take on the world 🌎 // lucas f.

"A United Front."

(A/N: Max's first-day outfit at the top.)

*Max's POV/ The next morning*

Beep! Beep! Beep! My alarm blares, waking me from my not so peaceful slumber. "Uhgggg..." I say getting up from my bed and walking over to my suitcase. I get dressed and head to the bathroom-putting my hair in dutch braids- to finish getting ready for the day when I get a text:

I lock my phone and say goodbye to my family, telling them a friend got me breakfast. Then, I exit the apartment building and rush down the stairs. Finally making it to the subway, I spot Lucas.

"Hey, you made it." 

"Yeah, I did. I believe you have a muffin with my name on it." I say with a laugh.

"Here you go," he says while handing said muffin to me.

I gratefully take it and say, "Thank you, Lu."

"Lu?"

"A nickname I'm trying out," I say as my face turns red.

"I like it." He says smiling at me. 

"Good." The subway arrives and we get on and find a seat- preferably next to each other. Before we know it, we arrive at the station near the school- Abigail Adams High School. 

"Whoa."

"Ditto."

"Did you just say ditto?"

"Yes, I did, Ma'm," Lucas says with a tip of an imaginary hat- just like he did yesterday.

"You have to stop doing that."

"Why?" He says with a smirk. I want to wipe it off of his face, maybe kiss it off. What?

"Because I asked nicely?" I say, unsure of myself.

"Are you sure you want me to stop, Ma'm?" He asks, tipping an imaginary hat once again.

I clear my throat, praying he doesn't see how red my face is getting and say, "Please?"

"Okay, I'll stop."

"Thank you."

"Of course." We walk to our first class which just so happens to be taught by my father. History was a very long class for all of us- including my Dad because this girl (I don't remember her name) kept questioning everything he said. When the bell rang our friend group was confronted by some upperclassman and put in something they called the "hole".

"There has to be a reason for this," Riley says.

"There isn't," Farkle says, rolling his eyes.

"I have to believe that there is." 

"Shut up, Riley," Maya says.

"Peaches!" Riley exclaims, appalled.

"Don't call me that. You can't call me that. You are the reason Max left. You are the reason I lost my best friend."

"I thought I was your best friend." She says, tears forming in her eyes.

"Well, you're not."

"Maya, stop. It's not worth it." I say, interrupting their fight.

"I'm on your side, not Riley's."

"I know and I appreciate it."

"I'm on your side too," Farkle says.

"Me too," Lucas says, agreeing with him and Maya.

"We're here for you, all of us," Smackle says, surprising me. I mean, I just met her yesterday.

"Thank you, Smackle," I say.

"Of course," she says, smiling.

At the end of the day, Lucas walks me home from the subway. "Thank you, Lu."

"No problem. Look, I'm sorry about today."

"What for?"

"What Riley said."

"She's said worse."

"How much worse?"

"Let's just file that under things I'm not ready to talk about yet. Ok?"

"Ok. Like I said, whenever you're ready."

"Thank you."

"Of course." We finally arrive at my apartment and I head upstairs after saying goodbye to Lucas. Today didn't end up being so bad. But of course, I spoke too soon.