The Talk of Temptation

Ryan walked into the school with her earphones in. Zion and Seth were arguing about what team would go to the playoffs in the NBA this year. Ryan didn't care and she turned her earphones up more.

But, someone pulled them out. She turned fiercely, angry at whoever it was. Ellie was there and she frowned.

"You never talked to me." Yeah... she and Maya were quite busy... she didn't really mean to ignore Ellie, she just forgot. Her face softened.

"I'm sorry." She told her. "We can talk right now if you'd like?" Zion looked at her and she smiled, reassuring him that nothing would happen.

"Okay." Ellie said, smiling.

"Let's just go outside, it's nice out." Ellie raised her eyebrow, but nodded.

"It's pretty cold, but we can go." Ryan laughed a little and followed her. "You seem happy." Ellie mumbled.

"I am..." It was silent until they got outside.

"I've missed you Ryan. I love you so much, more than anything. It hurts that you don't feel the same anymore." Ryan sighed.

"I fell out of love with you when you were hurt." Ellie's face dropped even more.

"Yeah and instead of being totally dedicated to me, you went and fell for another girl. Amazing. You didn't even want me to get my memory back." She said sadly.

"I did Ellie, I just thought for sure that you wouldn't. Besides, I had strong feelings for her since we first broke up." She rolled her eyes, now getting angry.

"Don't bullshit me Ryan. I just wanted to know if it was all fake." Ryan frowned.

"Ellie, I did love you. I thought we'd be together forever. I didn't mean to meet her, I didn't mean to fall for her. But I do love her and as hard as it is for you to hear, she's who I want to be with. You'll find someone who's for you. I was never what you wanted, but to her, I'm perfect. I can be me whenever I want. You need to find someone who will let you be you." Ellie stared at her and began crying.

"But I don't want that Ryan. I only want you." Ryan pulled her into her arms.

"Ellie... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I wish I didn't have to. I wish you could be happy too."

"Is there ever a chance you'd come back to me?" Ryan shook her head.

"I was happy with you, but I'm even happier now. You should move on. There's guys and girls around here who were waiting for us to breakup. They're pissed now because we're talking." Ryan winked at her and she laughed.

"I'm glad you're happy Ryan. That's all I want, it just hurts."

"I know, it'll feel that way... but only for a little while." Ellie smiled and nodded.

"I guess I should get to class. See you around." Ryan nodded and Ellie left. Ryan sighed and rubbed her face. She felt horrible about hurting Ellie. She wished she could help, but she knew if she was around more, it wouldn't help Ellie at all. She leaned back onto the steps, hearing someone coming behind her.

"Why don't you ever go to class?" She turned to see her uncle. He was a tall man, with a short beard and blond, well-kept hair.

"I'm going Rich, give me a break." He laughed and sat beside her.

"My favorite niece-"

"Only." She mumbled.

"-is always causing me trouble around here. What's wrong?" He asked, throwing his arm around her.

"Ellie... she's not over me and I've got a girlfriend. A wonderful girlfriend. I just hope Ellie finds someone too. I feel so bad about falling for someone else while she was hurt."

"Do you regret falling for someone else?" Definitely not.

"No."

"Then what's the problem?" She sighed.

"I don't know."

"Then go to class." She looked up at him and he laughed. "I'm kidding. You could get a detention though."

"You're no help at all Rich. I'm going to tell Mom." He ruffled up her hair and she grinned.

"I don't care, tell her." She grinned even wider.

"Your wish is my command." She told him, walking down the steps.

"That's not what I meant!" He yelled behind her before sighing and kicking a rock. "This kid... what am I going to do?" He mumbled, going back into the school.

Ryan walked home and got her bike. She rode to the station and saw Maya outside, getting into her unit. She wasn't going to bother her, seeing as she was going on duty, but Maya saw her and waved her over.

"Hey baby." Maya told her, smiling widely. "What's up?" Just seeing Maya and hearing her say that brightened Ryan's mood.

"Came to talk to Mom. You going on patrol?"

"No, actually I'm getting something out of here. I have another SWAT operation today. I can't talk to you about it, but it's a good one." Ryan frowned.

"You'll be okay, right?" She asked worriedly. Ryan still hated the aspect of Maya being on the SWAT team, but she tried as hard as she could to support her.

"Yes Ryan, I promise I will. I'll be home tonight, waiting for your call. No exceptions." Ryan smiled and let out a breath.

"Okay, that's what I like to hear. It's reassuring to know that my girl's the best one out there. Go out there and kick some ass." Maya smiled and kissed her cheek, surprising Ryan.

"I will. I love you."

"I love you too baby." Ryan winked at her and went into the building. She saw Maya's ex eyeing her as she walked towards the back to her mother's side. The girl began walking towards her and her eyes widened and she sped up.

But of course, she called her.

"Hey!" Ryan stopped and turned, pointing to herself.

"Me?"

"Yeah. You." Leah smirked at her and Ryan frowned.

"What do you want?" Ryan asked her, not wanting to talk to her. She didn't like the girl who Maya had almost had sex with that night. She wanted nothing to do with her.

Leah looked at her, taken aback.

"I'm sorry, do we know each other?" Ryan realized that she hadn't ever had a conversation with the woman. She just didn't like her, for no specific reason other than she liked Maya.

"Uhh, not other than the last time I was here. Sorry." Ryan mumbled. "Ryan. What was your name again?" Ryan shook her hand and she smiled.

"Leah. I just wanted to tell you that I thought you were beautiful and-"

"Hey guys! Ryan what're you doing here?" Maya said. Ryan groaned internally, Maya did not look happy.

"Just going to see my mom. See you guys later." She said, turning around and leaving.

"I can walk you there, if you don't know." She heard Leah say.

"She knows the way." Maya told her. Ryan kept walking, trying to ignore it.

"You ran her away!"

"Maybe it was you, trying to flirt with a girl you don't know." Ryan sighed and let her feet carry her towards her mom's cubicle thingy.

She smiled to herself, thinking about Maya being so defensive over her. Maya got jealous fairly easily. Ryan on the other hand wasn't that much of the jealous type. Ryan didn't feel a single bit threatened by Leah, she just didn't like that they almost slept together.

Sounds weird, yes.

"Hey honey. Richard called me, you've got to stop skipping school." Her mom said, but smiled.

"He told me to come tell you something... I forgot now." Her mother laughed and she sat down.

"What's wrong?"

"Ellie's all sad because I'm with Maya. She's fine with it, she understands, but... she's hurt. I hurt her. It was something I never wanted to do."

"Honey, people are always going to be hurt. Not everyone will be happy with what you do. Don't be sorry for being happy. Maya's father is probably hurt that the two of you are dating." Ryan shrugged.

"I guess that's true." Her mother smiled. "Also, Maya is going on another SWAT operation today and I'm afraid, but I guess it'll be fine." She waved her off.

"Maya is amazing at her job. I couldn't guarantee I'd be fine, but she definitely will." Ryan smiled, well that was relieving.

"Great. Another thing, do I have to go back to school?" Her mother rolled her eyes.

"Yes Ryan, you do." Ryan groaned but stood. She went around the desk and hugged her mother.

"I love you Mom. Even if you are making me go back to the hell hole." She laughed.

"Just for a few more months." Ryan rolled her eyes. "I love you too. Bye." Ryan left the office to see Leah and Maya still arguing. She shook her head at them and Maya looked at her. They smiled at each other.

"Bye Ryan." Leah called. Ryan waved, giving her a small smile. Maya winked at her and she smiled widely. Leah looked between the two of them, just as Ryan walked out of the door. Ryan got back to the school just in time for her third class of the day.

She sighed and walked in. Zion sat to the front of the class and motioned for Ryan to sit by him. She sat down and he stared at her.

"What the hell are you looking at me like that for?"

"You went to talk to Ellie and after that you disappeared. Have you forgotten about my sister?"

"Zion chill the fuck out, I didn't cheat on your sister. I talked to Ellie, then I went to the fucking police department to talk to my mom. Which is where I saw your sister also." Ryan wouldn't admit it, but the reason she always went there wasn't to talk to her mother, it was to see Maya.

"Sorry dude. We're just really protective in our family. I'd do anything for Maya."

"And so would I." She fired back at him quickly. He stared at her before nodding.

"Okay. Good. Dad wants to talk to you today." She raised her eyebrow.

"About what?" He shrugged.

"I don't know, hopefully he wants to make amends and let you two be together."

"I hope so. Maya's been so worried about it. He hasn't talked to her since Thursday." Maya's been hurt by what her father did and said, but Ryan knew she's been trying to ignore it. Ryan tries her hardest to distract her from thinking about it, but she can't always help.

"I know, he's stubborn. I've asked him about it and he threatened to kick me out, so my lips are sealed." Ryan laughed a little and looked up at the board.

"Shit, we missed all of this. I have no idea how he got that." They were in Calculus and at this point had no idea what was going on. They began to scribble the work down, but they still didn't understand. "I'll ask Maya, you can ask your dad and we'll compare."

"Deal." Zion told her.

After school, Ryan and Zion rode Ryan's motorcycle to his house.

"I felt so gay holding on to you like that."

"Dude, first of all, I'm a girl. Second, you could've just not hung on and fell off. Beats me." His mouth dropped.

"You don't care about me?" She laughed and bumped into his arm as he laughed too. They went inside the house and to Mr. Rose's office. Zion stopped at the door and motioned for her to go inside.

She knocked on the door, somewhat nervous. Ryan took a deep breath and shook her head.

I'm never nervous, fuck that.

"Come in." His voice boomed and her eyes widened.

Fuck nervous, I'm scared as shit.

She walked into the room and he looked up. He smiled and motioned for her to sit down.

"Ryan. How's it going?" He asked as she sat.

"Good sir. How about for you?"

"I'm having such an amazing day. Thank you for asking." Ryan nodded and looked at him. He smiled at her and she smiled back. "Do you love Maya?"

"Well of course- I mean, yes sir." He smiled and nodded.

"You know she's going to be in the FBI. It's something she's wanted her whole life."

"Yes sir." Ryan said, nodding.

"I like you Ryan. Sure, you're a good girl, but Maya's twenty three. She's going to be successful. She's going to Florida and she'll end up having lots of money and... everything she ever wanted. That is... if there is no you." Ryan blinked, surprised.

"What?"

"Yes. You see, all I want is the best for my little girl, don't you?" Ryan nodded. "And she can't have that with you. You're eighteen, still in high school, do you think that looks good for her?" Ryan couldn't answer, because it obviously didn't. "Exactly, you'll still be here when she gets the job. She'll be so concerned about you and your kiddie problems instead of focusing on her job. You won't even be there to support her. She needs support from someone when she's there. She could easily find someone else."

"Maya wouldn't do that." He raised his eyebrow.

"Really? Why wouldn't she? She loves you right? Didn't you tell me you loved Ellie once?" The thought of that broke her, yet it was plausible. She trusted Maya, but she knew things could happen. She stared at him and looked down at her hands. She wanted to cry right then and there. But Ryan hated to show weakness.

"It won't happen." She told him forcefully.

"We both know it could. You're beneath her level Ryan. Do you even know what you want to be yet? Could you even hold up your own when with her? Is she going to have to pay for everything?" Ryan tapped her leg, looking away from him. She was frustrated. "Ryan, I'm not against you here. We both want the same end goal."

"I want Maya to be happy and successful. What good will it do her to be there and working so hard, not having happiness?"

"She'll find it!" Ryan didn't answer him. "I'll make a deal with you. I'll pay you off, name your price to break up with her. Don't ever talk to her again. I have the money, I'll write the check right here." Ryan looked up at him. "Come on Ryan. How will you being with her help her?" Ryan looked away, not thinking of many ways. Was she being selfish for still wanting Maya to be with her?

"How much money are you willing to give me?" He grinned.

"I'll make it worth while."