Troubled Child

Not How She Imagined It

Riley went to her own room and took out her phone. She went to her most recent calls list and clicked on the first name.

"Hey Riley, what's up?"

"Where is she?"

"Where is who?"

"Maya."

"How would I know?"

"Don't play dumb. You're way too smart for that. Where is Maya?"

"Riley, I really don't-"

"Farkle, I mean it. Do not play dumb and don't act like I'm dumb! I know you found her and I know there is no way you would let her go! Where did you put her?!"

"You act like she's an object." She heard him chuckle, then she heard him sigh loudly. "I paid for a hotel room so I know she's still here and maybe I might have had some buddies of mine watching to make sure she doesn't leave."

Riley smiled. "I know you all too well, Farkle. What's the hotel and room number? I want to call her."

"Riley, I know I shouldn't have kept it a secret that Maya is in a hotel in the city, but there is a really good reason I did and I really don't think you or Lucas are ready to see her again, not yet."

"Farkle, I can decide that for myself. I've been waiting for years to know where Maya is and see her again, but most importantly-"

"Riley-"

"Emily wants to meet her, Farkle."

The other line became silent for a moment, then she heard him sigh again. "She's at The Pod. Room 2."

"Thank you. I'm not mad that you kept this a secret, but why?"

"You'll find out. It's Maya's story to tell and I respect that. Goodnight."

"Good night Farkle."

Riley hung up and took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves. She looked down at her phone and searched for the hotel then she pressed the call button on her screen and waited for someone who works there to pick up.

"Hello, Pod Hotel, how can I help you?" A gentle voice asked.

"I have a- a friend- staying there in Room 2 and I would like to talk to her, please." Riley started picking nervously at a loose piece of thread on her pink blanket.

"I have a note here that says all calls to Room 2 are to be reported to Mr. Minkus so I'll have to ask. Please hold." The voice replied.

"Farkle." Riley cursed silently. "What is this huge secret that you actually had to make it difficult to even contact, Maya?" She angrily muttered to herself as she waited.

"Mr. Minkus said I can patch you through to Room 2. Please hold one more moment." She stated.

Riley took a deep breath again, this time to calm her frustration.

"Farkle?"

She nearly dropped her phone when she heard her best friend's voice on the other line.

"N-No. It's Riley."

"R-Riley? Farkle said no one would know I was here. He lied to me?"

"No! I- I made him tell me." Riley sighed. Maya sounded different, there was something off about her voice, she sounded despondent.

"Oh.. Well, what do you want?"

After all these years Riley never thought it would be like this, she had imagined it several times.

She thought she would bump into Maya at the grocery store and they would start talking again like Maya had never left. Just pick up where they left off and be best friends again, no hesitation.

She also thought maybe she would see a beautiful painting by Maya in a gallery and then meet the artist at an opening like in a Hollywood movie. They would go out for coffee and talk about the old days and laugh for hours.

One time she had a nightmare that she would find Maya living in a box in an alley as she walked to work, but then she would take Maya in and everything would be okay again. She would help her best friend get back on her feet.

She never imagined Maya had a daughter who would show up in Lucas' class and then she would become the girl's temporary guardian. She also never thought Maya would sound like she wasn't happy to hear from Riley when Riley talked to her again. But this wasn't her imagination. It's real.

"I-I-I wanted to talk to you." Riley didn't understand why she felt like crying, but she could feel the tears starting to form. "Maya."

"About what?"

Maya's response made something snap in Riley. Suddenly instead of feeling like crying she felt angry.

"About your daughter! The one I never knew about!" She yelled. "She wants to meet you in case you care!" Riley snapped at her.

Maya sighed. "I care."

Maya's voice changed making Riley's anger dissipate. Instead of sounding lackluster Maya sounded like she was fighting back tears which made Riley cry.

"Maya, come home." She cried. "Come see your daughter. I'm not mad at you. I know and I don't care. I'm over Lucas. We're just friends, nothing more. I'm not mad about this. I promise you."

Maya was quiet for a few minutes.

"It's not about that anymore. I-I'll think about it, but I- I make no promises." She said then she hung up leaving Riley alone to cry.

"Your daughter wants to see you." Riley cried quietly. Her phone fell onto her bed. "Please, come back."