Hi guys! I am trying to crank out as many chapters as possible but recently I have been in and out of inspiration. I do have my computer back so there should be way more chapters coming out. If you want to see anything added to the story let me know because I promise I will try to work it in More romantic scenes? More crime analysis? Specific injuries? Just ask. Anyway I have been getting so many amazing REVIEWS and PMS that honestly make my day, so please send as many as you can because they give me the will to keep writing. As always follow, favorite, and review!

Kisses,

Em

Lucas's POV

"Hi, Princess." I said. I stared down at her serene face while lightly brushing her hair out of her face.

"You hair smells good. But not as good as when you wash it with your fancy rose shampoo. You know, the one you got in Paris." I said while recalling the look on her face when she found the one her grandmother had bought for her as a child.

"I really miss you. I want to see your smile again. I want to see your face light up like it does when you solve a problem. I need you. You see, I have to solve a really big problem. But then again, how can someone save themselves if they've already drowned?" I said. I quietly scooted my chair closer to her bed so I could lay my head on the pillow with her.

I took her life force for granted. Everyone tells you to live in the moment and not take anything for granted, but here I am. One time in ELA Harper made us read The House of the Scorpion and she made us answer questions. One of them was what is the value of life. I had answered in some Coachella hippy fashion by saying that it was this indescribable fire that pushed us to truly live in the moment. Now that I look at the pale body of my best friend I realize how wrong I was.

I wasn't wrong but saying that it was a flame but I didn't explain it enough. It's the type of fire that is built on damp wood and is constantly flickering, so easy to snuff out. When I got to New York my fire was on the brink of distinction when Riley came in and doused my wood with gasoline and for good measure threw another match in. Now here she was in the middle of a hurricane and I was stuck on the other side.

Gasoline in hand but just out of throwing distance.

Riley's POV

I can hear him just like I could hear everyone else. He came in last. After Shawn rushed in saying he was sorry, he should have been there. His voice was barely there, like when someone shouted at me to get inside during hurricane sandy. Next came Farkle, he was eerily calm. It was as if he was shouting at me from across a busy street, I could barely hear him. He just kept muttering that it would be okay, that I would wake up and it would all go away and they were going to catch that criminal. After he left there was a long break until all the sudden Maya showed up. She sounded like she was shouting at me from a moving train. It would come and go, wavering with fear whenever it appeared. She mainly just cried and said that she was sorry, it should have been her, I was too innocent. Then she slowly stood and walked out leaving me wondering where Lucas was. I went back into my little daydream and didn't pay attention to anything.

Then he walked in.

He just settled in the chair next to my bed and talked to me about the little things. He didn't talk about what happened to me, he just talked about our day. That he could take all his required courses at Stanford and then go to Veterinary school at University of California-Davis, and I could get all my required courses at Stanford and then just stay there to go through law school. He talked about our future, how he wants to stay together in one way or the other. He talked about my hair, how it smelled good but he likes the rose one better. He talked about us finding the special shampoo that my grandmother had gotten me when I was a little child.

He quietly scooted the chair closer to my bedside until he could lightly lay down his head on my pillow. This is what I wanted. I wanted peace; I didn't want to think about what had happened. I just wanted to recount memories. I wanted to skip the present and jump to the future.

He slid his hand into mine and asked me to squeeze, he just wanted to know that I would be okay. As if I had emerged from the fog I slowly felt my hand tighten and quickly release. Lucas's head quickly shot up and stared at me, don't ask how I could tell but I just felt his presence hovering over me. He quickly brushed the hair out of my face.

I heard him jump up and run from the room, calling for a nurse.

Time to wake up.

Maya's POV

I keep my head down as I walk into the police station. Aviators and my Knicks hat protect me better then any privacy agreement ever could.

This was my favor for Topanga.

"Um, I'm here on behalf of the prosecuting side for the Matthews rape case." I say handing a file folder full of papers that Topanga had faxed over to the officer at the window.

He quickly glanced through the papers and nodded. He motioned for me to follow him back.

"Okay, so we are looking to open an official investigation, correct?" Asked the officer once we got past security.

"Um, yes. On behalf of Mrs. Topanga Matthews the mother of Riley Matthews we move to officially pursue an investigation in order to find the sick little-" I said before being cut off.

"Okay, yup. Message is clearly received, thank you. I am going to go ahead and take you back to Detective Jonathan, and I will submit all of the official paperwork. Now you are eighteen correct?"

"Um yes, by three days." I said giving a light laugh.

"Perfect." He said while leading me back to middle aged man leafing through a big file box.

"Hello, Ms. Hart." He said after reading the file that the officer handed him.

"What can I do for you?" He asked while settling into his desk chair.

"Um, well since I am not the lawyer here I will try to put it as well as I know." I said while chuckling.

"I have been sent by Riley Matthew's mother, Topanga Matthews, to enlarge the spectrum of the case." I tried to explain. I barely understand myself.

"What do you, or, Mrs. Matthews mean?" The detective questioned while settling forward on his desk.

"Um, she thinks that this could have to do with some form of gang activity involving one of our friends. Mr. Babineaux." I said, my voice shaking.