GIRLS - rilaya

of girls and true feelings

chapter nine
riley

~

"I have to tell you guys something."

I take a deep breath and face my parents. My hands fold together out of nervousness in front of me on the kitchen table.

"Of course," Dad responds.

"Anything," Mom adds.

"Well, I- yesterday me and- well, um- I may have, unexpectedly, accidentally, coincidentally-"

"Spit it out, Riley," Dad says.

"I kissed Maya."

They look at each other. They both hide a smile.

I frown. "Did she already tell you? I-"

"She didn't have to, Riley," Mom says, still smiling.

"I'm confused. So you're not surprised at all?"

Dad laughs. "The only thing that's surprising is that it took you guys this long to finally do it."

"What? But how could you have possibly known that I- that I, well, you know."

"That what? That you like Maya?"

"Uh- yes, and- and you know, because she's a girl and all I was kind of embarrassed to even tell you guys," I admit, unfolding my hands momentarily to tuck my hair behind my ear.

"Embarrassed? Why would it be embarrassing? What's embarrassing is that you still have Lucas's boot in your room."

"I should probably return that." I say.

It makes them laugh. "Riley, we're very proud of you. We knew it from the start. We just didn't want to figure out your feelings for you. Only you are capable of doing that."

They both stand up and kiss me on the head.
"Wait!" I call out before they leave. "What am I?"

They frown. "You're Riley."

I nod slowly. "Riley... who likes boys... and girls?"

Mom wraps an arm around me and squeezes gently. "Who you like doesn't have to be part of your identity. You don't need to label yourself as anything at all - you're just Riley, and you like Maya."

I pause for a bit. "I like Maya," I repeat, sounding it over and over in my head.

In front of us, Dad is nearly skipping around the house with glee beaming from his face. He picks up Auggie and swings him around in the air then puts him down, which Auggie then shrugs and walks back to his room.

"And what are you so happy about, Dad?" I ask, amused.

"Who, me? Oh, I'm just celebrating the fact that I'll never have to see Lucas here again," he answers, then he grabs one of Mom's scarves and drapes it around his neck whilst twirling it.

I glance at Mom, who's laughing and soon joins my father in his happy dance. I sigh to myself.

I'm Riley and I like Maya.