Author Note: This story will be told in a series of flashbacks, leading up to what happened in the present as well as perspectives from the mainly Maya, Lucas, and Riley from the present to tell the story. Please review as well, I enjoy the feedback. Thanks so much and I hope you enjoy the rest.

-Thisisitlucy

THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO PRESENT

January 24th

Maya Hart was sitting in the back of a hole-in-the-wall cafe. She twirled the paintbrush in the coffee mug before taking the paintbrush to the paper before her. Layering the sweet brown color to craft the interior of the cafe. Pink headphones decorated her ears as Frank Sinatra drifted through. Her painted lips were pulled into a thin line as she focused on the artwork in front of her, ignoring the world around her.

If she was honest, she would have admitted she was angry. Angry at the fact that Riley didn't want to seeher yet again in order to shop with her cheerleaders...Because apparently the relationship they were gaining was becoming a little more important than the lifetime friendship her and Riley possessed. She was angry at Lucas for forgetting her promised to go out to the record shop deep in Manhattan after basketball practice. Lucas hadn't even bother to respond to her texts but she watched the boy walk out to Aaron Wait's car with the other boys to head for burgers. Angry at Farkle for his snide remark on her B+ on her Honors Biology test(yes, honors biology because Riley is right, she was smart enough for science). To Farkle, it was subpar, even though it was the highest she's received on a test this year. Angry for Zay trying to hook her and Lucas up. Angry that her mother wouldn't be home again. Angry that she managed to lose her math homework. Angry she spilt coffee on her shirt this morning. Angry that her art assignment wasn't going the way she wanted. She was angry angry angry angry. No, she was bitter...Furious...she wanted to get in a fight or punch something or-

"Dammit!" she gasped as she ripped off her headphones. In her rang she managed to knock over the coffee cup and spill the liquid on her already stained jeans. "Ugh!" she yanked her sketchbook and phone off the table and tossed in on the chair next to her before looking down at her soaked jeans. "You have got to be kidding me!"

"Oh here!" a second voice stated as a wash rag was thrown atop the table. "Lemme help."

Maya turned her head, fully prepared to rip whoever thought it was a good idea to offer her help. But the bitter remark was was trapped in her throat as she looked at the boy.

Dark skin the color of caramel and eyes the color of pine trees. A visor for the coffee shop sat on his dark, thick curls. The boy towered her but that didn't seem to bug the small blonde as her flashed her a bright, white smile.

"I got this if you wanna go clean up in the bathroom," the boy nodded towards the door as Maya nodded like an idiot.

"Uh, yeah, sure thing." Her lips formed a goofy smile as she turned and hurried to the bathroom, her face blazing.

Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot!

The chant rang out as Maya attacked her jeans with wet paper towels in the small bathroom.

"He probably thinks you're an idiot. Dear lord," she shook her head as she tossed the paper towels into the trash. She placed her hands on either side of the sink and glanced at her reflection. "Okay, Maya calm down. You got this. He's cute, you're cute. Ugh, but you managed to look like a complete spaz spilling coffee like that." She yanked down on her mustard colored top. "And you look like a mess. Okay. Okay."

Maya took a deep breath before heading into the shop. She hurried back to her table and saw that the boy had cleaned up her disaster and was sitting in her seat, flicking through her sketchbook, his feet kicked up on the table.

"Isn't someone supposed to be working?" Maya asked, trying hard not to rip the book out of his hands.

"You are really good," the boy remarked, unable to take his eyes off the current sketch. It was a self portrait Maya was was suppose to do for her advanced art class. But she had taken more of a symbolic approach to it. Her face split in half down the middle. On the right was a self portrait. Her eyes locked forward and lips pulled into a smile that didn't seem to meet her eyes. On the left was a different story. Her eyes was replaced with half of a monarch butterfly done in the scheme of her eyes. Her lips were replaced with stitches, her skin was a mismatch of faded patterns, and her long blonde hair was full of small scrawl of words and phrases.

"I think this one is my favorite," the boy shot her a grin as he held the book back out. "But the coffee sketch is cool too."

"Thanks." Maya nodded as she held the book tight in her arms. "And, um, thanks for cleaning up."

"No problem," the boy gestured to the seat beside him. "Why don't you take a seat?"

Maya glanced at the clock before cursing softly. It was a quarter to nine. "I'm so sorry but I have to go. Thank you for everything though."

The boy stood up as she reached across and grabbed her things. "Will you be back?"

Maya shot the boy a small smirk. "Maybe…" she glanced down at his name tag. "Jason."

He smirked as he leaned against the table. "Well, see you maybe." He threw her a wink before sauntering off to go behind the counter.

Maya's face reddened as she rushed out the door, her eyes lightening up.

Just as she arrived to her empty apartment around 10:45. Just as she opened the door, her phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey Maya!" Riley's cheerful voice caused Maya to smile as she rolled her eyes.

"Hi, Riles."

"I'm sorry I couldn't hang out when Lucas bailed."

"It's okay," Maya smiled. "It's fine."

"Ooh! Did something happen?" Maya could just hear the meddling in Riley's voice.

"I found this coffee shop and I got to work on a painting for a while. It was...nice." Maya lied. She didn't know why but she wanted to keep Jason to herself for a while. She was so irritated today and she wanted something for herself. Jason could be her "something else"

"Tell me about shopping, did you get me anything?" Maya smiled Riley jumped into forty minute rundown of what had happened today with the other cheerleaders and spent another thirty-five explaining why Alice Winston was totally wrong wrong wrong on buying this pair of gemstone-covered heels.

"Well, Riles, as interesting as is this. I better get going to bed," Maya glanced at her clock, noting that it was ticking closer to midnight. She closed the math book she had taken out to work on while Riley had chattered away.

"Oh, shoot. It is really late. I'm sorry."

"No biggie. Night, Riles."

"Night Peaches!" Riley hung up the phone after that, leaving Maya to the silence of her apartment.

During her phone call, the blonde hair girl had received several texts from one Lucas Friar full of apologies and promises of tomorrow and new records. There was several from one that was labeled 'Jason - Coffee Shop Boy'. Maya face broke into a huge grin as she quickly texted Lucas, telling the boy that he owned her two records AND a strawberry shake tomorrow to make up for leaving her in her time of need. Then she opened the messages from Jason.

Jason: Hey, I saw your phone while you were in the bathroom and put my number in for u. Hope that isn't weird.

Jason: The rest of my shift was rather uneventful. I mean, no more beautiful girls creating masterpieces out of my coffee and making a mess ;)

Jason: I hope to c u soon and maybe I can get a name next time

Maya: It would be with anyone else, but I'm not surprised. Also, the name is Maya...Maya Hart.

Maya clicked send before collapsing on her bed, her face split in a wide grin as she dreamt of coffee and cute boys and painting.