Speechless

Mute

Maya's POV

Lucas grabbed my hand and ran us straight through the crowds of people. He was laughing and looked at my shocked and nervous face.

"Hey I promise I'm not crazy. I just want you to break down those heavy stone walls you've put up," he noted with a chuckle. The smile that had crept on my face earlier had faded away and my body grew weak as another memory surfaced.

"Stop! Please stop!" I hear my mother from the sidelines of my attacker. I don't say anything I just sit there accepting my punishment, with tears rolling down my face, and maroon liquid spilling on the floor. When he's satisfied he leaves with one last blow to my face.
"Don't you ever run again, you hear?!"
And with that he left and I crumbled to the floor, in a pile of broken faith and shattered hope. My mother kneeled down and cradled me in her arms.
"You did just fine sweetheart," she took a deep breath in between her sobs, "just keep him thinking it doesn't get to you. Build those stone walls as high as you can. Don't let anyone break 'em. Don't let anyone break you,".

"Hey Maya, you know it's pretty helpful if you actually walk as well," Lucas said nudging me in the side. I zone back into reality and realize I've probably been staring off into the distance for about 5 minutes now. I shake my head and smile apologetically. Lucas then continues to pull me with his signature smile appearing back on his face. I was glad to realize he hadn't noticed me staring into space like a weirdo.

After about 5 more city blocks, Lucas rambling on about how it was my first day at school and I had only three friends, and me rolling my eyes a bunch at his cheesy jokes, we finally reached the secret place he'd been taking me to. I gaped in awe. The building that stood before me was the Mid-Manhattan Library. My mouth hung open as we went inside, it was beautiful. I could see shelves upon shelves of books. Foreign, fantasy, science fiction, biographies, and genres I probably haven't ever heard of before we're in this library. Lucas laughed at my gawking, but was quickly shushed by one of the many librarians. I stuck my tongue out at him and ran to go check out some of the many racks of books. He quickly followed, but already found me siting on the floor with at least 4 books on either side of me and one in my lap. Lucas leaned up against the side of the shelf, then ran his hands through his hair, smiling that stupid smile again.

"You know, I would have thought that-"
I held up a hand to him and read the last line of the page I was on. When I finished, i turned over my hand and motioned him to continue. He rolled his eyes then sat down next to me.
"Great. Now we're both wallflowers," Lucas slyly remarked.

I hit him in the arm, then grabbed my sketch pad from my new messenger bag. I wrote down some words then showed it to him.
Your idea huckleberry.
He smiled at me, his green eyes swimming into my blue ones, I swear I thought I saw them flicker to my lips for a second. I quickly glanced back down to my book blushing slightly, my blond curls shielding my face. A hand tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear, when I looked to see, it was Lucas. He leaned in close, putting his hand on my now flushed cheek. Now I could for sure tell that his eyes were on my pink chapped lips. It happened fast, I blinked and his lips came to meet mine. They were soft and gentle, he was making slow and purposeful movements. I couldn't help but kiss him back, I felt safe and warm for the first time in a long while.

Until memories flashed through my head again.

"Run Maya, run!"
Lucas pulled me in closer.
"Don't you ever run again, you hear?!"
The books were no longer separating us.
"Don't let anyone break 'em."
I pulled back. I got my sketch pad, stood up, then walked out of the library. I ran, ignoring Lucas's calls. I ran, ignoring the New Yorker's curious and judgmental looks.
I ran. Ignoring that feeling of safety Lucas had given me in that library, in the A-F section of the Mid-Manhattan Library.

Um... hi... universe. I've updated again.
Hehehehehe.
Sorry bout dat. Probably should've been updating more frequently. But um, it's summer now so I'll update a lot more often. Please, if you have any suggestions or complaints, feel free to say so below.
Ok byyeee~Kat😘