peaches n' huckleberry

in the cereal aisle

prompt: in which maya is having a stressful day

/

"Shit," Maya bursts her apartment door open, clutching her keys so tight the metal indents red marks into the palm of her hand.

"You alright?" Lucas pops up from around the corner. He's still shirtless and in his sweatpants like how she had left him in the morning.

"Dentist appointment went longer than I expected, I have to be at the gallery in like ten fucking minutes." Maya marches past him and into their shared bedroom. She comes out lugging a painting that's pretty much bigger than her. "You got the cake?"

"What cake?" Lucas leans against the wall unbothered, taking a massive bite from an apple.

Maya spins around with huge, crazed eyes. "The cake that I told you to pick up for Riley's welcome home party!" Lucas' eyes grow to the same size.

"Shit." He says, mid-chew.

"Lucas, I gave you one job. One fucking job! I-I told you I was busy and you said that you'd pick up the cake!" Maya shouts angrily, waving her hands emphatically, hair sticking out in different directions. She clenches her jaw at his stupid shocked face.

"Maya, I'm so sorry, I-I completely forgot. Just let me put on a shirt." Lucas tosses aside the apple before scrambling into their bedroom.

"God, Lucas!" Maya groans, frustratedly rubbing her face with her hands. He's uttering a string of apologies as he emerges from the room with a shirt on.

"We'll go to the gallery first, drop off your painting then we can pick up the cake." Lucas slips on his nike sliders and takes the painting from her grasp, letting her past first before closing and locking the door behind them. The elevator dings and they rush in. Maya jabs her finger into the lower level button.

"I can't believe you." She crosses her arms, tapping her foot impatiently. "I'll deal with you when we're done with all of this." Maya points at him, her gaze as stern and cold as her voice. Lucas swallows anxiously. The elevator doors open.

"Baby, I'm really sorry." He apologizes another time, stepping in front of her to kiss her forehead. She pushes him away and Lucas begrudgingly follows after with the painting to their car. Once they have loaded it in the back, Maya moves the vehicle out of its parked space, the tires screeching as she hits the pedals. At the side of her eye, she notices Lucas stealing glances from her several times.

"Stop looking at me." Maya stops at a red light, her teeth gritted.

"I'll make it up to you, okay?" Lucas places his hand on top of hers. Maya doesn't have to swat his hand away, the sharp poisonous glare she throws at him is enough to make him wince and withdraw his arm. He decides not to talk to her for the rest of the journey.

They luckily submit her painting just in time and start driving to the grocery store. "So..." Lucas taps his fingers rhythmically against the dashboard. He looks at his girlfriend and Maya hasn't dropped her shoulders or unhinged her jaw since they've left their apartment. "What kind of cake is it?" She ignores him. Damn, he messed up real bad.

When they arrive at the store, she slams the door and doesn't bother to wait for him. Lucas is pouting, treading behind her like a sad lost puppy. Maya acquires the heavily frosted custom cake. Lucas snickers at the poorly drawn purple cats all over it then her hair is smacking him in the face as she pivots harshly to exit the store.

"Wait, we need more cereal." Lucas reminds her, plucking a twist tie from the produce section. Maya silently changes her direction. She grabs the honey nut cheerios and when she turns around, Lucas is smiling widely at her. "Marry me?" He laughs, holding the twist tie shaped into a circle between his fingers.

"Ha-ha," Maya rolls her eyes, shoving the cereal box in his arms. She continues to head towards the doors.

"I'm serious, Maya." Lucas rushes past so he's in front of her, walking backwards.

"Stop acting so goofy, I'm still mad at you." Maya avoids making any eye contact, looking at everything that isn't him.

But when he gets down on one knee, it catches her attention. She freezes in her tracks and stares down at him quizzically, brows furrowed.

"Maya..." Lucas smiles softly, a tender look in his eyes. "I'm sorry I forgot to get the cake when I promised to." Her jaw finally drops and she's so taken aback, tears start surfacing at her waterline. "But I love you so fucking much and I promise to always be by your side, no matter what." A watery smile stretches across her face and she can't even wipe her damn tears because of the cake she's holding. "Shortstack, the love of my stinkin' life," Lucas chuckles. "Will you marry me?"

A faint 'yes' escapes her mouth and she collapses on the floor next to him, resting the cake before pulling his face to hers. The kiss is salty and wet from her tears but nothing could be more perfect than this moment. The twist tie ring, cheers all around them.

In the cereal aisle.

/