A/N: Thank you guys so much for the reviews. If this chapter wasn't published Friday hopefully this chapter is published Saturday. I am writing this to you on April Fools Day, and no it is not a joke. But on April 7th I am supposed to travel somewhere, so don't be mad.

naelacy: The purpose of having Riley open up to Lucas about her past abusive relationship, and even using that particular plot is because Sorrell was going to be in this story. For a little amount of time. How do you think Farkle knew about Sorrell? Because they are friends. Missy is practically the same in every story. And yeah, Riley lives in LA, Maya lives in a town in New York. That town is fictional and relates to Mystic Falls [The Vampire Diaries]. I have drawn a lot of inspiration from that show.

violet1429: The reason why Lucas became that person has yet to be revealed. Is it soon? Maybe. And yes, Farkle knows Riley's ex.

amymayy2003: I am literally trying to stay away from spoilers. Hopefully by the time this chapter is up I will be completely done with the series.

volleyballer82: Thank you so much for reading. It only gets better from here.

Dangerous Woman

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"It's called Grand Night," Maya informed. "An annual celebration where we turn off all our town's lights and fire up lanterns."

"Sort of like a festival?"

"Yeah, but we also celebrate the night on behalf of our founding fathers. It started around a hundred and twenty years ago. So, ya interested?"

Riley sighed as she placed her finished plate in the sink. She hasn't been in the mood to go anywhere ever since she's been trying to avoid Lucas. "I don't know. What time does it start?"

"Around eight, once the sun's fully down. But I'm gonna leave in a few hours, I volunteered to help set up at the park. Are you in?"

"Yeah," Riley said. "Sure, why not?"

"Great. It can also be a great time to introduce you to my friends."

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"Okay, so here in WaterLake the mayor is usually the one in charge of Grand Night. She also has this historical preceptor who gives a ten-minute speech in hopes of educating us in our town's history, but no one really listens to that. Then we light the lanterns, send them off into the sky and watch them go. There's also some food stands nearby."

Riley smiled, "I wish they did stuff like this back home."

They stopped walking, "So those are my friends over there. You wanna know their names before you meet them?"

Riley shook her head, "I want a proper introduction."

"Oh my God, Maya," Shelly, a dark skinned, fairly slim girl said as she noticed Maya walking towards them. "Girl, you've been MIA ever since school ended. Where you at?"

"Hey, Shelly," Maya hugged her.

Two other girls approached them and stood behind Shelly, "Told you she was alive," a brunette with a black halter top and evident luscious curls said as she looked at the girl next to her.

The girl next to her was Hispanic and had a resting bitch face which intimidated Riley at first. She had all the right curves in all the right places and a sharp jawline that can cut.

Okay, so don't fuck with her.

"Mia, Vicky, Shelly, this is my friend from California. Riley Eleanor Matthews. She has seven hundred and eighteen Instagram followers, enjoys watching ROM-COMS, can binge watch two seasons of Pretty Little Liars in one sitting, wants to be an attorney like her mother and has managed to capture Lucas Friar's attention-"

"Ah," she laughed shyly. "That's not what I meant by 'a proper introduction' Maya."

"Wait hold on, Lucas Friar's attention?" Vicky questioned. "Dios Mio."

"W-what does that mean?"

"My God," Mia answered. "It's how she expresses wary, or fear. I can never tell."

"And does he know you're Maya's friend?" Shelly asked. Shelly was the only girl in their group that was friends with Lucas. How? That is a question the rest of them are trying to figure out.

"Guys, honestly, I don't care. Lucas and I are so done and plus, Riley hasn't talked to him since."

"Good. Stay away from him. He's bad news."

"Not necessarily," Shelly answered. "I just wouldn't think it'd be smart to be in a relationship with him."

"No. I would never."

Mia took out her phone after she felt it vibrate and scoffed once she read the message.

"Listen, girl, I can talk to him," Shelly suggested.

"No. No, you'll only send him to the nearest hospital."

Shelly tossed her hair back for dramatic effect, "Well, then," she smiled with pride.

"Thank you guys," the mayor began. Riley averted her attention to the woman standing in the back of the podium on a stage up ahead, "For joining us and volunteering to help. We are truly grateful. And thanks to Mr. Barnes, our towns historic, for bringing us delicious goods. So knock yourselves out."

"If you don't mind me," Shelly and Vicky informed as they walked towards the pastries.

"Seriously, they are so alike it frightens me." Riley and Maya laughed, "Hey can we talk for a minute?"

"Sure."

"Oh and Riley, sorry for saying this, but can you take that box and store it right next to the pile of boxes over there?"

Riley looked at the stack of boxes placed just outside the entrance to the male's bathroom, she nodded. "That's fine."

"Okay. Thank you, you're a doll."

As Riley and Mia walked in the opposite direction, Riley picked up the box and sauntered towards the bathroom. The box wasn't heavy, but it was big enough to block her peripheral vision. She couldn't even see what was inside.

"Oh here, I can take that," a man's voice came about. Suddenly Riley felt the box lighten and soon enough it wasn't in her hands.

"Thank you so much," Riley thanked. "Just set it down, yeah, there, nice. Thank you."

"No problem." His gaze fell on Riley and his smile widened. "Oh, wow. Hey."

"Hi."

The man had light brown eyes and cheekbones. Hair pulled back with a single strand falling onto his forehead. He wore joggers and a nice blue shirt that showed enough muscle to be considered lean. His voice was hoarse yet soothing in a way that intrigued Riley.

"What's your name?"

"Riley," she answered. "And yours?"

"Aaron," he took out his hands and gestured for a handshake. Riley obliged by shaking his hand and smiling. "So, are you from here?"

"No, actually. I'm from California, just here visiting a friend."

"Really? How ironic? I'm actually going there in a couple of weeks."

"That's good news. Again, thank you-"

"That's fine. You looked like you needed the help," he chuckled.

"Yeah, well I'm not really associated with healthy."

He laughed and Riley smiled. "You're coming to the festival?"

"Yeah, my friend Maya thought it would be a perfect night for me to get to know the town. It's rather beautiful."

"It is. How long will you be staying?"

"A few more weeks."

"Wonderful."

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Lucas ran past the fountain, past the soccer field, picnic tables, playground and the pond just to get to where he has. He had pushed his limit and decided to run three miles. He was desperate for a distraction because all he could think about was the look Riley gave him. It still hurt to see her like that and he didn't want to call her.

He was ignored the past five times and he didn't want to come off as annoying. But he did want to know if she was okay, which quite frankly surprised him. He's never cared what anyone has to think of him, but when it came to Riley he was unsure.

The running was meant to ensure a healthy state of mind, he wanted to be relaxed. But that thought didn't last long.

As he rounded the corner, body sweating, feet aching and music blasting loud enough he could hardly emerge a thought, he was shocked to see Riley. Yes, she was beautiful and gorgeous without the makeup but that wasn't what caught him off guard. It was the fact that she was talking to another guy, a good looking guy at that.

He breathed in hopes of controlling his anger and jealousy. Then he approached them.

"Wonderful," the guy had said.

"Yeah, I just haven't-Lucas?" Riley asked as she saw him standing right next to her. Correction, a shirtless Lucas standing right next to her.

"Yeah?" His eyes were strictly on Aaron, his clenched jaw was clearly a sign he wasn't happy with who was in front of him.

This was what Riley feared, running into him.

"Is he your boyfriend-?"

"Not yet-"

"No," Riley stated as she stood in front of Lucas. She eyed him for wanting to say something like that.

Aaron chuckled, "I'll see you around then."

"Yeah. See you around."

Riley turned around to face him, his gaze was still on Aaron but it would soon be on her. She thought of what she could do to him at the moment, kick him, slap the shit out of him, etc. But when his gaze fell on Riley the anger subsided.

"He just a friend, right?"

"I can't believe you, Lucas. What was all this for?"

"What do you mean what was it for? You've been ignoring me-"

"Yeah, I wonder why," she chastised. "Like you haven't done anything."

"Why are you so angry? All I did was punch him a few times, and the asshole deserved it."

"I'm not mad at you for hitting him, I'm mad because you wouldn't stop. And you probably wouldn't have if it wasn't for me."

He sighed because she was right. He didn't know when he would've stopped, maybe after his nose was all jacked up. "Can we talk, some place else?"

"I'm a little busy-"

"Then we'll talk in a few hours. At the festival, our first date."

Riley scoffed and looked at him. She was surprised when she didn't feel the urge to look at his body, his well defined, smooth, warming, body.

SHIT!

"Fine. We'll talk, but you got some explaining to do...and it's not a date."

"Whatever you want, Princess."

Riley walked away and Lucas continued with his jog, feeling better than he had before.

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Night had approached and Riley found herself staring into the mirror. She wasn't sure about her outfit but she liked it and it felt comfortable. Rocking dark blue skinny jeans and a gray cashmere sweater with a tight ponytail, Riley sighed.

"You look nice," Maya said as she walked in the room. She placed her makeup bag inside her closet and sauntered towards her vanity.

"It's good to finally see you without all the heavy makeup," Riley advised. "Suits you."

Maya could only smile. "Before we go, you should know there's going to be a lot of obnoxious high schoolers. Some will be freshman, and most of them will be the seniors. Just stick with us and you'll be fine. Promise?"

"Promise," Riley assured.

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It was a cold night for mid-June and just as Maya had warned, there were many high schoolers present. Some drank discretely will others tried to sober up by eating food, but from the looks of it, the food wasn't helping.

She met some new people in Maya's circle and saw Tyler a few times, but Lucas was nowhere to be seen. Riley didn't put much thought into it, she did although feel dumb for hoping he'd show up.

Just then her phone rang and Lucas was the one calling, she took a deep breath and answered the phone. "So you do stay true to your words."

"Thought I'd ditch my very own princess?"

"Had a feeling," Riley muttered as she looked around. "Where are you?"

"Not where you are, but I was hoping you'd walk here."

"And why would you do that?"

"You know that place we stopped after we ran together for the first time?" Lucas asked. "If you walk a little further down left there's a gazebo, I'm standing right here as we speak."

"Okay."

"The park isn't far from there."

"Got it," Riley hung up.

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He wasn't lying. There he stood, in a black coat and dark jeans with boots. As Riley stepped onto the gazebo Lucas' attention immediately turned to her and a smile crept on his lips.

"Thought you wouldn't show up," Lucas admitted. She did take a while to get there.

"You're partially right. I am still mad at you for what you did."

"And I am still very sorry you had to see that," he confessed. "You look good."

She scoffed, "Wish I could say the same."

He nodded understanding the compliment wasn't enough for her forgiveness. "You're still mad."

"Of course, I am."

"Then what do you want me to say? I'm sorry?"

"Yes," Riley spoke. "That's exactly what you need to say. I don't wanna hear your sorrow for beating up a guy-"

"Who deserved it," he continued for her, his voice so loud it shocked Riley. "He tried to hurt you."

"But he didn't."

Now it was Lucas turn to scoff. "Whether he didn't hurt you or tried to hurt you, he still came onto you. I don't see any other reason to punch him."

"I'm not mad you because you hit him. I'm mad because you wouldn't stop, even after I called your name."

He turned his back on Riley and leaned his forearms on the railings. "I'm not going to apologize if that's what you want. He wanted to hurt you."

"Fine," Riley gave up. "Then don't."

"Thank you-"

"But you have to tell me why you were carrying a knife?"

His eyes closed for a few seconds, "You saw it-"

"I did."

"Riley, I don't think that's your business-"

"You don't think it's my business? I went on a date with you. For all I know, you could've used it to hurt me."

"That's bullshit!" he scoffed. "To hurt you?" Once Riley didn't say anything, Lucas didn't know what to say either. For the first minute of tranquility Riley had hope Lucas would tell her, but when his eyes wouldn't meet hers...she gave up.

"I'll see you around, Lucas."

"Hey," he called out to her. She wouldn't stop walking so he called her again. "Hey," he reached for her hand and once he did, he pulled her towards him. "Don't get angry with me."

"I want to know. And if you plan on seeing me then I suggest you tell me why."

Lucas contemplated for a few short seconds. It wasn't late when he realized she deserved to know. "I didn't know I had it in that jacket, Riley. It's stupid and...I just, I've had it for so long. I felt like I could protect someone if it was on me. When my mother and I left Texas and came here, I wanted to protect her from my dad. I didn't mean to scare you."

She stared into his eyes and nodded. She liked that he had it for protection towards his own mother, and not for harming anyone. "You could've told me."

"I know," he nodded.

"You can trust me, Lucas. You know that, right?"

"I do. Now can we just forget this ever happened and head back to the festival?"

Riley stared into his eyes before she nodded. Part of her could tell he was frustrated that she would think something like that and part of her could tell that he was hurt. They walked back towards the festival in an awkward manner. The walk was long.

She intended to try and talk to him, but what could they talk about? Anything to get past the fact she accused him of hurting her.

When they finally got to the festival and were surrounded by their friends, Riley found herself getting comfortable with Lucas again. They'd steal glances at each other and laugh when their eyes met and for once Riley felt like she could forget about the past.

She stood next to Lucas as he held a lantern in his hands.

"This is a really beautiful tradition," she told him.

"It's only beautiful because you're standing right next to me," he told her. Riley smiled at the fact that his eyes never left her's the whole time.

"Just release the damn lantern, will ya?"

He chuckled and did as told. Once the lantern had left his hands and ran gracefully into the air, Lucas turned to look at Riley. Their eyes met for a spilt second before they went to the lantern.

He decided not to say anything.

He bit back the words.

You're beautiful.

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A/N: I initially planned for this chapter to at least be 3,000 words long, but I sort of lost inspiration and decided to end it here. I am so sorry. I know, it needs more but let next chapter make up for that. You won't regret it, Guest's ya'll know what to do.