Their World | Rilaya

12: Lost Voice

It's the following Monday and the last class of the day is about to begin.

It's been about two weeks since Riley and Maya have started dating. With their recent events they have hidden their relationship from everyone at school, except for their friends. This decision was more Maya's than Riley's, but the brunette has accepted her girlfriend's choice.

"Art," Riley exclaims, "are you ready, Maya?"

"Of course I am, Riles. It's the only class I am ever ready for."

The two take their seats as the bell rings.

"Okay class, today we are going to start a new painting," Mr. Jackson begins. "It should be something that represents you. Something you want to tell the world. But I want you to paint this with a partner."

Riley instantly grabs Maya's arm, "you're my partner, peaches."

"No," Maya whines.

"Why not?"

"Riley I love you, but we both know you only paint-"

"Purple cats," Riley smiles.

"Yes, purple cats."

"Is there a problem here, girls?" Mr. Jackson inquires.

"Nope, not at all," Riley responds.

"Good," he says walking away.

"Okay fine," Maya gives in, "but no purple cats."

"Then what should we paint?"

Maya doesn't respond and both of the girls think to themselves for a minute.

"I got it," Riley finally says.

"Okay, what is it?" Maya starts," and you better not say a purple cat."

"Never mind," Riley says sadly.

"Riley, this is serious."

"Fine," Riley says, "here take a brush and just paint whatever comes to your mind. That's what you're good at."

Riley hands Maya a brush.

"But this is suppose to be a group project, Riley."

"You start and I will help you finish. How about that?"

"Okay," Maya agrees.

"Now, what color do you want?"

Maya thinks for a second, "I don't know, just surprise."

"Fine, then you get red," the brunette says handing over some red paint.

Maya dips the brush into the red paint and brings it over to the canvas.

"Now, you paint." Riley says. "Take the brush and put it on the canvas... Paint something that represents you... Or that represents us... Something that you want to tell the world... Paint... Just paint... Maya, why aren't you painting?"

"I-I don't know. I can't think of anything to paint," Maya says unable to put the brush on the canvas.

"But Maya, you always know what to paint. Art is your thing."

"I know, but nothing's coming to me."

"Mr. Jackson!" Riley yells.

"Yes, Ms. Matthews?" the teacher asks, somewhat irritated by her yelling.

Riley points at Maya and whimpers, "she's not painting."

"Maya, what's wrong?" Mr. Jackson questions.

"I don't know what to paint. This has never happened to me before," Maya says still frozen.

"There is nothing that you want to tell the world, Ms. Hart? Nothing that either of you want to tell the world?"

"No," Maya responds.

"A purple cat," Riley smiles.

"See what I'm working with?" Maya says to her teacher.

"Why a purple cat, Riley?"

"Because it's purple and it's a cat," Riley answers like it was obvious.

"Are you sure there isn't something more to this purple cat, Riley?"

The brunette shakes her head no.

"Well, you two are going to have to find something to paint. This is due at the start of class tomorrow," the man says, leaving the two girls.

"Maya, you're not broken again are you? You told me you would always tell me if anything was wrong."

"I'm not broken, I just lost my voice."

"Then we better find it and fast."

"I don't know how to find it," Maya says.

"Well where did you have it last? We can look for it there."

"My voice isn't an object. I didn't just forget it somewhere, Riles."

"Yeah, but it could help."

"But we don't have time to go back and figure out when and why I lost my voice."

The bell rings and all of the students leave the class.

"Mr. Jackson is it okay if we stay after class to finish our painting?" Riley asks.

"Sure, but I have a meeting. I can trust you two to stay in the classroom alone though, can't I?"

"Of course," Riley answers.

"Okay," he responds, exiting the classroom.

"Now where were we?" Riley asks herself. "Oh yeah, your voice."

Maya nods.

"Well if we don't have time to find your voice we will just have to use mine."

"Oh, this is gonna be good."

Riley stands up and dramatically says, "Hope... Sunshine... Happiness... Bunnies... Peace... All things that represent me... All things that I want to tell the world..." She ends her show with a bow.

"That didn't really help... At all," Maya states.

"I tried," Riley says. "Just paint something red."

"Something?" Maya asks.

"Anything," Riley replies.

"Anything?"

"Yeah, anything. Why did you think of something?" Riley perks up.

"Oh, I thought of something," Maya answers with a devious smile.