Fragile Heart

Chapter Eighteen

Riley's POV
Today is the day we are leaving Upper State New York and driving back home. Everyone is mentally speaking a million words per minute but no one lets the words escape their lips. It was an understanding we had all established. I didn't feel like talking unless it was to Maya. The doctors are transporting her to a hospital more local considering we are leaving the vicinity and Maya's mother has yet been capable of seeing her daughter. This way I can visit her everyday until she's up. Doctors suggest that could be days or weeks but I know Maya and she won't prolong this. She'll be up, riding the subway, disrupting dads class, and making fun of Lucas in no time.
I haven't yet been able to inform Lucas and farkle on Maya's current state because I haven't even felt informed. I still feel like this is all some horrible dream that I'll wake up from soon enough and give Maya a big squeeze. I grabbed my luggage abusively and walked out to the car. I guess there would be not fighting for seats this time, Maya and Josh were both gone.
"Goodbye uncle Shawn!" I said squeezing him so tightly that I thought all of organs were going to pop out of his mouth. He kissed the top of my head and responded
"I'm staying with you guys for a couple of weeks, until Maya is awake. I can't go back because I know I'll always be thinking about her and asking about her isn't good enough. I promised her I'd be here for her, that's what I need to do."
My lips curved into a sly smile. Maya needed Shawn.
I climbed into the back seat with Auggie and leaned my head against the window. Everything looked like a blur of buildings until eventually I dozed off to the rolling motion of the car.
"Riley wake up!" I heard Auggie scream. I didn't want to wake up. Every time I go to sleep all of my problems lack existent. I forget Maya is in the hospital when I close my eyes and for a second when I wake up I expect her to be there, for it to be one of our many sleepovers. But then I remember. Everything comes back, the exact feeling I felt when my dad called me with the news. My chest gets tight and I have to gasp for air to keep myself up. Tears threaten to poor out and I feel weak. Maya's my family and it hurts to see my family hurt.
I walked through the doors of the apartment to find Lucas and farkle.
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked looking downwards at the rough carpet. I felt my chest get tighter and tighter as if someone was taking a wrench to it.
"We wanted to see you and Maya! It's the last day of vacation, let's do something fun." Farkle said.
"Where's Maya?" Lucas asked puzzled at her lack of existence.
I paused, I didn't want to relive the pain. Before I knew it I was on the ground with warm streams of water running down my ruby red face.
Lucas leaped towards me and kneeled down beside me. I felt his soft hands cup my cheeks and he placed his head against mine so that our foreheads were touching.
"Riley, it'll be okay. Please tell me what's wrong?"
He stood up and reached out for my hand, I hesitantly stretched for his hand and our fingers intertwined.
"Is Maya okay?" Farkle asked.
"She got into a car accident." I said while simultaneously shaking.
Both of them engulfed me into a group hug and I felt our bond control my breathing.
"Can we see her?" Lucas asked.
"She's not conscious right now."
"How did this happen?" Farkle spoke quietly afraid of overstepping.
"She was with Josh and that's all I know. He won't give any details."
Lucas's jaw clenched and I couldn't help but feel jealous. I know that was awful of me, she's unconscious for goodness sakes.
"Can we go there?"
"I don't know, she just got relocated. I'm sure she'll need to settle and her mother will probably be with her all night. We should give them some time. Tomorrow after school." I half smiled dismissing the idea.
"Okay."
"I'm going to go. I have a lot of stuff to do." I lied and waved them off.

JOSHS POV
I was back home but I didn't feel at home. My home was with Maya. I couldn't get her off my mind so I decided to check up on her and call Riley.
"What do you want Josh?"
"I just want to know if anything has changed?" I mumbled.
"She hasn't woken up if that's what you're asking. "
"The minute she does Riley, call me."
"Maybe Josh, maybe."
"Riley I swear..."
"You swear what? If you really wanted to know how she was you would've checked on her that night. I have to go..."
I hung up frustrated with tears rolling down my face.

RILEYS POV
*next day at school*
"I heard that Maya chick is in the hospital."
I heard unfamiliar voices mention Maya's name at the lockers across from mine. I did my best to mind my own business but once her name was spoken more than once my ears perked up and I felt like a house dog.
"Yeah dude." A boy with shaggy long hair responded.
"Well I hope she doesn't wake up. She's a walking mess. She just drags around depression with her." He laughed.
As if I was a robot being controlled my legs started moving on their own to the boys talking about my best friend.
I felt a bolt of Maya strike my veins and ignite my heart and mind. I impulsively pushed one of them brutally against the lockers and I felt a soft hand tugging me away.
"Riley, they aren't worth it." Lucas said holding me back and bringing me into a hug.
"You don't know what they said." I screamed into his shoulders with rage.
"Let's go visit her."
"Shouldn't we find Farkle?" I asked
"No, I can't wait. I need to see her."
He grasped onto my hand and I felt our worry and fear joining together but it was only half the worry now because we each bared some of the pain. We were going through this journey together.
Before we entered Maya's room, Lucas gave me a long hug that felt like a lifetime trapped in one moment. We walked in with our hands joined together like magnets.
"Riley, could I be with her alone? Just a couple of minutes."
I have him a quick hug and shut the door leaving him to make peace.

MAYAS POV
I heard the familiar, comforting voices of Riley and Lucas which woke up my heart but wouldn't wake up my body. Lucas asked Riley to leave, this should be interesting. I almost didn't want to hear what he had to say. Everyone was being so open and vulnerable with me because they thought I couldn't hear. These things were the things they were dying to say to me but couldn't, if it was left unsaid while I was conscious and well then it should stay locked. These were the kind of words that would alter our relationship, shut up Lucas.
His cowboy boots clicked against the cold hospital titles. He grew closer to my face and I could feel his sweet minty breath brush over my face. He pressed his lips against mine quickly and gingerly. I felt my heart pulsate faster and faster.
"Maya, I can't wait until you wake up. I miss you shorty. I know I'm not Josh and that's who you need right now but I'll be here for you Maya. Please please wake up. You promised me a hangout session and Id really like to cash it in. I never thought I'd miss you calling me ranger Rick or huckleberry but I do. I love you Maya."
Loved me? I kicked harder than I've ever kicked, tears of frustration made their way down my face, and I was on the urge of putting up a white flag of surrender but I couldn't.
My eyes blinked repeatedly until they fluttered open like a butterfly's wings. My sea blue eyes dug into his beautiful brown eyes and I couldn't help but smile.
"I'm going to go tell a nurse." He said relived.
Riley came bursting through the door and wrapped her twig like arms around me.
"Where's Josh?" I croaked my voice still weak.