Hi guys! Sorry I haven't updated in a long while. I've had a lot of personal issues to work through and super busy with school. But I finished school early now, so I have free time, and I hope I can accomplish more during my time off.
Hope you guys enjoyed the last chapter, because things will get complicated in this chapter. Promise.
Lucas wakes up early, like always. He has always been an early bird. He stretches himself out of his bed and walks down the hall to check on his little girl. She is sound asleep, and Lucas doesn't want to wake her up yet. He calls Nick to tell him that he is taking the day off. He thinks he deserves another one, especially after his training session yesterday. After debating it in his head for a moment, he decides to go to the guest bedroom to check on Maya. He doesn't want to seem like a creep, but he wants to make sure she is okay.
He quietly opens the door and sees that Maya isn't in her bed. He is confused. Automatic thoughts of her leaving during the middle of the night pour into his mind, but where would she go? She had to be in the bathroom or something.
Lucas makes his way to the kitchen to make him some tea, but as he walks in the answer to his questions were answered. Maya was sitting at the bar reading a book and drinking a cup of tea herself. Lucas feels better now knowing that she didn't leave during the middle of the night.
"Morning, Huckleberry. I brewed enough tea for all of us. I hope it was okay that I did that," She greets him, laying her book down.
Lucas grabs a cup down from the top cabinet. He fills the cup with ice and adds the tea after.
"I can't believe you drink tea with ice in it," Maya says.
"When you're from the south then that's the only way to drink tea," Lucas explains sitting across from Maya at the bar. She takes a sip of her tea and mutters something along the lines of 'I should've known it was a southern thing'.
"So, I don't know if I ever thanked you for taking care of Sadie yesterday," Lucas says.
"Well you are welcome. I love her so much. She reminds me a lot of you. It's insane how much you two are alike," Maya explains.
"It's the adorableness isn't it? I knew she had to get it from me," Lucas jokes.
Maya snickers, "Sure, Huckleberry. She gets it from your mother."
Lucas laughs. He missed their banter a lot after she left. Maya has always been someone he could joke around with. It's their shtick. They always flirt by making fun of each other. Even now that she is in a relationship with someone else, she still feels comfortable enough to flirt with him. Lucas doesn't think their relationship will ever go back to the way it was before he hooked up with Kaitlyn, but he feels that since the both of them have had the chance to grow up, that maybe their relationship will become something even better.
"I know your studio is going to be closed, so do you want to hang out here today? I called Nick and told him I was taking the day off today," Lucas asks. Maya is quiet, and Lucas knows this is because she is worried that Tony will find out.
"Tony won't find out from me. I promise," Lucas adds.
Maya thinks about it for a little bit longer and finally nods, "But I want to take Sadie to daycare. I would like to meet up with Riley. I haven't really got the chance to talk to her since we all split up."
"Okay. Tell Riley I said hey," Lucas says.
"Really Huckleberry?" Maya teases.
Maya unbuckles Sadie from her car seat and helps her out of the vehicle. She grabs Sadie's hand and they walk towards the daycare center. Maya opens the door and the two walk inside. They walk past a few colorful doors and a hallway scattered with finger paintings.
"Maya! Look! This is mine!" Sadie points at her finger painting.
"Wow! This looks so good. You are really talented Sadie, maybe you could be an artist," Maya says looking at the painting.
"We were supposed to paint a portrait of our family. See? That's me, and that's daddy!" Sadie says pointing to the stick figures that she painted on the paper. Maya notices another person in the picture next to the other stick figures.
"Who is that?" Maya asks.
"That's you," Sadie responds, and Maya feels her heart swell. She doesn't know if it's a happy swell or a nervous swell, but it feels different.
The door behind them opens. Maya turns around to see her former best friend. She still looks the same, even her smile. Maya feels nostalgic just looking at her. Riley immediately opens her arms and pulls Maya into her arms.
"Hey, Peaches," Riley says. Maya smiles and hugs her back.
"Hi, Honey."
"Hey Sadie! Why don't you go ahead and go inside. We're about to start a new art project. Just tell Farkle that you need some supplies, okay?" Riley tells the small child. Sadie nods and walks inside. Riley closes the door after Sadie walks in.
"Wow. I can't believe how well you and Farkle are doing. I would've come in to say hello yesterday, but I was in a bit of a hurry.
"It's okay. We're talking now," Riley explains, "And we have a lot to catch up on," The two girls walk around the halls. They are quiet for a moment before Riley speaks up.
"So, I hear your dance studio is really fun. That's what Sadie says, everyday," Riley begins. Maya's cheeks swell, forming a small smile. It makes her happy to know that someone loves her dance class. It serves as a reminder to herself that she didn't fail like everyone thought she would. The level of pride Maya feels at the moment helps her not think about the negative things going on in her life.
"Uh... yeah, I found a passion for dancing when I stayed with my roommate in college. It helped me through a lot of stuff. Stuff that I didn't think I could get over," Maya explained.
"I know what you mean," Riley began, "If I was asked in middle school, what I wanted to do with my life? Owning a successful daycare center, would've been one of my last answers."
Maya giggles. Although Riley was nice to everyone she met, Maya knew that Riley didn't want to take care of a bunch of children. Maya guessed it was because of all the 'horror' stories that Mr. Matthews told the both of them about the second graders in the elementary school. Maya wonders what changed Riley's mind about taking care of children.
"I really like this daycare. When Lucas's babysitter had to quit, he asked me to help him find a daycare for Sadie. And almost nobody wanted her, but when I came across your name in the phone book, I knew you would help Lucas and take Sadie in. Because you're kind like that," Maya explained.
"I've missed you so much, Maya. It's so nice to see you again," Riley said.
"Me too. I've really needed my best friend here lately."
And it's true. Maya has never been so stressed out in her life, and she doesn't feel like herself anymore. She loves being in Lucas's company, but it's different with him than it is with Riley. Riley can listen to her and give great advice. Lucas wants to protect her.
"So... you kept in touch with Lucas?" Riley teased. Maya felt heat rush up to her cheeks, but she responded with a giggle and a shake of her head.
"No. He enrolled Sadie into my ballet class, and he dropped her off one day on his day off, and we've been keeping in touch since," Maya explained.
"Okay, sure. I'll believe it when I see it."
"But, you'll never see it," Maya says, confused.
Riley smirks, "Exactly."
Maya laughs, "You're still kooky."
The two girls giggle and continue walking through the daycare center. They can't help but feel nostalgic when talking to each other now. Maya feels terrible for not keeping in touch with Riley when she went away, but she didn't keep in touch with anyone. She's knows that she's lucky that she's getting a second chance to rekindle her old friendship with someone as amazing as Riley Matthews-Minkus.
Riley was about to begin talking again before Farkle stuck his head out the door and said, "Riley, I need your assistance. Jasmine says she feels sick."
Riley turns back to Maya, "I have to go take care of her, but it was really nice talking to you again, Peaches. And you and I have to meet up and talk. Bay window soon?"
Maya smiles and hugs her best friend, "Yes. Bay window soon."
Farkle waves at Maya as he says, "Maybe I can join one time."
"Wouldn't want it any other way."
Maya walks back into Lucas's penthouse and sets her keys on the table. There is no sign of Lucas anywhere. Maybe he went to run some errands, Maya thinks. She slides her jacket off and hangs it up before walking into the living room and taking a seat on Lucas's couch.
"So, how was your visit with Riley."
Maya jumps. Recognizing Huckleberry's voice.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," Lucas claims. Maya recognizes his change of apparel. He went from wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants to a tank-top and some red boxing shorts. She always thought Lucas looked good in red, and she thinks that he still does.
"Why are you dressed like that?" Maya asks. Immediately regretting her question when she saw the smirk form on his face.
"I wish I never agreed to spend the day with you!" Maya yells punching the tall black bag hanging from the ceiling in front of her. Lucas has an amused look on his face.
"Here," Lucas stops her and stands beside her, "Let me teach you some technique."
Maya nods and watches what he does and mimics what he does as he teaches her. He teaches her how to block punches, throw jabs, uppercuts, etc. Maya doesn't know right now that Lucas is teaching her how to defend herself. Lucas had this whole thing planned to teach her self-defense.
"Okay. If you're ever in a situation where you get attacked from behind, then it's important to know how to react quickly and turn things around literally in your favor. You're a dancer, so I have no doubt that your reaction time isn't quick, but in a stressful situation, your reaction time can be off," Lucas explains.
Lucas stands in a position where he's ready to demonstrate an attack from behind. Maya notices his flexing arms, and gets distracted a bit. She has to snap herself out of her thoughts in order to pay attention, but by this time, Lucas is done demonstrating.
"Can you show me that again?" Maya asks.
"Yea. Here, let me help you," Lucas says. He guides Maya to stand in front of him, "I'm going to pretend to attack you, and I'll tell you what to do as I'm demonstrating."
Maya nods and waits for Lucas to make the first move. He stands close to her and wraps his arm around her waist.
"I'm going to wrap my arm around your neck to cut off your airway," Lucas explains as he brings his muscular arm up and around Maya's neck, but it isn't tight and his arm isn't flexed, "At this point, you will want to use your left hand to pull the attackers arm away from your neck. This will allow a way for you to breathe, but it isn't noticeable to the attacker that you've done this."
"I have a quick question. How many girls did you attack to gain this information?" Maya asks.
Lucas rolls his eyes, "I took a self defense class after I graduated high school. This is important to know."
"Sorry. I just wanted to ease the tension."
"Well your attacker wouldn't want that," Lucas replies.
Maya nods and brings her left hand up and pushes her fingers in between her neck and Lucas's forearm.
"Now, what you want to do is take that little elbow of yours and dig it into my side or hit my stomach repeatedly with it. Your fists may not be a powerful weapon for you, but that bony elbow is sure to cause some damage," Lucas says.
"What if my attacker is like you and isn't affected by my tiny elbows?" Maya asks.
"Well, if a girl elbowed me in the ribs, I can tell you right now that I will be on my knees crying and apologizing," Lucas says, making Maya laugh, "But if your attacker doesn't get affected by a tiny elbow, then you have to options. Both that I know you will like."
"Which are..."
"You can either bite their arm, or give them a swift, backwards kick to the groin," Lucas says.
Maya smiles as she and Lucas practice the attacker demonstration. They practice this a few times until they grow tired. They walk over to a bench in Lucas's home gym. Lucas hands her a bottle of water and they try to catch their breath.
"Thank you for teaching me this, Lucas. I know why you did it too. But I promise you, that I'll be okay. And if I'm not, then I will take my self-defense classes with you as my teacher," Maya says.
"As long as you know how to protect yourself, then I will trust you when you say that you'll be okay," Lucas smiles.
Maya sets her water bottle down and stands up. Lucas is confused, "What is it?"
"I want to hit the bag a little bit more. It actually helps relieve some of my frustrations," Maya explains as she puts on some gloves.
"What happened to 'I wish I never agreed to spend the day with you'?" Lucas chuckles.
"I was letting out frustrations!" Maya jokes back, "Just hold the bag Friar."
Lucas holds the punching bag still as Maya begins practicing the new moves that Lucas taught her. In her mind though, she doesn't see the punching bag or Lucas holding the punching bag. She sees Tony. All of the horrible things he has said or done to her. She sees her father. She sees herself, abandoning all of her friends and Sadie. And she loses control on the bag.
Lucas notices her change in attitude. He notices the tears in her eyes that form as she punches the hell out of that bag. He lets go of the bag and grabs Maya's wrists gently. He, then, wipes a few of the stray tears away on her cheeks and under her tired blue eyes. He holds her face in his hands and stares at her.
"Nothing that happened to you is your fault," He tells her.
Maya doesn't respond. Instead, she wraps her arms around his neck and presses her lips to his. Lucas returns the kiss and slides his hands down to Maya's waist. He squeezes her waist gently in his hands because he wants to make sure he isn't dreaming. Maya deepens the kiss, gliding her tongue across Lucas's soft lips. Lucas moans as Maya snakes her tongue against his, taking control immediately. Lucas picks Maya up by her thighs and presses her up against the wall of his gym.
She grips his shoulder's tightly before raising his tank-top over his head. She moves her arms down to the hem of her shirt and pulls that over her head as well. Lucas takes this time to run his hands all over her bare skin. He kisses down to her jaw line and over to her ear where he nibbles on it, remembering how much she loved it when he did that. Maya shivers when he does that, and Lucas kisses her neck.
Maya, then, pulls away from him, "Stop. Stop, please."
Lucas pulls away, and the two of them listen to the sound of their ragged breaths.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I can't do this. I can't do this to Tony, and I can't do this to you," Maya apologizes.
"No. It's okay. We just got a little caught up in the moment. I'm sorry," Lucas says as he sets Maya down on the ground. He grabs her shirt from the floor and hands it to her. She pulls it back over her and looks at the ground.
"I should go pick Sadie up from daycare. I'll drop her off, and then I've got to get back home," Maya says.
Lucas doesn't want Maya to leave, but he nods anyway. She's about to walk away but turns around before she does and presses another kiss to Lucas's lips. She pulls away and walks out of the room.
Lucas is head over heels.
Okay. That was it for this chapter. Again, I'd like to apologize for my lack of updating. I'm going to try to update more frequently, and as a little treat (bribe) for reading my story and sticking with me through my tiny hiatus, I though I would put that little kissing part in there. ANYWAY! I hope y'all enjoyed it. Love y'all, and I'll try to update again soon.