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Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight:
Not So Smiley Riley

I woke up in Josh's bedroom. I used to always come in here and hang out with him when Riley was gone or one of us just needed someone to talk to. I loved his room, it was like a more boyish version of mine. Band posters all along the walls, a stack of CDs next to a stereo, a desk, a mini walk in closet, a guitar, an amp. It was perfect. 

When I finally got up, I went to Riley's room. She was sitting criss-cross on her laptop so I came and plopped on the bed.

"Whatcha doing?" I asked as I watched her scroll through Tumblr.

"We're in a good mood!" She said, facing me, "why are we in such a good mood? Oh, wait! I know!"

What could she possibly already know?

"Last night we talked to uncle boing and told him the secret we couldn't hide from him for more than a day and he comforted you and he let you cry to him and then he slept on the couch just so you could sleep on his bed!" She said practically jumping and smiling like Riley does.

"See, you got one part wrong," I said biting my lip.

"Maya Penelope Hart! No freaking way!"

"Yes!" I yelled smiling brighter than the sun.

"But Maya! What about Lucas? You were with him for four years and now you're having his baby!"

"I'm sorry, could you say that a little louder, please? I don't think your grandparents in Philadelphia heard you clearly!" I said hushing.

"Sorry." She said in a whisper now, biting her lip in remorse. "You should talk to him.."

I sent a look of concern her way, shaking my head vigorously when I caught on.
"No way Riles! He walked out on me, remember? He threatened me, remember?"

"He was in shock Maya, give him a chance," she begged. "And anyways ... it's too late."

"Too late? What do you mean by 'too late'? Riley Eleanor Matthews, what in god's name did you do?"

"I invited him over ... He'll be here in half an hour."

"Half an hour?" I yelled lividly. "Jesus, Riley I cannot believe you! What happened to 'supportive,' 'reliable'? What happened to my best friend!" I stormed out of the room.

Twenty minutes later
I knew I couldn't get out of this but I didn't bother dressing up for him. I threw my hair in a messy bun and put on shorts and a band shirt. I was looking at my stomach in the mirror. I'm sure it wasn't visible to anyone else so early but I saw it. I was cut off from my gazing when I heard yelling. Once I ran into the living, I saw Josh holding Lucas up by the shirt, clenching his other fist.

"Josh!" I yelled running over to him, grabbing his essentially rock hard bicep, "Josh, it's okay ... please, let him go." I said calmingly still gripping his arm.

As soon as I let go of his arm, Lucas laughed, "Oh-hh-h, man- nooo, that's what this is? Oh man." He raspily laughed once more, patting Josh's shoulder and by the looks of it, he didn't like that one bit.

"You're drunk," Josh muttered, his fist inches away from Lucas' face.

"Josh."

"You wanna take a whiff of his breath, Maya? He's drunk, he doesn't need to be around you when he's drunk."

"Josh!" I demanded, more firmly this time.

"Man, she's trying to get to you too." He laughed and then scoffed, "Don't let her get in your head man!" He tapped at his temple, "She doesn't love you, she just needs a baby daddy. You really wanna raise another man's baby?" He slurred before Josh smacked his hand away and pushed him back. 

I won't deny the ache that sent through my body or the urge I got to let Josh's fists go into a frenzy on his face while I stood by helplessly. But I knew it was the wrong choice to make. I needed to start on the right path if I was going to bring a baby into this world.

Josh tried to swing again.

"Josh!" I yelled once more.

I wasn't holding him back. I wasn't strong enough but when I grabbed his arm, he knew not to.

"It's not worth it," I whispered to him.

"If you ever talk to her like that again, I will find you and I will kick your ass." He tensed up.

Lucas simply laughed.

Josh clenched his fists but didn't raise them.

Riley came down stairs to see what all the yelling was about and as soon as she saw Josh's fists and the look on his face, she ran over to Lucas and pushed him into the seat beside the door, But most important, across the room from Josh.

"You came here to talk about your baby, not start fights with my uncle. If you can't do that, then you can leave."

I've never seen Riley like this towards Lucas- or anyone before, she was always about being nice and giving second chances. But now she looks like she's about ready to pummel his face in too.

"We're trying to give you a chance to be a part of your child's life, Luke. But right now I'm not sure if you even deserve such a privilege and every second that goes by I am getting closer and closer to kicking your ass out that door and making definite that you never see Maya or any baby for the rest of your pathetic life. What's happened to you, Luke? You used to be a good man." I was surprised a vein hadn't popped in her head as she stood over him, her finger aimed at the door.

Go Riley. She's never stood up for anything like this before.

The look on Lucas's face during all of this was indescribable.His emotion was something i've never seen before, it was almost ... saddening.

I know she wanted us to talk but I just can't right now. I'm so furious with him.

Riley backed up off of Lucas.

"You should go. I invited you here, expecting you to talk this out sober and right now I don't think the three of us want anything more than to bash you in the face with a baseball bat."

Okay, not so smiley Riley.

"Woah Riley. Come here before you do something you'll regret." I say moving her behind me before looking at Lucas.

I walked closer to him and the look on his face seemed all but sympathetic. When I went to open the door, he flinched. I ignored it and gestured him to leave. 

"Get out. When you're mature enough to talk without causing problems, call me. You know, we weren't looking for anything from you, Luke. We just thought you might like one more chance to be a part of your only child's life.

He started walking out,
"Oh and Lucas?" He turned around, "Josh would still have a prettier face than you if he got stung by a hundred bees and his head took the shape of a blowfish."

His face sank with disappointment as I slammed the door shut. I could tell I hurt him, seeing as his "pretty face" was all he thought he had, even though he was virtually really smart and before this whole pregnancy, he seemed to be a good guy.