Hi guys! I know I haven't update this in a long time either, and I apologize. I can't promise more frequent updates, but I just want to thank all of you who continue to read this story. I love y'all!

I hope y'all enjoy!

"Give me another one, Luke!" Maya slurs her voice as she slams the empty glass on the counter at the bar. Lucas laughs and pulls the scotch out from underneath the counter.

"I don't think you should drink much more, Maya. I don't want you to get in trouble with Zay," Lucas says.

Maya dramatically widens her eyes and looks around at the empty club, "I don't see Zay around. I'm pretty sure he left early tonight anyway. C'mon! I'm barely tipsy."

Lucas chuckles and pours the scotch into the sticky glass. Maya smirks and raises the glass to her lips, downing the entire glass in a matter of seconds. She sets her glass down on the counter and slaps her hand on top of Lucas'.

"Why don't you pour you a drink?" Maya asks.

"No. No. I don't think I should let any booze into my body tonight. I'm know I'll regret it tomorrow if I don't," Lucas replies.

Maya smirks at him and begins to tease him. She reaches over the bar counter and pulls out an identical glass and sets it next to hers. She also reaches down far enough to grab the bottle of whiskey at the very bottom of the counter. Lucas laughs at how ridiculous she looks in her current position but doesn't object to a drink of whiskey after she pours them both a glass.

They touch their glasses together and bring the booze to their lips.

Lucas wakes up and shields his eyes from the bright sunlight of the morning. Lucas reaches his arm over to feel the cooler side of his bed, but he just grabs air. He lets his eyes adjust, and when they do he realizes that he's not in his bed. He's laying down on an emerald colored sofa. He holds his head in pain and pulls a cool towel off his forehead.

"Morning, boozy," Riley greets him. He sits up and sees the dame standing there in her nightgown and robe. A child-like smirk sets upon her face. She walks over, sits down next to him, and sets a glass of water on the coffee table before taking the cold, damp towel away from him.

"What happened? Why am I here?" Lucas asks.

"You and Maya decided to have a little fun after work last night. Zay was already gone by the time I was leaving, and I didn't know where your keys were, so I just brought you along with Maya and me to our apartment," Riley explains.

Lucas groans. "I can't believe I did that. I haven't had any booze since I was seventeen."

Riley giggles. "Neither has Maya. You two are funny when intoxicated."

"You and Maya live together?" Lucas asks.

"Yes. Farkle helped us because it's difficult for a woman to rent her own apartment, but we do. You better leave soon. Maya's gonna wake up, and when she sees that you're here, she's not going to be happy," Riley explains.

"Too late," Lucas and Riley turn their attention to the disgruntled, hungover blonde woman standing in the kitchen and pouring herself a cup of coffee.

Lucas drinks the rest of the water in his glass and walks over to the sink to wash the glass out. He lays the clean dish on the towel with drying dishes already laying on it.

"Please leave," Maya says nicely while holding her pained head.

"Hold on, let me think of a snarky comeback," Lucas replies.

Maya slams her mug on the kitchen counter, emitting a grunt from the both of them. "I'm being serious, Lucas. You have to leave right now. Please get out of our apartment."

Lucas doesn't feel like egging her on so he nods and walks back into the living room where Riley is reading the newspaper. "Um. Do you know where my coat and hat are?"

Riley stands up and nods before walking over to a closet in the hallway of the apartment and pulling his coat and hat off the rack that stands there. She hands his items over to him and walks with him to the front door. She pulls the door open and waits for him to walk outside of the apartment.

Before he leaves, however, he turns around and tips his hat towards the two. "Thank you for taking care of Maya and me last night. I know it was probably annoying, but I appreciate everything you did."

"It's not a problem. I know that Maya has helped me through a few drunken nights, so I don't mind to help her. And I didn't mind to help you either. And I just want to apologize on Maya's behalf. She really isn't as grumpy as she seems. She just has a lot on her plate right now, and she doesn't want to let someone who is practically a complete stranger into her life. It's not you. Just give her some time," Riley explains.

"It's alright. I've met worse girls, and you know that," Lucas says.

"See you later, Lucas," Riley giggles.

"You too."

"Well, well. If it isn't booze boy," Lucas hear as he steps foot into his shared apartment. He slowly turns around to see his best friend sitting in a chair staring a newspaper. Zay slowly lowers the newspaper and makes eye contact with Lucas, who is scared that he is going to get his hide tanned.

"Where have you been? Last thing I saw was you chatting up Maya at the bar and pouring her a drink. Please tell you two didn't do what I think you did?" Zay asks.

Lucas shakes his head. "We didn't do anything. We had a few drinks, and Riley took the both of us back to their apartment. I slept on their sofa."

Zay pats his best friend's shoulder. "Good boy, Lucas. Maya is different from other women. It's a good thing you didn't try to do any of the nasty with her."

"I wouldn't want to do that to anybody. I used to do that shit back in Texas, and I've just learned that there is more to it than that," Lucas replies sitting on the couch in the living room.

"So. Maya actually knew you were in her apartment and didn't freak out on you?" Zay asks.

"Whoa. Hold your breath. I never said she didn't freak out. I mean, she didn't, but she was adamant on me leaving as soon as possible. She practically kicked me in the ass to get me out of there," Lucas explains, earning a chuckle from Zay. "Do you know if she does that to anybody else?"

"I do. She hasn't done it to me because she trusts me, but I'll tell you that when Maya tells you that she doesn't want you in her apartment, then you better listen to her. There's a lot that you don't know about her, and she wants it kept that way. The only thing that I know what to do, as her friend, is to respect her wishes. She doesn't want me to tell you; she'll tell you when she feels that you are important enough in her life," Zay explains.

Lucas nods and remembers to put that in his long term memory. He stand up and puts his hat and coat on the rack by the door. "I'm going to go take a shower. I'm still not completely over this hangover."

Zay laughs. "You have fun with that, Lucas."

Dear mom,

I know that you aren't gonna write me back, but I still feel like it's important to ask y'all how y'all are doing and to tell y'all how I'm doing. I am so happy in New York, right now. I've met some amazing people down here, and I really wish y'all would meet them, but I know how y'all feel about me being friends with Zay, so I'm not counting on it. Zay is doing fine. He seems a whole lot happier here than he ever was in Texas, which makes me happy. I'm working in a cafe with him and some of the nicest co-workers. Riley was one of the first people I met, and she was as nice as can be. She showed me around and helped me get accustomed to my new job. She's a really nice girl. Farkle is the man that I work with most of the day. He's a bartender, just like me. He's got a thing for Riley, so when she tried to make a move on me, I turned her down. Farkle is incredibly loyal and just fun to talk to. Then, there's Maya. Maya is a mystery to me, but she treats me like she treats everybody else, and I respect a woman who can do that. Sure, she's not used to my presence just yet, but I have a feeling that we can become close friends. Anyway, I just wanted to remind you that just because we have our major differences in opinion doesn't mean that I don't love y'all. Y'all are still my parents, and I still love y'all. I just had to move away because I needed to do something for myself for once.

Love y'all,
Lucas

I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! It's kinda short, but it sets up yet another mystery. I don't know when I'll be updating next, but I am still trying to make it as soon as possible. Thanks to all of you who continue to read this! Love y'all!

Next chapter, Lucas sees something that he doesn't like to see, so he does something about it.