CH.13: Field of heart pt 3

Maya sat in a hospital room as Lucas had been transported the following day. It was kind of hard getting sleep knowing that he was unconscious…unable to hear her or feel her. The waiting room was something else…it drew on fears she didn't even know she had. Her nails dug into her palm and she flitted her eyes about hoping to catch some sign of the Nurse or even the Doctor who admitted him here. Shawn sat beside her while Mr. Feeny and her mom stayed at the farm.

"We did all we could for him Maya," Shawn tries to reassure her again, his hand resting on her shoulder. "It is kind of hard predicting these things. Lucas kept his injuries pretty secret and maybe some of the blame falls on me…I should have-."

"No Shawn, this is not on you," Maya lets out a long sigh as she gathers her thoughts, "Lucas is complicated, and yet…he was not ready to come clean about his injuries. If you had pushed and insisted to take him to the hospital or find some way of getting his parents in on it…it would fall on me as well and not sure I could live with that."

Maya went to stand up as she looked around the room…at those waiting on news from loved ones. She and Lucas were not there yet, but, he was deep in her heart anyway. It was then that the Doctor showed.

"You must be Lucas's friends…I am Doctor Ross. The injuries he has sustained have left him in pretty bad shape. The amount of times his body was impacted by the ground have cost him and given he was unconscious by the time he arrived given he blacked out from the pain…he might be out of it for a bit. We are doing what we can now to alleviate the pain but rest assured we will do all we can and inform you of any changes."

Maya felt worry set in…just how long had he been suffering and pushing himself? Such pain, even remedied could not give him much breathing room.

"With proper amounts of rest and mending his bones should be fine and the rest will heal in its own time. I remember you mentioning something about his line of profession, rodeo, and that the finals are coming up. My advice is to talk to your friend about not doing it. It'll be too soon after this and even then he will not be in the best shape. However, it is not in my power to stop a young man like that, so…please pass this on if you can."

Maya wished it were that simple…that her words alone could steer him clear of risking or endangering his life on his sole provision of currency. Maya wanted to sit with him…wait till he woke, but, she also had an art project to consider.

"I will stay here…you should go and fill your mother in on what has happened. Don't worry, this isn't my first time in a situation like this." Maya goes to hug Shawn and after wiping at her eyes she leaves the hospital behind eager to put her mind at rest…for the time being and focus on something that has been waiting for her attention.

Having left the hospital she busied her mind with ideas. True she had one and it had been when her former roommate had been with her, but, even now such art seemed beyond her reach. She stood in the place where her mother had shown her the initials carved in the tree. Paintbrush in hand and only a few deft strokes she was left empty.

Where was the inspiration? This was love in the making but when it came to her own story it was a bit more complicated. Did she love Lucas? Well…she had strong feelings for him, yes, but…where did one even begin there? She felt frustration well up inside her and she finally has to set her paintbrush, and well everything else down as she stomps about.

"I see the cogs turning in that head of yours, need a break?" She turns around spotting Mr. Feeny walking towards her.

"You could say that, thanks." She saw he held out a glass of lemonade and who turned down that? Taking it she sits down in one of the chairs and Mr. Feeny slowly lowers himself into the other. She can see that age has taken its toll on him as it is harder for him to lower himself down.

"I always did enjoy art. It is a great creative outlet over violence or use of words I feel. A painter can express themselves truly and even then art is open to interpretation so therefore lest the artist spells it out for them they will continue to guess what was on the artist's mind. What is it exactly you are having trouble with?"

Maya shrugs a bit as she takes a sip of her lemonade. It was sour but also sweet…it did the trick as she didn't know she had been parched. "I suppose it has to do with my heart…and…where I stand with Lucas. I kind of feel like the two of us are in different places…and…the fact he lied to me-."

"Yes, your mother told me as much. I am also aware of the breakup of Riley and Lucas, well, yes it is age old news but I imagine this is where the story started. Listen Maya…in order to have a clear mind and heart you have to get to the source of the trouble. I'm sure you already know what needs to be done…just when you do…keep an open mind and go with your heart."

Maya wished it were that simple. Staring at this blank canvas she pondered what her art work would tell about her. What would people see when they looked at it? Maya struggled with this question as she and Mr. Feeny sat there for a bit. He was in no rush to leave and honestly she didn't want him to. Right now she was doing all she could just not to cry in front of him. Lucas was set up in some hospital bed trying to regain his body and even then once he properly healed where would that leave them? Maya finished her lemonade as the day wore on and of course Mr. Feeny would eventually head back to the house to rest up.

Maya had some idea though of what to paint as she began to add colors filling up the canvas…giving detail to her work. It was a start and she would take her time with it and she'd also have to go back to school. She enjoyed what break she could get from coming out here…she only wished that she and Lucas had more time to enjoy it together.

Lucas had followed Maya out of the room but soon found they were out of the school entirely. They were at the place that Shawn had…though none of them were around. "Um…where is everyone?"

"I'm not sure…this is all in your mind Lucas, and right now it is rather damaged at that." She walks backward and Lucas considers her words.

"I don't remember hitting my head," he rubs at his head and notices his clothing now match that of his riding clothes.

"Your body is on the mend…but…your mind is the very thing in conflict. Think about it Lucas…what is it you really want?" Lucas did not know that…he wished he did though. Following after Maya they eventually wind up by a pool of water and Maya is taking off her clothes.

"Whoa, I shouldn't be seeing this…or imagining it…" Lucas averts his eyes but when he looks back he notices that Maya is no longer there. "Huh…where did you go?"

"We could be happy…you and I. The thing is, you seem set on one thing and one thing only." Lucas had thought Maya was there but suddenly he is in the stands…or rather seated on a horse. The crowd is going nuts and Brian is stomping his foot as he loses.

"Shoot Friar…you beat me, fair and square. I have to admit…that was some focus you had going on there. Your mind was so sure of it…and those moves, where did that all come from?" Brian stood there even as Lucas was awarded first place.

"I-I don't know…" Lucas wished he knew for certain but even so the words that Maya said had some clarity to them. It pained him though…cause he really did want to be her. His world was in turmoil and the sad thing was just seeing Brian all ticked off but also giving him praise…it was like something he had always wanted.

"When you find yourself ready to talk…you know where to find me…" Maya was there but in some ways Lucas realized it was not her to begin with…it was everyone. They all sat in the stands…all the people he had pushed away. It was hard to fathom why…and what for, and he was kind of feeling sleepy about now. The answer was within his reach…he only wished he knew how to get there. Falling back into sleep he struggled to find a way to have both realities, one where he rode and had Maya…but each time he struggled. Did Broncos and art go together? Was there a balance to it?

Authors note: Next chapter will be a brief time skip and also a meeting between young lovers as they struggle to find balance, try to find truth…and in the end awaits a sad reveal. Brace yourselves and all you Lucaya shippers do not give up hope…for this story is far from over and without conflict the true ending is not just.