GIRLS - rilaya

of girls and jealousy

chapter two
maya

~

I get to Topanga's with Farkle and Zay instead of Riley. Because somehow Lucas convinced her to stay after school with him to watch his baseball practice. We took the hint to leave the two of them together, though it was hard when Riley said it was okay but her eyes said something else.

"Maya? You're not with Riley?" Mom asks from the counter as she reorganizes some things on the shelves.

"Nope. She's with Lucas. They'll be here soon."

"But you five never come here unless you're with each other," she frowns.

"Yeah, well, things are changing Mom," I say quickly, then sit down.

It's silent for a bit. The only noise I can hear is the sound of forks clattering and the sound of my own heartbeat. My mom's right. Why isn't Riley here? Why do I care so much?

"So. Riley and Lucas are really happening, huh?" Zay finally asks, breaking the awkward tension that has surfaced out of nowhere.

"I guess they are," Farkle replies, with no emotion. It hints that I can't be the only one who feels like things are off.

Zay shakes his head. "Man, who would've seen that coming? I mean, actually, I did but-"

"Can we please not talk about them anymore?" I snap, my eyes darting at Zay, the words leaving my mouth before I even processed them.

"Yes ma'am," Zay replies, his hands up in surrender.

I can feel Farkle staring at me intensely.

"Enjoying the view?" I ask, turning to face him.

He squints and continues staring at me as he moves in closer. "What's wrong, Maya?"

"Nothing's wrong," I answer.

"Aren't you happy for Riley? Why aren't you happy for Riley?" he instigates further.

"I am happy for Riley!" I exclaim.

"Yeah, I mean, she was the one who told Lucas to go find her in the first place and confess his love to her," adds Zay. I flinch when he uses the word "love."

Farkle dismisses his comment. "Can I say this right here or should we take things outside?" he asks, leaning into me.

"Why would we need to take things outside? Farkle, everything is fine," I try to convince him.

"So then you won't care if I declare that I think you are jea-"

Before I know it my hand slaps over his mouth as I drag him outside.

"I am not jealous."

"Then why are you acting like this?"

"Wh- I don't know! It just feels weird not having Riley constantly with me anymore," I babble, not being able to find the right words.

"Are you sure?"

"What do you mean?" I ask, getting tired of answering his questions.

He thinks to himself for a bit, as if he's contemplating on saying something else. "Nothing. Never mind."

"Okay. Now can we go back inside and stop acting like things are completely different?"

"Well, they kind of are, Maya. I mean, your best friend isn't even here right now. Who knows how far this might go? Next thing you know Riley won't even want to come here anymore-"

"Don't talk about her like that," I shoot at him, anger searing through my veins. "Riley would never forget about us like that."

"You sure about that?" He raises his eyebrows and spins me around, only for me to see Riley holding hands with Lucas as they walk in to Topanga's without even acknowledging us.

I bite my lip as I watch them sit down with Zay. "I'm sure." I say. Even though I'm not.

I follow Farkle as he purses his lips and heads back in.

"Peaches!" Riley chirped when I stepped in, letting go of Lucas' hand to wrap her arms around me.

"Hey, Riles," I smile, embracing the tall brunette in my arms.

"How was practice?" Zay asks, and I sit down on the empty couch in hopes that Riley will come sit down next to me, like she always does. But she doesn't. I don't pay attention to how she immediately sits back with Lucas and I don't pay attention to how he wraps an arm around her and I don't pay attention to the way he looks at her and smiles.

They talk about how great Lucas was. They talk about his upcoming game. Riley gets excited when he mentions that it's soon.

"I'll be your number one supporter," she grins at him, leaning into his shoulder.

"Oh, I know you will be," he says with his perfect smile, then unexpectedly plants a kiss on her cheek.

My eyes go wide. I can't help it. "That's new," I observe, with a hint of coldness behind my voice that I don't recall remembering how it got there.

"We decided we're not gonna do that whole awkward-couple thing," Lucas says, giving Riley another smile. It's like they're the only two people in the world. It's like I'm not even here.

"I have to go," I suddenly say, grabbing all of my things in a hurry. "See you guys tomorrow."

"Maya?" Riley asks, lifting her head off of Lucas' head. "I thought we were going back to my place later? Like we always do," she says, her brown eyes melting into mine.

I look at Lucas' hand on her waist. "Not anymore."

Then I walk out.