AN: Oh my! The response to the first chapter of this story has been overwhelming! Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. Updates will be sporadic at best, but I promise I haven't forgotten about this fic! I'm writing this story a bit differently than anything else I have ever written. Each chapter focuses on a specific day, so we're jumping ahead a lot, but I want to finish each day in one chapter, so even though my updates are spread out, the chapters are much longer than I'm used to, so it takes a bit more time!

Anywho, enjoy!

October 31st

For the past month, Riley kept herself busy helping Smackle become acclimated to her new school. They had quite a few classes together, and she found that she really enjoyed talking to the genius. Their friendship was, in Riley's opinion, being cemented tonight as they got ready together and went to a party at one of their friends' houses.

"So, Smacks, things are going good with Farkle, right?" Maya asked. She didn't have as many classes with Smackle, but the two girls had bonded over study sessions at Topanga's and Friday night get-togethers at Farkle's. The only problem was, Farkle was usually around, so Maya hadn't had the opportunity to grill the girl yet.

"Farkle is very...genuine. I can see why the universe thinks we are suited."

Riley frowned. "The universe doesn't think you're just suited for each other, Smackle. You two are perfect for each other. It's destiny."

Smackle nodded. "Some people would call it destiny, but, Riley, we always have a choice. Remember that."

Riley nodded solemnly, but she knew for her there was no choice. It would always be her soulmate. She had seen the power of soulmates firsthand, and she knew it was something you couldn't run from. She didn't understand why anyone would even want to.

Over the past month, she marveled at how well suited Smackle and Farkle were and how seamlessly the female genius fit into their little group. The last time she felt such an instantaneous connection was with he who shall not be named, and she had been incredibly wrong about him.

Speaking of Lucas, he had practically disappeared in the days after Farkle's party. Not that she was looking for him or anything. Okay, maybe she noticed he wasn't in his usual seat in history class, so maybe she glanced over to the table he normally sat at during lunch and saw he wasn't there either, and yes, she took the long way to gym, so she could pass by his locker. The weather had been nice, so she even walked around the football field a couple times. She wasn't looking for him under the bleachers, but she did notice he wasn't there. Not that Riley cared about his absence, but by the time Friday rolled around, she was a little annoyed.

Who was he to avoid her? He was the one who attacked her with his mouth! Riley had decided if he wasn't back in school on Monday, she was going to track him down and demand answers, but there he was on Monday morning, right in his usual seat. Only, Missy Bradford had taken up residence on his lap.

Ugh. Just the thought of the blonde couple could make Riley sick to her stomach. Missy had latched on to Lucas like a second skin, and he seemed only too pleased to let her. For the past month, the two of them seemed to be back on the "on" phase of their on-again-and-off-again relationship.

As she zipped up her costume, she briefly wondered if the blonde pair truly were soulmates. For some reason that she didn't want to analyze, the thought made her insides twist. She couldn't imagine Missy making Lucas truly happy. She brought out the worst in him. He needed someone who would make him want to be a better man. Someone like you, a voice whispered at the edge of her subconscious. She shook off the thought as quickly as it came. There is no way she and Lucas Friar were soulmates. She needed a nice boy, a Prince Charming, the kind of guy who would sweep her off her feet and make her forget all about guys like Lucas Friar and his hot kisses.

The group had decided to do themed costumes this year, and she was excited that she got to be Daphne. The purple dress was a bit short for her taste and the green scarf did little to hide the small amount of cleavage she possessed, but the boots were amazing! Foregoing a wig, she used temporary dye to give her hair just enough of a red tint that she wouldn't be mistaken for anyone else. She was clearly Daphne.

Smackle picked Velma, opting to pin her hair to look shorter and wear her own glasses, and Farkle was, of course, Shaggy. Maya had decided to be Scooby himself, wearing a cute brown dress, complete with a tail, blue collar, and dog ears. She pulled her long hair back in a high, smooth, pin-straight, ponytail, wearing light makeup, except for her dark eyeliner. Maya wanted them to look hot, but not slutty, and in Riley's modest opinion, they had succeeded.

Maya came out of the bathroom, posing and spinning, like a model on crack making the two girls giggle until a very deep, very male, full-bellied laugh stopped her in her tracks.

"Boing! Uh, I mean Josh! I didn't think you would still be here!" Maya shrieked, trying and failing to keep the blush from creeping up her cheeks.

Last year, Josh had moved to New York from Philadelphia to attend NYU. At first, he was living in the dorms only coming over to do his laundry, but he had a roommate who drove him crazy. Despite his many efforts to get along with him, Josh spent more time at his brother's house on the couch than he did in his own bed. By winter break, they decided to transform Cory's tiny office into a room and let Josh stay with them permanently. He got his deposit back from the housing department, and Riley's grandparents brought most of his stuff up when they come for Christmas.

The room was small, but Josh said it was much bigger than the space he shared with his roommate. The arrangement worked out so well, they decided to do it again for the next year. Riley suspected that despite his many protests to the contrary, her blonde friend had something to do with his contentment at his current living situation.

Josh came and went as he pleased, spending a lot of nights out with friends. On the weekends, he was usually at his best friend's apartment, but sometimes he took the train to visit his other family members, who were spread throughout the North East.

"I'm headed to Justin's in a bit, but I promised Aug I would wait to see their costumes first. Speaking of, nice tail," he teased, tugging on the aforementioned object.

Maya blushed again, jerking her tail out of his grasp. Josh had a way of making her feel like both a woman and a little kid all at once. "Hey, it was either this or an orange ascot, but our Daphne managed to find a Fred of her own."

Josh smirked, taking a step closer as he murmured, "I prefer the collar to an ascot any day."

Maya's eyes widened as her smile grew. Was Josh Matthews flirting with her? He seemed to come to the same realization at the same time because he took a step back and his smile transformed into something less intense and much friendlier. Living with his brother and his family had been great, but the more time he spent around the blonde, the harder time he had reminding himself that she was too young for him.

Just a couple more weeks and she would (hopefully) get her scar and this little crush of hers would disappear. The thought made him sadder than he would like to admit, but he knew it was for the best. Although he did enjoy her hero-worship and she always managed to make him feel better about himself when he was having a bad day, he knew she deserved someone who made her feel the same way.

In the back of his mind, the small what if curled around his senses, but he shook it off. There was no use wondering about that. He wouldn't begin to entertain the thought of the two of them so close to the finish line. If he went down that road, he would only give her false hope when he could get his scar at any moment. Even if Maya wasn't his soulmate, she was his friend, and he would never want to hurt her like the way her mother had been hurt.

"Uncle Josh!" Auggie cried from down the hall.

"I better go save Auggie. Ava's trying to get him in tights," Josh said as he rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ignore the sudden tension between him and the blonde.

Maya nodded. "If Tinkerbell wants her Peter Pan in tights, he'll wind up in tights, no matter how many reinforcements he calls in."

Even though Josh agreed, he took the opportunity to escape the mesmerizing blonde. A few more weeks he reminded himself and all this would all be over.

Farkle arrived at the bay window promptly at 9:00 p.m. dressed in a green v-neck t-shirt and brown pants, his hair left messy. Despite "not shaving" for the two weeks leading up to Halloween, he had very little stubble, so Maya improvised with some makeup. Farkle grumbled about it, but seeing Smackle's delight at his discomfort made up his mind for him.

"You look lovely, Velma," he said sincerely.

"Uh! Uh! What are we chopped liver?" Maya asked as she and Riley struck a dramatic pose together.

"Yeah, you guys look great, too," Farkle murmured, but his eyes never left Smackle.

It occurred to her that most women in her position would be intimidated that their significant other had such a close connection to two beautiful women, and admittedly, Smackle was at first, but Farkle had made it clear from day one he only had eyes for her, and the two girls in question had fast become her closest confidantes.

"Hey, now! This hair took forever!" Riley pouted.

"Where's our Fred?" Farkle asked, finally turning his eyes to his friends.

"He's meeting us at Darby's."

Farkle glanced down at his watch. "Well, we better get going before Riley turns into a pumpkin."

"I hate going to things that start at 10," Riley confirmed. "But I took a nap, and Maya hopped me up on Pumpkin Spice Lattes."

Farkle froze in his spot in the doorway, causing Smackle to bump into him. "Maya Penelope Hart! She is going to be out of control! I'm not babysitting a jitterbug who is going to crash long before the party is over!"

"Relax, Shaggy, your old pal Scooby has your back," Maya teased as she brushed past the couple. "Riley will be fine. Darby already as one of her guest rooms reserved for us. So when Sleeping Beauty starts to fade, we will just tuck her in snug as a bug!"

Riley's lower lip jutted out. "It's not my fault I come from a well-adjusted family who taught me to get 8 hours of sleep every night!"

Continuing to laugh and tease one another, the four friends waved bye to the Matthews, ignoring Cory's sputtered protests and last minute attempts to get them to stay home.

The party was in full swing by the time the Scooby gang had arrived. Darby had an expansive townhouse with six bedrooms and four baths. Her father worked for PR firm that did a lot of business with celebrities and government officials, and her parents had been invited to a big party in DC for Halloween. They wouldn't be back until late the next day, so most of their classmates planned on staying over.

A tipsy and giggling Darby, dressed as Sally from Nightmare before Christmas, wrapped Maya and Riley in a big hug before she led them up to the room they were be sleeping in.

"You guys can leave your stuff up here. Sarah may bunk in here with you if she doesn't find someone to cuddle up next to," Darby teased. "I think most everyone is already here. Of course, Lucas and Billy didn't dress up..."

"Lucas is here?" Riley asked with eyebrows raised.

Darby rolled her eyes as they made their way down the stairs. "Yeah, he's the one with Missy's face permanently attached to his."

Maya laughed. "God, between the two of them, the slut rabies are probably out of control."

Riley giggled behind her palm, ignoring the twinge of regret she had about keeping her latest makeout a secret from her best friend.

"No offense, Darbs," Maya said when they reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Please, that was so seventh grade. I've moved on to bigger and better things. Anywho, did you see what Missy is wearing?"

Riley froze at the edge of the large den. Missy was on Lucas's lap, wearing a black mini skirt and black bustier with black cat ears perched on her head. The couple, not surprisingly, were kissing, Lucas' hand resting on the blonde's bare skin on her lower back where her top and skirt left a gap.

"Wow," Maya muttered. "That is the textbook definition of a slutty cat costume."

Riley pinched her arm.

"Ow! Riles! What's with the small pinch?"

"Stop slut-shaming, Peaches. It's none of our business what Missy does or with who."

Maya pouted, rubbing her arm. She knew whether her brunette bestie admitted it or not that the blonde couple bothered her. Deep down, Maya knew that Riley still had some sort of feelings for Lucas, no matter how much she tried to convince even she didn't. Lucas was after all her first and only kiss. Other than Lucas, Riley had never shown any interest in any guy, content to just wait for her scar to appear.

They kissed once (that Maya knew of) in the 8th grade when Riley decided she wanted to know what it felt like. She walked right over to Lucas on the subway, sat on his lap, and planted a kiss on his kips, getting up and getting off at the next stop without a word.

Maya had been so proud of her little plant that day, and she didn't miss the stupefied look on Lucas' face after it happened. It was such a badass move that Maya didn't even mind that they got off at the wrong stop because of it.

That was years ago, but Maya knew Riley held a special place in her heart for the boy, even if she was content to ignore it. Being the best friend she was, she didn't acknowledge it either, but she was sure to glare at any and all girls wrapped around the Texan, especially Missy, the original leech.

"Okay, Riles. Let's just ignore them all together. I need a drink."

Maya wandered over to the bar that had been set up, mixing herself a drink and grabbing a wine cooler for her friend before she led them to a corner of the house away from the couple.

Just then, Riley's phone went off. She glanced down at the text message, grinning. "My Fred is here! I'm going to go out and get him. Be right back!"

Maya waved her off, taking a sip of her drink, caught up in her conversation with Sarah, who was dressed as little red riding hood, basket and all.

Riley raced to the door, squealing excitedly when she opened it and saw her blonde friend. "Evan! You made it!"

She gave him a huge hug. "I love your costume!"

Evan lifted her up, giving her a peck on the cheek. "Well, what is Daphne without Fred?" he teased. "Where's the rest of the gang?"

"Oh! Evan, you're going to love Smackle! She's the Velma of our group. Remember I told you Farkle got his mark?"

Evan nodded distractedly as the couple walked up to them, Farkle handing him a beer. "Thanks, man. Good to see you."

Farkle nodded, introducing him to Smackle. Evan was the son of a woman that his parents and Riley's parents knew in high school. He went to a private school on the upper east side, but he made sure to come visit his friends when he could.

When Darby and Sarah noticed him, they both ran up to give him a hug, talking excitedly as they led him up to the bedrooms. Evan grabbed Riley's hand pulling her along with them. Lucas zeroed in on the contact, nudging Missy off his lap as he took a long pull off his beer.

"Who's that?" he asked, trying to sound uninterested.

Missy shrugged. "The guy with Matthews? I've never seen him before."

"Hey! Bartender!" Missy called out to Charlie Gardner. "Will you make me a drink?"

Moments later, Charlie, dressed as Clark Kent, walked up to the couple, taking a seat next to them as he handed Missy her drink,

"Do you know who that cutie dressed up as Fred is?" Missy asked.

"Yeah, he and the other scoobs go way back. Their parents are friendly. I think his name is Evan. Why, Miss, you interested?" he teased.

Missy shook her head. "No, it just looks like you got some competition is all."

Lucas furrowed his eyebrows. "You have a thing for Riley, Gardner?"

Charlie bristled at his tone, adjusting the black frames he had perched on his nose. "Do you have a problem with that, Friar?"

Lucas shook his head, leaning back and putting his arm over Missy's shoulder. "Heck, no. I just don't get it is all. Matthews is way too wrapped up in destiny to waste your time on."

"I have just as much chance as anybody else to be her mate."

"Oh! I have a great idea!" Missy squealed, clapping her hands together as everyone gathered around the big sectional. "Let's play seven minutes in heaven!"

Darby sighed. "I'm not playing that."

"Well, obviously all you boring, old married couples are exempt!" Missy argued.

"That leaves me, Riley, Maya, and Sarah for the girls and Lucas, Charlie, Billy, and Evan for the guys!"

"Uh, I don't think Evan-" Riley started but stopped when he rested his hand on her arm.

"It's fine, Riles. I'll play. But maybe we should go into the kitchen and see if anyone else here wants to play."

Missy shook her head. "You want to get stuck with Back of the Class Brenda? No. The 8 of us are the only attractive single people in the house. Trust me. So, you all in?"

Sarah quickly nodded in agreement as did Billy and Charlie. Maya shrugged, trying to make it look as if she didn't care one way or the other. She had never been kissed, and she didn't really want any of those guys to be her first, but there was no way she was admitting that to the whole class. Hoping for Evan, she agreed.

No one looked to Lucas for acknowledgment, assuming based on his reputation that he would be fine with the game. All eyes turned to Riley, who was blushing and biting her lip, trying not to make eye contact with any of them.

"Come on, Riley!" Missy pressed on. "It'll be fun!"

She made eye contact with Charlie before she continued, "Look, I'll just pick names and we'll see who draws who. Go into the closet with your partner, and if you two decide you don't want to kiss, well you don't have to."

She wrote all four girls names down and folded up the pieces of paper. She went to Charlie first, shaking the names in her hand.

"Look at that! Charlie picked Riley!"

Inwardly, Riley sighed. Everyone knew Charlie had a crush on her, and Missy wasn't that great of an actress. The game was rigged. A point even further proven when Evan drew Missy's name.

"That leaves Billy with Sarah, and Lucas with... Maya!" Missy exclaimed, and that knot that had been twisting up inside Riley ever since they got there pulled itself so tight she thought she would choke.

As Missy was organizing who would go where, Riley was berating herself for not telling Maya about what had happened between her and Lucas. She was so worried about the blonde couple, she didn't even notice that both of them were focused on her. Yogi got roped into holding the timer, and before Riley had time to think, she was thrust into the front hall closet, stumbling into Charlie Gardner's chest.

"Listen, Hopalong-"

"Don't call me-"

"We both know you don't want to kiss me," Maya began, standing as far away from Lucas as she possibly could in the game closet in the basement.

"Who says I don't-"

"We both know there's only one girl you want to kiss, and it isn't the girl you were kissing earlier tonight," Maya said pointedly, reaching up to pull the chain that would turn on the light.

"I don't know what-"

"Yes, you do," Maya insisted. "I don't know why you are the way you are, but believe me, I know what a person looks like when they are in love with-"

"In love! I'm not-"

"Whatever, Ranger Rick. I'm just saying. I don't want to kiss you, and you don't want to kiss me, so let's just hang out for 6 and a half more minutes. In silence preferably."

"Would you stop-"

"Interrupting you? I would if I wanted to hear what you had to say, but so far everything you've said has been bullshit and we both know it."

Lucas clenched his fist, trying not to let the little spitfire get to him. "Okay, no bullshit. What makes you think I want Riley?"

Maya smirked in triumph. "Maybe because I never mentioned Riley by name and you knew who I was talking about. Maybe because I have watched you watch her for two years. But mostly because I saw the look in your eyes when Evan came walking through the door. It was the same look you had when you realized Riley was going into a closet with Cheese Souffle."

Lucas ran a hand down his face. "Whatever. So I think Riley's hot. I like to look at her. It doesn't mean I'm in love with her."

Maya laughed. "Like I said, I know what it looks like when you're in love with a Matthews."

Before Lucas had time to process Maya's sentence, she was on to the next thing. "You could be her soulmate you know. You haven't gotten yours yet."

Lucas laughed a self-deprecating laugh. "I won't be getting one, Hart."

Maya shook her head. "It's only been a few months. You can't possibly know that already."

"Trust me, I know. No one in my family gets them."

Maya reached out and placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "My mom never got hers either, but that hasn't stopped me from hoping."

"No, you don't get it."

"Believe me, Lucas, I do, I-"

"No! No one in my family has one," Lucas exclaimed, feeling his self-control snap. "No one in my family has ever gotten one. Not my parents or my grandparents or their parents or their parents. Not my aunt or my uncle. None of my cousins. No one in my family has ever gotten a damn scar! And Riley comes from a family lousy with them! Her parents were basically born with theirs. She'll get a scar. She will get hers, but I'm never going to get mine."

"Lucas, have you ever told-"

Lucas grabbed Maya by the shoulders. "No, I've never told anyone that, and you can't either. Promise me, Maya."

She smelled the whiskey on his breath and realized the only reason he had revealed such a tragic secret was because he had been drinking. "I won't ever tell, Lucas. I promise."

She leaned in and gave him a hug, and with the bad luck Harts and Friars had been known to have, that was when the door slammed open.

"Dang, Maya, you guys have been in here for damn near 20 minutes! Even Billy and Sarah came up for air before then!" Missy teased.

But Maya wasn't paying any attention to Missy, she was staring directly at Riley, and she knew her best friend long enough to know that she had just gotten a very wrong idea about what went on in this closet.

"Riles-" Maya started, but Riley waved her off with a forced laugh.

"It's a party, Maya, and I want to take a shot!"

Evan's eyes grew huge. "Riley, are you sure? You really can't handle your liquor."

But Missy had already grabbed the brunette's arm, pulling her to the bar with a drunken cackle. "Heck yes! Little miss priss wants to loosen up! Let's do some shots, Riley!'

Lucas looked at the cards in his hands, trying his damnedest to ignore the two girls who were dancing and laughing hysterically. Missy and Riley had formed the type of friendship girls can only have when they are particularly drunk, acting as though they were the closest of friends for their whole lives.

They kept hugging each other and talking excitedly over one another, even going to the bathroom together. Lucas would have found the whole situation incredibly amusing, if not for the fact the Riley had been ignoring him all night. Nothing he did seemed to get a rise out of her or her attention in any way, shape, or form.

He was comforted by the fact that Riley seemed to be icing Maya out as well, her attention being solely focused on Missy. They were now taking shots together, Evan doing his best to pour Riley the smallest amount of alcohol he could, but it didn't seem to slow the brunette down.

Lucas had been watching her out of the corner of his eye, nursing the bottle of beer in front of him. After his revelation to Maya, he decided to slow down. It wouldn't do him any good to get emotional with any more of his classmates.

Riley finally broke away from Missy, calling out that she was going to go grab her charger. Finishing off his beer, Lucas tossed his cards to Yogi, who's Jack makeup had become a smudged mess on his cheeks, and followed after Riley, ignoring the knowing smirk that Maya shot his way.

He found Riley exiting one of the bedrooms, pressing himself against her and effectively trapping her between him and the door. Fingering her hair, he murmured, "What on earth did you do to yourself?"

Riley jerked her hair out of his reach. "Do I look like Daphne or what?"

Lucas nodded, resting his cheek against the nape of her neck as he inhaled the scent of her hair. "But I prefer Riley."

"It's only temporary. It will fade in 20 washes or less."

Lucas smirked, moving her hair out of the way so he could kiss her neck. "Thank God."

Riley giggled, then remembering she was supposed to be mad at him, she pushed him off her. "Don't touch me."

"What's your problem, Matthews? I'm not good enough to kiss now?" he growled.

"Why don't you go ask Maya?" she shot back defensively.

Lucas' face softened, a broad, self-satisfied grin overtaking his features. "You're jealous."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not," Riley pouted, crossing her arms in front of her.

Lucas grabbed her forearms, bending slightly so he was at eye level with her. "Nothing happened with Maya."

"Nothing?" Riley asked, wiggling out of his grasp. "Then why were you all over each other?"

Lucas laughed, amused that he seemed to affect her just as much as she affected him. "We were having a heart to heart. Maya was attempting to comfort me."

"What could you and Maya possibly have to talk about?" Riley snapped back, not believing him for a second.

Lucas raised his eyebrows as if the answer were obvious. "You."

"Me?" Riley asked self-consciously, allowing him to come back into her space.

"You," Lucas confirmed with a nod, settling himself back at the nape of her neck, kissing his way up to her ear. "You've been driving me crazy all night. I love those boots."

Riley gave in for just a second, turning to kiss him before she remembered another blonde that he had been with. When their lips touched, the image of Missy on his lap assaulted her senses, and she pushed him away again. "What about your girlfriend?"

"Missy is not my girlfriend, Jealous."

"I'm not jealous!" Riley insisted.

"Oh, You, my friend, are Jealous McJealouster."

"I am not! I just don't want to be kissing someone else's guy. You two have been attached at the lips for the past month."

Lucas moved on to the other side of her neck, giving it the same attention. When he made his way up to her ear, he whispered, "It's okay to be jealous, Riles. I'll admit the thought of you and Gardner in a dark closet is clawing at my insides."

"I'm not-"

Before Riley could finish her sentence, Lucas interrupted her with a kiss, tasting the alcohol on her tongue. She trembled as he reached around her, stroking her back. After a few minutes, he pulled away. "Tell me, Princess, did Charlie get you this hot? Did he see you all messed up hair and swollen lipped?"

Riley shook her head vigorously. "Nothing happened."

He leaned in, removing her scarf from around her neck and letting it slide to the floor as he sucked on the skin he had just revealed.

"What about that Evan kid?" Lucas asked as he pulled away.

Riley was dazed, rapidly blinking as she tried to figure out what Lucas was talking about. "Evan? What about him?"

"Riley, don't be cute. You know what I'm asking."

Riley looked at him confused before she burst into laughter as the realization set in. "Lucas, Evan is gay."

He smiled, the sick feeling that had been nagging him ever since he first saw Riley in Evan's arms finally subsiding. "Oh, I bet Missy just loved hearing that."

Riley giggled, remembering the rant Missy went on in the bathroom about that very fact. She leaned up to kiss Lucas, and he obliged, giving her a quick peck before he pulled away.

"So, just to clarify... you haven't been kissing anyone else tonight?" Lucas asked, trying to act as if her answer didn't matter to him.

"Lucas! You're the only boy I've ever kissed," Riley responded, blushing slightly when she realized what she'd revealed.

"Ever?" A warmth Lucas didn't want to acknowledge spread over him at the thought. "Riles..."

Riley pushed him away, embarrassed. "Whatever."

"Riley..." Lucas called as she tried to brush past him.

"Don't, Lucas. It doesn't matter."

"I think it does," he gloated. "I think it means you like me, maybe, just a little bit."

"I don't like you. I can't like you," Riley insisted.

"Why? Because you're still waiting for your prince charming to show up?" Lucas mocked. "Face it, Riles. No matter what happens, you're always going to want me."

Riley pushed him away as the hallway started to spin. "I don't."

"Riley, you can lie to everyone else. You can even lie to yourself, but you can't lie to me."

He reached for her one more time, but she jerked away. "Don't touch me."

"Whatever. I don't need this," Lucas groused, leaving her standing alone. She was obviously too drunk to deal with at the moment. He was determined to go find Missy and forget this encounter ever happened, but Riley calling out his name stopped him in his tracks.

"Lucas! I don't feel so good," Riley whined, doubling over.

He turned around, taking in her pathetic form. "What's wrong?"

"My head hurts and my stomach. Why is everything so topsy, turvy?" she pouted, trying and failing to steady herself against the wall.

"Oh, sweetheart. You really can't handle your liquor, can you?"

Riley shook her head sadly as tears welled up in her eyes. "Make it stop, Lucas."

He picked her up, carrying her gently into the bedroom she had just come out of. "I'll take care of you, baby."

Lucas sat Riley at the end of the bed, pulling the headband out of hair as he stroked her long tresses. He noticed her purple drawstring bag and dug into it, producing a pair of shorts and a tank top.

"Riles, can you get changed?"

She shook her head again, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. "I can't do anything! I don't want to be drunk anymore!"

"Shh...Shh... It's alright. I've got you," Lucas murmured lovingly as he helped her settle back. "Lift up your legs. Let's at least get these boots off."

Riley snickered, remembering Lucas' admiration of her boots, as she fell back, throwing her legs up high above her. Lucas bit back a groan at the image of Riley spread out on the bed, her legs up in the air.

"Help me out here," Lucas prayed as he attempted to slip her boots off. "What the? Why aren't these coming off?"

Laughing louder, her tears subsiding, Riley shrieked. "You have to unzip them, silly!"

Lucas fumbled around, whooping in triumph when he found the zipper. He made quick work of both shoes. Grabbing her shorts, he used the fact that her legs were still in the air to slip them on, pulling them up her thighs.

"Riley, baby, can you get your shorts up all the way?"

Riley sat up, her movements erratic and sloppy as she threw off her dress in one motion. Lucas felt his heart beating in his throat at the sight of her in her purple bra and matching underwear. He swallowed loudly as she pulled her shorts up all the way. When she reached to unhook her bra, he stopped her.

"You're killing me, Riles. I'm trying hard to be a perfect gentleman, but if you take off that bra, all bets are off."

"You, Lucas Fernando Friar, are no gentleman!"

Lucas handed her the top. Riley stared down at it for a full minute before she made eye contact with him. Setting the top on the bed, she maintained the same level of intense eye contact as she reached back and unhooked her bra. Lucas spun around as fast as he could, trying to look anywhere but at her. He felt something hit is back. Leaning down to pick it up, he realized she had thrown the undergarment at him.

"Riley... Please put your shirt on."

"I don't wanna," she pouted.

"Well, drunk Riley might not want to, but sober Riley will kill me in the morning if we go any further."

Riley grumbled in protest but put the shirt on. When she signaled that she was covered, Lucas turned back around. He helped her get into bed pulling the covers up to her neck before giving her a kiss on the forehead.

"Where are you going?" she asked when he started to back away from the bed.

"To get you some water. I'll be right back."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

A few minutes later he came back with some aspirin, a bottle of water, and a waste bin. Riley appeared to be asleep so he set the water and medicine down on the nightstand, putting the waste bin on the floor next to the bed. Just as he was about to back away, Riley reached out and grabbed his hand. She opened her bleary eyes to look at him.

"Stay," she whispered.

"Are you sure, Riles?"

Riley sat up, trying her best to look serious. "Please, stay, Lucas. I don't feel good, and I don't want to be alone. You said you'd take care of me."

He nodded, grabbing the pillow next to her and setting it on the floor. When she realized he was intending on sleeping down there, Riley shook her head. "Lucas, please. Stay with me."

Riley lifted up the comforter, making it clear where she was inviting him to stay. "Drunk Riley! You and I both know sober Riley isn't going to like that!"

Riley pouted, her lower lip jutting out slightly. "I don't like sober Riley. Please?"

Lucas conceded, taking off his t-shirt, toeing off his shoes, and climbing in the bed next to her. "You just remember this in the morning. Sober Riley can get mad at you when she wakes up next to me."

"I won't get mad. I promise," she whispered, kissing him.

"I thought you felt sick," Lucas whispered back, trying to pull away from her.

"I did. I don't feel so bad now. You took good care of me," she said in between kisses.

Lucas forced her to drink half of the bottle of water, offering her the pills. She kissed his shoulder. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, baby," Lucas breathed as he settled in behind her, his front to her back. He bit back a groan as she pressed herself as close as she could to him, her butt rubbing up against him. He stroked her arm, once, twice, before settling it over her.

"I like when you call me baby," Riley mumbled, her eyes closed, smiling slightly.

"I like when you let me."

"Lucas?" Riley called out after a bit of silence.

"What, Riles?" he murmured tiredly.

"If Missy isn't your girlfriend, why are you two always all over each other?"

"Truth?" he asked.

"Yes, please."

"Because I can't have the person I want to be all over."

"I don't like it," Riley admitted.

"I'm sorry, baby."

"I'm sorry, too, Lucas."

"What for?"

"That we can't be together," Riley whispered, silent tears tracking down her cheeks.

"Why can't we be together?" Lucas asked, feeling slightly guilty that he was using her drunken state to get some insight on their relationship.

"Because you're not my soulmate," Riley said sadly, sounding like she was barely holding on to consciousness.

Lucas bit his lip, trying not to cry. "But what if I could be?" he asked after a moment of silence.

Riley's only answer was her soft snores. Hugging her tighter to his chest and pushing away all the negative, confusing, conflicting, feelings inside of himself, Lucas sighed as he focused on Riley's breathing, trying to commit the night to memory. He didn't put a lot of stock in hoping, but he was hoping his hardest that this wouldn't be the only time he got to sleep next to her.