Girl Meets True Self

Chapter 8

"I'm going to tell her tonight," Maya said.

"About time."

"We start our senior year tomorrow. If all goes well then we can spend our last year of high school together."

Farkle placed his hand on her shoulder, "You've waited almost three years to say something to her. I hope it all goes well. I'll be rooting for you."

She smiled at him, "Thanks."

-

Maya paused on the fire escape before going into Riley's room. She began to second guess her choice to tell her everything. Being miserable not know was better than being rejected.

As she sat waiting she began to hear Riley's muffled cries coming from within the room.

"Riley?"

"Maya..." she smiled at her through her tears.

"What happened?"

"Lucas, he just texted me." Riley handed her the phone.

Lucas: I'm sorry Riley. I shouldn't have acted like that. I hope you can give me another chance. I should have believed you when you said you just weren't ready. These last months without you have been torture. Please call me.

"Should I call him?"

"What? No!" Maya was outraged. "He doesn't deserve a second chance from you, Riley!"

"But he's sorry, and he misses me. We always thought he was the good guy, maybe it was just a bad night. I need to talk to him."

"No! Don't do this!" Maya jerked her hand away as Riley tried to take her phone back.

"Maya. Give me back my phone."

"No," she continued to maneuver the phone out of Riley's reach.

"Maya don't you want me to be happy? Give me the stupid phone! I want to call him!"

"Why can't you see it? Why can't you see there's someone who would never hurt you like him?" Tears poured from Maya's eyes. "Why can't you see I love you more than he ever could?"

"You...what?"

Maya's eyes flew wide, she dropped the phone, and ran towards the open window.

"Maya, wait!" Riley grabbed ahold of her wrist and forced her to stay put. "What did that mean, Maya?"

"I didn't want to tell you like this."

"Tell me what?"

Maya stood silent. She clamped her eyes shut and fought back the tears that desperately tried to leak out from beneath her eyelids.

Riley led her over to the Bay Window seat and they both sat down.

"Maya, please."

Still nothing.

"Peaches, talk to me."

She opened her eyes and looked up into Riley's eyes, "I love you."

"I love you too, Maya. You know that."

"No, Riles. I'm in love with you. I have been for a long time. Longer than I even realized it."

"Oh." Riley was stunned.

"I'm sorry. I tried to make it go away, I really did."

"Shh, don't be say that. There's nothing to be sorry for." Riley took her hand in hers. "Is that why you never had a boyfriend?"