A/N: I know this is super late. But I had the WORST case of writers block! It was bad. But now it's over and I'm working on like three other Lucaya stories! YAY! And I'm half way through Chapter 3..So progress. Thank you all for favoriting/following/reviewing this story! Love you!

Chapter Two

Some Things Never Change and Some Things Do

When Lucas gained consciousness in the hospital the doctor had asked him to recount his day. She wanted to check, not only his memory, but also his cognitive skills, make sure his brain didn't get too rattled in the fall. So Lucas told her everything he could. He remembered getting up in the morning and kissing his mama and eating the pancakes and bacon and eggs that she'd made for him before going out to the barn to help Pappy Joe and his dad with the morning chores.

He remembered the heated words from his father when Lucas informed the older man that he'd decided to pull out of the bull-riding contest because all of his friends had gotten a glimpse of the beast and talked him out of it. He remembered his father accusing him of forgetting his roots and going soft in New York. But most of all Lucas remembered the blind, hot rage he felt at the taunting words and vowed before God and everyone that he was not only going to ride Tombstone, he was going to master him.

Lucas recounted how his friends had reacted to the news: Riley worried at first, but ultimately stood behind his decision. Apparently, she'd asked around a little and found out that Lucas was still a disgrace among his community from when he fell off of Judy the sheep when he was five. Something the former mutton-busting champion had never wanted his New York friends to know about. Thank you, Pappy Joe. But as Riley had put it, people had long memories in this town. She wanted him to conquer his fear. Be the hero she knew he was. And there was a part of Lucas who really wanted to live up to that squeaky clean Mr. Perfect image. Zay was his typical wisecracking self. But then again Zay was also familiar with that determined glint in Lucas's eye and knew that nothing would talk him out of whatever he had decided to do.

Farkle had done his best to give Lucas pointers on how to stay on Tombstone from a scientific point of view, while also relaying to his friend how idiotic he was being in his own Farkle way. And Maya, well, Maya had called him insane and vowed that she would never speak to him again if went anywhere near that bull. When it was clear he wasn't going to back down she'd walked out of the house. The scathing look she gave him before violently slamming the screen door and stomping out was forever burned into Lucas's memory. He remembered pausing for one split second and almost changing his mind. Almost. But then the next thing he knew, he was outside of Tombstone's holding area putting on his gear, trying to mentally prepare himself for what he was about to do. Hoping it was the right call. Lucas remembered looking up and seeing Riley running up to him, her long chestnut hair pulled into two long pigtails, her big expressive coffee colored eyes filled with apprehension and fear, but also faith.

Out of habit, or compulsion, he really wasn't sure which at this point, Lucas had looked past the brunette and waited, positive that Maya would pop up out of nowhere because where there was a Riley, there was almost certainly a Maya not far behind. But when she didn't appear the native Texan had shaken off the irrational disappointment. He remembered thinking that she must be really mad at him.

"I wanted to wish you luck," Riley had said, going up on her tiptoes to peck his cheek, "good luck, Lucas. I know you can do this. Be the hero I know you are."

He remembered putting on his helmet when the announcer called his name. He remembered mounting the gigantic four-legged monster, feeling the aggression and restlessness radiating out of the giant animal. He even remembered when the gate opened and thinking just hold on. No matter what, hold on. And that was it, the next thing Lucas knew he had woken up here in the hospital and everything hurt.

Lucas had opened his eyes and Riley was holding his hand on one side and his mother on the other. Both gazing down at him, tears in their eyes, their mouths pinched.

The doctor had talked to his parents then and as far as Lucas could tell he had been cleared of any damaging neurological issues.

He remembered everyone coming into the room in twos and threes checking on him, Pappy Joe and his dad, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, Farkle and Zay and Riley. He remembered looking up at his friends and asking, "where's Maya?"

At the time Lucas thought his blonde friend was getting food or taking a nap or possibly masquerading as a doctor. But it was Riley who finally answered him, "she's not here."

"What do you mean she's not here?"

"I'm sorry, Lucas, but she-" Riley trailed off not sure what else she could say. There was really nothing she could say. And he remembered how each of his friends had looked anywhere, but at him and he knew something was wrong.

"Riley?"

"I've been texting her, but she's not coming Lucas."

It was strange. His entire body ached from head to toe, but those were just superficial wounds, eventually the pain would disappear. And in the mean time all of the medication he was on was doing a fantastic job of numbing the soreness in his body. But hearing that one of his best friends couldn't be bothered to visit him in the hospital? That cut him to the core and not even Morphine and Vicodin could blunt that kind of pain. Tombstone might as well have bucked him again and stomped on his head. He couldn't believe it. He and Maya had a unique relationship, they liked to tease each other sure, but that was just their way. That's how they communicated. That's how he'd found out that her dad left when she was five and when he'd told her about his parent's divorce. Maybe he'd read their friendship wrong. Maybe they weren't as close as he thought they were.

Now, hours later, walking with the blonde beauty pressed against his body, his arm wrapped around her delicate shivering shoulder Lucas almost laughed. If you'd told him two hours ago that this was how his and Maya's night would end, he would have called you crazy. After all, this was Maya always-has-a-snarky-response-for-everything Hart he was talking about. She had a plethora of nicknames for him in her arsenal that had to do with mocking his country life. And she wasn't afraid to use them. She had been antagonizing him since the first time she walked up to him and introduced herself on that fateful New York subway. He smiled at the memory because he'd never met anyone so bold and self-assured before. And it was a plus that she was also stunningly beautiful. Not that he would ever tell her that. Ever.

When the couple reached the ranch Lucas started to walk her up the lighted path to the guest room door where Riley was no doubt waiting up to give Maya the third degree. But Maya stopped him short.

"Mama would have my hide if I didn't walk you to the door," he stated and she smiled because he put in an extra southern drawl just for her.

But she didn't budge.

"We OK Huckleberry?" She asked fidgeting with her hands.

Lucas smiled, "of course." And then because he didn't want to say good night just yet, he asked, "what are you going to tell Riley?"

Maya faltered a little, "the truth."

"What's the truth?"

"That you and I worked it out and we're fine and nothing has changed." She emphasized the last point very distinctly and Lucas got the message loud and clear.

That didn't mean he agreed with it.

"Something's changed," he wasn't sure why he said it. Maybe he was sick of lying to himself, maybe he just wanted, no, needed her to validate that he wasn't the only one who felt it, that strange electricity between them.

Instead of validation he got a death glare, "you're wrong Ranger Rick. Nothing. Has. Changed."

He scoffed, "Maya-"

"I'm telling you right now Lucas that whatever you think is going on, isn't going on. So just stop. I want everything to stop."

"Life doesn't work like that."

"It does if everyone is on the same page."

"You can't just re-write history, Maya."

"What are you trying to say, Huckleberry?"

They were whisper yelling, both knowing that if they started going at it for real Riley would be out there like a flash and then nothing would get resolved.

"I'm-I just-God! Just tell me you feel it too."

That stopped her up short and for a split second Lucas reveled in one of the rare occasions where he managed to render the maddening blonde speechless.

He took advantage of her silence. "There's something there Maya, it's been there since the beginning. I know you know what I'm talking about."

"What's been there since the beginning is my desire to bring you down a peg!" She fired back, but Lucas noticed she wouldn't meet his eyes, staring firmly at his chin instead. "I make fun of you for a reason, Lucas. You're easy to make fun of-"

"Maya stop-"

"You're a Huckleberry and a Ranger Rick and a Hopalong-"

She walked toward him probably hoping his would start retreating, but he stood his ground. The desperation in her eyes keeping him firmly in place, she was scared, he realized. Terrified, of what? He wasn't sure yet, but he was going to find out.

"Maya stop," he said, gently but she wasn't listening or more accurately she was refusing to listen to him.

"If I had feelings for you don't you think I would just come out and say it? Well I don't-"

"Maya-" he wanted to call bullshit, but now she was standing right in front of him, her body only inches away from his and Lucas felt the air thicken around them and intuitively he knew what was coming next. She got right in his face and -

"So what I do say is Ha-hur-ah!"

Lucas broke.

His hands flew up and cupped the sides of her face, instinctively, her surprised gasp barely making a blip on his radar. He was too busy drowning in her ocean colored eyes, consumed by how soft her hair felt gliding through his fingers. The world faded away around them. His eyes darted to her lips, full and pink and slightly parted. How had he been resisting those lips for so long? Just a little taste, that 's all he wanted. Just one kiss. Just to know what it was like. Just to know what he'd been denying himself. Lucas tightened his grip on her jawline and dipped his head, his blood felt like lava rushing through his veins, his heart pounding in his ears as he brought her mouth closer to his. She didn't resist. She didn't pull back. This was it. This was his moment. This was-

What in the hell are you doing?

The thought brought Lucas up short. Suddenly the reality of what was happening managed to seep through the thick fog in his brain. Lucas abruptly pulled back and dropped his hands. What in the hell was he doing? He'd almost kissed Maya. He wanted to kiss Maya. Why didn't he kiss Maya? Taking a much needed step away from Maya, Lucas held her gaze, unable to look away. The confusion and shock written on her face mirrored his. He hadn't meant to do that, but he didn't regret doing it either. He just wanted her to stop. To stop denying what was between them, to stop hiding from her feelings behind sarcasm and teasing. He hadn't meant to kiss her or to not kiss her or-

Shit.

"Why did you do that?" Her voice was uncharacteristically soft and breathy and filled with confusion.

"I don't know," it was an honest answer, "I just wanted you to stop."

"And you couldn't figure out another way to do that?"

Nope. Apparently not. Because obviously when Lucas was alone with Maya he had a hard time keeping his hands off of her.

Shocker. Not.

"I'm sorry," but he wasn't exactly sure what he was sorry for, for almost kissing her? Or for not kissing her when he had the chance?

Maya bit her lip, "this," she gestured to the space between them, "never happened. Got it Huckleberry?"

And with that she fled into her room and slammed the door not giving him a chance to argue.

Lucas was thankful that his room was on the ground floor as he climbed into the widow. He didn't have to do too much hoisting and aggravate his injuries. Not surprisingly Zay was sitting on his bed tossing a baseball up into the air. Lucas didn't ask why Zay was in his room; they'd been sneaking into each other's windows since elementary school.

"Do you know what time it is, young man?"

"Way passed your bedtime," Lucas countered.

"Hey, I was worried about my best friend. And what do I find when I come to check on you? Nothing but an empty bed."

"Did mom check in on me?" Lucas asked, just realizing that he should have probably thought of that before sneaking out.

"Don't worry, Man. I covered for you."

"Thanks Zay."

"What are friends for?"

"Where's Farkle?"

The other boy shrugged, "I tried to wake him up, but he wouldn't budge. Are we sure he's not a robot?"

"I saw his birth certificate and everything," Lucas replied, changing carefully into his PJ's.

Bruised ribs sucked.

"Could have been forged. I mean his parents are loaded, right?"

"Zay," Lucas warned, but there was no heat behind his words.

"I'm kidding."

Lucas waited a few more beats, knowing inevitably what was about to happen. There was absolutely no way Zay didn't see him and Maya through his window. It was only a matter of time before-

"So," Zay started, "We're not going to talk about what just happened out there?"

Lucas froze, "what do you mean?" He played it dumb as a precaution. No use in giving Zay more information than he already had. He didn't want to tip his hand if he didn't have to.

Zay cocked a sardonic eyebrow, "you know, when you grabbed the blonde beauty by the face out there. Why didn't you kiss her?"

OK. Never mind. All of his cards were already showing. Perfect. That's just what he wanted the biggest mouth in Texas (arguably also New York) to know.

Fan-fucking-tastic.

"You didn't see anything, Zay." This time the warning was clear and concise and didn't intimidate Zay in the least.

His oldest friend gave him a look then busted out laughing. "Are you serious? You've been hung up on Maya Hart for almost two years and you want me to ignore the fact that I saw you almost kiss her? No can do my friend. C'mon this is like soap opera shit."

"Look, she made it pretty clear that she's not interested. I've had kind of a tough day. Can we drop this please?"

"Not interested?" Zay climbed off of Lucas's bed and pulled out the trundle underneath. The sheets were already on it and Lucas threw him an extra pillow. "You're kidding, right? I mean I know you're not the most observant guy in the world, but dude, seriously?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, no" Zay held his hands up in surrender, "That's something you've got to figure out on your own."

"You are the biggest pain in my ass, you know that?" Lucas observed as he reached over and turned out the light.

"Yeah. But you love me anyway."

"Shut up and go to sleep."

Of course he didn't, instead Zay stayed up making kissing noises and teasing his friend mercilessly until Lucas rolled over and threatened to smother him with a pillow.

Some things never change.

A/N: OK. I'm not 110% pleased with this..So there may be a revision or something. Please tell me what you think! Reviews are appreciated! Thank you!