In Our Hearts

four > the deal

It was Friday and school has finnished. My walk home with Maya felt different. Mostly because I was having this solicitude feeling of what Farkle has said to me about my remained, unknown feelings for Lucas.

But Maya is my best friend. She stepped back from Lucas when she knew I liked him. How could I not do the same?

Farkle and I hadn't talk since he said those things until just then, before school was over. I was packing my bags when no one was paying attention to us. He tapped my shoulder and leaned in forward to my ear and whispered. His words echoed in my head, repeatedly. "You need to tell them, Riley."

He left before I did. His small shoulders heaved when he walked and his dark green bag made sounds like there were metals in it.

For a second, I was paralysed but as soon as Maya turned to me, I snapped back into reality. I lied to her endlessly when she asked me questions referring to Farkle or Lucas.

"Riley?" Maya called out to me like I was in a coma and she succeded on reaching out to me. "Why are you so quiet these last few days? Is something like bothering you?" She pulled both of her legs up onto the seat by the bay window.

The sunlight was shining at her, only at her while I was in the shadow, lost in my own thoughts.

"What? No, it's nothing..." I trailed off, looking at my bed for no reason. I purposely made my hair fall off my ear so that they could cover my sad looking eyes.

"I know what is it about." She grabbed my chin and pulled my hed to face her. She stared into my sad eyes during which my heart was beating so loudly until I couldn't hear anything but the sound of it, pumping hard.

"Is this about going to high school?" My body was flooded with relief. I faked a small smile and looked down to her hands, playing with the textures on the red cushion seat.

"Yeah, I guess so," I bluffed for like the twenty third time, this week.

"Hey, I'll always be there for you. No matter what. I promise." Maya nudged my chin and made me stare at her glassy eyes. "I know it sounds cheesy but just hold on to it. Okay?"

I smiled and unintentionally forgot about the deal with Farkle. It felt great to be with Maya. It just makes you forget about the negativity of this world. "Ring power." I raised my hand up - the one with the ring.

Maya did the same, crossing to mine. "Ring power."

"Thunder."

"Lightning."

"I'm scared," I stated while my hand was still in the air.

"Me too." She flashed a soft smile and brought down her hand to my shoulder, gripping it tightly.

"Ladies," someone said, interrupting me and Maya's private conversation. It was that boy who threatened me. He climbed through the window and entered my personal space. It was okay back then but he rarely comes now so it made me feel a little uncomfortable.

"It's been a long time since we heard that." Maya smiled, showing her neatly arranged teeth, at the same time, a disturbed look was plastered on my face.

"What is it Riley?" Farkle noticed my plague expression. I know that he knew it was about the deal but he acted like he was clueless. What a jerk, I thought.

"Poor peaches is just afraid of taking the next step to high school." Maya pulled me into a hug, and patted my head.

It hurt that she didn't get what I was trying to tell her. It hurt to imagine the look on her face when she knows my secret. What would she say?

"Well, is poor peaches afraid of what will happen if-" He didn't get to finnish his line since I covered his mouth with both of my hands. Maya was shocked, oblivious to what was going on.

Maya was trying to say something but I didn't give her a chance to talk. I pushed her out of my room, politely, telling her, "I'm sorry Maya. Can you please give us a minute," before I closed the door.

"You just trapped me inside your room. I like it." Farkle said it like a creep. He was handsome when he said it, but still.

"Farkle! You can't do this to me. It's not fair for Maya." I whisper-hissed, not wanting my best friend to hear. Farkle stood close to me, too close. I was starting to feel tingly, nervous, sweaty. He was like a foot taller than me and he looked different up close. I backed away from him and cleared my throat.

"Riley, what do you mean it's not fair for Maya? You're lying to her about not having any feelings for the same guy you both liked." Farkle needs to quiet down.

"Can you not shout? Maya might be listening!" I hissed back angrily. Somehow the frown on my face made my skin burns.

Both of us couldn't stand still, couldn't talk it out like normal people. But how could I? He was going to expose my secret.

"Riley you can't keep this forever. You have tell Maya." His fingers were at his head like he was meditating or something.

"Tell me what?" Maya opened the door.