BEST FRIENDS BROTHER | Maya Hart

Girl Meets Maya's Mother

"They've been lying to you, Auggie." Riley says as she sits at her place at the dinner table, "Your artwork would not hang on a single refrigerator outside this apartment."

Auggie looks up at Topanga "You said I was a little genius."

Topanga hugs Auggie "Oh, you are a little genius." Aiden, for once, sits quietly, eating his dinner.

"You said I was a little genius." Topanga looks at her daughter

"Well, I had no one to compare you to, honey." Aiden looks at his mother, offended.

"What am I? Chopped liver?" Aiden asks.

"I mean I had no one who was comparable to compare her to," Aiden nods. It may not be the greatest correction but it is true, Aiden was pretty hard to compare to. It'd be easier if he ever actually did any of the work.

"Maya is going to be a famous artist and everybody speaks French but me." Riley complains, "And Aiden, but that doesn't make me feel any better!" She adds.

"Ayez davantage confiance en moi, n'est-ce pas?" ("Have more faith in me, would you?") Aiden says as the family look at him, he simply shrugs. Even he barely understands where he picked French up from.

"Ma sœur Riley. Vous êtes une fille très simple et les gens vous aiment." Auggie tells his sister. ("My sister Riley. You're a very simple girl and people like you.")

Topanga hugs Auggie "You are going to change the world with your brilliant mind." Riley looks at her "You have such a cute top." Aiden looks at her "You're great at football!" Aiden smiles, happy with his compliment.

Cory, who had been quiet the entire time, finally speaks up, "Are there any more of these mashed potatoes?" Aiden starts looking, also wondering that.

"That's what your thinking about right now?" Riley asks in disbelief as Aiden puts some more mashed potatoes on his plate before handing it to his dad.

"Riley, this whole 'what-am I-good-at' thing? I've been there my whole life. It's a waste of time. You know what's not a waste of time? Mashed potatoes. You know why? They never let you down. They're the best in the world at what they do. So don't be mashed potatoes, because they're better at that than you could ever be." Cory tells her. Aiden nods.

"He's right, especially these mashed potatoes," Well, like father, like son.

"How are you helping me?" Riley questions.

"He can't be wise all the time," Aiden says simply.

"Can I eat a meal?" Cory responds at the same time.

"What about you guys? Do you have any talent? Did I inherit anything from you two?" Riley asks he parents, who share a look. Aiden groans, having already hard all this one too many times. he finishes eating and goes to his room before he can hear it all again. He tries to decide what to do, he glances at his guitars. He stopped playing a year or so ago when something happened, but he decides to grab the guitar and start strumming a soft melody, trying to think of inspiration for a song, before he comes up with one.

Truthfully, Mason and Aiden weren't always just a duo. Up until last year they were a trio, they were friends with another boy, Joshua, but last year, tragedy struck and Joshua passed away. The two boys were obviously devastated and didn't talk to anyone for a while, but they're better now. Aiden's better now, right?

"Nice song," a voice said. Oh yeah, another thing. Aiden sometimes hallucinates that Joshua is in the room with him, weird, he knows.

"Yeah, thanks," Aiden knew he was crazy, but he didn't care.

"You seem sad, AJ," Joshua said. Everyone used to call Aiden 'AJ'. The reason being his middle name was Jacob. But everyone stopped after Josh's passing, because Josh came up with it.

"Nah, I just- I don't know, man." Aiden sighs.

"Ooh, I heard you got a girlfriend. Finally! About time you got over Maya," Aiden snaps his head in Josh's direction, "Anyone with half a brain, so not you, could see you liked her. Well, apart from her, I guess."

"I'm gonna ignore the insult you threw in there. How did you know I have a girlfriend?" Aiden queries.

"A magician never reveals his secrets," Joshua grins, "My boy is finally growing up," He wipes a fake tear.

"Shut up," Aiden says, clearly no harshness to it, that was made evident by his laughter. Riley walks in.

"Who are you talking to?" She ask her brother, who looks over to her.

"No one," he quickly replies. She gives him a sceptic look.

"Okay.... anyway, will you come to the art exhibit at our school tomorrow?" Riley asks the boy who nods instantly.

"Can I bring Megan?" Riley thinks for a second, she knows Maya dislikes Megan. She doesn't have a reason other than jealousy, really. She sighs and nods, he smiles, "Thanks!" She fake smiles. To be honest, Riley didn't exactly like Megan either. She had a bad feeling about her.

"No. But of course you did." Maya points to Cory and Topanga, who are followed by Aiden, Mason and Megan. Maya's smile falls slightly at the sight of Megan but she hides it well.

"Hey, Maya. Wow, you really have some talent. Look at that place." Topanga compliments the girl she sees as her own daughter.

"I bet it's got great mashed potatoes." Cory and Aiden say simultaneously. Like father, like son.

"Look at that lady, why can you only see half of her?" Farkle asks as Lucas wraps Farkle's mouth with his forearms from behind, "Oh," he realises. Megan is about to question it but Aiden covers her mouth, not wanting his best friend or Maya to feel uncomfortable or anything. Aiden and Mason go off to look at some other paintings a everyone else does the same, Riley leaving the school. Megan, however, stays with Maya and talks to her. Aiden shrugs it off.

"Hey, babe, I'm tired, I'm gonna get going," Aiden hears from behind him, he smiles at his girlfriend.

"Alright, see you tomorrow," He says happily and goes for a kiss, she dodges it. Aiden furrows his eyebrows but thinks nothing of it as she leaves. He walks over to Maya, "So... what did you and Megan talk about?" He asks, genuinely curious.

"Nothing" She responds simply and.... coldly?

"Okay, well do you want me to walk you home after this?" He asks, hoping she would say yes.

"I'm fine, I don't need your protection," She responds, almost distantly.

"O-Okay. See you tomorrow?"

"Maybe" Aiden doesn't know why Maya's being distant and cold all of a sudden.

"Um, okay... see you when I see you," This time he doesn't even get a response. He sighs and walks over to Mason, "I'm gonna head home, man." He doesn't wait for a response and leaves. Confused by the sudden mood switch from Maya, he walks home lost in thought. Did he do something? Or maybe Megan... no, it couldn't be. Megan is sweet. It must've been his fault. If only he knew what Megan was even doing right now.