GIRLS - rilaya

of girls and pride

chapter ten
riley

~

I wake up on my own, feeling the sun's warmth glow through my shut eyelids and forcing me awake. The birds chirp. My body feels light. I can smell breakfast and fresh coffee coming from the kitchen. Moments later, I hear Maya open the window and jump in, sprawling herself over me. I smile, because it's always a good day when she is the first person I see in the morning.

"Good morning, Maya," I say as I pick up strands of her golden hair with my fingertips and playing with them gently.

"Good morning, Riles," she answers, a smile spreading across her face. The wind blows in from the open window and I breathe in fresh, autumn air. For a minute, I let myself be captivated by her - she's wearing a yellow turtleneck tucked into her favourite pair of blue jeans, and she looks beautiful. Her ocean eyes are nearly sparkling in the sunlight and her lips look soft and pink and I sigh in admiration.

She sees me staring, and intertwines her hand with mine, sending a familiar spark up and down my body and forces me wide awake. Everything seems perfect. Everything is perfect. These moments - the simple, effortless moments - are perfect.

"What'cha thinking about, Riles?"

I smile. "You."

She reaches up and gently presses a kiss against my cheek, warmth from her soft lips spreading across my body.

"Come on," she grunts, pulling me up with her, "time for school."

I groan, letting myself fall onto her, her body catching the weight of mine.

"I think you're getting too big to be throwing tantrums over school," she says with a laugh, making me stick my tongue out at her.

Then it hits me. School. Suddenly a pit forms in my stomach and I scramble back into bed.

"Riley?"

I rock back and forth. "We have to go to school."

She nods slowly, a confused look sprawled across her face. "You love school," she says, shaking her head.

"Yeah, but..." I trail off, fiddling with my hair.

"But what?" she asks, nearly impatient.

"I don't think I can do it."

"Do what?"

I stare at her. "I don't think I can tell everyone... you know. That I'm not... completely straight," I say, stumbling on my words, unable to find the right ones.

Her face softens. She pulls my covers off the bed, and, to my delight, hops in next to me. I snuggle my head in the crook of her neck, feeling her body pressed against mine.

"What if people don't like me anymore?" I mumble.

"That would never happen."

"But Maya-"

"Riley."

I look up at her ocean eyes. She smiles and it makes me forget about everything else for a moment.