A/N: Hey, lovelies~ Sorry for being a slow poster. Being a junior makes me lazy xD
Okay. I just have to say Lucas on the actual GMW show is annoying me with his indecision ._.
Anyways, enjoy~ If there are any errors, just know that I skimmed this chapter when I proofread xD

Chapter 6

After Lucas dropped me off at my dorm last night, I immediately started to paint. It's been so long since I've seen such an alive color, so I'm afraid I'll forget that soft sea-foam green. It took me forever to find the right hue, but I finally got it, and I haven't stopped painting. I probably look crazy with my bloodshot eyes and messy blonde hair, and I'm pretty sure it's six right now, but I need to engrave this color in my head. I like this world that goes beyond black and gray and white.

There's a knock on the door. I don't want to get up; I need to capture the exact essence of the sea-foam green eyes before I lose it. I think I left the door unlocked, and if I didn't, the only person who suffers is the person at the door, who I assume to be Lucas because, well, who else would it be?

"Come in!" I say. Wow, my throat is really dry.

I hear the door open and footsteps approach. I don't turn around, too focused on the task at hand. I don't think the silence is weird until I hear Lucas ask, "Are those my eyes?"

Shit. I didn't think this through. I probably look like a creep with the intense way I paint his eyes. I turn around, quickly finding an excuse, but whatever I had in mind leaves when I notice his smirk. Meanwhile, I keep my face black and respond with "Maybe, maybe not."

"It's a yes or no question, Shortstack."

I scowl. "Don't you have a reason for being here?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. Remember how Zay and Billy got drunk last night?"

"...Yes..."

Lucas wears a serious expression. "I need another favor."

I raise my eyebrow. "You want me to play nurse."

Lucas notices my resolve not to help him, so he begs, "Please, Maya. You saw what a handful they are."

I shrug. "Not my problem. All you had to do was stop them from drinking."

"C'mon, Maya. Please. I'll do anything."

I went back to my painting, but when he says this, I turn around with a cocked eyebrow. "Anything?"

Lucas gulps. He mutters, "Fuck," and more coherently, "Yes anything."

"Then okay," I say.

"Really? You agree that easily?" He looks at me skeptically. "What's the price?"

"All in due time, Ranger Rick," I say then get up. I walk out of my room without checking if Lucas is following, and soon he takes smooth strides next to me.

"So...," he begins. "How long were you painting me?"

"Shut up," I say.

He laughs.

"Before we go inside," Lucas says, "I have to warn you that what you're about to encounter is going to scar you."

I don't react, but I do say, "And you claim to be my friend."

He grins. "Isn't that why I'm asking you for this favor?"

I purse my lips. "Just open the door, Huckleberry."

"Okay..."

When he does, the first thing I register is the smell. My fucking olfactory sense is offended with the stench of puke and sweat, and my eyes hurt. Then I hear Billy groan, and I face Lucas, who grimaces at the scene, and say "Well I can't deny the fact that you really need help."

"Is that Maya?" Zay croaks out.

"Yeah, it's me."

"Can you get the world to stop spinning?"

"Nope."

Lucas sighs out of irritation. "This happens every time, and I warned you both, but did you listen? No. You brought this upon yourselves."

"But you still take care of us," Billy says with a lazy smile.

Lucas mutters, "Why me?"

I laugh. "Come on, Sundance. Let's just get this over with. What do you want me to do?"

"WATER," Zay yells.

"Gah! You're making my headache worse, Zay," Billy says.

"Please get them water," Lucas tells me.

I chuckle. "Sure thing."

When I leave the dorm to find the vending machine, I get strange looks from every guy I pass by. I don't blame them. I don't go out often, much less go to the boy's dormitory. Still, there are many girls they haven't seen.

As I lean down to pick up the water bottles, I hear someone dog whistle behind me. I quickly stand up, and I know I should get the hell out of there, but the guy with a stupid grin is standing too close.

"What do you want?" I say with a dark tone.

"Nothin'," the guy says and stands back to let me through.

I roll my eyes but take my leave without a word. I don't have time for people like this. Well, I don't care to spend time with people like this.

When I get back and after I hand the water bottles to Zay and Billy, Lucas asks me while dabbing at their foreheads, "What's wrong?"

"Huh?"

"You keep pacing back and forth, and are you muttering, 'That ass'? I mean, I know I have a great butt, but..."

I slap him on the arm. "That wasn't a compliment, you idiot."

"Then what did I do?"

"Why do you assume it's you?"

"Because you're staring at me."

"Am not."

"Whatever you say, Shortstack."

I sigh. "If you have to know, I'm just tired of getting hit on by strangers without pride or respect."

Lucas' smile disappears. "What happened?"

"Oh, relax, Huckleberry. It's not like he did anything. I'm just annoyed."

"I thought you'd be used to it by now," Lucas mumbles while wiping at Billy's forehead.

I take another wet towel and do the same for Zay because I was starting to feel useless. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means he thinks you're hot," Billy says, and Zay laughs.

"Shut up," Lucas says.

"And Maya thinks Lucas is hot," Zay adds.

"Shut up," I say.

"They have the hots for each other," Billy concludes.

"Shut up," Lucas and I say.

They cackle and cough like crazy until I'm scared their lungs will fall out of their mouths, and Lucas and I avoid each other's gaze. This happens until Zay says, "I'm tired."

"Me too," Billy says. "Bet you can't fall asleep before me." But Zay is already snoring loudly, and soon, Billy sleeps too.

"I'll never understand why they sweat so much from hangovers," Lucas mumbles to himself. I get up and lie on the only bed left. I didn't realize just how exhausted I was, but then again, I didn't get any rest last night.

"How long were you up?" Lucas asks, sitting next to me.

"You make it sound like I slept," I respond.

Lucas chuckles. "You have all the time in the world to paint, but you decided two AM was a good time?"

"No, I thought 'now' was a good time."

"Such wise words from someone who has no hope."

I sigh. I don't want a lecture on my lifestyle or beliefs, nor do I want to tell him why I was up so late, so I say, "And you have no problems?"

Lucas winces. "Yeah, sorry; that was rude of me."

"No, it's fine, Huckleberry. I know you meant no harm by that."

It's quiet for awhile, but it's a comfortable silence, so I close my eyes and breathe slowly, letting myself relax for once.

"I do have problems," Lucas abruptly says.

My eyes shoot open, and I turn to face him. Before I can respond, Lucas gives me a sheepish smile and says, "Sorry. Did I wake you? I won't talk anymore, I promise."

"No, it's okay. You can tell me. If you want, that is."

"It's just being around you brings up so many memories, some of which I purposefully forgot-not that that's your fault. I just mean I didn't remember my problems until we started talking again, which is good, because I can't be fixed until I find out what I need help with."

We're all broken, so I don't try to reassure him that he's not messed up. "And what do you need help with?" I say instead.

"Anger. Disappointment. Me."

"Well, you're not alone there."

"What's your story?"

My guard goes up. "You didn't tell me yours, so why should I tell you mine, Sundance?"

"Fair enough," Lucas says. "I had an abusive father and a dependent mother who almost didn't let me go to college until I promised I would come back to her."

"At least your parents want you," I say to be optimistic, not to self-pity.

"What do you mean?"

"My dad left, then got arrested, which my mom blamed me for. Then she also left, which I guess must mean it really is my fault. I mean, she can't hate her daughter that much, right?

"Maybe they had a reason."

"That they couldn't tell me about?"

"People are complicated. Especially you."

I feel slightly offended by that comment. "Why me?"

"The better question is 'how not you?' "

"I'm quite simple. People just make things complicated."

"Or maybe you're just bias."

I sigh out of exasperation. "Whatever. We strayed from the topic. Are your parents the reason to why you get overprotective over people you care about?"

"Well, my dad is. Not my mom. She makes me want to become a better person."

"So that's not that bad of a relationship."

"I suppose not, but it does get overwhelming sometimes."

I can feel my eyelids start to sag from my need to sleep. "For what it's worth, I think you're a great person, Hee Haw."

"Thanks. You are too, Maya."

"Sure I am," I slur.

"Believe me, Maya," Lucas says, his voice slowly disappearing as I enter a different world. "You are so much more than you see."

Right before I drift into blackness, I see tan skin brightening those sea-foam green eyes.