Author's note: Many thanks to Alexanna, a wonderful girl who helps me to shape my stories. I love sharing this experience with her. Listening to Lily Kinkade's Wishing Well while I'm writing this. Amazing song.

Maya had finally stopped swearing. She was sitting cross legged on Mr. Matthews's desk just staring into space. Lucas was holding her hand. Riley was awkwardly leaning across the desk so she could wrap herself around her friend. Farkle had fainted in the corner over the language Maya had used. And Mr. Matthews was trying to put all of the pieces together and failing.

"Maya… At the risk of provoking another outburst, can you try to explain to all of us what's going on? Without all of the colorful language?"

"His family moved into my building a little while ago. I saw him in the lobby and the common areas a few times. He was drawing huge, dark, impressive things. He was passionate about it. I wanted to talk to him. Maybe share some of that passion. I was going to give him the picture I was working on that afternoon. I didn't know that the mystery boy was Sam until I saw his picture. And, well, I guess I kind of lost it."

Riley looked at her friend. "Kind of?"

"Okay, fine. I completely lost it. I'm sorry."

"It's all right." Said Riley. "We'll help you find it again." She was hoping to make Maya smile.

Suddenly, Lucas looked hurt and pulled away. "So you were interested in him? Is that why you're so upset?"

Maya rolled her eyes. "Oh my god, boys are stupid." She said to no one in particular. Then she looked back at Lucas. "No. I wasn't interested in him. It wasn't like that. Not at all. Just… Well, look. I don't mean to offend any of you, but none of you really get my art." Lucas and Riley both tried to interrupt but Maya just kept talking. "You don't. And that's okay. You risked the wrath of the school board for me. You love me and support me every day. And you tell me every day how important my art is to you because it is important to me. That – that means the world to me. But it isn't the same as you having your own art. Your own expression. Riley, you kind of get it with your cheerleader obsession and, well, I'm kind of hoping to see that type of feeling in Lucas when baseball season comes back around." She tried a lopsided grin. "You're going to have to get me a hat because I kind of plan on being your biggest fan." Lucas still looked doubtful so Maya looked over at Mr. Matthews. "Sometimes words fail me. Do you mind if I…" She gestured toward Lucas. Mr. Matthews reluctantly nodded his okay. So she reached out, grabbed Lucas's ears, pulled his face to hers, and kissed him. Then she let go of his face and pulled his arms around her. "Just hold me, okay? And tell your jealous side to go do some of those words I said."

"Sorry about that." Lucas muttered into her shoulder. Then hugged her tighter.

"Sometimes I kind of like the jealous bit. It means you care. But right now I need you to tone it down."

Maya turned to look at Mr. Matthews. "Oh. About what I said out there…. And in here… Look, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have said…all those words…" she trailed off, not wanting to repeat the awful words she'd used. "I understand if I have detention forever."

Mr. Matthews took a deep breath. "Relax Maya. You're not in trouble. You're hurting. You're grieving. You're angry. I'm not going to punish you for that because I completely understand. I almost went the same route myself last night. In fact, I was so angry last night that I almost found out how far I could throw a milkshake glass."

Maya didn't believe him. "No you didn't. You wouldn't do that. You're always in control."

"In control? Maya, I'm about as out of control as I can get. I have lost a student. It doesn't matter that he was only in my class for a few minutes. I feel as strongly about losing him as I would about losing any of you. I can't believe he is gone and what happened, well, I can't even believe it. I want another chance to help him. I want him to meet all of you and realize that… that he didn't have to make the choices that he made. I wish he'd seen the potential that life held instead of death. I want to scream at the world but it wouldn't make a bit of difference."

"But you sat in the bakery yesterday and listened to everyone. You helped them calm down. You helped them feel better." said Riley. "You helped me feel better. How could you do that and still be angry?"

"I did help you guys. And I was happy to do it. One way we can all feel when these things happen is helpless. But we can't change the past. We can help each other. We can be there. We can listen. And Maya, it's okay to be mad. I wish you'd come see me yesterday but I suppose even if you had, today still would have been a shock. But please understand that anger is a part of the grieving process. It's normal. And while you don't want to let it get too far out of control, you also can't just bottle it up. It'll find a way to get out on its own and you might not like the result."

Lucas squeezed Maya a bit harder. "Mr. Matthews is right. I know a little bit about anger…"

Riley interrupted him. "A little bit?"

Lucas grimaced. "OK, I know a lot about anger. And what happens when you hold it inside. It's like a poison. But you don't have to let it take over. You two helped me to learn that." He said, indicating the girls. "That's why it's so great to have friends."

Riley wrapped her arms around both of her friends and then let go. "That's what we're here for." Then she stood up and walked over to her dad. Wrapping her arms around him in the biggest hug she could, she said to him. "Dad? We're here for you too. You listened to us yesterday. What can we do for you?"

"You're my daughter. And my kids. You don't have to do anything for…" Mr. Matthews started to tear up. He obviously wanted to hold back his grief in front of his students. In front of his daughter. But a first few shudders started to sneak through. Riley looked over at Maya in alarm. She'd wanted to help her dad but she wasn't prepared for this. Really, no child is prepared to see their parents cry for the first time. But for Maya, this wasn't the first time she'd seen a parent cry. She'd seen her mother cry at night when she thought Maya was asleep. Seen her choke back tears as she tried to find a way to make crappy wages cover all the bills that they had. She'd seen impotence and rage. So she gently pushed Lucas away, stood up, and went to join Riley hugging Mr. Matthews.

"Go ahead. Let go. It's time." Maya said to Mr. Matthews.

"I can't. It's not my place. I shouldn't…."

"Mr. Matthews? You've been there for me more times than I can count. You've been there for all of us. It's not fair if you don't let us help you back." There was a unique combination of tenderness and command in her voice. "So shut up and cry."

At first slowly, and then faster, Mr. Matthews started to sob.

Lucas looked at the girls. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Maya glanced toward the corner. "You can make sure Farkle is okay. And find another box of tissues. I think we're going to be here for a while."