CH.12: Field of heart pt 2

Maya was a wreck the moment that Shawn arrived in the living room with an unconscious Lucas. How…why…when did this all happen? Her eyes seemed to ask these questions but Shawn was immediately in motion having called the hospital, though, they were a bit out of the way. Thankfully Mr. Feeny was able to help Lucas be comfortable and also to help care for his ankle. In the meantime they had to monitor him to see if there were any improvements…or the unspoken not.

Maya held his hand and sat there while the others kept busy. She looked on at his features, and of course his shirtless body which she was doing all she could to keep her hand from or to even still her racing heart. Lucas had certainly changed…not that she saw him without his shirt much…no, perish the thought.

"Uh hey, Lucas, just hope my voice gets to you and all. I am…well…not really good at this, truth is, I'm horrible. I must be the worse girlfriend in all the ages. I bet Riley would be better at this than I am. Look, you don't quit on me…got it? I mean it, you don't want me on your bad side, or I mean you don't want to see me on my bad side."

Tears well in her eyes and yet she can't find the words to get through it. Right now she was supposed to be preparing for her big art project…and yet…since coming out here and when Shawn and Lucas had left she could not find the inspiration to paint. She had brought her stuff but somehow…she could lay one brush or stroke to the empty canvas that almost mocked her with its white empty background.

"Maya?" She thought for one second it could be Lucas, but, given how his face looked and how his lips did not move it set her back as she looks over at where her mother stands.

"Oh, uh hi mom, no change." She manages a smile but knows that inside she is crestfallen. It pained her seeing Lucas like this…and…knowing that he had been keeping this from her for so long.

"How about we go for a ride? You know I used to a ride a bit when I was younger and if anything changes Shawn or Mr. Feeny will let us know. It'll do us good…give us some time we haven't had in a while just us girls."

Maya sniffs a bit but figures this might be for the better. Leaning down she kisses Lucas's forehead before heading up to her room, well, temporary room and changes and then meets her mother.

The two of them ride out and Maya had to save it was a rather exhilarating feeling. The wind splayed in her hair and she held her head back enjoying it. Being out here, well, it allowed her time to think and to realize a lot of things. Still she kept it to herself as she grips the reigns and bounces about in the saddle as her boots lay in the stirrups.

"Maya…have you made any decisions regarding Lucas?" Her mother knew how to ruin a moment, well, not exactly given she was touching upon thoughts she was thinking herself.

"Lucas lied to me mom…I mean…something so serious like this and bam…it throws my world for a curve you know?" Maya settles her head down as she fights the tears that threaten to start anew.

"Lucas did not want to see you hurt Maya…and…perhaps he was being selfish, but, then again he isn't used to letting anyone in. Perhaps what happened after Riley he figured it was safer just being on his own. Your father, well, not your first father but Shawn…he carried a lot of baggage with him when we met. He traveled a lot and in some ways dealt with the love of his life not being in the picture. Things didn't end well there…and Shawn had a bit of trust issues, of letting anyone else in.

"I am not defending Lucas, but, try and see it from a certain perspective. Lucas would rather deal with the pain on his own then let anyone else in…to have them suffer because of his choices. This is a life he chose…one that ultimately split him and Riley up, though, I imagine there were other things at work there and this was just something that rose to the surface."

Maya never thought of it like that. Just what had gone down all those years they dated? True she had seen a few chinks in their perfect romance but that was because she was kind of the third wheel and often heard or saw things others didn't. No romance was perfect and yet most people saw them as the cute couple that could not go wrong.

Maya saw her mother speeding up so she did the same. They were working along a path that led away from the property and she wondered if they would be able to find their way back.

"Mom…what if I want to break up with him?" Maya waited for her mother to say something but she didn't. They were starting to slow down as they made it to a set of trees and her mother dismounts and she follows her lead.

"Maya, you are young and you will find that not all things in life are clean cut as they appear to be. True Lucas did something that betrayed your trust, but, honestly a relationship takes work. You need to be willing to sacrifice, to put in equal work and yes at times forgive one another but work on bettering things and understanding where that person is coming from. Shawn, your new father has dealt with his fair share of trust and just letting me in…it didn't come immediately."

Maya sighed figuring it would be easy to let him go and be done with it, but, that would be selfish of her. It had taken Lucas and her a bit…several years of him dating with Riley and then a year or so after when both of them had settled into their new lives for them to pick up the pieces as they were.

Her mother then points out something that had been lost on her. "Do you see the initials in the tree?" Maya takes a bit to study them and realizes then who they belong to.

"Wait…you and Shawn carved your initials in the tree?" She could not believe this. She tried to make sense of it and her mother wears that smile of hers, one that shows she has a secret.

"When we first started dating…well…Shawn took me out here. I believe it was when you spent a night at Riley's home. We sort of thought it would be funny carving our initials…not knowing what the future had in store for us. If it didn't work out someone who happened upon the tree would think now there is a romance that worked out, carved by those in love. I did not rush Shawn and he did not put pressure on me. We took it as we did…and sure we had a few arguments, a few secrets, I know I kept a few from him about my past. Still…we eventually sat down and decided there is no need to tell everything, but, those important ones…those were the ones to tell. Of course again it had to be something we were both ready to do. To force someone to tell something…it puts them on edge and that can be disastrous."

Maya takes her mother's words to heart. Perhaps she was being rash in thinking ending things over something like this was the only move to do. Lucas was in trouble, but, if she abandoned him would it be doing either of them any good? Maya places her hand over the initials imagining her mother and Shawn out here. It was done on a whim, no idea what their future may hold…it was the same with her and Lucas at times.

"Thank you for taking me out here mom, I appreciate it…and…we should do this more often." Maya held onto her mother and the two of them stand there under the falling leaves. Maya had to set her worry for Lucas on hold…and hoped that whatever he was dealing with he would get through. They had a lot to talk about.

Lucas stood in the middle of the empty dirt stadium, his eyes looking around but spotting nothing familiar. "Hello? Is anyone there?" Lucas listened to the echo coming from his voice as it has nowhere to go…and yet…it somehow resounds back to him.

"Howdy stranger…you look like you are lost." Lucas turns to find Zay ambling towards him, his hat tilted back and his easy going attitude brought a pang of guilt in him.

"Zay, hey man, could you explain what is going on here? Also I thought you were in Texas?" He squints a bit as the sun brightens.

"Oh I am, and I have to say it is far better than being with some ungrateful lout who takes his friends for granted. I try and do an honest deed…try and help you out…and you shut me out."

"Zay, I apologized, you know I meant every word-." Lucas reaches out but the sun continues to brighten and he falls to one knee.

"Like you apologized to me?" Lucas now found himself in the school halls and sure enough there was Riley. How long had it been since the two talked?

"Riley, you look different…but a good different, no wait that came out wrong. There was nothing wrong with you. I'm sorry-."

"Oh it is fine, I've moved on from you Lucas…I just wished you gave me more warning is all. Also…Maya, seriously, you and her…thought you would have more taste. Anyway, you have a habit of hurting those close to you…keeping things and not telling them till…what was it graduation? I put my heart into you Lucas…thought we'd have a fairytale romance like my parents who are still together, you and Maya…too much damage there-."

"This isn't like you Riley…sure I messed up, but, I wanted to follow what my heart was telling me. I wanted to ride-." Lucas can see her shake her head sending her brown locks about. There were hardness in those eyes that used to be so gentle…had he caused them to harden? Lucas attempts to reach out but she seems to be pulling away.

"I hope you are happy with her, sloppy seconds though if you ask me. I think I probably got the better part of you…and I will always cherish that. You know my father still blames you, and, he had such high hopes for you. College…and yet you chose to ride…I wonder, can you do both…be with Maya and ride to your hearts content?"

Lucas stopped reaching for her and she slipped away into the fog of yesterday. Was he imagining it all…or…could Riley have become bitter and changed from how she was? Parts of him wanted to seek her out…make amends, but, he wasn't sure even how to begin that or if it was better to move on, let her live her life…probably for the better.

Lucas found Farkle disappearing into a room and as he follows him he hears the door shut behind him. Cory is seated behind his desk and most of the others from class are there. "Mr. Friar, so glad you could join us. We were just discussing how you broke my daughter's heart…and all for the selfish desire to ride."

"Look, Cory, Mr. Matthews, I know I did something wrong…but…you always taught us to follow our dreams, even if people told us we were wrong…that we should turn away from them, that we should aspire to rise above the naysayers and pursue it…to try-."

"Why did you have to hurt her, huh Lucas? Riley thought the world of you…she believed in you and the future you two could have had, and yet you had to do what you did. And to think I idolized you."

Lucas could read the hard lines on Lucas's face and he felt like it was a cold slap to the face. Looking around the room he got the same feeling.

"Look, I don't know how many times I can apologize, maybe I shouldn't though. I did what I felt was right, right for me. I had a great education and made many friends…but…High School isn't meant to last forever. We each go our separate ways…but…it doesn't mean that any of it was for nothing. I took a lot from your teachings Mr. Matthews, and, Lucas…man you were smart and funny and honestly I idolized you for how you handled yourself when things got tough."

Lucas ran a hand through his hair and tried to think of more to say. The room was getting small though and he hurried to the door and hauled himself out of there. The lockers were twisting about and all seemed lost till she stood there. "Hey there…didn't think I would make a show did you? Come on, let us bust this joint, it seems not the right fit for us now…besides…High School is so overrated."

Lucas followed after her and as he reaches for her hand the room disappears. The light is blinding and he feels a warmth envelop around him and then nothing.

Authors note: Next chapter Lucas is still not out of the woods yet and Maya continues to work on seeking answers, on finding that connection and of working her art for her big project.