hey everyone, i'm glad you guys liked the last chapter. Thank you to everyone who reviewed and favorited and followed, you guys made me feel really bad about not updated, but all the support on the last chapter was awesome. i hope you like this one as well. sorry it took a while, but i couldn't decide if i wanted to do the episodes or not, but i decided to not do the whole episode, but do little scenes not included that with help lead to the main storyline. that's not confusing, is it? anyway, enjoy!

Maya's POV

Hopping off the subway at Riley's stop, I walk a little ways down the street to her apartment building. It's not that far from the station and even if it was it was, I wouldn't mind. Riley lives in one of the nice parts of the city. The part that has trees on the sidewalks and safe areas for children to play without the fear of getting robbed or beaten up. It's a nice change from the neighborhood my family resides in. Not that my neighborhood is the worst, cause there are plenty that make mine look like heaven on earth. But it's not the place for children to play hopscotch.

"Maya," I say into the buzzer when I arrive at the apartment building.

"Come right up," Riley's voice says through the intercom and I'm buzzed in. I walk up the stairs to the apartment and walk right in.

"Sup peeps," I say, walking over to the kitchen table and sitting next to Riley.

"Maya, oatmeal," Mrs. Matthews says as I sit down, placing a bowl in front of me. I know better to argue with her, so I just eat it. After we finish, Riley and I head to the subway to go to school. The ride isn't as eventful as it was the day before, but it's still fun to watch Riley try to get the hang of things. She seems kind of upset Lucas isn't on the subway, but it gives us some time to talk about him without him or Mr. Matthews around.

"So, you have any dreams last night about a Texas boy?" I ask, nudging her with my shoulder. Riley's face turns a light red at the subject of farm boy.

"What, no, of course not. That's crazy talk," Riley says, her words getting all jumbled up.

"Riley, please, I know you like him. And I'm pretty sure he likes you," I say and her face brightens at the thought that Lucas likes her.

"Really? You think he likes me?"

"Oh totally. I already rooting for the two of you to be voted Prom Queen and King," I say as we arrive at our stop and hop off the subway.

...!...

School is pretty boring today, at least, up until now. Lucas sat with us at lunch and I could practically hear Riley's heart start beating a million miles a minute. But of course, throw her dad in the mix and the moment is ruined. Mr. Matthews is the definition of over-protective dad. He freaks out over any contact with boys. Well, Riley's definition of freak out. I'd give anything for my step-dad to react to things like Mr. Matthews does.

Riley doesn't get how lucky she is. Her dad is nice and there for her. My step-dad is always out until the early morning, getting drunk. And on very special days, he doesn't go out until midnight and to pass the time until he leaves, he picks out every one of my flaws and punishes me for them. And let me tell you, his punishments aren't 'no phone for a week' or 'grounded for a month'. No, they're 'ten slaps on each cheek' or 'five kicks to the ribs'. Lucky me.

"So, did you do your homework?" Riley asks me as we walk to her dad's class.

"Nope, did you?" I ask, already knowing the answer. Riley always does her homework. I haven't done my homework in forever. And it's not because I don't care, it's because I can't at home. It's either I don't understand it and no ones there to help me or it's that I'm trying to avoid getting beaten to a pulp by my step-dad.

"I did and I did yours too," Riley says, a smile forming on her face. Of course she did.

...!...

Alright, thinking back at the whole homework rebellion, maybe it wasn't such a good idea. I mean, I didn't mean to set off the fire alarms and soak everyone with those sprinklers. I didn't even think they worked! My punishment wasn't that bad, just detention for a week and I was sent to the principal's office, which is where I sit now. The principals ranting on and on about discipline and the importance of homework, so I just tune him out.

Thinking back to the conversation I had with Mr. Mathews moments before now, I regret what I said. And I mean really regret it. Ugh, me and my big mouth. Now he's going to think something's wrong with my home-life and probably try to figure out everything. And that can't happen. I know what would happen if that happened and it's not good. My step-dad would be sent to jail, which wouldn't be that horrible, but my mom would be sent too since she knows what my step-dad does to me. Then I'd be some foster kid and be sent from house to house and probably never see Riley again. I don't want that to happen to me.

"And of course, we'll have to tell your parents," the principal says, pulling me out of my thoughts. Tell my parents? Oh no. No no no no no no. That's bad, that's really bad. If he finds out about this, I'll be lucky if I make if out of the house in one piece.

"Tell my parents? Come on sir, can't you trust me to tell them," I say, trying to be as persuasive as I can be.

"This is too big to not tell your parents Ms. Hart. I'll be giving them a call as soon as we're done here, which is right now. Good day Ms. Hart."

I'm so dead.

So, what did you guys think? How did I portray the characters? Do you like how I'm writing the story? What's going to happen to Maya when she gets home? Tell me what you think in a review. And I swear, I'll update quicker next time. And be on the look out for a one-shot I'm writing for GMW.

QOTD- Fav moment in GMW so far?

Until next time...