Summer Love

Chapter 17

A/N: Okay, I said I wasn't going to update until Sunday, but here's the update, 2 days early. Thank you all SO MUCH for 2k! Enjoy

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Lucas's POV

I open the door to find Maya, tears in her eyes, sitting outside my door. She looks up at me. I realize I'm crying too. With an unspoken agreement, she follows me into my room.

Still wordless, I pass the folded up note to Maya. She opens it. I read it from over her shoulder, even though I already know what it says.

Lucas,

A handsome young man like yourself who is also a gentleman is hard to come by, but somehow my little Maya has found you. You have been a great influence on her, and I know you will continue to be, as long as she'll let you.

I offer my deepest sympathy to you as your father is in an undoubtedly painful situation. And to your mother; I know this must be hard for her as well.

It doesn't feel like it right now, but you are incredibly lucky. Your dad may not die, but even if he does, he will have passed with a happy life to remember and a wonderful son to have touched.

I assume, knowing Maya as well as I do, that she has not told you about her own family. I'm not sure if she wants you to know, but I do, and I think you deserve to know.

Mr. Hart and I fell in "love" very young, even younger than Mr. Cory and Miss Topanga. We were both silly teenagers who thought we knew everything; that the world had nothing left to teach us. I had Maya when I was only 19. I hate to say it now, but at the time I had no plans whatsoever to raise her or to care for her. At the time my life was all about me and my boyfriend, with an occasional thought about my growing child.

Mr. Hart was never meant to be a husband, much less a father. He couldn't care less about Maya, and over time, about me, either. I was just another possession to him, as was Maya. I didn't realize it until too late, when he had up and left and I was on my own, trying to take care of myself and my daughter.

Maya was only five. She knew nothing of the trouble that had occurred, only that "Daddy was gone and wasn't coming back." I soon realized all the things Maya needed that she hadn't gotten. I was stressed, and the fact that my mother was getting older and needed help too didn't help at all.

Then I enrolled Maya in her first school. Kindergarten brought her such joy, and happiness to me as well because she was so content. I had given up all hope of acceptance among the parents, but then Maya brought home Riley Matthews for a play date. When Cory and Topanga (who was pregnant with Auggie at the time) came, I was so nervous they'd see me and the house and not let the girls be friends anymore. I couldn't let Maya lose out on anything else because of me.

It turns out I had nothing to worry about. The Matthews became Maya's second family, and mine too. Now she's doing better than ever. She has amazing companions in you, Farkle, and Riley, and a wonderful friend in Mr. Hunter. And hopefully, someday, I can honestly say she has a wonderful mother too.

I really don't know why I'm telling you all of this, but it feels good to write it and to finally get this enormous weight off my chest.

Don't hurt my baby girl. She won't hurt you. You've both got some pretty rough things going on in your family, but with each other, I know you'll be fine, be safe, and be happy. And maybe even be TOGETHER, who knows?

- Katy Hart

Maya's eyes look into mine. I look at her as well. I pull her into a hug. We lie on the bed, just holding each other. As the last stars disappear, we close our eyes.

Together.

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A/N: In a hospital scene coming up soon, there's going to be get well cards for Lucas's dad. PM me with your first name and a message if you want to be featured in that chapter!