Rules did me over so naturally, one chapter wasn't enough and war paints and beating hearts got a follow up chapter.

"So, war paint? Really?" Riley looked across the table at Topanga's to Lucas and Maya where they had met up, with Farkle, after Maya (finally) got out of detention.

"I thought it made us look more powerful", Maya laughed, "see, this is what happens when you're not there, my mind goes wild".

"I can't believe you got Lucas to do it", Riley giggled, diverting her eyes to the boy sitting across from her.

"What can I say? She was very convincing", he defended himself, glancing at the smaller blonde girl to his left.

"Looks like I broke the moral compass", Maya smirked, turning her head and meeting Lucas' eyes. Farkle watched the two of them from across the table, the way they smirked at each other, the way they were sitting fairly close together considering there was a lot of extra room in the booth for them to lean back and be comfortably in their own space. It was just like earlier that day when he watched at how Maya pulled the taller, stronger boy towards her, which he could've easily fought off if he'd wanted too, but he stayed there, lingered and maybe even leaned closer to her. Farkle saw something there, and he knew that it was only a matter of time before Riley saw it too, and he knew it'd hurt her, especially right now, when she's still unsure of her feelings for Lucas, he knew he had to protect her, because he cared for her, so he tried to change the subject.

"So, uh, do you think Mr. Matthews is gonna be fine with us tomorrow? Like, he's not a grudge holder, right?" Farkle asked, speaking a little too quickly, to speed up the subject changing process. At hearing Farkle's words, Maya and Lucas quickly stopped exchanging glances and shot their heads over to look at Farkle. But, before either of them could answer, Riley did the honours.

"Oh, I'm sure he'll be fine", she smiled.

An hour later and they were all parting ways. Farkle left first, he was anxious to leave Riley alone with Lucas and Maya, but he had a curfew, which meant he had to go, leaving Lucas, Maya and Riley sitting in the booth. After about 10 minutes of small talk, Riley looked at her phone and announced that she was leaving.

"Maya, you want me to walk with you?" she asked, before sliding out of the booth and getting up. Maya thought for a second before replying.

"Uh, no I think I'm gonna stay for a few minutes and grab a coffee to go." she answered, smiling.

"Ok, see you guys tomorrow" Riley smiled, giving a little wave and turning and walking out of the door.

Maya turned to Lucas, "You not leaving, Huckleberry?" she asked.

"And miss the opportunity to be a true gentleman by walking you home? I have a little something called southern hospitality-", he paused, moving his hand up to tip his imaginary hat. Maya grabbed his wrist and looked straight into his eyes. Lucas' heart started beating again like it had earlier that day, as did Maya's. These feelings were not going away easily, even thought neither of them knew what these feelings even were. Or that the other was feeling them, too.

"Don't do it, Sundance", she threatened. Secretly, she loved the way he'd go into cowboy mode to play their little game.

Lucas smirked, looking straight back at her, "Ma'am", he half whispered in a low voice that made Maya feel, well, she didn't really know how it made her feel, it was something, but she couldn't identify the feeling, she snapped out of her thoughts and feelings quickly, he was still looking at her, smirking. Maya sighed and slowly loosened her grip on his wrist.

"You're killing me", she said.