Hey guys! I'm so sorry for the super overdue update... AGAIN. Writing is hard XD. I try to write a long enough chapter to last you guys for a while (if you notice, chapter lengths is almost 3 or 4 times longer than first few wow) and I'm a bit of a perfectionist so it always takes a while for me to be ready to update. But! In the months that I've been away... 30, 774 views! o.O Hey look ma, I made it~ (Panic! at the Disco, btw. Great songs all around, I've been obsessed recently. Thanks to Alyssa XD)

I'm trying to inject a little more humour into my writing so it's not so dark and serious all the time. My style of writing has developed over the months (oops) since the last chapter so let me know what you think! Comment, favourite, follow, and share with your friends!

I've also recently started writing on Wattpad. For those of you who don't know what it is it's a platform for people to write stories and stuff to develop their skills and practice. It's like fanfiction but you can write anything and you're not limited by fanfics only. So...

MY NEW STORY! Out on Wattpad! I have the same username as here: Rocksrain3, and the story is titled Breaking Cover. If you search under my username you will find it. Please check it out! I will include a short snippet of the story at the end of this chapter so stick on till the end!

And now presenting... new chapter!

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Pizza. Lucas.

A sharp jab in my side. I glare at Jonas. "Stop staring." he whispers. My eyes slide back to Maya of their own accord as the sunlight tilts in and reflects off her blue, blue eyes.

"Speak for yourself." I nod my head towards Jackie, who's matching Jonas's stare with a weird one, watching him with expectation. "The question was: how far have you gotten with the math homework." I whisper, trying to help him out. Jonas turns away, ears red, and mumbles something to Jackie in response. I can't help but laugh as he trips over the edge of the table in his haste to stand up when it's time to leave. I slow down to let them walk ahead. And maybe also because Maya is hanging slightly behind.

"Hey, Lucas?" My eyes snap over to her. She's fidgeting, why is she fidgeting?

"Yeah?"

"I'm considering applying to this art programme thing, but I'm not sure if-"

"You should." I cut her off. "You definitely should."

"You think so?"

"Your art has improved a lot since I first saw it and I really think you have a shot." I tell her sincerely. Her hand does this little twitch thing. There's something else, just spit it out. "What is it?" I blurt.

"I need to get a scholarship in this programme. It's quite costly and I can't put that kind of price on my mom, we wouldn't be able to keep it up for even a month." she says.

"So get a scholarship." I say. Idiot.

"It's not that easy, Huckleberry." I know, I'm sorry, please don't hate me.

"It is." Stupid fat mouth. "Getting a scholarship is the same as getting into the programme. Same thing. It's all about whether it's good enough. You have to at least try, you owe that to yourself."

"I- gah..."

"Come on, Maya."

"Fine. Fine! I'll do it." A smile tears itself from me and she gives me one in return. "You'll come over to help me pick which ones to submit? Tomorrow, after school."

"Of course."

"Lucas!" Oh, shit. We turn to see my dad walking towards us. "We're going back. Now."

"What- dad." I allow him to drag me until outside the house before I yank my arm away.

"You have wasted enough time on this nonsense. The trials for the team is next week. We need to get you back on track. The scout from Michigan is coming and-"

"Dad, I don't-"

"We need to practice those weaving layups. And you left leg propulsions are way too-"

"Dad!" he stops, turning.

"What?" Do it, just do it, do it now...

"I..."

"Hi, Mr Friar." I whip my head so fast I almost get whiplash. I felt like a dog with a squirrel. Maya, here, why, Maya, whatisgoing-

"Oh. Hi, um... Eileen." I roll my eyes.

"Maya." she corrects.

"Ah." he says, like he doesn't really care. "So, Lucas-"

"What are you doing here?" I ask her, cutting my dad off.

"My art portfolio, remember? I was going to show you some of it."

"I, ah, thought that was tomorrow?" I say, thoroughly confused.

"No, I've got something on tomorrow remember?" She gives me a look with her eyes... her very... very blue eyes... Focus! What did she say? Oh... oh! She's trying to help me out! Sigh... idiot.

"Oh! Riiiight, I totally forgot. Let's go." I grab her hand and we get the hell out of there. Wait... you grabbed her hand why did you grab her hand alert alert LET GO! I release it suddenly like I've been burned. "So, uh, now what?" I say awkwardly.

"I suppose I could show you some of the ones I have on my phone now." she shrugs.

"I know a milkshake place around the corner?" I offer, and she grins.

"You read my mind."

Ten minutes later. Lucas.

We're laughing so hard, I can't breathe.

"Wait, wait, wait. So then what do you say?" An unattractive choking noise comes out as I try to hold back my laughter.

"So... so... oh god." Maya tries to start and fails multiple times, wiping her eyes. "So I said... 'Well, sir... Einstein said time was relative.'" We laugh so hard we are hunched over at our booth, hands slapping the table and the lady at the table nearby scooting further away from us, shooting us strange looks.

Just when we were about running out of stories and calming down, I take a sip of the milkshake as Maya finishes her last story ("And then he shouted 'They don't look very human-like'!") and instantly choke on it. And it comes back up... but the wrong way.

Maya howls at the sight of the two streaks of vanilla milkshake running down from my nose. I wipe it quickly, turning very red as she continues gasping for air and laughing. "Stop." I mutter.

"Ohh... I'm sorry Lucas... but frankly... it's hilarious..." she manages to get out in between laughs. Now I'm smiling. Because she's laughing. And also because...

"You called me Lucas." My smile is a full-blown idiotic grin now. Stop it, you weirdo. Maya pauses then shrugs.

"Well that's your name, isn't it?" We grin at each other. I can feel my ears turn red.

"Yeah, so, I'm really impressed Maya. About your art." I add, seeing her confused look. "It's amazing, what you can do with different mediums, and bring everything to life." She smiles one of her rare non-teasing smiles, and colours come to life in the room. "You're amazing." I find myself saying. Wait, what? Abort, ABORT. "You can take anything and make it come to life." Use of double meaning? What are you doing, Mouth? Brain is telling you to STOP-

"Thanks, Lucas." She tucks her hair behind her ear and looks up at me with her starry eyes. Tell her you like her, tell her you like her, do it now, just do it-

"I..." she looks at me with those eyes, waiting. This is your chance. DO IT.

"I'm still coming over tomorrow to see the rest right?" I loathe you, damn it.

Join the club.

—

What did you guys think? Did you like the interaction between Lucas and his logical brain? Comments... let me know what you guys want to see in the next chapter!

miaadventure: THANK YOU! As Will Turner says, "A craftsman is always pleased to know his work is appreciated." Ay... I feel your pain. It's nice to know I get "older" teen readers too haha. Do you know, I had orchestra photo taking a few months ago, and all of us (Grade 7-12) had to line up in height order. I'm high school sophomore... and I was fourth to last in the entire line of 50+ people... with heels on! /cries in despair/ Grade 7 kid, Grade 7 kid, Grade 8 kid, WOW YOU'RE OLD, Grade 7 kid... sigh. I hope u r still here... let me know what you think of this chapter!

CarrieKelley17: Thanks, I will! Hope you stuck around... my gosh I'm going to lose all my readers haha...

XJ-0461: YES! It is still being worked on. My goal is to finish this and see how far I can take it. I'm also considering a Maya/Zay story because it was suggested and I do think it will be very interesting to explore. Thank you!

And here is a snippet of my NEW STORY, NOW OUT ON WATTPAD! Presenting... Breaking Cover.

Charlie Davis is a quirky agent of the FBI, and the Bureau's most rogue and talented. She doesn't give a damn about how she's seen, but for the sake of her career, she's about to be thrust into a scene that's foreign to this wildcard...

"Well? The place is clean. He is clean. He's a civilian. You got us into shit with Collins again. I'm so sick of-" I put my hand up, blocking his face for a moment. I tilt my head up and smile.

"So. You think the place is clean, huh?" If it was possible, Johnny turned even more red.

"The search team is here! The dogs are here! We swept the whole place! It. is. Clean!" He bellows, spit almost flying out of his mouth.

"The dogs are useless, and so is the search team." I roll my eyes and bang the side of the sink with my fist. The basin pops up by an inch and I grip its sides, lifting the false basin out, exposing the real basin and the packages of drugs lining the real basin. "Tadaa. Sorry, what were you saying before, Johnny?" Johnny opens and closes his mouth like a fish, his face now a mottled purple. "Thought I'd let you guys have your fun first." Eric smirks.

"Pay up, buddy."

What did you guys think? Check me out on Wattpad, and keep reading, keep rocking!

xx,

Rocksrain