Lucas' hand that had sneaked its way onto her thigh. "Possibly, but he also really likes touching and making out with her best friend." Maya quickly pushed his hand away. "However she wouldn't know that because you've been pretending to hate each other for 100 years."
"Do you honestly think I'd do anything to hurt her?"
"Not intentionally, but I know you two. He's a player and you don't think. I don't want my niece to get hurt so no, he can't date her."
Maya sat on my lap and played with my curls. "Josh."
"Yes Maya?" I bit my lip and looked at her.
She smirked and thumped my forehead, "Allow Riley to experience the romance she's been dreaming about for years. If she gets hurt you can kill Lucas."
"Hey!"
"Shut up, it's your fault that we're in this mess." She cut Lucas off. "Please Josh?"
The pout: She looks like a puppy and knows that I can't say no to it.
Caving, I pecked her lips. "Fine, but I'll be watching you two."
Friday Night...
[Maya's POV;]
Sitting on the couch, my eyes scanned the room of intoxicated teenagers. After the week I've had, I decided that it was too soon for me to be one of them. I had spent the entire night dodging guys.
My eyes fell on him and Riley. He'd whisper something in her ear, and then she'd start giggling and flirtatiously touch his arm.
"Is this the same Maya that was at my house last weekend?" Zay joked as he sat next to me. "Why aren't you having fun?"
I chuckled, breaking my attention from my best friends. "Maybe I don't want to make another mistake."
"But you're Maya Hart, the resident party girl of Abigail Adams."
"Just because that's my reputation doesn't mean that I have to get drunk off my ass."
"Then don't." I looked up and locked eyes with Josh, who was holding two beers. "Just drink enough to have fun." He handed me a solo cup.
"Josh, I just don't want to make a mistake." He smirked and held his hand out for me to take.
It's always been hard for me to say no to Josh, and he knows it. "Come on Hart, don't be someone you're not."
Don't be someone you're not. I don't know what he means by that, but I won't think too hard about it. Taking a big drink from my cup, I grabbed Josh's hand.
He pulled me up, closing the space between us. "Good girl."
"Maya, you don't have to go with him."
"I appreciate the concern, but I'll be fine."
One hour later...
The alcohol has taken over my body, and the room is spinning. As I stand there laughing with Josh and his friends, I have to hold onto him in order to keep my balance. It came out of nowhere, his lips were moving in perfect sync with mine. That's when my mind went blank.
[Lucas' POV;]
"Do you know where Maya is? I haven't seen her in a while." Riley came up and looked between Farkle and me.
We both looked at her with confusion. "I haven't seen her since we got here, why?"
She ran her hand through her hair as she let out a sigh. "You know how she gets, and she's been super off lately. I just don't want her to do anything stupid."
"I'm sure she's fine. She promised that she wouldn't lose control tonight."
I could tell by the look on Riley's face that she was worried, and I don't blame her. Maya has a tendency to get out of hand. "I'll look for her."
Riley looked at me with concern. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You've been drinking, she's probably been drinking, and what if you make another mistake? Not to mention she's still pretty angry with you."
"Riley," I started, "Just trust me. okay"
She nodded and I kissed her forehead to reassure her that I wouldn't do anything stupid.
I pushed my way through my guests as I looked around for my best friend. I just hoped she wasn't getting into any trouble. I spotted Zay from across the room and ran up to him.
"Where's Maya?"
"Dude, you can't just sneak up on someone like that." He joked and held his chest.
I laughed and shook my head. "Seriously, where is she? I know she's here."
"It's been an hour since I last saw her." He shrugged.
"Well where did you see her at? Was she sober?"
"I was sitting with her on the couch; she was telling me how she was trying to take it easy after... you know."
I nodded and gestured for him to keep going. "And,"
"She pretty much had her mind made up that she wasn't going to drink, but then Josh came over and flashed her that smile."
"Oh no" I don't like where this is going.
"Josh told her to be herself, handed her a beer, she chugged it, and I haven't seen her since. I tried to tell her she didn't have to go with him but she ignored me and went with him and his college buddies."
I sighed and leaned against the wall. "Was Josh already pretty drunk?"
"I wouldn't say drunk, more like buzzed."
"In that case, I really need to find them and hope nothing bad has happened."
A drunken Maya mixed in with Josh and his friends is anyone's worst nightmare. Sure, he cares about her, but he's not himself when the alcohol is in his system, and his friends are even worse. Hell, his friends are dicks when they're sober. I just hope Maya is okay.
