They only started dating two weeks ago but Lucas knew. He knew something was wrong. Maya was quiet more times than not. There were no HeeHaws or Huckleberrys, only Lucas. He tried asking her if she was okay, if they were okay, but she always nodded with a smile and walked away. Weren't they still supposed to be in the "cupcake" faze?

Lucas' grades were slipping but he didn't care, he couldn't stop thinking of Maya, who slept all class. Did she even sleep at night? Biology class was still underway, the teacher drowning his students in boredom. That's when he saw them. There were bruises on her thigh and arms, just in the right spot that if she had been awake he wouldn't have saw them. Class was dismissed yet Maya still slept. Lucas sighed and squatted next to Maya's desk shaking her gently.

"Baby.." Maya move her head to face him. "Is class over Lucas?" He nodded and stood holding his hand out for her. She took it standing up and following him out the door.

"Can we go somewhere to talk?" Lucas asked glancing at her. She nodded leaning her head on his shoulder as they walked.

Lucas led them to a nearby park where the sat in silence for a few minutes. Lucas look at Maya then at her legs. He gently tucked his finger underneath her shorts and pulled them up her thigh to expose her bruise. "You want to tell me about these?" He asked rubbing her bruise and looking into her eyes.

"No." Maya mumbled looking down.

"Whose hurting you? I've noticed Maya you aren't yourself."

Maya sighed and looked at him. "Kermit." Maya never called her father dad it was always Kermit. Lucas sighed, his fists balling up. He wanted to kill him. "I'll kill him Maya." She shook her head. "No."

"Why? Tell me one reason why I shouldn't kill him? He's hurt you, left marks on you! You're not sleeping!" Lucas paused running his fingers through his hair. "Oh god. Please tell me he hasn't touched you sexually." Maya shook her head feircely and grabbed Luca's cheek gently. "Lucas look at me. I'll be okay. I am okay." Lucas sighed leaning into her touch.

"For now. He not going to stop its only going to get worse." Maya nodded looking away, she knew that. That's why her mother left. She was supposed to come back for her but she never did.

As Maya turned her head Lucas noticed a gash on the side of her head. "Oh God Maya." Lucas said kissing the gash. "I can't let you go back there. Come stay with me."

"But your parents? Besides we barely know eachother."

"My parents will understand and I know that but I still care for you and I can't let you back there." Maya nodded, scared of what might happen next, but she trusted Lucas.

Lucas kept Maya under his arm the whole park home. It began to rain as they came to Lucas street. Maya screamed and started to run. "I don't know where I'm going Lucas! Come on!" She yelled running backwards. He chuckled and ran after her, she seemed to be getting her groove back.

They made it to his house soaked through, welcomed by the smell of Lasagna in the oven. Maya stomach churned, she hadn't eaten in days. They entered the house.

"Hey sweetheart," Lucas' mom greeted her back to him. She turned around to face him with a smile. "Go wash up supper is almost read…. Whose this Lucas?"

"This is Maya. The one i've been telling you about." Luca's mom clasped her hands. "Oh that's right! It's so nice to meet you. Are you staying for dinner?" Maya nodded as Lucas piped up. "About that… Maya needs a place to stay… Would you mind if she stayed here for awhile?"

"Oh well of course. I won't turn down a neighbor in need. If you don't mind bunking with Lucas that is." Maya nodded. "Yeah sure thank you."

"Oh Lucas. Go in the laundry room and pull your sister's spare clothes down for Maya. "Yes ma'am." He said disappearing into the house. "Lucas' sister is off to college, we moved here when she left to be closer but she's got her own apartment so we downsized. Two bedrooms and a den that's wee, Ashley is 20 now, boy time flies. Oh it will be so nice having a girl in the house again!" Maya smiled at her.

This was going to be an interesting arrangement but Maya knew is was a good home better than hers.