L U C A S

Nobody understands.

They don't know what happened,

I had to leave.

It wasn't my fault..

"Please. You can do anything, anything you want to hurt me. But for the love of God, don't hurt her."

I cried, as I stared at the man I have feared my whole life.

He deviously chuckled. "Oh, Lucas.. My boy. I'll find her someday. Maybe I don't know where she is now, but I have eyes and ears everywhere. After all, you don't deserve her. You take after your father, he never deserved your mother!" My uncle screamed in the most horrifying way.

"Don't you dare ever touch her!"

My anger built up like never before, and I wasn't sure what took over me, maybe it was the deep love I felt for Riley, but I couldn't help but throw my fist, instantly colliding it to his jaw. I suddenly heard him grunt in pain, as two men immediately and vigorously grabbed me to hold me away.

My uncle glared at me viciously, before he stood up and started kicking me in the stomach.

I collapsed to the floor, before I found the strength to stand up. It was a continuous fight, but eventually three men against one, I couldn't stand.

"Bad mistake, boy." My uncle whispered up close to my bruised, and bleeding face.

What seemed like the easiest thing to do was erase myself from Riley's life, so no more pain or harm could come her way. And that maybe she could possibly be happy,

I knew how much it would hurt Riley, that I'd leave. But I had too, for her. I had to keep the girl I love safe.

T H I R D * P O V

Lucas walked down the hallway the next day, striding along, ignoring the glares or stares from others. Lucas turned a corner, before he saw someone. Someone he hasn't seen in a long time either.

It was Zay, standing there trying to flirt with two girls, but was most likely failing miserably. Suddenly, to Lucas's surprise both of the girls smiled and handed Zay a piece of paper. Zay grinned, before Lucas began to walk up behind him.

"See you hot mamma's later then alright?" Zay winked with a flirty laugh, before the girls giggled and waved to him, as they walked off.

Zay was grinning from ear to ear, before he turned around and suddenly saw Lucas. Zay's smile instantly disappeared. "Piss off." Zay suddenly spat, before shoving past Lucas, but Lucas grabbed his shoulder. "Just let me explain!" Lucas exclaimed. Zay gave him a glare. "Why should I? Maybe I was right, you are a douche bag who left his friends for no reason. You never even bothered to tell me. I don't think you have that much explaining to do, and if so it's going to be a pissy reason." Zay snarled, anger building up inside of him.

Lucas kept himself calm for the sake of his best friend. Zay began to walk away, so Lucas quickly shouted.

"I'm sorry!" He said. Zay stopped in his tracks, before hesitantly turning back around to Lucas.

"I had to leave." Lucas said. Zay breathed out, "You didn't have to leave." He remarked. "You don't get it!" Lucas yell whispered, looking around the halls to make sure nobody could hear, and thankfully nobody was down the hall, most likely they would both be late for their next class.

"I left, for her." Lucas spoke, and Zay instantly became silent.

"You left for Riley?" Zay asked, confusingly. Lucas sighed.

"You can't tell her, she can't know. Got it?" Lucas said sternly, and Zay hesitantly nodded, yet he was still furiously angry with Lucas for what he did. Lucas let out a big breath.

"I can't say who, but I've been running. Running from someone that knew who Riley was, and if I didn't leave, they would have hurt her." He says. Zay's eyes widen in shock. "What? Who? Lucas what's going on?" Zay asked. Lucas immediately shook his head, "I can't say! But I had to leave, I couldn't come back until I knew that it was safe too." He said in a distressed tone. Zay was just trying to comprehend what was happening.

"Are you in danger then?" Zay asked. "No." Lucas said almost instantly. Lies lies lies.

"You do know, you could have told me then?!" Zay suddenly said, realizing his best friend could have told him. "No, I couldn't I had to leave like that night of the dance! I wrote Riley that note a week before the dance." Lucas spat.

"You knew you were going to leave a week before then?" Zay asked. Lucas sighed. "No, I wasn't sure. I was just waiting on a certain answer to determine my decision and well, I got my answer.." He said, lowly.

"Riley's angry, you should have just told her the truth-" Lucas cut him off. "I couldn't, Zay! I can't tell her! She can be mad at me, she can hate me for all I care but as long as she's safe, I don't care." Lucas spoke up.

Zay just stood quiet, something that wasn't very normal or happened often.

"She deserves more, which is another reason why I left. She deserves the world and I can't give that to her." He says.

"Fight for her, like I always said to." Zay encouraged. Lucas shook his head. "She won't ever forgive me," Lucas sighed. "She didn't give up until you did." Zay responded. Lucas looked over to his best friend.

"I didn't give up. I was trying to keep her safe." Lucas remarked. Zay shook his head. " She cared for you so much, it was killing her every single day that you weren't here."

"It wasn't my fault." Lucas whispered. Zay still had a stern expression.

"I am really am sorry." Lucas said. Zay was quiet, he was still upset, but he couldn't help but kinda of be happy that his best friend was back, and that he had a good reason for leaving.

Zay couldn't keep the solid expression on any longer. He grinned. "You're my homie.. I forigve you. I guess your reason wasn't all that bad."  Zay replys, as he pat Lucas on the back. Lucas chuckled. "You watched after her, right? Kept her safe?" Lucas suddenly asked. Zay chuckled, before nodding.

"She's just fine.. But there's something that I need to tell you later." Zay says, as they both walk out into the main hallway. Suddenly Lucas checked the time on phone, realizing he really needed to get to class,

basically he was just hurrying because Riley was in that class. "Yeah, okay. I gotta head to my next class, cya." Lucas responded, as he gave Zay a rough pat to the back.

"See ya bestie." Zay said in a girly tone with a wink, making Lucas chuckle.

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R I L E Y

I sat at my desk, that was in the middle of the classroom. It was only my second day of my Sophomore year, and I already loved my science teacher, Miss. Dakota. She was the coolest and sweetest ever, unlike basically all of my other new teachers that were evil.

I began doodling along my paper, something along the lines of purple cats. Class was about to start, and everyone walked in. Miss. Dakota was about to close the door, before someone quickly slipped in.

Of course, It was Lucas.

He fixated his eyes towards me, but I quickly looked down to my purple cats. Far more interesting might I add. Of course Lucas walked past me, he was seated behind me. Just my luck, right?

Miss Dakota went on speaking, I was concentrating as much as I could, but my mind felt very cloudy today.Something didn't feel right. I suddenly felt very hot, and my mind became slightly blurry. Oh no, what's happening?

Riley, stop wondering off! Don't think about anything!

But I couldn't. My mind loved to play cruel tricks on me.

I feel my arms start to shake, and I looked around the classroom. Conner was in this class, and he was staring at me with an evil smirk.

Memories came flooding back as always.

"Where's your little protector, princess?" Conner chuckled. Him and his two friends, Brandon and Billy, were laughing along with him. They started to come closer to me, as I backed away. I suddenly felt my back smash against the lockers behind me.

"He left you, didn't he? That's what he does, I bet he left you for stanky ass who is far better than you've ever been. He was just waiting for the right moment to break your little heart." Conner murmured, mocking a sad tone. I felt a tear slip down my eye. "P-Please. Just leave me alone!" I shouted, before they got closer.

Suddenly I felt myself hyperventilate. I couldn't breathe, I was shaking.

"Riley?" I heard a soft voice whisper, but I ignored it, considering the state I was in. I quickly raised my trembling hand.

"Yes?" Miss Dakota asked, looking at me oddly. "C-Can I please use the restroom?" I asked as quick as possible. She nodded. I felt tears rise in my eyes, so I quickly got up and ran out of the classroom as fast as I could.

I ran and I ran as fast as I could, until I suddenly heard a voice call after me. I stopped in the middle of the empty hallway, breathing in and out loudly. Anxiety attacks, made me feel like I was suffocating. They strike me at any moment, at any thought could trigger it.

I couldn't stop crying.

"Riley!" I heard someone say, but I was panicking too much I couldn't tell who it was. I felt my back hit against a locker, and someone instantly grab onto me.

I felt myself scoot down as I cried and shook.

"Riley! Hey, look at me!" They said. I felt them hold onto me tightly, before I felt soft hands hold against my face, and a forehead touch mine.

"Riley, you're okay. It's Lucas, I'm here Riles. Listen to me, hear my voice. I'm here." He said.

Lucas,

It was Lucas.

My eye's suddenly fluttered open, as I saw a pair of green eyes with a pool of water around them.

"L-Lucas?" I whispered, as I felt myself slightly calm down. "I'm here." He said softly, as he stroked my hair.

I felt him gently wipe away one of my tears, as he held onto me.

"Y-you..You remember?" I choked out, trying to calm myself down and concentrate. He remembered how to save me?

"I never forgot." He whispered, as he grazed his thumb along my cheek. I felt my heart began to race, and I no longer felt any pain. I no longer felt anxious, or upset. I was completely aware.

I didn't say anything back, I just sat there and stared at him, still in a state of shock. He left the classroom for me, he came back to me, he saved me. Because he's my hero. He always will be.

I just sat on the floor against the lockers, as Lucas held me in his arms, as he softly stroked my face.

"Please don't leave me.." I whispered quietly.

"Never again." He whispered back softly,

and I smiled.

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A/N: BOOM. Bet ya'll didn't expect me update this quickly. Teeeehheeeeee. RUCAS MOMENT YES MY BABIES! I know you guys are getting frustrated with me (muahaha) and I'm not the writers of gmw, but I do have a plan for Riley and Lucas and exactly how it's going to be, which is why I asked if you guys wanted it longer or not because I had more of a plan and didn't know if you just like wanted me to cut around the bush haha. These two are going to go through shiz AND THATS WHAT I HAD PLANNED FROM THE BEGINNING because I didn't want it to just cut to the chase and kiss at the third chapter, afterall the most epic kisses come at the end of the movies do they not? I REALLY WANTED THIS WHOLE PLAN TO GO ON SO I HOPE YOU ALL WILL TRUST ME BECAUSE I SWEAR IM NOT TRYING TO MAKE ANYONE CRY ON PURPOSE HAHA😂<3 I'm trying to make it realistic sort of, you get my drift? What am I saying this is a fanfiction it can't ever be realistic haha. Okay well I hope you guys liked this chapter, yay Zay and Lucas are back to being besties! Love all you beautiful cupcakes! <3