This chapter is going to be somewhat short, too. Nonetheless, enjoy!

Lucas' Point Of View

They had to be okay. They just had to be! I didn't now what I would do if they weren't.

Just a few short months ago, I'd moved to this big city. It was huge compared to my home back in Texas. I had been Lucas Friar, the new kid, the cowboy. Okay, maybe I was still considered a cowboy in Maya's eyes, but that's not important.

Mr. Matthews says that everything we do, every day, affects history. Whether you take a left or a right, it changes history. What if I had chosen to sit with someone else the first day at my new school? What if I hadn't met those girls on the subway because I didn't look up from my book? What if-

Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself.

But on that first day of school, when I asked to sit with them at lunch, my life changed. In a few seconds, I was Lucas Friar, the guy with nw friends. Friends who cared about me, friends who I would gladly give my life for.

If either Riley or Maya died, I don't know what I would have done.

It was then, sitting in a hospital chair in between Farkle and Mrs. Matthews, waiting for updates on the girl's conditions, that I realized who I loved, who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

I had always known I'd liked her. From the moment she fell onto my lap on the subway. But I had always assumed it was one of those stupid crushes that teenage boys got. Not true love, you know?

But seeing her in that mangled condition she'd been in when the firemen pulled her out of the fire had awakened something in me. I had wanted to know who was responsible for this fire, who had put her through so much pain. Whoever it was, I wanted to hurt them, more than I'd wanted to hurt Billy Ross when he picked on Farkle. And nothing, no one, not even Maya could stop me when I found them.

It had hurt, seeing her like that, Scratched and burned, not even breathing on her own. But I knew I couldn't have shown my real emotions. If I did, then it might have distressed Maya even more. As much as that city girl teased me and annoyed me, she was still my friend, and I hated seeing her so... un Maya-like. And now her life was n danger, too.

"Lucas," Farkle's voice pulled me back to earth/ I blinked.

"Huh?" my voice was hoarse.

"Do you think that... they'll be okay?" Farkle asked with wide eyes.

"Dude, how am I supposed to know?" I snapped, instantly regretting it as Farkle's face fell. The guy had just asked an innocent question, and I'd snapped at him for no good reason. Now I felt even worse. "Sorry, Farkle, I just..." I didn't know how to finish the sentence.

"I know," Farkle said plainly."You're not alone, you know." he leaned back in his seat and sighed, tugging at his turtlenecks as if he couldn't breathe not knowing if the two girls he claimed to love were alright.

Mrs. Matthews hadn't said a word since Maya had been taken away to be treated. I risked a glance in her direction. She kept swiveling her head around as if she were looking for something... or somebody, I realized, as a familiar man with curly hair came into view..

Mr. Matthews' eyes were red and puffy, and tears were streamig down his cheeks. He broke into a run as soon as he saw us.

"Cory!" Mrs. Matthews cried, jumping up and hugging him. Mr. Matthews wrapped his arms around her.

"Topi," he said, is voice cracking. "How-how are they?"

"We should be getting an update soon, sir," I piped up.

As if on que, two nurses approached us. "Are you here for Riley Matthews and Maya Hart?" asked the shorter ofthe two, a plump lady with curly blonde hair and way too much make-up.

Mr. Matthews nodded. "Yes, we-we're here for them."

"How are they?" Farkle asked.

The taller, friendlier looking nurse smiled weakly. "Miss hart has suffered many burns and bruises, and she has inhaled a lot of smoke. But she will survive."

I let out a breath I didn't know I'd held in.

"That's a relief, Mr. Matthews murmurred. I could tell that a huge weight had been lifted off of his chest like it had mine. Maya would be okay!

"What about Riley?" I dared to ask. Both nurses paused.

"Miss Matthews has not been as fourtunate as Miss Hart, I'm afraid," the shorter nurse said slowly. "She has a few broken ribs and many nasty burns across her face."

My heart caught in my throat. No... Riley... but.. she has to be okay!

"She was just admitted for surgery, but she's so young." the taller woman added. "She might not be able to handle it. She might not wake up."

My throat felt dry and my head spun. She.. she might not... wake up...

I moved faster than I'd ever moved before, jumping to my feet. "You're saying that she might die?" I roared. "This is a hospital, you're supposed to prevent this from happening!"

Farkle pulled on my shoulder. "Lucas! You have to calm down!"

I stared at him, easily shaking him off. "Calm down? Calm down? Riley's going to die and you want me to calm down?"

I let the tears flow as I sat down, burying my face into my hands.

"We're sorry about him," I heard Mrs. Matthews apologize for me. "He's one of their closest friends.

"It's alright, ma'm, really. It happens all the time. We're used to it," one of the nurses said. I hear footsteps as they walked away.

"You alright, man?" Farkle asked once the nurses were gone.

"No.. no I'm not," I admitted. "I won't be until.. til I know that.. that Riley's safe."