Truth or Dare

Truth or Dare Part 2

(BAY WINDOW)

"Look," Riley began. "I am so sorry for lying to you like that. Are you mad at me?"

"I'm a lot of things right now, mostly surprised and confused, but mad? No, I'm not mad at you, Riles." Maya replied.

"Really?" Riley queried, glad that she didn't seem to upset her friend too much.

"Really." Maya confirmed. "I know you, Riley. You wouldn't lie to anyone, especially me, if you didn't have a really good reason."

"You're right, and I do." Riley nodded curtly as she spoke her words seriously.

"So what is it?" Maya wondered aloud.

Riley took a deep breath before launching into what was, no doubt, a touchy subject for Maya: Uncle Josh.

"Josh is here. He made a surprise visit and is staying the night." She explained.

"Oh." Maya said casually, trying to remain indifferent to the situation.

"I should have just told you that from the beginning." Riley responded as she pushed some of her long brown locks back behind her ear.

"So, why didn't you?" Maya asked curiously.

"I don't know. I guess, I thought I was protecting you." Riley tried to explain.
"Protecting me? From what?" Maya probed further.

"Well, it's just..." Riley trailed off, pausing a moment to collect her thoughts. "I know things haven't been easy for you where Josh is concerned. I mean, it's obvious that his constant rejections hurt you more than you'd like to admit.

"Yeah, I was...until the next day when Josh said he would stop looking at me like I was a kid." Maya supplied.

"Well, I appreciate that you care so much." Maya smiled. "You're a good friend." She added as she put her arm through Riley's to emphasize her words.

Riley just smiled back brightly and said, "Thanks. I learn from the best."

They just smiled at each other a moment, until Riley took a deep breath and spoke up again.

"Haven't you noticed the way Josh looks at you?" Riley inquired, deciding to reveal a few things that she has noticed about Maya and Josh's interactions since the Christmas party last December.

"He doesn't look at me in any way, except like I'm nutball, which we've already established." Maya said, rolling her eyes.
Riley just smirked as she crossed her legs and folded her hands on her top knee. She couldn't help but take things a step further. "Then you are also aware that Josh has never actually said that he doesn't like you." She elaborated.
At that, Maya propped herself up on her elbows and arched a brow at her friend. "So?"
"So...maybe he hasn't said it because he can't say it, because if he did, it wouldn't be the truth." Riley clarified.

she knew that Riley was right about Josh to an extent. He never did say anything about his feelings for her, just the same-old, same-old "I'm too old for you" speech. However, Maya wasn't so sure about the rest of her friend's statement, and she was a little scared of even considering it.

Yeah." Riley half-smiled. She also wanted to add the fact that she was pretty sure Josh's constant use of the phrase "I'm too old for you" was more of a reminder for himself than for Maya, but due to Maya's current mood, she figured now wasn't the best time to mention it.

"Why?" Maya questioned, tone serious and somewhat annoyed, but not angry.

"Because...I don't want you to give up on Josh... not completely." Riley confessed.

Maya's eyes widened a bit in surprise, but her voice sounded almost amused as she responded, "Excuse me? Since when?"
"I know, I know, I haven't exactly been the biggest supporter of your feelings for Josh. I was just worried about you getting hurt with the age difference and all." Riley went on. "But someday, before you know it, that three years isn't gonna matter anymore, and then..." Riley trailed off.

"And then what?" Maya wondered aloud.

"I think that's up to you and Josh." Riley smiled as she placed a hand on Maya's shoulder.