Riley pulled her long cozy dark gray cardigan tighter around her body. The dark gloomy morning matched her current mood.
"What's wrong with you?" Josh asked as she took a seat across from him at the breakfast table.
"Nothing."
"Here Honey, eat some breakfast. I'll be working late tonight." Mrs. Matthews set a bowl of oatmeal in front of her not-so-smiley daughter.
"Thanks Mom. Where's Dad?" Riley took a few bites of her breakfast.
"He's already at the school. Is Maya ever coming down?" Mrs. Matthews answered.
"I'm right here." Maya declared from the stairs. She took a seat next to Riley. A cold chill, not related to the rainy weather outside, filled the room.
"Okaaaay…." Mrs. Matthews placed a steaming bowl of oatmeal in front of Maya. "I have to get to work. Whatever this is…" She motioned her hands to the silent girls. "...fix it." She grabbed her work bag and left the kitchen.
"Okay seriously, what is wrong with you two?" Josh demanded.
"I told you. Nothing." Riley muttered.
Maya rolled her eyes. "She's all pouty because I didn't jump for joy when she and Lucas almost kissed."
"MAYA!" Riley shouted simultaneously as Josh choked on his orange juice.
Maya rolled her eyes again. "He already knows about Lucas."
"What? How? Did you tell him?" Riley's voice began to escalate.
"Calm down. She didn't tell me. Lucas did. What's this about almost kissed?" Josh asked.
"I love how you assumed I told him." Maya interjected.
Josh ignored Maya. "Lucas let it slip the other morning after practice. What kiss?"
"He did?" Riley questioned.
"Yeah, and Josh almost beat him up for it." Maya answered for him.
"JOSH!" Riley screamed.
"Nothing happened. I was just caught off guard" Josh explained.
Riley was beyond yelling at this point. "Violence is never an acceptable solution Josh. I don't care if you think you're looking out for me or not."
"Oh that's ironic." Maya scoffed.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Riley snapped.
"I told you last night. You don't even know Lucas. I don't want you to get hurt." Maya answered.
"Me too!" Josh added.
Riley slammed her hands on the table and stood up. "Enough! I can take care of myself! I don't need either of you protecting me from every little thing! Especially Lucas!" Riley stormed over to the front door.
"Where are you going?" Maya called after her.
"To school. Find your own damn ride." Riley slammed the front door behind her.
"Oh shit! She was really loud!" Josh gasped.
Maya let her head fall to the table.
"Well, it looks like it's me and you Kitten." Josh grabbed Riley's abandoned oatmeal and began to devour it.
"How are you not bothered by any of this?" Maya asked without raising her head.
"She's my sister. She has to forgive me eventually. Besides it's not like I did anything." Josh answered with a mouthful of oatmeal.
"Aren't you worried about Lucas hurting her?"
Josh shrugged, even though Maya couldn't see. "A little. I'm her big brother. I'll always worry about guys hurting her. Lucas? Nah."
Maya finally lifted her head. "Why not Lucas? You know he got kicked out of school in Texas right?"
"Doesn't matter. He's my friend. And I saw him with Riley after practice yesterday. That guy is falling for her. He's so screwed." Josh laughed and stood up to place their bowls in the sink. "Come on, we're going to be late for school. You can thank me for the ride later." He winked.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here ladies, a little freak all by herself. Where's your guard dog Smiley?" Missy descended on Riley in the busy school hall.
"Leave me alone Missy." Riley muttered.
Missy and her minions closed in. Riley felt claustrophobia begin to surround her.
"Not until you listen to me." Missy cornered Riley's trembling body against the lockers. "Belinda saw you with Lucas Friar yesterday after school. I don't know what made a freak like you think you could talk to him, but he's mine. Backoff." Missy sneered.
Riley felt dizzy. Her heart was racing. She desperately looked for an escape, but Missy's minions were blocking any chance she had. Her eyes looked past Missy's shoulder to a figure quickly approaching them.
"Did you hear me freak?" Missy spat.
"Hey beautiful!"
Lucas Friar's voice caused Missy to jump. Lucas pushed past the cheerleaders and pulled Riley into his arms. He could feel her trembling. "You're okay." Lucas whispered reassuringly in her ear. He gently pulled away, but left one arm around Riley's waist, his thumb moving in small circles on her hip.
"Oh sorry, I didn't see you there Misty." Lucas glanced down at Riley and gave her a quick wink.
Missy huffed. "That's okay Lucas. Riley and I were just having a little chat. Right?"
"I'm sure you were." Lucas snapped.
"Oh Lucas you are too funny!" She breathily laughed and placed her hand on his bicep. "See you later Smiley." Missy purred as she and her minions sauntered away.
Lucas looked down at the still silent Riley. Her shaking had stopped. "Riley? Are you alright?"
Riley nodded, finally breaking her silence. "Yes. You didn't have to do that. You shouldn't have done that. Now she'll just get even crazier."
Lucas ignored her and wrapped his other arm back around her, pulling her into him. Riley felt her body relax. She buried her nose into his chest. Why does he have to smell so good?
"Is she giving you trouble?" Lucas murmured into her soft hair.
Riley didn't answer. Instead, she closed her eyes and focused on the soft material of his shirt covering his hard chest. Lucas's arms made her forget they were standing in the middle of the school's busy hallway.
"Riley…" Lucas pulled away slightly to look at her.
"It doesn't matter. It's petty." Riley whispered.
"It does matter." Lucas pressed. "Where's Maya?" he added.
"I don't know. We aren't exactly on good terms this morning."
The bell rang, interrupting their conversation.
"Come on. We're late." Riley pulled herself from Lucas's arms.
"No." Lucas reached out and grabbed her hand, preventing her from leaving. He pulled her back to his chest.
"Lucas. Please. We have to get to class." Riley weakly pleaded with him.
Lucas shook his head and brought his arms around Riley, his head falling to rest against hers. "No. Not until you tell me what happened with Maya."
Riley let out a shaky sigh. "It's nothing. She just is acting so...protective."
"Protective?"
"I don't know. She is acting like she's not happy about you and me. I thought she would be supportive. And last night she had been crying...and then Josh….and the yelling...I just don't know what's wrong." Riley rambled on.
Lucas smiled and brushed her hair from her face. "Woah. Riley slow down. Josh yelled at you?"
She shook her head. "No. I yelled at him. And Maya."
"Why?"
"Because. They keep treating me like I'm some fragile doll or something…" Don't start crying. Don't start crying. Riley felt her eyes begin to water. "...And then this happens."
"They're just trying to look out for you. They love you." Lucas wiped a tear away.
"I know. I just don't understand why Maya is pushing me away." Riley wrapped her arms around his neck in a gentle hug.
"Don't worry beautiful. I'm sure Maya will come around."
"That was quite a little show you put on this morning." Zay teased Lucas as they took turns bench-pressing in weights class.
Lucas gripped the barbell tighter and continued to push the weights from his chest. "I don't know what you're talking about." He grumbled between reps.
"Oh I think you do. Let me refresh your memory. Riley, a damsel in distress. Missy the evil dragon attacking. Enter Lucas the knightly hero."
"Riley's not a damsel in distress." Lucas placed the barbell back on the rack and sat up.
"Then what is she?" Zay switched places with Lucas and began to lift.
A princess. Lucas thought. "I don't know."
"You know I was surprised Riley wasn't running for the hills from you." Zay grunted.
"Why would she do that?" Lucas narrowed his eyes at his friend.
"Well, you see a funny thing happened. I may or may not have accidentally told Maya about what went down in Texas."
Lucas ripped Zay from the bench, sending the barbell crashing to the ground. "YOU DID WHAT?"
"Calm down buddy. It was an accident." Zay attempted to calm his best friend.
"How do you accidentally tell someone that! What the fuck is wrong with you? Is your mouth really that big that you can't control it, or are you just that desperate to win over Maya?" Lucas growled.
"I'm sorry really. Maya got all wide eyed at me…." Zay didn't get a chance to finish.
"Dudes, what's going on?" Josh jogged over to them.
Lucas didn't care. "So Maya flirted with you and you told her, just like that? Newsflash she's playing you. We've all heard Josh bragging in the locker room. She's too busy fucking him to notice you and she never will." He yelled.
"Lucas. Coach is going to hear you." Josh attempted to calm the quarterback down.
Lucas shoved Zay's chest. "Huh? Nothing to say now? You know what, I thought you were my friend."
"We are friends." Zay mumbled.
"No. We're not. Friends trust each other, and clearly I can't trust you." Lucas stormed from the weight room and threw the locker room door open.
"Zay? What the hell did you do to him?" Josh turned to Zay.
Zay ignored Josh's question. "Is it true...you and Maya?"
Josh shrugged. "I guess. I mean it's not like I have feelings for her. If she's offering I'm gonna take her up on it."
Zay pursed his lips and nodded. "Yeah I guess."
Lucas bypassed the cafeteria during lunch. He was a man on a mission. He flung the art room door open.
"What is your problem?" He yelled at the blonde standing in front of a large canvas.
"Hello to you too, Huckleberry. Having a nice fit of 'roid rage?" Maya greeted.
"Knock it off Maya. I'm talking about you and Riley."
Maya put down her paintbrush. "I didn't tell her...yet."
"Remember yesterday? You said you cared about Riley. You said you didn't want to see her get hurt." Lucas stated.
"Do you have a point Huckleberry?"
"Yes. You see, I care about Riley too. A lot. And right now, you're the one hurting her." He hissed.
"What are you going to do? Hit me?" Maya sarcastically laughed.
"I would never hurt a girl. I'm telling you to fix it. Get off your high horse with your little daddy issues and apologize to her."
"You don't even know what happened. And you should know a lot about horses, Huckleberry. I'm not the one who got kicked out of school." Maya snapped.
"Doesn't matter. You two are supposed to be the closest friends, like, ever. Zay told me you are practically sisters. Start acting like it."
Maya's face filled with rage.
"Are you aware that Missy attacked Riley this morning?" Lucas yelled.
Her face softened at Lucas's outburst. She had avoided Riley for most of the day, she even ditched the beginners art class.
"What?"
"You heard me. Missy attacked her this morning and you weren't there for her. I was. For someone who claims to care about her, you seem to enjoy hurting her more. That's what's going to happen if you tell her." Lucas's voice was filled with venom.
"She deserves to know the truth." Maya mumbled.
Lucas threw his hands up in the air. "When have I ever said I wasn't going to tell her? I fully intended on telling Riley, when the time is right. You have to give me a chance."
Maya remained silent. "Was she upset?" She barely whispered.
"What?"
"After Missy. Was she upset?"
Lucas rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah. She was shaking pretty bad. I didn't hear what Missy said to her. She was more upset about you."
Maya nodded and reached down into her bag. "Here." She handed Lucas a small sandwich bag from the cafeteria. "Take this to her hiding spot. Please. There's no way she faced the cafeteria after what happened this morning, she needs to eat."
Lucas took the bag from her. "Why not take it yourself?"
"It will mean more coming from you." Maya went back to her painting.
Lucas quickly made his way to the auditorium. As he assumed, Riley was sitting center stage with her ukulele again. She continued to sing as he joined her on stage.
"So keep on climbing, though the ground might shake
Just keep on reaching though the limb might break
We've come this far, don't you be scared now
'Cause you can learn to fly on the way down"
"Maddie and Tae?" Lucas questioned as she stopped singing.
"I told you I liked all genres, even country." Riley smiled at him.
"You're voice is beautiful." Lucas brushed a stray curl behind her ear.
Riley blushed. "Thank you. I'm trying to pick a song for the musical auditions." She absentmindedly strummed the instrument.
"What musical is it?" Lucas wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"It hasn't been announced yet, but I think Mr. Carter is leaning towards Guys and Dolls." She rested her head on his shoulder.
"Dolls? Like creepy children's toys?" Lucas asked.
Riley laughed. "No. Like girls. Doll is considered a term of endearment for a pretty woman. It was popular in the late 1940's, which is when the musical takes place."
"Oh I see. So are you going for the lead?"
"Well, kinda. I mean I hope I get the lead, but there could be someone better." Riley shyly answered.
"I think you're a shoo-in for it." Lucas tapped her nose.
"Thanks. And thanks for earlier too...the whole Missy thing…." Riley felt embarrassed by the whole morning.
"Don't worry about it." Lucas smiled at her. "Are you feeling better? You were pretty upset earlier."
"I'm fine. It's just Missy being Missy. Or Misty I might say." Riley laughed lightly
"Does she corner you like that often?" Lucas asked.
"I don't want to talk about it." Riley whispered.
"I won't tolerate bullies. How long has this been going on?" Lucas's voice was firm.
Riley didn't answer him.
Lucas rubbed her shoulder. "Riley, do you want me to handle her?"
Riley shook her head. "No. Usually Maya keeps her at bay."
"Speaking of Maya…" Lucas offered Riley the bag. "I'm not sure what happened between you two, but she asked me to bring you this."
Riley smiled and took the bag. "Wanna share?"
Lucas grinned. "Maybe just a little."
Riley laughed and tore the sandwich in half, offering a half to Lucas.
"Thanks, beautiful. Are you going to the scrimmage tomorrow?" Lucas took a giant bite of the sandwich. Skipping lunch might not have been the best idea, he thought.
"Yeah. Usually Maya and I go together. She explains the game to me...so I don't know who will go with me this time. Farkle isn't really one for sports."
"I'll look for you in the stands." Lucas winked at her.
"I finally get to see your mad Texan athleticism in action." Riley teased.
"Yupp. Should be quite the show." Lucas brought his arm up to flex his muscles.
Riley nearly fainted. "If you say so…"
"How about this.." Lucas put his arm down. "If you're impressed after the game, you go with me to the afterparty. If you're not impressed, you go with me to the afterparty." He grinned.
Riley rolled her eyes at him.
"What? Afraid of a little wager, city girl?" Lucas tickled her sides.
Riley shrieked and squirmed to get away from him.
"You're on cowboy!"
Hmm...things are definitely heating up! Up next: a lot of apologies. Thank you so much for reading! Please review, like, follow, favorite, all the things! I love love love to read your reviews! Hopefully the next chapter will not take me as long to post. I re-wrote this chapter a few times, there a quite a few deleted scenes but I'm hoping to work them into the next chapters!
Lilly.