Hey y'all! I am so in love with all of you! I know that not everybody loves history like I do, but I still appreciate everybody who is gonna read this anyway, even though it's going to include a lot of history. For those of you who don't know the story begins in 1941. I forgot to add this in on the first chapter, but there will be time jumps. I'll just make sure to add that in.

I am so happy that I decided to write this chapter today because my first day of college begins tomorrow, so I'm stressing pretty hard right now, and I need to let loose right now.

Also, I have included some trigger warnings in the first chapter. I couldn't include all of them in the description, so I put them in the first chapter. I will also add the trigger warnings whenever I reach a chapter that will need them.

Enjoy!

Lucas' first week in New York was successful, to say the least. Zay has hired him to work with Farkle behind the bar, and he has a nice room in Zay's apartment above the cafe. It's a small apartment, but it's very nice for the two men. Lucas had to ask him how Zay could live in such a nice apartment considering he is a black man. Zay told him that he pays rent with the income he makes from owning the cafe, and he has connections where he can give his rent money to a white man to pay his rent for him.

"It's a good thing you're here because now I can just have you pay the rent for me," Zay jokes.

"Hey. I'll do anything you tell me to. You gave me a job, and you're letting me live with you. It's the least I can do," Lucas responds in a serious tone.

He hasn't seen Maya since his first day in New York. Zay tells him that she has strep throat, which bums Lucas out a little bit because he would really love to hear her sing. He does think that Riley has a beautiful voice, but there's something about Maya that really bewilders him. He can sense that she's not all that she appears to be, and that makes him want to find out who she really is.

"Applesauce!" Farkle yells, earning a gasp from a geezer sitting at the bar in front of him. Lucas walks over and helps Farkle clean the spilled alcohol off the bar counter. "Sorry, sir."

"You okay there, Farkle?" Lucas asks.

Farkle sighs tucking a clean towel in the waistband of his pants. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I've been dropping and breaking bottles and spilling alcohol all over the bar counter for a few weeks. Please don't tell Zay. I've been replacing everything I've broke with the money from my paychecks, but I'm trying to save money to buy something."

Although Zay is his best friend, and he should tell Zay that Farkle has broken a few expensive bottles of alcohol, he likes Farkle, and he can't help but think that this thing he's saving up to buy is something for Riley. After getting to know her the last week, Lucas has gotten to know a lot about Riley. Like the fact that her birthday is coming up in a few months.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Lucas hints at Farkle. A faint smile appears on his face as he walks to the room behind the bar to retrieve a new bottle of wine.

The bell on the door of the cafe rings. Lucas sees a tall man, about six feet tall, walk through the door. His shirt is stained with dirt and other questionable things. His stench is the first thing most people would notice about him, and Lucas knows exactly who this man is.

"What are you doing here, Leonard?" Lucas asks.

"Gimme a beer, boy," The man replies. Lucas knows that this man isn't allowed to have a drink Zay's cafe. He's been put on strict orders to not give this man any alcohol.

"Sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave," Lucas says.

"I'd like to see you make me," Leonard slurs. He stumbles his way to a seat at the end of the bar. People are staring at him.

Everybody knows Leonard Johnson. Owner of a construction company during the day, hardcore swigger during the night. Zay told Lucas about him. He found his wife cheating on him with his brother one night, and he's been a regular customer since. Zay says that the drinking used to not bother him. It was when Leonard began to get violent whenever Zay would cut him off. Now, he's not allowed another alcoholic drink from The Huck and Jim Cafe.

"What are you staring at? Turn your ass around and gimme a damn drink right now!" Leonard demands.

Lucas takes his towel out of his britches and lays it down on the bar counter. He walks over to Leonard and tries to negotiate a way to make Leonard leave the cafe. He continues to refuse.

"I've been put on strict orders not to give you any alcohol, sir," Lucas says.

Leonard sighs. He turns around just as Riley is walking around. He reaches his arm out and grabs her waist. "Fine then, let me have a little fun with your call girl."

Lucas tries not to explode. "She's not a call girl. Now let her go and leave."

Leonard lets Riley go and stand up, towering over Lucas. "Like I said before. I'd like to see you make me. Pretty boy."

Lucas grabs Leonard by the collar of his tank top and shoves him against the wall. "I'm not gonna tell you again. You better get the hell out of here. You're not getting alcohol here, and you certain aren't gonna get any sex here. So I think, in your best interest, it would be better for you to go."

Leonard angrily huffs and puffs in Lucas's face before jerking his way out of Lucas's grip and leaves the cafe. Lucas wipes sweat from his forehead and stares at the crowd of people witnessing what just happened.

"Sorry for the inconvenience, folks. How about a round of drinks on the house!" Zay says. The crowd immediately changes their attitude from shocked to happy, and a few people stand up from their tables to go to the bar for their free drinks.

Zay walks over to Lucas with his arms crossed, and Lucas feels that he has just messed everything up with best friend.

"Zay, I'm sorry for causing that scene. I was just trying to make him leave, and he tied to harass Riley. I'm sorry. I'll pay for whatever money you lose because of this," Lucas rambles.

"Lucas. It's okay. I've got money to replace this stuff. It's no big deal. I just wanted to thank you for kicking him out. Of course, we all wish it didn't have to go down like that, but he left, and that's all that matters," Zay responds.

"So, you're not mad?" Lucas asks.

Zay shakes his head with a smile on his face. He walks away, and just as Lucas is about to turn around to help Farkle with the group of people wanting their free drinks, he hears someone call his name. He turns around to see the blonde beauty he's been thinking about for the last week.

"Maya? I thought you were still sick," Lucas says.

"I needed to come talk to Zay about a few things, but I'll be back tomorrow. I just saw what you did to Leonard, and I just wanted to thank you for helping Zay and Riley like that," Maya says, gripping her long coat and covering her front side.

"You feeling any better?" Lucas asks.

"I feel a lot better than I did. Thanks for asking," Maya answers. She stands there and stares at Lucas for a moment before waving goodbye and walking over to Riley. Lucas watches her while he makes his way back behind the bar. He begins to help Farkle pour drink for people when he arrives.

"I can't believe how you handled Leonard. I would've never have done it. Zay would already have security on him before I could do anything," Farkle says, handing a drink to a woman and pouring the next cup full of alcohol for the man she came with.

"Yea, kid. That was impressive indeed. Have you ever thought about joining the United States military? They could really use a guy with your strength," A man in a tan colored uniform asks. His hat reads United States Army, which Lucas could tell that this guy was in the military due to the strength in the man's handshake.

"No I haven't really thought about it. I'm registered for the draft, if that's what you mean, but I hopefully won't be called up for duty," Lucas replies.

"Well that's a shame. You would make an excellent general one day."

Lucas nods and hands the man his drink.

The cafe is empty. Lucas and Farkle are cleaning and restocking the bar, and they are cleaning all of the tables. Riley is helping Zay count all the money they have earned that day. Lucas walks over to Farkle with a vacuum cleaner. Farkle plugs the cord into the wall.

"Wow. I never thought I'd see a woman helping a man count money while two other men are cleaning the tables and vacuuming the floor," Lucas says.

Farkle chuckles. "Yea. I never thought so either, but Zay is a feminist at heart. He has always treated the women who work here as equals to the men. I'm not bothered by it, and you shouldn't be either. Zay is a good man, and I think it's the discrimination that he has been through that makes him not want to discriminate anybody because they look or act differently."

"Zay has always been like that. He's making me a better man because of it. That's why I had to move up here with him. My parents went crazy when they found out that my best friend is black. And the things my dad would tell me about women just didn't feel right whenever I exercised those beliefs. They've pretty much disowned me as a son, but I believe that my best friend being black isn't a big deal, and if I want to treat my wife with more respect instead of a maid, then I will do it. They just couldn't accept that, though. So I moved up here to live with my best friend," Lucas explains.

"Well, you seem like a good man yourself," Farkle says.

"As do you. And Riley will see that one day," Lucas replies, making Farkle blush. "Why don't you just tell her that you carry a torch for her?"

"Because. Look at me. She's too good for me. She's beautiful, and I'm...ugly," Farkle says.

Lucas rolls his eyes and pats Farkle on the back. "You aren't ugly at all. You never know if you have a chance with her if you don't try. Who knows? She may think you're the cat's meow."

"I don't know. I don't think she has eyes for me. I see her looking at you all the time," Farkle says.

"Well. I don't go after a cookie when I know a friend is looking at the same one," Lucas replies. Farkle laughs at the expression and starts to vacuum.

"Hey, Lucas? Can I talk to you for a minute?" Riley asks. Lucas nods and salutes to Farkle before following Riley to a room in the back of the club. She turns the light on and closes the door once Lucas walks in. She turns around looks at him.

"So why did you call me back here?" Lucas asks.

Riley sighs. "Zay and I were counting the money from the cash registers at the bar and there is money missing. We counted the money three times just to make sure. Even with the free drinks that Zay gave the customers, we are short."

"I swear that Farkle and I didn't take any of it. We stay behind the bar all day long, and I didn't take any money, and I know that Farkle didn't take any money," Lucas defends himself and Farkle.

"I'm not saying it was either of you. I don't think either of you would take the money, but I'm just telling you that you two are the main suspects. Zay will probably mention it to you tonight or something," Riley warns.

"And you had to bring all the way back here behind the stage to tell me this? Why?" Lucas asks.

Riley takes a step closer. "I wanted to thank you for defending me earlier when Leonard grabbed me and called me a call girl."

"You're welcome," Lucas says. He tries to walk past Riley, but she lays her hand on his chest.

"I don't think you get it," Riley says. She leans forward and presses her lips to Lucas'. She wraps her arms around his neck, but he is quick to reject her advances. He gently removes her from his lips and holds her arms.

"I'm sorry, Riley. I think you're beautiful, but I can't do this. I don't feel the same way. Sorry," Lucas apologizes before quickly leaving the room. He meets Farkle at the door before he is able to leave.

"Hey. What was all that about?" Farkle asks.

Lucas leans forwards and whispers. "Riley told me that our cash register was short today. Even after everybody got their free drinks. Some money is missing, and they don't know how. She was just giving us a warning because she thinks Zay will talk to us about it."

Farkle nods. "I can't believe it. I stepped out of the room twice. I don't know how any money could've been stolen."

"I know. It's really weird."

Dear Mama,

I know that you and pop don't really want anything to do with me right now, but I do feel that it's important for me to say that I still love you guys. But I am not going to give up my beliefs just because y'all want to discriminate against people of color. I hope you and pop can forgive me for running away, but it's something that I had to do. I had to run away to make myself happy because if I stayed in Texas, I would've gone off the deep end. I am loving New York. Zay and I are living together and working together at his cafe. I hope you y'all will find in your hearts to see things my way for once and realize that God made us all the way regardless of our skin color or gender.

Love,
Lucas

I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! I know there wasn't a lot of Lucaya interaction, and I wrote Rilucas kiss, but that will kinda set things off in the next couple of chapters. Things will start getting interesting with whoever stole money from the cash register and with Rucaya.

Let me know some theories that y'all have!

Love y'all!