Rucas one shots!

✧ Reaquainted {Part 1} ✧

A/N: So I started writing this, but it turned out to be longer than I anticipated, so now I will be publishing it in 3 parts! Enjoy :)

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When Lucas had first walked into the building, he immediately started to regret his decision of showing up in the first place. But this was a high school reunion, and he didn't want to seem like an asshole to everyone else who did attend the event. Besides, it took Farkle at least two days to fully convince him to come because he thought it would be a good thing to get reacquainted with the others.

After Lucas had gone back to Texas for college, he lost contact with the majority of the group, which of course was not intentional, however his schedule got extremely busy within the first year of school and after that, it felt like it was too late. He was able to keep in touch with Farkle and Zay, mostly by email or phone calls, though he had gone back to New York a couple times to visit them. Maya was out of the question because he knew she would either completely avoid him or the exact opposite and force him to talk to the girl he's been in love with for over a decade now.

Riley Matthews was the most difficult to stay in contact with. Not because he didn't want to. More like he couldn't bring himself to do it. A couple weeks after they had graduated high school, Lucas had arranged a picnic in the park, something he knows Riley loves, hoping to soften the blow when he told her that he was going back to Texas to attend college. It was the most painful breakup he'd ever experienced. They had been dating for three years, and for him to just get up and leave like that was probably the worst thing he could've done. Lucas knew that even if he had tried to keep in touch with Riley, she never would've responded back to him.

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"Still as outgoing as ever, huh Ranger Rick?"

Lucas jumped at the sound of her voice, too muddled in his thoughts to notice the petite blonde standing in front of him. "Maya, you scared me." He raked a hand through his sandy hair. "Glad to know some things haven't changed." She smiled, but it was very hesitant. Lucas knew that after everything he's put her best friend through, she wouldn't be nearly as playful with him as she used to be.

"Yeah, I really haven't changed all that much." He replied, the tension in the air between them thickening by the minute. "Well your social skills certainly have. It's not like you to be huddled up in the corner." That part was true. Lucas was really only popular back in grade school because of all the sports he played, but even then he got along great with his teammates. And then of course, there were the five people he cared about more than anything in the world. Lucas hated the isolation that had been put between them.

"I guess I'm not really in the mood to mingle right now." His emerald eyes glanced up at the crowd of people that had formed on the dance floor.

"Lucas." There were very few times when Maya talked in such a serious tone towards him. His gaze snapped back over to hers to see all traces of sarcasm completely erased from her face. "Riley's over there talking to Smackle. But if you being here in New York isn't a permanent thing, don't bother. She's had enough to deal with and seeing you is the last thing she needs."

Lucas clenched his beer bottle as her words settled in. He looked back over at the crowd, but this time, his eyes immediately fell on Riley. He hadn't expected to see her so soon, but now that she was here, standing across the room, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. The way she was still able to captivate his attention so effortlessly made him question how he ever managed to leave her in the first place.

"How has she been?" Lucas asked softly, his gaze never leaving the brunette. Maya couldn't help but smile lightly. Even though Lucas had left her best friend completely heart broken, there was no denying that he still cared for her.

"She's been better. I'm not going to lie and say everything was fine after you left, it did take her months to finally come to terms that you weren't coming back, but she got a new job teaching at the elementary school down the street about a year ago, and she just got back from a trip to Hawaii with her family over the summer."

It was very evident that Riley had been on a tropical island for three months. Lucas risked a glimpse at her long, tanned legs, and couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to have them wrapped around his torso. Her brown locks were lighter, cascading down her back into soft curls. That smile he'd missed so much was plastered on her face as she laughed at something Smackle had said.

"I'm coming back to New York." Lucas said quickly, finally turning back to the blonde.

Maya's blue eyes widened at his sudden outburst. "What do you mean?" She asked as she crossed her arms.

"I got a job offer in town. They want me to work at the vet clinic just a few miles from here." When Lucas first got back into town for the reunion, he was almost positive he wasn't going to take the offer. But now, seeing the love of his life again, for the first time in years, he couldn't think of any reasons to say no.

Maya shook her head. "Look, I can't make your decisions for you Huckleberry, but I won't let you hurt my best friend again. If you thought being away from her was torture, try watching her practically spiral into depression because the man she couldn't live without made her feel like she was disposable. If you're going to try and make amends with her, be my guest. But do not come waltzing back into Riley's life, only if your intentions are to leave her again."

Lucas could feel his heart pounding against his rib cage at the intensity of Maya's words. If he had known what kind of effect leaving Riley would be, he never would've done it. "I'll be right back." He mumbled before setting his drink down and striding across the room. Riley's back was turned to him but the minute Smackle noticed him, her eyes doubled in size, of course causing Riley to turn around with a questioning look.

As soon as their eyes locked, Lucas was a goner. She was absolutely beautiful. Her chocolate eyes stared into his, and he watched as her grip tightened around the alcoholic beverage she had been holding.

"Lucas." Riley mumbled, her eyes shifting towards the ground.

"Hey Princess."