"I looked in the library he's not there." Lucas stated when she saw Riley. Maya only bit her lip, not correcting him on the fact that she was there as well.
"Hey guys, I checked the ball field. No Farkle." Billy walked over.
"You looked on the baseball for Farkle? Billy, are you even trying?" The little rebel stated. Her tone incredulous that anyone would look for the little nerd anywhere were sports is involved.
"Not really." He shook his head and walked off.
"Troubled lad, I now release you to the hands of your caring friends." Janitor Harley gestured as he and Farkle left the custodial services room. "Because they have time for this."
"You want to tell us what's going on here buddy?" Lucas drawled. His accent thicker when he was worried.
"Are you my buddy?" Farkle replied, a bite in his tone.
"What?"
Maya looked over at Lucas, the disbelief on the Cowboys face was evident enough that the comment hurt. No one hurts the people she cares about, not even other friends.
"Spill it, Farkle." Maya piped up, tilting her head in a way that Lucas learned meant she wasn't taking no for an answer.
"Somebody made fun of my turtle-necks."
"Your turtle-necks?" Riley questioned.
"Yeah, someone said they make me weird."
"You are weird." Maya stated and it was true. He was a strange little genius.
"She doesn't mean that." Riley consoled.
"Sure I do. He knows he is. He embraces it. But you already know that, Farkle. That's what makes you unique." Lucas knew Maya was trying to help, in her own brash way, but it didn't help.
"What's the point of being unique if someone knows you're really not?" With that he walked away and none of his friends knew what to do.
"We have to fix this." Of course Riley would say that, it was practically her catch phrase.
"We know."
"Gandhi, what did he do?" Mr. Matthews questioned the class the fallowing morning.
"Freed Ireland." Maya stated completely serious.
"Try again."
"Freed Ireland." She said it with the same confidence as before and Lucas could only smile. He knew she was only messing with Mr. Matthews as they studied this chapter the previous night. Well, on the subway to school this morning. He had become her unofficial tutor in the mornings and was rather pleased she would actually listen to him with few insults and name callings.
"Freed India."
"Before or after he freed Ireland?" Lucas only chuckled softly at her antics. Their goofy teacher only moved on with the lecture.
"Jackie Robinson, what did he do?"
"First Irish guy to play in the Major leagues after Gandhi freed him." Billy chipped in. Lucas gave him a glare as he recognized the play as a flirt. But, smiled when he noticed that Maya was frowning slightly at Billy taking her spot light.
"I- I quite. I quite." Their teacher stuttered. Coming up in defeat.
After that Lucas was completely zoned out. When Maya turned back around to face the front of the room she had leaned back on to his desk and the scent of her shampoo was intoxicating his senses. The cowboy was always curious about how she got her hair to smell so amazing. It was like strawberries and lilies and vanilla and something so purely Maya that he couldn't describe it. His fingers slowly inched their way to where her curly blond locks splayed out on his desk. Lucas picked up the end, careful not to give away his action to her, and rubbed the curls between his long fingers. Her hair was beyond soft and he idly wonder what it would be like to run his fingers through all of it.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when the bell rang and Maya leaned forward to pack her bag. They walked out of the room and placed their belongings in their lockers before going to the recently located hiding spot of their friend.
"Hey, Ranger Rick?"
"Yeah?"
"Next time you want to play with my hair don't be so creepy about it."
"Whatever makes you happy, Ma'am." There's going to be a next time?
She only chuckled before her thoughts flitted back to Farkle and Riley.
"Come, on Hop-a-long, let's catch up to Riley."
A few seconds later they walked into the custodial suite.
"Somebody told Farkle that he doesn't deserve us as friends." Riley informed as soon as they were both inside.
"Who?" Maya inquired. Her protective nature wanting to do something to that person immediately for harming her friend.
"It's not important." He dismissed.
"It's the most important thing in the world." Maya was now pissed off. "I'll find him myself and I would hate to be him when I do."
The fierce blond practically stomped her way out of the room. However, Lucas picked her up rather easily under the arms. His fingers grazing places they shouldn't, but this information didn't faze Maya, who was still walking in the air.
"Am I there yet?"
On that note Lucas rolled his eyes and placed her back on her feet. She stole a glance at him, impressed by his strength, if only for a moment. The cowboy made sure to stay between her and the door to prevent any more escapes. What he didn't notice was that he walked the few paces to stand next to her and leaned in her direction when he began talking to Farkle.
"Farkle, don't let what anyone says get to you. That's what gives them power." Lucas' voice lowered, his conviction almost frightening.
"Why are you my friend?" Farkle's voice was small, hesitant.
"What is it with that?" His tone softened.
Riley turned Farkle to face her and asked him to come back to class. Janitor Harley walked back over to the group from his corner of shame that he put himself in a few minutes earlier.
"Pippie long-stockings is right." Riley couldn't help but to look down at her legs at the comment. She wasn't even wearing leggings. "I Janitor Harley Keiner was in my youth a school Meany and someone you all know and love was often the target of my shenanigans. But, his will was so strong it changed the nature of our relationship forever. In fact he even got me this job and now I hold him in the highest esteem."
Of course Mr. Matthews walked through the door at that very moment.
"Hey, Johnny Baboon!" Harley elongated the introduction. Corey Matthews looked utterly shocked.
"Johnny Baboon?" The kids chorused. Restrained laughter on their tongues.
"You promised me." Corey hissed to his former tormentor.
"Oops."
"Farkle, you're here. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine sir."
"Good, then I will see you in my class tomorrow morning."
"Yes sir."
With that the four friends left to get lunch before their next class.
