Fall Apart

//FIVE\\

I did not sleep much during the night, my mind was in so many places. Josh had stayed by my side the entire night, eventually falling asleep on the couch. He looked so cute. His hair a ruffled mess, the way his right arm draped over his head and his nose flaring out with every exhale. My thoughts were soon interrupted by the sight of Darren walking into the kitchen. I hopped up and quickly made my way over to him. "Hey baby"

"Hey" He rubbed the sleep out eyes, proceeding to take the milk out the fridge. "You didn't come to bed. What were you doing?"

"Went for a swim." I ran my hand through my hair. "We need to talk, by the way"

"About what?" He questions drinking from the carton.

"Let's go in the bedroom" I smile taking his hand and leading him back to the room. "Maybe you should sit down"

"Uh, okay" Darren sits down next to me. "What is this big news?"

"Well, um, I, I'm pregnant" Darren stared at me for what seems like forever, not saying a word.

"What do you plan on doing with it?"

I shrugged. "I wanted to let you know. See what you wanted to do"

"Well, I don't want any kids right now. I'm still in college. It would be too much."

"Okay. So, are you thinking...abortion?"

"That would be best, for us both"

"Okay. I'll get an appointment whenever we get back home."

He smiles sweetly at me embracing me with hug. "Glad we could agree on this" he brought his lips to mine, kissing me ever so tenderly before pulling away. "I love you"

"I love you too" I reply cuddling up to him.

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Josh's POV

"Uncle Josh?" I hear Riley say as she shook me, waking me up. "Where's Maya?"

I wiped the sleep from eyes followed by a yawn. "Um, she was laying on the other side. She must have went to the bedroom."

"So, what you told me about Darren" She starts, sitting down next to me. "Is it all true?"

"Yes. The amazing looking makeup, not wanting to swim, being distance...she's covering up for him and making excuses."

Riley shakes her head in disbelief. "I had no idea. She should have told me. Reached out. Why doesn't she leave him?"

"She says that she loves him."

"How could anyone love someone like that?" Lucas questions ticking his hands in his jean pockets.

I shrug. "Don't know...So, you two? Congrats or"

Riley smiles wide. "It's a congrats."

"That's awesome!" I exclaim.

"We talked, having a kid wasn't expected at all, but we're going to work through this" Lucas adds taking Riley's hand in his.

"Not sure how well your parents are going to take this though" I add.

"Oh, my mom is going to freak" Her gaze lands on Lucas. "My dad might kill you, babe"

"I'm prepared" Lucas laughs. We are soon interrupted by the small chatter of voices that came from the kitchen. Darren and Maya had finally come out the bedroom. They looked almost happy, laughing as if nothing was going on.

"Ahem" Riley clears her throat getting Maya's attention. "Peaches, what are you doing?"

"Having fun with my boyfriend" Maya walked over to us, still holding Darren's hand. "What's up guys?"

"Josh told me"

Maya's eyes widen looking over at me and back at Riley. "Whatever he said, it's not true"

"Maya, your face" Riley points out.

"I fell"

"She's very clumsy" Darren adds.

"Okay. You need to shut up and just not speak" Lucas mentions taking a step closer with an intimidating look.

"How could you not tell me?"

"There's nothing to tell, Riles"

"Maya, you tried to kill yourself last night" I mention without thinking. "You expect people to believe there isn't something more to that?"

"You tried to what now?" Riley practically shouts. "Oh Peaches, why?"

"I wasn't trying to kill myself" Maya threw her arms up. "I was just floating for awhile"

"Face down?" I question.

She nods confidently. "Yes. You guys have nothing to worry about. We're good"

"Fine." Riley answers, her eyes glossed over in tears. "If this is how you choose to live, fine."

"Maya, why are you defending him?" I stand in front of her.

"I can't do this!" She says abruptly before running off outside.

"Great. Now, I have to do deal with that." Darren says rolling his eyes. Lucas laughed and seconds later he punched Darren in the face.

"You need to leave. Now!" He says sternly.

"Come on, Lucas. We have to go after Maya." Riley pulls at his sleeve and we all go off in search for Maya.

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Hours passed and still no sight of Maya. Farkle and Smackle joined us not long after we started searching. We had no such luck at finding her and she was not answering her phone. She was being as stubborn, as always.

"Maybe we should head back" Riley gives up sitting down on a bench.

"She has to be somewhere." I reply stuffing my hands in my jean pockets.

Riley sighs. "Yeah. A place she clearly doesn't want to be found. I don't know her as well as I thought"

"Riley? You're her best friend" Lucas sits down next to her. "You're the only one who knows her better than any of us"

"I didn't know she was being abused"

"Most abused woman don't want other people to know" Smackle chimes in. "It took my mom years to finally speak up about it"

"We tell each other everything" A single tear had escaped her eye. "How could she not tell me?" Lucas wrapped his arms around her hugging her tight.

"Look, why don't you guys head back, get some sleep. I'll keep searching."

"Are you sure?" Lucas asks and I nod.

"Yeah. Besides, I'm the adult, I'm responsible for you guys."

After the gang all left, I made my way down to the beach not far from the house. I sat down near the water listening to the waves crash into the shore, and breathing in the salty air. The Pacific ocean was most definitely better than the Atlantic.

JOSH: sitting down at the beach. you should join me. no judgment. no talking. we can sit and stare at the ocean.

Even though I had known that text would be ignored, it was well worth it. I sat there for another hour and still no sign of Maya. She really did not want to see anyone, at all. My lame attempt to get her to show herself was not working as well as I had envisioned. Soon I had laid down, staring aimlessly at the stars and slowly my eyes began to shut.

Ten minutes later, I felt a foot nudge me. She took a seat next to me, hugging at her knees. It was obvious she had been crying. "You okay?"

"You said no talking" She replies quietly, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Right." I sat up and the both us of stared out to the water. We sat there, silently enjoying each other's company. Her hair blowing in the wind, bringing on a shiver. I drapped my jacket over her shoulders and wrapped my arm around her neck bringing her closer. She leaned her head down on my shoulder. It was in that moment, I knew she felt at peace; she felt safe. Her and I stayed that way for hours, until ultimately falling asleep blissfully in each others arms.

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