Chapter 3

Girl Meets Forgiven

"Just as the body goes into shock after a physical trauma, so does the human psyche go into shock after the impact of a major loss" - Anne Grant

Lucas sat in the pale blue plastic hospital chair and let out a long sigh. He couldn't believe that he talked to Riley's parents. He couldn't ignore Zay's calls anymore and when he told Zay it turned into a series of questions. Now they were all on their way and he had to explain it further to everyone. The doctors didn't tell him much except that Riley had been sedated so they can do their examination.

"Lucas!"

Lucas stood up from the chair in his stupor and looked at Cory and Topanga's concerned faces.

"Mr. and Mrs. Matthews I am so sorry" Lucas started and his voiced cracked.

"Lucas this is not your fault if anything you saved her" Topanga commented and pulled Lucas into a tight squeeze.

Lucas nodded in silence and hugged her back.

"Where is she?" Cory asked.

Lucas pointed to the room across from his seat and Cory disappeared from his view.

"Is she ok?" Topanga asked

"I don't know, I haven't moved, but she was terrified before, they gave her medicine to sleep, I think, I really do not know Mrs. Matthew" Lucas said and collapsed in the seat.

In frustration, he rubbed his face and quaked his head in fury. Guilt consumed him for even making Riley stay behind. She didn't join them on their walk because of him and she went out her way to avoid interaction. Riley would have come with Zay and Maya, the café would of been close, she would have not gotten hurt.

"It's my fault" Lucas whispered.

"Lucas honey it is not your fault, you didn't attack her, you saved her" Topanga emphasized.

Before he could respond they heard multiple running footsteps. Lucas saw Maya with bloodshot eyes with Josh's hand clutched within hers. Farkle with pure fear in his eyes held on Smackle's shoulder. Zay looked the worse as he looked like he had cried on the way there.

"How is she?" Farkle asked to be the first to speak aloud.

"Sleeping" Cory said as he walked out the hospital room with a Doctor.

"We recommend that you can come at a different time" The Doctor said.

"But no I need to see her" Maya demanded and began to shake.

"She needs to sleep" Cory began as Maya looked around in disbelief.

"Just for a minute" Maya begged as they began to hear screams.

"GET OFF OF ME, HELP! PLEASE HELP!"

Cory ran into the room with the Doctor to see a nurse being attacked by Riley as she cried. Riley turned to her Dad and tried to speak

"Riley please stay still" Cory pleaded as he went to Riley's side. Riley flinched and squirmed away from her Father. Cory noticed and took a step back from his daughter and felt the pain that radiated from her. Riley was an affectionate girl, a happy girl and at this moment she looked unrecognizable.

Riley was dressed in a plain white hospital gown and her short hair was roused from her moving around. A tear-streaked face and puffy eyes from her cries presented a shattered girl. Broke fragile girl and he did not know how to fix her.

"Where's Lucas? I want to see Lucas" Riley asked and looked around.

Surprised at her request, Cory however understood why she asked for him. Lucas has rescued her from her attacker and he was the lone one who shared her experience. Loss for words he turned to the Doctor for assistance.

"Riley you were attacked" The Doctor said.

"Please daddy I want to see Lucas" Riley begged.

"One visitor" The Doctor said as he gave Cory a nod to signify that it was acceptable.

"Lucas, I want to see Lucas" Riley pleaded.

"Maya is out there Riley"

"Lucas" Riley repeated and stared at Cory. Glazed over eyes with tears and paled skin, yet she didn't waver from her request. Cory knew that Maya would understand just not at this moment, yet he had to favor her request. Once again he attempted to move closer to her and Riley inched away from him.

"I love you honey" Cory said as Riley just nodded.

Cory walked out into the hallway once again and looked at the group of friends as they waited. Although Lucas was not a usual part of that dynamic, yet at the moment knew her the best. Lucas had been a thorn in the Matthew's house. As a teacher Cory avoided pairing the two for projects in fear of an argument and knew not to mention Lucas around Riley. He timidly walked over to the group as Maya stepped forward with wide eyes and hope.

"She wants to see Lucas right now Maya" Cory whispered.

Maya turned to Lucas with a whip of her neck and let out an angry gasp.

"It's his fault!" Maya snapped and Lucas cringed at the accusation.

"Maya!" Topanga scolded as Maya turned to Lucas.

She grunted in anger and shoved Lucas into the wall for the second time of the day. Turned on her heel and with haste walked away from the group. Josh pointed to her with his thumb and received the ok to follow her. If anyone could calm her down it would be him.

"Maya!" Josh called as Maya collapsed onto a bench of chairs. She shook with anger and let out shallow breaths as she tried to calm down. Josh sat next to her and grabbed her hand to comfort her.

"Why doesn't she want to see me?" Maya cried.

"Maya it has nothing to do with you, Riley isn't ok right now and she wants to speak to Lucas, she isn't choosing him over you ever! She needs clarity and he is the only one who can give it"

She knew he was right, but she wanted to be selfish right now. Maya had always protected Riley from harm's way and especially Lucas's harm. Now she was choosing him over her and she didn't understand why. For the last three years Maya had Riley's back and she wanted to have it again.

"I just want her to be ok" Maya whispered. Josh pulled her into a side hug and placed her head on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead and rubbed her shoulder.

"She will be Maya" Josh whispered as he looked down the hall. Down the hall, Lucas was hesitant about going in Riley's room, but he also knew he had to. Lucas opened the door with caution and saw Riley propped against a pillow and her sight set on a wall.

This was a moment he rehearsed in his head for the last few minutes, but no matter how he tried he didn't move. She turned to him and showed that her eyes were bloodshot red filled with tears. He stepped in and shut the door behind him, but didn't face her. That look on her face of pain and fear wracked his nerves.

"Lucas?" Her voice squeaked and he turned around to face her.

"Riley" He responded and he took a tentative step towards her. She didn't flinch, but instead folded her hands into her lap and she bit her bottom lip. She was nervous, he knew that about her, he studied her every move for that past four years. Lip biting was her number one give away when she was over thought about doing something.

"Did he … did he … Lucas did he hurt me?" She asked.

"No Riley I stopped it" Lucas answered and reached her bed.

She grabbed his wrist and pulled him onto the bed to sit next to her.

"Riley I-"

Riley engulfed Lucas into a hug and wrapped her hands around his neck. Her fingers caressed his hair and she cried into his shoulder. Muffled cries filled the room and he pulled her close to him. Vanilla mixed with coconut wafted into his nose and he let out a soft moan.

It was the same scent from years before and he missed it. He didn't realize he missed it until he smelled it and wanted more. He wanted more of her and this hug was complicating something he spent years building. Lucas pulled away first surprising Riley, who wiped her face.

"I probably look horrible" She said and let out a snort.

"Never" Lucas replied breathlessly and placed a strand of her hair behind her ear. Absentminded he licked his lips as he glanced down at her again.

"Riley I am sorry" He began again and she smiled.

"No Lucas, Thank You, you saved my life, you protected me. Lucas I know the past few years have been hard for us but … I forgive you and I am grateful you were there to protect me." Riley said and grabbed his hand.

Nerves bubbled inside of him as this was the most contact the two had in three years. She interlocked their fingers and gave him another bright smile. It wasn't like her usual bright smile, although it was a start. This was not something she was going to get over in a few hours maybe not even months. Perhaps this would be his chance to tell her the truth about why he acted the way he did towards her for these past three years.

"Riley I have to tell you something, I lo-"

"Babe?"

Lucas turned around and felt his heart drop in the pit of his stomach. His worst fear was standing a few feet away from him, clutching a bouquet of sunflowers and a mop of brown hair. There standing in front of him was Riley's boyfriend of three years, Charlie Gardner.