A/N: Thank you guys so much for the reviews. They mean a lot to me. Always feel free to leave your thoughts. Guest's, Usernames are a must.
Siennese: Nice. I really like that quote and it really suits this story. I like it. And thank you for reviewing.
amymayy2003: Good, that's great. But all I truly ask for is patience. I think this story will end somewhere in the next two months. =)
Marissa Davis: You are who you surround yourself with...or are you? I answered in previous chapters that Riley won't use Lucas' life to hurt him. You will see why she won't in the next chapters. Farkle is a piece in this story that tends to be underrated. Will it last? No. His stance will soon be revealed. Updates come every Fridays.
naelacy: Yes. Of course, I do take suggestions. But I can't promise I'll accept all of them. Tyler and Maya, they are what started this story. As Maya once said, "He's [Tyler] too good to be true." ;)
RucasLover24: Whether you hate Maya or dislike her or even like Tyler and Riley together...ultimately I really don't care. It's great, don't get me wrong. There are ships in this fandom and not everyone is gonna agree on something. Thank you for loving this story and for reviewing. Your opinion is most important.
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Riley giggled softly as she felt Lucas' hands touch her waist. He positioned himself on top of her and pressed his lips gently against hers. He slid off his shirt and stared at her, lustily. Riley's gaze trailed down his divine torso and smiled at what was laid out before her. When Lucas went down to kiss her, Riley noticed a small mark on his rib cage.
"What's this?" she asked as she placed her hand on it. "Is this a tattoo?"
He looked at it and smiled, "Do you like it?"
"What is it? What does it mean?"
"It's the Roman numeral for two," he informed. "To remind me that even though there's only one me in this world, there's two of me in my mom's heart."
Riley smiled, "It's beautiful."
He placed a hand on her cheek and craned his neck downward, bringing her in for another kiss. The more he kissed back the more Riley found herself enjoying it. She knew what she was doing was wrong, so she did the hard thing and placed her hand on his chest to gently push him off.
"What's wrong?" he asked in adorable disappointment.
"You said we were coming down here to talk."
"And we did."
"That's not what I mean."
"I know."
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"What did you do then?" Lucas asked intrigued with Riley's story. After ordering their meals to go and Lucas' happily paying for the brunette's meal, they ate in his truck. Lucas stared at Riley multiple times when she would look away and he couldn't help but realize how beautiful she looked without the makeup. Sure she was pretty with it but she was gorgeous without it. He smiled at her and then proceeded to bite his burger.
"Well, I was only twelve when this happened, and he asked me out on April Fools Day, so I thought it was a joke..."
"And you said no, didn't you?"
"Yes. But see I liked him and we were really good friends. It wasn't until the next day when he didn't show up to school that my friend told me he really meant it."
"That must've sucked. That has to be one of our worst fears," Lucas drank from his soda, "Reminds me of the first girl I asked out."
Riley rolled her eyes and placed a fry in her mouth.
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Riley was glad Lucas was able to carry a conversation afterward. She expected it to be awkward now that he knows something extremely personal but it was the exact opposite. Riley found herself singing to a song as Lucas laughed and kept his eyes strictly on the road. She swung her hair and sang extra loudly just for him and the enjoyment was evident in his eyes.
Honey it's raining tonight
But storms always have an eye have an eye
Tell me you're covered tonight
Or tell me lies tell me lies lies
"You ready? This is where I go crazy..."
Lucas nearly broke out into a laughter when Riley placed her knees on the seat, her back facing the window and began to twerk.
I want you to know that it's our time
You and me bleed the same light
I want you to know that I'm all yours
You and me we're the same force
I want you to know that it's our time
You and me bleed the same light
I want you to know that I'm all yours
You and me run the same course
"That's enough for you. C'mon, put your seat belt back on."
Riley did as told and breathed. "That was so much fun."
"You have much more energy than I anticipated."
"That's a good thing."
"Yeah. Yeah."
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Maya smiled and stared at him once more, "If you don't like the picture of us I can change it-"
"No. It's the best one," he turned his phone off. "I also forgot to tell you we're here."
"Oh. Sorry," Maya said as she sat up.
"Don't worry about it," he chuckled. "Thank you, again, for not only making the collage but for coming. I wouldn't have had this much fun if it wasn't for you."
A short silence fell between them as an Adele song played in the back. Maya didn't know if it was the sway of the music or the way his words came out, but she was compelled to press her lips against his. Once Tyler noticed this movement, he helped pull Maya closer. Soon after, their lips moved to the sway of the song. All Maya could comprehend was that now she was kissing Tyler and regret was far from her mind.
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Dangerous Woman
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Riley waited for Lucas at the park. She was dressed in her gray fitness Lululemon leggings with a matching sports bra. Her hair was in a ponytail and there was still no sign of Lucas. She was about to call him when she felt a strong pair of hands wrap around her waist, his lips then went to her ear and Riley slightly smiled. "You look great."
"So do you," she complimented. Turning around to face him, Lucas wore a muscle shirt that sure enough showed off his muscles and chiseled physique. She smiled before Lucas brought her in for another kiss.
"Should we begin?"
Riley groaned, "Do we have to? I mean if you're trying to get me in shape all you-"
"That's not it. C'mon, I normally do this everyday but ever since you've randomly popped into my life I've been slacking, it'll be fun. I promise."
"How much are we running?"
"A mile. It's not much, it normally takes me six to seven minutes, I'm not sure about you."
"You'll be surprised. I was in track for three years."
"Then it'll be fun. C'mon, princess. Show me what you've got..."
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Seven minutes later, after finishing their mile run, Lucas and Riley stopped running. Lucas had won the race and stopped over a bridge that connected to halves of one of the longest rivers in town. After a minute or so of trying to catch their breaths, Riley took in her surroundings. Her feet ached and she chose to smile through the pain, thick trees and rushing water were only some of the beautiful aspects of nature surrounding them. She looked over at Lucas and laughed.
"You think this is funny?" He breathed. He hadn't run in a few weeks and he was extremely tired.
"No. I just, this place is beautiful."
Lucas looked at the trees and took a deep breath, "I've never really paid much attention to it."
"You should. I mean, it's so quiet. So peaceful. The only thing you can hear is the river, the birds..." she took a step closer to him, "Your breathing."
"Sexy, isn't it?"
She laughed.
"How are you not tired?" Lucas questioned, placing his hands on the back of his head.
Riley had never been attracted to armpit hair before, but that was because it had never looked so good on anyone. Of course, that was until she met Lucas Friar. I mean is there anything in his appearance that doesn't look good? Those muscles are to die for and that vein, that vein, of my God, orgasm. She chuckled at her thoughts and answered his questioned, "Miles are our warm-up for track. This to me, is simply nothing."
"All right princess, let's pay the Gym a visit then."
"Lead the way."
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Maya rested on her couch binge-watching the sixth season of Pretty Little Liars. She didn't have time to watch it when it aired on Tv and now she does. She's realized she's had much more time on her plate ever since Riley had dedicated her time to breaking Lucas' heart. At times, she'd remember the kiss and smile but then all her brain could muster was that she kissed the person Riley liked. But did Riley really like him? Ever since she's been spending her time with Lucas, which was a lot actually, Tyler wasn't someone she'd talk about.
"Hey, baby girl," Katy said as she walked into their apartment with groceries in her hands. "A little help?"
Maya walked towards her mother and placed a bag on the counter, she then gave her mother a kiss on the cheek. "You're home early."
"Last time I was home this early you went on that trip with your friends. Where's Riley, honey?"
"Ah, she's with...with a boy."
"A boy?" Katy questioned.
"Yeah. She'll be back any minute."
"Okay," Katy said. "You wanna help me with dinner?"
"Will you make Spaghetti?"
"All right then...but you're washing the dishes tonight."
"Deal."
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"You see, any normal teen would buy a gym membership and go to the gym. Not own one," Riley informed, as Lucas led her in his own gym. "I can't believe you, Lucas."
"What's wrong with it?"
"You really are about that life."
"The fitness one? Hell yeah. And I intend for you to be too. Track ain't all that."
"Okay then. What do you plan on teaching me?"
"Well first, we're stretching. Then we're doing strength activities. You know what that is, right?"
Riley rolled her eyes, "I'm not an idiot. When do we start?"
"That will be now," he answered. "We start off with toe touches, jumping jacks, ankle hops, squats, and judging from your appearance you do a lot of those, lunges, push-ups, wall sits, -"
Riley grew impatient and scoffed.
"See, now I lost track."
"Good. Now we can start."
Lucas began his stretch and Riley followed his example. He tried not to ogle while she bent down. A slight smirk marked his lips but it faded when Riley stared at him. Seconds later, they moved onto their next one. They continue doing various stretches until Lucas gestures for her to stand. "This is where it get's a little more difficult."
"How?"
"I can do about one-hundred and thirty sit-ups in under three minutes. I say you can do around seventy non-stop."
"Sounds about right," Riley informed. Lucas walked to the long mirror on the wall and picked up a mat, he placed it on the floor and gestured for her to lay on it.
"We're going to see how many you can do in one minute," Lucas informed. "Ready...," she nodded. "Go."
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As Maya helped her mom with dinner, Maya felt her phone buzz. She turned to look at the caller and was shocked to see Tyler's name. Silently screaming and growing a smile from ear to ear, Maya answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Chloe, hey...um...c-can we talk?" Tyler stuttered.
Maya arched a brow at first but then agreed, "Sure. Where?"
"I'll pick you up. Same place?"
"That works."
"I'll see you then."
Maya ended the call and turned to her mom. "Is it fine if I'm gone for an hour or so?"
"An hour?"
"It might not even be thirty minutes. Please, mom. I'm meeting up with this really cute guy and I really, really want him to like me."
Katy looked at her daughter and smiled, "That's fine baby girl. But please promise me you'll wait. I don't want any buns in that oven until after you're twenty."
"I'm not going to have sex with him. He's not like that. Promise."
"Okay then. Get out of here before he leaves."
"Love you."
"I love you too, baby."
Maya opened the door to Tyler's car and slipped inside. She turned to him and smiled, "Hey."
"Hi," he replied.
A minute of silence was bestowed upon them and neither of them knew how to break it.
Tyler sat there, nervous and a little disappointed in himself. Not for only kissing someone he wasn't supposed to or someone he hardly new, but for not being completely honest with himself. He really didn't want to do this because deep down he does like her, but he is now starting to realize he had been leading her on intentionally. 98% of this was his fault, he initiated all their conversations and flirted from time to time. But after their kiss, Tyler was frightened by how similar it felt. It brought back many memories of the girl he liked before Chloe and that led him to believe he was still into her. It will always be her, not Chloe.
Maya couldn't wipe the smile off her face. She tried many times to conceal it, to not let him know she liked him but then again she couldn't care any less. If he knew how Maya felt, then why should she try to change that? That was how she was raised. She could never understand why many people didn't want their crush to know how they felt towards them, to her it seemed liked a given opportunity, to be honest with yourself. Secrets have a way of coming out after all. It brought her back to the time she first met Tyler. When she wasn't hiding behind a new haircut and an oversized, expensive sweater to make her style look rare. He seemed too good to be true, he cared about the well-beings of others, never gave any fucks about opinions that only questioned his character, he was selfless.
And ever since Lucas had broken up with her, said all those terrible things and left her out in the cold to walk herself home, Tyler apologized on his behalf. He said Lucas wasn't acting like himself but she was too angry, too embarrassed to pay any attention as to what he said about Lucas. All she understood from the long text message was she had been crushing on the wrong guy. It was only Tyler who could make her feel special when Lucas did otherwise, it was only he who could make her smile when no one else even tried.
And now, as she sat next to the guy she likes, the guy whom she's kissed not once but twice, she had hope. She had hope in the happily ever after she deserved and the one she's wanted. Had her time really come?
"About the kiss last night..." Tyler began. He really didn't want to do this. He spent two hours on his bed contemplating on whether he should tell her or not and every time he tried to forget about it, to ignore the fact he had kissed another girl when he had feelings for someone else, the other girl he truly liked would magically pop into thought and stare at him with disappointment. But Chloe didn't deserve this, not even a portion of guilt. "It was a mistake."
Maya could hear her heart breaking. Her mind freezing, only concentrating on his choice of words. It was a mistake. "Yeah." She quickly agreed. "I had a feeling I came onto you to strong."
"No, that wasn't at all what I meant. I wanted to kiss you, but when I did..."
It wasn't what you wanted.
"...I realized I had feelings for somebody else."
"Oh," she said softly.
"Chloe I am extremely sorry. I wanted to kiss you but I didn't know if you wanted to kiss me, I should've asked-"
"You're a great guy Tyler. But I think it's safe to say we were caught up in the moment."
He nodded. "I still don't want this to ruin us, though. You're an incredible person Maya. I want to keep you for as long as you stay. Maybe we can hang out? We can go to the movies?"
She shook her head no. "I'm sorry. My mom just came home and we already made plans."
He nodded and looked straight ahead.
"I should go. You probably have places to be."
Maya nodded and stepped out of his car. Once she was about to close the door, she ducked down and stared at him. "You should talk to her. The girl you like, tell her how you feel. Fifty bucks, she feels the same way."
He smiled, "I might just take you up on that bet."
Maya watched him drive away and once she couldn't see his car anymore, she let all the tears fall.
Just another you.
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A/N: This was my first time writing Maya and I actually enjoyed it. And before you hate me, know that Tyler plays an important part in this story. A part that has yet to be revealed but part of it has been unmasked, you just need to piece the pieces together. As for Riley and Lucas, they will have a downfall. One that I am still currently trying to piece together. I have mostly everything planned, it's just putting that into words and leading it to where I want it to go that gets me. But with me luck.