Lucas groaned, rolling over to bury his head in his pillow, trying to ignore the ringing of his phone "Shut up, please."
He fumbled for it on the bedside table, finally grasping it and bringing it to his ear, "What?"
A bright, cheery voice came through the speaker, "Good morning."
Lucas groaned, sinking further into his blanket, "What do you want, Riley?"

"I want you to answer the door," He could hear her vibrating through the phone, "I brought coffee."
Lucas let out a muffled shout, rolling out of bed and trudging towards the door. He swung it open to see a smiling Riley holding a cup of coffee towards his face, "I need to speak with you."
Lucas snatched the cup out of her hand, closing the door behind her, "It's too early for your relentless optimism, Riley."
She smiled sweetly, "Well then, it's a good thing I'm here to interrogate you."

He stared at her, "I'm sorry, you're what now?"
She sat on the couch, turning to face him, "Maya. What going on there?"
Lucas just blinked. She ignored his stare, "Lucas, I don't have all day."
"I was counting on it."
"I'm being serious. Charlie said something happened. What?"
Lucas raised an eyebrow, "Maya didn't tell you?"

"No, but my whole stock of comfort ice cream was missing when I got home. And I heard you gave her a ride home the other night?"

Lucas nodded, "That I did."
"If you tapped and dashed my best friend, I'm gonna real be mad."
Lucas grinned at her, "You're ridiculous."
"That's not an answer."
He took a small sip of his coffee, "Nothing happened," Not that he didn't want something too, "I took her to yours and I didn't even step a foot inside," Not that he hadn't really wanted too.

Riley frowned, "Why not?"

Lucas raised both eyebrows, "Shouldn't you be happy?"
"That depends. Why didn't you go inside? Do you think she's good enough for you?"
"Woman," he stared at her, exasperated, "I sleep with her, I'm the bad guy. I don't sleep with her, I'm the bad guy."

She rolled her eyes, "Well, you definitely aren't the good guy."
"Riley Matthews," Lucas placed a hand over his heart, "I have feelings, too."
She grinned, then shook her head, straightening her expression, "Stop distracting me. I'm here for a reason."
"Yes, to interrogate an innocent man."
"You don't deserve this," Riley snatched the coffee cup out of his hand, quickly swallowing some.
'Look, Maya's just not my type. She's a lovely girl," Lucas lied through his teeth. If he didn't have a type before, he definitely did now. Cute with issues.

"Isn't your first game tonight?"
Lucas blinked at the abrupt subject change, "Yeah it is. You should come along. Charlie's gonna be there."

Riley cocked her head, "Deal. See you later."

Maya drummed her pencil against the library table, trying to find inspiration. She was an art major, for Christ sakes. All she had to do was draw something, which she was good at, when he brain wasn't a swirling unfocused mess. A large hand clamped over her own, stopping the tapping of her pencil on wood, "Maya, I know you're stressed. By you aren't 4th year astrophysics level stressed, so cut the tapping out."

Maya nodded towards Farkle, "Sorry. I know you're trying to work."

He looked up at her, brushing a rogue hair from his eyes, "No, you're fine. I asked you study with me, anyway."

Maya gave him a tight smile, focussing back on the blank page in front of her, "I'm just too distracted to draw."

Farkle's phone buzzed on the table and leant forwards, reading over the screen, "Feel like a distraction from your distraction?"

"Always."
"Alright, we're meeting Riley in ten. Let's go."

Maya looked around the busy room, trying to avoid the sea of people moving through the narrow doors that lead to the bleachers. She reached out and grabbed Farkle's arm when he began to drift away with the crowd. He was looking around in amazement, "I never knew amateur football was so popular.
Riley grinned from her other side, "Neither. Charlie said he's sitting up front."
Riley lead the way, parting the crowd as Maya followed behind, hand in Farkle's, dragging him in the right direction.

Maya tripped out of the crowd when they emerged at the front of the bleachers, caught by a strong arm and pulled to Farkle's side. Maya looked up at him, smiling, "Looks like someone hasn't been skipping arm day."

Farkle had grown a lot since high school. He had been Maya's only friend all through the years she'd spent at Abigail Adams high school. Since leaving the place, and ending his relationship with high school sweetheart, and Maya's other good friend Smackle, he had really come out of his shell. Quite the ladies' man. Who'd have guessed.
He gave her a dimpled grin, "The ladies love a strong nerd."
Maya giggled. A rough voice broke her out of her nostalgia, "Maya. I didn't know you'd be coming here."

She shivered at the way her name rolled off his tongue, turning to find an irritated Lucas giving Riley a very pointed look, "Who's your friend?"

She chose to ignore the venom in his voice, "This is Farkle. Nice uniform. I love the spandex."

Lucas was standing in front of her, clad in a tight purple and white outfit. He crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. She smiled sweetly, grabbing Farkle's hand and moving past his to where Charlie was sitting. She leant down, giving him a quick hug, "Thanks for saving us seat, Charlie."

Farkle sat down in the seat next to her, "Is this a hotdog kind of event."

She shrugged, "God, I hope so."

Maya watched from her quiet secluded spot in the bar as Lucas, Riley and Charlie entered the room. If she'd know that it was his game she was going to see, she probably wouldn't have gone. Which Riley must have known. The little snake.

Farkle leant closer to her, "What is it about cowboy over there that's got you so riled up?"
She sighed, "We kind of made out in his truck the other day."

Farkle stared, "You're gonna need to repeat that."

"We kind of… Wait, you heard me."

He blinked rapidly, "I'm a little shook."
She frowned, "Why's that?"

"Maya," he deadpanned, "You're about as physically approachable as a block of ice."
"Hey!" She punched his arm lightly, "I resent that. I'm not a block of ice."

"Literally," he gestured to her, "Josh broke up with you because you were so frigid."

"Not fair," She grumbled, "So what if it took me some time to get comfortable."

He rolled his eyes, "You dated him for three years."
"Alright, you need another drink."

"Coward."

She grinned, sliding off her stool with their glasses in hand, "That's me."

Approaching the bar, she leaned against the wood, signalling to the bartender for a refill. The hair of her neck stood on end, Lucas' voice making her shiver, "What's a pretty girl like you doing in a dump like this?"
She rolled her eyes, "Good game, Huckleberry."
He moved forward, pressing his entire body against the length of hers, "Means a lot, Short stack."

She shivered, pressing herself back against him. Letting out a shaky breath, twisted her neck to the side, "Think they want to keep you around?"

She gasped as he shifted her hair to side, mouth brushing against the shell of her ear, "Well, they offered me a permanent position. So, yes."

A throat cleared, waking Maya from her trance. The bartender stood with two glasses, smiling. She let out a sigh, moving away from Lucas' heat to grasp the glasses. She turned, brushing against Lucas as she stalked towards her table, "We're sitting at the back."
She returned to the table, met with two surprised looking faces and equally smug looking Charlie. She slid back into her seat, handing Farkle his drink, "You're welcome."

Lucas sauntered up behind her, shooting Farkle an icy look before taking his seat. Charlie shifted his arm around Riley, "Alright guys, cheers to the newest member of Violets. Well done, bro."

Lucas took Charlie's shoulder thump, leaning back in his seat with his bear balanced on his leg, "I'll try to do you proud."

Riley barked out a laugh, "Please. Don't tell me you thought they were ever going to turn you down."

Lucas gave a wry smile, "Wasn't sure."

"You're the best wing I've ever seen. And NYU isn't the only scholar ship you were offered."

Maya glanced up at him in surprise. In the dimly lit bar, Lucas seemed even more mysterious and indescribably delicious than she'd ever seen him.

As the night went on, Maya's vision got hazier, and the effect that Lucas' glances had on her got stronger. Lucas caught her eye as Riley and Charlie stood to leave, quickly followed by Farkle. Riley grasped her hand as they made their way to the door, "I'm going to go home with Charlie. Is that okay?"

Maya smiled, "of course. We walked here anyway."

Riley shot her a worried look, "I'd rather you didn't walk home alone this late."

She felt a presence behind her, "I'll take her."

She turned, grinning up at Farkle, "Thanks, babe. That's really sweet."
She turned him by the shoulders pointing in the direction the bar, "But that lady over there has been trying to catch your eye all night. Lucas can take me home."
Lucas looked up, shrugging on his coat, "I can?"

She glared, "Yes you can. Put on your big boy hat."

She kissed a wary looking Farkle on the cheek, waving to Riley and Charlie as she strutted out the door, Lucas in tow.

The crisp night time air hit her exposed skin, forcing her further into her coat. Lucas sidled up to her left, blocking the road from view with his build, "So…"

She looked up, "So?"

He cleared his throat, shooting her a wry grin, "You and Farkle?

She shot him a small smile, "He's been my best friend since high school."

"So, you aren't seeing him?"

"Why do you care, Huckleberry?"

He ran a hand through his hair, moving closer to her on the sidewalk, 'What if I'm just curious."

She glanced up at his face, illuminated by the above street lights, "And I'm just crazy. Humour me."

Lucas grinned, "I don't know. He seems like a nice guy."

"He is."

They fell into a comfortable silence, the cold air assaulting Maya's senses as they walked down the street towards her dorm. Lucas spoke as they walked up the steps to the main entrance, "So, about last night?"

She felt her pulse race, casting her eyes downwards, "What about last night?"

"The car, the…uh-"

"I get it, Lucas, it's fine."

He came to an abrupt halt, turning to face her before she entered the entrance to the building.

He hands met her chin, tilting her face towards his, "Get what?"

She gave him a small smile, "You don't want me like that. You wouldn't be the first guy."

Lucas scoffed and when his eyes met hers they were dancing with humour. She reached out, shoving his shoulder, "Don't laugh at me."

He held up he hands in surrender, "I'm not, I'm not. But me wanting you is definitely not the problem."
She stared at him narrowing her eyes, "This coming from the guy who sent me out of his car and off to bed like a little girl."
"I thought girls liked that whole gentleman thing."
She scoffed, "There are rules to being a gentleman."

He cocked his head, "Like what?"
Maya's arms flailed and she moved towards him, exasperated, "Like, don't try to be a gentleman once the girl is already in your lap!"
He stepped towards her, "Noted."

Pulse starting to race, she stepped back, feeling herself hit the wall at the side of the entrance. Lucas leant forward, placing a strong hand on the wall beside her head, "Here's the thing, Short stack."

She closed her eyes, heart slamming against her chest. His breath fanned over her cheek, "I definitely want you. That's not an issue."

Maya grimaced, "We went to school together for four years. You didn't even notice me."

His other hand left his side, sliding around her waist, "I was an idiot in high school."

Maya shook her head, leaning away, "Then explain the other night."

His eyes danced with mirth, "I'm also an idiot now?"
Looking down, she let a small laugh escape, "You're not used to working this hard, are you?"

He grinned, "I'm not used to liking a girl's personality."

She blinked, "You like my personality?"

"And your ass," He chuckled. She slapped his arm.

He moved forward, lips hovering over hers, "I do want you."
Maya leant towards him, their lips barely brushing. The kiss was sweet and tender, the exact opposite of their kiss in the car. Maya whimpered as he pushed her harder against the wall, pressing the whole length of his lean body against her. He moved down to her neck, trailing a line of kisses across her jaw, "But, little one, I'm a lot more invested than that."
Maya gasped as sucked pointedly on the sensitive skin of her neck, leaving it with his teeth, "I'm having a movie night in my dorm tomorrow. Riley and Charlie will be there. I want you to come too."

She nodded, the rush of arousal coiling in her stomach affecting her ability to think straight, "Fine. I'll watch movies with you. Can we go to my room now?"

She lifted her leg, grinding her hips into his groin. He let out a low growl, "No Short stack, that's not how tonight's going to go."
Maya let out another shaky breath, gripping his shoulders. He leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on her lips before stepping back, "I like you. So I'm going to send you off to bed and hope you come tomorrow."

He moved to go, leaving a flushed Maya leaning against the building way, "Wait," He stopped, turning to listen, "Why are you so intent on waiting to sleep with me? It's not exactly your thing."

"I'm not your rebound guy," He let a smirk play on his lips, moving to walk away, "And I'm not going to let you think for a second, that I'm using you like he did."

Her heart stopped, "How do you know about him?"

"Because," he strolled casually down to the bottom of the steps "I have a particular interest in you, Maya hart."

Maya walked into her dorm flushed and shaky, to find an expectant Riley sitting at the kitchen bench. She stopped, "I thought you were going home with Charlie?"

"He dropped me off as soon as we left," Riley gave a knowing smirk, "How was your 'walk' with Lucas?"

Maya ignored the air quotations she made with her fingers, "Brisk."

"Just walking?"

No. "Of course."

Riley grinned, pointing to her neck, "Wanna explain that hickey, then?"

"No."

Riley put on her best Maya imitation, "I don't like him. He's a dick. I hate people like him."

"Shut up."

Riley giggled, "You're a hypocrite."

"Go to sleep."

"Can't," Maya could hear the light pouring out of her voice, "Too busy being right."

A/N:
A stressful few weeks, so this is short and not my favourite chapter. I'm hoping or things to get a lot more heated in the next few chapters. Sorry it took so long, let me know what you think x