"Rise and Shine everybody." the teacher said as the troupes trickled into the lobby. "We've got a long hard day of work ahead of us so you all need to be wide awake."

"Ugh, can someone turn off the sun?" Missy whined as they stepped out of the elevator. She isn't a morning person.

"Thanks for joining us ladies."

"Sorry Mr. Suner."

"That's alright Maya. Now as I was saying…" the teacher began explaining the day as the girls joined the group.

"Long morning?" Josh asked as Maya stood next to him.

"Tell me about it. Missy and Leila just refused to get out of bed."

"Well you know them."

"Yea, but I woke them up hours ago."

Josh looked at Maya shocked.

"Yea."

DING

The whole group turned around as the elevator dinged.

"Mr. Friar, Babenoux. Thanks for joining us." Mr. Suner said moving his attention.

"Are we late?" Lucas said looking at Zay.

"Just a little, but no biggy." Zay said.

Something was up and Maya could tell.

She watched him as he joined the group across the way. He didn't lock eyes with her until moments later when she was caught staring at him. Something about him was different and she just knew it, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it… It was intriguing to her.

"Alright, let's get moving." Mr. Suner said snapping Maya out of her thoughts.

**Late in the day.

"Why don't you just talk to him?" Missy said to Maya.

"What are you talking about?"

"You've been stealing glares at Lucas all day."

Maya had no words.

"Maya, we all know your feeling things for him again so why don't you just talk to him?"

"What would I even say?" Maya asked.

"I don't know, how about that you miss him and your ready to forgive and forget."

"See I don't think I can just forget."

"Maya, he's apologized 10 million times."

"I know I know, but I just can't forget. He hurt me and I'm scared he'll do it again."

"Maya that's crazy talk. Believe me, he's more than learned his lesson."

"Wait. That sounds like you've been talking to him."

"Maya. He's my friend too."

"You've been talking to him! I thought we agreed!"

"No you agreed. I decided to do what is best for you."

"And what's that?" Maya said angrily.

"To look out for you! To make sure that he's become the guy he was before that way you can't get hurt again. Maya, he loves you and you love him, so you need to make a move before you lose him forever."

With that being said Missy walked away to leave Maya with her thoughts.

Maya pulled the golden locket Lucas gave her out of her pocket and began to look at the picture inside. She really did miss having him around. Maybe it was time to forgive and forget. Maybe Lucas had learned his lesson, I mean after all he did have to watch Maya be with someone else

Maya was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't even notice Lucas behind her when she turned around to walk off for a drink.

She ended up bumping into him dropping the necklace on the ground.

"Oh, sorry." Maya said looking at him.

"My fault, shouldn't have snuck up on you." he said bending down to pick up the necklace.

"You still have this?" he said looking at it.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

"I just thought you would've gotten rid of anything related to me by now."

"What? You think I'm that shallow?"

"No. I didn't mean it like that."

There was an awkward silence.

"I wouldn't just erase you from my memories. You're very important to me." Maya said.

Lucas smiled.

"Listen, I uh. I was hoping we could talk…"

"Oh yea? About?" Lucas asked.

"I was thinking that it's been so long and I think we should be friends again…"

"Oh. Is that cool with Josh?" he asked confused.

"What? What does Josh have to do with this?" Maya said confused.

"Hey Maya, can you help me with this sign?" Josh said calling her over.

"Yea." she said before she walked away.

"Look." she said turning back to Lucas. "Just think about it alright? Are you going to the boat party tonight?"

Lucas nodded.

"Maybe we can talk more then?"

"Okayy." Lucas said.

Maya smiled and turned to go help Josh.

Lucas turned around and looked at the necklace in his hands.

"I take it things didn't go well?" Zay said walking up to him.

"Actually the opposite. She said she want to be friends again."

"Really?"

"Yea."

"Then why do you have her necklace? Did she give it back?"

"Oh no. I bumped into her and she dropped it."

"So she still wears it?" Zay said.

"I guess" Lucas smiled at it.

"She going to the party tonight?"

"Yea."

"Then maybe your hope will become reality…" Zay said.

"Yea, maybe." Lucas said. "I should give this back to her."

He turned around and bumped into Maya again.

"Oh. Sorry, again." Lucas said.

"No no. My fault this time." Maya smiled.

The two just kind of stood there being awkward and cute.

"Umm…"

"Yea?" Lucas said.

"My necklace…"

"Oh right." Lucas said. "Here you go."

"Thanks." Maya said and turned to walk away.

"I'll see you tonight!" Lucas said as she walked away.

"Definitely." Maya said turning around to answer and then going back to Josh.

"She's so loves you still." Zay said walking up next to Lucas.

"She's still mine." Lucas smiled.

"Come on Maya! You have to wear this one! It shows off your features!" Leila whined.

"Yea, it shows off my features, and everything else but my boobs and but!"

"It's a two piece push up. What do you expect?"

"I expect to be able to go to one party without being whistled and hooted at because I'm showing my ass off." Maya said.

"But Maya, it makes you look hot!"

Maya was looking at herself in the full length mirror.

"Woooo. Hottie alert!" Missy said walking into the room with Josh.

"You think so?" Maya said not moving her vision.

"I do. What do you think Josh?"

Maya's eyes got wide as she turned around.

"I think you'll look great no matter what you wear." he said sitting on her bed.

"Okayy, well now I'm embarrassed." Maya said reaching for her shirt and shorts.

"Don't be! You look great!" Leila said.

"Okayy, so I have news!" Missy said changing the subject.

"Good, as long as we're talking about anything but me." Maya said sitting next to Josh.

"Ehh, don't get your hopes up yet." Missy said.

"Oh no." Maya whined.

"No, don't do that, it's good news."

"Is anything with you involving me ever good news?" Maya joked.

"Ha-ha." Missy mocked.

"What's the news?" Leila asked.

"Oh right. So I pulled some strings and we don't have to pay the party fee tonight."

"Here it comes." Maya whispered to Josh causing him to laugh a little.

"Maya just has to do a set tonight!" Missy exclaimed.

"What no!" Maya exclaimed standing up.

"Come on Maya! Do you know how much money we'll save?!" Missy pleaded.

"We're on vacation! I didn't sign up for this!"

"Wait, I don't get it." Josh said jumping in.

"Maya doesn't like performing for strangers." Leila said.

"Yea, and besides the fact that we're on vacation."

"We'll save $100 Maya! That's money I worked hard for!"

"You wanna talk about working hard? I'm the one who has 2 jobs outside of school!" Maya was getting defensive.

"Maya-" Missy started but Maya cut her off.

"So don't talk to me about hard earned money because your parents will pay for anything you ask for!" Maya said angrily before storming out of the room.

"Why'd you do that?" Leila said looking at Missy.

"I didn't mean to. She took it the wrong way." Missy pleaded.

"You know how Maya is! We already push her out of her comfort zone enough as it is!"

"But-"

"No Missy. You can't just sign her up for things like performing without asking."

"I'm sorry but I thought she'd like to save the $60 it cost to get into the party!"

"$60? I thought it was $20?" Leila asked.

"I was paying the other $40 for her without her knowing…" Josh chimed in.

"That's so nice!" Leila said. "But how do you think that would make her feel."

"That's why we didn't tell her." Missy said. "And if she performs we can all get in free."

"Look, I'll talk to her." Josh said getting up and leaving the room.

"You really did it this time Missy." Leila said walking in the bathroom to change.

"Hey." Josh said sitting next to Maya.

"Hey." Maya said.

She was sitting on the beach by herself, her feet burring in the sand with her knees pulled to her chest as she hugged them resting her chin on her knees looking out at the ocean.

"Peaceful isn't it?" Josh said making conversation.

"Very, I could stay here forever."

"Oh but I wouldn't like that." Josh said.

"You wouldn't live here forever?"

"No I wouldn't like it if you did. Then we wouldn't get to see each other everyday."

Maya smiled.

"So what was that all about?"

Maya took a deep breath.

"I love them, I really do, but they just push my buttons sometimes. You know?"

Josh just looked at her.

"Like with the bathing suit, and now performing. It's like the enjoy making me uncomfortable."

"That's not true. They just want what's best for you. I mean they know you better than anyone else and they want you to be happy."

"Then why do they push me?"

"Because without a push you wouldn't ever do anything."

Maya looked at him confused.

"You like singing right?"

"Yea."

"You wouldn't have ever gotten on stage if they hadn't forced you to."

"That's true." Maya admitted.

"And that bathing suit you covered up when I came in the room, how'd it make you feel."

"Showy." Maya said.

"I mean emotionally."

"Good." Maya mumbled looking away.

"What was that?"

"Good alright. It made me feel good."

Josh smiled. "See, they know what makes you happy, you're just scared to try new things on your own."

"I guess you're right." Maya said.

"I'm always right." Josh mocked.

Maya punched him in the arm.

"Hey!" Josh exclaimed.

The two sat there in silence enjoying each others company.

"So what about tonight? You gonna perform?"

"I don't know."

"Come on Maya. You love performing."

"I do but-"

"But nothing. You love it. Admit it, you want to don't you?"

"Maybe. I just don't like the fact Missy assumed I'd do it."

"Well maybe I can talk to her about that from now on." Josh smiled.

"Alright, I'll do it."

"Good." Josh said putting his arm around her. Maya was now sitting crisscross apple sauce. "I love to watch you perform anyways." Josh said.

"Shut up." Maya said putting her head on his shoulder.

To bad for Maya Lucas noticed this from afar and become upset by what he was seeing.

Maya had been performing a successful set that night on the boat. She was doing tons of covers just singing song after song.

Dangerous Woman

Freaks Like Me

Yeah by Usher

Cheap Thrills

Confident

Irresistible - she did this one with some random guy on the boat.

You Don't Own Me

Don't Let Me Down

Work from Home

History 1D

My House

Friend Like Me

-The list just went on and on.

Maya was on such a role, but when it came time for her to take a break she was more than taking advantage of it. She spent part of the time dancing with her friends and the other half mingling with others.

**Lucas POV.

"Dude, it probably wasn't anything. Maya and Josh are like this." Zay said crossing his fingers.

"I don't know. They looked pretty cozy." Lucas said.

"Who looked cozy?" Leila said walking up.

"Josh and Maya." Zay said.

"Oh them, they aren't anything."

"Doesn't look that way." Lucas said grabbing a drink.

"I'm 100% they aren't anything but close friends. They aren't even dating." Leila said.

"Are you sure?" Lucas asked carefully.

"Ask her yourself, she'll tell you they aren't anything."

Lucas face lit up like he just had a lightbulb above his head.

"Tell you a secret?" Leila said. "Maya never stopped loving you. It's why she and Josh broke up. She loved him but it wasn't anything like the way she loves you."

Lucas's mood was instantly picked up by that.

"So she wants me back too?"

"Well it's not that simple. See, she loves you, but she's just having a hard time believing that you won't hurt her again."

"I've apologized a million times." Lucas said.

"I know that, and so does she, but she wants to be sure you aren't gonna break her heart again. You have to prove to her that you won't."

"How do I do that?"

"Talk to her." Leila said before she walked away.

"Alright, I gotta find Maya."

"Already did." Zay said.

"Where?"

"Up there." Zay said pointing.

"She's performing again…"

"And she looks hhhooottt." Zay emphasized.

"Hey!"

"What?! You can't deny that! That bathing suit is showing her off perfectly."

"Dude." Lucas said with a warning tone.

"Look, whatever I say won't matter, but you need to talk to her sooner rather than later." Zay said walking away.

**A little later that night.

**Maya's POV.

"News, I have news." Leila said running up to Maya.

"Spill." Maya said.

"Lucas still wants you! He wants to be more than friends Maya. He still loves you!"

"What?! Really?!" Maya said getting excited.

"No lie." Leila reassured her.

"So this means we can be a couple again?!"

"I sure think so. But you need to find him and talk to him!"

"Where is he now?" Maya asked looking around.

"Not sure. I lost track of him."

"Look, I'm sure he's around, just start looking now." Leila said.

Maya walked away looking all over the boat for him.

She finally came across him, but not the way she was hoping. Lucas was with another girl, flirting with another girl. Maya's heart sank. Maya watched them for a second but she couldn't bare the sight. She ran past them and down the boat. Lucas noticed her trying to get away and followed her.

"Maya. Maya wait." he said behind her.

"Maya please!" he pleaded.

"I don't know what I was thinking." Maya said turning around.

"Maya that wasn't anything, we were just making small talk." he pleaded.

"I thought you would've changed by now but I guess not!"

"Maya please lets just talk."

"No Lucas. Just let me think for a little bit." she said walking away.

Maya went back to her set upset, but if she didn't perform she'd be in trouble.

She performed another 7 songs before she got another break.

"So, how'd it go?" Leila said coming up to her.

"It didn't. He was with another girl."

"What?! No."

"Yea. I just thought this would be it and we would be together again, but I guess it wasn't meant to be."

"Maya something here isn't right." Leila said trying to reason with her.

"No Leila. I'm just tired of the drama. I'm gonna go find a drink."

Something wasn't right and Leila knew it.

Maya was making her way through the crowd of people with her eyes set on the bar and she didn't even notice the guy in front of her so when they collided and his drink spilled all over her she was surprised.

"Oh my gosh I am so sorry!" the guy said.

"No no. That was totally my fault." Maya said grabbing some napkins.

"I feel so bad."

"Don't." Maya said. "I have some clothes that I can put on."

"Well can I at least by you a drink to say I'm sorry."

"Oh no. I can buy my own."

"I'm buying you a drink." he insisted.

"Okayy." Maya said surprised.

"Do you wanna change and I'll get you your drink?"

"Sure, Um I'll be right back." Maya said.

She went and put her clothes back over her bathing suit and went back to the bar.

"So I didn't catch your name." Maya yelled over the music.

"Jordan." he yelled back.

"Maya." the two shook hands.

"You wanna go somewhere quieter?" Jordan asked.

"Yes!" Maya yelled leading the way out.

Maya and Jordan went towards the back of the boat where there were less people and not so loud music. The two talked and had a good time with each other.

"Can I get you another drink?" he said when Maya's cup was empty.

"Sure."

"Alright. Be right back." he smiled.

"I'll be here." she said.

**Lucas POV.

There she was flirting with another guy. She wouldn't even listen to me earlier so she found herself another guy already. This was bullshit. Maya was going to hear Lucas out whether she wanted to or not.

"Maya what are you doing?" he said walking up to her.

"What?"

"You're flirting with him."

"So?"

"So. I don't want you to."

"What? We aren't together. You don't control me." Maya walked away.

Lucas went after her.

"Maya can we please just talk. Like this is ridiculous."

"This isn't ridiculous. I came to find you and you were with another girl. Lucas I don't want anymore drama or heartbreak so maybe we jus shouldn't be anything with each other. This way you can be with that girl and I can flirt with whoever I want!" Maya said this making Lucas angry.

"Maya we just need to talk all this out!"

"NO Lucas. I'm done talking." she said walking way from him to the very back of the boat.

He started to go after he but stopped himself when the police showed up and started to go the opposite way.

The police we're ordering the boat to return to the dock while there we're a bunch of people pushing and shoving hoping not to be seen. One of them ended up pushing Maya to where she stumbled and fell off the back of the boat.

Maya wasn't a good swimmer at all. She could handle a regular swimming pool, but nothing more. Water basically freaked her out because she had a fear of drowning.

Maya screamed as she fell over board and hit the water.

She surfaced and screamed.

"LUCAS!" she screamed.

He stopped walking when he heard his name. He turned around but didn't see anyone.

"LUCAS!" He heard again. He started to walk back towards the end of the boat.

"LUCAS HELP!" Maya said before she went back under.

Lucas ran to the back of the boat. He looked over the edge when he saw Maya struggling.

"HELP!" Maya said as she surfaced and went back down.

"MAYA!" Lucas screamed.

There was no one else at the back of the boat. They had all moved to the front.

Lucas didn't waste any time. He jumped into the water to help Maya.

"Maya just hold on." He said as he grabbed her to stop her from going under.

Maya was breathing heavily and panting and coughing water.

Lucas swam her over to the dingy boat the was attached to the back of the police boat.

He helped her into the boat and then got in himself.

Maya was coughing and crying really bad.

"Maya. Maya look at me." he said trying to calm her down.

"Maya are you alright?" he was really concerned.

"Maya!" he exclaimed grabbing her face.

She was now looking into his eyes.

"Deep breaths Maya. In and out." he calmed her down enough to where she could speak again.

"Are you alright?" he asked her.

Maya was still crying. "I almost died."

"I would never let that happen."

Somehow the dingy got unattached from the police boat, but Lucas didn't notice until the two boats started to get further away.

"Lucas the boats are getting further away!" Maya exclaimed.

"There's no oars or a motor or anything!" he said scrambling around the dingy.

"What does that mean?!" Maya said concerned. "Are we stranded out here?!" her eyes got wide.

"No no. We'll be picked up by someone."

Maya was freaking out.

"Maya. Maya look at me." Lucas said grabbing her face. "We are gonna be just fine."

Maya was terrified, but she was glad Lucas was there with her.

The two were drifting out in the middle of the ocean with noting or no one around to help.

A/N: #CLIFFHANGER