Lucas' POV

Every step I take feels wrong, every decision, every word feels...wrong. I can't shake the feelings I have for Maya and yet here I am, on my way to go ask out her best friend. The moral compass in me is telling me to let Riley down gently and to go after the girl you really love, but the red ring box in my hand and the emptiness Maya left in my room tells me the girl I really love doesn't want me. Or can't want me. I don't know this whole love triangle is just a damn mess.

I take a look in the mirror and try to convince myself that if this is what Maya wants, then I can do that for her. But, can I do this for me? Can I live a lie and pretend to love Riley?

I attempt to push the doubts from my mind and make my way to the living room of the ski lodge. On my way down the stairs I catch a glimpse of the blonde beauty-wrapped in the arms of Zay. I feel my heart break at the sight as Maya avoids my gaze, even still I continue to walk over to the bay window and take a seat next to the girl that complicates this all-Riley.

I brace myself for the lies that escape my mouth, "My favorite thing in this world is when you talk to me." I begin. I can feel Maya's stares from across the room and it makes it that much harder to go on with my 'confession.'

"Yes?" Riley questions. I try to force the crush I had on Riley back up, the small amount of feelings that compare nothing to the love I feel for Maya.

"It's okay for you to talk to whoever you want Riley. You know why? Cause I am a secure Western hero." Not as secure as everyone thinks...

"Yes, yes you are." Riley responds.

"But the important talks, the ones that we're gonna think about and always remember, can those just be between you and me?" Can those talks be between me and Maya?

Out of the corner of my eye I can see Maya bury her head into Zay's chest and my heart cracks again.

Riley pulls my attention back to her, "Well I don't know Lucas, how can that happen?"

"Well I was thinking that if we were together a little more, that you would only talk to other people a little bit, and you would talk to me a lot." I chuckle out to mask the way I truly feel.

"That's what you were thinking?" I can hear Riley's voice fill with excitement and my morals slip, how can I lead her on like this?

"Yeah, I think about it all the time." I can't lie anymore. Before I can tell Riley the truth Maya stands up from her place in Zay's arm, she gathers the room's attention and then turns on her heels and walks out. I immediately stand to go after her but Riley grabs my wrist instead, "Lucas?"

I sit back down, I can never give Riley the love she needs, not as a boyfriend anyway.

"Riley I'm sorry but I've been lying to you."

Confusion and hurt spreads over her face, "I've been forcing myself to be with you as a boyfriend. I'm in love with Maya. In fact I told her that this morning but, she came back to tell me I needed to be with you-that she didn't want to hurt you by being with me."

"Oh."

"But, I know now that me pretending with you is only going to hurt you more, and I want to be honest before it's too late." Riley's gaze falls to her lap. My hand finds its way under her chin to lift her head up, "Before I lose the title of 'Lucas the Good'."

She lets out a small smile, I can see it doesn't reach her eyes but she's trying-trying to stay strong for everyone. "You don't have to be so strong all the time Riley, we're here for you too. Here for you when you're broken."

"I know. And I love you for that Lucas, I really do."

I give a soft smile in return as Riley leans in to place a kiss on my cheek. I know what it's for-to say goodbye.

"Go Lucas, get Maya."

"Thanks Riley." I stand from the bay window and take my leave into the wintry breeze of the mountain. There's snow on the ground and children running around with sleds in their hands. I look around for my blonde beauty but don't see her anywhere near the lodge. I decide to take a further walk, taking in the stillness and movement of the snow scene.

I hope Maya can forgive me for succumbing to her pushing me away. I should've been stronger than that, I should've never thought it would be better to lie to Riley about how I felt.

I see golden hair flowing on a bench in front of me, "Maya?" She's slumped over on the bench, I can see her body falling limp to the cold, and every sense in my body floods with the urge to protect her.

I run over to the bench and pick Maya up effortlessly, her face is paler than ever and her lips are colored a cool blue. Damn it Maya, why would she come out here with no coat.

"Maya…" I trail off, watching her eyes close as she falls into a slumber.

Stay with me.

A/N: Hey, if you're seeing this right now, do you think you can drop a review on how you think the story is going so far? This was only meant to be a one-shot so I feel like I'm rushing some ideas a bit so any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading. :)