A/N: Honestly I tried to get this chapter up for you guys last night but my wifi wasn't working and I was too tired to try to get it working… it's still not working but I'm just using my phone's hotspot lol As promised this is Lucas's POV.
IMPORTANT: this back-tracks time a little bit and then ends up back where the last chapter left off…just so you guys know:)
I don't own GMW, just the plot of this story.
Chapter 14: "Protective, Worried, Caring"
Lucas POV
I didn't even notice I didn't have my phone with me until I was on the subway heading to class. I had spent all morning at Zay's, mostly talking about Maya. I didn't feel the need to have my phone; even if I did, I didn't have time to go back to Zay's and I couldn't be late to class since we had an important lab test today. So I went through my afternoon phoneless. Maybe it would be good to not have my phone for a while. Honestly, I looked at my phone every night, gazing through pictures of Maya. I had so many, Zay used to tease me saying I should get another phone just for the sake of having more space for more photos of her. Maya always used to laugh when he would make that joke. I missed that the most, her laugh. That laugh could always cheer me up, even when nothing else in the world seemed right.
I would be a liar if I said I didn't thing about calling her all the time. But I never did. Because our relationship, everything we had become, it was a mess. Frankly I didn't know if we could come back from it. Even if I did find a way to forgive Maya, I didn't know if our relationship could just get over this bump. This would change everything, hell it already had.
And it wasn't just me forgiving Maya. According to Zay, Maya had some forgiving to do too. Aiden agreed and the more I thought about it, so did I. At first, of course I was too blinded by anger to believe that I did anything wrong, but I did. We both did. We both had to forgive the other person for something and we would both be changed by this. At times, I thought about the people we would be changed into. What if they weren't meant to be together? My mind was plagued by these constant thoughts lately. Then my body would fill with pain thinking about spending my life with anyone other than her. "Then go get her!" That's what Zay would say when I revealed my feelings to him, but it just wasn't that easy. In reality, it was so much harder than that.
After class, I needed to blow off all the built up stress. I considered going to Zay's to pick up my phone, but decided time without it was a good thing. As long as all those photos of Maya were on my phone, I would give into the temptation to look at them, and I could never bring myself to delete them. I walked through campus, stopping at my dorm briefly, then to the campus gym. Sometimes working out would get my mind off of things, if only for an hour or two. Usually I had my phone and was able to play music in order to distract myself further, but luckily a couple other guys at the gym brought their speakers and were playing music out loud. Rep after rep I tried to get Maya off my brain. Of course it wouldn't work. That girl was always on my brain.
I knew she wasn't doing well with the break-up, at least that's what Zay told me. But I thought it was best for her, both of us really, if we could just be apart. That seemed best, as hard as it was. Calling her would only confuse her and that wouldn't be fair to her.
It was close to sunset by the time I left the gym. I didn't even notice how late it was getting. I showered at the gym, feeling the sweat from my work out. I let the hot water hit me as I stood there, hoping for some clarity on the subject. I always wished for that, but it hadn't seemed to come yet. I walked back to my dorm, hoping Aiden would be home so I could use his phone to call Zay and ask him to bring my phone back. Unexpectedly, I found that wouldn't be necessary when I walked into my room and saw my best friend sitting on my bed talking to Aiden who sat across the room on his own bed. I barely recognized the worried expression on Zay's face. I had only seen that look a handful of times before. He looked concerned and worried, maybe a bit angry. He practically leaped off the bed when he saw me walk in.
"Hey I was going to call you about my phone!" I chimed as I walked over to him.
"Where have you been? I've been here for like almost 2 hours already!" Zay questioned, handing me my phone. His expression didn't change and I wondered what the big deal was.
"I was at the gym. Working off some stress. What's your problem?" I asked, setting my gym bag down on the floor. I glanced at Aiden who was now standing. He was clearly in on the secret, because his expression seemed to match Zay's in everything but the anger.
"It's Maya," Zay revealed sternly. I stopped in my tracks, turning my eyes to Zay. I looked nervously back and forth between my two friends.
"What? Is she ok?" I asked. I knew it was more than just the usual sadness she carried lately, I could tell by their facial expressions.
"She was in an accident," Zay finally told me. I stalked up to him, my fists clenched thinking about how serious this could be. My whole body tensed with fear.
"What kind of accident? Is she alright?" I demanded, my voice getting louder with every word.
"She got hit by a car. Riley tried calling you earlier to ask you to pick Maya up from the hospital, but I answered instead," he went on. His words were becoming fuzzy in my ears. My brain was stuck on the image of Maya in the hospital, hurt. She hated hospitals and doctors and all of that sadness.
"So you picked her up right? She's ok?" I repeated my question over again. I took some solace in the fact that she was able to leave the hospital, which means the accident wasn't too bad.
"I picked her up. She says she's alright but I think she's in more pain than she lets on," Zay revealed. It should have been me picking her up. Then I thought back to what Zay had said about Riley trying to call me. Why didn't Maya call me? I had to see her and see if she was ok with my own eyes.
"Where is she?" I asked in a determined tone.
"She's home but-" I cut Zay off. I didn't have time for anything else besides checking on Maya.
"I'm going over there!" I said making my way towards the door. Both Zay and Aiden made efforts to speak to me before I rushed out the dorm room door, but I didn't even look back at them. The subway didn't feel fast enough. I basically ran from the stop to Maya's apartment and up the stairs of the building until I got to her floor. I pounded on the door. A part of my brain told me she was probably sleeping, but the selfish part of my brain told me to keep knocking. It was a while before the door swung open.
There stood the small blonde girl I loved. She didn't look like herself; she instead looked like a broken version of herself. Her blue eyes, though still beautiful, were swollen and tired looking. I couldn't help but notice the large gash on her forehead that was stitched up and colored red. She was pale, paler than she usually was. Her pale skin made the small purple bruises that covered her body more evident and easier to spot. My mouth hung open at the sight of her. I should've been there with her sooner.
"Lucas? What are you doing here?" Maya asked, her mouth hung open in surprise. I couldn't find words. My mouth moved but no words or sounds came out.
"I heard what happened." That's what I managed to get out. Maya looked away from me for the first time since she opened the door.
"Did Zay tell you?" she asked, almost sounding angry. Did she not want Zay to tell me? Did she not want me knowing she was hurt? I nodded in response. "Of course he did. Why can't anybody just do what I ask them to do today?" she said more to herself than to me. I couldn't take it anymore. I threw my arms around her small frame to hug her. She was here in front of me, safe. She froze, not knowing what to do. I squeezed a little and suddenly heard Maya wince from within my arms. I quickly let go, not wanting to hurt her.
"Sorry. My ribs," she said plainly. She caught my confused and questioning expression and continued to explain. "From the accident. One broken and one bruised." It was stupid of me to squeeze her that tightly. She was hit by a car and I didn't think she would be fragile? I silently cursed myself for being so stupid. She looked so tiny standing in front of me.
"Can I come in?" I asked carefully. My overwhelming need to protect her went into overdrive the minute she opened the door. Actually, I think it went back to when Zay told me she was hurt in the first place. She seemed conflicted about whether or not to let me in. After a while, she gave a reluctant nod. I walked straight into the apartment and looked around. I saw no sign of Maya's parents and wondered if they were here, or at least coming back soon. "Where are your parents?"
"They left this morning on a trip," Maya replied, her voice low. I figured it hurt a little less to talk low rather than put any added pressure on her ribs by speaking loudly.
"So you're here by yourself?" My concern was heard quite clearly in my question. Maya rolled her eyes, a sight I had seen often in all the years I've known her.
"Yeah. So what?" she asked. She was putting on an act, like she didn't need anybody with her, but she was forgetting I knew her better than that.
"So you just got hit by a car Maya!"
"Why does everybody feel the need to remind me of that today like I'm going to forget?" she said, annoyed.
"You shouldn't be alone right now Maya! You're hurt!" I raised my voice. I needed her to see reason. I needed her to be safe.
"Thank you captain obvious! I get that I'm hurt but it's not that bad," she tried to convince me, but I wasn't taking no for an answer, not on something so serious.
"Why are you being so stubborn?" I asked, getting annoyed myself.
"I don't need you here that's why!" she yelled, throwing her hands up in air in frustration. Nothing was more important than her right now. If that meant overstaying my welcome to make sure she was ok, then so be it.
"Why don't you want me here?" I asked in a harsher tone than I meant for it to be in.
"Because I don't deserve for you to be here! I don't deserve for you to be nice to me or care about me at all!" She yelled right back.
"Why would you say that?" I asked. She blamed herself too much for what happened. Majorly, it was something she caused, but it was stupid to believe I didn't have any role in it.
"Because it's true Lucas," she replied. I could hear her getting emotional and I just wanted her to let me in. Before doesn't matter right now. Right now, we were focusing on her accident. I brought my tone down and looked her right in the eye.
"Maya whether you like it or not, I'm at least staying the night," I spoke matter-of-factly.
"I don't need you here," she grumbled. Each word sounded like she was saying through gritted teeth. They sounded angry and forced, but I didn't believe the wall she was putting up.
"Maya!" That was all I could get out in the moment. "You are so stubborn! Why are you being like that?" I demanded, my voice raising again.
"Lucas I do not need or want you here!" she shouted. Suddenly, before I could strike back, Maya stumbled back on her feet. Her hand went to her head and her eyes closed, brows furrowed. I jolted forward to catch her and help her make her way to the couch.
"Are you ok?" My voice changed from angry and frustrated to nothing but concerned. Maya nodded.
"Yeah I just got dizzy," she said in a quiet voice I could barely hear. I got up without a word and went quickly to the kitchen. I filled a glass with water from the sink and brought it to her. I sat on the edge of the coffee table in front of the couch, my hands landing on her thighs. She clutched the glass with both hands and drank the whole glass. Her eyes focused on a specific spot on the carpet, probably trying to focus herself until the dizzy spell stopped.
"You alright now?" I asked, starting to stroke her thighs with my fingertips. She nodded slowly. I could tell when the dizziness started wearing off when I saw her eyes move around various spots on the floor. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get you worked up," I apologized. It was then her eyes moved up to me.
"I need to go lie down," she said, setting her empty water glass on the side table before getting up, practically pushing my hands away from her thighs, a place they had sat a million times before.
"Maya?" my pleading voice spoke. Her gaze slowly turned back to me. "Please let me stay? Just for a little bit," I begged. I didn't plan on taking no for an answer, but I couldn't get her too worked up again, she was too weak for that right now.
"Lucas all I'm going to be doing is sleeping," she answered.
"Good," I began with a smile, "then you won't even know I'm here." I smiled up at her, letting her know I wasn't leaving her alone, not again. She didn't speak, which I took as a yes on being able to stay. When she was almost out of the room, she turned back to me.
"Could you do me a favor?" she asked softly.
"Anything," I offered. The way she asked made it almost seem like she thought I might actually say no.
"Can you bring me my pain pills? I think Zay left them on the kitchen counter," she asked. I nodded, heading into the kitchen as she continued to her room. I filled her glass back up with water and brought it to her with her prescription bottle. I stood next to her bed and watched her pop two pills in her mouth and chase them down her throat with water. Without even giving me a second look, she turned over in her bed and closed her eyes.
I backed out of the room, taking just a minute to look at her sleeping form from the doorway. I looked at her blonde hair cascading down her back and thought about how it was usually draped over my chest as we laid in bed together. I watched her breathe, feeling lucky that the accident only left the minor injuries that it did. I closed her bedroom door, just enough so it was cracked open a bit. I knew I would probably want to go in a few times and peek at her, just to make sure she ok. I went back into the living room and lowered myself onto the couch, head in my hands. She was safe, but we still had so much to fix in our relationship.
A/N: I'm entirely sure if I like how this chapter turned out but how did you guys like it?! I didn't want to make an immediate happy ending for the two of them because they do have a lot to work out on both sides. Also I tried my best to channel a really in character Maya for this chapter and made it so she doesn't want Lucas to stay and take care of her because she thinks it'll be too painful to have him here acting normal and then for him to leave again later…. I think that's Maya-ish. What do you guys think though?
Next chapter is the most dramatic chapter in the story and it calms down from there. So prepare yourselves! Lol Thank you to everyone who reviewed! It means so much that you guys love reading the story! Also to the reviewer who said they didn't really like the story, I was hoping you could clarify on what I could work on with my next stories? I'm not a "natural writer" and I would like constructive criticism if you have it!
Next chapter up sooner with more reviews;)