Hi guys! How's your day going? Mine's great but I still gotta get ready for exams. Ugh. Anyways, hope you enjoyed the last chapter. Maybe you'll like this one better! Enjoy!
It's been at least two weeks since Lucas had packed all his bags and headed to the Big Apple from the great state of Texas. Everything in New York was pretty cool and having Zay to keep him company was one of the more happier things in his life so far.
Having to listen to the girl next door play her loud heavy metal music was, in fact, not.
There goes the guitar solo. Lucas groaned as the music picked up speed and pressed his pillow around his head, trying to block out the wailing coming from the thin walls. He checked the alarm clock that was placed on a small wooden table next to his bed: 7:15. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to shut his eyes any longer, Lucas rolled out of bed and lazily strolled to his kitchen area. Grabbing a pan and his grandma's famous chocolate chip recipe from one of the boxes laying on the floor, he proceeded to make them. Now that he was a tad further away from the music and closer to the smell of chocolate, his happy mood returned. Just as he flipped the first pancake onto a plate, a loud and consistent knock filled the tiny apartment. His whistling faltered. Who would come at 7 in the morning? Zay never would, he's probably not even awake yet. The knocking grew louder and more impatient and Lucas tripped over the unpacked boxes in his haste to unlock the door. As soon as he did, though, he knew his stubbed toes were worth it.
Her hair was different today, piled on top her head in a bun, and her T-shirt and jeans were splattered with random colors of what looked like acrylic paint. She played with a few loose strands of hair that perfectly framed her face and her eyebrows were raised in question. "You planning to share those delicious yummies you're making? I can smell them from my art corner and damn, I'm really hungry and too terrible at cooking to ever make those."
Lucas scratched the back his neck and glanced at the mess of boxes and packing peanuts behind him. "Well, I mean, if you can stand the sight of boxes that you can come on in." The girl didn't even bother with hearing the last part of his sentence. By the time he said it, she had brushed past him and perched herself on the only available seat in the kitchen. Her wide blue eyes stared daggers at him as Lucas made his way to the short stack of pancakes he made. He started flipping the last two and tried to defuse the awkwardness. She beat him to it though. "So, what's your real name, Huckleberry? Mine's Maya Hart." As he introduced himself, she stuck out her small hand for a handshake and Lucas shook it cautiously. Maya's hands were soft and not calloused at all, unlike Lucas's.
After Lucas had flipped the last chocolate chip pancake and placed the pancakes in two separate plates, the two sat in silence and chewed their pancakes thoughtfully. This time it was his turn to diffuse the awkwardness. "So… Have you always lived in New York? I already know you like it so much, maybe you can tell me why?" Lucas smirked, feeling proud of his cheeky response. Maya bluntly rolled her eyes and walked over to the sink, setting her empty plate in it. "Always grew up here, always loved it. Anymore nosy questions? Wanna know my social number? My childhood address?" She swung her jean clad legs around the front of her seat and rested her head in her hands in an innocent manner. Now it was Lucas's turn to do the eye rolling.
"Please, I'm not a creep nor am I that obsessed with you." He too placed his plate in the sink and sat back down. Both sat there staring at each other, the quiet hum of the refrigerator being the only source of noise. Maya gently peeled a piece of dried paint from her shirt sleeve. "Got any plans today, Ranger Rick?" She had pulled her phone out and hadn't payed attention to the small smile spreading across Lucas's face as she said the nickname. To be completely honest, Lucas never had plans. Zay came over once or twice so far over the course of their time in New York, but as Zay explained to him, he was too busy being popular. So all Lucas had done so far was unpack and sign up for jobs at veterinary clinics downtown. So far only one had taken him into consideration. If only you had become a vet, then everyone would have wanted you to work for them.
Maya's chair screeching against the tile floor almost caused him to cover his ears for protection. Maya didn't even seem to be fazed by the chair however, she headed for the door, texting nonstop the whole time. "Hey since you never answered me, I'm guessing that you don't have anything. How about you join my friends and I? They brought a new friend with them. Maybe you and the new kid can become besties and I won't have to come home to always see your lights on", she joked as she unlocked Lucas's front door. Lucas shrugged. "Sure, why the hell not?"
Lucas barely caught her directions to meet outside the building in twenty minutes because she was already halfway to her own apartment. Thank god we are the only people on this floor. Maybe that's why no one else lives up here: Maya's too loud. He chuckled to himself. Searching through his closet to find his warmest coat and sweater to brave the New York winter, Lucas tried to think where exactly she could be taking him. Well, judging from her friends, it could probably be anywhere. He had met, or more correct, heard, Maya's friends all the time. They would come late at night and were just as loud as her. He seemed to be able to know that there were always two of them and one seemed to be a girl, the other a boy. The girl sounded like she was constantly smiling and the boy, well, the boy had an obnoxious laugh that his family down in Texas could probably hear.
After Lucas piled on the layers to keep him warm, he grabbed his keys and started to make his way down to the entrance of the apartment complex to wait for Maya. The snow fell around him, making all the cars and benches a pure white color. He checked his watch. Twenty five minutes had already passed. Before Lucas, could even get mad, Maya trundled down the stairs in a long pea coat, her blonde hair covered with a purple sparkly beanie. "You ready to meet your future best friends, Hop-along?"
Too bad Maya didn't see the look of uncertainty cross across his face before he slipped on ice and hit the ground hard. She stood there and laughed before helping him back up.
Okay, so what do you think of the story so far? Let me know in the comments! Also, where do you think Maya is taking Lucas to meet up with the rest of the gang?