Fall Apart

//ONE\\

"Peaches!" Riley exclaims running up to me, throwing her arms around me. "Guess what?" She says excitedly.

"What honey?" I reply equally excited.

"My parents bought us tickets to go to Hawaii for winter break"

My face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Really? That is amazing" We link our arms walking to class. "When do we leave?"

"Two days. I also invited Lucas, Farkle and Smackle. So it will be the best vacation ever. Well sort of, Zay is going to visit his grandparents." She says upon taking her seat. "I also figured you could invite Darren as well."

"Yeah" I shoot her a fake smile. As if my estranged college boyfriend will be interested in being with a bunch of high school kids for two weeks.

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I got to my boyfriends place just after four in the afternoon, him and I had a date tonight for our one year anniversary. We had met at a party and he was charming, quickly winning me over with his words. He had made me feel like a princess, as Lucas does with Riley, which is what had I always wanted. Darren and I were perfect, until we weren't.

"Hey" I say once he opened the door letting me in, "You ready for our date?"

"Almost" He looked me up and down, judgmental. "You're wearing that?"

"No, of course not" I reply looking down and walking to his bedroom. He had allowed me to keep a few things at his place. "What should I wear?"

"How about that little red dress I love so much" He mentions coming up behind me wrapping his arms around me. "I always thought you looked very sexy in that"

"Okay" I say digging through his closet in search of the dress. My phone had begun to ring, but before I got the chance to grab it, Darren already had it in his hand.

"Oh, who is this?" He questions reading the text and I could notice his mood change. "Who's Josh?"

I shook my head. "No one. I swear."

"Well Josh says that he'll be seeing you soon"

"He must be going to Hawaii as well" I say and seconds later his hand meets my face causing me to stumble back to the wall.

"Did you plan on telling me this?"

I nodded slowly as tears crept from my eyes. "I was going to invite you" He moved closer towards me gripping my arm tightly.

"I don't want you talking to this Josh. You're mine" His stare was unsettling but I don't break contact. "You're not allowed to talk to other guys. You understand me?"

"Understood"

"Good" He says releasing his grip and then caressing my cheek. "I'm sorry" he placed a kiss on my cheek. "I get jealous you know, I love you"

"I, I love you too" I choke out with a smile.

"Now, get rid of his number, gorgeous" He says handing me my phone. "We'll leave in twenty"

I sat down on the bed rubbing my cheek, hoping it won't leave a noticeable bruise. The past few months have been a bit rocky between us. Darren has been feeling the pressure of college and tests, he has just been very on edge. My phone went off again and I looked down at it, seeing another message from Josh along with the first one.

JOSH: looks like i'll be seeing you in Hawaii...Riley invited me

JOSH: also i got a surprise for you as well

A smile pulls at my lips but quickly disappears when Darren re-enters the room. I quickly sent out a text back to Josh letting him know I could not talk right now.

MAYA: great! i can't talk. i'll just see you in Hawaii.

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"Do you have everything packed, Peaches?" Riley asks from her desk in her room and I nod assuring her. It was the night before our flight, so I had been staying over.

"All good. Two weeks of freedom, here we come" I lie knowing that something could set Darren off and everything can all go to shit real fast. "So, I hear your uncle is coming"

Riley moves over to her bed sitting beside me. "Yeah. My parents said that someone older whom they trusted, had to go as well. Hope that's okay? Plus, we need someone to buy the alcohol"

"It's fine. I have a boyfriend now. Josh's presence won't be an issue for me" I reassure her. "We're good. Everything is good. Besides I think he has a girlfriend too." I shrug.

Riley smiles shaking her head. "As his niece, I can clarify that he does not have a girlfriend. He definitely would have told me or my parents."

"Oh, well whatever, I'm cool with him being there"

Riley and I had soon began our search for a movie to pass the time. Neither one of us could agree on the same movie. We had soon been joined by Topanga, shortly after our last disagreement, she brought snacks and drinks for our leisure.

"You guys have everything you need for you little trip?" Topanga asked setting the snacks in between Riley and I.

"Yes, mom. We are very well prepared."

"Great" Topanga shoots us a smile. "Make sure you call me if anything happens, emergency wise. And please don't do anything that will involve turning me into lawyer mom" She looks at me with that last remark.

"Hey" I shout followed by a laugh. "I will be on my best behavior, Mrs. Matthews"

"Alright. You girls better get some sleep. Early flight tomorrow. Your dad will be driving you"

Riley nods. "Okay, thanks mom" She replies back before her mom left the room.

After finally agreeing on just watching regular TV instead, we sat up talking until Riley finally fell asleep. I fidgeted with my fingers for awhile watching some game show that had just started. Boredom had gotten the best of me and I got up and headed for the kitchen, seeing a familiar face.

He looked up at me with a smile and I brush pass him getting a glass of water. "Hi Maya"

"Hi" I say back quietly.

"I didn't know you'd be here" He takes a bite of the sandwich he had. "Thought I wasn't seeing you until tomorrow"

"Yeah, well, I'm here" I took a seat at the kitchen table. "So, Josh, I have something to tell you"

"So do I" he exclaims. "But you first"

I take a long drink of my water. "I, um, I have a boyfriend"

"Oh, alright" Sadness had taken over his face despite how hard he tried to hide it. "Well, good for you. Are you happy? He treats you well, I hope"

The question sets me back, I did love Darren and he does treat me well except when he gets angry. "Yeah, I am and he treats me as he should" I lie gliding my finger along the rim of my glass.

Josh finishes off his sandwich wiping his mouth. "Okay. If you're happy, then I'm happy for you" He gets up to walk away but I catch his wrist.

"What did you have to tell me?" I asked, a hint of sadness in my voice.

"Nothing" He shrugs. "Goodnight Maya"

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