No Place I'd Rather Be – Chapter 1
*Author's Note – Hi Everybody! So this is just my response to the events of 'Ski Lodge' – It confirmed what I already know; ski lodges are evil! And as always Enjoy! *
"Riley, where is she?" Farkle whispered.
"I don't know. But she'll be here."
"How can you be so sure? She's one of my best friends but sometimes when something is too real … sometimes she can't deal with it."
"Farkle, Maya isn't that person anymore especially since they got together. She'll be here." Riley assured him, but even she was beginning to worry.
Meanwhile Maya was sitting on a bench in the park across the street from the funeral home. It wasn't that she didn't want to be over there, she just couldn't find the courage to get up and cross the street. Once again her fear of intimacy was paralyzing her, and she didn't understand why. It wasn't that big of a step, was it? She'd comforted people before. Why should this be any different? Maybe it was because it wasn't her own loss but rather her boyfriends'. She and Lucas had been friends a long time but their romantic relationship was still new; and his whole family was inside those walls. Pappy Joe and Cletus were one thing but the thought of the whole Friar Family in one place, looking at her, judging her. It was too much for Maya to even think about.
Just when she was about to talk herself into going home the funeral parlor doors opened to reveal Lucas himself. Maya's heartbeat quickened at the sight of him. At first she feared she had been caught but he didn't seem to notice her watching him. Instead he was looking everywhere else, like he was waiting for something in particular. Maya knew he was looking for her. Her heart almost broke when she saw the sad, grief stricken look on his face as he sat down on the marble steps, running his hands through his hair in frustration. Suddenly her own fears didn't matter and with her new found courage she walked out of the park and made her way over to him. It was all worth it when Maya saw a familiar grin spread across his face although she could still see the sorrow behind his eyes.
"Hey." She said taking the seat next to him.
"Hey. I was beginning to think you weren't gonna show."
"Where else would I be?" Maya said trying to hide the fact that she was terrified.
"I don't know. Home? Across the street in that park?" Lucas said causing Maya to hang her head.
"I'm sorry and I completely understand if you're mad at me … it's just … I don't know what I'm supposed to do for you."
"This." Lucas said lacing their fingers together. "Just be here."
"There's no place I'd rather be." Maya said pressing their foreheads together as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. All fears fled from her mind as she and Lucas sat together, their breath mingling in the cool autumn chill.
"I told you she'd be here." Riley said as she and Farkle watched their friends from behind the glass doors of the funeral home.
"You were right. I'm sorry I ever doubted her." Farkle replied with a smile.
"Maya would do anything for the people she loves."
"Come on, let's give them their moment." Farkle said leading Riley back to the viewing room.