I DO NOT own Girl Meets World!

As Lucas and Maya made their way out the front doors of the school they were bombarded by paparazzi.

"Can you tell us what happened?"

"Were you involved in the shooting?"

Lucas was pushing through the crowd with Maya by his side.

"Did the gunman say anything before he died?"

Maya froze.

"He died?" she said aloud shocked.

Lucas grabbed her hand making her aware she wasn't alone and they continued out to his truck and left the school.

The car ride was silent. Maya was being very distant.

They arrived at his house and Maya didn't move. She was zoning.

"Maya?" Lucas said as he opened her door for her.

She snapped out of her daze and looked down at him.

"Sorry. I was spacing."

He smiled. He helped her down from his truck since it was ridiculously high due to her short stature.

He put her down on the ground but she didn't release her grip on him.

Her eyes were locked on his.

He could see how scared she was.

"I'm not going anywhere." he said.

With that being said Maya was up on her tiptoes with her hands around his neck connecting their lips.

It was a sweet innocent kiss that lingered.

When their lips parted their heads did not.

"I love you." Maya whispered.

"Forever an always." Lucas whispered back.

Maya kissed him one more time before breaking away to go inside.

Before she even got close to the door Lucas's mother opened the front door and was outside heading straight for Maya.

As soon as Maya saw her she ran towards her engulfing her in a hug.

"I am so glad you are okayy!" Lucas's mother exclaimed.

Lucas's mom was the closest thing Maya had to her own mother ever since 7th grade basically. Yes Katy was around then but not enough. Lucas's mom basically adopted Maya when they first met when Lucas and Maya had to do the muffin project for Mr. Matthews class.

Maya quietly cried into her shoulder.

"I saw the news. I am so sorry Maya."

Maya still didn't say anything but subtlety tightened her grip on Mrs. Friar.

Lucas couldn't help but smile at the two people he loved most.

The two released the hug finally.

"Why don't we all go inside and I'll make something to eat while you two do whatever." Mrs. Friar said.

"I could eat." Maya said.

Mrs. Friar let out a breath of relief and a smile.

Maya couldn't sleep much that night. It's not that she didn't want to but it was more of her mind keeping her awake.

Maya was perfectly wrapped in Lucas's arms. Because she wasn't asleep he wasn't asleep. He was worried after the day she had.

"I love you." Maya said out of the blue.

"I love you too." Lucas said smiling.

Maya started to play with Lucas's hand.

He intertwined their fingers hand pulled her hand back to kiss it.

She smiled grateful. She looked back and he kissed her on the lips.

Maya turned all the way around so they could continue kissing.

When she finally took a second to catch her breath she said it again.

"I really mean it. I do love you."

The next week at school was hard for Maya.

It was Monday, her first day back.

Lucas could tell she was tense during the ride to school.

They arrived at the school and Maya was hesitant.

"I'm here." Lucas said grabbing her hand.

"Good." she said.

"You ready."

"Never." Maya joked.

The two then headed into the school.

Lucas walked Maya to her locker, and then to their first class which they had together. The bell rand and he walked Maya to her 2nd class of the day, which they did not have together, even though he knew it would make him late for his.

"I will meet you right back here to walk you 4th okay?" Lucas said as she looked at him.

"Deal." Maya said smiling. "Now go to class before your late." and she pushed him away.

The class went on forever. Maya's mind was everywhere but school.

She felt as if everyone was staring at her, whispering about her.

The bell rang and Maya couldn't have been more relieved to leave.

One problem. Lucas wasn't outside her class waiting.

She started to panic a little on the inside.

"It's okayy." she told herself. "You can manage to go to your next class alone."

Maya could manage that, but the only problem was that she had to go to her locker to retrieve her notebook.

She made her was through the halls scarcely. She felt as if everyone was watching her, just staring at her. It made her really uncomfortable.

She got closer to the hall in which her locker was and managed to slow down. She hadn't been there alone since it happened.

The bell rang and Maya was still creeping around to her locker.

The halls quickly cleared making Maya freak out a little.

"It's okayy, you can do this." she told herself.

She came up on the hall and peeked around to make sure it was empty. She took a deep breath and went towards her locker.

She was shaking looking over her shoulder rapidly and suddenly she froze.

All she could think about was what had happened the week prior. The whole debacle was just running on repeat in her head. She started to really freak.

All of a sudden she felt like she couldn't breath. She was having a panic attack.

She started to back away from the hall and as soon as she turned around she had two arms wrap around her.

"It's okayy Maya, it's okayy! It's me. It's Josh!"

**20 minutes later.

Josh and Maya moved outside so they didn't get caught skipping in the halls. Maya wasn't ready for class.

"So how are you?" Maya asked breaking the silence.

"I'm good. I mean, well as good as expected."

"Yea. Me too." Maya said with a low voice.

Awkward silence.

"So the doctor said everything was okayy with you?" Maya said breaking the silence.

"Yup. Just a broken rib, other than that everything is good."

"Good." Maya said relieved. "I don't think I could handle it if you were hurt."

"Maya it wouldn't have been your fault."

"Might as well have been. I mean you stepped in to protect me."

"Yea but that guy pulling a gun out wasn't your fault, it was no ones. He was messed up."

"So I've been told. It just makes me wonder why. Like what happened that got him all worked up."

"Have you talked to Liz about it?" Josh asked.

Maya shook her head. "She hasn't been around."

"Really? No phone call or anything?" Josh asked a little confused.

"No. Nothing. It's got me kind of worried."

"I think we all know Liz can definitely hold her own." Josh said.

"Yea." Maya huffed. "She's definitely one of a kind ain't she?"

BUZZ BUZZ

Maya's phone went off.

"Lucas?" Josh asked.

"Yea. He was supposed to walk me to my locker so this didn't happen."

"I see. So… where was he?"

"Says he got stuck in the office."

"Ahh. Well if you need I'm here as well."

Maya looked at Josh and smiled. "Thanks."

"Anytime." Josh smiled back.

Silence.

"So what were you doing in the hall? You know, that hall."

"Oh yea, that. That's a funny story."

"I got time, I mean we did skip class and all."

Josh smiled. "Well I actually was gonna try and conquer the hall myself."

"Really?" Maya said sarcastically. "Well I think we both failed at that task." she joked.

Josh laughed.

The two spent the rest of the class talking before the bell rang for lunch.

Maya and Josh made their way to the lunch room together.

"Is it just me or do you feel like everyone has been staring at you too all day?" Maya asked as they went through the hall.

"Definitely." Josh said.

Maya smiled as they entered the cafeteria.

Maya sat at a table and Josh across from her.

Someone came and hugged Maya tightly from behind.

"I am so glad to see that you are alive!" Zay said.

Maya couldn't help but smile.

"Me too." Maya said.

Zay gave her a small kiss on the cheek before sitting down next to her.

"Hey now." Lucas said walking up. "Should I be worried here?" he joked sitting on the other side of Maya.

"Absolutely!" Maya joked back.

"We're over babe. I've moved onto Zay." she said putting her arm around Zay smiling.

Lucas pretended to be hurt. "Can I at least be your best man at your wedding still?"

"Ya man. For a dollar."

"One dollar? That's it?" he pretended to be shocked. "Your gonna marry the best girl in the whole world and your only charging a dollar?!"

Maya couldn't contain her laughter.

"At least let me give you a dollar and a quarter." Lucas continued on.

"That's it?!" Maya laughed. "I'm only worth a dollar 25 to you!"

"She's right man." Zay chimed in. "Make it a dollar 50."

Josh was laughing this whole time. He was happy to have friends like them.

Maya laugh-gasped at Zay pushing him away.

Lucas put his arm around Maya pulling her closer.

"Your not worth anything because you're priceless to me." he said looking at her.

Maya couldn't help but blush. She gave him a kiss on the lips.

"So I guess that's the end of us?" Zay said.

"Sorry hun." Maya said turning to him. "We can still me friends!" she smiled.

Zay took a deep sigh. "I guess." he said.

Maya gave Zay a kiss on the cheek. She loved that they were such great friends. All of them.

Maya was glad to be able to joke with her friends like this. She wouldn't be taking anything for granted again.

The group just had a good time at lunch keeping the mood light and full of laughter.

When it came time for last period Maya, Lucas, Zay, Missy, Leila, and Josh all made their way to math while Charlie and Billy went to English.

The students trickled into the classroom one at a time.

"Miss Hart. Nice to see you could grace us with your presence today." Mrs. Aviary said aloud.

Maya was a little offended. "Yea well I was a little busy last class. Hope you can forgive me."

"We'll see." Mrs. Aviary said.

"What's her deal?" Lucas murmured to Zay.

The class started and all throughout it the teacher kept glaring at Maya giving her not so nice looks.

It was 15 minutes to the final bell of the day and Maya couldn't take it anymore. She knew Lucas and her friends were annoyed by it as well, so Maya spoke up.

"I'm sorry to interrupt Mrs. Aviary, but is there something you'd like to say to me?"

"Excuse me Miss Hart?"

"Well it's just that you keep giving me nasty glares and I don't understand why." Maya explained.

"I don't believe I have been Miss Hart. I've haven't looked at you once this class." the teacher tried defending herself.

"That's not true." Lucas jumped in. "You've been glaring at her all class."

"Mr. Friar if you have something to contribute it will have to wait until after class."

"Me?" Lucas said shocked. "You've been staring at Maya as if she's done something wrong."

"Did she not?"

"No!" Zay chimed in. "How could she?"

"Okayy all this will have to wait until after class." Mrs. Aviary cut in.

"Class is over." Lucas said getting angry.

"Mr. Friar I suggest you watch your tone."

"My tone?" Lucas was angry.

"Lucas it's okayy. Calm down." Maya said to him.

"I'm sorry Maya but I can't." he looked at the teacher. "You've been giving Maya nasty looks all class and I don't appreciate how you are trying to defend yourself here."

"Get out of my class."

"What?!" Lucas and Maya exclaimed at the same time.

"Principals office now!" she demanded to Lucas.

Maya was very shocked and upset as she watched Lucas leave the class.

"Now if anyone else as anything to say they can join Mr. Friar on his journey to the office." Mrs. Aviary said coldly.

Zay was going to stand up and walk out but Lucas gave him the death glare signaling for him to stay.

"I'm sorry Mr. Friar but I have no choice but to suspend you."

"What?!" he said.

"You yelled at a teacher."

"She was blaming Maya for last week."

"And I will have a talk with her about that, but you are only a student and your actions can only take you so far. I'm sorry but your suspended for the rest of the week."

Lucas got up and left the principals office angry.

Maya and Zay were both waiting at Lucas's truck for him.

"Suspended." he said as he walked up angrily.

"What?!" Maya exclaimed.

"For the rest of the week."

"They can't do that!" she was getting upset.

"Yea you were only defending her." Zay said.

"Well they don't see it that way." Lucas said angry.

"This isn't fair." Maya said angry kicking a tire.

"Hey don't hate the truck." Lucas said.

"They're really suspending you over this?" Zay asked.

"For the rest of the week."

Maya got silent.

"This is bull shit!" Zay said. "I should go back in and give them a piece of my mind!"

"You'd just get suspended too." Lucas said leaning against his truck.

"Yea, but if it means standing up for Maya it's worth it."

"You can't do that Zay."

"Why not?"

"Because if I'm not here she's gonna need you." Lucas said looking at him.

Zay took a deep breath to calm himself. "Fine." he said through his teeth.

"Uhhh." Zay said looking over Lucas's shoulder.

"What?" Lucas asked.

Zay pointed at Maya who was already a pretty good distance away.

"Shit." Lucas said.

Lucas took off after her but not before he gave Zay the keys to his truck.

"Here." he said tossing them too him as he ran after Maya.

"Maya! Maya wait!" he shouted.

"Maya!" he said catching up to her jumping in front of her.

"Maya." she wouldn't look at him but instead tried to move around him.

"Maya what's wrong?" he said getting back in front of her.

"Nothing alright." Maya said moving around him again.

"No, somethings wrong." he said grabbing her arm getting in front of her again.

"This whole thing is wrong!" Maya shouted. "It's all my fault!"

"What? None of this is your fault Maya."

"Yes it is! The school being on lockdown is my fault. Mrs. Aviary giving me nasty looks! You getting suspended! It's all my fault!"

"Maya none of that is your fault!" Lucas exclaimed. "How were you supposed to know some screwed up kid was gonna hold you at gunpoint. Me getting suspended is on me! I stood up for my belief and yelled at a teacher. That's on me not you. None of this is your fault!"

Maya took a deep breath. "I can't be here without you. I nearly had a panic attack today when you got stuck in the office before 4th."

"Hey hey hey. You'll be just fine. You'll have Missy and Leila, Josh and Billy and Charlie. You'll most definitely have Zay." Lucas said holding her face. "Your not gonna be alone."

"But you won't be here." she said.

"Yes I will." Lucas said pulling her locket out of his pocket and putting it around her neck.

"You got the clasp fixed." she said smiling at it.

"I'll be right with you everyday." he smiled at her.

She gave him a hug.

Maya took a deep breath before releasing the hug.

"So this is forreal? I have to do this without you?"

"You'll have Zay. He'll be there every second breathing down your neck until you feel suffocated." Lucas smiled. "And if he isn't I'll kick his ass."

Maya smiled and laughed. She pulled Lucas down for a kiss.

"Just know that I am so not happy about this." she said releasing the kiss.

"Neither am I. But I will bring you to school and be waiting here for when you get out everyday." Lucas said as Zay pulled up in his truck.

"You let Zay drive? You won't even let me drive!"

Lucas smiled.

"That's because Zay can actually reach the gas pedal."

Maya "shocked gasped".

"Don't worry. I love you and your shortness." Lucas smiled.

"You two done making a debacle?" Zay said rolling down the window. "Cause I'd love a ride home."

Lucas laughed and looked at Maya.

"We good?"

"I guess so." she said giving him a quick peck on the lips.

"Okayy dude, out of my truck."

"What? That's all the driving I get to do?"

"Yes, now get in the back."

"And I have to sit in the back? What happened to bro's before hoe's?" Zay joked.

Maya couldn't help but laugh.

"I'll sit in the back. Wouldn't wanna hurt your ego." She said to Zay.

"Good." Zay smiled back.

Lucas helped Maya into the back of the truck and Zay took the passengers seat. With that the three went on their way blaring music and having a good time.

A/N: Actually gonna make this a 4 part just to help wrap up the last bit of drama I have left with this whole debacle!