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She kept trying to hail for a taxi, but none of them were stopping. It was a freezing cold winter night, and Maya Hart was still trying to manage her adult life out in the city, alone. Sighing, the girl sat on the bench, pulling her dress down so she wouldn't freeze from the bench's coldness. Maya wrapped her arms around herself as her body slowly shivered, sniffling. She was definitely going to get a cold tomorrow.

She would've asked her mother to get her, but Katie was in Florida with Shawn on their anniversary weekend. So Maya was living life here by herself in her own small apartment. But the city was huge, and she was so short. Maya felt like a speck compared to her surroundings. Riley was honeymooning with Farkle as well, so it seemed like everyone was pretty occupied.

And there was Maya Hart, 24 years old, in midst of a career that was currently being put in action, too busy for any source of love. On this night, she was at a museum showing some art critics her paintings. They rejected by some, but fortunately two of them liked it. In conclusion, they told Maya they'd let her know.

But with no ride home, the currently dropping temperature and the lack of money in her wallet. Her luck was at a negative point. Maya sighed as she stood up again, holding her arm out as she attempted to hail for another taxi.

"Not easy getting any cabs out here."

Maya turned her attention to a man next to her, who was wearing a black cowboy hat and winter clothing. "You'd think uptown was going to be easy." She plainly responded, slipping her white gloves on her hands. "You don't look like you're from around here." Maya added, looking up and examining his face. "Just an assumption due to the hat on your head."

"Very observant." He smiled, taking off his hat to reveal his short blonde hair. "Good to meet you, stranger. Mind if I get some insight on you?"

Maya raised her brows. "Guess."

"You look like an elegant young woman. Not a pushover, but someone of many stories."

"That a good thing?" A corner of her mouth lifted as she took out her wallet, checking how much cash she had left. The man shrugged unknowingly.

"Could be. Maybe you're an artistic type." The blonde eyed the man intriguingly, putting her wallet back in her purse and folding her arms.

"And how could you possibly guess that?" She asked. The man smiled, slyness sparking in his eyes.

"You have a bit of paint on the side of your neck, ma'am." He chuckled as the woman blushed, taking out her foundation container and leaning the mirror upward at the blue paint mark. "Anyway, I am Lucas Friar. From Texas." He tipped his already off hat, smiling.

Maya smiled, caressing her blonde curls back, putting her mirror back in her purse as she held her other hand out. "Maya Penelope Hart. City girl."

"Who seemingly doesn't know quite enough about the city yet."

Maya sighed in defeat, pouting with her red lip glossed lips. "You think I would know by now."

"Don't feel so bad. I'm a stranger in this city as well." He held out his hand high for a Taxi as he set his hat back on his head.

Maya admired his cowboy-looking features, and couldn't help but smile at his boyish charm. Lucas had the lightest blue eyes she's probably ever seen, with a mixture of green. He smiled, the man's teeth brightening from the lights of hundreds of taxis out on the street.

"You look as if you've known this place your whole life." Maya clasped her purse in both of her hands. "Why?"

"It's easier to pretend you know where you are and what you are doing. That's what my father told me before I came here." He replied as another occupied taxi passed the two. "I'm here for a restart."

She cocked her head curiously. "A restart?"

"I used to think my career was only going to be sports centered. But then I found a liking for something else."

"Like a veterinarian?" Maya smiled. Lucas's eyes widened as if she straight up exposed him. "Your coat. It reads, 'Texas A&M'on the side of it." He mentally urged the woman to elaborate, almost fascinated at her knowledge and correct assumption. "Well, there's a veterinary section, correct?"

He blushed this time, and nodded. "Yeah, that's correct."

"Such a heroic occupation. Sensible and heart strong, are you not?" Maya looked at the street, and it began to become less of a crowd of cars.

"I feel as if the insightful part of you has improved since I met you, miss Hart." Lucas gripped his suitcase to prevent it from falling.

"I guess it's been a while since the uptight part of me let loose. Maybe I should be this way more often." She reached into her bag and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. "Want one?"

"I think there's been some information on cigarettes lately. Words getting around that they may not be so good for our lungs, miss Hart." Maya lit her cigarette and held it between her fingers, breathing in and exhaling as the smoke flew up into the cold air.

"Really? I haven't heard much about that." Maya said, her eyes reverting back to the cowboy next to her. Lucas nodded, and gently took the cigarette from her fingers, figuring he could use a whiff. And the next moment, he gently set it on top of the garbage can, crushing it gently on the ashtray which lied there.

Maya sighed at the amount of traffic, groaning in the process. "I'm never going to get a cab in this dreadful weather and time of day."

"Well, Miss Hart." He chuckled, coming to a realization himself as he looked back at the street. "Have you seen taxis stopping on this side?"

Maya shook her head. "Why no."

"I think it's because taxis have been picking up on the opposite side." Maya glanced over suddenly and gaped.

"You've got to be kidding me!" She slapped her hand on her forehead. "Gosh I'm such a foolish girl."

"No no, you are not. You're still handling this city alone. Here, let me walk with you." The crosswalk was set for pedestrians as the two walked over together. Maya smiled as she waved her arm out for an incoming taxi, which immediately obliged the next moment.

"Why, thank you for keeping me company." Maya smiled shyly as she glanced up at the boy. "And for directing me to the correct side of this street.

"Anytime, ma'am." He shook his head, opening the taxi door for the lady. Before going inside, Maya turned back at the man before her.

"Will I ever see you again?" She cooed, gripping her small purse. Lucas rested his hand on the girls shoulder, a blush forming on her face.

"In due time." He said once more, taking her free hand and bending down to kiss it. She almost gasped at his politeness but played it off quite well when he stood up. Maya grinned at the boy once more before stepping inside of it, the taxi car driving off after he closed the taxi door.

<>

Later on that night, miss Maya Hart was sitting by her nightstand, reading a novel as she took a sip of her coffee. Out of the blue, she heard a tap at her window-as if a certain pebble had hit in. Arching a brow up in confusion, she closed the book softly and stood up in her white nightgown, holding it so it doesn't drag across the floor.

She glanced outside her window in curiosity, yet to then meet eye to eye with a certain Texan boy. He was in the window apartment next door. A smile painted her face as Maya opened her window a tad. "Looks like I will be seeing you, sir."

"Looks like it. Goodnight, Miss Hart."

"Goodnight, Friar."

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AGHHH
-A
sorry if updates are lacking. My attention is drawn to my chapter book, "playing pretend." You guys can check it out! It's Lucaya centric as always. <3

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