By the way guys, this chapter is actually good, compared to the next. The next chapter is going to be really really bad. This chapter is going to focus on abusion. I wanted to bring attention to it because it is something no one really likes to talk about. Thanks guys!

I woke up with a smile on my face. The events from last night played in my head. Lucas Friar was my weakness. I become all sensitive around him. My good thoughts were interrupted by a yell.

"MAYA HART GET YOUR ASS IN HERE!" My mom was home.

I got up quickly and ran in our eating and living space.

"Yes mom." I said scared. Our encounters never went well.

"Why is there a plate of mac n cheese on the coffee table?!"

Shit. I forgot to put it away after Lucas and I last night. "I forgot Mom. I'm so sor-" I was interrupted by a slap across my face.

"Sorry doesn't make anything better." She snapped.

"I promise I'll pick it up next time." I said.

"Promises are never kept. They are always broken. Don't even say it if you're not going to go through with it. Just like your dad. 'I'll love you forever.' Ya that sure worked out. Now I'm alone and stuck with you." Her words stung more than the slap. It hurt even more than the knife. The cuts, she had just made on my thighs. The new purple bruise, on my shoulder. The black eye from three punches. When she was done, I was on the floor. Crying. There was too much pain to move. I couldn't get up. My left eye was swollen shut.

After a few minutes, I managed to crawl to my room. It was 5:00 in the morning right now. I forced myself to get ready. Still crying, I changed and attempted makeup, but it didn't last for more than a minute. I took out my rope braids, which added curl to my natural waves. My outfit was an oversized NYC hoodie and leggings with boots, all from the thrift store or Topanga's old clothes. Some were presents. Not from any of my actual family though.

I didn't even attempt to cover my black eye. My legs were bandaged up under my leggings. I ached. I ached so bad. I could barely move. I knew I had to go to Riley's. I knew I had to go to school.

I had to see Lucas. I also wanted to make sure Farkle's okay, after getting bullied last week.

I grabbed my backpack with my paper of observations from yesterday with Lucas.

I went through the apartment fast, trying to avoid my mom. I walked fastly from our apartment to the subway, in case of muggers.

As the subway went from my part of town, to the good part of town, I listened to music. Lana Del Ray, R5, Sheppard, and Demi Lovato played on my way there. Music was my escape. It cleared my mind of all the bad things in my life. It took me to another world. When it stopped, I was back in reality. Reality was my bruised arms and black eye for me. It sucked.

I walked from the subway to the Matthews' apartment. I buzzed in. It made me feel better, knowing I was seconds away from people who did love me. People who placed me in front of them.

I walked in the apartment. I was greeted with a big hug from Auggie. He was short, so he wrapped his little arms around my upper legs. I winced from pain. He was squeezing my bruises and cuts. To avoid any suspision, I picked him up and hugged him. It felt better. I set him down back on the ground and he ran to the table. I followed him and sat down right next to the empty spot where Riley was supposed to be.

"Where's Riley?" I asked.

"Good morning Maya." Topanga said. "And she's still getting ready. It's a slow day." She had no idea. It was especially slow for me.

"Okay." I said. I smiled. I didn't force the smile. I just smiled for once.

I watched Mr. Googley with Topanga and Auggie until Mr. Matthews and Riley walked in.

"But Dad it isn't fair!" Riley exclaimed at her dad.

"Life isn't fair." He said.

"Why can't I just wear a bit of mascara?!"

"You're too young." He said, sitting down at the table. "Good morning Maya." I smiled and nodded because Riley didn't seem done with the little argument.

"When can I then?" She asked, annoyed, and sat down next to me.

"When you are older." Mr. Matthews said.

"How old?" Riley snapped.

"Thirty." Mr. Matthews seemed serious with the answer.

"THIRTY?!" Riley was angered. She was sweet, but definitely had a temper.

"That's it." Mr. Matthews said. "End of discussion."

Riley sighed. She was mad, but knew she shouldn't say anything more. She plastered a smile on her face and said, "Good morning Maya."

"Good morning Riles." I said, hopefully calming her down a bit.

"What happened to your eye?!" She asked, worried.

"Clumsy me." I said. "I banged it against my dresser." Hopefully she bought it.

The whole family did. Topanga dropped a pancake on each of our plates. Two on Mr. Matthews's. We passed around the syrup, Riley snatching it from her dad. They didn't say anything, but you knew they were still pissed off with each other. I was handed the syrup by Auggie, who had made the bottle all sticky.

We ate our pancakes in silence, knowing that if anyone said anything, another argument could break out.

After we finished, Riley and I grabbed our backpacks and headed for the door.

"Have a good day!" Topanga exclaimed as we left.

"Thanks." I said. "You too."

"Yayaya." Riley said sarcastically and headed out the door, with me right behind her.

We got to the subway and hopped on. Normally, I would tell her everything about last night, but I couldn't. I wanted to, but something was holding me back. I guess I would have to talk to Lucas before.

We walked to the school from the subway and Lucas was waiting for us, I guess me, at the lockers.

"What do you want cowboy?" I asked him with a wink.

"I just wanted to say hi."

Riley dropped her books, so her focus was on picking them up. Lucas took the opportunity to give me a real quick kiss. We were at our normal positions by the time Riley had picked her books up.

"Hi Lucas." She said.

"Hi Riley." He said. She smiled. I hope she didn't like him.

Farkle had just come into our circle by this point.

"Hello everyone." He said. Farkle was different. But that's what made him Farkle.

"Hi Farkle." We all replied at the same time. We continued on with our conversation until the bell rang. We all went to History, taught by Mr. Matthews.

I felt Lucas playing with my hair until the rest of the class came in and the final bell rang.

"Good morning class." Mr. Matthews started. "I want you to share with the class your homework that was assigned last night."

Farkle and Riley went first. They talked about a small little bookstore that was fairly close to the coffee shop I was placed at with Lucas. They were very detailed.

Everyone else went after them. As Darby and Sarah finished, Mr. Matthews called Lucas and me up to the front of the classroom. We went up there, with the paper.

Lucas read the first half, and I read the second half.

"What did these observations make you realize?" Mr. Matthews asked us.

"I guess I never even noticed the little things." Lucas said.

"Me too." I said. "I never really noticed the other people, or even the wall color. But they all do contribute to the overall feel of the place. I liked it."

Mr. Matthews smiled. "That is exactly why I had you guys do this assignment. This does relate to history too. Sometimes in history, there are small little things that may seem like they don't matter, but I can assure you they do. This is what I wanted you guys to realize. Everything is important."

I wish that was the way my mom felt about me. I'm less than useless to her.

"Okay, class." Mr. Matthews changed the subject. "I have another assignment for you all tonight. I want you to interview your parents or parent about their childhood, and see how it relates to yours. It can be different, or the same, but I want a difference and a similarity written down. It will be turned into me by tomorrow."

"No." I blurted out.

"Excuse Ms. Hart?" He asked me.

"I'm not doing the assignment." I said. I wasn't risking being hurt like this again.

"Why?"

"Because it is dumb and stupid. So no." I had a tone of sass in my voice.

"You just have to simply-" I cut Mr. Matthews off.

"I'M NOT DOING THE FREAKIN ASSIGNMENT!" I was standing on my desk. I took a deep breath. Did I seriously just say that?!

"Detention Ms. Hart." Mr. Matthews said sternly. I sat back down and slumped in my seat. I was about to cry.