~Hey! I was inspired to write this because of something that happened to me recently and I guess I vented :) ENJOY! Oh- don't forget to REVIEW! If you want to send me a prompt of something Rilaya, PLEASE DO IT.

I don't own any thing.

Maya POV (As always...)

I will never let anyone make me a victim.

I am a shark, waiting for a taste of blood.

No one messes with me. I mean no one.

If they do, they are met either with my steel tongue or iron fist.

Mercy is not in my vocabulary. I only answer to judge, jury, and executioner.

I remember when I was younger, no one could stop me or tell me what to do.

The teacher called my mom and told her to 'tame me'.

Of course, my mom was working, so she called her boyfriend at the time. He lived on our couch for awhile, until he "left." Nate was a prick. He spent my mom's money on cheap beer and cigarettes and they'd "chill."

I still don't see what my mom saw in him. I guess that's how all relationships are these days, all a pretty picture until you scrape away the layers of paint and see just how rotted and dirty the canvas is. It's unable to sustain the beautiful artwork of an artist.

Nate just sat there, bottle in one hand, cigarette in the other, wasting away on that old, worn out, patched couch. Funny, how that couch has had more repair and is still there while my dad didn't even try to stay or work things out.

We didn't have a TV, the bills were too much, so I only assume Nate was higher than a kite, tripping on something making that blank, chipped, white wall interesting enough to stare at it all day long.

My mom called him and asked him to pick me up from school that day.

He never came.

At least not on time. I was a 'burden' and a 'waste of time and space'. Thankfully, my best friend stayed with me until her mom showed up. Mrs. Matthews ended up giving me a ride back to my apartment. I didn't want her to go up with me but she insisted. We walked to that door, the one that when it closed behind me would keep me prisoner until morning.

A brisk knock.

The door opened and Nate's bloodshot eyes, beer-stained shirt with splotches of food smeared on it, and messy hair peeked through the crack.

"Oh, it's you kid," Nate scoffed, "Who are you?"

Mrs. Matthews was obviously disgruntled and disgusted by the guy.

I mean, who wouldn't be?

"I am Topanga, a friend of Maya's," she replied looking worried, "is Katy around?"

"Nope, she's working tonight," Nate replied, placing his grimy hand on my shoulder, I involuntary shudder.

"Alright, I have to go now," Topanga bent down sweetly to my level, "If you need anything, please call, or you know how to reach us."

She means the window. Home base. Safety.

Nate fakes a goodbye and swiftly pulls me inside, slamming the door behind him.

"You little bitch," he spits angrily, "You have been too much trouble lately, eating the food, making me go get you from school."

"You didn't even pick me up!" I reply.

I flinch as he explodes with anger. He points his finger at me.

"Don't be smart with me," he yells, sending a punch at me.

I am on the floor before I realize how much it hurts.

I look up at him, towering over me, much bigger than me. I feel small and scared, I cower trying to get away from him.

I feel a large hand grab me by the neck and lift me up, feet dangling below me.

I CAN'T BREATHE. I try to inhale but can't. I fill with panic and start kicking him.

He gets infuriated and slams me on the ground.

I fall into a heap and feel my throat trying to inhale as much oxygen as I can.

"You will respect me," Nate snarls, sending another punch.

No. I will never respect you.

I can't say it.

I feel my head explode with pain as I am hit again and again.

Then nothing.

I wake up with a pounding headache.

I am surrounded by an intense bright light, forcing me to close my eyes again.

"Maya?" a sweet voice calls out to me, "can you hear me?"

"phlegmanakn," I mumble, surely they understand?

I try to open my eyes again, bracing myself for the blinding light, but this time I am able to focus on the face the voice belongs to.

"Mrs. Matthews?" I ask confused.

What is going on? Where am I?

I don't know if my face gave it away but she put my hand in mine.

"Hey, sweety," she smiles at me, "you are in the hospital."

I look around and take in the sterile, white room, with a slight beeping noise coming from a machine.

Whaaattt?

"Why?" I ask, dazed from both the major headache and pain that is finally registering through my body.

"I know this is a lot to take in right now," Mrs. Matthews starts, "but I want you to know that we as a family, will be there for you no matter what."

"Thanks Mrs. Matthews," I genuinely respond with a small smile, but quickly regret it as I wince.

Then it hits me. Apartment. Nate. Face.

Yeah.

"What happened to Nate?"

"I didn't feel comfortable with just leaving you there with him," Mrs. Matthews recalls, "so I didn't know what to do, until I heard a commotion and called the police."

Arrested?

"What about my mom?" I ask, "is she ok?"

Mrs. Matthews looks noticeably uncomfortable.

"After Nate was taken into custody, she felt she was under a lot of stress and heartbroken and decided to go on vacation," Mrs. Matthews gently shares.

Wow. My mom really doesn't care. I thought I at least meant something to her. But apparantly Nate is her number one priority. Everything but me.

I feel a warm, soothing hand on my shoulder. I want to cry but theres nothing left to give.

I am pulled into a loving embrace and melt.

I start sobbing.

"Mrs. Matthews," I gulp, trying to speak with some form of composure, "I am alone. My family doesn't want me. My dad left me and now my mom. What am I supposed to do?"

"Maya, look at me," Mrs. Matthews replies sternly, gently rubbing my back, "You are not alone. You are our family. No matter what happens we will always be by your side, nothing will change that. Blood doesn't mean anything."

We stay in that position until I finally lull myself to sleep from crying.

In the wake of consciousness, I feel motherly hands gently maneuver me under covers, tucking me in.

I feel content as she kisses my unbruised cheek, a tucks my hair behind my ear.

I fall into a dreamless sleep.

The next time I wake up, I feel a presence next to me on my bed.

I turn over and see Riley, passed out from exhaustion.

When did she get here?

I roll over, wincing as I jostled my side, and watch her slumber.

Her breaths are soft and her face peaceful.

There are a few strands of loose hair that I attempt to brush away from her face, but she twitches her nose. It's kind of cute, like a little bunny.

She blinks tiredly, disoriented for a brief moment, reminding me of a deer.

Then she sees me awake and smiles.

"Maya!," Riley exclaims, gently wrapping her arms around me, "I am so glad you are ok. How are you feeling?"

"Really tired and a killer headache," I respond, "but I'm better now that you're here."

"Me too," Riley agrees, snuggling close to me.

We stare into each others eyes, brown meets blue.

No words were exchanged, no expressions were needed.

We have each other.

I wrap my arms around her and she holds me, stroking my hair.

You see, Nate was wrong. That teacher was wrong. My mom was wrong. My dad, he's nothing to me anymore.

My true family is here in this room with me.

I will never be tamed because I am not a victim.

I am Maya Hart and the only one who has the privilege of saving me is Riley.

We won't change for each other, I love everything about her, faults and imperfections.

I fall asleep in the safe and protecting arms of the girl I love, dreaming nothing but bliss.

Different POV

There is nothing that transcends time more than the power of love.

It lingers in the hearts and souls of the immortal spirit.

Never will it fade.

Towers crumble, civilizations fall.

Love will stand through time.

Eternal and never ceasing.

Nothing more sublime

Than this.

A/N: After writing this... and having it deleted halfway was quite frustrating. I also just realized I started writing as sort of a flashback and then it turns into the story... but it stays in the story and ends in present tense...

Yeah... I don't really want to go back and change it so it fits the "English standard"

I wanted to write this chapter because I think if Maya gets hurt, she might grieve a little bit but she would realize she does have a strong support system through the M's and be confident and hold her head up high...

As for the Different POV... I was bored.

IT ENDED WITH RILAYA. I wasn't trying to but *FARKLE VOICE* "HA!"