Hey y'all! I am so thankful that so many of you love this story. I hope you guys will continue to read it because it's beginning to get interesting.
This chapter is going to begin a little bit differently, but it will be another chapter with all of the characters again except Sadie.
MAJOR TRIGGER WARNING.
Riley Matthews-Minkus wakes up, ready for her first ultrasound. She and Farkle call all of the parents of the daycare kids to tell them that the daycare will be closed for the day and explain why. Riley rubs her small belly while watching Farkle call the parent of the last daycare kid, Lucas. She can't help but smile at the glint of happiness in Farkle's eye when he talks about their unborn child, and she knows how lucky she is to have a husband like Farkle Minkus.
"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow, Lucas. Good-bye," Farkle says before hanging up the phone. He stands up and walks over to his wife, wrapping his arms around her.
"You look even more beautiful than usual today," He says as he kisses her cheek, "Are you ready to go?"
Riley nods, "But we need to pick up Maya. She said she wants to be there for the first ultrasound, and I told her that we would pick her up."
"Okay. Do you know how to get to her apartment?" Farkle asks.
"Yea. She texted me the address," Riley says looking at her phone, "I'm gonna ask her if she's ready."
Riley opens up her messages between Maya and herself. They have been non-stop talking since the picnic a week ago, but Maya hasn't responded to her texts in two days.
"Never mind. Let's go pick her up. I'm sure that she's ready," Riley says. Farkle grabs the car keys and walks out behind Riley. He locks the front door and gets in the vehicle, feeling a little bit anxious.
Riley pulls the seat belt around her and clicks it together. She notices Farkle's nervous look. He wasn't trying to show it, and if it were anybody else looking at him, they probably wouldn't know that Farkle was nervous about something. But Riley learned these things about Farkle even before they got married, even before they got together as a couple.
"What's the matter, honey?" She asks.
Farkle looks at his wife quickly, "Huh? Oh, nothing. I'm just a little nervous about going to this ultrasound. I don't want to be really excited, but after what happened, I don't want to get my hopes up."
"I feel the same way, but I'm not going to let what happened with our first baby keep me from being excited about this baby. I know that probably sounds harsh, but you know what that taught me?" Riley asks. Farkle just responds with a 'hmm' before Riley responds.
"I learned that no matter what happens to us, you will always be there for me. After we lost the first baby, I felt empty inside. I felt like nothing could ever make me happy again. But that was before you turned around in our bed, and you wrapped your arms around me and told me that everything was going to be okay."
Farkle grabs Riley's hand and nods. She lays her head down on his should and brushes his hand with her thumb.
"Everything is going to be okay, Farkle. Because we love each other, and we're supportive and caring of each other."
Farkle turns into the parking garage of Maya's apartment building. The couple gets out of their car, and Farkle locks the doors. Riley locks her arm with his and holds his hand with her other hand.
"Do you know what apartment she lives in?" Farkle asks.
"Yea. She's in apartment 721."
The couple walks into the apartment building and walk up the seven flight of stairs before they reach the floor they needed to be on. Farkle opens the door that has a big '7' on it.
"No wonder Maya stays so fit," Riley says, "She has to walk up and down those stairs all day everyday."
Farkle laughs as the two walk down the long hallway looking at the side with the odd numbers on it. Riley stops just before the green door with the numbers '721' on it. Farkle stops and sees the worried look on Riley's face.
"What's the matter?" He asks.
"Something's wrong. I don't know what it is, but I know that something is wrong. I can feel it," Riley says. She takes a step forward and knocks on the door gently, calling Maya's name.
"Maya! Are you in there?" She calls, but there isn't an answer. Riley twists the door knob, and the door opens slightly. The look on Riley's face is pure panic, and she rushes inside.
Everything inside is a mess. Her glass coffee table is shattered in the floor. The couch is turned on its back. A few of Maya's paintings have holes in them from someone punching them. The carpet is stained with blood, which makes Riley terrified.
"Maya!" Riley yells. She walks down the hall and sees Maya's bathroom in disarray, but there still isn't a sign of the blonde.
"Farkle. Go get the car and pull it around, please. I feel like we're gonna have to hurry," Riley says. Farkle nods and runs out of the apartment. He grabs his phone and starts to call Lucas.
Riley runs down the short hallway to the door of Maya's bedroom. The door was slightly ajar and slightly off it's hinges. Riley carefully opens the door and chokes up when she sees her best friend laying down in the floor. Riley immediately rushes to Maya's side and carefully turns her best friend around on her back.
"Maya! Oh my gosh!" Riley yells, "Wake up, Maya!"
Riley gently moves some strands of hair off Maya's face and caresses the bruises on her face.
"Maya! Wake up!" She shakes her best friend, hoping it would do something, "Wake up! C'mon, Maya!"
Maya slowly opens one of her eyes because the other one is swelled shut, "Riley?"
"Maya!" Riley sighs a breath of relief. She holds her best friend and cries. Maya tightly wraps her bruised arms around Riley and bawls.
"I'm so sorry, Riley," She says.
"Why are you apologizing to me, Peaches?"
"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you about him. I thought I could defend myself, but he caught me off guard," Maya cries. Riley pulls away from her, careful not to hurt Maya even more than she already is.
"We have to take you to the hospital. I knew something was wrong. I told Farkle to bring the car around," Riley explains, helping Maya off the floor. Riley can't help but notice how brutal Maya looks. Her face, arms, and legs are covered in dark bruises, and she has dried up blood on her face and knuckles. Who knows where else she has bruises.
"Riley. Promise me you won't tell Lucas?" Maya asks.
"My concern right now is about you, not Lucas. I won't tell him."
Riley helps Maya walk down the stairs. It takes a while, but they finally meet Farkle in the front of the apartment building, avoiding the stares of the strangers passing.
"Maya," Farkle says in shock, "How did this happen? When did it happen?"
"Farkle. I know you're concerned, but we have to worry about getting her to the hospital right now. Hurry!" Riley says, putting Maya in the passenger seat. She takes a seat in the back, and with the emergency flashers on, Farkle rushes to the hospital.
"How long has Tony been abusing her?" Farkle asks.
Riley shrugs, "Who knows? They've been together for a while. I can't believe she hasn't done anything about it. I mean, it's not like Maya to let a man push her around and dehumanize her like Tony does."
"How long have you known?"
"Lucas was telling me about Tony one day when he came to pick Sadie up from the daycare. I didn't expect Tony to actually do damage like this, but I was still skeptical about his 'love' for Maya. I didn't think he would ever lay a hand on her, until I saw proof at our get together a week ago. She tried to cover her eye up with make up, but I noticed that she missed a part. I am so stupid. I should've done something," Riley admits as she begins to cry again.
Farkle scoots over and rubs Riley's back, "It's not your fault, Riley. What could you have done?"
Riley sniffles, "I swear if I wasn't pregnant right now..."
The doctor walks out of Maya's room and over to Riley and Farkle.
"Are you two family of the patient?" The doctor asks.
Riley stands up and nods, "She is my sister."
"Well, Maya seems to be doing fine right now, but I will say that her beating was really brutal. We ran some tests to make sure there weren't any broken bones, concussion, or internal bleeding," The doctor begins.
"Is she going to be okay?" Farkle asks.
"Well she has a cracked rib and some damage to her hand, but she doesn't have a concussion or any internal bleeding. She's a lucky girl. These bruises seem to be two days old. She's tough," The doctor says, "She can have visitors, but she's heavily sedated with pain medication. She could be out for a couple of hours."
"Thank you, doctor," Farkle says.
"We'd like to keep her overnight for a few more tests and some observations, but she will be fine. I just hope that whoever done this to her is brought to justice."
"Us too, sir."
The doctor walks away and Farkle turns to look at Riley.
"You ready?" Farkle asks. Riley nods and squeezes his hand tightly. They walk into the emergency room and find Maya's room. Riley lets go of Farkle's hand when she walks over to Maya's bedside.
"Peaches," Riley begins, "I am so sorry that this happened to you. You don't deserve this at all."
Farkle walks over to the other side of Maya's bed and holds Maya's hand, "I can't believe this happened to her. I never thought this would happen to either of you. I just knew that I wanted to protect the both of you as much as I could."
"I didn't think it would ever happen to either us too."
They hear a knock on the door and look to see Lucas standing there. His hair is disheveled. He has bags under his eyes. He looks exhausted. Riley walks over to him with tears in her eyes and gives him a hug.
"Are you okay?" She asks.
"I was until Farkle called me, but I don't think I have any room to complain," Lucas responds. He walks over to Maya's bed and looks at her. She looks worse than she did the first time he found her like this.
"H-" Lucas pauses, trying to fight back tears, "How did you know this happened again?"
"Maya wanted to come with us to our first ultrasound today, and we found her like this when we went to her apartment to pick her up," Riley explains.
"Did the doctors say anything? Is she going to be okay?" Lucas asks.
"They ran some tests. She doesn't have a concussion or any internal bleeding, but she does have a cracked rib and some damage to her hand, but she's gonna be fine. They said that she would be asleep for a couple of hours due to the amount of pain medication they gave her," Farkle explains.
Lucas sits down in a chair beside Maya's bed. He lays his head in his hand and shakes his head. His other hand is balled up in a fist. He begins to take deep breaths to try and calm down before he lost his cool. Farkle lays his hand on his shoulder in support.
Riley tries to help him calm down by talking to him.
"Where is Sadie?" She asks.
"She's with my mom. I didn't want her to see Maya like this. She loves Maya, and I don't think she's old enough yet to understand what happened," Lucas explains.
"What did you tell her?"
"I told her that she had to stay with my mom while I visit Maya. I told her that Maya had gotten hurt, and she really wanted to come, but I just need some time," Lucas says.
"I understand," Farkle says, "If you need us to watch her, then we will."
"Thank you," Lucas responds.
"Lucas," Riley begins, "Maya told me not to tell you that Tony beat her up again. But I don't think it's because she is afraid of what you might do to Tony. I think it's because she doesn't want you to see her like this."
Lucas's jaw clenches, and he takes a deep breath.
"You guys said that you have an ultrasound appointment today?" Lucas asks as Riley and Farkle nod, "Why don't y'all go ahead. I'll call if anything changes."
"We don't want to leave her side," Riley says, "We don't want to leave you alone. We're staying. I can reschedule our appointment."
Lucas nods. Riley and Farkle take a seat, and they all sit in silence for a little bit.
Wondering what they could've done.
Okay! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I know it was a bit intense, but now that we've hit rock bottom, we can only go up! So expect that to happen soon!
It will definitely get interesting in the next chapter.
Some things to look out for would be some smack talk, a very protective Lucas, a vulnerable Maya, a sweet little girl making things better, the ballet recital, and of course the fight between Lucas and Tony. Maybe a little plot-twist in the end.
Anyway. Love you guys! And I will try to update as soon as possible!