Girl Meets Senior Year

Christmas Part 3

"How many more surprises do you have in store, Peaches?" Riley asked as they made their way back to the apartment.

"Just one more," Maya said looking down at their intwined hands.

"And then I can give you your present?"

"And then you can give me my present." Maya lifted her head and stared at Riley's face longingly.

"You know, if you don't look where you're going theres a good chance of you walking into something."

"I trust you won't let that happen, Honey."

Riley rolled her eyes, "Just watch where you are walking. Humor me."

"Whatever you say," Maya said and turned her attention back to the sidewalk.

-

"Hey, Riles?" Maya asked looking up from her lap. The two sat side by side at the bay window. Maya was holding her last gift for Riley. "Before you open this, do you think we should talk?"

"About what, Peaches?"

Maya blushed, "This morning."

Riley pretended to not know what she was talking about, "What about this morning?"

"Y-you. Um. Y-your," her eyes drifted from Riley's eyes to her chest which only caused her face to turn redder.

"You haven't said anything about it all day."

"I haven't stopped thinking about them-it," she quickly corrected herself, "since."

Riley giggled.

"You wanted to mess with me!" Maya gawked at her.

"No. That was just kind of a bonus."

"I've been too much of a bad influence," Maya said coyly.

"You've been just enough of one actually," Riley bumped Maya with her shoulder. "I love you. I knew it was something you wanted. And it was cute how shy you were being."

"I still feel shy with you sometimes," she admitted. "When it comes to physical stuff."

"I noticed," Riley smiled at her.

"Um, Riley? Does that mean you want me to - "

Riley cut her off, "take your shirt off?"

"Yeah." Maya confirmed.

"That isn't why I did it."

"I know, but do you?"

"Do you want to?" Riley asked back.

"Answering my question with another question isn't an actual answer, Honey."

Riley took a deep breath, "I will be happy whenever the time comes that you decide its what you want. Does that answer work?"

Maya looked up at her, "Yeah, I think so."

"May I have my last present now?"

"Oh, right," Maya said handing her the box. It was thin, long, and rectangular like one of the cases she used for her drawing pencils. Riley removed the wrapping paper as Maya watched her anxiously. "I really hope you like it. I saved every dollar I could for months."

Riley lifted the lid off the box to find a white gold necklace. It was a simple chain that held her name in an elegant script. The dot on the 'i' was a small heart shaped diamond. "Maya. This is - "

"Do you like it?" Maya asked, her voice betraying her uncertainty.

"I love it," Riley said examining the necklace.

"Riles? Can I put it on you?"

"Of course!"

Maya's face lit up as she took the necklace out of its box and draped it around Riley's neck. "I wear this ring every day. You gave me a piece of you to always have with me. And I know you have yours too, but I wanted you to have something that came from me. And I had it made with the heart because you have mine."

"It's beautiful."

"You are beautiful."

They gazed into each other's eyes for several moments until Riley reached behind her to grab the present she got for Maya.

"I hope you don't mind having another thing to wear from me," she said handing Maya the small square box.

Maya bit her lip as she unwrapped the gift box. Inside she found a charm bracelet. "This is great, Riles." She lifted it from the box and took time to examine each charm. There was a peach, a planet Maya could only assume was Pluto, an artist's paint brush, a heart, a taco, an astronaut helmet, a horse in mid jump, and last but not least a tiny purple cat. "How on earth did you find a purple cat charm?"

"That one was custom made actually," Riley smiled at her.

"I love this so much. Put it on me?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

-

"Thank you again for a wonderful day, Peaches." Riley said as she snuggled closer into Maya as they lay together on Riley's bed.

"Anything for you, Princess."

"Maya why did you put so much effort into today?"

"Because you deserve it, Riley. I love you," Maya responded.

"No, but you really went above and beyond. This was all so much."

"I needed it to be more than just Christmas."

"Why?"

Maya frowned, "Because I missed your birthday, Riles!"

Riley sat up in bed and looked down at her, "Maya, you were in the hospital!"

"Technically I was on bed rest at home. I was released on December fifth, three days before your birthday," Maya said bitterly.

"Maya, its ok! Really!"

Maya pushed herself to sit up besides Riley. "Riles, I wanted your first birthday with me to be so amazing. So, I made Christmas amazing instead. You mad I took you away from your family today?"

"Peaches, today was perfect."

"I'm glad," she held up her hand. "Ring power?"

"Ring power." Riley took Maya's hand in hers.

"I really do love my bracelet," Maya looked at the new charm bracelet dangling from her wrist where their hands connected.

"And I really do love the person wearing it," Riley smiled at her.

"You are so cheesy, Matthews."

"You love it."

"I do," Maya nodded before pulling Riley down on top of her as she fell back onto the pillows.