Summer Love

Chapter 12

A/N: To thank you for 1k. Also look out for a BMW Feeny quote in this chapter! Two, actually.

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Mr. Feeny's POV

We have just arrived at Morgan's house when I see Miss Hart running, in tears, from her bedroom.

I stop her. "What's the matter, my dear?"

She seems surprised to see me, but sits down anyways. She takes a deep breath before beginning to speak. "Mr. Feeny," Maya begins. "What's love, and why's it so complicated?"

I breath deeply, thinking of how to respond.

"Love," I say, "Is more powerful than anything else I know. And if you truly are in love-"

"I don't mean like that," she interrupts. "I mean, like, with your family. How can you love them even when they make you so mad?"

I clasp my hands together and think for a moment. In all my years of teaching, very rarely have I had to answer a question that I didn't truly have the right answer to.

"Well, a family doesn't break. And your family isn't just you and your mother," I say, remembering what I told a young Shawn Hunter many years ago. "You don't have to be blood to be family. Riley, the whole Matthews Family actually, they all believe in you and will care for you no matter what. They're your family," I look up, reading her expression.

"But my mother doesn-"

I hold my hand up to stop her. "Your mother, although not always the best at showing it, loves you just as much. And she's your family too."

Maya looks down at her hands. "Okay," she says. "I guess that's true,"

"It is," I assure her. "No matter what you may think, she does love you. And care for you. And respect your, might I say, affection, towards a certain Mr. Friar?"

"You know about that?" she asks, blushing slightly. Boy does she remind me of Mr. Hunter.

I smile, chuckling. "Well, yes! And I must say, you two would make a wonderful couple."

"Maybe," says Maya. "But he likes Riley."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that. See where life takes you. I can tell you that Mr. Friar thinks very highly of you. And although I cannot say anything more, there is much more to say."

She seems to be pondering the idea, but stands up. Everyone else has already gone out to meet Morgan. We should join them.

"Thanks, Mr. Feeny," she says. "You're a good teacher."

"You're welcome, Miss Hart," I reply. She gives me a quick hug before scampering out the door. I follow. "And it was fun for me!" I say to myself, with a grin. Just as I had many years ago.