MELANCHOLY ▷ RIARKLE

x. anxious

"i'm on the
edge."

"What about Maya?" Riley asked, her heart beating faster with every passing second.

She watched her father hesitate.

"Dad, what about her?" Riley repeated.

"Get your mother," Cory answered.

"Why?"

"Get your mother."

"Okay, okay."

Riley walked through the Matthews household, looking for her mother.

"Mom!" Riley hollered.

"In here!" Topanga answered from Auggie's room.

Riley walked in to find her mother sitting on Auggie's bed, Auggie asleep in her lap. Topanga smiled at her daughter.

"Dad wants us," Riley answered wearing a straight face.

Topanaga seemed unfazed by this.

"For what?"

"I don't know. He won't tell us."

"But I will now," Cory said calmly.

Riley spun around to see her father in the doorway, his facial expression unreadable.

"Okay, what about Maya?" Topanga asked.

"Riley, sit down. This... is gonna hurt."

Terrified now, Riley sat down by her mother. Riley looked up at her father.

"Okay. I'm sitting. Tell me. What happened to my best friend?"

"Earlier this afternoon, Maya was out walking to her apartment when she got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"What? That makes no sense."

"Riley, Maya got shot. Katy just found out about ten minutes ago. She's at the hospital now."

Riley jumped to her feet, startling Auggie wake.

"Take me to her. Now," Riley demanded.

She watched as her parents exchanged looks.

"Okay, let's go."

Topanaga lifted her son onto her side and followed her daughter and husband.
***
As the Matthews hurried to the hospital, "what ifs" clouded Riley's mind. What if we're too late? What if Maya died hating me? The pressure built behind Riley's eyes. She buried her head in her hands.

Soon, the four pulled up to the hospital. Riley was the first one out. She ran up to the doors, forcing them open. Riley didn't look back for her family. She burst through the doors, startling the receptionist.

"Katy!" Riley exclaimed, engulfing Maya's mother into a hug.

"Riley," Katy's voice sounded as if she had been crying. Riley was sure she had been.

"Any news?" Riley asked, releasing Katy.

"She's in a coma. That's all I know."

Soon, the three others Matthews burst through the doors, too. Topanga was the first of the three to hug Katy. She and Cory were soon informed on Maya's coma, too.

"Riley?" Auggie asked, tugging on Riley's sleeve once they both took a seat in the waiting area.

"Yeah, Aug?" Riley asked, her tone softening.

"What's a coma?"

Pressure built behind Riley's eyes. How was she supposed to explain this to Auggie?

"Well, it's like... when your body is asleep, but your mind isn't," Riley said gently, her voice shaking.

"So it's like you're sleeping?" Auggie asked, furrowing his brows.

"No, Aug," Riley laughed quietly,"how about you go ask Mom, okay?"

"Okay!"

As Riley watched Auggie walk over to their mother, she rested her elbow on her knee, and her mouth in the palm of her hand. She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the tears threaten to spill. Quietly, she inhaled sharply, trying not to break then and there.

The doors opened, forcing Riley's eyes to snap open. She saw Farkle and his parents rush in. Immediately, Riley's eyes locked with Farkle's, and the two met in the middle with a hug. It felt nice to have Farkle's arms around her. She could feel his warm breath. He smelled like books with a hint of mint.

"Hey," Farkle said, breaking the silence."Do you know anything on her condition?"

"Coma," Riley chocked out.

The two released each other, making Riley miss his warm embrace.

"Let's go sit," Riley offered to where she had just been moments ago.

Farkle nodded.

"Have you heard from Zay or Lucas?" Riley asked once they had finally sat down.

"Yeah, they're on their way," Farkle answered, nodding.

"Good."

"God, I hope she's okay," Riley breathed, setting her chin back in her hands.

"Me too," Farkle agreed, resting his hand on Riley's back.
***
A/N: an update! And I can't believe this books hit 5k reads ommgggg. (Currently writing the next chapter. Shit gets reeeaaal)