.
.
She yawned obnoxiously and stretched her arms out behind her, nearly punching Lucas in his face. Mr. Matthews was droning on and on and Maya was exhausted. The whole class was, really. It had been a long week. She tossed her hair backwards, this time whipping them in Lucas' face. He didn't mind, although he acted otherwise with his grumbling about no personal space. As he said it, however, he leaned in towards her, like he always did. His foot edged closer towards her. She yawned again and her head automatically tilted backwards, using Lucas' textbook as a pillow.
"Awh, the Clutterbucket is getting a little tired," he said in a cooing voice.
She opened one eye and gave him a look of utmost loathing. "If you don't leave me alone, I'm not gonna be the one who's knocked out over here." She smiled at him then shut her eyes.
He smirked back at her but as she slowly started to drift into a real slumber, the corner of his mouths turned up in earnest. She looked more peaceful asleep than she ever did awake. As laid back as she seemed to be, he noticed that she was always a little tense, except when she was around Riley. Her fists were always clenched, her arms and legs crossed a little too tight, and her eyes always heavily guarded. But when she slept, (or napped), her grip would relax, her legs would untwine and lay back and her careless facade would melt away.
At this point, Lucas completely gave up on his notes and decided to just lean back and watch the show right on his desk, instead of in the front of the classroom. Unfortunately, at that same moment, Mr. Matthews realized most of the class was asleep.
"I quit," he said, taking a seat and putting his feet up on his desk. "Topanga was right," he said grumpily.
"Oh come on Dad," Riley intervened, "we're exhausted. No one's gotten enough sleep. Can we just relax?"
Mr. Matthews glanced exasperatingly at his daughter. "Honey, just because you've had a long weekend, doesn't mean you can't learn something new."
Before Riley could reply, a malicious voice came from the back of the class. "Yeah, why don't we all try to relax, look at Maya over here." Lucas felt a twinge of annoyance. Missy would just not give up, would she?
Mr. Matthews glanced at Maya. He smiled gently-he, after all, knew how little the child slept at her own house. That's why she was always over his.
"Mr. Friar, would you please gently wake Maya up?"
"Sure thing, sir."
He contemplated for a moment on how best to wake her. He smiled to himself, then leaned forward, his mouth right next to her ear.
He raised his voice. "HI I'M RANGER RICK AND I'LL BE HERE ALL WEEK."
She woke up with a start, staring around frantically for a second before settling her eyes on Lucas. She reached for his chest, tugging his shirt. "What was that for?" She said threateningly, her eyes still too wide.
"Nice of you to join us, Ms. Hart," Mr. Matthews said with a smile.
Maya's eyes widened as she turned around. "Any time, Mr. Matthews." She turned back to Lucas for a brief moment and shot him a look of disgust, her face scrunched up. "It was really your disgusting cow smell that woke me up," she muttered under her breath.
He chuckled quietly, then decided he wasn't done bothering her just yet. Then again, he never would be.