The air was crisp. The sun barely peeked out from behind the clouds, casting rays along the sidewalk. Maya walked on silently letting her mind run free. "You're crying." Maya turned around to see Lucas sitting on a bench. "You're crying," he repeated.
Maya reached one of her small hands to her cheek. She instantly felt the dampness from her silent tears. "Didn't notice," she whispered.
Lucas scooted over on the bench and patted the seat next to him. "Come on."
Maya stared at the empty space and contemplated heavily. If she sat down she might have to talk to him. If she didn't sit she still might have to talk to him. Relenting, Maya sat down on the bench. Staring at the street as cars and buses passed by. "I'm not gonna talk."
Lucas nodded. "I know. I just thought you might want some company while you cry to yourself."
Maya's eyes darted towards him with anger. "Are you serious? Look Lucas I-"
"Ha!" Exclaimed Lucas as he pointed a taunting finger at her. "You called me Lucas. Something serious must be going on. Just talk to me Maya." He paused and took a breath. "When we started High School I understood that I couldn't protect you and everyone else forever, but what I did understand was that I can still protect you guys some of the time. I just want to know if I can protect you Maya."
Maya took a deep breath and looked over at her Ranger Rick. Could she really trust him with this life destroying piece of information? Or would she regret even sitting down? "No. Not from this," she whispered.
Lucas stared at her with this helpless look in his eyes. Quickly they changed to frustration. "Then what's going on?" Lucas stood up in exasperation.
"Nothing," Maya looked to the ground, suddenly finding her shoes very interesting.
"Maya look at me!" Maya looked at him again. "I am your friend and I want to help you. Look I swear I won't tell any of friends what's going on. Just tell me," he pleaded.
"Fine. Just sit down will you?" Lucas sat down and looked to Maya expectantly. "So," Maya began. "I-" she choked up. She took a deep breath and tried again. "We-" Maya placed her hands in her lap and watched a few tears drop down onto her hands.
Lucas placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Who's we? Maya is this about you and Josh?"
Maya broke out into uncontrollable sobs. "I'm pregnant."
At school that following Monday Lucas kept a watchful eye over Maya. Making sure she ate, making sure she didn't do anything too wreck less. They were walking through the halls together with Lucas babbling on about something. "Yeah and then Riley tried to put it in the pan and then-"
"Enough!" Maya turned to Lucas, stopping in her tracks. "You are hovering! Just let me breathe Lucas."
Lucas stopped talking and looked at Maya. "Did you tell Josh?"
Maya's eyes widened. "That's what you're thinking about?"
Maya adjusted her bag making Lucas reach for it. "You really shouldn't be carrying this bag."
Maya stepped back. "Oh my god! I can carry my own bag. Just give me some space!"
Maya started to walk away but Lucas grabbed her wrist. "You should tell him," he encouraged.
Maya looked down at his hand and he immediately let go. "And ruin his life? No thanks." Maya sighed. "Look, I just have to wait for the right time to tell him. I'll see you later. Okay? Just let me get through the rest of my day without worrying."
Lucas sighed and took a step back. "Okay. I'll give you your space."
Maya gave Lucas a small smile and walked away. Lucas watched her walk away with a look of worry. Which was perceived as a look of want by a certain brunette right around the corner.
"Hey Mom," Maya greeted as she passed Katy in the kitchen. Maya heard a faint reply as she bounded up the stairs and to her room. Tossing her jacket in its usual spot of in the laundry basket, she collapsed onto her bed. After hearing her jacket hit the floor, Maya sat up in alarm. Her laundry basket wasn't there. It wasn't there. "No, no, no!" Maya exclaimed as she ran over to the spot.
Maya scrambled to her door and yelled, "Mom! Do you know where my laundry is? I left a pair of jeans that I needed in there!"
"They should be in the laundry room. I haven't gotten to them yet!" Katy replied.
Maya breathed a sigh of relief and ran down to the laundry room and dug for her jeans. As soon as she found the denim pants she searched the pockets for her test. To Maya's surprise, it was still there. "Thank god," she whispered.
"Why are you thanking God?" Katy asked innocently as she stood in the doorway of the laundry room.
"No reason." Maya held up the jeans. "Riley needs these. I should go give them to her," she lied.
Katy nodded. "Go ahead. I'll be home."
Maya smiled stiffly and brushed past her. Leaving Katy to watch her daughter walk away with a concerned look.
Riley kissed Lucas' cheek tenderly when he arrived at her place that afternoon. "Hey," she whispered.
"Hey," he replied in a quite distant tone.
Riley sighed and took a step away from him. "What's up?"
Lucas looked at her and shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing," he answered fairly quickly.
Riley shook her head and crossed her hands over her chest. "No something is up. You haven't answered my calls in what, a few days? There is something going on that you're not telling me."
Lucas stared at her but broke away when his phone rang. Katy Hunter it read. "I have to take this," he whispered.
"What's Maya's mom doing calling you?" Riley asked. "Is something going on? Between you and Maya that I should know about?"
Lucas scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous okay? I'm with you and only you." He kissed her forehead. "Look I really have to take this."
Riley nodded and watched him go and take the call. Lucas, the boy she's been in love with for about a year now. She wants to believe that nothing's going on, but how long will it be until she stops believing?
Lucas hung up his phone and looked at Riley apologetically. "I'm sorry. I have to go, but I'll see you tomorrow right?"
"You're going for Maya right?" She asked.
Lucas nodded and apologized again. "I'm sorry."
"Of course you are."
He kissed her forehead. "I'm really sorry."
Riley just sighed and watched him walk out the door and what she hoped was not into the arms of her best friend.
"So she didn't say a thing?"
Katy shook her head. "Nope." Lucas sighed.
While running his fingers through his dirty blonde hair, Lucas looked around the Hunter home and spotted a picture of the family of three at Katy and Shawn's wedding. "How could this happen?" Katy asked. "And how could she not feel comfortable telling me this sort of thing? To the point where her friend had to tell me."
Lucas shrugged. "I don't know, but with all do respect ma'am when you get upset you are not the easiest person to talk to. Just based on my understanding. Maya's probably just afraid. I would imagine so."
Katy sighed and sat down on the couch with her head resting in the palms of her hands. "I just want her to tell me herself. So don't say a word about me finding out. You got it?"
Lucas nodded. "My lips are sealed."
Wind was non existent to Maya as she sat outside of school. The cold numbing her just like she wanted. Suddenly Josh was sitting next to her. "Hi," she whispered.
"Just say it," Josh sternly said.
"Say what?" Maya asked.
Josh scoffed and adjusted his beanie. "You know what."
Maya softly began to tear up. "I'm so sorry Josh," she whispered. "Trust me I tried my best to avoid this."
"Really? Cause it really seems like you could have!" He exclaimed.
"It takes two Josh!" Maya yelled, getting defensive. "It's not just me!"
Josh stood and tried to calm himself by clenching his fists. "I can't believe you let this happen," he whispered. "What about us? Did our relationship mean nothing to you?"
Maya was taken aback. She angled her body towards Josh realizing what was going on. "Wait. What are you talking about?"
Josh stood and looked at Maya. "You know," he answered vaguely.
Maya stood and looked to Josh, getting frustrated. "No I don't. I'm pretty sure we're talking about two different things here."
"You and Lucas together! That's what I'm talking about!" Josh said while getting angry.
Maya's mouth was agape. "Are you serious right now Josh? Where the hell did you hear that? And why the hell would you believe that?" Maya held his hands and looked into his eyes. "Do you not believe in what we have?" Maya let go of his hands abruptly. "You obviously don't if you believed this bull."
Josh immediately became apologetic. "Maya I'm so sorry. I just-" he paused. "Wait. What were you talking about earlier?"
Maya shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Because you obviously have no trust in me or what we have. I have to go. There's somewhere I need to be."
Maya looked at Josh one final time and walked off, done with the conversation.
The office was blank. Boring to the tee. Bland walls and gray everything. "Are you okay?" Lucas asked Maya. "You're shaking."
Maya's hands were shaking frantically as she tried to calm her nerves. "I'm fine. Just nervous I guess." She looked around the office and grimaced from the lack of color or warmth. "So where did you find this place? It looks expensive."
Lucas shrugged and struggled to come up with an answer. "I had some help," he replied.
"From who?" she asked, curious.
Lucas shook his head. "Doesn't matter. What matters is that you take care of yourself and your baby. As your friend I wanna make sure you do that. So I found a good Obstetrician for you."
Maya nodded and looked ahead, still anxious about her first visit.
"Maya Hart," a nurse called out from the door that held the offices.
Maya took a deep breath and began to walk ahead. She heard foot steps behind her and noticed that Lucas got up. She turned and looked at him."What do you think you're doing? You're not coming in here with me." She pointed towards the waiting area. "Sit."
Maya walked into the room and noticed that it was colorful. Just how she would've liked. It made her feel less anxious by the second. Still feeling nervous, she stood in the doorway not knowing what to do. "Please sit," the nurse told Maya. Maya sat down on the little table the nurse pointed out and looked up at her. "How old are you? If you don't mind my asking. Its just that you seem a little young and we want to make sure everything is to your proper needs."
Maya laughed nervously. "I'm sixteen," she whispered.
The nurse nodded and took note. "Okay and do you have any idea as to when you might have conceived?"
Maya twiddled her thumbs and looked down at the floor. "I'm not sure. There are a few different situations in different times that might help, but they're all scattered. So its no use."
The nurse nodded. "Okay. Well lets go ahead and get started so that I can tell you how far along you are. You must be so excited though. Being pregnant is a truly wonderful thing, so enjoy it while it lasts."
The appointment went on and Maya must admit. It was all pretty exciting, but what would have made it better was if Josh was there with her. No matter how mad she was at him for earlier, she loved him. So when Maya left, she left with two sonograms. One for her and one for Josh. She's going to have to tell him, because this baby is coming whether she likes it or not and she's not going to go through this alone.
Maya just might be ready to tell Josh.