#10

"You can't protect me"

Maya was hunched over her homework trying to make sense of the mess of papers spread out around her on the floor. She jumped when a knock came from her door, pulling out her earbud she looked over and saw Lucas leaning against her doorway backpack and coffee in hand.

"What are you doin' here Ranger Rick?" She asked with a smile on her face as he walked in.

"Missed you at Topanga's today. Can I sit?" He asked motioning at the papers spilled around the floor.

Nodding her head she began to pick them up and cleared a spot on the floor for him.

"That for me?" She asked pointing her pen towards the to go cup.

"Course," he replied with a smile handing it to her.

They sat there in silence for a few moments as she took a long sip of the coffee.

"So wanna tell me why you weren't there today or any days really the past few weeks?" He asked leaning against her bed.

"Just didn't feel like it. Staying home was the easier option, how was practice?" She asked hoping to change the topic.

"Nope not gonna happen Hart. Why aren't you coming to Topanga's anymore?" He asked bringing her to his lap so she was facing him.

"Like I said Lucas it's just easier this way. Did you finish the math?" She asked in another attempt.

"Now I know something is wrong come on Maya what's wrong?" He asked brushing a stray curl away from her eyes.

"It's just easier for everyone if I stay away, okay?"

"Where's this coming from?"

"Nowhere I'm just trying to make this better for everyone involved and me not being around as much is how I can do that," she explained setting the coffee down next to them.

"Make what better? Maya what's happening?" He asked placing both hands on her hips.

"Look don't get mad okay? I don't want you to do anything stupid especially with the season just starting," she begged reluctant to even tell him.

"I can't promise anything. You're my girlfriend, my love if something's wrong I want to help. Talk to me," he begged.

"Fine. It's been pointed out to me repeatedly, that I am a bad person because I'm dating my best friends ex. And that because of this relationship I'm creating unnecessary tension between everyone if both of us are around our friends," she finished looking anywhere but his eyes.

She knew by the tighter grip he had on her hips that he was angry.

"Lucas say something," she begged finally looking him in the eyes.

He took a few deep breaths and relaxed his hands a little.

"Who's been telling you this?" He asked through gritted teeth.

"It doesn't matter, all that matters is that it's true so I'm doing what I can to make it better," she replied shaking her head.

"No Maya tell me," he pleaded.

"You can't protect me. So it doesn't matter," she countered.

"Maya," he repeated squeezing her hips.

"Fine it was Riley and some other girls she's been hanging out with from those stupid clubs. I overheard them talking in the hall outside Mathews class awhile ago. Can you just help me with my homework now?" She begged him.

"I'll be right back," he told her as he sat her back down on the floor before standing up.

"Lucas!" She yelled after him.

Storming out of the apartment he made his way to Riley's apartment determined to find out why she would say something like that. Little did he know Maya was running after him to try and stop what was about to happen. After losing him a couple times she caught up to him as he was knocking on the Mathews door.

"Lucas," she panted out of breath hands on her knees.

"Go back home Maya," he told her as the door opened.

"Mr. Friar," Corey said when he saw it was Lucas.

"Sir, is Riley home?"

"Lucas please let's just go back to my place," Maya begged as she followed him into the apartment.

"Maya nice to see you honey," Topanga said smiling at her from the table.

Maya gave her a tight smile as her eyes went back to Lucas.

"What's wrong?" Corey asked noticing the looks on Maya and Lucas's faces.

"It's nothing Mathews. Lucas please let's just go home," Maya begged.

"No Maya it's not right that she's doing this to you," he told her taking her hand in his.

"Lucas, Maya what's going on?" Topanga asked this time.

"Rileys been saying some things about Maya and it's not just Riley it's her new friends too," Lucas started.

"What? Maya sweetie is this true?" Topanga asked getting up from her seat.

"Yes, but it's nothing that's not true. Please Lucas can we just leave now?" She asked avoiding the looks of Corey and Topanga while looking at him with pleading eyes.

Before anyone could answer Riley came into the apartment with Farkle right behind her, both were laughing and smiling but Riley stopped as soon as she saw the couple and the looks on her parents faces.

"Maya, where've you been hiding?" Farkle asked walking over to hug her.

"No hiding just been a bit busy." She replied giving him a one handed hug.

"Farkle I think you should leave sweetie," Topanga told him.

"Okay I'll see you guys later then," he said before awkwardly leaving the apartment.

After he left Maya felt Lucas pull her into him more and she gladly accepted it as she felt all eyes on her.

"So what's everyone doing here?" Riley asked setting her backpack in the chair by the door.

"Riley honey have you been saying things about Maya and Lucas?" Corey asked her.

Riley gasped and instantly Maya felt daggers on her. Making her press herself into Lucas more.

"I don't know what she's told you Daddy but it's not true," Riley exclaimed.

"She hasn't said a thing. I had to drag it out of her and even then she wouldn't tell me what you were actually saying about us," Lucas countered.

"Lucas can we please just leave already?" Maya whispered.

"No Maya. You're avoiding your friends because she's someone you love and she's saying things about you now and you're getting hurt by it when you don't deserve to be hurt," he told her squeezing her hand and never taking his eyes off her.

"If she's saying it's not a big deal then why are you making it one Lucas," Riley asked.

"Because I love her and someone has to protect her while she's still protecting you. I don't get it Riley we've been together for almost a year, why are you starting this now?"

"Because she's been acting like nothing's wrong with it. Everyone else knew but me, everyone knew my ex ended up with the girl that he chose me over. The girl who was supposed to be my best friend but kept this huge secret from me because she knew it was wrong. But she's Maya so it doesn't matter,"Riley left off.

They all stood there in silence for a few moments before Riley finally said something.

"I'm sorry. I guess I'm still mad about you guys, I thought that I was over it when we came back from winter break but I guess I'm not," Riley told everyone.

"I knew you weren't okay with it honey but you could of talked to me about it instead of spreading shit around the school. Can we leave now Lucas," Maya asked looking from Riley to Lucas.

Nodding his head he led Maya out of the apartment and they quietly went back to her apartment to get their stuff before spending the weekend at Lucas's place. All Maya wanted to do was nothing more than escape into their own world again.