TELL

You Don't Have To Talk

Maya sat quietly in the nurses office with Smackle beside her. At some point during the attack she had gotten hurt. Her hand was cut most likely from when she grabbed for the pen knife, but she didn't even realize she was bleeding until she heard Smackle tell the nurse. She also had a cut on her cheek, she wasn't sure how it got there, but she figured it had to be when she fell to the ground. She must have landed in the glass left behind by the jar she broke against his head. Her ankle was twisted from tripping over the easel and she had bruises forming on her arms in the shape of his hands.

The nurse finished wrapping her ankle and stood. "I'm going to call your parents to come get you."

Maya didn't respond, instead she silently stared down at one of the black tiles on the floor in front of her.

Smackle stared at Maya with worry. She didn't want Maya to go silent again, but she also didn't want to force her to talk if she wasn't ready. She slowly reached for Maya's bandaged hand and held it in her own. "You don't have to talk if you don't want to." She whispered gently.

Maya looked over at Smackle, down at their hands, then back up into the concerned eyes of her friend. "No, I- I want to talk about it." She sighed.

Smackle nodded. "I will listen."

Maya took a deep breath and started telling Smackle about everything that happened. Smackle quietly listened knowing that Maya would appreciate if she stayed quiet until she was done.

"I thought he would do it again, but this time-" Maya let a smile pull at her lips. "I fought back." She sucked in a breath. "I fought until I was free."

Smackle gave her a small smile. "I'm glad you did. You are one of the strongest people I know and I was worried that he had taken away your strength, but I'm relieved you still have it. I'm proud of you for fighting."

"Thanks, I'm proud of myself." Maya smiled over at Smackle.

"Mayyyya!!" Riley ran into the room and threw her arms around Maya.

"Oof. Riles, off." Maya gasped in pain.

"You do realize you are in a nurse's office and she is injured, right?"

Riley quickly let Maya go. "Sorry! What happened to you?!" Riley asked frowning. "Farkle said that you were attacked in the art room by-" Riley pouted. "Did my Uncle Josh hurt you?"

Maya frowned, but when Smackle nudged her arm she smiled again. "Eh, I hurt him too. I think he'll back off now. Plus I think Zay told Matthews."

Riley nodded. "He did. I'm sorry. I- I can't believe my Uncle Josh could-"

"Riles, it's not your fault. Your Uncle needs to face the consequences, not you." Maya said to make her feel better, but Riley shook her head.

"Stop doing that." She cried. "Don't act like everything is okay. Let me be there for you. You can cry or scream or even swear if you want to-" She sighed sorrowfully. "-or you don't have to talk at all if that's what you want. I love you, Peaches. I just want you to feel whatever you need to feel, the good and the bad. I don't want you to suppress your feelings for my sake. Never do that again, promise me."

Maya stared at Riley in shock. "I-I just wanted to- to keep you innocent."

Riley leaned forward and wiped Maya's tears before the salty water reached the cut on her cheek. "You don't have to protect me all the time, not if it means you get hurt. I would never want that." Riley sighed then she gave Maya a small smile. "Lucas loves you and we broke up. Don't even pretend like you don't love him."

Maya gaped at Riley. "Riles, I-"

Riley shook her head. "Don't. I don't want to hear it." Riley covered her ears. When Maya opened her mouth Riley started humming the alphabet.

Maya chuckled and pulled Riley's hands away from her ears. "Okay, okay!" She snapped making Riley stop. "I love Lucas, okay?" Maya sighed.

Riley grinned. "Yes."

Maya frowned. "But it doesn't matter."

"What?! Yes it does!" Smackle yelled.

Riley nodded rapidly. "Yes! Yes, it matters! Your feelings matter, Maya!"

Maya took a deep breath. "I'm- I'm, ya know, I'm not a virgin anymore."

"I know, but- That doesn't mean you can't be in a relationship with Lucas."

"He wouldn't want me." Maya cried. "I'm tainted. I'm damaged goods."

Smackle shook her head. "You have never sounded dumber than you do right now." She stated honestly.

"Peaches, you are not any of those things. You are still Maya."

Maya hung her head. "I'm dirty."

Riley looked over at the door, then she lifted Maya's head. "No, you're not."

"You're beautiful." Lucas said as he walked over to the three girls.

Maya's head snapped over to look at him. "How much did you hear?"

Lucas smiled. "I've been outside the door since Riley ran in, she told me to wait until she talked to you first."

Maya looked shocked, she looked from Lucas to Riley. "You set me up."

Riley smiled innocently. "I love you." Then she got up and ran from the room pulling Smackle with her.

"I don't like being pulled!!"

Lucas sat down in the chair Smackle moved out of and gently took Maya's hand. "Don't talk, just listen."

Maya gave him a look.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you, both times, I'm sorry you got hurt. If murder wasn't illegal I would kill him on the spot." Lucas clenched his fist in anger then he took a deep breath to calm down and smiled. "I'm sorry I became so confused. I'm sorry I questioned my own feelings. I'm sorry I didn't choose you, even when you told me to choose Riley I should have told you how I felt about you. I shouldn't have taken the easy way out. If that day was different then I would have been with you and Josh never would have-" He clenched his fist again. "My point is I love you, Maya, and I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me." He looked down in shame, but when he felt her fingers under his chin he lifted his head and stared into her blue eyes.

"I know you already heard me tell Riley, but I love you too." She smiled.

"Can I kiss you?"

"You don't have to ask."

"I wanted to be respectful."

Maya smiled. "You're a good guy, Lucas." She slowly leaned forward.

Lucas met her lips with his own.