Hello, It's Me.

Part 4

Lucas felt like he was drowning. He felt like reality was crashing in on him, suffocating and destroying him to the point of no return. All these beautiful memories were swirling around him, taunting him, making him feel so indescribably in pain that all he could do was close his eyes and let the familiar fire of whiskey burn his throat.

He's never been much of a drinker, but all he wanted to do was forget. Forget about Charlie Gardner's words, he had left from the movie party abruptly without a word to anyone. They all understood why, except Riley, no she was far too happy with Charlie to even be able to understand his pain.

He wanted to forget her and all those dreams they had for their future. They were just broken bits of memories still clinging to him desperately no matter how badly he wanted to get rid of them. He fought so hard to get rid of them with every drink and every time he closed his eyes they came swarming in like bees buzzing in his head.

He felt the presence of someone sitting on either side of him in the bar. He didn't even look up just took another swig of his glass and kept his eyes shut. Hoping that once he opened them, he'd be back in middle school, as if it were all a horrible nightmare.

The person to his right plucked the drink out his hand and Lucas turned angrily to protest when he noticed Farkle was staring at him, his face marred with concern.

"We're worried about you," He said putting down the drink.

"We're?" Lucas asked.

"Yeah, we're," Lucas twisted his body to see Zay sitting to his left. "We're all worried about you man."

"Join the club," Lucas grumbled, his hand snaking towards the drink and dumping its contents down his throat, relishing the flavor.

"Maya and Josh tried calling several times." Farkle told him. "Even Riley wanted to know why you left the get together so suddenly."

Lucas stiffened at the sound of Riley's name and beckoned the bartender for another drink. Farkle swatted the bartender away and Lucas grunted in annoyance. He wanted nothing more than to be alone and forget everything.

"Lying is bad, Farkle," Lucas muttered, staring at his empty cup. "You and I both know Riley couldn't care less about me leaving her's and Charlie's stupid movie night get together."

"She does care," Lucas swiveled in his seat to see Maya and Josh approaching him.

"Great just what I needed!" Lucas exclaimed bitterly. "More people to tell me lies and tell me what to do." He got up and faced Maya. "Tell me, do you all find it amusing seeing just how much pain you inflict on me with your stupid lies?"

Maya backed away with every harsh word Lucas spouted and Josh got in between them, shoving Lucas backwards hard. He stumbled onto the floor and everyone in the bar looked at them.

Josh helped him up, gripping his elbow and steadying him enough so he could try to pay attention to what he had to say and not trip in his clumsy, drunken stupor.

"Look man, don't yell at her," Josh said through gritted teeth. "We get it. You're in pain and angry but don't go taking all that pent up anger on people. We're not lying about Riley. She's worried sick about you and if you would answer your damn calls you'd notice that. So get your act together, Friar."

Maya stepped around Josh and grabbed Lucas's arm, gently guiding him to his former seat. "We have a plan."

"I'm not sabotaging her wedding."

Maya bit her lip. "It's not like that," Lucas gave her a pointed look. "Okay maybe it is. We just need to get her to see that Charlie isn't the right guy for her. You are. I'll mess up her dress, the catering, anything to get that wedding to not happen. She's in over her head on this one."

"Really you're resorting to chick flicks as your inspiration?" Lucas chuckled.

Maya shrugged. "I'm desperate Huckleberry."

"I have a better plan," Lucas started. "I-"

No he couldn't suggest that. It'd only leave him even more broken than he already was. He'd fall deeper and she'd just be confused. It'd all be one sided feelings, she'd still be heartbroken over Charlie.

"What is it?" Josh probed with a slight grin.

Lucas sighed, resigned. "What if we get her to fall out of love with Charlie and in love with me again?"

Zay shook his head, laughing. "Boy, your brain got fried from all that drinking and your hearing is worse than Pappy Joe's. What part of Riley still loves you are you still continuing to not understand?"

Lucas let out in an exasperated breath. "Look, I'm in on this but stop throwing around the word love please."

"Okay," Maya seemed so utterly happy, her eyes lighting up. "This is great all you have to do is be around her. Remind her of old times. The past is in the past, right?"

Lucas shrugged. He didn't feel, just reacted. "Doesn't matter as soon as this is over, I'm getting a ticket straight back home to Texas."

Zay's eyebrows furrowed and he gave him a puzzled look. "Lucas, you have the chance to get the love of your life back and you'll be running away instead?"

"She's not the love of my life." Lucas gritted through his teeth.

He knew they'd all see through his lie. Riley Matthews is an important part of his life and has been since a long time. They all knew he loved her, but she loved Charlie. Being in love with someone who loves someone else, the pain is unimaginably horrible. It felt like his heart was being scratched out of his chest with sharp knives and he felt every puncture. Unrequited love left him empty, numb and doubting his self importance.

Was he enough for Riley Matthews? No, he wasn't enough. He never was and never will be. She had someone who could take care of her and give her everything she wanted. Yet the people to claim to care about her so much want to tear that away from her.

"Wait," Lucas stood up abruptly facing Maya and Josh. "Why are you trying to rip apart Riley's future wedding? If you care about her why not want her happy?"

"This isn't about not wanting her happy," Farkle stated. "It's because we want her happy that we're doing this."

"Luke, believe me Charlie ain't the right guy for Riley," Zay said.

Farkle nodded in agreement. "He's right. Charlie is an egotistical, annoying, over controlling, belittling-"

"Creepy creep creep." Lucas finished for him and Farkle grinned.

Lucas's brain went fuzzy with memories of their last New Years in middle school. He remembered calling Charlie Gardner a creepy creep creep out of jealous, though his brain wasn't as censored as his mouth. It was weird how life liked to repeat itself, even then Charlie had been with Riley, not him.

"He's a total Gaston!" Maya exclaimed. "Riley needs a Prince Adam to sweep her off her feet. That my friend is you," She whacked Lucas on the arm. "Now go hail a cab and go see your Belle. She's still awake and Gaston is out of town." Maya gave him a push towards the door.

As Lucas walked out the bar and into the crisp late spring air, his mind was still focused on the mentioned of Disney character's. They all saw him as Prince Adam, the one who ended up with Belle, but the forgot he was the Beast too. Lucas was an untamed beast, but he didn't think he was the good guy of the story. He wasn't Riley's Prince, but he always saw her as his Princess.