194. "Enjoying the view?"
Lucas x Maya
Highschool freshmen
Kind of dating (Triangle thing is going on)
~.~
Warning: Big fight between Riley and Maya. Also, this might be a little out of character for Riley but I was angry when I wrote this so…
~.~
"Maya, why do you want Lucas?" Riley said out of the blue. The two were in her room, like always, working on homework when Riley asked the question.
"What?" Maya spoke with a small laugh, taken completely off guard.
"Why do you want Lucas?"
Maya's smile faded and she shrugged, "He's a good guy and I like him?" She didn't know how to respond or exactly what Riley was looking for.
"But he was my boyfriend." Her tone made Maya raise an eyebrow. She was angry, looking for a fight. Maya didn't want to fight her, she didn't have the energy.
"Look Riley, I like the guy and so do you." She was just stating facts, hoping to avoid the upcoming argument.
"But he was my boyfriend. You stole him away from me."
"That's kind of your fault." Maya said quietly. She heard a scoff from the now standing Riley causing her to look up from her notebook, "Well, it was. You did the whole sister/brother thing with him and then outed my feelings. That wasn't your placed to do that."
"Why did you like him when you knew I liked him?"
"I couldn't help it. I tried to not like him, I really did but it's Lucas. It's hard to not like him." Maya sighed and rubbed her arms, suddenly shy and nervous.
"I just don't get it Maya!" Riley's voice was picking up, "You get everything. You are so beautiful and artistic! Why did you need my boyfriend too?"
That broke her. She shot up, her hands landing on her hips, "I have everything?! Riley, do you not even understand the things you have? God, you are so damn clueless and ungrateful sometimes. What I wouldn't give to have your life!"
"My life is not that great!" Riley shouted back
"It's a hell a lot better than mine! You have both parents home every night and they love you. You don't have to worry about how you'll feed yourself when your mom is busy. You don't have to worry about anything!"
"That is so untrue Maya!" Riley paced away from her, "You call me clueless and then you say I don't have to worry about anything?! Do you know what it's like to feel like you can't mess up?"
"Do you know what it's like to feel like you can't succeed?!" Riley shut her mouth, "Riley, the spotlight is always on you! Even if something good happens to me, you always have to tear me down or one up me. Why do I have to be the secondary girl?"
"Maya, are you kidding me? All you do is belittle me!"
"That is so untrue! Why do you think I pushed my feelings down for more than a year?! Because apparently the only thing that matters in the world is your happiness. I'm not allowed to be happy!"
"Shut up, Maya!"
"No! Of course Lucas is going to choose you. Of course he will! Good things only happen to you and bad things only happen to me."
"You are so ungrateful for the good things in your life. You are so ungrateful for me!"
"Oh that is rich Riley Mathews. I'm ungrateful for you? Everything I do is for you! Everything, because when something goes wrong in Riley's world she just has to drag down the rest of us. You use me! That's all you do! You use my misfortune and my bad life to seem like a great person and to pick yourself up."
"That is not true…" Maya was livid at this point.
"But did you know that every time you shove me down to pick yourself up, no one is there to help pick me up? Not a parent, not a boyfriend, not a best friend, no one. I have to pick myself up and scrap the gravel out from my skin. Hope that I didn't bleed this time. Riley, you have everything and more. Why can't I have something for once? Why can't I be happy?"
"Get out! Get out of my house right now!" Riley shoved her finger towards the window, tears streaming down her face.
"Gladly!" May grabbed her stuff and stomped out of the room, making a point to slam the window shut. She walked briskly to the subway and boarded the train. It took three subways and a three block walk for Maya to get home. For her to get home to her crappy apartment in the awful neighborhood.
She knew Riley was going to text Lucas and their friends saying they fought and she needs comfort. Maya almost did the same, almost. Then she realized that she didn't need another reminder that they would choose Riley over her. She didn't need that, and she didn't need them. She just grabbed a small blanket from her ratty couch and crawled up the fire escape to the flat roof of her building.
At Riley's things were going down very differently. Riley instantly took to her phone and texted their group saying she was distraught and emotional and that she needed comfort. Farkle was the first to show up, typical. Followed by Lucas and Zay, who arrived together, and Isadora came last.
"What happened?" Farkle asked softly. They were all seated on the bay window with Riley smack dab in the middle. Lucas was to her right and Zay next to him, with Farkle on the other side and Smackle sitting next to him. She wiped her eyes dramatically.
"I just asked her a simple question and she exploded on me. I just don't get it. I love Maya but she is just so dramatic sometimes." She huffed
"What'd you ask her?" The question wasn't meant to be harsh but the blunt tone of Smackle made it seem that way. Riley's jaw slackened slightly and she glared at her.
"Why does that matter?" She bit back sharply
"Because, from a scientific point of view, you need to access both sides of the situation before you can come to the proper solution."
"Can we not view my fight with Maya as scientific?" Smackle just nodded and inwardly decided to keep her mouth shut for the rest of night.
"Has anyone noticed anything going on with Maya lately? Maybe something's happening at home?" Zay suggested with a shrug.
"Nope." Riley spat, "She is perfectly fine. Nothing's happening to her. Her life is as great as normal and she just attacked me."
"Well if her life is as great as normal then no wonder she's snappy." Lucas mumbled.
Riley turned her head to face him, "What?"
"I'm just saying that her life isn't that great. Besides us, she doesn't have much or anyone else you know? Maybe, it's just one of those days where things are just… hard." He explained nonchalantly
"There aren't days that are just hard." Riley said, "That's ridiculous. Your life is either hard or easy."
"But you only think that way because your life is easy." Zay countered, "Maya's been through a lot. Maybe something small came up that was insignificant to us but sent her over the edge."
Farkle pointed to him, "Maybe her mom was working late or all day and didn't get to see her. Anything small like that could just remind her of her life and cause her to be a little emotional. It's not uncommon for people who have experienced trauma."
Riley bowed her head, "I can't believe you're defending her when she yelled at me for no reason."
"Maya's our friend too." Smackle said, deciding to join into the conversation once again. "She's probably just as upset as you are, despite her efforts to hide it."
"Speaking of… where is Maya?" Lucas's curiosity struck a chord in Riley.
"Why does it matter?" Her tone was harsh and dry, taking her friends by surprise.
Farkle placed a gentle hand on her knee, "I know you're upset but she is still our friend. You don't mean what you're saying, you're just upset."
"She just stormed off, probably went home." Riley responded to the previous question.
"I should probably go check on her." Lucas said while standing up. Riley's eyes widened.
"You're leaving?" She was in disbelief
"Yeah. All of her friends are here comforting her, that's not fair. She deserves us too."
"Did she say she needed comfort?" Riley questioned bitterly
"No but when has Maya ever specifically asked for help?" His light chuckle made tears sting in Riley's eyes.
"But you're my boyfriend!"
He held up his hands in defense, "Technically I'm her boyfriend too."
"You're really choosing her over me?"
"No! But Maya doesn't have anyone right now and she needs a friend."
"But so do I!" Riley yelled back, abruptly shooting to a standing position.
Lucas gestured to Farkle, Isadora, and Zay. "You have friends, they aren't going anywhere."
Zay held up a finger, "How about I go check on Maya and cowboy over here can stay with you?"
"She doesn't need anyone!" Riley argued
"Everyone needs someone. Maya's no exception." Zay didn't wait for her response and left through the window.
~With Maya~
Maya sat on the edge of the flat rooftop, her feet dangling over the side and the blanket thrown over her shoulders. She kicked her legs aimlessly and just stared out at the city which lit up at night. She heard the heavy footsteps from an entire floor away and knew immediately who it was. Not only did his signature whistling tell her it was Zay but he was one of the few people that knew she came up her. She didn't turned when his steps padded her way nor when they landed behind her. His jeans scratched together as he squatted low.
"Enjoying the view?" Maya glanced over her shoulder at him and just hummed. "May I join you?"
"Always the gentleman." Maya replied without missing a beat causing him to chuckle, "take a seat at your own risk." Zay effortlessly threw his legs over the side next to Maya.
"You okay?" Maya brushed her hair out of her face and nodded, "I don't believe you." Maya turned her head to face him and plastered on a large, obviously fake, smile.
"I'm fine, Zay." Maya turned back towards the city, ignoring his burning gaze.
"Okay Maya papaya, whatever you say…" They sat in silence for a little while before Zay spoke up again, "Lucas wanted to come by the way."
"Weird, I didn't noticed him sitting next to me." Maya snipped back while brushing a piece of hair from her face.
"He's a little slow." Maya just nodded, "So what's the real story?"
Maya smirked slightly, "You don't believe what Riley told you?"
"Well she said that you just exploded on her." Maya scoffed, "I take it that that isn't true."
Maya shrugged, "I guess a little. I did snap but only after she kept pestering me with the stupidest shit ever."
"Like what?"
"She kept how I got everything and how perfect my life was." Maya huffed and slouched slightly. But her body stiffened when she felt Zay pull her closer to him.
"It's pretty obvious your life isn't perfect, Maya." She turned her head to glare at him, "But you do have a great life."
"I know I do it just sucks when someone like that continuously drags you down. I mean that's all she does. She just uses me to make herself look better."
"Maya, I don't thi—"
"'Oh no!'" Maya cried in a fake chipper voice imitating Riley, "I got a B on my test but at least I didn't do worse than Maya!"
"Maya…"
"Oh no! My allowance was ten dollars instead of twenty this week but at least I have more money than Maya!"
"Maya."
"Oh no! My brother got mad at me but at least my family isn't as dysfunctional as Maya's!"
"Maya!" Maya's head snapped towards Zay, tears stinging her eyes. "Stop."
"Why should I?" Maya screamed pulling herself to a standing position. "That's all she ever does. Oh I'm Riley and my life is sooo hard because I get perfect grades and my parents love me and everybody chooses me first and I get to help this poor unwanted lost little girl and get to turn her into me!" Maya was skipping around the roof, twirling like a two year old. Like Riley. Zay joined her standing position and quickly grabbed her arms, stopping her movements.
"Because you love her. Right now is a confusing time for both of you and you're mad at her right now but you love her… you do." Maya sighed and pulled her arms out of Zay's grip.
"I know I do but I'm just not sure if she loves me." Maya walked to edge of the building once more. This time she just stood on the edge and looked down at the bustling streets.
"She does, I promise you she does." Maya rubbed her arms and shivered slightly. Zay was pulling her into a hug instantly. Tears spilled over Maya's eyes and she huddled herself into Zay's chest.
"Maya?" Zay turned to the new voice while Maya pulled away from him and wiped her eyes. She didn't face him, she couldn't face him.
"I'll leave you guys alone." Zay whispered and quietly excused himself from the roof. Maya could hear him mutter to Lucas on the way back, "Don't fuck this up."
Maya sat down once again forgetting about the discarded blanket next to her. "May I join you?" Lucas voice was soft and held a sort of nervousness. Maya let out a low chuckle.
"Zay asked the same thing. I don't care, I don't own the roof, you can sit wherever you would like." Maya's tone was harsh and Lucas winced at it.
"Okay…" He cautiously took his seat next to her but still some feet apart. He turned to her a frown deeply embedded on his face, "What happened between you and Riley?"
"She didn't tell you?" Maya spoke still refusing to meet his gaze.
"Not really. All she said was that you exploded after she asked you a question." He watched her body deflate, "I wasn't entirely convinced. I figured there was another side to the story."
"There always is." Maya responded bluntly
"I came here to listen to it… if that's okay." Maya bit her lip. She wanted to tell him, she did. But where would that put her and Riley? She just wanted Riley to be happy.
"She's right."
"What?"
"Riley told the truth. She asked me a simple question and I exploded on her." Maya sighed, "I was just having a bad day and it just set me off. It was a stupid question too, nothing worth exploding over." Maya watched as Lucas's gaze shifted from her to the city. She watched as his gears started turning and his fingers began fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. He was confused.
"Why?"
"I don't know lone star… I don't. It just happened." Maya turned towards him, "Why do you care? Shouldn't you be over there comforting her right now?"
"I was and so was everyone else." Maya's heart sank, "But then I realized that no one was here with you."
"That's because I didn't need anyone. I'm not grieving or anything. I'm fine."
"Is that why you were crying in Zay's arms when I got here?" His eyes narrowed accusingly.
"I'm fine." Maya repeated, trying to convince the boy she loved and herself.
"Bullshit!" Lucas's sudden outburst startled her causing her head to jerk to look at him. "Maya, I know that's not what happened. Riley was being super defensive and obviously hiding something and here you are defending her again. What happened?"
"You want to know what happened?" She yelled at him. He nodded, "Really? You really want to know what happened?"
"Yes! Maya I really want to know what happened!"
"We were fighting over you!" Lucas's mouth snapped shut, "She asked me why I wanted you."
"What- what did you say?" He was wringing his hands together while cautiously glancing at her.
"That you're a good guy." She let out a shaky breath.
"That's it?"
"Yep I said that you're a good guy and it's hard not to like you." He just nodded along with her.
"Then what did she say after that?"
"Why do you think there is more to the story?"
Lucas took another step towards her, "Because there's no yelling yet."
A small smile formed on Maya's face, "She said that you were her boyfriend and I stole you from her."
"But we weren't dating? She did the whole brother/sister thing and then outed your feelings without your permission."
Maya just nodded, "Yeah and that's what I said then she said that I get everything and that's just where it went downhill."
"I'm sorry Maya." Maya just shrugged.
"It's not your fault."
"Well… it kind of is. This whole triangle thing is just one big mess." Lucas ran his hand through his hair in frustration.
"Yeah it is…"
"I've made my decision you know?" Maya didn't look at him as she gulped nervously.
"You have?" Lucas nodded and took one more step towards Maya.
"I have. Do you want to know who it is?"
She turned her head to face him, eyes glossy. "Do I?"
He smiled slightly and stepped even closer. Maya noticed their close proximity and her breath hitched slightly. She tilted her head up a few inches to look him in the eye, "Yeah you do."
"I do?"
"It's you Maya."
Maya tried to fight the smile that was threatening to show itself, "It's me?"
Lucas smiled widely and took one of her hands, "It's you."
Maya shook her head and turned away slightly, "It's not me."
Lucas frowned at her a small laugh escaping his mouth, "What do you mean it's not you?"
"I mean that it's not me. It can't be me."
"Why can't it be you? Maya, I don't understand what's happening right now."
"Lucas, please don't choose me. I can't do that to Riley."
"Why not?"
"Because she's my best friend and she really likes you."
"And you don't?" He countered easily
She sucked in a sharp breath, "Lucas you don't want to choose me. I'm a mess. I'm no good for you. You deserve a princess and Riley deserves a prince."
"Your right, she does deserve a prince." Maya's heart dropped at his words. "That's why I'm not going to pick her. Maya, I'm no prince."
Maya scoffed, "Please ranger rick. You're Mr. Perfect. You're the scholar athlete. You're the prince!" Maya waved her hands around dramatically.
Lucas grabbed them out of the air, "I'm not! Maya, I've got shadows and demons that no one knows about. There's a reason my father's still in Texas and I'm here in New York. There's a reason why I had to miss a full year of school and got kicked out. I have reasons and yes… I've tried to bury those but I can't anymore!"
Maya's eyes were widen as she watched him breathe heavily, "Lucas?"
"I'm sorry." He let go of her hands but was suddenly taken back by her small arms wrapping around him. She pulled him into a tight hug. Slowly his breathing came back to normal and his heartbeat steadied. He wrapped his strong forearms around her body and she dissolved under his touch. "I can't be the prince anymore. It's too much and it's too hard. I'm tired all the time and I just want to be myself."
Maya pulled back slightly causing his hands to fall loosely on her hips, "Then be yourself. Don't hold back because I like Lucas, not the prince."
He smiled and stared into her eyes, the eyes that he's found so beautiful for so long. He slowly leaned closer and inwardly cheered as Maya did the same. She closed her eyes first but he soon followed as they were mere centimeters apart. He could feel her breath on his lips and wondered if he should really kiss her. Lucas didn't have time to answer his own question before he felt Maya's lips on his. They were soft and plump and moved so well against his. He bent down a little lower and felt her body relax more against his. Her arms crawled upwards until they found the base of his neck and she was cupping it. It was perfect.
Maya pulled away slightly, her eyes fluttering open. "So you chose me?"
Lucas nodded and dropped his head with a small laugh, "I chose you. You and all your problems."
"Good because I want you and all yours."
"Are you sure?" He asked, "I have a lot of them."
Maya bit her lip and nodded. She moved her hands from his neck and pulled his off her hips. She dropped his left one and cupped his right hand in hers. "Don't think I didn't noticed these black and blue knuckles."
Lucas scratched the back of his head, "Yeah Riley kind of pissed me off to so once I left I punched a wall. Unfortunately it was brick."
Maya snickered, "You punched a brick wall? How often does that happen?"
"More often than I would care to admit."
"Lucas, I think we both need someone we can depend on. I'll be yours if you'll be mine."
Lucas held out his hand to shake hers, "Deal." Maya took his with a laugh and shook it.
"Alright huckleberry it's a deal. But that means that in like a month or two when you find out just how messed up I am, you can't run away." Lucas smiled so wide that is made Maya worry a little, "What's with the smile?"
"You haven't called me huckleberry in a while… shortstack."
She blushed slightly, "I guess we're back to the nicknames."
"I'm happy about it."
"Yeah, me too."
"So what do you want to do for the rest of the night?" Lucas asked glancing at the roof.
"It's only like 11, we could sit here for a little longer?" Maya suggested lightly. Lucas shrugged and the two slowly walked to the edge of the roof. They sat down, their thighs pressing against each other and their legs dangling off the side. Lucas warily took Maya's hand and rest the intertwined fingers on his thigh. It was comfortable, a perfect fit.
Maya broke the silence after a while, "I'm happy you chose me."
"I'm happy you let me."
