complicated [lucaya]

16

1 Month Later...

Riley's POV;

Maya decided that we needed some time away from the guys, so today we're having lunch in the courtyard. I think she can tell that I've been on edge for a while.

"Whatever you want to say, now is the time. I'll tell you whatever you want to know." Maya looked at me as she ate her celery.

I sighed, "What's the deal with you and Josh?"

She finished chewing and took a breath. "He's the one that told me to own it. So I did. Everyone already thought I was wild, so I made the rumors true."

"Maya..."

"I went to upperclassmen parties, even some college parties. Got wasted. Blacked out." She sighed "I don't remember most nights."

I looked at her, "Josh?"

"I would wake up with a terrible hangover, in rooms I didn't recognize. Sometimes with Josh, sometimes with his friends. Other randoms."

I listened to my best friend relive the darkest part of her life. The way she spoke, it was like she was dead inside.

"I always assumed that I just drank too much, because Josh was my friend. He'd never do that to me, or let other people do it. But I was wrong. Now I see him for the scumbag he really is."

"I'm really sorry that happened to you, Maya."

"Hey, it's not your fault. How could you possibly know that your uncle was a rapist?"

I could see that she was trying not to cry, so I changed the subject. "I've been curious about you and Lucas."

She laughed, "this is the part where you grill me."

"No," I smiled. "I was just wondering what the terms of your 'relationship' are."

"Well," Maya turned her body towards me, "the goal is to shut down all the haters and bitches, once and for all."

I sighed, "I meant, is it just in public or...?" I hinted. If Lucas supposedly wants to be with me, I'd like to know what he's been doing with his fake girlfriend. "No lies this time."

Maya ran her hand through her hair and nervously rubbed her neck, "Sometimes we get in the moment and kiss..." she hesitated. "Which often leads to my clothes on his bedroom floor."

I looked away from her. "You told me you were never going to sleep with him again after the party."

"I know, Riles. But things got really complicated and messy after that."

Snapping my head towards her, I tried my best to fight back the tears. I looked my best friend in the eyes, searching for something. "Was the party the first time you had sex with Lucas?"

"Riley,"

I cut her off. "Tell me everything."

"Short version, we fooled around after he and Jaycee broke it off. And the first time we slept together was sometime in the beginning of sophomore year."

A tear rolled down my cheek, "we weren't official, but can you imagine my face when Missy Bradford told me you were dating Lucas. I felt so humiliated."

"We never wanted to hurt you, Riley. It was Lucas' idea and before i could really think, Missy was running her mouth, so I went with it."

"It just really broke my heart. Just the thought makes me want to cry."

Maya hugged me tight. "The good news is we're breaking up soon, then he's all yours."

She was saying all the right things. I wanted to believe that Lucas was all mine, but knowing that they're arrangement was more of a benefits package sucks. I want to trust them. I just don't know how anymore.