#i didnt even think how random my christmas presents actually were until i talked to this girl lmao

[bad-hobbit]

sometimes i get caught off guard and i cant think of a lie yknow like someone asks you "u like to read?" and you say "yeah !!" and why would you say that bcause obviously theyre gonna ask whAt do you like to read and then suddenly the only words i know are "alien porn" and im just there a stuttering mess trying to say something normal. or "what did you get for christmas" and why tf did it get a piggy bank gremlin shaped ???? like ???? and of course this person asking has to be the normalest bitch on earth. she reads mystery novels and she got clothes and make up for christmas. sighs. socializing outside your safe bubble is soooo hard and i hate it.

[seriestrash]

The First Secret Santa

❄ Day Eleven ❄

A/N: This is Christmas of 2015! In season 2 we got a NYE episode. This is the Christmas right before that!

Summary: It’s been two months since Texas and Riley’s still suppressing her feelings for Lucas. In an attempt to take away some of the awkward tension that’s been lingering since that trip, Riley organises the very first Secret Santa.

Word Count: 1247

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It’s Christmas of 2015 and Riley Matthews has been suppressing her feelings for Lucas since her heartbreaking realisation about Maya’s apparent feelings back in Texas. 

For around two months now things have been awkward within the group. Riley had claimed Lucas as her brother to which he explained he couldn’t be so they would have to remain as friends and Riley had been on one date with Charlie Gardner whilst Lucas and Maya had been on something that resembled a date but ended in Lucas walking a smoothie home rather than Maya. 

After these one off dates, they were like a taboo subject amongst the group. Everyone just ignored the awkward confusion about who likes who and went on with their lives like nothing was wrong. Individually though, everyone was trying to deal with the situation internally. 

Riley was always quietly watching Maya’s and Lucas’ interactions with one another and overanalysing them, all the while actually avoiding the topic of the campfire moment Maya had with Lucas. Meanwhile, Maya was trying to grasp the idea of possibly having feelings for a Huckleberry whilst Lucas tried to sift through his confusion about how Riley didn’t like him romantically at all when he knew he liked her and to top it off Lucas was now trying to work out if he saw Maya that way too. 

Christmas time finally approaches and it’s a welcomed distraction for Riley. The festive feeling is enough to lift her spirits and as a way to try and bond her friends closer together - especially after this weird stress within the group - Riley insists everyone participates in a Secret Santa. She even gets neurotic about it which would later spook the group for further Christmases.

No one other than Riley seemed enthused about it but they all agreed to participate. To make it less of a hassle for her friends Riley offers up a compromise; instead of making a huge deal about it (which she does), they could actually keep it a secret. Each friend would draw a name and leave a gift in their persons locker on the last day of school before winter break. No one had to reveal who gave who what gift, it could remain completely anonymous. Everyone seemed to go for that idea because it took the pressure off having to stress about the perfect gift. 

When it came time for the name draw, Riley got a little crazy over keeping things secret. She lets everyone draw out names before her so she’s last to pick. Riley’s silently regretting this whole idea when she discovers she’ll be gifting Lucas something. 

Riley decides to shop for him on her own. Her feelings for Lucas were clouding her brain and it just ended up hurting too much to think about. But then Riley spots something in a random shop that gets her excited. Something she hoped he would love. Riley buys it immediately even though it exceeds their price limit by almost double. It’s something she honestly would have bought for him had she have seen it and it not have been Christmas. 

Riley takes the gift home and wraps it in the least Riley way possible. Some boring brown paper with ‘Lucas’ printed on it in black marker. No ribbon or bows or stickers just a really simple anonymous gift. Riley was taking the Secret part of it very seriously but it was more so that she didn’t actually want Lucas to know she had him. She had been avoiding talking to him privately and she planned on continuing to do so. 

On the last day of school Riley opens Lucas’ locker - everyone gave up their combinations for this game - and slips the present into his backpack. That afternoon they all sit at the bakery to open their gifts. 

Lucas pulls his out of his backpack and immediately his eyes flick to Riley, not that she noticed because she was too busy trying not to give herself away. Lucas unwraps the gift and he’s speechless once he realises what it is. He holds a boxed up star projector. The picture shows that it covers a dark room with specs that mimic the stars. Maya looks over and glances at the box Lucas is holding. “Are you afraid of the dark or something, Huckleberry?” Maya jokes and Lucas forces a laugh. Riley hears them and worries she was wrong about the gift and maybe it was actually lame.

Later on, as they’re all leaving the bakery, the group walk towards the subway together and Lucas gently pulls Riley back by the wrist so they fall behind the group. She turns to him nervously. 

“Thanks for my present.” He says with a soft smile.

“How did you know it was from me?” Riley questions. 

“I knew it was from you before I even opened it.” Lucas chuckles quietly. “You’re the only person that would try so hard to look like she’s not trying hard at all.” 

“Rats.” Riley says and it’s supposed to be comedic but it comes out flat. 

“I also knew you were the only person I’ve told about the stars before.” Lucas said. “So the projector confirmed my suspicions.” 

“You used to talk about missing the stars back home and I could never fully grasp why until I saw them for myself.” Riley’s smile deflates a little when she thinks back to Texas. “I know they’re not really stars but I was hoping they’d be alright for when you're here in the city.” 

“Riley, it’s perfect.” Lucas says holding the projector close to himself because it meant so much. “Thank you.” 

“It’s okay.” Riley shrugs a shoulder and she looks ahead as they walk. 

“I kind of got you something too.” Lucas admits. “I mean I wasn’t your Secret Santa but I saw something when I was shopping and I thought of you.” 

“Lucas, you didn’t have to get me anything.” Riley shakes her head. “That’s not how Secret Santa works.” 

“I know but sometimes you just see something and want to give it to someone.” Lucas says as he struggles to reach into his backpack as he’s still gripping the star projector. “I know it’s nothing major but I still thought of you when I saw it.” Finally Lucas pulls out a little plush toy. “Sorry I didn’t wrap it.” 

Riley takes the little purple cat plush toy and a smile creeps onto her face. 

“Because you like painting them so much.” Lucas says sheepishly. 

“I thought that annoyed people.” Riley says. 

“I kept the one you gave me.” Lucas smiles. 

“Thanks, I love it.” Riley hugs it close to her chest for a moment. She really did love it.

“I’m glad and thanks again, Riley.” Lucas says waving the box in his hand. “You really have a way of making me feel less homesick.”

“What are friends for?” Riley gives him a sheepish smile and it hit Lucas with a pang in his chest. After Riley can’t bear to be there alone with him any longer she breaks away to catch up to the group. 

“Right. Friends.” Lucas says to himself with a sigh. He had to remember that, that was all she wanted to be. Little did he know that in a few days time he’d learn that she still had feelings for him and then after months of confusion even worse than now he’d finally call Riley Matthews his girlfriend and the rest would be history. 

End Notes: Okay so this is not my best. It was idea I pulled out of nowhere and wrote very quickly!!! Also since the show randomly had them going to school during the time that should have been winter break i didnt even know where this would fit but we’ll pretend it does!! 

Kinda a cruddy one shot but I liked the idea of Riley and Lucas still knowing each other even when they were very sheepish and confused about their feelings! I also liked the idea of Lucas being the one to gift Riley her stuffed purple cat!!

Anywayyyyyy the last day is tomorrow !! All I have to say is you may want to re-read day five of ficmas from LAST year  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯