A/N: Well, this was in need of an update. Review.
Maria just starred at her father. "You've got to be kidding me."
Her father had the most serious look on his face. "I'm sorry, Ria."
Maria got up off of the couch and just starred at both of them with a disgusted look. "Dad, you can't do this…"
"I'm sorry… but it's in our culture…" Her father sighed. "Me and your mother were put into an arranged marriage and look at us now."
"Dad, I don't care. That's you guys not me."
Randy was not pleased. "Well Maria, there's nothing you can do about it… soon enough it's just you and me." He walked over to her and pulled her into his chest. "Forever." He whispered in her ear.
Maria pushed him away. "Get the fuck away from me." Randy tried to grab her but she bolted up the stairs and into her room, locking the door behind her. She leaned up against the door, try to catch her breath and slid to the floor. How could they do this to me? She thought. It just wasn't fair. She was in love with Jeff and she knew damn well her parents had to have figured that out by now. Maria just shook her head, trying to make the tears disappear. They eventually fell and she wiped them away.
Her phone started to ring. 'Cuz I live at home in a trailer; Mom I'm coming home to you!' She giggled at the ring tone. It was hers and Jeff's song after watching 8 Mile on their traditional movie night at Jeff's house a few years back.
"Hello?" Maria greeted, with a sniffle.
"Hey Ri… babe what's wrong?"
"Nothing Jeffers, I'm fine."
Jeff sighed. "Maria, I hate when you do that, please just tell me what's wrong…" He begged.
"Fine." Maria agreed. "But you gotta come over here."
"Ria, I gotta work soon."
"I don't care Jeff, take the night off or something. I really gotta talk to you." She cried into the phone.
"Please don't cry baby. I'll be there soon. I love you."
"I love you too." She said, wiping the tears away. The line went dead so Maria closed her phone.
She laid down on her bed and starred at her wall. Pictures of her and Jeff practically covered one. Including pictures Jeff had drawn for her and songs they wrote together. She started to cry harder, knowing that everything she wanted to have with Jeff wasn't possible anymore. Maria covered her face and let the tears fall. She clutched a stuffed animal Jeff had given her and closed her eyes, falling into a peaceful sleep.
{xxx}
"C'mon Mrs. K, you gotta let me see Ri."
"I'm sorry Jeff, but she's sleeping." Maria rustled about in the bed.
"Please." Her eyes shot open at the sound of Jeff's voice. She hoped up out of bed and sprinted down the stairs.
"Jeff!" She exclaimed, throwing out her arms, attacking him into a hug.
Jeff chuckled. "Hey Ri." He hugged her back tightly.
Maria's mother laughed. "You always do that…"
"Do what?" Maria asked turning away from Jeff.
"You can just tell when Jeff's here. It's like you have Jeff senses." Her mother shook her head.
Maria laughed. "Mom I do. Jeff bit me and ever since then my Jeff senses will tingle."
Jeff laughed. "Oh yeah Maria. You totally didn't rip that off from Spider-Man."
"Shoosh!" Maria hushed him. "They might sue me!"
Jeff and Maria laughed. Maria grabbed onto Jeff's hand and tugged him. "C'mon, we gotta talk."
"I know, I know." Maria and Jeff ran up the stairs, hand in hand. They walked into Maria's room, Jeff sat on her bed, and Maria closed the door behind her.
"Okay, what happened?" Jeff asked. He watched Maria walk over and sit beside her.
Maria sighed. "Jeff… my dad has um, arranged for me to be married."
Jeff starred at her, then laughed. "Maria seriously, what's the reason?" Jeff only had to glimpse at her to know she was serious. Jeff's jaw dropped. "Are you fucking kidding me?"
"I wish I was Jeff." She sighed again and then ran her fingers through Jeff's hair. "I really, really wish I was." Her eyes started to swell with tears. "I just don't know how they can do this to me…" The tears began to fall, Jeff pulled Maria into his chest and let her sob on her shirt. He rubbed her back and hushed her. She looked up at Jeff, with the saddest expression he ever saw, it killed him to see her like that. "Jeff, I just love you so much… this is gonna kill me."
Jeff nodded, tears of his own starting to fall. "Maria, I love you too. I just don't know what we can do…." he wiped Maria's tears away then kissed her forehead.
"I promise though, everything will be okay." He swore to her.
She nodded. "I hope so." She wrapped her arms around Jeff's torso. "I love you Jeff."
"I love you too Maria." He kissed the top of her head. "Why don't you get some rest?"
"I slept before you came, silly." She told him, sticking her tongue out at him.
Jeff shrugged. "So, crying makes you sleepy. Plus." He yawned and stretched. "I could use a good nap myself."
Maria giggled at him. "Okay." She paused. "Just promise me one thing."
"Anything."
"That you won't leave until I get up."
Jeff put his hands up. "I swear to it."
Maria smiled. "Thanks Jeff."
"Anything for you baby." Jeff pulled her into a quick kiss, then laid down. Maria laid down next to him, then put her head on his chest and her arm across his stomach. Jeff wrapped his arm around Maria's shoulders and rest her head on his hand.
Jeff starred at the ceiling. After awhile he looked down at Maria, who was fast asleep, he watched her chest rise and fall, it was so peaceful.
Jeff suddenly got an idea. "I promise, you won't have to marry him Maria. Jeffy always has a plan." He squeezed her tightly. Then fell asleep with a smile on his face.
A/N: What is Jeff's plan?