A/N: Still slowly working to respond to EVERYTHING :3 I promise I will by Sunday for sure! I'm going to the doctor's today to figure out what's going on with me, so there might not be any updates until Saturday possibly? I'll see how I feel!

Thank you for being so sweet and patient with me! You guys are awesome and I'm happy that you are reading this story ahaha! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own GMW or A Walk To Remember.


As time went on, Lucas developed a rhythm in his life. He went to school, helped Janitor Harley with various tasks and odd jobs around the school, helped Maya paint sets or went to the hospital to tutor, and then he and Maya usually went to Nighthawk Diner and spent time talking.

He learned a lot over time.

He learned about electrical wiring and circuitry, tricks to unclogging sinks and showers with hair along with best cleaning solutions to ensure the destruction of bacteria. And other life hacks and tips on how to get through life. Most people dismissed Harley just because he was the janitor, but having spent more time with him, Lucas began to understand and appreciate a lot of what he did in the school. Plus the guy was an unapologetic, hilarious sarcastic asshole and wise beyond his years.

Hanging out with Maya made him pick up on small things about her.

How strong she truly was mentally. How much pride she had in who she was despite the rough hand she'd been dealt in life. How secure she was in herself. She hated pity of any kind and was the type to reject it vehemently. She carried herself regally, like a queen, unaffected by the foul things around her.

And he admired her for it.

She tried not to focus on all the bad and the rumours and dirty comments and looks that surrounded her at school. She lived her life as she wanted to. And Maya definitely inspired him to want to be a better person. She inspired him to want to break free from the way he used to live and become someone better for himself. And for her.

He learned about other things, like her favourite flavour—pistachio—and her absolute dislike of chocolate of any kind. How she had to wear heels to school every day because she couldn't stand how short she was. She'd had dreams of becoming a supermodel in the future when she was younger, but she quickly realized that was a dream lost when she didn't grow after elementary school ended. He also realized that when he would ask Maya what her new dream for the future was, she would clam up and ignore him for an extended period of time. And she checked out of any conversations regarding college, though he never understood why. He supposed she had decided not to go because maybe she couldn't afford it.

There was something about Maya that Lucas started to notice with each conversation they had, though. Some deep melancholy that seemed to lace her words despite how much she guarded it that told Lucas that there was something in Maya's life that she was hiding. And part of him believed it had to do with the fact that sometimes Maya randomly missed school or some days, she would come to school in bitter moods, gritting her teeth in pain with every step she took. She would get random little bruises and trip on her own two feet, as if she was having trouble walking.

Maya spent most of her time in the nurse's office on those particular days. And those were the days Lucas took measures to ensure he didn't overstep because she was usually in a sour mood. He wouldn't know quite what to say to help her when he was sitting by her bedside, so he would just tell her weird things about Texas and the interesting people he knew. Maya was for the most part unresponsive, staring at him blankly, but when he would adopt a super country accent or talk about some crazy antics that occurred, she would giggle and then try desperately to hide the fact she had by pulling the covers over her face in embarrassment.

Sometimes when they hung out, Farkle would be there, talking about a latest scientific discovery or something technological that Lucas never really understood. Originally, he would clam up when Lucas came and would give him mistrustful looks an scowls of distaste, but he slowly started opening up. Once she got over her initial reservations, Riley was pretty friendly and open and liked to talk about unicorns and sparkles, and he could see why Maya was fond of the girl. She was like happiness personified and seeing as how Maya's life was a little messed up, it was probably a nice change of pace for her.

His absolute favourite pastime was painting with Maya, though. She would concentrate really hard, her expressions serious and nose scrunched up in concentration as she would meticulously paint out the fine details of a design. She was amazing at painting and art, and he could tell she really loved it. She always seemed her happiest with a paintbrush in her hand. When she got that way, he would just stop painting and watch her as she diligently worked, unsure why his heart would start jumping in his chest.

Sometimes he would try to distract her. It usually didn't work, but on a few occasions if he reached over and moved hair out of her face and behind her ear when it was about to end up in the paint, it was always pretty amusing to see her face erupt in a blush. Then she would stare at him incredulously, scrunching up her face in annoyance in that cute way that always made Lucas laugh. Then she would usually huff and try to ignore him for a period of time, but Lucas would keep poking her or tickling her side and it made it near impossible for her to continue.

He learned that she always called him nicknames when she was particularly flustered, but as opposed to the way she used to address him, they were said fondly with what he assumed was something like affection. And he found he relished those nicknames. It made him feel like he was someone special in her life, because as far as he was concerned, the only other people she called nicknames were Farkle and Riley.

It was through occurrences like those that Lucas came to understand Maya in a way. They had this sort of unspoken and innate understanding with each other. She got him. And he liked to think he got her.

And through the semester, he liked to think they slowly became closer friends.

~.~.~

Lucas leaned against the side of his truck, arms crossed as he waited for Maya to show up. They had to head to the hospital for tutoring that day, but she'd told him to wait for her. It would just be him and her that day since Riley had to babysit her brother and Farkle was at a debate tournament. Maya had had to grab the last couple of sets from woodshop and bring them to the art room for them to paint the next day. Lucas had wanted to help her, but she'd refused, telling him she wasn't some damsel in distress who wasn't capable of doing things on her own.

It was really hard to believe that they were almost done with the sets. It had taken them a lot of time and effort and lugging the particularly huge ones up the basement steps to the theatre was a feat in and of itself, but they'd managed. It made him a little melancholic, though.

If he was truly honest with himself, he knew he was going to miss the one on one time he got to spend with Maya.

As he was checking his phone to see the time, Billy's car pulled up beside him. Brandon was leaning out of the passenger window, and Lucas could see a few of his other friends in the backseat.

"Well, well…" Zay said with a smirk from the back, "Look who finally decided to resurface on Earth. Where have ya been?"

"Nowhere. Just doing some stuff." Lucas shrugged, feeling a little apprehensive all of a sudden.

"Hey, we're about to go to the 'bay'. One of Mitch's suppliers got this great new product, if you know what I mean." Brandon said conspiratorially, "You should come with us."

Lucas most certainly did know what he meant. And he definitely wasn't interested.

"Can't." he replied, "I'm on probation. If I get caught I'm going to jail."

"So? Live a little."

"No way."

Brandon rolled his eyes. "Fine. We're all going to head out to my place afterwards to chill. I've got this hot new neighbour chick who leaves her bedroom window open. Whenever she comes out of the shower, I get to see her naked. You showing up or what?"

Lucas checked the school back entrance to see if Maya was coming out. He honestly didn't want to be having this conversation right now.

"Nah, I'm not interested." Lucas shrugged. "Besides, I've got to go to the hospital with Maya."

There was an irate silence as the guys in the car all stared at him. Mitch leaned forward from the backseat, giving Lucas a suspicious glare.

"You know… you've been spending a lot of time with Guttersnipe recently. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you liked her."

Lucas felt a nervous sweat go down his back at the looks on all their faces. Looks he recognized as suspicion mixed with something like disdain. Looks that made him anxious because they were commonly given to those who were not in their social group. Sure, he wanted to separate himself from his acts of delinquency, but he definitely didn't want to lose his friends.

"C'mon." He chuckled a little nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "You know it's just because we volunteer at the same place, and we paint the sets. I have to spend time with her."

"You sure?" Billy said, raising a brow incredulously, "Because you've been ditching us a lot lately."

"Yeah, not cool man." Jackson added.

"I have to finish up my community service." Lucas responded. "And that takes up a lot of my time."

"One day isn't going to set you back." Brandon scoffed, "You're just making excuses."

"I'm being reasonable."

"No. You actually want to hang out with that gangbanging tramp." Brandon asserted, his eyes glinting sharply, a dark irritation lacing his features.

"And what's wrong so with hanging out with her?" Lucas said, growing a bit defensive. He didn't like the way Brandon was addressing her. "She's not that bad."

"Whatever man. It's like you don't even remember who your real friends are." Brandon shot Lucas a dirty glare before turning to Billy. "Let's just go. He's being a little bitch."

Billy drove off, and Lucas stood there, staring off into the distance for a few moments feeling like absolute shit for multiple reasons. He leaned his head back against the window with a groan, conflicted and a bit irritated.

Why were they so difficult sometimes? Sure he hung out with Maya, but it wasn't like it was that big of a deal.

But he couldn't help but feel a bit of trepidation.

He heard the back doors of the school shut and when he glanced behind him, Maya was walking down the steps of the school, her hair flying behind her.

"C'mon, Huckleberry." she said, opening the passenger door and climbing in, "Sorry I took so long, but we need to get a move on."

Lucas opened his door and got in as well, hooking up his seatbelt and starting his car, though he didn't say anything. Maya stared at him in confusion when he didn't respond, pausing midway through buckling her belt. He kept his gaze straight ahead, his jaw partially clenched.

"What's wrong?" Maya asked.

"Nothing."

He knew he had responded a little too brusquely, but he was in something of a bad mood right now, and he wasn't really in the mood to talk. He just wanted to get to the hospital, finish up what he needed to do so that he could leave and go back home.

He expected Maya to ignore him, but instead she leaned over, the scent of peaches filling his car with her motions. To his surprise, she slid her hand gently on his forehead. Her hand was cold on his skin and he jumped in slight alarm, not having been expecting the contact.

"No fever." She adopted a thick, faux country accent, her lips tugging up into a small amused smile. "So what's your excuse for being an asshole, crankypants?"

And he couldn't help it.

He smiled.

How was it that Maya had a habit of making things better when he was in an irritated mood? Her presence really was comforting.

"That's a terrible accent." He snorted, glancing at her with a raised brow. "I don't even sound like that."

"So he can be nice today. I was beginning to wonder if he was going to be in a pissy mood all evening." Maya said contemplatively, taking her hand off of him and settling back in the passenger seat.

"Sorry." He apologized. "I was just thinking about something that made me mad."

"…You know, when I get mad I usually paint to take my mind off of things so I don't try to take it out on people." Maya stated, "What do you do, Lucas?"

"I don't know. Drink? Get in trouble?"

"Hmm… I think we're going to have to find you some new hobbies, Ranger Rick."

He cracked a smile. "Yeah, you're right."

"But we'll figure that out later." Maya said with a soft smile, "Let's get to the hospital."

Lucas grinned as he pulled out of the school.