checkered smile || maya hart (sequel)

5

Maya's POV

As I wake up from another nightmare, I notice my heart's beating out of my chest. I don't want to lose Riley. I don't want to lose the love of my life. Even if it means I would die to save her, I'd do it. I've already been through enough to make sure she's happy, there's no reason to give up now.

I hear a knock at my door again, making me jump.

"Lucas?"

"It's Shawn."

I feel my heart stop, knowing he doesn't know about his brother.

"Come on in," I say, trying to ease the shakiness in my voice.

As he closes the door behind him, he rests his body against it. With his arms cross, I can tell he's holding back from screaming at me.

"Just let it out."

"There's nothing to say that will change the past."

"I know what you're saying but--"

"No Maya, you clearly don't. There's no reason to try to help Riley. She's crazy and she needs serious help. I will not let you see her after her pointing a gun at you!"

His voice raises to a yell and shakes the room.

"I just love her and--"

"No, no! There is nothing you can say to make what she has done okay. Don't you understand? You're my one and only daughter, I can't lose you!"

He takes a deep breath and circles around my tiny room. I feel my eyes burning from the tears I'm fighting.

"Jack's gone."

He snaps his head at me with this broken look in his eyes.

"What?"

"Riley... she--"

"No, Maya, don't--"

"She shot him, at the station... She shot him."

Jumbles of words and a sarcastic laugher bubbles from him as he wipes his eyes and strokes his beard before walking out of the room. I'm left alone and I begin to cry, wondering how it all came to this.

Lucas' POV

As I grab some chips from the vending machine, I turn around to see Farkle about to do the same. Things grow awkward pretty quickly considering our last encounter.

"Have you visited Maya yet?" I ask, trying to keep our minds off of the elephant in the room.

"Uh, no, not yet."

I nod, growing even more uncomfortable than before.

"Just a little nervous," he adds, putting his wallet into his back pocket.

"What? Why? Maya's Maya, she's still herself. It's Riley we should be worried about," I argue.

"I mean, if she's so dedicated to making Riley happy, is she going all crazy and try to kill people too?"

"Maya's smart enough to not do something like that--"

"I don't want to hear it, Lucas," Farkle coldly answers, shoving me out of the way with his shoulder to get to the vending machine. I roll my eyes, trying not to freak out on him.

"Come on, Farkle. Don't be like this. Just forget I ever said anything, it means nothing."

"We shouldn't even be talking about this, that's how absurd it is," he whispers at me. He grabs the bag and walks away, but I grab his arm and turn him around.

"You're right, it is absurd, but please don't say anything to her. I don't feel like putting any more pressure on her right now about anything and--"

"Don't kid yourself, Lucas. She may be crazy for loving Riley after everything, but you are just as bad if you think she'd actually love you back," he says before ripping free from my grip and heading towards her room.

Please don't say anything.

-- END OF CHAPTER FIVE --