A.N.- So I'm updating a day early. But I don't think you all will mind. Enjoy the chapter. The story is winding down believe or not, I think there's only 6-7 chapters left (for both Lore and Rhetoric). Enjoy

"Maya!" I noticed during class that a certain brunette was missing and my stomach churned. She was here one day and gone the next; I shut down any thoughts that something might have happened to her.

"What do you want Huckleberry?" I rolled my eyes at the name but also noted the hostility. The blonde crossed her arms letting me know exactly who the ill feelings were for unless she was this unpleasant with everyone.

"Where's Riley?" I couldn't help but think that Riley's description of her fit her perfectly. In fact, she had talked a lot about the blonde in front of me. Without warning she grabbed my shirt and hoisted me down to her level.

"What's it to you?" I admired her being protective over her friend, but this seemed a little extreme.

"I just noticed she wasn't in class." Maya pushed my body back clearly my answer was not enough to appease her.

"She doesn't want to see you." My eyebrows knitted together in concern.

"I don't understand."

"Just stay away from her, you've done enough damage." The blonde's word was intimidating, but I wouldn't show it. I could only watch Maya storm off and I do nothing about it. I knew there was nothing that I could say to change her mind in short of talking to Riley.

"Well wasn't that touching?" I would rather listen to the sound was like nails on a chalk board than her voice. The longer that I was away from Missy the more I couldn't believe I was in a relationship that long.
"What do you want?" My anger was already elevated from the squabble, and here she was pushing buttons.
"I've just never seen you get so fired up," she placed her hand on my arm making my body tense. "about anyone before." I flinched away from her touch which made her lips sink into a pout.
"Now don't be like that Lucas, I miss you." She stepped closer, but all appeal had evaporated.
"Well then you should have thought about that before you cheated on me." My voice ridged, I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of my anger.
"Can't you just forgive me for that already? I know you miss me." She purred.
"Who told you that?" I scoffed. Clearly if they knew me, that was not the word that would use to describe her.
"Your father," she cooed as my eyes widened.

"He called me a couple days ago and told me about the girl that you were fawning over at some dinner. It sounded like she was desperate."

"Don't talk about her that way." I growled. I didn't realize that my hands curled into fists at my side. I would never hit a woman but the wall was looking really tempting right now.

"I like seeing that fire." She lifted her hand to my face, but I turned away.

"You'll see Lucas, soon you will be crawling back to me." As she walked away I could only find my anger stoking.

"It will be a cold day in Hell," I muttered to no one in particular.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned with my fist posed ready to punch in an instant. Before me was a very surprised Farkle who had his hands raised up in front of him to block some of the blow.

"Lucas, it's me." I dropped my fist and released his shirt that my free hand had grabbed.

"What's your deal?"

"Nothing," I lied. Farkle didn't need to know the ins and outs of Missy and my previous relationship. He cracked a smile.

"A little birdie told me that we should go out to the quad because a certain friend of ours is going to try and woo Sarah today." My eyes grew wide and I couldn't stop my lips from twisting up into a smile.

"So he finally got desperate enough to use our advice?" Farkle nodded and we both sped off towards the courtyard which was already littered with students. It was then that I watched the catastrophe unfold in front of me.

"Sarah." He pressed the play button and the sounds of 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You,' started playing.

"Zay what are you doing?" Zay only replied with the lyrics of the song and started to burst out in a choreograph number. His dancing almost took the pressure off the sub-par singing. We had told Zay a week ago that Sarah appreciates big gestures and musical numbers; and this was the result. It looked like he had even called in a favor with some break dancer who were back up to him. Judging by the look on Sarah's face she was mortified. The one thing that would pull me away walked to my left with Isadora Smackle. Riley. My heart jumped at the thought. She was absent from class this morning and I assumed something happen or she was sick. I looked back at Zay who was dancing during an instrumental bit and took off after my ghost.

"Riley, wait." If I didn't know any better she increased her speed the first time I yelled out.
"Not now Lucas." She seemed in an unpleasant mood but I took my chances grabbing her shoulder forcing her to face me.
"Riley, what's wrong?" She looked anywhere but at me, but the chill coming from her behavior caused my hairs to stand on end.
"Nothing." She snapped and I started to wonder how much of Maya's warning this morning was true.
"You didn't show in English class today." I continued on trying to make conversation. She hadn't texted me back since yesterday and I spent the latter half of the night thinking about the night at the fair.
"I didn't realize you were the teacher taking attendance." My eyes narrowed at her words as it dawned on me that the stand-off behavior was towards me.
"What's wrong?" What could have I done wrong in the last couple days?
"What do you want Lucas?" She glared crossing her arms over her chest.
"What's your issue, I'm just checking to see if you're ok." Maybe not the most diplomatic move on my end, but I was tired of being treated like I did something wrong.
"That's not really your concern is it? What am I, just some girl that you hardly know? Or is it just your concern since you flirted with me. "- I could sense her walls rising up as she was shutting me out. There had to be a way for me to get through to her.

"Or because I care about you." The words didn't mean to come out, but there was nothing I could do about it now. I watched her doe eyes get wide and knew that I spooked her.

"No you don't." I was tired of people telling me how I feel or who I was that I felt my blood began to boil.

"Why are you building this wall? Do you let anybody in?" It might have been hasty but it was how I felt. She let her guard down for one night and then the wall rebuilt itself over night.
"For someone who claims to believe in people you create assumptions and pass over judgment quickly. I noticed something was wrong and I acted on it, how does that make me the bad guy. You seem like a completely different person than who I went to the fair with. What happened to that girl? She was friendly and warm and now you're icing me out with no good reason? Which one are you? " I had lost control and lashed out, regret seeped through my pores.

"Look Lucas, I'm fine. Don't worry about me just go back to Darby." That's what this was about? She must have seen Darby kissing me.

"You don't know the whole story." I protested. Darby came on to me, if I didn't have an interest in the girl that stood before me I wouldn't have gone to the fair in the first place. Then she distanced herself with weird behavior. I was not to be blamed for the blonde kissing me.
"I don't need to."
"Riley I"-
"No you don't have to explain anything." I racked my brain for words but knowing what I knew of her and this situation, I needed to back off. She would come to me when she was ready to talk. So I said nothing.
"Maybe the fair was a mistake." I heard her mutter and felt like I was punched in the gut.
"Maybe." I knew we wouldn't get anywhere right now, she hated my guts. I probably lost my chances with her. She turned away and I used it as an opportunity to leave. I needed some time to think.

I had found a place that been secluded from most of the school population. I ran my hands through my hair. I had to believe that today was an abnormal day. Riley was mad at me for another girl advancing even though we just had one date and we didn't make anything official. I'm not sure how much damage was between us and the fight we had. I said some things that I regret but it didn't make them any less true.

Then Missy coming on to me and saying how my father told her that I missed her. If my father had talked to me in the last couple weeks he would have known that was not true, that I'm actually happy now. I should have listened to Zay and maybe I would have avoided her all together.

Darby. On days like this Darby was the only thing that had made sense. She wasn't brushing me off to look for trolls in the bathroom. I heard my phone buzzed and glanced down. It was a message from the blonde wanting to hang out. With a few flicks of my fingers I wrote her back agreeing. When she replied she suggested my room to watch a movie. After my speedy answer I felt my stomach twist with a question.

What about Josh?

The last thing that I wanted was things to get awkward with him. I knew it would be only w matter of time before he found out about the fight. He and Riley seemed close for siblings. I would then have to tell him that I went out with his sister without telling him. I could handle that bridge when I got there. Hopefully it wouldn't be in front of Darby.

I let my mind wander as my feet knew where to go. I rounded the corner to see the blonde waiting at my door. She smiled as I felt my palms start to sweat. An awkward air surrounded us as I opened the door. I didn't know what she was to me, all I know is life doesn't do coincidences, Riley stopped liking me and Derby started; so what is trying to tell me? I pushed thoughts of the brunette down offering her a drink from the fridge. I watched her sit down on my roommates bed her hand running along the blanket. I took the liberty of popping in a movie and sat on my bed. I couldn't find the words to invite her to sit with me, so she just stayed. I glanced over at her periodically and it didn't seem like she was enjoying herself.

"Can I get you anything?" I offered just thankful that the words were in the right order. She smiled politely looking up from her phone before she turned me down. Another couple minutes went by and suddenly I felt pressure on my bed. Darby had switched beds her body now very close to mine.

"Sorry, glare." She apologized as she leaned into my body. I had diverted my thoughts as she started running her hand down my arm. I liked down at her blue eyes unsure of what caused the change in behavior.

"Kiss me." She commanded and I found myself leaning in without a second thought. I felt our breaths start to tangle as the gap narrowed. Suddenly it was all jerked away.

"Josh." Darby's body heat had evaporate as she jumped far as she could away from me. My mouth grew dry and I knew if I looked up from the spot I knew exactly what I would find. When my eyes jumped up they found my roommate standing there in utter shock.

A.N.- yes I'm going to leave it there. Let me know what you think.