Both of Us

nine

Maya hadn't seen or spoken to Lucas in two weeks. The only piece of him she has left is his jacket. She would hold onto it at night when she slept and sometimes she wouldn't sleep but she would cry.

Now, however, she's trying to toughen up. Maya Hart doesn't break down over a stupid cowboy. She's strong, she knows she is, but she still wears his jacket around her waist everywhere she goes wondering why she had to have feelings.

And why she was so afraid to have to have them.

***

"Maya, you need to go to him," Riley says to Maya as she's wiping down the counters in Topanga's.

"No thank you," Maya responds in a sing song way. "He left me. He wanted to leave and that's that."

"You know that's not true," Riley exclaimed. "He didn't want to leave, you pushed him away."

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did. You pushed him because you're scared."

Maya slams her hands on the counter in frustration. "Riley! Can you please just drop it? I am not afraid of anything. I'm Maya Penelope Hart!"

Riley doesn't say anything and just sighs but she knows the truth. She knows her girl.

She knows Maya is scared of hoping for good things and she's afraid of messing up with Lucas. So she pushes everything good away and tries to be strong because that's how she's always been.

But Riley knows her girl.

"You care about him, Maya. I know you do," Riley says. "Look, you still have his jacket tied around your waist. You carry it around like it's a baby."

"So what? It doesn't matter now," Maya says. "See Riles? This is what happens when you hope for things. You get hurt."

"That's not true," Riley whispers. "You know that."

Maya fiddles with the sleeves of Lucas' jacket and stares down at her toes. She knows she should but she just can't handle facing Lucas right now. What if he realized during their break that maybe if he didn't want to be with her anymore, that he's found someone better. Then he'll just leave and Maya can't handle anymore of people leaving her because she's not good enough.

"Hey kiddies!" Josh enters Topanga's with a bright smile spread across his face.

"Josh?"

"Uncle Josh," Riley exclaims. "What are you doing here?"

Josh stuffs his hands in his back pockets. "I came here to talk to Maya. I think I owe her an apology."

Maya's eyebrows furrow into a cute frown as Josh steps forward to the counter.

"Maya, I'm sorry for all that had happened--"

"Don't apologize. You don't have anything to be sorry for," Maya interrupts him.

"Really," Josh asks surprised.

"Really," Riley says in agreement.

Maya chuckles, "Yeah. It's not your fault that Lucas attacked you. He was just being an irrational little cowboy who can't handle the truth."

"Maya," Riley mumbles cautiously. She doesn't like where this is going. Something's about to change and Riley hates change, especially if it's her Maya.

"What truth," Josh asks.

Maya rolls her eyes and smiles. "Lucas and I are just friends. That's all we were, that's all we're ever gonna be."

Josh didn't even try to hide the grin on his face that just seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. Riley didn't like it one bit.

Maya removes the rubber band out of her hair and returns the grin Josh gives her. "And y'know? I kinda just want to get away from it all."

It's doesn't take long for Josh to catch the hint. "Well, if that's the case, I know a place downtown. It'll be the perfect place to get your mind off things."

"Oh, I thought you'd never ask, Uncle Boing." Maya hops over the desk, removes her apron, and tosses it over the counter at Riley. "You'll cover for me won't ya, Riles?"

"No," Riley exclaims. Not this time.

Maya, surprised by Riley's answer and attitude, gives Riley a threatening glare and restates her sentence slowly. "You will cover for me. Won't you?"

"Why are you acting like this?"

"I'm Maya. Let me be me."

Nothing is said for a short moment and Riley and Maya just stare at each other, trying to figure out what the other is thinking. So much for reading each other's minds.

"You comin' or not," Josh asks. He's standing near the front of Topanga's and he holds the door open waiting for Maya.

Maya turns to him and smiles. "Right behind ya."

She skips to Josh and links arms with him and as they walk out the door, Riley realizes that Maya still has Lucas' jacket tied around her waist.