Girl Meets Drabbles – Part 10
*Author's Note – Lovin' the love guys! Keep those prompts comin'!*
Prompt: From L (Guest) – The class is paired up talking about inspiration and each pair has to say what inspires them. Lucaya Prompt.
"Okay guys, today we're going to talk about inspiration." Cory began as he underlined the word he had written on the blackboard.
"All of our greatest inventions, artwork, songs, even special recipes that have been passed down for generations have come from someone saying 'Hey would you look at that, it makes me want to do this'. So today we're gonna start a project, due tomorrow. You're gonna tell me what inspires you … about someone else."
"I pick Riley!" Maya called out.
"I pick Maya!" Riley followed right after holding Maya's hand that was extended in the middle of the aisle.
"No!" Cory said disconnecting their joint hands.
"Then I pick your mom." Maya said to Riley.
"Hey!" Riley exclaimed.
"Nope." Cory interjected.
"Then I pick my mom?" Maya asked wearily.
"Nu-uh. I pick. I will be pairing you guys up." Cory said as he started taping desks of the paired individuals.
"You and you, and you and you, and you and you, and you and you…" He kept going until the only ones left were Maya, Riley, Farkle, and Lucas.
"Oh no…" Maya groaned realizing what was happening.
"Oh yes. You and you, and you and him." Cory said to Maya while pointing at Lucas.
"Boo." Maya said crossing her arms as the bell rang signaling the end of class.
"Remember just write a page each on what inspires you about the other person. 'Look at that, makes me wanna do this'." Cory said as the class made their way out into the hall.
"So looks like it's me and you." Lucas said to Maya as they stood by the lockers.
"Guess so. Alright Ranger Rick let's get this over with." Maya said as she and Lucas left the school.
Soon after they were sitting in Topanga's tapping their pencils against their notebooks aimlessly.
"So what exactly are we supposed to write?" Lucas asked.
"Look at that; makes me wanna do this." Maya quoted.
"Okay but what if you can't do anything?"
"What are you talking about?"
"What if you can't do anything? Like me for instance, I don't invent things, I don't sing or play music, and I'm not an artist like you."
"Okay so what are you thinking?"
"Maybe inspiration doesn't just lead to a tangible thing. I mean the secret of life is 'people change people',"
"And knowing Matthews he's gonna work that in somehow." Maya said causing Lucas to chuckle.
"Right, so maybe how people change people is they inspire them to be something, but not make something."
"To make a change, instead of a thing." Maya said following Lucas' train of thought.
"If Riley was here you'd be done with your assignment already."
"Aw don't sell yourself short Huckleberry. In your own way you do inspire me."
"Really?"
"Sure, you inspire me to do this … HA-HURRRRR!" Maya said leaning forward to get in his face.
"Thanks." Lucas said as she sat back down in her seat.
"But seriously, you're a good person. I haven't known a lot of inherently good people except for Riley and her family but I'd say you're right up there with them. One more person that I have as the voice in my head reminding me to do what's right."
"You hear my voice in your head?"
"Sometimes. Most of the time it's just Riley but once in a while I'll catch myself thinking 'What would Huckleberry think about this?'."
"Wow, I didn't know you cared so much about my opinion Maya."
"You're my friend; I care what my friends think about me. And… I know I can trust you." Maya said as Lucas looked at her with a smile that made something flutter inside. "So how about you, how have I inspired you?"
"Believe it or not I sometimes hear your voice inside my head too." Lucas said shyly looking down at his hands.
"You do?" Maya said suddenly feeling a change in the tone of the conversation.
"Ever since I came to New York I've tried to be … different than I was in Texas. I try not to get angry like I use to. And I thought hanging around Riley would help that and it did. But it wasn't really getting rid of the anger; it was more just pushing it down. Saying to myself don't let it out, you're not that guy anymore. But when I had that guy against the lockers I was surprised it wasn't Riley's voice I heard in my mind, it was yours. I heard you say 'Lucas don't' like when you jumped on my back with Billy." Lucas said finally looking up from his hands.
"Maya you have so many reasons to be angry, way more than I do. But you don't get angry, you let things go so they don't have control over you. And from the moment we met, you've inspired me to do the same." Lucas said looking right in her eyes.
"I don't know what to say." Maya said suddenly realizing how much it meant to her for Lucas to tell her this.
"You don't have to say anything Maya. Like you said, I know I can trust you." Lucas said, his gaze never wavering. Maya didn't know what happened but she suddenly felt herself being drawn to Lucas. It looked as though he was being drawn in as well but just as they were getting close Riley and Farkle walked in.
"Hey guys." Riley said coming to sit down, causing Maya and Lucas to jump apart.
"How's the assignment going?" Farkle asked. Maya and Lucas shared a look before Maya responded.
"I think we got it."
The next day in class Cory had all the pairs read their reports. Almost everyone had come up with something tangible that the other person inspired them to make.
"These things are all great guys, but I'm afraid none of you have gotten the real lesson yet."
"Not even us?" Riley asked.
"No Riley, not even you."
"But I made a watch that runs on smiles!" Farkle exclaimed.
"And that's incredible Farkle, but still not the point of the lesson. Lucas? Maya? You're the only ones left. Show us what you know." Cory said as he sat down on Maya's desk.
"Yesterday Lucas and I were trying to come up with an answer. What inspires us about the other? But then we realized that inspiration doesn't always mean that something has to be created."
"You don't say." Cory interjected.
"We realized that inspiration does lead to great inventions and art and music. But it also can lead to friends getting to know each other better." Lucas said smiling at Maya.
"People change people. And sometimes how they do that is to inspire others to be better or think a little differently."
"Maya and I realized that we have inspired each other to try and be the best versions of ourselves. Just by being who we are."
"And by trusting that we have the right people around to inspire us."
"And that's the lesson. Thank you guys, great job." Cory said getting up as Maya and Lucas took their seats.
"Anyone can be inspired by anything, but some of the most important lessons in history have come from people inspiring each other. Remember that." Cory finished as the bell rang
"Looks like we make a pretty good team Huckleberry." Maya said to Lucas as the class filed out.
"Yeah I guess we do."
"Here you go guys," Cory said handing Maya and Lucas their reports. "And again great job."
They looked at their papers to see a big A+ at the top of each.
"Wow my first A+!" Maya exclaimed.
"Great job partner." Lucas said as he held his hand up for a high five which Maya happily gave him. But when their hands met both Lucas and Maya froze at the sudden feeling that came over them.
"Huh." Cory said with a knowing smile as he looked at the two before heading out the door.
THE END