Update-A-Day Marathon will be ending after these next three oneshots and updates will be slowed to whenever I have the most time, however, like I said, I will still be honouring requests in between my regularly scheduled oneshots! :) It's been a great experience and totally fun, but very time consuming (and not conducive to good study habits lolol)! Plus, I don't want to start getting too repetitive, so taking longer breaks between chapters will help me sort my thoughts and think of more creative ways to spin these requests!

Also, 'Forever' is the chapter before Worlds Apart in Love And War, just published outside of the compilation because it was way over my word cap for any of the one shots.

Lol sorry about my absence! I actually got lazy for a couple days there...

On queue: miaadventure's request for Maya + bathroom = uh oh

Enjoy! Thank you for the reviews! It means the world to me that you all take time out of your busy days to review me! (Even through my doofy mistakes lol) :D

Disclaimer: I do not own GMW.

Title: Worlds Apart
Pairings&Characters: Lucas, Maya, Lucaya, Riley
Genre: Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, AU
Rating: T for Trying To Make It Work
Summary: "Our lives were now worlds apart, separated by time, circumstance, and the unbridgeable chasm of money." ~Travis Luedke

Sequel to Miles Apart!

Request by Isazu for Lucaya's long distance relationship! Thank you for your patience with my doofiness! I appreciate the request! :3 (To be revised later!)

"So did you make up your mind?" Maya asked, picking her nails in annoyance.

"Maya, we need to talk." Lucas said, frowning.

She stared at him blankly though, deep down, her trepidation was growing. She had Skyped Lucas so they could clear the air after the small argument they'd had a couple days ago over the phone. They were graduating in a year, and she'd asked him what his graduation plans were. She had hoped he would tell her he was coming back to New York. But his response hadn't exactly been what she had been expecting. In fact, he hesitated, telling her he had to think things through before he made his decision.

"I have to pick the best vet school for me and where I'm planning to head in my life." he continued, "And that means staying in Texas."

So he was choosing Texas.

Which meant he wasn't choosing her.

Maya's eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Look, I get that, but can't you just change your plans and come to school here in New York? How hard is it to apply to vet schools in New York?"

They'd been together about three years now and she could count on two hands the amount of times they'd visited each other.

At first everything was fine. Freshman year, they used any and all vacations and breaks to visit the other, even visiting each other on random weekends. She had spent the first month of their summer after freshman year in Texas with him, and he had spent the last month of that same summer in New York with her.

But when their sophomore year started, things got difficult.

They had their own goals and things that needed to be done over the summer. Maya's curriculum and class schedule was a little different than a typical undergraduate schedule so she didn't often have the same breaks at the same time as Lucas. And Lucas held a steady part-time job and volunteered often at animal clinics around his campus.

The summer of their sophomore year, neither had had time to visit the other because Maya had taken a summer art class in Florence, and Lucas had an internship over the break. And having to buy a phone card to telephone each other had been a real hassle, not to mention they'd been entirely engrossed in their own activities that they hadn't really made time for each other.

Their little romance had hit a snag. They were busy people. And it was expensive for either of them to keep flying to visit the other.

The real cracks in their relationship started showing since junior year started. Small annoyances at not being able to see each other for so long grew and became the center of many of their problems. It was like they both were irritated with the other for not making more efforts to see each other, but neither of them were willing to make the sacrifice either.

They were in totally different worlds now.

And it was tearing them apart.

"Maya, I can't do that." Lucas growled in annoyance, "It makes the most sense for me to stay here."

"And then what? I have to wait until you're done with your plans?" Maya snapped, feeling her irritation start to mount. "I already only see you like twice a semester. I'm not going to sit here and wait for you forever!"

"We've had this argument a thousand times." Lucas said through grit teeth, "Stop being so selfish!"

And Maya did a double take in shock, anger surging up within her before she could even think to tamper it down. Did he really have the nerve to just call her selfish?

"Selfish?!" she exploded, "I have been unbelievably selfless and patient for the past two years through every one of your cancellations and planned everything in my schedule according to your damn time! Need I remind you I didn't even want to tell you how I felt in the first place for this reason? This is exactly why I didn't want to start a relationship after high school! I should have just followed my instinct!"

"So what are you saying?" Lucas asked, eyes narrowed, "We should break up?"

"You tell me." She crossed her arms in front of her chest. "It's been three years, and I want you around now. I'm done sacrificing my happiness."

"Maya, can't you be more understanding? I'm trying to make this work."

"I'm trying to be understanding, but let's face it Lucas! If we're going to continue to be in a relationship past college, it's not going to work for me to see you twice a year and spend the rest of my time sitting around while watching everyone else have their romances."

"Well you're going to have to Maya! This is a great opportunity for me. I have vet assistant positions available and several internship opportunities here. I have contacts here. What am I supposed to do? Give up everything I'm working for in the future just because you're a little lonely?"

They both fell abruptly silent after the last words, and even Lucas grimaced at the harshness of his tone. Maya's face fell, and she felt her throat tighten dangerously at the way he had spat those words like he thought her reservations and wants were entirely ridiculous. It was like a slap to the face and she had to chew on the inside of her cheek to keep herself from crying. Only Lucas was capable of hurting her like this.

And he'd definitely succeeded.

"You know… Our goals in life are different. But I thought despite that, we could make it work." Maya said, knowing the back of her eyes were stinging with tears. "I just want to be with you, but clearly, you don't care."

He ran a hand through his hair, looking entirely exasperated and apologetic at once. "Maya, you know that's not true."

"Regardless…" She averted her gaze from the screen, staring at the picture on her desk of the two of them. They were sitting atop a horse, cowboy hats on their heads, Lucas holding her waist from behind as she tugged on the reins of the first horse she'd ever ridden. It was from the summer she'd spent a month in Texas. Funny how her optimism for their long distance relationship since then had almost completely dissipated. "I think we should take a break. I need some time to think about things…"

When she spared the screen a glance, Lucas' jaw was clenched tight, eyes hardened with anger and something like disappointment and hurt.

"Fine." he growled.

"Bye."

"Bye."

Maya cut the call and closed her laptop's screen, letting out a long sigh. Her eyes welled with tears despite her efforts to keep it from happening, and she sat at her desk, silently staring at the photograph as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Dammit.

Maya kicked her feet up on Riley's desk, sighing for the umpteenth time that day.

She stared at the Happy Birthday balloon bouncing around near the corner of the wall of Riley's dorm room. The smiley face was mocking her, and she briefly wondered if Riley would get mad if she took a pencil and popped the damn thing.

Maya just wasn't in a festive mood.

For the first time in three years, her birthday was finally on a weekend—the perfect time to celebrate with her loved ones without their commitments getting in the way—and she wasn't technically with Lucas anymore. She would have asked him to come up for the weekend, but she honestly felt a little awkward. They'd been on break for two months going on three, and hadn't said a word to each other since that stupid fight. And yeah, he'd sent her a Christmas gift, a new set of acrylic paints she'd wanted all semester (it had made her cry), but there had been no call or text (which had made her cry again) or anything for her birthday.

And that stung.

Sure, they were on a break, but that didn't mean they weren't still friends. Was he so angry at her that he couldn't even contact her on her birthday?

Riley entered her dorm room, slapping her hands together in satisfaction. "Okay. I'm finished using the potty."

Maya made a noncommittal noise from her throat, tossing Riley's stress ball up, a little lost in thought.

Since she had woken up in the afternoon, she'd nearly been glued to her phone hoping Lucas would contact her. How hard was it for someone to send a stupid happy birthday text? It wasn't like he had to be super bubbly like Riley with all caps and exclamation marks taking up a whole page by themselves and every single emoji available, regardless of relevance. A simple 'happy bday' even sufficed. And now it was already late evening, and there hadn't been a word from him.

It was just rude.

"So… have you talked to Lucas today… or…" Riley asked tentatively, glancing nervously at Maya as she tugged on her boots.

"No. And I'd rather we didn't mention him at all today." Maya said, putting the stress ball back in its proper place.

"But Maya, you could—"

"Don't Riley. I want to enjoy my birthday. Not think about him."

Though she had definitely been failing…

"But—"

"I mean it Riley. No Lucas talk." Maya frowned. "I know you don't like to let things go, but I'm asking you to this time."

"I just think that—"

"Ring power." Maya said, lifting her hand up with a roll of her eyes. "Don't mention Lucas again."

"Fine." Riley pouted cutely, looking really disappointed. "I won't mention him."

"Good." Maya stood up, stretching her arms over her head as Riley pulled on her coat. "So what do you have on the agenda tonight?"

Riley took a bandana out of her closet and then walked over to Maya.

"Close your eyes." she giggled excitedly.

Maya did such and then felt Riley cover her eyes with the bandana before tying it in a tight knot at the back of her head.

"Riley, what are you doing?"

"Taking you to your obvious 22nd birthday party in a super-secret location!"

"Riley, I hope you didn't plan anything crazy. This birthday isn't even important."

"All of your birthdays are important." Riley scolded. "Because you're important to me."

Maya let out a little sigh, though she smiled. "Thank you Riley."

She decided to keep her mouth shut and let Riley take her wherever. After all, Riley had gone through all this effort. She might as well humor her. And hey, maybe this party could help take her mind off of the fact that things weren't the same without her boyfriend. And that they hadn't been the same since they'd gone on their break.

Riley tugged her around as they walked, spinning her in circles occasionally to disorient her so she couldn't use her mind's eye to figure out where they were headed. Maya had done really well guessing where they were up until they got outside of Riley's dorm building. But after being forced into two different taxis and then pushed up a bunch of flights of steps and then into an elevator and then up another flight of steps (all while occasionally being spun around), she was totally lost. She was completely and utterly confused. It didn't help that Riley had been chattering excitedly about some frat party she'd gone to with some friends that got busted by the cops.

"Alright Maya. We're here." Riley said, pushing her forward through a door that's hinges squeaked noisily when it was opened.

A cold brush of wind slapped Maya in the face, and she heard some soft rock playing in the background accompanied by the sounds of snickering and whispering people.

Riley pulled the blindfold off of Maya's head.

"SURPRISE!"

They were on the roof of the Matthews' apartment complex. Standing around the roof, all smiling and holding drinks and cheerful expressions were her friends—new and old—all there to celebrate her birthday.

And Maya's eyes widened as her mouth fell slightly open.

It had been decorated spectacularly. There were golden lanterns placed everywhere, the roof looking almost ethereal. The whole party was illuminated by twinkling lights in the shape of stars fastened everywhere to wires that had been attached to all the poles. Bartender serving free blue cocktails off at the side. A chocolate fountain. A cake decorated in the form of Starry Night by Van Gogh.

It was beautiful.

It was everything she'd wanted for this birthday.

But Maya knew she hadn't told anyone about that dream aside from Lucas in passing on some phone call a while ago. Her eyes roved over all the people in front of her, searching somewhat frantically for him.

But he wasn't there.

And suddenly, she really wanted him to be.

It tore her up a bit inside, but she swallowed the lump in her throat and turned to Riley slightly in front of her with a somewhat forced smile, though she masked her disappointment well. They'd all put work into this party. It would be wrong for her to not enjoy it just because someone she really wanted to be there wasn't.

"How did you know about my Starry Night party fantasy?"

"Actually I didn't…" Riley looked past Maya's shoulder somewhere behind her. "But he did."

Maya spun around in surprise, her heart almost immediately starting to race.

Lucas was standing behind her, scratching the back of his head and looking a little sheepish.

"Hey."

"Lucas…"

"I know you probably don't want me here, but it's your birthday and—"

She didn't even think twice and launched herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his chest. Lucas was a little caught off guard by her sudden embrace, but he soon wrapped his arms around her too, holding her tight to awww's and cheers and whoops from the people behind her. She knew that technically they were still on break, but it didn't matter because she was so happy.

She had missed him for the past three months and she couldn't even remember why their argument had mattered so much because the most important thing to her was that she wanted to be with him.

He's here.

And somehow, it was the best present she'd ever gotten in her life.

"He was actually following us the whole time after we got out of my room." Riley giggled. "That's why I blindfolded you! So you wouldn't see him. I was trying to throw hints, but you ring powered me."

Maya let out a happy laugh and pulled back, resting her chin on his chest and gazing happily up at him.

"You came…"

"Of course I would."

And she knew, unspoken, that their little break was over.

She leaned up as he leaned down and met his lips in a sweet kiss that had her shivering in pleasure and had goosebumps rising on her arms. It was like she'd been deprived of something she needed for so long.

"Happy birthday Maya." He whispered against her lips.

And she kissed him again.

~.~.~

"It was really nice of your roommate to offer to stay at her friend's tonight." Lucas said.

"I mean, let's be honest…" Maya laughed, shifting slightly so she could more comfortably lay her head on his chest. "She didn't really have a choice."

"You've got a point." He chuckled softly, his hand softly stroking her back.

She hummed and snuggled further into him, glad that he was back. But she knew this whole thing was kind of a cease-fire in a sense. She was really enjoying Lucas' company, but just because they were together again didn't mean that anything had been resolved. They couldn't leave it unsettled because the same fight would just continue to happen over and over. And as much as it pained her to ruin their peaceful moment, she knew she needed to bring it up again.

But at least she had her mind made up now. She'd decided during the party.

She just needed to see what he wanted.

"So what happens next, Huckleberry?" She glanced up at him. "We're back, but…"

"Maya, I honestly need you in my life. I know that now." he said, his arms tightening the slightest bit around her, "And I get it. I know waiting around for someone is hard to deal with. But I've been waiting around for you too. It's not a one way street. We need to lean on each other emotionally if we want this thing to work."

"But then what?" She pressed. "We graduate. You stay in Texas for vet school; I travel a bit and practice my art, maybe try to get a teaching license. When will we ever see each other again?"

"I don't know, but I was miserable without you Maya. Not hearing your voice every week; it was hard. I don't know what to do, but I don't want to let you go. Even if I know you want something better."

And that was all she needed to hear.

Maya pulled herself up from under the toasty warmth of her covers, sitting up and looking down at him.

"Lucas, I made up my mind." Maya said seriously, "I don't want to be with you if it means I can only see you every once in a while."

Lucas stiffened, his gaze growing a little anxious and concerned.

"So after I graduate, I'm moving to Texas." Maya continued. "It's not worth not seeing each other for years. So I'm coming to you. I'm the one who can shift my life more easily. And since I don't have a finalized plan yet for the future, it makes the most sense to me."

By that point, Lucas' eyebrows had lifted quite high in surprise, and he sat up as well, grasping her shoulders in concern.

"Maya, that's too much. You don't have to do that."

"I want to." she said, smiling a little bashfully when his astonished look grew into an elated one, "I don't know what our future will hold in the long run, but I know I want to be with you in the future, so if that means relocating, then so be it. I think that's the best way to handle it. And that way, even if I travel, I know I can always come home to you. And after your day, you can come home to me."

Lucas didn't say anything for a while, just watching her.

Then he leaned in and kissed her softly. And it was so mind-numbing and warm and loving that Maya's breath was stolen from her. She was a little dizzy when he pulled away from her, staring a little stunned into his soft sea-foam green eyes.

"You would do that for me?"

"I love you." She said seriously, sliding her arms up around his neck. "Of course I would."

Lucas grinned, looking so unbelievably happy and his smile so infectious that Maya's lips pulled into a smile as well.

"Maya, I love you so much. That means the world. Honestly, I don't know what I—"

Maya tugged him forward, silencing him with her lips. Then she pulled away, giving him a pointed look and raised eyebrow. Lucas searched her eyes a bit dazed for a few seconds before smiling and pulling her into him, meeting her lips in a heated kiss that left Maya breathless.

They had all the time in the world to talk. Right now, they had three months' worth of catching up to do.

And it was still going to be a little hard because they had their senior year to go through, but at least she knew she would be able to see him whenever she wanted after they graduated. And to her, that was worth it.

Lucas had been right all those years ago.

He said they would figure it out.

And they did.