Emeralds

Prologue

Prolouge

Maya Hart-Hunter. The hyphen always bothered her. She felt like she didn't belong to any family. Her dad left her for another life. Maya had always struggled without her dad. She didn't have many friends. She wished she could be happy like Riley Matthews. Riley was not her friend but Maya wished she was. Riley seemed so sure of herself. She seemed so confident. Maya was not. Riley got everything she wanted. She got the cutest boy in school. Lucas Friar.

Maya was only sure about her art. She could lose herself in a painting. The blues and purples and greens mixing to make a lake. The oranges and pinks making the perfect sunset. With every every stoke Maya felt happy. With every dip into the paint Maya felt comfort. She lost herself in her art. The final masterpiece always left her feeling proud.

Maya painted what she saw. And she painted it with feeling. Maya knew Riley could never do that. Riley could get whatever guy she wanted but Riley couldn't paint green eyes and make them look like emeralds. Riley couldn't take the way she felt and turn it into a painting like Maya could. Riley could dress cute and flirt but Maya wouldn't trade everything Riley had for the art she could create.

Riley walked into class. She wasn't worried about what would happen that day. Riley knew she was well liked and took that to her advantage. Riley manipulated people and brought them under her power. Girls like Maya Hart did what she said. Girls like Maya Hart wanted to be just as cool as she was. Riley seemed sweet but her boyfriend Lucas Friar knew otherwise. She was manipulative and unappreciative. Riley only dated Lucas for her image.

It was always about image for Riley. If it was in to date girls she would drop Lucas. If it was in to date a nerd she would. Smackle was Riley's "assistant" of sorts. She planned Riley's parties and carried Riley's books from class to class. Smackle would do anything for Riley. Riley would do nothing for her.

Maya Hart couldn't see through Riley like Lucas could. Lucas could see through almost everyone. Lucas was good at observing. He listened more than he spoke. He watched others closely. Lucas watched Maya especially close.

She was hard to figure out, but Lucas loved a challenge. Maya always acted so tough and edgy but Lucas knew there was more to Maya than that. He was right. Maya tried to act tough to cover up the hurt. Lucas knew the act was just a cover story. But to cover up what? Lucas decided he would find out. If that meant getting close to Maya, he would.