With Open Eyes

Face it

*Maya's POV*

It had been a couple of days since Riley had been at school and to be honest it was dull without her. The rumors and people talking have died down a bit but it's still a topic brought up by some. Lucas seemed to be reaping the benefits with multiple girls wanting to console him. It made me so angry every time I saw him with someone. I hadn't seen Riley in the halls today so I had come to terms with her not being her another day.

I walked slowly through the halls hoping something would happen to keep my mind off of Riley.

"Peaches." Her soft voice brought me out of my thoughts and I rushed to close the gap between us. It felt so great to have her in my arms I might've squeezed a little too hard because I heard her squeak out.

"Sorry I got excited." I stepped back looking her up and down. She looked good, better than she had when everything was still fresh. There weren't many people in the halls as I walked her to her next class. I hated that I would have to leave her even though she looked fine I was still nervous that one little thing would break her. As we got to her class door I lingered a little giving her a warm smile. "Find me after your class is over, okay?"

"Of course," she placed her hand on my cheek and I could feel it warming up. One touch from her turned me into a blushing baby. The next thing I knew she disappeared behind her classroom door. I stood there stunned by her. I wanted to cheer or dance at how close we had been getting but I knew I'd just embarrass myself in the hallway so I suppressed the feeling deep down.

*Riley's POV*

It was bad enough I was late and had to get to my seat as everyone's eyes were on me but it was even worse after I sat down. As our teacher lectured about a new writing assignment we'd have I got to deal with the low whispers between people behind me. I heard mixtures of 'She's back' to 'Poor Lucas' and I was fine with all of that I had accepted the fact that teenagers around me would spread rumors about something they knew nothing about. What I didn't expect was to hear someone say that I was probably late because I was making out with Maya.

I crossed my arms over my chest and held myself tight trying to focus on the teachers words. I wasn't ashamed of this new rumor but I just didn't understand how anyone would even know about things between Maya and I.

"It's so selfish of them," another girl spoke out. "If he didn't even have a chance she shouldn't have lead him on."

"That Maya girl ruined everything."

That was it. That's all I could take. Standing up I glared at everyone sitting behind me. "If you have something to say have some courage to say it to my face," I scowled at everyone in my class, "No? No one?"

"Ms. Matthews please take your seat." The teacher scolded.

I felt sorry for interrupting but I couldn't take it. They could talk about me but they weren't going to drag Maya into it. I grabbed my bag and stormed out of class rushing through the halls until I made it to my locker. I was bursting with emotions I had no idea what I was going to do. I crashed my back against the wall and slid down putting my face into my hands.

I wasn't strong like Maya and I didn't know why everyone seemed to have something to say. I heard footsteps in the hallway approaching me and then their mumbling whispers.

"Did you hear about them leaving together yesterday?" One voice said.

"That girl really? She's doesn't seem like anything special." The other replied. "I don't know what Maya sees in her."