AN

A million and one apologizes for taking so long to update! To make up for it, here is another extra long chapter, so grab a snack and get comfy. Also thank you so much for all of the well wishes for my dad, he is feeling better but we're still waiting for the transplants. The fact that I have internet friends who I've never met, but still can show compassion for me and my family warms my heart and almost brings me to tears.

Chapter 9

There were more people at Jake's party than Riley anticipated. Like an anchor in a sea of people, she instinctively held onto Maya's arm. Her eyes roamed around the packed entry way. The stairs were lined with couples making out, and others in search of a more private place. A hefty smell of weed combined with the stench of beer filled the air. The living room had been turned into a makeshift dance floor, the heavy bass of the music rattled the walls. Her brother was standing along the wall of the living room, his arm wrapped around a tall dark haired girl, the other holding a red solo cup. Riley recognized the girl as Victoria, the captain of the volleyball team. She was very long and lean, with dark almost black hair and a slightly turned up nose that reminded Riley of a pug. She wondered if Maya had seen her brother as well. Their path was suddenly blocked by a tall shaggy haired boy.

"Maya Hart. I haven't seen you out at a party for awhile."

Riley swore she saw Maya's eyes glance in Josh's direction, before throwing her arms around the tall boy in an obnoxious dramatic hug. Riley internally groaned. Well I guess that answers my question. Josh leaned over to say something in Victoria's ear, but his eyes made direct contact with the blonde engulfed in a stranger's arms in the entry way.

"Nathaniel! It has been a while! Are the parties so lame at NYU that you have to come home to party with a bunch of high schoolers?"

Nathaniel laughed sarcastically. "Ha Ha. I'll have you know I was invited by my brother himself, besides who else is going to buy the keg," his eyes raked over Riley's body. "So, who's your friend?"

"This is Riley, Riley this is Nathaniel, Jake's older brother."

"You can call me Nate, everyone but this yahoo does," Nate jerked his thumb at Maya then reached out to shake Riley's hand.

She smiled weakly as he held onto her hand. Shouldn't he be letting go by now?

"So Riley, do you think I could be lucky enough to get a dance with you?"

The thick air from the party clouded Riley's mind. She was completely overstimulated and underprepared to be in this type of situation. "Uh…."

Maya immediately jumped to her rescue. "Sorry, but she has a date for the night. We're just waiting on him to get here."

Nate nodded and dropped her small hand from his. "That's too bad. If he doesn't show, don't be afraid to come and find me." He squeezed Riley's arm and ventured into the living room. "Enjoy your night ladies."

Riley turned on Maya. "Maya what in the hell am I'm doing here? I can't do this." She waved her arms frantically in the air, motioning to the chaos surrounding them. "I don't even know who that guy was! I don't belong here! I should just go..."

Maya grabbed Riley's flailing arms, "shhh...Riley. You can do this."

A new uncomfortable feeling of paranoia creeped over Riley. She looked up and spotted Missy glaring at her from the far corner of the living room, surrounded by her gang of cheerleaders. Riley's instincts told her to run. She wanted to find Josh and tell him to get her home...but he was currently tangled in Victoria's arms on the dance floor.

Maya followed Riley's gaze with her own. A wave of coldness drenched down her head to her chest, but she forced it away. You feel nothing. Numb. She took a breath and continued her mental mantra. Numb is good.

Maya grabbed Riley's hand and pulled her through the entry, "Come on it will be quieter in the kitchen."

Sure enough, the kitchen muffled the loud music and was clear of the herbal smelling smoke. The counters were littered with various bottles of alcohol and coolers filled with beer.

Maya unhooked herself from Riley's arm and casually leaned back against the kitchen counter. She eyed Riley carefully, it was painfully obvious she was out of her comfort zone.

"You alright Peaches?"

Riley let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding and nodded. Her voice quivered as she spoke, "how much longer do you think the boys will be?"

Maya spotted movement by the door and grinned at her friend, "I think they'll be here sooner than you think."

Just as Maya finished speaking, a pair strong arms wrapped around Riley and lifted her into the air, causing her to shriek.

"Gotta be faster than that city girl."

Lucas's breath tickled her cheek as he set her back on the ground. He turned her in his arms to face him. He had been dying to have Riley in his arms ever since he saw her at the football game.

"Hi."

Riley smiled at him, but her voice was small "Hi."

"Hi Sugar" Zay greeted Maya with a warm smile.

"Hey handsome" Maya gave Zay a small hug.

"So Maya, we gotta get the true story…" Lucas moved to stand next to Riley, but kept her tucked into his side by wrapping his arm around her shoulders, "...did you really dump a smoothie on Missy's head?"

Maya laughed. "Of course not."

"I told you so." Lucas pointed at Zay, who looked like he had just been told Santa wasn't real.

Maya grinned. "It was a milkshake."

Zay threw his hands up in the air in celebration. "Yes!" He jabbed his finger at Lucas, "No man, I fucking told you so! And that my friends warrants a drink." Zay moved to the makeshift bar to grab a beer out of a cooler.

"You want one Lucas?"

Lucas glanced down at Riley. She had been unnaturally quiet, standing with her shoulders slightly hunched over, as if she were trying to make herself a small as possible. "Do you want a drink?"

Riley shook her head. "Uh, no thanks. I don't really drink."

"Will it bother you if I do?"

Riley shook her head again.

Lucas turned back to Zay. "Nah, man I'm good."

"Lucas you don't have to because of me…"

Lucas squeezed her shoulder and gave her a quick wink. "Don't worry about it."

"Maya?" Zay offered a can to her, but she glanced at Riley and held up her hand. "I'll hold off for a while."

Zay shrugged his shoulders and popped the tab on his beer. The sudden change of music caused him to perk his head up. "Oh now this is my song. What do you say Sugar? Dance with me?"

"Juju On that Beat? That's your song?" Maya laughed.

"Hell yeah it is. Come on." Zay grabbed her hand and lead her out of the kitchen.

Riley watched them retreat into the mass of bodies dancing in the living room.

"Do you want to dance?" Lucas's voice filled her ears.

Riley let out a shaky breath as she watched Zay and Maya. Naturally, Zay was in the dead center of the room, skillfully waving one hand in the air while keeping his beer from spilling in the other. Zay brought his free hand down to wrap his arm around Maya's waist. He spun Maya around and pulled her back to his chest as they moved against each other. Riley bit her lip. Would Lucas expect that of her? She wasn't even sure if she could dance like that. She was used to musical theater, maybe even a little tap dancing...not whatever that was...grinding?

She felt Lucas pull his arm away from her and suddenly he was standing directly in front of her. His green eyes studied her face.

"Riley? Are you okay?"

Her eyes snapped to meet his. "I'm fine. It's just a little...uh...crowded in here."

Lucas grabbed both of her hands in his and ran his thumbs over her knuckles. "Do you want to go somewhere more private?"

The words sounded so simple but Riley's eyes must have bulged out of her head.

Lucas gave her an amused smirk. "Dirty mind huh? No, not like that. Unless of course you wanted to," he brought his hands to rest on her hips with a wolfish grin. "But I was thinking more like getting out of here. I still need somebody to show me around the town…"

Riley's eyes lit up at the thought of leaving the party, "I think I can help you with that, but I have to tell Maya first..." Riley looked towards the living room where Maya and Zay were dancing, only to find them lost in the crowd, "...if I can find her that is."

"Here." Lucas moved his hands from her waist and offered her his arm. "Hold on tight and don't let go."

Riley wrapped her hand around Lucas's bicep and tried not to squeal. The muscular arm she marveled at during the football game felt just as good as it looked, if not better.

Lucas lead Riley into the maze of moving bodies on the dance floor. He weaved through the people, nodding at the occasional "Hey QB!" or "Great game man!" Riley held onto his arm tighter as the crowd grew thicker around them. As more people recognized Lucas, he realized the crowd was actually starting to surround them.

"Lucas! Where you going?" The team's doing shots!"

"QB One!"

"Friar!"

The distance between Riley and Lucas started to grow. Riley was slowly getting pushed further from Lucas by the large football players. She desperately tried to keep up, but was pushed into the back of a girl with slightly green-tinted dirty blonde hair.

"Oh my gosh! I am so sorry." Riley attempted to shout over the loud music.

"Watch where you're going bitch!" Missy snapped.

Lucas felt a pull on his arm as Riley stumbled into the crowd. He jerked his head back just in time to see Missy jab her elbow into Riley's ribs.

"HEY!" Lucas's yell roared over the music.

He leapt back and pulled Riley into his chest. The smug look on Missy's face faltered at his reaction.

"Don't ever touch her again." His voice was low and menacing.

"Lucas it's fine, can we just leave? Please?" Riley tugged on the front of his shirt, begging him not to make anymore of a scene.

"Guys, come on we're trying to get through here."

Shocked at his sudden outburst, the football players parted the crowd. Lucas spotted Maya and moved in her direction.

Missy glared at their backs as they walked away. She whipped her hair over her shoulder and turned to her fellow cheerleaders. "If I can't have him, then Smiley sure as hell can't. Plans now."

Maya stopped moving against Zay and broke away from his arms as she saw Riley and Lucas approaching them. Riley was trying to talk to her, but she couldn't hear a word over the music. She put her hands on Riley's upper arms and pulled her close to her ear.

"Lucas and I are going to get out of here."

Maya nodded. "Do you want us to come with you?"

"No that's okay. It looks like you and Zay are having a good time. Stay here and have fun." Riley pulled her car keys from her pocket and gave them to Maya. "Be good. No drinking."

Maya gave Riley a quick hug. "Have fun with the Cowboy."

Lucas grabbed Riley's hand as she pulled away from Maya and lead her to the door.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Zay called after them.

Finally out of the chaos and back in the fresh air, Riley could breathe again. As soon as they were outside, Lucas stood in front of her.

"I am so sorry about the team back there. Are you okay? Did Missy hurt you?" His voice was gentle and full of concern. Lucas glanced her over, looking for some sort of visible injury.

Riley shook her head. "It's okay. I'm fine. I just want to get out of here."

Lucas smiled and reached for her hand again. "That I can do. Come on, my truck is this way." He lead her the short distance to his truck, which was parked nearly in front of the house.

"Geez, you must have gotten really lucky to park so close! Maya and I had to park like two blocks away!" Riley exclaimed as they reached the lifted black Ford.

Lucas's face turned into a sheepish grin. "Well maybe I used by QB one status just a little…I was in a hurry to get inside."

For the first time since arriving at the party, Riley's eyes lit up with her smile. "You were in a hurry huh?"

The gleam in her eyes caused the hair on the back of Lucas's neck to stand up. He took a step closer and placed one arm against the side of his truck, next to Riley's head.

"Yeah. You see, there's this amazing girl…"

Blood rushed to Riley's ears and her pulse quickened. His closeness reminded her of the day they met on the student tour. She looked up into his eyes and willed her voice not to quiver. "Did you find her?"

Lucas moved his free hand to Riley's hip. God he wanted to feel her more than anything. "I most definitely did." His thumb moved in slow circles on her hip. "Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight? Because you are stunning."

The air suddenly felt thick and foggy, at least that's what Riley decided to blame her shortness of breath on. The lack of oxygen was surely to blame for the urge building inside of her to do something bold. She brought her slightly shaking hand up and wrapped her small fingers around his bicep.

Her touch was so soft and cold, it eased Lucas's mind.

She let her hand drift up and down his defined arm. The relaxing cold shot through his arm and felt better than any post-game ice pack he'd ever endured. Lucas groaned and dropped his head to lean against hers. If she moved her head just the slightest bit closer their lips would be touching.

"Riley…"

The air was sweltering. Riley couldn't handle it anymore. She moved her head back slightly and cleared her throat. "Um, we should get going. The tour?"

Lucas laughed softly, "Right the tour." He pulled away and opened the passenger door, then offered her his hand to climb into the truck.

Riley leaned her head back against the cool leather seat and let out a breath as Lucas walked around the truck. "You can do this."

"And up there is Chubby's diner, they have the best milkshakes in town." Riley pointed to the shiny silver building with glowing orange neon lights. They spent the past hour driving around the town. Lucas followed Riley's directions as she showed him her favorite shops and even some local landmarks like the old mine.

"So I've heard." Lucas grinned at the mental image of Maya dumping a milkshake on Missy's head. "It must have felt pretty good to watch Maya get back at Missy like that."

Riley shrugged her shoulders and leaned back against the seat. "I guess so."

Lucas glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, "but…"

Riley huffed and manoeuvred herself in the seat to sit cross legged. "But, it's just all so petty. I mean what purpose did it serve? A fleeting moment of social justice? Great, but Missy will just find some other crazier way to retaliate. And thus, the cycle continues." Until someone ends up getting hurt, She mentally added.

"What's her deal anyway?"

"Missy? I don't know. She's hated me ever since pre-school. One day she just came over, pushed me down and stole my crayons."

"Seriously?" Lucas scoffed, "Stealing crayons is like, the sin of all sins in pre-school."

"I know! And it was the 64 pack!" Riley laughed.

"No!" Lucas playfully gasped.

"Yes! With the sharpener!"

"Oh now that is just wrong."

"Yeah it is but in a way, I'm the one who benefited from the whole thing. Maya saw Missy steal my crayons and offered to share hers with me. It was a small pack she probably stole from the diner, but she even let me keep the purple one. Missy got my crayons, but I ended up making my best friend."

Lucas shook his head. Of course Maya would be there for Riley even as preschoolers. "You and Maya are something else." He hesitated before continuing, "But seriously, how can you be so forgiving to someone who's been bullying you for so long? Doesn't it make you angry?"

Riley looked out the window at the town square, lit up in hundreds of twinkling lights. "I don't know." Her voice was soft as she spoke, "I guess I've always figured for someone to lash out and do the things Missy has done to me, they must have a pretty miserable life. Sometimes they just aren't worth your time." Images from the last year flooded Riley's mind. Flashes of destroyed set pieces, the view of the brickwall next to the stage door from the ground. She tried to ignore them.

Lucas felt the shift in Riley's mood. He could tell when her mind was somewhere else, her eyes glazed over like they were looking at something a million miles away.

"Riley…" Lucas placed his hand on her bare knee.

Suddenly, Riley perked up. "I love this song!" She reached forward and turned up the radio.

Lucas's heart went into overdrive as he watched her bounce around and sing along to the song.

"Oh! Take a left up here! I want to show you something."

Lucas followed Riley's directions as they ventured further and further away from the town. The road turned from paved to gravel and then to dirt. The light from the town dimmed as the trees grew thicker around them.

"Sorry about the road, I hope you don't mind. It gets a little rough ahead."

Lucas couldn't stifle his laugh at Riley's statement. "Baby, this truck was built for off roading."

Riley's breath caught in her throat. Did he just…

Lucas had never been more grateful for the darkness in his life. His face immediately burned as he realized what he just called her. He knew he must be as red as his football jersey. He cleared his throat, "Uh...sorry...I didn't mean…"

Riley cut him off. "It's okay." She hoped Lucas couldn't see her grin. "Um you want to take a right up here. There's a narrow road that's kind of hard to see."

"You're not taking me to some kind of middle of nowhere forrest to murder me are you?"

Riley rolled her eyes. "No...well not yet at least. Trust me, you'll like this."

"Alright then."

After a few minutes, the trees began to thin out again and the twinkling lights of the city were replaced with stars. They reached a clearing and the road disappeared. Instead of a grassy meadow or wide open plains like he'd expect to see in Texas, Lucas's eyes were met with smooth gray boulders, paving the way to a cliff's edge.

Riley watched Lucas study the view. "I know it's not Texas, but I thought you'd like the view."

His face grew to a huge smile as he put the truck in park. "Can we go out there?"

"Yeah, come on." Riley opened her door and jumped out of the passenger seat. Lucas followed her to the edge of the cliff. The moon illuminated the canyon with a silver glow. He could see a river gently running along the base of the canyon. Across from them was a gray mountain of rock peeking out from a thick green tree line.

"Riley, this is amazing." His eyes met hers. The moonlight gave the illusion of a halo glowing around her. She looks like an angel.

"I'm glad you like it." She smiled softly at him. Lucas reached down and gave her hand a squeeze.

"Wait right here."

He ran back to his truck and quickly started it. Riley watched him skillfully maneuver the truck and back it up to the edge of the rock, with the bed facing out over the canyon. He killed the engine and climbed out of the cab, then jogged around to the tailgate and opened it.

"Come here." He jerked his head, motioning for Riley to come closer.

Riley moved to Lucas's waiting arms, a few yards away from the edge of the cliff. Lucas placed his hands on Riley's hips and lifted her up to sit on the open tailgate.

"Well that was a lot easier than climbing on the tire." Riley mumbled to herself.

"Wait what?" Lucas asked as he slid onto the tailgate next to her.

Riley shook her head, "Nothing."

Lucas raised his eyebrows at her. "Oh really?" His hands darted out to tickle her side.

Riley's laugh echoed through the canyon. "Lucas! Stop!" She squirmed away from him.

Riley slid further away from Lucas on the tailgate and brought her legs up to rest between them as a weapon, ready to strike if needed.

"I am not responsible for any injuries you incur while tickling me."

Lucas placed a hand on each of her thighs. "You wouldn't dare." His fingers twitched as he fought the desire to allow his hands to stroke her thighs. Come on Lucas. Focus on her face. He forced himself to keep his eyes on hers, but that proved to be difficult considering the low cut top she was wearing. His eyes started to drift down. No! Not there. Her face you idiot.

Riley raised her eyebrows at him, "Try me." She added a playful tap to his legs with her foot to prove her point.

"How about a truce?"

"Deal."

Before Riley could move her legs, Lucas wrapped his arms around them and pulled her next to him, her legs draped across his lap. Riley gasped at the suddenness of his movement.

"See, I think this is much better." He wrapped one arm around her waist and placed his other hand back on her bare thigh.

Riley took a deep breath. The air started to feel thick and foggy again. "I would have to agree."

Lucas looked out across the canyon. "What is this place?"

Riley followed his gaze. "It's beautiful isn't it? I'm not really sure. My dad and I found it by accident when I was little. I was upset by something, I don't even remember what anymore, and he took me for a drive. We found that hidden road and it led us here. He told me this was god's way of showing us there is so much more to this world than our problems. He told me to always keep things in perspective. So ever since then, I've been coming here when I need to think or just clear my head." Riley looked back to Lucas and was surpised to see him smiling at her.

"You are incredible," Lucas laughed slightly to himself, "and of course you would have the most amazing hiding spot in the entire town."

Riley furrowed her brows at him. "Hiding spot?"

"When I was looking for you that day in school, Maya called the auditorium your hiding spot."

"That's interesting."

Lucas cocked his head at her, "Why?"

"Well because, the theater is where I feel I can most be myself in the school. I never associated it with hiding, more like being free."

Just when Lucas thought he couldn't be any more attracted to her, she pulls him in even more. He leaned his head against hers. "You will never cease to amaze me."

"Speaking of amazement," Riley pulled away and placed a hand on Lucas's arm. "I suppose it's only fair that I admit it. Your mad Texan athleticism impressed me."

Lucas grinned. "It did?"

Riley nodded. "I do have one question though."

"Ask away"
"What was with that Robocop arm thing after the game?"

Lucas laughed. "Robocop arm thing? I think you're talking about the ice sleeve. It's just a fancy ice pack for my arm."

"Sorry. You must think I'm an idiot." Riley fumbled with her hands in her lap.

"Riley. I could never think you're an idiot because, you're not. I think you're adorable and I love when you ask me questions. I'll take whatever I can get if it means I get to talk to you." Lucas pulled her hands from her lap and laced his fingers with hers. "Don't ever be afraid to ask me anything."

Riley was silent for a moment, before nodding. "An ice pack huh? Is your arm injured?"

Lucas shook his head, "No it's just preventative. I honestly didn't need it tonight but, the trainer insisted.

Riley bit her lip while deciding how to phrase her next question. Lucas wanted to take her lips with his own, but he resisted. It wasn't the right moment.

Much to his relief, Riley finally spoke. "Your dad seems to take your football career pretty seriously."

Lucas sighed, "Yeah he does. To him, playing college ball is the goal. Nothing else matters."

"What about you?"

"What about me?" Lucas echoed.

Riley nodded. "Yeah. What matters to you? Do you want to play college football?"

Lucas reached up to rub the back of his neck. Riley noticed he had a habit of doing so when he felt embarrassed.

"I do. It's been a dream of mine since I was little. I used to watch the college games on TV and dream about that being me one day. I love playing football. It's like second nature to me."

"That's great Lucas, it really is." Riley gave him a reassuring smile.

"I just wish my dad's whole world didn't revolve around it. I know he's just trying to help me and uh...keep me on track but, sometimes I wish he didn't take it so seriously you know? It's like to him I have two options college football, so I can hopefully go pro, or enlist in the military."

"That seems a bit drastic."

Lucas scoffed, "Tell me about it."

Riley bit her bottom lip again. Lucas really wished she'd stop, his lips were starting to burn.

"I don't know how to ask this without sounding inconsiderate, so please excuse my utter lack of football knowledge because, I don't want this to sound like an insult."

Lucas laughed, he already knew what she was going to ask. "You want to know if I'm good enough to consider professional football as a career?"

Riley winced, "But not in a rude way, you're obviously the best player I've ever seen, but Cold Springs isn't exactly a good frame of reference, and I fully believe anyone can achieve anything if they set their mind…"

"Riley, It's okay, and thanks for the compliment." Lucas gave her a quick wink. "I'll put it this way, with my talent and a good college to play for, a pro career is not very far fetched."

"But those are the options your dad wants. What do you want?"

Lucas rubbed the back of his neck again. "Well, I definitely want to play college ball, but I also kind of want to consider going to veterinarian school. I mean growing up on a ranch, being with animals feels natural to me. One time in middle school one of our horses started foaling"

"That means giving birth right?"

"Right. My dad was deployed at the time and Pappy Joe was at a cattle auction with his ranch hand, so I was there alone. I called the vet but there wasn't enough time, so he talked me through the delivery. It's just something that's always stuck with me."

"Lucas that's amazing! What does your father think about vet school?" Riley laced her hand with his.

"Well I don't know. I've never told him about it…" Lucas squeezed her hand, "I've actually never told anyone about it. You're the only person that knows."

Riley leaned up and kissed Lucas on the cheek. The cool sensation of her lips on skin surged through his cheek. He wanted more. Her touch was so relaxing to him, if he wasn't careful he'd get addicted to it.

"Thank you for sharing that with me. I stand by what I said, I think you are capable of doing anything."

"Thank you Riley. You have no idea how much that means to me."

Riley grinned, "Anytime."

Lucas snaked his arms around her waist again and pulled her head to rest against his chest. If he held her any closer she'd be sitting in his lap and he didn't think he could control himself if she did.

"So tell me about you. What do you want to do after high school?"

"I'm not too sure, but definitely something with theater. Maybe teaching like my dad, or even both. Maya has big plans for us to go to New York City together, 'take the city by storm' as she says."

Lucas's heart stopped. Of course Riley and Maya would be destined to go to a city school, like NYU. She would never consider a SEC school with a huge football program.

"Do you want to be a performer? Like on Broadway or somethin'?"

Her ears perked up at the sudden thickness of his Texas accent. Her brain threatened to turn to mush, but she focused on his question instead of his voice...even if it sounded like velvet.

Riley shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure. I've never actually gotten to perform officially."

Lucas's jaw dropped.

"What? But you're so talented and passionate about theater. How have you not been picked for anything?"

"Technically I have been cast. Freshmen aren't allowed to audition, you have to take a year of intro to drama classes first, but last year I made the lead of the school musical, Sandy in Grease, a staple high school production."

"So you got the part but you didn't perform?"

Riley looked away from him. "Um…" her voice quivered "...my performance was cancelled."

"Cancelled?" Lucas didn't understand. "Why?"

Riley looked out at the canyon. The trees rustled as a soft breeze picked up. "I don't really want to talk about it."

Lucas noticed her frame start to shiver in the cold night air and decided to change the subject. "Are you cold?"

Riley nodded, "A little bit. This outfit isn't exactly intended for cold weather."

Lucas smirked, his eyes trailed up from her bare legs to her revealing top again. "It's definitely not, but I'm certainly enjoying it." He gave her another quick wink and placed his hands on her hips. "Wait right here, I think I have a hoodie in the cab." He kissed the top of her head before jumping down from the tailgate and disappearing to the cab of the truck. After a few moments he returned with a gray hoodie. He handed it to Riley and climbed back onto the tailgate, but this time he sat down at the front of the bed, with his back against the edge of the cab. Riley slid on the hoodie. It had an orange Texas longhorns logo on the front and was four sizes too big for her small frame, but it smelled like Lucas and felt like heaven. Riley sat down next to Lucas. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer.

"Thanks, this is much better." Riley leaned her head against his shoulder. Lucas pressed his lips against the top of her head.

"You're welcome beautiful."

The music pulsed through her veins. Maya threw her head back and wrapped her arms around Zay's neck. She let the music guide her movements. She had no idea how late it was, but she didn't care. She felt free, although, she could have done with a drink to help relax her mind, but she promised Riley she wouldn't and she had to drive anyway. Zay's hands dipped lower on her hips and he leaned his head down to rest in the crook of her neck.

"Sugar…" He mumbled into her ear.

Maya hummed in response.

The sultry sound of her voice caused his pulse to quicken. The feeling of her hips pressing against his was getting to be too much. He needed to put some space between them before he put himself in a very embarrassing situation for both of them. He was a little tipsy, but not drunk enough to not care about his obviously growing desire.

"I'm going to get another drink." Zay took a step away from her.

Maya nodded her head as he disappeared to the kitchen. A rowdy holler from across the room caught her attention. Of course, the football team had turned their celebratory shots into body shots. She rolled her eyes at the familiar outline of Josh's body leaning over a girl laying on top of a table. The song changed to her new favorite Ariana Grande song, she didn't care if she was dancing alone, instead she turned to the opposite direction and continued to move her hips to the music.

It didn't take long for a pair of arms to wrap around her again, but Maya instantly knew that it wasn't Zay.

"Kitten…"

His voice was low and raspy under the influence of alcohol.

Maya knew he was drunk. She had watched him all night clinging to Victoria, causing a scene by making out with her in the middle of the dance floor until the football players pushed them out of the room towards the stairs.

"Don't you have more girls to suck tequila off of?" Her voice was came out as a growl, but her hips didn't stop moving against his.

Josh ignored her and attached his lips to the spot on her neck where Zay had previously just been. Maya knew what he was doing as he continued to kiss and suck on her neck, occasionally nipping at her skin with his teeth, then easing the spot with his tongue.

"Josh stop it." She shoved his head away. He lolled it to the side to admire his work.

"I have to do it…you don't belong to him." His voice slurred and his head dropped down.

"I don't belong to anyone." Maya snapped. She tried to wiggled out of his grasp, but her sudden motion caused him to stumble, he clung onto her and almost pulled her to the ground.

"Ow! Josh what the hell?" Maya turned around and was able to fully take in his intoxicated state up close. Josh pulled her front against his and put his weight against her as he let head drop. "I don't like this...I don't like seeing you with him."

"Josh you're drunk."

He haphazardly shook his head back and forth, "That doesn't make me a liar. Always trust a dishonest drunk to be honest." At that moment Josh's legs gave out. Maya struggled to keep herself, let alone Josh from falling to the ground.

Zay rushed to her side from the kitchen and put his shoulder under Josh to take the weight off of Maya.

"Sugar are you alright? What happened" Zay didn't want to admit it, but he had been watching Josh and Maya from the kitchen door. A whirlwind of emotions surged through him, jealousy, rejection, betrayal...

"He drank too much. He needs to get out of here." Maya wrapped Josh's other arm over her shoulder to help support his body.

Zay sighed. Not only did he have to watch his best friend go after the girl he loved, now he had to carry his drunk ass home safely.

"Come on, I'll help you get him home."

Zay and Maya carried Josh out of the house and down the street to Riley's car. Zay leaned Josh against the blue beetle while Maya unlocked the door.

Josh's limp body went slightly rigid as Zay continued to hold him up. "Uh Maya? Do you think he's going to get sick?"

Just as the words left Zay's mouth, Josh leaned down into the grass and threw up.

"I think you have your answer."

Zay groaned at the sound of Josh's dry heaving.

"He better not throw up in Riley's car or else she will kill him." Maya muttered as she opened the door and moved the passenger seat up to access the back seat. Once Josh seemed to be done emptying his stomach from all of the alcohol he drank, they managed to coax him into the backseat.

"I'll sit in the back with him." Zay offered and climbed into the back of the car to keep Josh's head propped up. Maya sat in the driver's seat and started the car. The green light of the clock showed that it was only 12:30. Maya prayed to whatever gods that would listen for the Matthews to not be home yet.

Josh's drunken slurs reached her ears, "Mmm Kitten…" he nuzzled his face into Zay's lap.

"Maya, I beg of you, please drive fast." Zay's voice was filled with disgust.

Maya laughed and pulled away from the curb. "I guess I'll show you some mercy."

It took her less than ten minutes to drive to Riley's house. She parked the car at the end of the driveway and noticed that Mr. Matthews car wasn't in it's usual spot.

"Hurry, help me get him inside before his parents get home!" Maya rushed around the car and helped Zay heave Josh's body into the house.

"Why does this always happen to me?" Zay grumbled as he carried Josh up the stairs to his room. "I used to have to take care of Lucas's drunk ass and just when I thought I was done with that, now I have this idiot."

They flopped Josh onto his bed and propped his head up with his pillows, where he proceeded to pass out.

"That's good enough for now. I'll take his shoes and stuff off later." Maya whispered. She took Zay's hand and lead him out of the room. "Thanks for the help, do you want me to give you a ride home?" Maya asked as they reach the living room. She flicked the light on and turned towards him. Zay was just about to take her up on the offer, but his eyes fell onto her neck. A fresh purple hickey stood out against her pale skin. His face fell and his heart plunged into his feet.

"Zay? What's wrong?" Maya narrowed her eyes at him, he was never one to be considered the quiet type.

Zay shook his head. "Nothing. Uh you should stay here and make sure he's okay. I'll just walk."

He moved to let go of her hand, but Maya wouldn't let him. Instead, she pulled him closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. Zay hugged her back and let his hand tangle into the curls of her blonde hair, even though every instinct of his body told him not to. He held her against his chest as long as she let him. Maya gave him a tight squeeze and pulled her head away. "Thanks for everything. I had a really good time tonight." Her icy blue eyes tore into his.

Zay's body was on fire. His brain was screaming at him to pull away, but his heart wouldn't let him. He leaned down to kiss her, but the sound of loud thuds upstairs caused her to pull away.

Zay followed her eyes to the stairs. "Go check on him."

Maya turned to face him again. "Zay…"

He shook his head. "Go. I'll be fine. A walk sounds good to me anyway." He pulled away from her and walked out the front door before she could stop him.

Maya stood perplexed in the living room for a moment. Her thoughts were swirling inside of her head like a cloud. Another loud thud pulled her focus away and she trudged back up the stairs.

AN

So what do you think? Things are heating up all over the place. Fun fact this chapter was originally over 33 pages, but I decided it cut it in half and save the rest for the next chapter! So hopefully I will have another update out by tomorrow! I know in the last chapter I hinted at a joshaya...but I never said it would be an easy journey. Things for the Rucas fans are about to explode as well….Please leave a review and let me know your favorite part so far! Does anyone feel sorry for Zay? I know a few of you will be mad at Josh for this chapter but that poor boy is still trying to figure things out. As always please review, follow, favorite, do all the things! Your support is what keeps me going during this tough time.

Lilly.