#( maya hart interactions )

[enobariasdistrict2]

not someone trying to call maya an abuser to diss lucaya like... she gave him a few nicknames. the entire show all she did was give him nicknames and that was pretty much the entire extent of her teasing him. and he gave back equally in their dynamic too. yes it's probably unkind to call people nicknames especially when they express discomfort with it i'll admit that much, and lucas didn't seem to be too happy about it (honestly most of the time he was fond of this habit too and enjoyed the experience hence "putting thought into their little game") but that does not equate to abuse bestie! that's an extreme place to go just because you don't like a ship akdjfjfjfj

and it's admittedly mean to make fun of someone's heritage, but even that didn't really go to a level where it became uncomfortable either. lucas is from texas and maya made occasional jokes about it based on stereotypes? which may not be that great but this is a show about middle school characters and while i'm not saying maya's actions are okay and acceptable, she is a literal child! i guarantee y'all were just as annoying and mean when you were in middle school XD

[peachypenguin24]

I'm gonna be sharing my face claims for characters from some of my fave ifs. First is one of my current favorites, @infamous-if. It's IF perfection and I love the characters. Seb is my pookie wookie and i love him so much heart emoji (im on pc so no actual emojis). Mayas also funny and I really hope she's ready for her new stepmom. THe toughest to get right was by far August and Iris. You learn very quickly on pinterest it's hard to pin down someone who matches ur vision well enough. I hope these aren't to far off and next i'll post my MC to all 0 people who care. Oh well. I spent to long finding pics to keep them just in a pinterest folder.

!!!DISCLAIMER!!!

THESE ARE JUST HOW I IMAGINE SOME OF THE CHARACTERS!! IT'S TOTALLY FINE IF YOU DISAGREE. IF YOU BELIEVE I MISINTERPRETED A CHARACTER REALLY SUPER BADLY, KINDLY LET ME KNOW AND I'LL CHANGE IT IMMEADITELY.

Characters

-Orion Quinn

-Sebastian+Maya

-August

-Griffin+Victoria

-Seven

-Devyn+Iris

-Rowan

!!!DISCLAIMER PT 2!!!

I got all pics from pinterest. I literally have no idea who any of these people are, but if someone by some miracle ends up finding this and wants me to take photos down, please kindly let me know.

[pcetstcrtured]

@famefckr liked for a starter!

josh looks at the blonde, licking his lips before letting out a little sigh. "maya ..." he begins, unsure where exactly to take this conversation. "i ... i don't know what you want from me, at this point in our lives. i know there was probably a lot you expected when i said i was going to play the long game, but ... i still had a lot of growing up myself to do before i could do that. before i was ready to do what you wanted then." a pause. "but during all that growing up, i never forgot about you. you were always in the back of my mind and ... like i said, i don't know what you want now. what you want us to be, what we're supposed to be. but i do know i just want you to be happy, so ... whatever will accomplish that, just tell me and i'll respect it."

[wvsteria]

cassandra dimitrescu & maya hart @drvcxrys

cass was intent on gathering a few people to snack on for the night. it'd been her routine for a few days. stalk then attack. and seeing the younger woman, she was set on just that. only this time she wanted to play with her food first. "hello." she offered a grin to the girl.

[antihcroes]

@inspotlight liked for a taylor swift lyrical starter!

we are never ever getting back together

"this is it, i've had enough."

[theha1r]

@feltheavy continued from here

It really does seem to be fate or pure dumb luck that Steve stumbled across Maya without a ticket, and unable to get one of her own, and Steve with a spare after Robin had woken up too sick to go. Of course he'd been more than ready and willing to stay home as well and help take care of her, but she had insisted Steve go so one of them could enjoy it at least. Plus, the cute girl from her foreign language class was probably a much more appealing nurse than Steve could ever hope to be.

"Completely serious." He tells her with a smile, eyes shining with sincerity. He understands why she may be a little hesitant, he knows he might be too in the same situation, but he's glad she seems to realize how sincere he's being - straightening up a little. "And I'd love for you to join me. I mean, if you want to that is - you're totally free to go off and do your own thing, the ticket offer still stands either way." He gives a shrug.

What he doesn't admit out loud is that he really hopes she does choose to join him, it's going to be rather lonely without Robin and he'd definitely love the company. He's not going to force it on her, though, of course. "I've been a few times to the one in my hometown, but never here. Haven't been in the city long enough to actually get the chance till now."

Another shrug before -. "Anyways, here you go." He holds the ticket out to her, before stepping to the side and gesturing forward in an 'after you' type gesture.

[nightwhispcrs]

closed mini event starter for @flyaboveitall ( robin & maya ) / "um , are you maya ?" robin asked shyly as she approached the other , brushing her hair away from her face and tucking it behind her ear out of nervous habit . "i'm robin . i think you might be my date ..."

[midxnights]

@museumbcauty​ continued from here!

“I - you what? You got detention? Riles, what happened?” Maya found herself blinking in shock, her best friend was one of the last people on earth she’d ever expect to end up in detention ... well aside from those two times in middle school, but one of those had been because of Maya herself. If Riley was in detention and it hadn’t been because of her best bad influence (Maya) then something was seriously wrong.

If wasn’t even the implication that Riley had been using the skills she’d been picking up, because while that was still shocking Maya had been nothing but supportive there, it was more so just the fact that something serious enough had happened for Riley Matthews to end up detention. “Does your dad know?” She asked as she made her way to her car, well the car she shared with her mom - thank god she was off today. “But I’ll be there soon and I’ll get you to the museum, don’t worry.”

[doctorsiren]

Okay chat we gotta split this up (this is why I said preferably one image per ask, but since these are a set, I’ll allow it)

First of all though

I HAD NO IDEA THOSE FIRST TWO EXISTED I HAD ONLY SEEN THE SECOND TWO the last one is literally my lockscreen on my iPad and has been since I discovered it this summer,,,,

IMAGE 1: AA3

Characters: Maya Fey (channeling Mia Fey), Godot, Iris Fey, Sister Bikini, Ron and Desirée DeLite, Dick Gumshoe, Maggey Byrd, Phoenix Wright, Pearl Fey, Miles Edgeworth

Rating: 11/10

These ones are hard because there’s SO MUCH to unpack here, but that’s what makes it fun.

Starting off I AM A SUCKER FOR MIA AND GODOT/DIEGO INTERACTIONS GAHHHHH Like c’mon!! nothing more to say on those two, they’re perfect

IRIS IRIS IRIS IRIS IRIS MYBELOVED WAHH!! She’s so,,, AND SISTER BIKINI gosh I love that she’s confused about the Wii of course she would it only makes sense..but I think Iris being the one to look like she’s explaining it to her makes it even more silly bc girlie you lived in a mountain temple for most of your life how do you know what this is?

Ron, being silly as usual ALSO WHO’S FOOT IS THAT NEXT TO HIM ?? I’ve been trying to figure it out and I THINK it’s Desirée’s but the angle of the leg doesn’t feel right and I just don’t know. Whoever’s foot it is, they need to wear socks (i CANNOT not wear socks, especially wearing shoes without socks?? So when I see characters doing that I’m like 😨 what)

Ron is obviously spooked by Gumshoe and Maggey, and so Dezi (was that a nickname for her? Or did I make that up) obviously is trying to help him but WHY IS THERE SMOKE?? OR DUST OR STEAM OR WHATEVER THAT IS?? HUH

GUMSHOE AND MAGGEY they’re working together it’s so cute IT LOOKS LIKE THEY’RE RUNNING TOWARDS GODOT AND CONSIDERING THAT IRIS AND SISTER BIKINI ARE HERE, THAT MEANS THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE POST-AA3

Which mean Iris should be in jail (i mean actually no she shouldn’t, women can do what they want and she did nothing wrong smh) and that Godot would definitely be in jail

So it looks like Gumshoe and Maggey are running in to arrest Godot (also I love the Blue Badger on her hoodie <3 )

Okay actually BACK IT UP if this is technically post-AA3…Mia is so calm in speaking to Godot yes I know she loves Diego, but he JUST killed her mom…but whatever I crave their interactions

PHOENIX bro is probably exhausted from everything that happened in AA3…BUT ALSO IS THAT A PLAYING CARD IN HIS POCKET WHAT IS THAT ?? I go insane when playing cards are associated with pre-disbarment Phoenix bc ough…almost like foreshadowing…

Also that CANNOT be comfortable…his poor neck

And also the silly thing he does of tucking his tie in his pocket so goofy so silly

The man he loves and the women he loves are both RIGHT THERE and what does he do?? SLEEP

PEARL SLEEPING ON HIS LEG?? THAT’S SO CUTE this is him preparing to adopt a child in the next 3 months

MILES SMILING I love him look at his goofy big hand, loom how he sits, look at how he looks both relaxed and on edge at the same time, like he could be leaning a bit more back and not be so stiff with how he holds his arm across himself, but he isn’t

He probably loves the Wii. He never got to play video games growing up after DL-6 I bet

UPON FUTHER INSPECTION I am led to believe that the leg belongs to none other than LARRY and that he FELL and that’s why there’s that dust cloud

Those shoes are his and, if we look behind Godot’s legs, there’s a little bit of orange in the same colour as Larry’s jacket

thats literally all I have to support that, but I think I’m right

Also upon further inspection, the spider-web that I mention later in another image is still there and it looks bigger this time and I find that funny

IMAGE 2: AA1

Characters: Miles Edgeworth, Dick Gumshoe, Cody Hackins, Lotta Hart, Larry Butz, Penny Nichols, Maya Fey, Phoenix Wright

Rating: 11/10

OKAAAAY CHAT

LOVE HOW THEY’RE ALL CONFUSED

Miles…miles…miles…sweetie why are you looking out the window honey what’s wrong are you being followed?? OKAY NO WAIT IT JUST CLICKED THAT THIS IS FOR AA 1 AND THAT MEANS DL-6 AND,,,ough

Baby boy needs a distraction, and even when he should have it here with the Wii, he is still worried :(

His hand is in his pocket, but he’s still looking over his shoulder (ough…metaphorical….) he looks like he’s about to cry ?? Poor guy someone give him a hug :(

Gumshoe being perfect as always

I love that they invited this CHILD to come to the law offices to watch the lawyer who questioned him try to play video games. But also I don’t reasonably think he would be confused, so…

Lotta. She would definitely not understand. Also I love lotta, glad they brought her

Larry being Larry once again, and I bet Penny’s just happy to have someone new who’ll listen to her about Steel Samurai cards and such (please watch out girlie, bro is about to make a fool of himself) also isn’t that the statue from the studio on his shirt??

The storytelling here is crazy WHY IS THERE A KNOCKED OVER CUP?? Maya probably knocked it over but the fact that this was something included in the drawing is silly to me and I absolutely love it

Also I don’t think I really realized that Maya’s sleeves don’t span the whole length of her arm and only go down to barely past her elbow?? How am I NOW just registering this?

And she would definitely be the one to show everyone the Wii (how did they buy it? Phoenix barely gets paid as is)

PHOENIX I love him I love his face look at his befuddled expression…the way he sits…how his legs are bent…his suit jacket is unbuttoned, he’s more relaxed, which is the opposite of how Miles is at the moment (sorry I’m a little bit goofy hehe) HE JUST LOOKS SO SMOOCHABLE HERE

Also dude you gotta hold the wiimote more forwards or else the sensor isn’t gonna pick it up. That’s probably why y’all are confused. Maya’s trying to tell him that he’s doing it wrong

IMAGE 3: AA3

Characters: Max Galactica, Maya and Pearl Fey, Larry Butz, Regina Berry, Miles Edgeworth, Will Powers, Phoenix Wright, Dick Gumshoe, Franziska von Karma, Maggey Byrd

Rating: 11/10

Max I love you but only the version that isn’t weird so like uhh girls step away

THE ACE CARDS IN MAYA AND PEARLS HAIR,,,OUGH,,,,Maya having the Ace of Hearts…Pearl having the Ace of Diamond (Trucy’s shape,,,they will become like sisters, they just haven’t met yet)

LARRY GET AWAY FROM REGINA SHE’S 16

Regina you’re perfect, don’t change a thing

ALSO I JUST NOTICED THE WEB IN THE CORNER ABOVE REGINA WITH A SPIDER IN IT…Phoenix I thought you spent all that free time cleaning…or was it just the toilets you cleaned a lot…

MILES MILES MILES LOOK AT HIS PRECIOUS LITTLE SMILE LOOK AT HIM HE IS HAPPY!! HE’S GETTING THE AUTOGRAPH OF THE ACTOR OF HIS FAVOURITE CHARACTER FROM HIS HYPERFIXATION I LOVE HIM he deserves all nice things

And Will…I don’t understand the canon narrative of people hating him without the Steel Samurai mask on because he genuinely looks so sweet and kind like CMONNNN

Phoenix…with his shirt unbuttoned a little…his sleeves rolled up…his arms…his tie doing the silly pocket thing and also he’s drinking out of that cup that was spilled in the previous image

Phoenix pog he is so goofy and for what

IS FRANZISKA LEFT HANDED or is she also just ambidextrous/showing off. Her calm expression, the way she sits…

Gumshoe will never understand I think and he’s perfect for it. He stands like a dad, but I’m not sure if I’d trust him to be someone’s father. He’s an uncle, because it means he doesn’t have to be responsible for a kid because bro can barely afford food on his own 😭

MAGGEY I love her look at how she is just leaning over the couch she is me fr

IMAGE 4:

Characters: Miles Edgeworth, Godot, Franziska von Karma, Phoenix Wright

Rating 11/10

Biased on this one, it’s my lock screen and this will never not be funny to me

They’re probably the only people in the world who would ever have a legitimate reason to wear the wiimote straps because have you seen how forcefully they point?

Miles…that’s all I can say…Ough I love him

The way Godot’s neck is bent kinda bothers me and it makes him feel like an action figure but you know what that’s okay

FRANZISKA ONCE AGAIN USING HER LEFT HAND I THINK SHE’S LEFT HANDED??? I love that for her look how confident she is

Phoenix has a big mouth and that’s funny to me. His hand just in his pocket so casually hehe

Why is Miles the only one not pointing

Final notes about the first 3 images all together

The time of day changes. The AA3 one is set at night, the AA1 one is later in the day, probably early evening, and the AA2 one is like midday

The office is the same in each image, including those books in the shelves which never change places because no one ever reads them. AND OH MY GOSH I JUST REALIZED THAT THE THING NEXT TO MILES IN THE AA3 IMAGE IS THE AUTOGRAPH HE GOT FROM WILL THAT MEANS IT IS REASONABLE TO ASSUME THAT THESE ALL TAKE PLACE IN THE SAME DAY?? Weirdly, it would have to go AA2, AA1, AA3 unless the AA1 image is actually in the morning and not early evening…you could assume that the AA2 image comes first as the light from the window is bright and Phoenix is holding that cup which is then knocked over in the AA1 image (unless they cleaned up the spill from AA1 and now Phoenix is drinking from that cup.) Also AA1 has him in his full suit, so I guess it would make more sense if that one came first and then AA2 because he isn’t wearing his suit jacket in that one and his sleeves are rolled up

AA3 is definitely last though because I JUST REALIZED THE CARD IN HIS POCKET IS PROBABLY FROM MAX and also he rolled his sleeves back down

Okay wait hold on now I need to think about these as 3 scenes from one day

Maybe Miles is looking out the window because he was told Will Powers would be showing up, and so he’s just excited for that and so he’s just watching for when he does

And then Will shows up and now Miles is smiling and he is getting the autograph

And then in the third one, Miles is happily playing the Wii, with his autograph next to him…

The only thing that would lead me to believe that these cannot take place in the same day is how much that spider web changes. It isn’t there in AA1, it’s there in AA2, and then it’s bigger in AA3

Regardless of all of that, these images are truly among my favourites and I’ve spent like 45 minutes at LEAST typing all of this so yeah and there might have been things I missed but I’ve already typed a lot

[feminist-cult-following]

characters that are actually lesbians because I say so <3 part 2

1. shauna shipman — had sex with and then married her best friend’s boyfriend because she couldn’t have her. then literally consumed her remains so they could be intertwined forever. do I even need to explain any further.

2. jackie taylor — what else was I supposed to take away from the toothbrushing scene in the pilot? see also: every interaction she had with shauna, literally ever

3. lottie matthews — if not gay then explain every interaction with laura lee. and nat. and shauna. and mari, leven. I rest my case.

4. imogen heaney — I know what you are, little miss “token ally”

5. taylor jewel — I know a bitch who’s in love with her best friend when I see one

6. betty cooper — veronica doesn’t put betty in the basement. she‘ s not afraid of her shine. she let’s her bejeweled.

7. veronica lodge — do you guys remember that episode where veronica’s sister accused her and betty of murdering jughead because “that’s the kind of thing that secret girlfriends do”? cause I do. and I think about it all the time.

8. rikki chadwick — her and emma were literally in love

9. kiarra carrera — “kiarra belongs with pope” “kiarra belongs with JJ” no, kiarra belongs with SARAH. friends to enemies to friends to lovers you will always be famous

10. abby littman — fellas is it gay to stare longingly at your best friend while she’s with her girlfriend? or to kiss your other friend in front of her at a party to make her jealous?

11. maya hart — that girl never wanted lucas or riley’s uncle, and she never wanted to “be riley” she wanted to be with riley. in this essay I will

12. sarah cameron— sorry (not really) but that girl just does not belong with a man

[4ragon]

For the soft fic prompts: Narumitsu. 12. “You could say I’m fond of you.”

Oh man I almost deleted this ask by accident 😭😭😭

“I’m sorry about what I said, by the way.”

“Hmm?” Miles blinked, momentarily drawn away from the horror of watching Maya Fey attempt to eat an entire lobster in one bite as Detective Gumshoe and Lotta Hart cheered her on. “And what was it you said?”

“The, uh…” Phoenix coughed, looking a bit uncomfortable. “The thing about…you know, wishing you hadn’t come back from the dead. That part.”

“Ah.” Right. That part. He had mentioned that, upon their reunion. With all that had happened since then, he’d pushed it to the back of his mind, but… “Well, you were under quite a lot of stress at the time," he said. "What with Maya’s kidnapping and all.”

Phoenix hummed noncommittally, tucking his hands into his pockets.

“Hey!” It was Maya Fey, shouting from across the room where she’d discovered a large basket full of freshly baked rolls sitting on a table. “Hurry up, slowpokes! If you don’t get your butts in gear, I’m not saving anything for you!”

“Don’t eat too fast!” Phoenix called back. “You’re going to make yourself sick.”

Maya was already shoveling bread into her mouth, Phoenix’s protests lost on her. Miles sighed, shaking his head.

“How come you told Gumshoe first?”

Miles paused. Phoenix wasn’t looking at him, eyes watching as Maya began buttering some rolls for Pearl. “It…wasn’t necessarily my first instinct,” he admitted. “Detective Gumshoe just happened to be the first person to successfully reach out to me, and…” A frown, glancing over toward the bruised and battered detective. “...I’ve never been too concerned with what the detective thinks of me. It was…easier, almost. Easier than facing you or Franziska after…everything.”

“What, do you think I would’ve judged you for going through a rough patch?”

“No, of course not,” Miles replied. Then, “Perhaps that was the problem.”

Phoenix finally glanced his way, one eyebrow raised. “How the hell does that work?”

Miles swallowed. “You could…You could say I’m quite fond of you,” he said, turning away, gripping onto his arm. “And I would like to be the sort of person worthy of such sentiments, or forgiveness, or…well. It's complicated.”

When Phoenix cocked his head, Miles quickly turned his eyes away, focusing on anything other than the man standing beside him. “Is this another one of those ‘unnecessary feelings’ things?” Phoenix asked with a small chuckle.

“W…Well…” Miles swallowed, mouth feeling dry all of a sudden. He turned, Phoenix’s deep brown eyes focused on his, just as captivating as they always were. Suddenly, whatever Miles was about to say was gone, words slipping from his grasp the way they always did when interacting with Phoenix Wright. His breath caught in his chest. Phoenix stared back, and even with the hesitance in his eyes, there was still that gleam, that kindness that always threatened to swallow Miles whenever they caught his gaze. And suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to be caught in that gaze forever—

“HEY!”

And then they both jumped, not having noticed Maya march up almost directly between them.

“This is a party!” she snapped, cheeks puffed in irritation. “Can you two stop making googoo eyes at each other for five minutes and eat something? Me and Pearly can’t be the only ones eating here.”

“Wh—Huh—We weren’t—” Phoenix stammered, suddenly looking flustered, looking rapidly between Miles and Maya. “U-Uh, anyway, um, good to see you, Edgeworth.” He patted Miles’s arm. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“I’m…” But already, Phoenix was hurrying away, hissing something furiously to his suddenly smug assistant. Miles sighed, shaking his head. Another time, perhaps. Another time…

[pcetstcrtured]

@paintedhart liked for a 1989 tv starter!

"i never dreamed of this."

[nikkiruncks]

Maya Hart for the character asks? <3

• My NOTP for them: Josh Fucking Matthews. I'm sorry, no I'm not, but there is no reason why a freshman in college should be wanting to date a middle schooler. Like he did turn her down in s1, but then s3...

• My BROTP for them: Riley, Smackle, Farkle, Lucas, and Zay <3 Also Sage! She should've at least been a recurring character.

• My OTP for them: Lucas!!!

• My second choice pairing for them: Riley and Zay <3333

• My fluffy pairing for them: Riley (all of them tbh)

• My angsty pairing for them: Lucas (also all)

• My favorite poly ship for them: Zay/Maya/Lucas, Riley/Maya/Smackle, Zay/Maya/Riley

• My weirdest pairing for them: Her and Chai (the girl from girl meets she don't like me) would be fun. Or her with Smackle, and there was another girl she interacted with in girl meets she don't like me

[antihcroes]

@liveshaunted gets a starter!

slight smirk is on maya's face as she settles herself down in farkle's lap, snuggling up close to him without caring they're in public. "so minkus ..." she begins, pulling back a little to look at him. "you wanna come back to my place for a bit tonight? my mom's probably not gonna be home, or if she is ... she'll be passed out so she won't bother us anyways." she says with a shrug, almost nonchalant about it. she'd never admit how much it really upsets her, not even to farkle.

[theha1r]

@hcrtbreaker liked for a starter!

Steve knew it hadn't been the smartest idea, sneaking into a club with nothing much more to disguise himself than a pair of sunglasses and a hat ... but, he just had wanted one night. A few hours, spent with his best friend - being a normal young adult for once, and he'd thought maybe, everyone would be too drunk to notice who he was ... He'd thought wrong. The plan is now for him to sneak out the back, Robin to pull the car into the alleyway and pick him up, and hopefully - hopefully - they make it out before anyone else sees him. What he hadn't accounted for was the door to club swinging open just a little too fast and hitting ... someone. Immediately panic overtakes him and he's rushing out, crouching down in front of the girl outside, now on the ground. "Shit, shit, shit. I'm sorry, are you okay?" His voice is as panicked as he feels, giving the girl a once over, scanning her carefully for any injuries.

[hartsquad]

Lovers Lie

Chapter 2. This is a short one. I requested the invite to ao3 so until then I’ll still be posting here. Let me know what you guys think. I’ll be tagging the chapters on my blog to keep track. Check out my main blog @nerd-hotnissa , current obsession Wednesday on netlfix and Wyler (Wednesday x Tyler) on there.

Chapter 2

Maya was sweating. Her hair was coming out of her ponytail, and she needed to catch her breath.

This quarter it was team sports, so Maya chose basketball, for what reason she doesn’t know but she never liked volleyball, she didn’t want to be outside for soccer, so here she was, not understanding why people did this for a profession.

She had to give herself more credit though, even though she was one of the shorter ones in the class she could keep up and played well. Maybe she did enjoy it a little bit because playing kept her mind busy, and she would forget about things. With art she painted the things she felt and thought about but playing basketball gave her the chance to step away and focus on something else.

Basketball was just a hobby though and would never be a career change.

“Alright ladies, gather to the middle please!” called out coach Faye.

Maya and her class all gathered over to the middle breathing heavily, holding basketballs, and drinking water bottles. Maya took a seat on the floor.

Coach Faye walked up. “Okay girls, as you know we normally separate the boys' and girls' gym classes but since we’re down a coach for our 4 quarter sports we’re having to combine the classes and go co-ed.”

A mixed reaction of disgust and excitement from the girls. Some eager to see the boy they like sweating and others disgusted they cannot escape the male population.

Normally there are four coaches/teachers in the gym. One for a solo sport, one for a team sport, one for weights and conditioning, and the fourth for swimming. Since Marvens left for medical leave looks like some of the classes are coming together. Maya wasn’t too fazed about competing with the boys.

The other gym door opened and in came Coach Ryder’s class.  

Maya recognized a few of the faces and still wasn’t bothered until she saw his.

Her heart honestly stopped beating for a second, but she wasn’t sure if it was from fear or excitement.

Lucas was looking around the gym, but his eyes must’ve felt hers because he found her and looked straight at her.

Maya recoiled and looked down at her shoes. Was the universe out to get her?  

Ryder came up to stand next to Faye.

“Good morning, ladies, I’m sure Coach Faye has let you know about our new co-ed class. We will still be continuing your team sport quarter, but we are also going to begin fitness testing a little early this year so us teachers don’t get behind. Everyone will pick a partner, doesn’t matter who.”

A few giggles escaped the girls and Maya panicked. She knew a lot of people in the class, but their friends were in here with them and normally this wouldn’t make her uneasy, but she feared being partnered with Lucas and fitness testing together. It was close.

Way too close.

She jumped to her feet when she noticed everyone beginning to pair up and Maya had to find someone quick. If she found someone that means she didn’t have to interact with Lucas unless necessary.

Maya felt him before she saw him.

Lucas was walking toward her, and Maya tried to avoid his gaze desperately searching for anyone.

“Maya.”

His voice caused a fire in her stomach.

She froze and shut her eyes. There was no way she could get out of this, but why would he want to partner with her. Everybody probably wanted to be his partner but here he was singling her out.

Maya turned around and looked at him and his face was expressionless but Maya sensed nerves.

“Mm-hmm?”

Her tongue was tied.

“Hart.”

Maya turned to the new voice. It was Brandon, the middle school rebel.

His reputation was now the school dealer but also an honor roll student along with Maya. They developed a real friendship in high school. They’ve partied together and was in Maya’s close friend group and have even spent the night together with their friends after their crazy adventures. There may have been a hookup once a long time ago, but it never meant anything to either of them.

“Wanna be my partner?” Brandon asked.

Maya felt the pressure in her chest leave.

“I was about to ask h-” Lucas started but Maya walked over to Brandon.

“Sure Brandon,” Maya said as she stood next to him “hope you’re not thinking you’ll be able to get a pass at me now.”

“Oh of course not, thought I should just save everyone the trouble of you trying to assault them with a tennis racket.”

Maya chuckled.

Lucas glared at Brandon, then looked back at Maya and just shook his head and walked away.

Maya let out a deep breath and leaned her hands on her knees.

“I didn’t expect that little tryst over the summer to have you running for your life,” Brandon chuckled.

Maya glared up at him and stood back up. “Nothing happened.”

Brandon stepped closer and leaned down. “If nothing happened, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now and your jacket still wouldn’t be in the backseat of my car.”

Her stomach tightened. She wondered where hers had gone after that night. So now Brandon had evidence, but Maya wasn’t going to let him know that.

“Nothing happened,” she said and started to walk away. Maya felt a hand around her arm and turned around to glare at Brnadon, but his face was soft.

They stared at each other for a minute.

“I’m on your side. I’ve always been on your side,” he told her. Brandon looked at her with sincerity and it was not a look she was used to seeing from him. Yea he as a good guy, even if he was the guy to go for some weed, but this was a look she wasn’t used to seeing. He was quiet, tough, quick witted with insults or a counter argument on a debate. A jack of trades, Maya had thought.

Brandon’s gaze traveled down her face. “Friar is dumbass, to let someone like you go.”

Maya pulled herself out of Brandon’s grasp, her hands were clenched though.

A smirk played in his face.

“Calm down, I mean no harm. I just didn’t want him singling you out and putting you on edge. I don’t know what happened, but I know you need someone to have your back and since Kendra isn’t here, I got you Hart.”

The bell rang.

“Looks like we’re partners now.”

Brandon turned and walked away back to the boy's locker room.

So, Brandon knew something, or guessed something happened. Obviously though, since it was his car that everything had transpired in. Then again, how odd they went from being friends to never speaking to suddenly becoming close again, and then back to never speaking. Definitely a sudden shift in the similar group of friends she and Lucas had during the summer.

Maya wasn’t going to worry about it though. It was months ago, and it didn’t matter anymore. All she was trying to do now was put it behind her, never speak to Lucas again unless she had to, and graduate. That was the plan.

As much as she tried to convince herself though, she felt like the universe had other plans.