What Are We Now?

(21) The Fight

Lucas sat on the floor of the empty hallway that lead to the bathrooms. He just sat there on the floor, hyperventilating. What just happened? Did he really set his hopes too high on Riley just because they had a moment? A good moment? He should have known that it wasn't special to her, she has a boyfriend after all. He should have been prepared to see Riley kissing her boyfriend. Heck he'd imagined that they would, to his annoyance. Yet thinking about the act and actually seeing it... They were two different things entirely. When he imagined it, he got angry, he even imagined the satisfaction of Riley hating the kiss and him punching Charlie to save her. But, when it actually happened in front of him, it was all so different. He didn't feel a drop of anger, all he felt was emptiness, and brief pain, because after that there was only numbness. His heart closing off, trying to protect itself. He was frozen in time; in the worst possible moment. It was amazing he managed to get out of there.
Lucas grunted.
"Lucas? Talk to me. What happened?"
"Zay." Lucas said, his voice hoarse. You could hear the strain in his voice.
"Are you ok man? You sound terrible. Are you hurt? How come when a guy leaves for a couple of days, you decide to get in trouble."
"She kissed him, Zay. I know, I know... I know what I said. But seeing it... Seeing it...it's not the same Zay..." Lucas whispered. There silence on the other end of the line until Zay finally answers, after realizing there is nothing he could tell his friend to make him feel better
"I am so sorry Lucas... I really thought she didn't like him like that. Don't worry man. I have faith she'll find her way back to you."
"No Zay. You don't get it. You didn't see her with him... It's like our kiss never even happened. Seeing her in his arms..."
"Lucas stop. Stop torturing yourself. You and Riley are forever, I know it. I don't care what you saw, you here me friar! Lucas! Lucas?"
Lucas had put his phone down on his lap and he was trying to hold his pain in. He couldn't bear to listen to Zay; he was too optimistic. Then he saw Maya walking towards him, at first with a look of why-are-you-on-the-floor-Huckleberry, and then with a look of deep concern, that's when he lost it.
"What's wrong Lucas what happened?"
"I must look terrible for you to call me by my name..." Lucas said, his voice very strained from refusing to cry, yet, still the tears ran stubbornly down his face.
"I don't feel like cracking jokes right now ok. Now tell me what happened." Maya says.
"She kissed him...Maya."
"Who, did what?" Maya said blankly.
"Riley..she kissed him..."
"Huckleberry, stop joking around. What's really wrong? Is it Zay or your papi Joe?"
"I'm too late Maya... She fallen for him... I know it. I'm a nothing to her." Lucas said with tears in his eyes. Maya leaned on the wall next to Lucas and lowered herself into a sitting position.
"You're not joking... Are you?"
"You think I would joke about her kissing him?" He asked, his voice rising at Maya ridiculous suggestion.
"Maybe. Because it sounds impossible Lucas. I just don't see Riley doing that." Maya said slowly.
"Well she did." Lucas said. Maya turned to look at Lucas. He looked defeated, like he'd lost the world. This made her get up off the floor.
"Get up."
"What?"
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get your butt off the ground, Hop-along." Maya said sounding up-beat.
"Maya I'm not in the mood."
"I don't care Ranger Rick, you get your buttocks off that floor right now!" Maya said in her bossy voice. Lucas sighed and slowly got up, anything to make her stop talking.
"What do you wan-Oufff" Lucas said. He looked down at Maya. She was hugging him.
"You don't have to do that."
"Yes. I do." Maya said in her girly-baby voice.
"Ok." Lucas said finally accepting the hug and wrapping his arms around his friend. Maya pulls away after a moment.
"Ok I gave you a minute to feel sorry for yourself. Now stand up straight!"
"What?" Lucas said his eyebrows raising up and a smile threatening to spill across his face.
"Maya I'm not going-"
"Ranger Rick you get it together or I will hahur you so bad, you'll wish you'd listened. Don't test me." Maya said with a faux serious tone.
"Oh fine I'll play along." Lucas said standing up to his full height.
"Ten jumping jacks now! Or you know what will happen!" Maya said loudly. Lucas rolled his eyes but lazily did what she asked.
"Five squats."
"20 push-ups"
"Maya?" Lucas complained. Maya began her hahur warm ups and that made Lucas drop to the floor and start his push ups. When he finished his hair was a mess and he was sweating. He stood up slowly and looked at Maya waiting for the next order.
"Is your heart pumping?" She asked. He nodded. "Good. So you know you're still alive. And you're not as sad because you were in too much physical pain. Now you need too listen to me." Maya said calmly.
"What's up?" Lucas huffed, he was leaning his hands on his thighs, trying to catch his breath.
"Riley adores you. I think she's confused. Or worse I think she loves you and she thinks she knows what she's doing. Lucas, I think she wants us to go out. It's stupid but I just need you to stay single. Obviously we were never going to date again after the new year but Riley doesn't understand that. Stay single even if it hurts to be alone. And fight for her because if she keeps seeing you alone, she'll realize her mistake. She'll miss you too much."
"Maya, Riley doesn't care about me." Lucas said looking up at Maya. He sighed and then stood up straight.
"She loves you. And if you don't fight for her Huckleberry, I'll make sure all our friends never speak to you again."
"Yeah because they'll listen to you."
"Don't test me Lucas. You're in pain right now and I know that but if you don't go after her, I'll make sure you stay lonely." Maya said.
"So I'm just suppose to ruin her happiness?"
"She not happy, I know she's not. She's been lying to me, I can feel it. I just can't prove it." Maya blurted.
"So I can blame you for ruining her happiness when it all goes to hell?"
"I'll take full responsibility, and I'll also take credit for you to getting back together in the end." Maya said with a smirk. Lucas shook his head.
"Fine but I'm not fighting today... I don't have the strength to face her."
"Yeah I didn't expect you to Ranger Rick." Maya said slapping a hand on his shoulder.
"Good."