Meeting the world

Chapter 24

Farkle's pov

~

"Farkle!"

I spun around. Riley ran towards me.

"Have you seen Maya?" She asked.

"No I haven't why?"

Riley swore.

"I need to talk to her." She looked distraught, she kept searching the crowd for a blond head. She frantically waved her hand.

"Lucas have you seen-"

I grabbed her hand.

"Whoa, Riley. Calm down. What's the matter? Is Maya okay?"

Lucas approached us grinning.

"Who have I seen?" He asked Riley.

"Maya...I can't find her."

I raised my eyebrow.

"Wait, doesn't she like...live with you now? Wouldn't you know?"

Riley looked like she was about to shatter into a million pieces. She looked so fragile, so...guilty.

"The night of the party, when we got home...my dad, he um...he thought Maya forced me to go to the party and he got really pissed. He kicked her out of the house and I've been looking for her all weekend I just feel terrible and-"

Lucas momentarily reached for her hand but than pulled back, uncertain if Riley would mind considering what he had done. I took her hand.

"Riley, calm down. We'll find her. Don't worry."

She nodded, shaken up.

"We should probably get to class." Said Lucas, trying to change the subject.

"Good idea." I said. "Come on Riley. We have your dad's class now."

She shook her head.

"I can't...I can't even look at him right now. How could he be so insensitive?" Mr.Matthews happened to turn the corner that very second.

"God knows where Maya is! She could be on the streets, she has gone through so much, she needs a family! She needs a home! She has no one! Where can she possibly be? Her dad is in jail and her mom is no where to be seen! He such a-"

"Riley."

She turned around and faced her father.

"Dad I-"

"No. You're right. I shouldn't have let her go off by herself. I know she has no one. But regardless, what she did was wrong and unforgivable. She brought you to a party with alcohol and drugs- Drugs for goodness sake!"

Lucas jumped in the conversation.

"Sir I invited them to the party."

He sighed.

"I don't get it. Why is everyone protecting Maya? She doesn't deserve to be protected. She couldn't gotten you all killed. If you would've consumed drugs, you could've died at that party."

"You don't get it-"

"Don't tell me what I do and do not get Mr.Friar."

Lucas looked shocked. He clearly never seen Mr.Matthews so angry.

"Dad, just listen. I wanted to go to the party, I convinced her to go. She insisted it wasn't smart to go, but I made her go. Her and Farkle both didn't want to go. But I made them go."

"No. I did." Said Lucas. He turned towards us. "I invited you guys. I'm sorry. I was stupid."

Mr.Matthews looked deep in thought.

"We need to find Maya. When did you last see her?"

"This morning. She acted like nothing was wrong." Said Lucas

Riley sighed.

"She always pretends like nothing's wrong."

I nodded.

"Lucas, what did she say this morning?"

He shrugged.

"Nothing really important."

Mr.Matthews looked exhausted.

"Guys go to your next class. None of you had the same periods as her this morning right? Maybe you just didn't see her."

I shook my head.

"We have Ethics together. But she wasn't there."

"Maybe she skipped."

Riley looked at her father.

"Dad. I would've seen her during the breaks. Or in the hallways. She's not here."

"Okay. So she left early."

Lucas groaned.

"I'm usually fairly polite because of my country roots Mr.Matthews, but when it comes to the people I care about the country manners don't apply anymore. Stop being in denial and listen to your daughter. She's worried because her best friend is missing, and she doesn't have a place to go to, so she could be anywhere. Instead of giving excuses, why don't you help us find her?"

Riley looked amazed to see Lucas stand up to her father. She even smiled a bit. I'm surprised to say that so did I.

Mr.Matthews looked shocked as well, but not in a good way.

"I think I'll have a little chat with you. I'll be waiting for you in class Mr.Friar." He said.

"Don't bother. I won't be there." He turned and walked away slamming the door was he went.