It wasn't until much later that night, when they were both lounging around on his bed, that Ethan decided to voice the concerns he'd been having about his girlfriend. He propped his head up on his hand as she laid there, flicking through her phone. He brushed a gentle hand through her hair and she leant into the warm touch unconsciously, humming in enjoyment.

"Maya, what's going on inside that head of yours?" She turned over to face him, noticing the look on his face. She sat up slightly, a knot forming in her stomach at the concern in his eyes. She put on a faux smile, deciding to play dumb.

"What ever do you mean good sir?" She muttered, batting her eyelashes at him.

"Maya." He deadpanned, unamused by her antics. She groaned, pulling away from his hands in irritation.

"Come on Ethan, let's not be serious. I don't want to think. I just want to live."

"I get that Maya. But at the same time, I care for you and want you to be happy. To be honest, right now, I don't think you're happy." She sat straight up at that, and glared at him expressionless. He sat up with her and gave her a cautious stare.

"I've never been happier." He gave her a sarcastic look, obviously seeing through her bullshit. She sighed, and melted a bit, unable to keep up her ruse.

"Alright, fine. Maybe I miss my friends, at the same time, I like the people we hang out with. Sure, maybe I miss my mom, at the same time, she caused all the problems in my life. She was an absent mother, caring more about herself than her own daughter. I get she was going through a hard time, but so was I. My father had abandoned me, and my mother did too. She might of been there physically, but she was gone in every other way." Her boyfriend watched her in silence, before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Well, you got me now. Bad things aren't going to happen to you." She grinned, and scrunched up her nose. She gave a quick peck before curling up against him, their bodies fitting together like jigsaw pieces. She sighed lightly, mulling over next few words carefully.

"Bad things are always going to happen. Just make me feel better when they do."

"Well that, I can certainly do." He replied smiling softly at the blonde angel curled up next to him.

##########

"Maya. Maaaaayyyyya. Maya, c'mon. You've got detention today." She moaned at the intrusion on her good eight hours of sleep. She scooted away from his poking, wanting more than anything to never have to leave their bed ever again.

"It's Saturday Ethan. Saturday is for sleeping." He chuckled in amusement before crouching so he could look at her eye to eye.

"Maya, you don't really have a choice. Look, come on, you get up and I'll make you breakfast." He bargained, and the thought of his french toast finally pulled her from her dreams.

"Ughhh, fine. Just know I'm not happy about this." He laughed at that, wandering away to start dinner. She exhaled in irritation before rolling over, and shoving a pair of shorts on. She yawned she pulled one of his Henley's on, the fabric swallowing her form. She dragged a comb through her hair, wincing as it caught on the knots in her mane.

"You know this is all your fault." She teased as she walked up behind Ethan in the kitchen, wrapping her arms around his midsection. He hummed lightly, allowing her to steal a slice of strawberry from where he'd prepped them as a topping.

"Oh yeah, and how do you figure that?"

"You're a bad influence." She whispered, leaning up and gently biting his earlobe before giggling and walking towards the kitchen table. He shook his head in amusement,

"I'm a bad influence?" He repeated, with a sarcastic chuckle. She nodded in amusement and watched as he pulled out the plates to serve his speciality french toast.

"Sure are. See, I was this semi innocent girl before I met you." She remarked before seeing his eyebrow raised in disbelief.

"What? I said semi." He laughed at that, cracking some eggs into the pan.

"The point is that you came along and suddenly I'm this crazy girl who cares about nothing nor no one. If this was the Wild West, we'd be outlaws."

"Sure Maya. And if this was the 30's we'd be Bonnie and Clyde. Either way, we must be the bad guys, right? Because we smoke and drink, and most damning of all, have fun." She giggled as he pulled a horrified expression at this, 'clutching his pearls' for added effect. She watched him talk, animatedly and without a care in the world, and knew somehow, she was happy.

She, Maya Hart, had found a guy that appreciated her for her, and not her best friend. She had finished pining away for an older guy that wouldn't give her the time of day, and she was done being alone. She finally found a guy that loved her and treated her right, and that felt damn good.

"And here you go, powdered sugar french toast with sweet sugary glaze and fresh strawberries," He mock bowed as she politely clapped, "Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week. Try the veal. Remember to tip your waiters or they'll probably spit in your food." She grinned at his rambling monologue, before giving him a peck on the lips and digging in. He watched her as she devoured her meal, following her lead. When she had finished she turned to him and he held the keys up.

"Ready to go madam?" He asked in a terrible impersonation of a British accent.

"To the car James." She replied in a haughty voice before jumping on his back and pointing towards the door. He cackled as she clung to him for dear life before straightening and returning to his impression.

"Righty-O."

##########################

"Remind me again why I can't skip it?"

"Because skipping detention leads to more detention, which leads to suspension, which leads to expulsion, which leads to hooking on the streets. And, no offence, but I don't really wanna date a hooker."

"I'm offended. I'd at least be escort worthy." He chuckled at her reply before giving her kiss and shooing her out of the car. She sighed, but exited the vehicle. She watched him roll his window down and speak.

"I'll be at the cafè around the corner working on some homework. Call me if you need me, ok?" She nodded and turned to leave. She began to walk towards the building but hesitated before entering. She spun around, rushing back to the vehicle, leaning into the car to give him a quick kiss.

"Love you." She muttered, her face flushed. She then whirled around and quickly began walking in the other direction. He sat there in shock, then began to grin wildly. She heard him honk his horn loudly and turned to face him.

"Love you too loser." She grinned so widely her face began to hurt and waved as he left the lot. She then began to whistle as she resumed her journey into the seventh circle of hell, also known as detention.

###########

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

Maya stared at the clock on the wall, urging it to go faster while Mr. Matthews, an almost father figure to her was watching her, his arms crossed as he leaned against his desk. His disappointment was palpable and honestly, it was getting on her nerves.

"Maya, are you going to talk to me?" Maya for her part continued to ignore him as he gave her a judgemental look.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" Silence.

"Are you going to apologise?" No reply.

"Are you going to tell me where you're staying?" Dead quiet.

"Are you going to tell me about Ethan?" A blank look.

"Are you going to tell me why you reek of smoke?" Nothing.

"Maya!" She finally turned and gave him a sharp look, one he'd never seen from the girl before.

"Let's see. No, no, no, no, and how about um... no." She then snapped her head back to the blackboard and ignored him.

"Maya please, just tell me what's going on. Maybe I can help." She groaned and turned to look at him.

"You can't help. Ok? Nothing you can do is going to change what's going on with me. In fact, half of this stuff is your fault." He scoffed in offence, crossing his arms over his chest.

"My fault?" She regarded him once more with that sharp, unforgiving look.

"Yes. Your fault. See, it was you that made me believe in hope. You made me believe that everything would be alright, and you know what, it never was. There was a void in my life. Until Ethan came along, I was unhappy. I was unhappy and pretending to be fine. I'm finally happy and everyone wants to take it away from me. So excuse me if I want nothing to do with all of you." He was stunned silent, completely taken aback by her speech. He'd never have guessed all this had been building in the girl, all this silent pain.

"Maya I-" Suddenly the alarm he'd set went off, signalling the end of her period of imprisonment. She clapped her hands and stood, collecting her bag. He just watched her, too dumbfounded to protest.

"Well, later Matthews." Before he could say anything, she'd crossed the room to the door and walked out, leaving a stunned Cory Matthews behind. It seemed to be becoming a theme.

A/N: Is it weird to say I ship my characters so much? Just aaaahh, I love them. So here is another angst chapter, and get ready, because the big daddy is a coming.