#winterlily

He was a hopeless romantic. A punk, but a hopeless romantic nonetheless.

“Pay attention to me.” She let her voice fill with traces of whining as she looked at him with a fake pout, her foot moving lower down her abdomen.

His smirk grew, knowing exactly what it was that she was implying. “Didn’t I pay attention to you for an hour about, eh, 3 hours ago?”

“Oh.” He foot stopped moving and she sat up straighter, “Are you saying that I don’t deserve more attention?” He shook his head put he put his book down and moved towards her.

“When does your mom get home?”

“Six.”

After that it didn’t take him long for his lips to find her neck and to get her moaning his name.

--

They were sitting on the couch at Topenga’s, taking up the whole three seater, with Maya laying and placing her feet on his lap. It was one of those rare days that they were sitting with Riley’s AP friends Isadora and Markle… or something like that. Zac never really tried to remember the kids name because he honestly didn’t care about the lanky kid that much. He stared at Zac funny all the time. The only thing that really made the afternoon enjoyable was watching Lucas glare and fidget in his seat every time Markle addressed Riley.

He could practically see steam coming out of his little brother’s ears.

Nobody outside the academically proven smart ones where talking. Occasionally Zac would tone in, curious of what they were talking about, but most of the time he’d just stare at Maya, watch her as she sketched. He loved how her brow would frown and her eyes would narrow as she started to work on the really minuet details. How her tongue would just barely peak between her lips as her concentration grew.

The best part, however, was when she’d finish and turn it for him to see. Sometimes it was a sketch of him, sometimes it was a hand, a cloud, the city around time. And every time her pieces took his breath away. He couldn’t believe he was dating someone so fucking talented.

This time when she showed him, it was of Riley talking to Isadora and Markle. He smiled before smacking his brother’s leg so he’d see as well. The hell that broke out after was truly a masterpiece of its own.

It wasn’t until hours after that moment that Zac would get a taste of his own medicine. It turns out that Josh was around and when they all decided to crash on Matthews’s place for a bit since her parents were out and someone needed to watch Auggie, he decided to take it upon himself to invite himself.

“Paybacks a bitch,” was the one thing Lucas muttered to him as Josh Matthews walked through the door, a smirk on his face.

All Zac wanted to do was punch it right off again.

Six months later and you’d think he wouldn’t be worried about Josh and Maya he wouldn’t be jealous and still fill complete and total hatred for Riley’s youngest uncle. But six months later and all of it was still there. It didn’t help any when Maya smiled and greeted him with a hug and acted all buddy-buddy with the guy.

--

The whole time they were there, Zac hardly spoke. Really the only person he spoke to was Auggie, the kid wouldn’t leave him alone and who was it for him to turn away the cutest kid he’s ever seen. Whenever Riley would pass him or if she wasn’t a part of the conversation currently happening in the apartment, she’d send him a knowing look. He fucking hated those knowing looks.

“Zac!” Auggie’s voice was loud, right next to his ear.

“Auggie!”

“Can you take me on a ride around the town on your motorcycle?” He was grinning at him, a large gap where his two front teeth used to be, hands held together begging him to say yes. “Please, please, please!”

But before he could answer, Josh cut in using an authoritative voice. “I don’t think Cory and Topanga would approve of that Auggs.”

“No, it’s okay! We’ve done it before!” The youngest of the group waved off his uncle, turning attention back to Zac, eyes wide and hopeful.

“What?!” Uncle Josh didn’t sound too happy. “You took him on a ride on your motorcycle? The fuck dude?”

Zac went from looking at Josh to Riley, who didn’t seem to approve of what just came out of his mouth, to Maya who’s expression he couldn’t really get a read on, back to Josh. “Um. I’m gonna go with a hardy yes.” Because there was no point for him to lie and honestly, pissing off Josh was always a plus in Zac’s book.

He watched as the other boy’s jaw clenched as he stared him down. He’s wondering if he was supposed to be intimidated, there was a large percentage of him assuming yes. It wasn’t long before Josh broke eye contact and looked at Maya. “This is the punk you dumped me for?” Huh, he sounded offended. Another plus to Zac. Josh turned to Riley, “Auggie’s fucking seven, he should be going off with some douche bag on a motorcycle! You let that happen?!”

Zac’s eyes flicked toward Riley. There was a deafening silence for a total of three seconds before Riley shot up from her chair and got into her uncle’s face. All Zac could do was share a look with Lucas that read fuck in many languages. She was by far the nicest of the group, quietest too, but as soon as someone said something she didn’t agree with she was a force to be reckoned with. Zac (or Lucas, he could never remember) once said something anti-feminist in a manner to her and they ended up running away with their tail between their legs.

“Zac isn’t a douche bag, Joshua!” Both Friar boys cringed at the full name, “He’s respectful of Auggie and only took him around the fucking block. He made sure Auggie was wearing a helmet and put him in front of him so he could make sure if anything happened Auggie wouldn’t get hurt! Zac has been nothing but a great influence to my little brother. He doesn’t swear in front of him, doesn’t talk about raggers in front of him, he’s helped Auggie with his homework for God’s sake! Where have you been? Oh that’s right! Partying with your frat brothers! Ever since you and Maya broke up you’ve hardly been around!” She was seething and honestly Zac was wondering how long she’s been wanting to go off on her Uncle Josh.

“Riles, I –“

“Don’t. You don’t live far from us, you go to school here, you can make time for your nephew but you don’t. It was fine when you lived with Grandma and Grandpa in Philly but don’t try and act like you’re better than everyone else because your some college student who goes to NYU. You can leave.”

For a few seconds, he stood there, staring down at her. Then he glanced at Maya, who looked down at the floor, before grabbing his jacket and leaving.

Silence fell among the group, Riley moved back to her seat beside Lucas, curling into his side, Maya’s eyes didn’t lift from the ground, and Zac could practically feel how uncomfortable Auggie was. And as much as he hate Josh Matthews and thought he deserved everything he got, it didn’t mean he didn’t like the way he got in between the Matthews family. Eric the Senator might be Riley’s favorite uncle but Zac knew that Josh meant something to her, something important.

After a couple more minutes that felt almost like an hour, Lucas spoke up. “Hey, at least he knew you were a douche bag punk.”

Grabbing the pillow behind Auggie, Zac chucked it at his younger brother, “Shut up.” But all that did was set off a war between the two Friars, Zac using Auggie as a shield as Lucas started to retaliate.

--

That night Maya stayed over at his house but something was definitely off. He didn’t comment on it when they went to bed, but the next morning when there was still that off feeling. He thought about questioning it but Riley soon found her way into his room and stole his girlfriend before he could get a word out.

His eyes watched her as she let the brunette pull her out of the room, a small smile on her face. If there was anyone who could make Maya forget all her worries, it was Riley fucking Matthews.

Dropping his head into the pillow, his mind started to wonder. For the most part, he was pretty good at keeping his anxious thoughts at bay and not letting them get the better of him. He was good at pulling at the rational things of the word to keep himself from having a panic attack or thinking up worst case scenarios that would ultimately lead to him fucking everything up.

It was harder this time.

Right after Josh shows up, Maya starts acting off and as much as he doesn’t want to read into it, he is.

And he fucking hates himself for it.

--

A week goes by and the feeling is there, that over all vibe that something shifted in their relationship again. And not for the better. The once domestic moments have practically ended, she won’t let him stay the night, making up some excuse that he knows is complete bullshit and she’s keeping her distance. They still have sex, hold hands, kiss, but it’s like some guard went up and he doesn’t know what the fuck happened.

All he knows is that he wants to go to NYU and beat the shit out of Josh.

The shift, thankfully, isn’t enough to through off the group. Lucas doesn’t notice and Riley might, but if she does, she doesn’t make it known.

Another week goes by and it’s like this shift is weighing down on him, suffocating him. He was honestly happy for once, he thought maybe things were looking of him, but he feel s at any moment the whole thing will shatter and it’d be some fucked up dream he’s created. He’ll wake up and it’ll be like the last six months never happened and this whole time Maya’s still been with Josh and honestly, it gets to Zac so much that he ends up punching a hole through his wall.

“I thought that was something only Lucas did.” The voice makes him jump and he turns around to see Riley standing in his door way, arms crossed and eyebrows raised.

Dropping his hands, he shrugs, “Usually.” Moving his way to his bed he drops down and stares at the ceiling.

“She doesn’t know why either.” He doesn’t say anything but his brows frown together, “On why she’s acting this way. She doesn’t know. She loves you Zac, just give her some time.” He bit down on his bottom lip to stop himself from saying something stupid, knowing that Riley was right but his anxiety was playing it’s fucking tricks once again.

Riley stood there a bit longer before figuring he wasn’t going to say anything, or punch another wall, before she left. Zac didn’t move. Even after he could feel the bruise growing, the tingles move from his knuckles to his wrist up his arm. He just laid there, staring at his ceiling, trying to calm the thoughts that were telling him Riley was lying and that Maya found out that she didn’t really want him, that she made a mistake and all of this was about to crash and burn.

They were all screwed up and sometimes they screwed with each other.

--

He skipped school Monday, he stayed in his bed until ten before devoting the rest of his free time to playing video games. He couldn’t deal with the stress of whatever was happening with Maya at the moment and maybe with him not there she’d be able to figure out whatever the fuck it was that was going on with her.

He was two hours in when he heard his door open. He didn’t think much of it, Lucas could be skipping, his parents might (doubtful) have returned for a trip early, maybe Riley was coming over to scowled him for ditching them without a reason why – he did leave them without transport. But when a small blonde stood in front of his TV, he was shocked. He couldn’t even be mad when he felt his controller vibrate letting him know he had died.

“Why aren’t you at school, Hee Haa?” But honestly, he was at a loss for words. It’s been a month since he’s heard that nickname and it took him off guard. She walked towards him putting her hands on either side of his face and making him look up at her, “Why aren’t you at school?”

“Why aren’t you?” He shot back as soon as he could find his voice.

She smirked, took the controller out of his hand before crawling onto his lap. She said nothing as her lips found his neck and continued to say nothing for an hour, just letting her lips, her body, do all the talking.

He was making them lunch (or diner, he wasn’t sure) when she brought it up. “I’m sorry.” He looked over at her, one eyebrow raised, “The last month… I don’t know. I’m not sure what was really wrong but when I didn’t see you this weekend and then you didn’t show up at school…” she trailed off.

“I missed you too, Sunshine.” She shook her head but moved her way towards him, wrapping her arms around his waist, dropping a kiss on his back. He felt her move her lips against his skin, heard a small mumble, but he wasn’t quite sure what she said. Moving the current pot off the stove, he turned around and looked down at her, titling his head. “What was that?”

“I love you,” a small smile on her face.