Secret Love

Chapter 9- I Don't Want to be the Rebound

Lucas' POV

I traced the veins on Maya's thin wrist as she drifted off to sleep on her couch. I stared at her resting face, mesmerized by a beauty that I have always know to be there. He blond locks cascaded in a tangled mess on the couch. I have to restrain myself from lacing my fingers in them.

As night approached, I still had yet to leave to make it home before curfew, even though it was a Friday night, but I still wanted to hold Maya in my arms. So I slowly get up, carful not to wake her. But I hesitate to take me hand from hers, scared that something might happen to her. But I trust the fierce blond.

As soon as I left Maya's apartment, I got a call from Farkle.

"What's up man?" I ask, slowly making my way down 5 stories of stairs.

"It's Riley." I sigh. I've been trying to avoid any sort of drama lately, but that obviously hasn't been working out so well.

"What about her?"

"I need you to let her down easy." Ok...

"Um... What?" I mean, I've kinda already let her down pretty hard.

"I don't want to be the rebound, you know?"

"You're not making things any clearer buddy," I state, stepping into the chilly air.

I hear a sigh on the other side. "I really like her, and I want to be there for her and all but I want to be more than just the person to help with a bad break-up. I want her to seriously start thinking about me, not blinded by you."

"That makes sense, but what do you want me to do about it?"

"Just don't leave her crying at the end. Can you do that Moral Compass?" I cringe. I've been trying to avoid any kind of reminder of all the wrong I've done.

"Only Maya can call me that," I fake a chuckle.

"That's fair. Oh, and one more thing.."

"Shoot."

"When you finish talking to her, could you say something along the lines of 'Besides, I think I know who would be a much better fit for you' and then leave? Thanks!"

Before I could protest, Farkle hung up and left me to think about what just happened. The last thing I wanted to do was make Riley cry, and if that meant guiding her into Farkle's arms, then so be it.

I knew I would have to wait for morning before I could say anything to Riley. But that left me with more time to organize what I was going to say and do, and with what attitude I was going to face it. I knew if I was going to keep her from being too upset with me or Maya, but it may just be inevitable. I love Riley, just not the same way I love Maya, and I need her to know it.

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This ones a short one, and with good reason. I starting writing another chapter, but then decided something needed to happen in between, so I came up with this short one.

Again, I am ridiculously sorry that I haven't been able to update recently, I had this massive Veterans Day project I've had to do for the past month so I've been freaking over that. And because I have the next chapter already half way done, it should be updated relatively quickly.

Quick question, what kind of devices are you all reading this on? I normally read on my phone, but write and do updates on my laptops, but I'm curious.

Thanks so so much for being patient with me, and I'm loving all of your guy's funny in-line comments!

-Lucy